Does Nude Protesting Hurt or Help Nudism?

[Ann Wife and Mom]

PETA's nude protesting is in news again. What do you think? Does Nude Protesting Hurt or Help Nudism?

[Ann Wife and Mom]

PETA's nude protesting is in news again. What do you think? Does Nude Protesting Hurt or Help Nudism?

[nudeM]

I don't think it hurts, but it surely doesn't help. There are other ways to express yourself instead of having a nude protest, but then again, you probably wouldn't get the attention.

[Jay473]

I agree. I dont think it helps nor hurts. But even if you protest they wont stop doing what they are doing.

[WacoTX]

I think it helps because the "Message" diverts the attention away from the nudity and observers get a good "exposure" to exposure without being aware of it.

[NorthVanNudist]

I think it hurts the interests of nudists, who are striving for increased public acceptance. This is using nudity purely for in-your-face shock value; the nudity has nothing to do with the issue under protest, and is flaunted merely as a way of attracting attention. This does nothing to gain acceptance of nudity.

[Naturist Mark]

I think it helps. It provides a rare example of non-sexual nudity in the media. I don't think anyone really connects nude protests to nudism since these protests are usually very focused on their message - whether PETA, anti-war, or whatever. Their message may or may not go over, but their protests have the effect of gradually reducing the shock effect of nudity.

It will be a great day when protest groups abandon nude protests because they fail to attract attention.

-Mark

[hm0504]

Nudity in protests is not merely for attracting attention, but also (ususally) for making a symbolic point regarding materialism, the importance of the natural world, etc. Mary Bissell's excellent documentary "Naked" explained this very well:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/cinemareal/naked.html

Of course, there are some some who use nude statements to promote causes that aren't really in the "back to basics" philosophy like this one:



BTW, in the picture above that's not "I Love General Motors" but rather "I Love Genetically Modified (food)". Gotta love those Raelians!

More at
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0307/S00077.htm

[MJ_KC]

I don't think it helps. I view it as a stunt.

To answer PETA's question, "How many lives for a coat?", my answer is "As many as it takes". I have no problem at all with people who wear fur coats or fur lined gloves.

[Illinois07]

Asociating nudism with a political or religious point of view hurts it in terms of general public acceptance. It should not be used for shock value or to promote a "cause". There are exceptions, of course, Going nude to get topfreedom for women or to stake out a claim on a nude beach would be more worthwhile because they are directly related to promoting nude living. Other uses just invite a non-productive, unrelated political or religious catfight.

[nacktman]

Protesting nude doesn't do nudism good or ill in and of itself it is the 'protestors and their agenda' that determine its effects and affects.

PETA polarizes opinions with their antics and therefore does a disservice to its own causes as well as nudism by the simple association of nudity in all its forms as off center in the general population's minds.

[ncognito66]

I believe it hurts as it associates nudists and nudism which certain fringe "wacko" organizations. While we are busy trying to push nudism towards the mainstream, these people are hijacking it and pushing it off to the fringes.
These protests are more "exhibitionism" than "nudism.

[Bob S.]

It would really depend on the message and the messengers. Would a nude protest organized by NAMBLA really help?

I also think that the type of protest and the behaviour of the protestors also have a huge factor. If the naked protestors started to riot or started a riot, that would be very negative toward the public's perception.

I like the artistic "General Motors" protest that Albinus showed. Oh wait, it was supposed to be General Mills, the cereal maker. Or maybe they were "Star Trek: The Next Generation fans and they loved General Martog!

Anyway, I always view PeTA protests in a negative light and abhor when they use nudity in their campaigns. I do not want to be in any way associated with them.

Bob S.

[FireProf]

quote:

Originally posted by Jason Lee:
Nude Protesting is Exhibitionism and Hedonism and Voyeurism.

Dude,

Where in the hell do you come up with some of this stuff you post!!!???

What are you down there!?

[PascoDoug]

quote:

Originally posted by Jason Lee:
Nude Protesting is Exhibitionism and Hedonism and Voyeurism.

Eh?

Well I can see how it may be (remotely) exhibitionism, but hedonism and voyeurism?