The Topless Survey
 

Women, if you were in a public area where toplessness was allowed, what factors would it take for you to be comfortable enough to go topless?

Would you go topless without thinking about it or would it take the sight of 6-8 other topless women to make you comfortable with the idea? Less? More? Would you check to make sure there were no pervs around or would you not care either way?

How would you expect your toplessness to be received?

Men, if a woman went topless in public around your area, how would you react?

My answer: I would look if they were nice. I am a people watcher, so I would definitely watch. When I was in Portugal earlier this year, there were only a few topless women. That is: 3. And two of them were old grandmas. The one young girl was pretty to look at and seeing her topless, splashing in the water was unintentionally erotic. The fact that nobody else felt the desire to join her made it special. I know that if I were from an area where this was commonplace, I would not think much about it, but I am from the USA.

Women take off their tops in Central Park, but only to get rid of tan lines on their back. That is, they are laying on their chest, so you don't get to see anything. Here is an article from Nerve about when one woman decided to go topless for all purposes: I Did It For Science: Topless in the Park - Nerve.com

Personally, I really think my reaction to seeing a topless woman in a public place would be largely indifferent. I'd like to think that I would neither be a drooling dog or cover my eyes and run. It would pretty much been the same as covered boobs; a quick scan to appreciate the form, and then I'd move on.

When I used to sun myself, I would remove straps if laying on my back, but never more than that, and remove the top when laying face down.
I'm not comfortable topless in public, hence only faceless shots in exhibit that are not open to everyone and only once in chat, which won't happen again.
I don't mind when other women go topless and I don't look or consciously not look. It's just nekkid people. But, then again, breasts are not automatically erotic to me. It's the setting that makes them so. I grew up going to a topless beach with my parents, my mother did not engage, so that part felt pretty normal to see. They outlawed it when I was 6 or 7 I think.

Well, If it were just one person doing it, It'd be hard not to look. It's an oddity, It's an oddity featuring something I enjoy looking at. Not looking would be a sin.

The appeal would definitely wear off if it became common enough though. It probably wouldn't take many women to go topless every day for a summer. I bet at the end of the summer all the odd looks from locals would disappear. Someone should organize that to see if my theory is correct... :)

I would bury my face in every set of breasts that didn't touch the floor.

In Ontario, it's legal to go topless in any outdoor area, but it's only on rare occasions that I see it happen. It's usually on a beach or near the water somewhere.

Of course I look. It's boobs.

I don't stare though. At least I try not to.

I really felt freakishly old last night.

In chat, there were like, 3 or 4 chicks just sitting there chatting in their bra. Eventually, a few made it to where they were just 'hanging' in front of the webcam. What the fuck was that all about? lol If this were a swinger site of sorts, I wouldn't have felt slightly uncomfortable in the least. But I deffo don't come here for any sort of sexual gratification. I have other resources for that. Sources where my face is also blurred lol.

In my mid-20's there were loads of times where I hung out nude in front of groups of people. Partied lots. But I was also strung out on coke. Today, the idea of a threesome makes me icky. And no one, I mean NO ONE will see my stats other than the man I'm doing att. Well I take that back - I'll post pics of my goods here and there, but my face will never be featured in those images.

So I guess what I'm saying is, I will never be topless in public again. I've growed up a bit and my morals have shifted I suppose.

And no doubt, I'll definitely continue to visit chat in the evenings :o.

---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

Now if this doesn't plug chat for TFP, I don't know what will. That's right folks - there's free n00dz in de' chatz.

I don't see it as a moral issue, I see it as an issue of piety. Not being one for piety, I'm fine with toplessness even if the woman in question isn't the type that might attract lusty stares. It's the human anatomy, and it's something to be admired and appreciated, not hidden.

On the outside I'd be cool and under control but my inner self would be like one of those old time cartoon characters with his eyes popping out of his head and a steam whistle blowing out of my ears.

I can avoid ogling and being a letch but I'd be lying to myself if I didn't admit to getting an erotic charge from it.

I just reread my post and I may have come off a lil' firm. Not my intention, girlies. I think it's fantastic that you're confident enough to have fun with your bodies and with each other right now. I might even be a little jealous because I don't have the balls anymore to join in on the fun! Too skeered. :p

Hahahaha... great pun.

/some like em firm.

First of all, I would never go topless in a chat room. Is that what this is all about? No judgment on anyone that does but it's just not my style. I mean, is it something the women in the room would do and have fun with if men were not there? Doesn't seem likely to me, but I could be wrong.

As for a nude beach, that's completely different. It's not so much a close social activity with an emphasis on giggles and ogling. Of course, that may be going on there, but it wouldn't be why I was there making it inconsequential to me.

I am certainly not a prude about nudity, including my own, but it's not a party favor. Like woods, perhaps I'm just a little too old now.

I have to say tho mm, it was interesting to just watch and see how they didn't seem to care about peeling off their clothing or whatever. Some were even doing it and no one would comment on it because it was like the room was so used to someone stripping down lol. I wasn't offended at all. Just thoroughly shocked. It seemed so strange.

So u have to come to chat one time and watch wiff me lol.

to be sure, it wouldn't offend me. but perhaps I am being too narrow-minded. :)

still, I would not be one to take my top off in a chat room. what for?

I'd think you of all people would understand the whole exhibitionism thing. Voyeurism, etc. I figured immediately they were doing it just because they enjoy the idea that others are watching them online. There was a couple on there and I'll tell you, it was obvious he was enjoying showing off his beautiful wife lol. Like, after he'd feature her ass, he'd be all over her not caring 14 others are sitting here watching.

Or perhaps he did care lol.

Why does this bother you?

omg it doesn't! I thought it was great! And I stated that.

I was just saying how I could never do it anymore. I've gotten old or something.

Reread my posts tho - I'm commending the girls on what they did.

yes, I suppose that is it. But just for the record, I really don't consider myself to be an exhibitionist - as weird as that may sound. It doesn't make me titillated to think of other people looking at me. It's just a way of expressing my personality, same as photography or writing. That's not to say that the act of taking the pictures is not erotic, just not the showing of them...for me. Other people involved in the process may think differently...in fact, I'm pretty sure they do. :lol:

Well, you may be saying that it doesn't bother you, but the way you come off in your posts, is that it does bother you, you find it uncomfortable

I've read every post in this thread and I ask only because you seem to be especially taken aback by how willing some are to strip down in chat. You may be above it all or as you've implied, may feel that they're doing it only for attention - which is obviously the case as they could easily shut off their webcams before getting frisky - but as long as I've been here, open-mindedness has always been one of the many underlying themes around here. Especially sexual open-mindedness.

Perhaps you just don't understand the compulsion or maybe I'm misreading your posts but I'd hate to think that what you've posted above could potentially discourage some away from sharing. Am I the only one who sees this?

This is an interesting issue - well deserving of being fleshed out and framed for proper discussion.

I didn't understand your reply at first, but then I remembered - when I have posted n00dz in the past, I didn't get turned on either by the fact that others were staring and perhaps wanking to them. I posted them just for fun. Maybe even for the attention it got me, as I sure made more friends once I posted some nekkidness.

I dunno why (or how lol) these womenz did what they did. Maybe one of 'em will come forth and contribute to the discussion. But the activities definitely didn't make the chat room boring at all, even tho it was slow att.

Quite frankly, if someone's dismay or simply questioning it is going to discourage someone else from sharing, then maybe they ought to be thinking a little more about why they are sharing.

This post wasn't originally about chat, but about actual public in general. There's one thing about chat that I don't think woods quite understands teling from her choice of words. The people in chat are fairly familiar with eachother already. Most of the people who participate in there have been members of the community for over a year (some for several years) and everyone knows their story. It's not that people are inherently exhibitionist, it's just that this site's MO is to encourage openness. They know that we provide a safe place to explore, so they feel comfortable pushing their own boundaries. In turn, we appreciate what they are sharing with us.

In a strictly public situation, you get none of that familiarity so my question is: what would it take to get you comfortable enough?

---------- Post added at 11:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 AM ----------

The Dude cannot abide. See my post above. We encourage evolution and the pushing of boundaries. We are not a club of fully confident ready-to-go individuals. Some of us need a comfortable space in which to grow.

Also, just for the record, just like you, babe, I didn't post a picture here even of my face until I felt like I had friends here.

I don't want this discussion to turn into a 'they're only doing it for attention' rant, because that's certainly not my opinion. I don't think it's yours, either.

Boobs are amazing, but they are just boobs all the same. I think that North America is a little too uptight about nudity, and not concerned enough about violence and other such behaviours.

But having said that, I also grew up in NA so breasts are still that forbidden fruit to me. I would try not to stare and make anyone (namely myself) feel uncomfortable, but I would look, and I would enjoy.

Can you be a little more clear on what boundaries are being pushed and how it applies to evolution?

Also, I'm leaving in a few minutes and will have to pick this back up later...

The quote below was in my initial post.
And here's my post afterwards.
You're being so sensitive and defensive!

I made a comment somewhere about how if it were swinger chat, I would have been expecting what I saw. But I look at TFP as a place to shoot the shit and have silly or serious discussions. This is why I was shocked at what I saw the other night. Definitely wasn't expecting nudity in chat! Most importantly here, nowhere did I say I was upset by it, or offended or I didn't like it. You're pulling that out of midair.

I think you need to lighten up some!

I think its clear that many people aren't comfortable showing their naked body. That's the boundary. We use "evolution" the same way we have always used it here on the TFP: the progression of culture and personal boundaries toward openness and acceptance.

omg it SO isn't my opinion. And if they are, who cares? They're having fun.

Like I said, I'd love to join in. But fear just won't let me lol.

So yeah, Halx - as I said, it won't take anything to get me to go topless in public. I just can't do it and have no interest in doing it. And there's no question, some self-esteem issues are floating around here... even though I have a killer rack lol.

I agree but also find it difficult to understand how nudity in chat can make anyone uncomfortable when it's so easy to hide offensive webcams, mute audio feeds and close out the chat window to leave the room.

...

While I doubt I'm the only one who read your posts as I did, I have yet to assume anything as I've merely asked questions.

Also, I do believe the TFP to be exactly as much about the titties as it is about serious discussion and shit shooting.

You seem to be one who's chosen to read into things. You can just stop if you want lol.

Chill out. The words mean exactly what they say. No decoder ring needed.

I read them and mostly ignored them because this had turned into a 25 response thread derail.

But yes I got the same view as you did Manic, only I chose to ignore it (on a side note, I had a dream about you last night, you had your camera and we prowled the city and you taught me all you knew)

Now I think you're just trying to get me to post my hoo-haa's to prove that you're wrong.

---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

It's all about going topless lol.

To answer Hal's original question...


I'd react by finding a nice comfy place to sit down, take out my cock, and rub one out.

How can a thread about something as lovely as boobies turn into a mini-pissing match?

Enjoy the damn things!

I have yet to see a woman walking topless down the streets of, well, anywhere, so I think an individual instance would be jarring.

In the nude beach context, it's entirely different. We've been there, done that, and you get used to it pretty quick.

Not a pissing contest I don't think. The discussion turned to mutilation when words were taken out of context. Hopefully all's well now!

Well, that's fine. And I certainly don't want to piss on the parade. I am quite certain that some of the ladies I am most fond of around here are some of the ones taking it off in chat. Honestly, I can accept the boundary pushing part (on a personal level) but the evolution part, well, that smells a little like horseshit to me. There's nothing particularly new or meaningful, on a societal level, about public nudity. If it allows some people to become more comfortable with showing their bodies then that's great. As long as the showing is for personal fulfillment and not to fulfill the expectations of others...know what I mean.

It's fun and titillating. Nothing wrong with it being just about that. Still, personally it's not for me.

I don't think I'd really react differently at all...

I'm pretty comfortable with nudity.

I will say, mm, that I've seen firsthand the PERSONAL evolution it can be to post nudes. It was part of a whole transformation for lurkette.

And lovely to see. So please her thanks again from me.