Nudity, Culture and Monogamy

Drifterwood

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There was a great programme from Horizon on the BBC and by the wonders of modern technology you can watch it.

BBC iPlayer - Horizon: 2008-2009: What's the Problem with Nudity?

Seems that we only put clothes on 600,000 years ago (which means that men have changed their underpants about six times :biggrin1:).

The theory is that we are supposed to feel shame when we are naked. This keeps us monogamous because kids need us to be because we have such big bloody heads that we have to be born prematurely. Now this begs the question, why didn't the birth canal evolve to say double it's current size so that foetuses could develop to the same stage as other primates at the point of birth. But then if the birth canal was twice the size, would men enjoy sex and bother to be monogamous? or women for that matter. Interesting biological trade offs.

Well, there are many interesting questions arising from this programme.
 

jason_els

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Sorry Drifter, bit of a problem here:

Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only, but all BBC iPlayer Radio programmes are available to you. Why?
If you are in the UK and see this message please read this advice.
Go to Radio channels home page
We lesser-brained colonists apparently cannot be trusted with the wisdom imparted by the mother country. I hope you don't treat the Manx like this.
 

Yorkie

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I saw the programme.You can read all about it here :

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Can people unlearn their naked shame? :

... we are not born with a shame of nudity. Instead we learn it, as an important behavioural code that allows us to operate in human society.
It's interesting how fast the shame is almost always dismissed once the participants in these type of programmes have been naked together for a few minutes.
It's comparable to posting your nude photos online for the first time.Everyone approaches it with trepidation and in no time at all it's just second nature.
 

Drifterwood

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It's comparable to posting your nude photos online for the first time.Everyone approaches it with trepidation and in no time at all it's just second nature.

I was thinking about that, Yorkie.

Do you think though, within the premise of the programme, that posting pics is an overt or subliminal message that you are available?

They suggest that if we are naked we will soon be fucking with no thought to the biological consequences. Basically the offspring demand such attention from the mother, that the mother need(ed) the support of a monogamous mate. I don't see how this leads to shame though?? Shame that somone else might want to fuck you? Shame that your partner would rather get pregnant by someone else? well that happens in at least 10% of the time anyway. The logic seems a little weak in places to me. May be we are still a work in progress and even after 600,000 years, we still aren't quite sure of which way we need to go.
 

nudeyorker

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Well after all the time it took to download and add the gizmo from quick time to watch it, it was an interesting study, however I think our individual responses to ourselves and others is largely based on how we were brought up to view nudity and sexuality.
 

Drifterwood

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Well after all the time it took to download and add the gizmo from quick time to watch it, it was an interesting study, however I think our individual responses to ourselves and others is largely based on how we were brought up to view nudity and sexuality.

Then most of us in Western, predominantly Christian, Cultures would have been brought up to be embarassed at least about public nudity?

I am asking NUDE Yorker about his attitude to the shame of nudity :biggrin1: . Someone throw a bucket of cold water over me.

How would you say that Gay couples respond to seeing hot men naked?
 

nudeyorker

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Then most of us in Western, predominantly Christian, Cultures would have been brought up to be embarassed at least about public nudity? I think so!

I am asking NUDE Yorker about his attitude to the shame of nudity To this day I have to be told to put clothes on and oh never mind!:biggrin1: . Someone throw a bucket of cold water over me.

How would you say that Gay couples respond to seeing hot men naked?
I think it would depend largely on the person(s) and the situation..my feelings vary a great deal depending if I am at the nude beach or a sex party!
 

Drifterwood

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Sadly - I have to go Nudey, but I am wondering if the Gay Community actually behaves "generally" in the way that the straight community would want to, were it not for the conformity of issues like nudity etc etc. and their relationship to kids' need for monogamy.

Anyway, something for another time.
 

kalipygian

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Sadly - I have to go Nudey, but I am wondering if the Gay Community actually behaves "generally" in the way that the straight community would want to, were it not for the conformity of issues like nudity etc etc. and their relationship to kids' need for monogamy.

Anyway, something for another time.

Maybe you have put your finger on why all theyem prichers hate us.:wink:
 

dong20

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Putting cultural anthropology to one side for a moment, an aquired sense of shame may not necessarily be such a bad thing in contemporary western (increasingly obese) societies - IMO, 'most' people look better with their clothes on!

Just for a moment, I envisioned a 'nude' tube ... I fear it may take some while to erase the image from my mind!:eek:
 

Drifterwood

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Maybe you have put your finger on why all theyem prichers hate us.:wink:

I have felt for a while that the expression of Str8 sexuality is compromised, rather that defined by the reproductive imperative, and therefore we may in all probability see a fairer expression of our sexuality in the gay community. This may also be reflected in the attitude to nudity.

Naturism is something different.

There's a fierce wind whipping round these parts D. No desire for unencumbered communion with nature is going to persude me to get my kit off outside today. :redface: