Topless Man Syndrome

[meyesmyeyes]

It's summer, which can mean only one thing.
Hoards of topless, sweaty, greasy, overweight, paunchy, balding usually British men in the Supermarkets, walking down the High Streets, on the school run, you name it, they're doing it.

They are usually to be seen swaggering waddling along, clutching the t shirt that has been whipped off their sweaty torsos in their greasy mitts. Sometimes it's flung nonchalantly over one shoulder.

I counted 5 today. They fascinate and disgust me at the same time.
Is it a British thing?
Do men from other countries behave in this way? Or is it just our lot?

On the beach? Fair enough.
Out in public? No - put a shirt on fgs. We don't wanna see your moobs.

I live in a hot part of Asia, as soon as it hits 30 degrees (in April), it is shirts off for all manual labouring men. I don't even think they take a t shirt out with them in the morning. But then there is virtually no body hair, very, very few fatties and lots and lots of interesting full torso tats.

It looks silly.
The British weather isn't that hot and even if it were, we should try and be a bit more stylish like our other European cousins, who don't wander round the streets with their shirts off.

Iammummy, a family seriously came to parents evening topless?
I've heard it all.

To be brutally honest Orlando I'd rather not see any of it but the thread was about men's torsos. It feels much more extreme and offensive than a woman in a too-short short skirt; perhaps because that's on a continuum whereas men taking their shirts off isn't in the same way? Not sure.

And I don't care if they are thin / fat; I think it's dodgy to say it's ok if they are hot but unacceptable if they are pudgy; I'm going with total disapproval.

I can't wait until my son finishes year 6 in July and I don't have to be assaulted by women on the school run who wear those shorts were their bum cheeks are hanging out the bottom, hot pants seem over dressed in compared to them.

If you are hot, you can wear a crop top. Or a t-shirt that reveals the mid riff. Cooling.

A man is hot. What options does he have?

Not saying it's not "appropriate". But can you see why some men might do it?

Or you can wear "short" shorts.

Ever see a bloke wearing "short" shorts and displaying most of their legs?

Wow, gofuck, I have to say that is not a look I'd be trying to emulate!

A thin piece of material on the skin is much more cooling than no material at all.

Go fuckyourself somebody will be along shortly to say ''I admire her confidence''

I'm torn! I like that some people don't care how they look/or do care but don't realise they look bad, plus I don't have to look at them if I don't want to.. And then on the other hand I don't want to be near all this strangers bare flesh! It's so weird that the sun brings out the skin, even I find bikinis weird.. If someone walked around in their underwear it'd be inappropriate.

Russians are like that. In fact, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are filled with them. Although the ones who do that, are usually young alcoholics. Over 50 are rarely topless.

Yes the heat argument doesn't really work for me given that men in actually hot countries don't do this.

The British, and I am one, are generally pretty bad at summer dressing. Perhaps some sort of programme of wardrobe advisers could be set up; stylish Italians and Spaniards could be parachuted into the worst areas, armed with linens and flattering shirts......

Orlando I get your point. There are some far worse sights than topless men on the high street.

Still don't want to see them though

Forgt to add, I lived in the Middle East where it was regularly 40c in summer and I never saw a bare mans chest, they wear loose baggy tops.

Yes the heat argument doesn't really work for me given that men in actually hot countries don't do this

And what do women in hot countries do? Are they short short flesh showers as well? Or are there cultural differences?

mrsted

I suspect women wear different things in the Middle East too.

On a beach, by the pool fine. Own garden, fine. Anywhere else, no. I find it really embarrassing to be faced with a bare chest anywhere else!

My crack team of international wardrobe advisers will be for both genders Orlando

Unless they're at a beach or a swimming pool, it would be nicer if people would wear a top. There'd be an uproar if I walked down the street with my boobs out. I might try it.

It's vile, and a particularly British Male thing. My visiting Italian relatives were horrified a few years ago when we had a particularly hot spell in April, and the awful topless, flip flop thing was on display. Urrgh. I felt totally embarrassed
I don't care if they're fat and paunchy or slim and toned. It's particularly disgusting in places like supermarkets and cafes. Put it away. I don't want to be subjected to it..

There's a time and a place. Walking down the High Street or in a supermarket. No.

But when does a top become almost topless? If a bloke wore a crop top to hide the top part, I guess that would be frowned upon in some quarters

orlandowoolf

Yes, summer dresses, t-shirt and jeans.. Normal clothes. No need for bare flesh.

I am jealous. A topless woman would be done for indecent exposure.