AIBU to think men should keep their shirts on in public places however hot it is?

[catwalker]

-especially the ones with fat, hairy stomachs. Unless, of course, they are in their own garden or on the beach. Went to a cricket match the other day and one of the dads sat next to me was topless. He had the most enormous hairy stomach and very small shorts so that when he was sitting down you couldn't see the shorts for his overhanging gut and it looked like he was naked. I couldn't bear to look in his direction - put me off my picnic. I see blokes wandering round the local shopping centre with no top on too - even if they're fit looking it still makes me feel uncomfortable.

The human body can be beautiful to look at- male or female, if the proportions are right. Maybe you don't agree, but to my artistic eye, that's how I see it.

However, if it has been abused by too much food and drink, and too little exercise, IMO it can offend the eye somewhat.

I think that people who are defintely out of shape should cover up, as I just don't like looking, but I also think that toned bodies should not be flaunted either- there is a place for nakedness- on the beach, in your own garden, in your own home- but not on the High Street or, God forbid,in Waitrose.

It's the same as picking your nose and farting- do it in private please.

YANBU

There were a lot of topless men in the park today. It's only 19C ffs.

Put me right off my picnic.

In all the time I did life drawing at art college, the most beautiful and interesting bodies to draw were the more rounded ones. Suppose we'll have to agree to differ.

BG- rounded bodies might be nicer to draw in the setting of an ast studio, but they don't look so good pushing a trolley or waddling down the High Street.

If I want to look at depictions of rounded bodies, I'll stick to Rubens, not Mr and Mrs Smith chuffing round Tescos with all their flab on show, thanks!

I suppose I don't look at other people that way. It really doesn't bother me. If they're happy, who cares?

And surely if Rubens was still around, he'd find some of the those Mr and Mrs Smiths you mention great subjects. He may even paint them in Tescos reclining in the fruit and veg section in all their sweaty nakedness.

I hate men with no shirts in the street. I mark the beginning of my descent into middle age from the day I found myself muttering "Oh for f's sake put your shirt on" at regular intervals once the temperature gets above 15 degrees!

i think fat hairy sweaty ugly people should just be made to stay indoors....whether they're half-naked or not

YANBU. All men should keep shirts on in public places that are not explicitly set aside for sun bathing.

If they are working outside then I accept and do that myself. Other than that I do not walk outside my own home or off the beach or away from the poolside without a shirt on.

BG-"if they are happy, who cares"?

I do!!

I do not want to see them showing their ugly fat, whale-like bodies in various shades of white.

If Rubens wanted to paint them in Tescos that's fine-looking at the oil paintings would not be quite the same as being stood next to them at the check-out queue!

Nakedness has a place- the bedroom, the bathroom, your own home, the beach, or a naturist resort. Not the High Street. Most people do NOT look good naked- they should keep it all covered up.

and women

when you look around and think how glamourous women in Italy or France are when it's jot, makes you shudder.

What I hate is older women showing tomuch (wrinkly leather like) tanned or not tanned skin.

Like today- a woman well into her 60s in a little strap top- saggy arms, saggy boobs, wrinkly cleavage all on show- I would consider that top too young for me and I am nowwhere near that age and slim.

I wonder if it's because everyone gets away with it in Spain ( do they? Never been!!) and thinks what goes in Benidorm goes in Birmingham.

Don't mince your words harleyd say what you think

Another one in the keep your shirt on camp (for men and women).

Lots of well dressed and glam looking people out yesterday in Edinburgh. Possibly tourists tho

Well if we're going to pick on fattys, hairies and oldies we really ought to pick on ugly people too

Those fuckers should never go out never mind half naked. Bloody Munters.

right,hairies,fatties,oldies.so that's edinburgh coverd where next?

i already said uglies laurie

some people really offend my eyes

EEwww yuk

Personally I think each to their own. I don't get offended

I am with LadyEvenstar,....

and I admire and envy people who have that confidence in their own bodies. I am fairly self-conscious but don't take any notice of other people or what size they are, since when was there a rule that only 'attractive' people can wear minimal clothing when it gets warm, and who is to judge anyway?

It is either inappropriate for all to be half dressed or Ok for all....

I am tempted to put on 15 st and walk around in a bikini, so that my 'white..whale-like body' causes as much 'offense' as possible.

I think the tone of this thread is in danger of being 'fattist' and I hope no-one who has a weight issue on MN comes across it.

I don't care whether they are fat, thin, Leonardo Di Caprio or Kate Moss - it's rude and disrespectful to wear clothe - or no clothes - suitable for the beach in Tescos. It's just wrong!

Well I don't personally find all men without tops offensive

Although it would be difficult to enforce a rule that only the lean and rippling under 25s should be allowed to undress in public.

What do you suggest? A fixed penalty ticket? To be enforced by the fashion police?

Yes...I agree there seeker, there are some places where some decorum for ALL is called for.

it does mostly sound like fat men are unwelcome. If it were men saying they don't want to see overweight or older women there would be an uproar. In fact isn't it one of the great feminists complaints that 'real women' are expected to be superslim and perfectly formed? whereas in fact most real people are not anything of the sort?

for millions of years clothes would have been just worn as needed to keep out the cold or as protection. Then suddenly they take on some kind of weird semi-religious status. What has respect got to do with a T-shirt and why is it more or less respectful according to distance from sand or closeness to retail outlets?.