If only everyone looked that good naked. No C-section scars, stretchmarks, etc. No short-dick guys. They're not exactly hung like John C. Holmes, but still not bad. No real lardos. Not that I'd want to see that, but I personally wouldn't want to live in a totally clothing optional world unless genetic engineering ensured perfection for all. :)
I would like nudity totally legal, but it should only be mandatory for pretty people.
Of course, if you're not pretty, you usually know it. ...Actually, I take that back. A lot of the men you see going shirtless in the summer do not exactly have a sixpack, more like a keg. Oh, the humanity! ;-)
Though no "lardo's", they do seem to have kept to healthy rather than athletic people. An interesting balance of male/female, addition of token ethnic groups in a credible ratio, and a pregnant lady too.
If they would have all looked liked they played beach volleyball for 6 hours a day and did research for two, then I would question the ethics a bit more.
Star Trek always seems to have wanted to have a clothing optional world, but they always hide behind the nervous humour of the situation, Ferengi keep there women naked so others cannot undress them with their eyes and betazoids have naked weddings, but even behind these concepts there is such a 1980's prudity.
It'll be interesting to see how social attitudes to nudity progress through the rest of my life time.
I don'k know, Hannah. There's a margin between being well-rounded, even too much perhaps, and being ugly. As long as the body isn't the living image of grave self-neglect. Remember Rubens. Healthy's never ugly. Do you know your body mass index? It's a good indicator.
Actually, I wouldn't want to see those anorexic fashion models naked, with bones poking out everywhere. Better inspire envy than pity!
And what some faces display in daily life I consider worse than most anatomic details I might see if people went naked. True ugliness, like true beauty, comes from within. I'm sure it's not just an attitude stemming from my profession. When you have a mind set on respecting people for WHO they are, it's amazingly easy to get used to the body. I've noticed a pregnant woman in that clip. She's just... gracious! I wish women would realize that pregnancy never causes ugliness. It just couldn't, it's too beautiful and touching.
Joe Dick said: "I'm not sure the BMI is much use. I mean, according to it, I could weight 129 pounds and still be in the normal range!"
BMI is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. In other words, it is a number. There is no "according to BMI", unless you are referring to that number.
The underweight/normal/overweight classifications for ranges of BMI are made by authorities such as WHO. You may disagree with those, but then it is not the BMI (formula) you are disagreeing with.
Who knows, the good doctor may interpret BMI ranges differently than WHO.
The BMI index and chart intervals offer a good appreciation of how "normal" a person's weight is, health-wise. Check the Wikipedia article for details. Basically, it is biased if instead of excess fat, you have a lot of muscle (but then you'll know the difference between lean and sedentary!); it needs some adjustment according to your type of skeletal frame; and special charts are necessary for children. But it is a decent indicator when sensibly used. To make a parallel, a person with an IQ of 70 might be an autistic savant, but you can safely bet they'll have serious social adaptation difficulties and require special schooling arrangements. The IQ (with a carefully constructed test taking into account cultural specificities) helps make a good estimation of whether a person is intellectually challenged and will have social difficulties because of that. Then again, some members of Mensa live on the street, so the IQ alone is no guarantee of social success. :-)
According to the BMI, I am normal, on the upper limit. According to my common sense, I need to work out to convert some of my fat into muscle, because I'm too sedentary. So, by my own criteria, I'm "perfectly okay" medically (especially for a person of my age, gender and nationality), and yet I could make some effort to be better. ;-)
Sure, Rubens has exaggerated, be it only in his choice of beauty criteria. But still, his paintings are considered gracious. In their own style. And if you've never seen more overweight feminine flesh than what Rubens painted, if you find it exagerated, then let me tell you, you're very lucky. Gosh, some walking nightmares in thongs I've seen on Lebanese beaches... (shivers) I might have prefered coming across handlebar mustaches!
Anonymous said... "Is there a reason why the guys in the vids have bigger penises than myself?"
Well, actually, there is! But nothing to worry yourself about. Penis size at "rest state" is notoriously meaningless, because it varies greatly, in a single individual, with circumstances. For instance, it is smaller, sometimes even ridiculously tiny, when exposed to cold temperature. Reversely, being naked and walking about (in comfy temperature), between the motion and the breeze, is quite enough to increase the vascular "tonus" of the corpus cavernosum by pure sensory stimulation, without any reason to suspect that those men are ever so slightly turned on by the situation. It's commonly noticed in naturists, while nudity for them becomes completely non-sexual in itself.
Typically, "Men always feel self-conscious about their penis size, and women about the size of their breasts". It's purely in the mind, really. Inside the normal range (which is a pretty tolerant one, objectively and medically speaking), size practically doesn't matter. Neither does shape. Okay? Peachy! :-) Oh, and BTW, that thing about Black men having a bigger one? It's a myth. Been fully debunked by objective studies. So even if size DID matter, there would be little reason to prefer dating men of one given origin. But ask women what's more important, and by far, in a lover: how "impressively"-endowed he is, or how attentionate and un-selfish he is? Having a big male EGO is catastrophic. Mutual trust and respect? It's simply the magic formula. I dare say that the more a man brags about his mensurations, even deservingly, the more likely it is that he'll be a selfish macho, and therefore a lousy lover.
Back on the main topic, I absolutely loved that clip. Naturally, I feel that nudity is sensual. In both genders, with normal heterosexual preference for the opposite gender. But to give a measure of how I feel it is non-sexual and innocent, if somebody I know and respect &/or love was in that clip, I wouldn't have felt the least bit shocked. It's not the least bit lascivious, lewd, rude, solliciting... as innocent in context as a baby in the bath. I have no problem whatsoever with it. My parents or children could've been in it, it would be no biggie for me. But I bet you won't see that ad on USA television any time soon! A pity, that.
Do you think doctors get a hard-on every time a good-looking woman undresses to be examined? Think again. Sexuality is all in the mind, even on Playboy Channel I've heard it said and repeated. In today's world, we simply happen to have it socially associated with nudity. In the 18th century, the sight of a woman's exposed ankle would have made most men's heads spin, while bare breasts were practically commonplace. Standards change. In France, I once went to the beach with my fest friend, and his mother, who was topless. Nobody was embarrassed. And believe me, she had a *perfect* body. It's all cultural. You may legitimately feel very strongly about your own standards. That's *absolutely* okay, understandable, and normal. Just remember it's the result of the education you received, and the social conditioning. It IS NOT universal standards you and I have. That would be impossible.
In my early teens, any nude image would send my hormones raging. It didn't help that I was brought up in a religious school and had some very "conservative" relatives. Since then (and the days of Playboy Channel ;-), I grew up, and traced my own path, thought my own sensible mind. I unabashedly acknowledge my interest for sex and claim it as healthy and normal. I also acknowledge that I can have a normal, casual conversation with a beautiful young woman, completely naked before me, and look her in the eyes. It's happened to me. (Alas, not really a Domai moment for the newsletter. :-)
"Basically, it is biased if instead of excess fat, you have a lot of muscle (but then you'll know the difference between lean and sedentary!);"
Well that's really what I'm talking about. If you're an athletic mesomorph, you might have all lean muscle but you could score as obese because of the weight. So what's the use of the number?
According to my common sense, I need to work out to convert some of my fat into muscle, because I'm too sedentary.
You're the doc, doc; but it was my understanding that fat was burned off and additional muscle was added to existing muscle, not that fat actually changed into muscle. Unless you just meant "replace some of my fat with muscle."
And if you've never seen more overweight feminine flesh than what Rubens painted, if you find it exagerated, then let me tell you, you're very lucky.
I remember reading something by an art historian who said that Rubens' models could not have lived and been that fat. I doubt anyone who really exists could be that fat,unless they're a shut in who can't get out of bed. I have seen some TV shows like "The Half-Ton Man" and "The 750 Pound Woman," but these are not people capable of moving around.
Oh, and BTW, that thing about Black men having a bigger one? It's a myth. Been fully debunked by objective studies.
I know just from locker room showers that it's a myth, but people will continue to believe it. I did work with this girl once who said that she only dated black guys. This turned out not to be quite true.
My parents or children could've been in it, it would be no biggie for me.
I can't say the same. I would not like to see my parents or siblings naked. It wouldn't exactly be shocking, but it would be a bit weird for me.
Do you think doctors get a hard-on every time a good-looking woman undresses to be examined? Think again.
Although I wouldn't know about that, I have done a lot of life drawing and, the first time, I admit I was a bit worried about it, but it's a completely non-sexual thing.
I also acknowledge that I can have a normal, casual conversation with a beautiful young woman, completely naked before me, and look her in the eyes. It's happened to me.
Well I don't think I could say the same, but maybe I've got too much testosterone or maybe I'm a sex addict or something. Thing is, those Sexaholics Anonymous meetings always turn into one big orgy. ;-)
If you were a fat slob, you wouldn't be asking this kind of question, mister perfectly-fit big-muscled Dick.
Unless you just meant "replace some of my fat with muscle."
Considering my current willpower, the effort feels akin to achieving transmutation! Hence my (admittedly lazy) choice of words.
More seriously, building muscle takes up energy, the same released from fat by some decent physical activity. In a way, it IS converting one into the other, because you need that much less energy in your food regimen. (If you're markedly overweight, you could survive with only some red meat, fluids, vitamins and minerals while you work out. Although taken to the extreme that can become risky, as demonstrated by the "Atkins diet".)
Parts of the fatty tissue can also be used as cell building materials: lipidic cell membranes, fat conversion into glucose, which is later transformed into aminoacids for the muscle proteins. It's hardly obvious when you haven't studied the intricacy of bio-chemistry in Med School, I admit.
For instance, there's a reason why I can't believe these studies claiming that fructose is overly fattening: the first step of the Krebs cycle, which converts glucose into energy inside the cells, is energy-free conversion (enzymatic isomerisation, to be technical) of glucose into FRUCTOSE. So, fructose can only be fattening if it is in excess quantities, exactly like glucose.
On a side benefit, fructose doen't need insulin to be used up by the cells, so fruits with no added sugar are the least harmful kind of sweets for diabetics, who can digest and assimilate them (in moderate quantities!) without requiring adjustment of their insulin doses. But enough showing off the vastness of my humble science. :-)
"This turned out not to be quite true."
What, you mean the part about her only dating black guys? Allright, Joe! You da man!!! ;-)
"I would not like to see my parents or siblings naked. It wouldn't exactly be shocking, but it would be a bit weird for me."
Exactly like for me! You can make a parallel with those Spencer Tunick mass nude photos, or the (rather frequent) naked protests. An ordinary person feeling uneasy about nudity is understandable, it's part of our education/conditioning. But many "fundamentalist prudes" I know would immediately declare public nudity "just as bad as prostitution", while I try to be honest with myself and remember that if it's not sexual, then it's my own social reflexes that are twisted. Not an easy task, questioning and changing some of your deepest-rooted beliefs.
Sure, medical training helps a lot in desensitizing a person to many of those arbitrary taboos. Your art experience is another of many eye-opening possible situations.
"Thing is, those Sexaholics Anonymous meetings always turn into one big orgy. ;-)"
So, it would seem that group therapy for sex addicts isn't a very good idea. (Hey! What am I saying? It sounds like a GREAT idea!!!) I've heard a similar story of group therapy failure: Compulsive Liars Anonymous disbanded, because they could never be sure they were actually in one of their meetings. :o)
BTW, does anybody know if Elave are still hiring? I'm qualified, I swear!
If only everyone looked that good naked. No C-section scars, stretchmarks, etc. No short-dick guys. They're not exactly hung like John C. Holmes, but still not bad. No real lardos. Not that I'd want to see that, but I personally wouldn't want to live in a totally clothing optional world unless genetic engineering ensured perfection for all. :)
ReplyDeleteThere is that.
ReplyDeleteI would like nudity totally legal, but it should only be mandatory for pretty people.
I would like nudity totally legal, but it should only be mandatory for pretty people.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if you're not pretty, you usually know it. ...Actually, I take that back. A lot of the men you see going shirtless in the summer do not exactly have a sixpack, more like a keg. Oh, the humanity! ;-)
In that case, I'll keep my clothes on, thank you very much. :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice commercial though. They've made their point in a tasteful way.
ReplyDeleteThough no "lardo's", they do seem to have kept to healthy rather than athletic people. An interesting balance of male/female, addition of token ethnic groups in a credible ratio, and a pregnant lady too.
ReplyDeleteIf they would have all looked liked they played beach volleyball for 6 hours a day and did research for two, then I would question the ethics a bit more.
Star Trek always seems to have wanted to have a clothing optional world, but they always hide behind the nervous humour of the situation, Ferengi keep there women naked so others cannot undress them with their eyes and betazoids have naked weddings, but even behind these concepts there is such a 1980's prudity.
It'll be interesting to see how social attitudes to nudity progress through the rest of my life time.
addition of token ethnic groups in a credible ratio,
ReplyDeleteAlthough, you don't get to see the black dude's wang.
I don'k know, Hannah. There's a margin between being well-rounded, even too much perhaps, and being ugly. As long as the body isn't the living image of grave self-neglect. Remember Rubens. Healthy's never ugly. Do you know your body mass index? It's a good indicator.
ReplyDeleteActually, I wouldn't want to see those anorexic fashion models naked, with bones poking out everywhere. Better inspire envy than pity!
And what some faces display in daily life I consider worse than most anatomic details I might see if people went naked. True ugliness, like true beauty, comes from within.
I'm sure it's not just an attitude stemming from my profession. When you have a mind set on respecting people for WHO they are, it's amazingly easy to get used to the body.
I've noticed a pregnant woman in that clip. She's just... gracious! I wish women would realize that pregnancy never causes ugliness. It just couldn't, it's too beautiful and touching.
Remember Rubens. Healthy's never ugly. Do you know your body mass index? It's a good indicator.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the BMI is much use. I mean, according to it, I could weight 129 pounds and still be in the normal range!
As long as the body isn't the living image of grave self-neglect. Remember Rubens.
I've heard that those women could never have really existed - that he must have exaggerated.
Heh. So I guess before the "is nudity acceptable?" we'll have the "for whom is nudity acceptable" debate, if it would really come to pass. :)
ReplyDeleteeolake said...
ReplyDeleteThere is that.
I would like nudity totally legal, but it should only be mandatory for pretty people.
Well yes, I hunder percent agree with based on such decision.
Joe Dick said: "I'm not sure the BMI is much use. I mean, according to it, I could weight 129 pounds and still be in the normal range!"
ReplyDeleteBMI is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. In other words, it is a number. There is no "according to BMI", unless you are referring to that number.
The underweight/normal/overweight classifications for ranges of BMI are made by authorities such as WHO. You may disagree with those, but then it is not the BMI (formula) you are disagreeing with.
Who knows, the good doctor may interpret BMI ranges differently than WHO.
Is there a reason why the guys in the vids have bigger penises than myself?
ReplyDeleteI think they fake them with play-do.
ReplyDeletei liked it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would like nudity totally legal, but it should only be mandatory for pretty people.
ReplyDeletethat's in what you feel as "beautiful." many forms of beautiful exist eolake, always remember that el captain.
Sure, I was just joshing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe BMI index and chart intervals offer a good appreciation of how "normal" a person's weight is, health-wise. Check the Wikipedia article for details. Basically, it is biased if instead of excess fat, you have a lot of muscle (but then you'll know the difference between lean and sedentary!); it needs some adjustment according to your type of skeletal frame; and special charts are necessary for children. But it is a decent indicator when sensibly used. To make a parallel, a person with an IQ of 70 might be an autistic savant, but you can safely bet they'll have serious social adaptation difficulties and require special schooling arrangements. The IQ (with a carefully constructed test taking into account cultural specificities) helps make a good estimation of whether a person is intellectually challenged and will have social difficulties because of that.
ReplyDeleteThen again, some members of Mensa live on the street, so the IQ alone is no guarantee of social success. :-)
According to the BMI, I am normal, on the upper limit. According to my common sense, I need to work out to convert some of my fat into muscle, because I'm too sedentary. So, by my own criteria, I'm "perfectly okay" medically (especially for a person of my age, gender and nationality), and yet I could make some effort to be better. ;-)
Sure, Rubens has exaggerated, be it only in his choice of beauty criteria. But still, his paintings are considered gracious. In their own style. And if you've never seen more overweight feminine flesh than what Rubens painted, if you find it exagerated, then let me tell you, you're very lucky. Gosh, some walking nightmares in thongs I've seen on Lebanese beaches... (shivers)
I might have prefered coming across handlebar mustaches!
Anonymous said...
"Is there a reason why the guys in the vids have bigger penises than myself?"
Well, actually, there is! But nothing to worry yourself about. Penis size at "rest state" is notoriously meaningless, because it varies greatly, in a single individual, with circumstances. For instance, it is smaller, sometimes even ridiculously tiny, when exposed to cold temperature. Reversely, being naked and walking about (in comfy temperature), between the motion and the breeze, is quite enough to increase the vascular "tonus" of the corpus cavernosum by pure sensory stimulation, without any reason to suspect that those men are ever so slightly turned on by the situation. It's commonly noticed in naturists, while nudity for them becomes completely non-sexual in itself.
Typically, "Men always feel self-conscious about their penis size, and women about the size of their breasts". It's purely in the mind, really. Inside the normal range (which is a pretty tolerant one, objectively and medically speaking), size practically doesn't matter. Neither does shape. Okay? Peachy! :-)
Oh, and BTW, that thing about Black men having a bigger one? It's a myth. Been fully debunked by objective studies. So even if size DID matter, there would be little reason to prefer dating men of one given origin. But ask women what's more important, and by far, in a lover: how "impressively"-endowed he is, or how attentionate and un-selfish he is? Having a big male EGO is catastrophic. Mutual trust and respect? It's simply the magic formula.
I dare say that the more a man brags about his mensurations, even deservingly, the more likely it is that he'll be a selfish macho, and therefore a lousy lover.
Back on the main topic, I absolutely loved that clip. Naturally, I feel that nudity is sensual. In both genders, with normal heterosexual preference for the opposite gender. But to give a measure of how I feel it is non-sexual and innocent, if somebody I know and respect &/or love was in that clip, I wouldn't have felt the least bit shocked. It's not the least bit lascivious, lewd, rude, solliciting... as innocent in context as a baby in the bath. I have no problem whatsoever with it. My parents or children could've been in it, it would be no biggie for me.
But I bet you won't see that ad on USA television any time soon! A pity, that.
Do you think doctors get a hard-on every time a good-looking woman undresses to be examined? Think again. Sexuality is all in the mind, even on Playboy Channel I've heard it said and repeated. In today's world, we simply happen to have it socially associated with nudity. In the 18th century, the sight of a woman's exposed ankle would have made most men's heads spin, while bare breasts were practically commonplace. Standards change. In France, I once went to the beach with my fest friend, and his mother, who was topless. Nobody was embarrassed. And believe me, she had a *perfect* body.
It's all cultural. You may legitimately feel very strongly about your own standards. That's *absolutely* okay, understandable, and normal. Just remember it's the result of the education you received, and the social conditioning. It IS NOT universal standards you and I have. That would be impossible.
In my early teens, any nude image would send my hormones raging. It didn't help that I was brought up in a religious school and had some very "conservative" relatives. Since then (and the days of Playboy Channel ;-), I grew up, and traced my own path, thought my own sensible mind. I unabashedly acknowledge my interest for sex and claim it as healthy and normal. I also acknowledge that I can have a normal, casual conversation with a beautiful young woman, completely naked before me, and look her in the eyes. It's happened to me. (Alas, not really a Domai moment for the newsletter. :-)
Pascal said:
ReplyDelete"Basically, it is biased if instead of excess fat, you have a lot of muscle (but then you'll know the difference between lean and sedentary!);"
Well that's really what I'm talking about. If you're an athletic mesomorph, you might have all lean muscle but you could score as obese because of the weight. So what's the use of the number?
According to my common sense, I need to work out to convert some of my fat into muscle, because I'm too sedentary.
You're the doc, doc; but it was my understanding that fat was burned off and additional muscle was added to existing muscle, not that fat actually changed into muscle. Unless you just meant "replace some of my fat with muscle."
And if you've never seen more overweight feminine flesh than what Rubens painted, if you find it exagerated, then let me tell you, you're very lucky.
I remember reading something by an art historian who said that Rubens' models could not have lived and been that fat. I doubt anyone who really exists could be that fat,unless they're a shut in who can't get out of bed. I have seen some TV shows like "The Half-Ton Man" and "The 750 Pound Woman," but these are not people capable of moving around.
Oh, and BTW, that thing about Black men having a bigger one? It's a myth. Been fully debunked by objective studies.
I know just from locker room showers that it's a myth, but people will continue to believe it. I did work with this girl once who said that she only dated black guys. This turned out not to be quite true.
My parents or children could've been in it, it would be no biggie for me.
I can't say the same. I would not like to see my parents or siblings naked. It wouldn't exactly be shocking, but it would be a bit weird for me.
Do you think doctors get a hard-on every time a good-looking woman undresses to be examined? Think again.
Although I wouldn't know about that, I have done a lot of life drawing and, the first time, I admit I was a bit worried about it, but it's a completely non-sexual thing.
I also acknowledge that I can have a normal, casual conversation with a beautiful young woman, completely naked before me, and look her in the eyes. It's happened to me.
Well I don't think I could say the same, but maybe I've got too much testosterone or maybe I'm a sex addict or something. Thing is, those Sexaholics Anonymous meetings always turn into one big orgy. ;-)
"So what's the use of the number?"
ReplyDeleteIf you were a fat slob, you wouldn't be asking this kind of question, mister perfectly-fit big-muscled Dick.
Unless you just meant "replace some of my fat with muscle."
Considering my current willpower, the effort feels akin to achieving transmutation! Hence my (admittedly lazy) choice of words.
More seriously, building muscle takes up energy, the same released from fat by some decent physical activity. In a way, it IS converting one into the other, because you need that much less energy in your food regimen. (If you're markedly overweight, you could survive with only some red meat, fluids, vitamins and minerals while you work out. Although taken to the extreme that can become risky, as demonstrated by the "Atkins diet".)
Parts of the fatty tissue can also be used as cell building materials: lipidic cell membranes, fat conversion into glucose, which is later transformed into aminoacids for the muscle proteins. It's hardly obvious when you haven't studied the intricacy of bio-chemistry in Med School, I admit.
For instance, there's a reason why I can't believe these studies claiming that fructose is overly fattening: the first step of the Krebs cycle, which converts glucose into energy inside the cells, is energy-free conversion (enzymatic isomerisation, to be technical) of glucose into FRUCTOSE. So, fructose can only be fattening if it is in excess quantities, exactly like glucose.
On a side benefit, fructose doen't need insulin to be used up by the cells, so fruits with no added sugar are the least harmful kind of sweets for diabetics, who can digest and assimilate them (in moderate quantities!) without requiring adjustment of their insulin doses. But enough showing off the vastness of my humble science. :-)
"This turned out not to be quite true."
What, you mean the part about her only dating black guys?
Allright, Joe! You da man!!! ;-)
"I would not like to see my parents or siblings naked. It wouldn't exactly be shocking, but it would be a bit weird for me."
Exactly like for me!
You can make a parallel with those Spencer Tunick mass nude photos, or the (rather frequent) naked protests. An ordinary person feeling uneasy about nudity is understandable, it's part of our education/conditioning. But many "fundamentalist prudes" I know would immediately declare public nudity "just as bad as prostitution", while I try to be honest with myself and remember that if it's not sexual, then it's my own social reflexes that are twisted. Not an easy task, questioning and changing some of your deepest-rooted beliefs.
Sure, medical training helps a lot in desensitizing a person to many of those arbitrary taboos. Your art experience is another of many eye-opening possible situations.
"Thing is, those Sexaholics Anonymous meetings always turn into one big orgy. ;-)"
So, it would seem that group therapy for sex addicts isn't a very good idea. (Hey! What am I saying? It sounds like a GREAT idea!!!)
I've heard a similar story of group therapy failure: Compulsive Liars Anonymous disbanded, because they could never be sure they were actually in one of their meetings. :o)
BTW, does anybody know if Elave are still hiring? I'm qualified, I swear!
BTW, does anybody know if Elave are still hiring? I'm qualified, I swear!
ReplyDeletePascal said.
LOL, smiles here my friend. Go for it Doc :)