Nudity on the Playa

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:50 am

Pirates? It's hard enough to keep Daisy off me!

Nauss · Post by **Nauss** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:18 pm

I'd agree that the Pantzooka Patrol would definitely be social satire. :D

And satire is definitely good, just so long as it's all in good fun. ^ ^

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:23 am

Can we order 500 spandex gold thread pants? Ouch!

citizenx · Post by **citizenx** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:01 am

Nauss wrote:I'd agree that the Pantzooka Patrol would definitely be social satire. :D

And satire is definitely good, just so long as it's all in good fun. ^ ^

Yes, that is the point! the Pantzooka is not meant to be an actual assault or judgement on anyone; it is social satire. The absurdity of anyone going around trying on "Sartorial Correctness" at BM is patently obvious, and is further borne out by the officious tone of the quotations in the Gazette stories on the Pantzooka in 03 and 04.

XS · Post by XS » Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:01 pm

You know, one of my biggest complaints about last year was that I didn't give myself as much "naked time" as I was hoping for. I got too involved with my first mutant vehicle project and it distracted me from many playa activities, including but not limited to, my own desire for clothing optionality. I'm not in perfect shape, but not uncomfortable in the buff. There's a simple beauty about being able to walkabout butt-ass-nekid without shame or criticism, whether you're beautiful or otherwise. Born naked. Hope I have the option to go out that way too.

citizenx · Post by **citizenx** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:05 pm

Yep, go out the same way you came in - naked, wet and screaming.

overboard · Post by **overboard** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:45 pm

[quote="citizenx"]Yep, go out the same way you came in - naked, wet and screaming.[/quote]

LOL!! Good one.

As for the nudity thing.. I find it an absolutely beautiful concept to be free from the restraints of our society (i.e. clothes) and their definitions of beauty (skinny, hairless). I just wish other people felt the same way as I did. Even here on ePlaya it seems there are plenty of people who are still allowing society's norms to keep them in a stranglehold. The human body is not ugly, nor is it particularly beautiful. It's just there, it's normal, it's natural.

Nauss · Post by **Nauss** » Thu May 05, 2005 1:24 pm

It bloody well is beautiful!

But certainly not ugly. All body types have an inherent beauty in them... ^ ^

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Thu May 05, 2005 2:18 pm

Think of this analogy (I'm pulling it out of the air but it seems to have so many relavant expansions several somebodies have likely wrote a book on it already):

Humans are like automobiles, coming in all shapes and sizes and colors and capabilities. Whatever model you have, you can either keep it all polished and shiny or let the mud give it character or let it rust out as you please. The outside is important for looks, but you want to pay attention to the drive train if you want safe transportation...keep the tires fresh, change the oil, maintain the engine, etc...

Sure a super-car is nice, but one with a blown engine would be inferior to a nice solid sedan that runs well for instance.

And every vehicle has a limit to how much it can carry...keep the cargo load reasonable and the mileage and longevity also improves.

So...to step off the soapbox and conclude, love how you are and still be able to be constructively critical of yourself and improve where you can.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:25 am

Tiahaar wrote: Humans are like automobiles, .

I'm having trouble adhering to reasonable exhaust standards. And my mudflaps are too big. On the bright side, I'm somewhat proud of my fuzzy dice!

Biff the Paperboy · Post by **Biff the Paperboy** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:32 am

Hey-Howdy,
Those last couple of posts really hit the spot.
I think the real truth about general nudity on the playa is beginning to be revealed.
I've been a paperboy for the gazette the last 6 years.
I get to ride into camps evey day, delivering the paper and visiting with the citizens.
Couple of years ago I came around a corner on my bike and in the camp right in front of me was an enormous naked fat woman, in a van with the side door open, squatting over a pan, peeing.
I'll deliver a paper to you in the shower, but not on the toilet.
I have my standards.

At first I was a bit shocked.
I'll admit to a personal prejudice to obesity.
I'm a product of the culture, and even as I try, I can't completely escape it.
As I delivered the neighboring camps, I ran through possible scenarios of what might have lead up to that.
I have high-mass sisters and I'm aware that some large people struggle with the perceptions others have.
Perhaps this woman was involved in that struggle and Burning Man was a chance for her to be herself without so much worry about what others thought.
Perhaps she was already so comfortable with herself that the open door was simply not a consideration.
I just couldn't come up with anything that made it wrong.
Except for my personal lack of growth.

So I guess that nudity goes both ways.
I love living in a community where everybody who wants to, can.
I love that comfortability.

"I am often wrong, but never in doubt."
biff the paperboy

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sun May 29, 2005 12:26 am

I'll admit to a personal prejudice to obesity.
I'm a product of the culture, and even as I try, I can't completely escape it.

That's OK. I think owning your prejudices often marks the point at which they recede.

For me I *still* get a hell of a smile when I see very, large fat women walking on the playa naked with a shit eating grin on their face. To me its tangible evidence that they've probably walk through the flaming portal of some body image (hate/loating/etc.) and, for a small time, have the chance to either slay of lock up that particular demon.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:05 am

Badger wrote:To me its tangible evidence that they've probably walk through the flaming portal of some body image (hate/loating/etc.) and, for a small time, have the chance to either slay of lock up that particular demon.

Thank God for personal conquests.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:51 am

Badger wrote: I think owning your prejudices often marks the point at which they recede.

.

Nicely put.

montana wildhack · Post by **montana wildhack** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:02 am

I think owning your prejudices often marks the point at which they recede

.

Nicely put.

yeah, whether they are pointed at others or at yourself.

viva burning man! [/quote]

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:52 am

montana wildhack wrote:
I think owning your prejudices often marks the point at which they recede
.

Nicely put.
yeah, whether they are pointed at others or at yourself.

viva burning man!

[/quote]

I can't help being A LITTLE prejudiced towards myself. I'm always here, and I've known myself my whole life.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:43 am

http://zippythepinhead.com/Merchant2/me ... t_Count=26

montana wildhack · Post by **montana wildhack** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:48 am

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:22 pm

Frank Zappa parodied the painted hair, clothing, naked and fat issues 37 years ago (the first "big" recording, although he wrote it 44 years ago).... This song could have been written yesterday for all lack of change since then:

There will come a time when everybody
Who is lonely will be free . . .
TO SING & DANCE & LOVE
There will come a time when every evil
That we know will be an evil...
THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE

Who cares if hair is long or short
Or sprayed or partly grayed . . .
WE KNOW THAT HAIR AIN'T WHERE IT'S AT
(There will come a time when you won't even be ashamed if you are fat!)
WAH WAH-WAH WAH

Who cares if you're so poor you can't afford
To buy a pair of Mod A Go-Go stretch-elastic pants . . .
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN YOU CAN EVEN
TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF WHEN YOU DANCE

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:05 pm

there's a leonard nimoy photography exhibit on in New York at the Bonnie Benrubi Gallery til July 9th.
It's called Maximum Beauty- explores female beauty as dipicted by the Fat Bottom Revue burlesque troupe. Looks very interesting.
Beauty is so subjective, held up to our own personal opinions. On the playa, yeah, I've probably seen things that I rather would've not seen, but there's beauty in understanding what that person is experiencing. Not all beauty can be beheld by the eye.

helitack · Post by **helitack** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:01 pm

there is nudity on the playa? that's it, I ain't going.

ZaphodBurner · Post by **ZaphodBurner** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:06 pm

One of the most gorgeous girls I know rode with me past a nude beach one time and made a joke about some of the older, less-skinny folks she saw (through binoculars.)

Haven't invited her back aboard my boat. My wife and I have friends who are burners that hang out on the beach and pull our boat in once in awhile. Most of those friends, who are all nudists, are in fine physical shape themselves, but not one of them would make rude remarks about fat people there.

Some people have such a low self-esteem that they project their baggage by looking down upon others. Leave that shit at the gate. If you don't like my fat/skinny/bald/hairy ass or my giant/little/pierced/shaved/hairy/strap-on penis, that's your problem.

-c

mullethunter · Post by **mullethunter** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:33 pm

here's my $.02

for me, nudity is about vulnerability. you are showing a part of yourself that (at least in the christian tradition) is shameful and should be hidden. it's exposing all your imperfections and insecurities and facing up to them., and also critically looking at how we define beauty and perfection.
i've never been publicly naked, but i may try it at burning man; if not there, then where can you be naked without fear.
i've been naked with close friends because they are people i trust not to judge me because i'm not supermodel thin. i'm a little overweight by cosmo's standards (i fucking hate that magazine), and it's something i've struggled with for a long time, but i think i'm winning the war on my self image. i must admit that if and when i do, it'll be a scary thing for me, but i think it'll be a good chance to really tackle my fears head-on.

ahchim-namdongsang · Post by **ahchim-namdongsang** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:21 pm

I think nudity is just fine, but I much prefer mostly nude with a hint of what lies beneath a thin veneer of outer shell. Gives me somthing to
take off later.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:21 pm

This sounds bad, but I can't stand it when really fat people get naked. Like, join a gym before you get naked!!!

mullethunter · Post by **mullethunter** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:00 pm

MrMullen wrote:This sounds bad, but I can't stand it when really fat people get naked. Like, join a gym before you get naked!!!

man, are you just being sarcastic, or are you for real

if it's the latter, then what's your problem? why don't you just say what you really mean, and that's that you can't stand fat people, period.
why would you even come to burning man with that kind of attitude; to laugh at all the "freaks" and get laid and just be a prick in general? as i've said before, this will be my first burning man, but from what i've heard from friends who are burners, one of the main purposes of having it is to allow all people, of all shapes and sizes, express themselves freely, without fear of judgment. so if i want to get naked, i'm going to get naked, and if i'm not up to your aesthetic standards, that's just too bad, you can just kiss my fat white ass!

Janka · Post by **Janka** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:26 am

Maybe, since he recognizes that it sounds bad, he comes to Burning Man to work on that weakness of his? Or do you mean that only perfect, perfectly unprejudiced people can come? At least he is conscious of and admits his prejudice. In my opinion that's a good starting point. :)

mullethunter · Post by **mullethunter** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:15 am

Janka wrote:Maybe, since he recognizes that it sounds bad, he comes to Burning Man to work on that weakness of his? Or do you mean that only perfect, perfectly unprejudiced people can come? At least he is conscious of and admits his prejudice. In my opinion that's a good starting point.

i see your point, and it's a good one, i just had kind of a knee jerk reaction. of course everyone's got their prejudices, (including me i'm sure) some more than others. for his sake i hope mrmullen will honestly look at his, and think about how it hurts people.
i came off pretty harsh because it's a sensitive subject for me. to have just written a post about feeling vulnerable being naked because i'm not what mainstream society says is ideal, and then to see something written in that way was hurtful.
so, i'll rephrase it. mrmullen, if you wrote that to mean that you realize you are conscious of your issues with fat people, then i apologize, but if you really did mean that fat people shouldn't be naked, well the offer still stands to kiss my ass.

Janka · Post by **Janka** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:46 am

Mullet, I should have said this in the earlier post: I think it is great of you to try and overcome your "issues" with nakedness.

For me personally, nakedness (mine or others') is not such a big deal. I come from a culture where it is quite common for men and women to go to the sauna together, etc. On the playa, I tend to keep my clothes on, however, because of the sun...:)

Steven bradford · Post by **Steven bradford** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:50 pm

I'm not a nudist or naturist. I have been nude, though with bodypaint at BM, for short periods. Also in Seattle with the Painted Cyclists in the Solstice Parade.

I think I most like the idea of being able to be naked, in an environment where it's not going to be seen as a political statement, but just accepted as whatever you want it to be.

I think the idea of vulnerability and total openess metioned above is what is attractive about it.

As a "performance", for awhile now I've wantd to be able to go to BM with nothing, and be completely vulnerable, even more so than the guy who did the great Nothing Without You camp three years ago. To just be totally dependent on others, and also at their service, like a service animal or pet. But I'm too chicken shit to do it!

Nudity on the Playa

Not enough naked time i '04!

Zippy Weighs In

nudee patootie

frank says:

Sounds bad

Re: Sounds bad