Indecent? In whose eyes?
Friday 22nd June 2007, 10:32AM BST.
We’re very lucky in this country, really. Hoodies and face veils aside, what we wear can be pretty wacky or unusual without causing any great controversy, writes our Teen Blogger Rhian.
Our laws concern themselves more with people not wearing, rather than wearing clothes.
Consequently, we have lads with saggy trousers showing off the tops of their boxers and girls wearing low cut jeans flashing off their thongs, but it’s no problem for us.
Not so, the teenagers who live in Delcambre, America, though. Over there, offending public decency by exposing your underwear can cost you a fine of £250 or six months in prison!
It seems a bit over the top, but there have been other examples, like the scandalous Miss World competition in 1951 when Miss Sweden won wearing a two piece swimsuit and bikinis were subsequently banned from the event for two decades.
Who are the puritans that come up with these daft ideas though?
And does it ever occur to them that if teenagers see a civic dignitary wearing a gold mayoral chains of office, they might think: “Some bling! Bet he shops at Argos.”
- Rhian is the Shropshire Star’s Teen Blogger, writing about issues from a teenager’s perspective.
- You can comment on her blog in the box below.
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Well said Rhian!
More freedom that’s what we want – how we dress is a personal expression of ourselves – which is precisely what those PC narks and others in authority don’t want.
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You have to respect that different people have different opinions and different values.
Where what you want but people need to understand that if it is not the local custom then it may draw unwanted attention and if the local people of an area set a law then it should be respected like anyother.
“Indecent? In whose eyes” Well clearly not those of the author and that is her opinion however that does not mean those of others should be disrespected.
Maybe some of these people you are calling puritans are simply trying to protect their society from this image is everything beautiful is the be all and end all that seems to be sweeping the world.
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I agree that people should be able to wear what they want but draw the line at indecency. Usually in this country, the sun pops out as do the beer bellies on some men as do the fleshy thighs on girls with their midriffs flashing. I personally dont think its a good look despite your body shape or size. I think that our society needs to be a bit more respectful towards others (and thats across all ages, peniosners included) and this is part of that agenda. Also, having all your bits hanging out gives you a bad name!
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if you got it flaunt it
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I’m far from a teenager, in fact I’m definitely an old fogey. I have to say though that I come down squarely on Rhian’s side. I’m all for not offending people and repecting their rights and privacy, but how about the rights of those who choose to dress in a manner that is more revealing.
If I see something I dislike, I look somewhere else. Unless someone is behaving in a manner that’s harmful, why shouldn’t they be allowed the freedom to behave or dress as they choose?
The problem with John’s argument is that in our hugely diverse society, there is no single local opinion, and I see no reason to value the opinions of any one group more highly than any other.
Surely the principle should be, ‘if no harm is being caused, then a given behaviour is no problem’.
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But thats it Gaz, most people who falunt it havent got it and thats where the arguement about respectibility comes in.
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