Are you comfortable being seen naked?

[bone_naga]

Yeah I'm pretty comfortable being naked. It's rather important for those of us that enjoy having sex. I mean you could try to keep most of your clothes on, but it's a bit of a mood killer if you stop a chick from taking your pants off and tell her that you'd rather just pull it through your fly.

Besides, I grew up going to summer camps where it would be a bunch of people in one shower, when I joined the Army we still had the open showers, in the locker room at the gym people see me naked, and I often get changed at work (usually not completely naked since there isn't usually a reason to change my drawers).

 

[Deset Gled]

Yes, actually, I'm pretty comfortable with being naked. Obviously, you could come up with situations where it would be embarrassing, but lounging around the house in comfort, skinny dipping in less-than-private areas, or large changing rooms are no problem for me. I don't know how I would feel about being naked professionally, but I don't think that's a situation I'll have to worry about any time soon.

FWIW, I was extremely self conscious of being naked when I was a teenager. I had some fairly major skin problems, and would be upset if my shirt barely started to ride up. Now that's cleared up a lot (not completely), and I'm in nowhere near as good of physically shape (that is, I'm older and fatter). Being comfortable with my body has much more to do with my comfort levels in life that it does with the condition of my body.

 

[Kramodlog]

I don't think so. I don't remember being shamed or feeling any shame put upon me about nudity when I was a kid. And I have two boys, ages 8 and 12. The younger has always been shy about being naked (outside of his mother and me), but the older is only now showing reservations (even in front of his mother and me) as he is coming up on his teens. We've never shamed either of them in any way about their bodies.

I even disagree that shame has anything to do with discomfort being naked in public. I am terribly uncomfortable with any direct attention -- public speaking is a terror -- but I don't feel at all ashamed about myself.

Bullgrit

It doesn't have to be the parents, shaming nakedness is prevalent in society/the media. It is part of our judo-christian heritage. This really is a case of nurture and not nature. I am not aware of any other animal that feels shame or is unconfortable being nude.

It might manifest itself earlier for some individuals, later for others (teens put a lot of emphasis on conformity) or never (damn hippies!), again depending to what the individual was exposed.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Not comfy, nor envious.

 

[Umbran]

I am not aware of any other animal that feels shame or is unconfortable being nude.

For no other animal is it an option, so that's not telling. I mean, if you're incapable of making clothes, it would be a little strange to then have body-modesty as part of your social structure, wouldn't it?

 

[Bullgrit]

It's rather important for those of us that enjoy having sex.

Most people don't regularly have sex in public. For me, I've never had a problem being naked with a sex partner, even in plain view, up close, in broad light. But I'd be mortified being naked as, say, an artist's model.

Bullgrit

 

[Kramodlog]

For no other animal is it an option, so that's not telling. I mean, if you're incapable of making clothes, it would be a little strange to then have body-modesty as part of your social structure, wouldn't it?

Which is irrelevant. If shame is a natural feeling, than some animals could have it in their genes, whether they could make clothes or not (they could hide from each other, roll themselves in mud, etc.

As you said, this is a question of culture, something that is taught, acquired and not natural.

 

[Bullgrit]

For those who are uncomfortable with their own public nakedness: are you also uncomfortable being in the presence of others who are naked?

Although I'm not comfortable with my own public nakedness, I have no problem being with naked people in public. I'd look at their nakedness in curiosity, but it wouldn't make me uncomfortable. I've stood beside naked models as students around me sketched.

Bullgrit

 

[Kramodlog]

Depends, his naked ugly dude charging towards me?

 

[PigKnight]

Which is irrelevant. If shame is a natural feeling, than some animals could have it in their genes, whether they could make clothes or not (they could hide from each other, roll themselves in mud, etc.

As you said, this is a question of culture, something that is taught, acquired and not natural.

Pigs wear clothes all the time. It's just people that steal them. Who do you think makes clothes? Pigs!