From: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski)
Newsgroups: rec.nude
Subject: Re: Women more modest?
Date: 9 Apr 92 22:10:24 GMT
Organization: UMIACS, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

In article <1992Apr9.111453.805@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (amy young) writes:
>In article <52746@mimsy.umd.edu> jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes:

>>due to excessive vices such as smoking or drinking *too much*, has destroyed 
>>much of the natural beauty of the human body.  These characteristics 
>>reflect a person's own attitudes toward their own body and are 
>>just as pitiable (IMO) as someone who gobs on 
>>too much makeup or feels compelled to have their nose redone.
>
>The only problem here is we come up to the same problem as to who
>decides what is too much... of course, such things as smoking and
>drinking, the lines are pretty clear, but for such things as weight...
>who's to say?  

I think basicly, that I decide what disagrees with my tastes.  But your
point about extenuating circumstances and looking under the surface
are well made.  I know many pleasant individuals that are great company
(IMO), but that have "let themselves go".  This attitude is what I consider
losing the appreciation for their natural form.  

>>...  But there are so many
>>aspects of our health that are related to appearance which we can control, 
>>that I find it disappointing to see anyone who has lost that appreciation
>>for their natural form, especially kindred naturists.
>
>Expound on what you consider to be someone who had "lost that
>appreciation for their natural form...."  Simply overwieght?  By how
>much?  Do the reasons they are overweight play into it?  

Of course reasons play in to it.  There are folks who have genuine
metabolic (i.e. physical) problems that prevent them (or make it 
exceedingly difficult) to maintain a body weight proportional to their
genetic physique.  I think the person I find distasteful is the
"couch potato" type, someone who has no intrinsic problems, but simply
through lifestyle habits has allowed their body to degrade.  These
are (I think) choices made by that person which reflect their appreciation
of not just the physical beauty of a well maintained body, but the
value of a healthy body to one's own enjoyment of life.

My experience has been (after knowing the folks) that most folks
get lazy about maintaining their physique as they get older, typically
living more sedentary lives (i.e "settling down").  While there are 
many things about aging we can't reverse (nor should we feel compelled to) such
as graying hair or receding hairlines, a [excessive] beer belly on a 35 
year old fellow who was an athlete in college is normally going to be 
simply "letting themselves go".  Or a 30 year old woman who gains 50 
lbs after getting married.  People change as their lives progress. If,
in the case of weight, they fail to change their eating habits as their
activity levels drop, they are being lazy. 

I am not talking weight changes due to to turkey over the holidays or
the "paunch of maturity" (what a term, huh?:-), 
but long term habits that are left unchecked, continuing to exacerbate 
the problem.  In terms of smoking or drinking, again, its the long 
term habits - not the occasional party or weekly poker
game.

Now, as you point out, it is a risky proposition to make the judgement 
without knowing the individual.


>amy
>(not flames intended, I'm just asking questions).

(no scorched spots...so ok:-)
Good questions.  Everyone varies a bit -minor weight swings, priority
shifts due to say a new baby, etc.  But these interuptions are only
minor and temporary and do not prevent one from keeping physically
fit over a period of years.

I love going to a gathering and seeing folks playing tennis or swimming
with well toned(and tanned:-) bodies.  Whether they are 16 or 60, it 
is a great deal more pleasurable to my eye than someone chowing down
on a chocolate eclaire who really doesn't need it.

Gotta run.  Blue Skies!

Jerry

-- 
Domain: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu		    Jerry Sobieski
  UUCP:	uunet!mimsy!jerrys		University of Maryland
 Phone:	(301)405-6735		Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
 					College Park, Md 20742
Newsgroups: rec.nude