Why are people allowed to put naked statues outside but why can't we run outside naked?

In response to last week’s question, “Why are people allowed to put naked statues outside but why can't we run outside naked?”, my neighbor kept Tracey’s joke running by responding, “Have you seen MY relatives?” He added, “Statues of naked people are typically beautiful idealized human forms. The reality is that real naked humans are not.”

While my sailing friend John, provides his practicing-nudist perspective at the end of this email, my friend Richard concluded that “Statues don't have to worry about melanoma” while my friend Ed added “two words, “cold” and “shrinkage”. My birthday bud Jon noted that statues can be naked “because statues do not "respond" to stimulating stimuli.”

My sailing friend Vaughn wrote, “The statues are well proportioned and nothing shifts,” to which my dad’s beach buddy Bob said we can run outside “if you're stiff enough.”

My running friend Tony had another concern about shifts when he wrote, “It is the ‘mobility factor’ (which my cousin Wes described “as bouncing”) that prevents us from running in the nude, plus where do you put your rehydration/salt material without pockets.”

“Maybe it’s a plot by the fashionistas,” wrote my friend Blair. “Show your perfect bodies in sculptures in public, then when you see reality in your own home mirror you are more tempted than ever to buy the latest “in style” offering to distract people from what you REALLY look like!” My sailing friend Kate observed, “Artistic statues are idyllic - the Venus de Milo and King David, for example. Real people come in all shapes and sizes. Seeing some people naked could be awkward or even downright disturbing. Going to the grocery store should not be a potentially traumatic event!”

My friends Royce and Vivian and neighbor Dick agreed, “Because, in the majority of cases, the statues look better than the real thing,” which my neighbor Stan described as “the cream of man/woman hood. Now consider what common folk look like running around naked.” My quality friend Marya added, “Dude, there are just some people (and that includes me, I'm not self deprecating, I'm just damn honest) that should NOT be outside naked!” My flying friend Ted added, “We should enjoy the protection of not running nudist affords our eyes.”
My friend Alan queried, “Have you seen the people who put out those statues?”

And my sailing, writing friend Rich concluded, “In the south one cannot run naked. You can, however, run nekkid.”

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

If 80% of people can't use “lay/lie” correctly, why don't we make those words interchangeable?” (from my friend Ivan)

Live well...laugh often..be happy and have a good week…

Hal

From John: First of all, you’re making the assumption that you can’t run outside naked. This assumption is absolutely invalid!! In fact, the assumption you make hints that you might actually suffer from gymnophobia(*). These are people who experience anxiety about seeing others naked (or being seen naked, or both).

You CAN run outside naked. Anytime you want. People chose not to do it because their country/state/community may prosecute them for doing so. This is certainly not the case around the world, and in many specific cases within the U.S. Nudity is completely legal in Spain (said to be the most nudist-friendly country in the world. See http://www.nudistday.com/index.php/article/public-nudity-is-completely-legal-in-spain.html In some states, such as Oregon, public nudity is legal and protected as free speech, as long as there is not the “intent to arouse”. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_nudity

There are many naturist resorts (such as Bell Acres, just north of Atlanta) where running outside naked is clearly encouraged. And of course, there are events where nudity is extremely common and not prosecuted, such as the Burning Man festival.

Just some things to think about ….

(*)Note: While Microsoft doesn’t know of this word, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gymnophobia confirmed Wikipedia’s entry and should not be confused with gynophobia, which is a fear of certain bodies.