Streaking does not offend people

[Rex]

I'll qualify that. It generally seems to offend very few who actually see it. Police officers and security people often have to pretend to be offended, because that's part of their job.
Magistrates and judges often, but by no means always, seem to think they must pretend to be offended.
The circumstances of the streak may be potentially dangerous, or inappropriately disruptive, but they're separate issues.
I've been scanning www.streaking.co.uk (http://www.streaking.co.uk)
There are literally hundreds of streaks, and a common theme is that the participants, particularly the girls, are obviously enjoying themselves immensely, whilst the appreciative crowd cheers them on.
Perhaps a notable item is Scottish actor/comedian Billy Connelly streaking around Piccadilly Circus in central London, then appearing in a TV show with 40 or 50 nude male dancers.
A news report said there were "scores of complaints" about the TV show, but with a viewing audience of 12.6 million, "scores" fades into insignificance.
The assumption by the authorities that nudity almost automatically offends, and should be punished, can usually be shown up as a monstrous fraud, inflicted on generally harmless people.

[Rex]

I'll qualify that. It generally seems to offend very few who actually see it. Police officers and security people often have to pretend to be offended, because that's part of their job.
Magistrates and judges often, but by no means always, seem to think they must pretend to be offended.
The circumstances of the streak may be potentially dangerous, or inappropriately disruptive, but they're separate issues.
I've been scanning www.streaking.co.uk (http://www.streaking.co.uk)
There are literally hundreds of streaks, and a common theme is that the participants, particularly the girls, are obviously enjoying themselves immensely, whilst the appreciative crowd cheers them on.
Perhaps a notable item is Scottish actor/comedian Billy Connelly streaking around Piccadilly Circus in central London, then appearing in a TV show with 40 or 50 nude male dancers.
A news report said there were "scores of complaints" about the TV show, but with a viewing audience of 12.6 million, "scores" fades into insignificance.
The assumption by the authorities that nudity almost automatically offends, and should be punished, can usually be shown up as a monstrous fraud, inflicted on generally harmless people.

I agree with you Rex. Streaking is very good proof that public nudity just isn't the big deal some make it out to be.

I had a guy call me yesterday about my singles group. He mentioned to me that he was a nude activist and goes to many public places nude. Unfortunately I didn't have time to talk more with him on the phone but I will be doing that shortly. From what I got out of him he's doing very much the same thing that Bethel and Gough are doing, and right here in my area.

Fascinating!

[aunaturelone]

Streaking* is one of those activities that isn't really nudist in nature but still something a nudist might engage in. Most streakers are exhibitionists in the harmless sense of wanting to entertain, roughly the equivalent of a boy on a bike shouting, "Look Ma! No hands!" (Sometimes followed by a painful crunch! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif )

The Germans call it Nackerblitz (nude lightning).

The desired response is usually surprise, amusement & laughter ("shock" in a positive sense) at their antics and/or approval of their risk taking. The objective is to shake people out of their mundane existence with a form of street theater. It can also be form of guerilla nudism or political expression or a simple act of social defiance. Streakers also tend to enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from the risk of being caught.

A "streak" by its very nature takes place in motion and the "exposure" to the audience is brief, perhaps only a few seconds. Doesn't have to be on foot, any mode of transport will do. Usually involves footwear and often a disguise for the face. In a high profile streak, getting caught may be expected and the streak will last as long as it takes to catch the streaker.

The ones who want to humiliate, dismay and disgust ("shock" in the negative sense) don't streak because they know that streaking won't get them what they want. Instead they select targets who they think will be most offended, then they get up close and personal and prolong the encounter as long as they can to maximize the shock. This is the classic "flasher in the raincoat" encounter.

Any kind of nude-in-public experience could be used as a source of sexual stimulation for someone who was tweaked in that direction. From what I've seen on various boards it would appear there is a bit of that going on. What a sexual flasher is gettng getting exists in his/her own mind, imagining that a viewer is getting turned on by vewing their body. This requires a prolonged exposure at a close distance, not a quick run through.

Depsite this, from my personal experience I've known a LOT of streakers and never met one yet whose purpose was to "get off" on the experience. (Most streakers define streaking to be nonsexual like nudists define nudism to be nonsexual.) I suspect that purely sexual streaking exists more in the fantasy than in the deed.

Laughter is the best reaction to all unexpected public nudity. It ruins the whole day for those who want to disgust and turns off those who are trying to get turned on.

The "bare" participants in the annual San Francisco Bay to Breakers (May) are the largest known streak. (I don't consider Spencer Tunick's photos to be streaks not do I consider the nudity at the Burning Man festival.)

http://baretobreakers.com/
http://www.streakerama.com/intro.htm
http://www.streaking.co.uk/
http://rox.com/ideas/streaking/
http://www.oldschool-themovie.com/_GAME/game.html
http://www.streaking.org/
http://www.teamcalamari.com/dox/wstrk.html
http://www.geocities.com/thebnrc/

*Streak - v. - To move rapdily through a public place in the nude where nudity is not normally expected.

BTW, did you know it is now legal for a woman to be nude in public in Maine thanks to a pair of female streakers?

http://www.seacoastonline.com/2002news/1_31odd.htm

[FishNude]

http://www.naturistcalendars.com/gallery/images/us_nw/rock1.jpg

Just enjpy life naked !!

[Rex]

I love your eloquence, FishNude, but do you reckon you could try and keep your posts a bit shorter?

Following on from the original concept that streaking does not offend, neither apparently did TV anchorwoman Catherine Bosley's impromptu strip, [covered in a "Religion" thread].
Have a look at http://www.local6.com/news/2761063/detail.html
Out of over 38,000 survey voters, 90% say she should have kept her job!
US, [and British, and Australian, etc], authorities and courts are continuing to treat the public with contempt, and ignoring public acceptance of harmless, non-sexual, nudity.
This also links in with the TV nonsense about a bit of cheeky stuff [Janet Jackson], and a bit of serious stuff [ER].