Man left dangling trouserless and upside down after Vail ski lift mishap.

[NakedGary]

<SMALL class=date>7 01 2009 </SMALL>Southern exposure: Man left dangling trouserless and upside down after Vail ski lift mishap

By Mail Foreign Service (http://bartsystems.wordpress.com/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Mail+Foreign+Service)
Last updated at 7:28 PM on 06th January 2009
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These pictures show possibly the most embarrassing thing that could happen on a ski lift.
A skier at Colorado’s luxury Vail ski resort was left suffering from a double case of exposure after a freak accident left him dangling upside down and pantless from a ski lift.
The man - who has not been identified - boarded the high speed lift in Vail’s Blue Sky basin last Friday morning with a child.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/06/article-1106988-02F69388000005DC-172_468x584.jpg
‘Snow’ worries, I’m ok: The man dangles helplessly from the ski lift

But unfortunately, according to reports, it appeared the chairlift’s fold-down seat was not in the correct lowered-down position - causing the man to partially fall through the resulting gap as he attempted to board the lift.
He was prevented from plummeting to the ground below by his right ski, which became jammed in the ascending lift.
Whether he will be grateful for that fact or not remains to be seen.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/06/article-1106988-02F681DE000005DC-897_468x324.jpg
The unfortunate man is rescued by Vail staff
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/06/article-1106988-02F681B7000005DC-652_468x300.jpg
Easy does it: The man is lowered gently to the ground
With his boot remaining securely in its binding, his pants appeared to have also been caught in the lift as he fell - leaving him utterly exposed.
The many tourists in the crowded ski resort promptly whipped out their cameras.
He was stuck in the undignified position for about 15 minutes before Vail personnel were able to back the lift up and rescue him, according to The Smoking Gun website.
<HR>Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Skier Caught Upside and Pantless at Vail Ski Lift (http://mrod.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/skier-caught-upside-and-pantless-at-vail-ski-lift/)
Naked Skiier Exposes Ski Bum (http://www.asylum.com/2009/01/07/naked-skiier-exposes-ski-bum)
Skier left over-exposed (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2102206.ece#OTC-RSS&ATTR=News)
Gondola Tower Collapses At Ski Resort (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/16/world/main4672371.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4672371)




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[deafnwsport05]

its funny consider the man didnt keep his pants on!

[Lord Drakkus]

That's just hilarious! I hope the guy was a naturist already! Otherwise, he'll probably consider this to be the absolute number 1 most embarrassing thing to ever have happened to him in his life!

As a side note, anybody else notice the irony here? Guy accidentally loses his pants and can't put them back on, everybody laughs and gets out their camera's. Guy takes them off intentionally, he's a pervert and persecuted for it.

We live in some strange times.

[walter05]

I hope there was no frost bite.

I wonder if ABC wants to get it. This could be a new "Agony of Defeat" shot.

[simonsebs]

Resort photographer axed for shot of naked skier on chairlift (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/01/07/2009-01-07_resort_photographer_axed_for_shot_of_nak.html)

Viral pic of naked skier sparks debate
(http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/158838.asp?source=mypi)

Here's an update to the story.

[Stu2630]

That's just hilarious! I hope the guy was a naturist already! Otherwise, he'll probably consider this to be the absolute number 1 most embarrassing thing to ever have happened to him in his life!

I wonder if people would have thought this so comical if the person concerned had been a woman and her vulva had been exposed to be photographed by a stranger.

Causing acute embarrassment can be a cause of deep discomfort and lasting trauma.

Stu

[Lord Drakkus]

I wonder if people would have thought this so comical if the person concerned had been a woman and her vulva had been exposed to be photographed by a stranger.

For me, yes. I tend to think a situation is comical no matter who the participant is, be they male or female, black or white, asian or african, it makes no difference. This person fell off a ski-left, their pants got caught, and were pulled down to their knees. The pants getting caught possibly saved their life. So, in a way, they were "saved" by their "embarassment." To me, THAT is the funny part, not that some guy's butt is showing.

Be True and Stay Naked,
Lord Drakkus

[Stu2630]

To me, THAT is the funny part, not that some guy's butt is showing.

If that had happened to me, I would have had to have counselling or something similar: I would have found the whole experience terrifying and utterly traumatic. I'm pretty sure there are even naturists who would have found the experience deeply unpleasant, but for someone who is not a naturist it could have been horrific in the extreme.

Unless the man concerned did see a "funny" side of the experience and consented to the pictures being published, then the publication of them was offensive and unacceptable, as is viewing and laughing at this man's unfortunate predicament.

Stu

[luvnaturism]

My guess is that the man wasn't the least concerned about his nude exposure while the incident was happening. He was more likely terrified that his ski binding would release and let him fall. He was plenty high enough to be seriously injured or even killed.

Now that it's over, he's likely to be upset that people took advantage of his accident to take pictures and spread them all over the internet, and I don't blame him for that — though it's natural enough for people to laugh now that it's over and he wasn't hurt.

[Naturist4Ever]

People who claim that the experience of ending up naked is more traumatic rather than being an inch from being dead should urgently get a medical exam, because their genes or their mind are seriouly twisted. That includes Stu. But that's nothing new.

>> he's likely to be upset that people took advantage of his accident to take pictures and spread them all over the internet

That happens all the time, also when not naked. Be aware of scammers. In this case, the pic has a tremendous educational value: always check the proper position of the seat before you sit down - or you may risk being caught hanging upside down w/wo your pants down, whichever is worse.

[walter05]

If it were you, an attorney would have made you into a rich man.

All else;

No one likes those who show up on a nude beach to just look at people.

No one likes the people who take pictures of nude people on a beach without their permission.

I am glad the photographer was fired. He should have been.

[LamontCranston]

We were skiing this weekend and it was cold and windy. I hope the fellow is OK. It doesn't take long for skin to freeze. And I wear a set of red suspenders keeping my pants up.

None of this is funny. We had a teenage girl die in a similar accident at a local ski resort two years ago. She slipped down on the chairlift like this fellow did and got her helmet caught. She suffocated before they could get to her.

The idiot who snapped the photos and posted them is an idiot. Never mind suspending him, this kind of callous behavior is why they used to have stocks in the public square.

[Skinview]

I wonder if people would have thought this so comical if the person concerned had been a woman and her vulva had been exposed to be photographed by a stranger.Just as comical and even more interesting.

[Skinview]

If that had happened to me, I would have had to have counselling or something similarStu, you already need counselling. ;)

I would have found the whole experience terrifying and utterly traumatic. I'm pretty sure there are even naturists who would have found the experience deeply unpleasant, but for someone who is not a naturist it could have been horrific in the extreme. Anyone would. But just about anyone would be so concerned that they were going to die, they wouldn't care about being exposed.

Unless the man concerned did see a "funny" side of the experience and consented to the pictures being published, then the publication of them was offensive and unacceptable, as is viewing and laughing at this man's unfortunate predicament.
I don't think more than a small minority would find these photos offensive or unacceptable. When possession of Hong Kong was transferred from the UK to China not too many years ago, a kilted British soldier in a flag ceremony was a victim of a gust of wind that revealed that he had nothing under his kilt. Photos of it were printed in newspapers all over.

[Skinview]

None of this is funny.Its hilarious.

We had a teenage girl die in a similar accident at a local ski resort two years ago. She slipped down on the chairlift like this fellow did and got her helmet caught. She suffocated before they could get to her.But this guy was unhurt. It was a serious incident, but once resolved, its time to laugh.

The idiot who snapped the photos and posted them is an idiot. Never mind suspending him, this kind of callous behavior is why they used to have stocks in the public square.I remember a news photo of a naked girl running down a road in Vietnam. It was full frotal nudity, and she was being burned by napalm. Not at all funny. The photo got a Pulitzer Prize, if I recall correctly.

[Pete Knight]

I remember a news photo of a naked girl running down a road in Vietnam. It was full frotal nudity, and she was being burned by napalm. Not at all funny. The photo got a Pulitzer Prize, if I recall correctly.
And I believe that girl now lives in Canada, I seem to recall her being the subject of a TV documentary.

Pete Knight

[simonsebs]

Naked Vail skier gets an apology (http://www.9news.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=107424&catid=337)

Here's an update to the story.

[NudeAl]

I think for me the issue is the shrinkage factor, YIKES! With the temp and the wind chill I doubt you could have figured out if it was a guy or a girl!

[Bob S.]

We can laugh about it only because the guy survived. While it was happening, it was not funny at all, it was traumatic. I would be terrified if that ever happened to me. Of course, I am afraid of heights so I don't see myself doing that anytime soon :eek:

Stu, there is no way the exposure would be more traumatic than the dangling upside-down with the fear that you will either suffer from exposure or die from falling off of the chair. The length of time spent upside-down would be bad enough. Perspectives, Stu, perspectives.

Bob S.

[Stu2630]

Bob

I'm not disputing that the physical danger was probably far more traumatic for this gentleman than the embarrassment. So the poor guy is already traumatized to some degree. But then to have a photographer take pictures of him in that state and publish them for all to see can only add to his distress.

How many nudists would be happy about pictures of themselves being taken without their permission and published in newspapers and on Internet sites? And this chap isn't a nudist, wasn't enjoying his nakedness (as nudists do) and wasn't exposing his body through choice.

My point was that it was unacceptable to photograph him in that state; unacceptable to publish the pictures without his permission and that it is boorish to laugh at him because of his unfortunate predicament.

If you disagree with that, imagine how these photographs would have been regarded if it had been a teenage girl or a very elderly lady.

Stu

[Fitz1980]

I agree that the photographer deserved to get fired. He's an employee of the ski lodge where the man was vacationing as such it's his job to not do something like that.

[Lord Drakkus]

If you look closely at these pictures, You'll see that it's not possible to identify who this man is from those few pictures that were published (unless there's some that I haven't seen). The only person who can identify who this man is, would be the man himself. Unless, of course, somebody knows his butt that well that they can distinguish it from others, which I find highly unlikely.

If this had happened to me, I wouldn't care about it. Yes, I would have been concerned about my safety while it was happening, and may have been concerned about my exposure, even though I myself am a "naturist," but nothing happened. He was up there for less than 10 minutes, and he didn't get hurt. I would be laughing about this within hours, had it happened to me.

[Stu2630]

Lord Drakkus

The only person who can identify who this man is, would be the man himself.

The man may not have been named in the press articles linked here, but that does not mean his plight wouldn't have been discovered by his neighbours, friends, work colleagues and relatives.

If this had happened to me, I wouldn't care about it... I would be laughing about this within hours, had it happened to me.

And he, too, may be laughing. Or he may be extremely distressed about it, as i would have been. That's the whole point, isn't it? We don't know how he felt about it. For that reason, the photographs should not have been taken, should not have been published and we should not be scoffing at his situation.

If an elderly woman had her clothes blown off because of her proximity to a terrorist bomb (which can happen), would that be a source of comedy?

Stu

[Fitz1980]

If an elderly woman had her clothes blown off because of her proximity to a terrorist bomb (which can happen), would that be a source of comedy?

No but it would be newsworthy like the young Vietnamese girl we were talking about earlier. Heck this was clearly newsworthy but as an employee of the resort using their camera he can't just take pictures while on the clock and than put them out there himself. If it was another guest at the resort, or a reporter who happened to be there sure, they can do what they want with their camera and their time. The paparazzi does that stuff all of the time, snapping pictures of a girl when her dress slips or her top pops up in the ocean or whatever.

[Stu2630]

Fitz1980

No but it would be newsworthy like the young Vietnamese girl we were talking about earlier.

The Vietnamese girl image was relevant to show the suffering and horror of war. It did not have a caption mocking her state of nakedness as this one did, e.g "We know it's wrong, but the pictures of a naked skier dangling upside down from a Vail, Colorado lift with hairy white butt exposed to the elements has been making us snicker all day."

The paparazzi does that stuff all of the time

Are you suggesting that we should be taking the behaviour of the paparazzi as our moral lead?

Stu

[Lord Drakkus]

He may be extremely distressed about it, as i would have been.

This is the crux of the entire debate we've been having. Since none of us know this man, nor are there any quotes about his feelings towards it, we have to make assumptions about his character. Naturally, we're most likely to assume that their feelings would be the same as ours. You've just admitted that you would be "extremely distressed" about it, and would not consider it something laughable in any way. Therefore, your arguments in his defense are based on that assumption, that he would be distressed as well.

But, to those of us who think it's funny, we're also working on the assumption that he would have thought so as well, regardless of whether or not the pictures are there. Actually, the pictures have nothing to do with it since I would have thought it was funny even with just the description, as I'm sure many of the others who've posted regarding their opinions of it's humor.

Neither one of these opinions is wrong, it's just our interpretation of the situation based on our personal experiences and fears. Why must you be so insistent that your personal opinion is more right than mine? Or anyone else? There's a saying that I like to use in situations like this: "Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one."

[Bob S.]

Stu: "I'm not disputing that the physical danger was probably far more traumatic for this gentleman than the embarrassment. So the poor guy is already traumatized to some degree. But then to have a photographer take pictures of him in that state and publish them for all to see can only add to his distress."

Stu, I was talking about how you responded if it happened to you. You stated that you would have to go through counseling, finding the experience "terrifying and utterly traumatic." I was saying that comparing exposure to a life-and-death experience is going a bit far. If the exposure was more traumatic to you than the fact that you were dangling from such a height with a real danger of falling to your death, then you have things out of whack.

Stu: "My point was that it was unacceptable to photograph him in that state; unacceptable to publish the pictures without his permission and that it is boorish to laugh at him because of his unfortunate predicament. "

I agree that the decision to photograph someone in such a predicament is wrong, but it happens all the time. People rubberneck accidents on the highway to see the damage and, perhaps, injuries. It is a morbid fascination people have. People enjoy watching auto races to see crashes as long as no one gets hurt. They watch stuntmen attempt car jumps and the like to see if he crashes, again as long as he doesn't die.

But it is not boorish to laugh at the predicament afterwards knowing that he is fine. Watching people getting hurt and laughing about it is the bane of comedy, including shows that feature home videos. People getting hurt make up most of the videos.

Bob S.

[Stu2630]

Lord Drakkus

your arguments in his defense are based on that assumption, that he would be distressed as well...But, to those of us who think it's funny, we're also working on the assumption that he would have thought so as well

Quite right. The fact is that we don't know how he would feel about it and so to respond by treating it as a source of humour is a risk. But it's no risk to you - if any misery is caused, it's caused to this poor man. You seem to be implying that it's worth taking the risk of increasing his distress for your mirth and i just don't accept that.

BobS

I was saying that comparing exposure to a life-and-death experience is going a bit far. If the exposure was more traumatic to you than the fact that you were dangling from such a height with a real danger of falling to your death, then you have things out of whack.

I would find both aspects traumatic, i.e. the physical danger and the subsequent public humiliation. We can't do anything about the former because accidents like that do happen from time-to-time, but we can certainly avoid adding insult to injury by lampooning the poor fellow.

People rubberneck accidents on the highway to see the damage and, perhaps, injuries. It is a morbid fascination people have.

But it's not a source of comedy, Bob. If a woman is being lifted out of a crashed car by firemen and her top comes unfastened, we don't expect that to be portrayed as something comical in he press. To do so would be bad taste in the extreme.

People enjoy watching auto races to see crashes as long as no one gets hurt. They watch stuntmen attempt car jumps and the like to see if he crashes, again as long as he doesn't die.

These are people who intentionally put themselves in harm's way - that's part of the buzz they get out of it. Travelling in a ski-lift is hardly comparable.

You said:

I agree that the decision to photograph someone in such a predicament is wrong...

And also:

But it is not boorish to laugh at the predicament afterwards knowing that he is fine.

These two statements are morally incompatible. If it is morally wrong to take such photographs in the first place, how can it possibly be right to enjoy those photographs?

Watching people getting hurt and laughing about it is the bane of comedy, including shows that feature home videos. People getting hurt make up most of the videos.

People send those videos in of their own volition, so they know they are going to be broadcast. If the person suffering the accident or indignity did not consent to it being broadcast, then it should not be shown on TV.

Stu

[Sanslines]

The Vietnamese girl image was relevant to show the suffering and horror of war. It did not have a caption mocking her state of nakedness as this one did, e.g "We know it's wrong, but the pictures of a naked skier dangling upside down from a Vail, Colorado lift with hairy white butt exposed to the elements has been making us snicker all day."
Stu

Stu,

The man was not naked. Only his derrier was visible. The media has this tendancy to sensationalize and claim that 'people are naked' when in fact they are not.

Too many people seem to be fixated on the man's butt and seem to have forgotten the real issue and that issue concerns the safety of the ski lift. The man could easily have been killed. This event is just another example of our media's (and society's) infantile attitude towards the human body.

[Stu2630]

Sanslines

That's true - he was not naked, but he was partially naked in a way that is conventionally regarded as "indecent" when in public.

You are correct to say that his state of undress became the issue rather than the safety aspects of the ski lift. My point is that he should not have been photographed in that state, nor should the photos have been published and nor should they have been used in a way that could have caused embarrassment to a man who may already have been traumatized.

Stu

[MoonShadow]

It's freedom of the press, Stu. A basic freedom.

[Pete Knight]

It's freedom of the press, Stu. A basic freedom.
But with it comes responsibility!

Pete Knight

[IDNude]

Fitz1980

...lift with hairy white butt exposed... "

Stu

Stu- I think you lingered on that image a bit too long.

[Stu2630]

MoonShadow

It's freedom of the press, Stu. A basic freedom.

Along with freedom of the press comes responsibility of the press - including their responsibility to respect privacy.

IDNude

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 1px inset ;" class="alt2"> Originally Posted by Stu2630 http://www.clothesfreeforum.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.clothesfreeforum.com/showthread.php?p=219598#post219598)
Fitz1980

...lift with hairy white butt exposed... "

Stu
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Stu- I think you lingered on that image a bit too long.

Those weren't my words, they were Fitz1980's words. I guess he was the one who "lingered on that image a bit too long". :D

Stu

[Bob S.]

Stu: "But it's not a source of comedy, Bob. If a woman is being lifted out of a crashed car by firemen and her top comes unfastened, we don't expect that to be portrayed as something comical in he press. To do so would be bad taste in the extreme."

Therein lies the line in humour. When does something go from tragic to comical? There are comics who can make even your car accident victim come out in a funny light. Everything is in the delivery and timing. This is ultimately what we are arguing here. the definition of humour. Seeing how everyone has a different idea of what is funny, everyone here is going to have a different reaction to that story.

Humour and laughing is sometimes a person's reaction to life-death, yet exposed stories such as this.

Stu: "If it is morally wrong to take such photographs in the first place, how can it possibly be right to enjoy those photographs?"

I am sure there were people on the slopes who regaled the story to their family and friends at the lodges with some laughing involved. It is possible to want to laugh at the scenario while also not having the best intents when taking the picture. But the fact that he was in public automatically means that he has to expect that his picture may be taken by others, even in unusual predicaments.

It is the same thing when news reporters come upon a scene. Humour can sometimes be found in the strangest of places.

Bob S.

[Fitz1980]

MoonShadow

Originally Posted by Stu2630
Fitz1980

...lift with hairy white butt exposed... "

Stu

Stu- I think you lingered on that image a bit too long.

Along with freedom of the press comes responsibility of the press - including their responsibility to respect privacy.

IDNude



Those weren't my words, they were Fitz1980's words. I guess he was the one who "lingered on that image a bit too long". :D

Stu

Those were not my words, I assure you of that.

Here's the quote:

Fitz1980



The Vietnamese girl image was relevant to show the suffering and horror of war. It did not have a caption mocking her state of nakedness as this one did, e.g "We know it's wrong, but the pictures of a naked skier dangling upside down from a Vail, Colorado lift with hairy white butt exposed to the elements has been making us snicker all day."



Are you suggesting that we should be taking the behaviour of the paparazzi as our moral lead?

Stu

The only reason my name was in that post was because Stu was addressing me, not quoting me.

[Skinview]

Therein lies the line in humour. When does something go from tragic to comical? There are comics who can make even your car accident victim come out in a funny light. Everything is in the delivery and timing. This is ultimately what we are arguing here. the definition of humour. Seeing how everyone has a different idea of what is funny, everyone here is going to have a different reaction to that story.

Skinjoy: "Did you hear about the guy who slipped out of the chairlift?"

CFF guy: "No." (interested)

Skinjoy: "His pants caught on the lift and he hung upside down with nothing on but his skies and his jacket. There are photos of it all over the net."

CFF guy: "Really?!" (smiles)

Skinjoy: "And its was STU!!!"

CFF guy: "Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!... No, Really??!!"

Skinjoy: "Its true! And he was so traumatized, he's been the therapy ever since!"

Both: Falls down on the floor in convulsions, gasping for breath between bouts of hysterical laughter.

Stu, if you ever get caught with your pants down in public, I should be so lucky to be there with my camera.

Some of the funniest things happen at someone else's expense.

[Mike2Nude]

I know they ski topless in Crested Butte, Co on the last day of the season, but I've never heard of bottomless skiing...especially this early in the season.

[walter05]

I hate to say it but I almost totally agree with Stu.

A comedian is funny because it is a hypothetical person.

If it is a famous person, it may point out the person is not what that person seems.

For a private person to be in a situation to be embarrassed, and have it all over the internet is terrible.

The person taking the photo had a legal right, but it was the wrong thing to do.

The person publishing it on the internet had a legal right, but it was the wrong thing to do.

Those of us who have seen the photo so we could mock the person and laugh had a right, but it was the wrong thing to do.

[Skinview]

I wouldn't make a blanket statement of it always being wrong or not. I have heard Jay Leno make fun of a public figure because they were unattractive. I wouldn't do that on tv. They can't help it, its hurtful, and they could well be watching. I wouldn't out someone. But if someone is caught without their clothes on, it might be somewhat embarrassing, but it doesn't really cost them anything. If they had some disfigurement that they wanted to keep to themselves, that would be different.

[Stu2630]

Skinview

Stu, if you ever get caught with your pants down in public, I should be so lucky to be there with my camera.

That isn't going to happen any time soon. My clothing, and underwear, is always exceptionally secure. ;)

Walter

I hate to say it but I almost totally agree with Stu.

Why do you "hate to say it"? I'm sure there are plenty of things we agree on - probably even more things than we differ about if we did but know! You make me feel like some kind of 'leper' that nobody wants to be seen agreeing with. :(

Stu

[Skinview]

Why do you "hate to say it"? I'm sure there are plenty of things we agree on - probably even more things than we differ about if we did but know! You make me feel like some kind of 'leper' that nobody wants to be seen agreeing with. :(

StuOnly if it has to do with nudity. ;)

[walter05]

You have a phobia about nudity. I don't.

However, in this case, I believe his embarrassment is real.

Skinview;

It is his behind. He should decide whether to pull his pants down and show it or not. If it is not the skier's choice and there is a terrible accident, showing it to the whole world is wrong.

You can do with your behind whatever you want.

[Bob S.]

walt: "A comedian is funny because it is a hypothetical person."

Not necessarily a hypothetical person. That is only one kind of comedy. Many, many comics make fun of stories in the news. The key is to make a punch line that does not insult the sensitivities of the audience.

In fact, humour based on real-life situations is sometimes better than hypothetical humour.

Bob S.

[walter05]

Once the story has become news, I guess it is fair game. You have made a good point.

Walter

[Lord Drakkus]

Once the story has become news, I guess it is fair game. You have made a good point.

Walter

I agree. It's now out in public. For better or worse. My take on it is humorous.

Maybe the photographer shouldn't have taken the picture. Maybe it shouldn't have been put on the internet. But, it has been. Things like this will also continue to happen. The best way we can STOP this kind of thing from being so humiliating is to advocate for a more positive image regarding nudity in the public. I'm aware that there are some who will likely never be comfortable nude, but the more people who think so, the less sensational a story such as this is going to be.

[richo]

The best way we can STOP this kind of thing from being so humiliating is to advocate for a more positive image regarding nudity in the public.

Actually, in a lot of cases, humor is used to defuse the tense emotion of the situation. This is a good example - this could have ended *very* badly (as in, with severe injury or death); finding something humorous or amusing in it is society's way of getting over that momentary panic and making the whole situation more "acceptable": if you can laugh at it, it's not that bad.

That's part of the reason why, over time, you hear "crass" jokes about very serious or bad events: it helps to take some of the emotional duress off the event and make it more tolerable or "feelable" for people. It's a defense mechanism against the stress.

So, while I can understand the man may have felt humiliated, I also suspect at some point he'll be laughing about it - because that's the easiest (and best) long-term solution to the stress.

[simonsebs]

Sharpshooter photographer fired over naked Vail skier pic (http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20090116/NEWS/901169951/1078&ParentProfile=1062&title=Sharpshooter%20photographer%20fired%20over%2 0naked%20Vail%20skier%20pic)

Here's an update to the story.

[Bob S.]

OK, so the photographer was fired for "not abiding by the code of conduct” but the Vail Daily online editors were OK with the picture u8ntil they got protest letters. I understand that these are two separate companies, but why was taking the picture worse than publishing it?

I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.

Bob S.

[Fitz1980]

OK, so the photographer was fired for "not abiding by the code of conduct” but the Vail Daily online editors were OK with the picture u8ntil they got protest letters. I understand that these are two separate companies, but why was taking the picture worse than publishing it?

I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.

Bob S.

Because the photographer worked for the resort. As such it's his job to take care of the customers of that resort. That's what keeps the resort opened, the staff taking care of the customers who come there to spend money. I've been, off and on, in customer service ever since 1998 and that's just the nature of the biz. Just last night I was talking to a few bar regulars (I'm a bartender at the moment) and I was joking that bartenders should be able to claim legal confidentiality towards their customers like doctors and priests can. Granted I was joking around but the principle was sound. People come into my bar (and them coming in pays my bills) to drink, relax, unwind and often talk about there problems, or at least escape from them for a while. No one is going to come into my bar if they know that as soon as they have a few drinks and start talking about there personal private stuff to me I'm going to blab it all over town.

The publishing company is an independent company and it's their legal right to report on anything that's newsworthy within the bounds of the law. Everyone from the most legitimate news organizations to the tabloids have the legal right to publish anything deemed newsworthy and within the law, even the stuff that's in bad taste. It's our job as the consumer to choose to spend our money supporting those who publish whatever is within out own boundary of taste, newsworthiness and acceptability and to not spend our cash supporting those who we feel are doing things that are unethical or immoral by our own standards regardless of what the law says.