What do you think about the London naked bike ride having to hire security?
Posted by Fruitpicker15@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 61 comments
It seems to be because a man was attacked last August while taking part in a naked bike ride event. Reading opinions in the media, some people are opposed to it in the context of indecency and child protection which is strange to me.
I lived in other parts of Europe as a child where it was normal for women to sunbathe topless without anyone being concerned. Parents taught kids that their bodies are normal and nothing to be ashamed of. What message does it send kids when their parents are outraged over something like this? A child abuse campaigner has started a petition to ban it and I see 'pervert' being used a lot. The event is planned in advance so if you don't want to see it just don't take your kids to that specific place at that specific time on that specific day.
An organisation doing a naked bike ride where I'm from would probably just be seen as some daft eccentrics which is more or less how I see it. I wouldn't participate in one and I have no interest either way but if they aren't breaking the law and not bothering anyone why would I get angry?
Imaginary-Can7999@reddit
Flashing: it involves intentionally exposing genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation. It is not a joke; it is sexual violence, often punished with fines, community orders, or up to two years in prison.
MmmThisISaTastyBurgr@reddit
It's almost certainly because some conspiracy theorist lunatic has linked harmless nakedness to the completely unrelated issue of predatory grooming in a way that, even if explained, will not follow any reasonable logic.
blozzerg@reddit
There’s a huge difference as well as to how men and women are treated, and security is arguable required for the safety of both genders for different reasons.
Men who ride naked are accused of being sexual, or predators, men face a lot more flack being naked where there might be kids present than women do; however if it was solely naked women cycling there’d be a risk of harassment from men who’d still seem to seem to think we’re asking for harassment and attention.
I’ve noticed this especially on social media - recently a bloke had a mental break near me and went for a ramble naked, didn’t commit any particular crime, was just out and about naked and ended up at the local park (open green space but with a playground in the corner). There was a huge witch hunt and cries of paedophile. He was arrested after pressure from my neighbours but he was clearly not mentally well.
Yet when a woman was flashing in McDonald’s all the comments were asking for the CCTV to be released. Kids sat having a happy meal yet in this instance it’s hilarious and everyone wants to see?
Imaginary-Can7999@reddit
Deluded if you think being naked in a park where children are is innocent. It's a crime it's flashing. Go do it at home alone, doing bit in public shows you want others to see you and that's unwanted and flashing a crime.It involves intentionally exposing genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation. It is not a joke; it is sexual violence, often punished with fines, community orders, or up to two years in prison.
MmmThisISaTastyBurgr@reddit
Your neighbour's case is especially sad, partly because most sexual predators are already known to their victims — rather than from "stranger danger" like a rando in a park — but particularly the response to mental illness always being so damning and unsupportive. The dude clearly didn't need to be arrested.
I'm guessing the McDonald's woman got her tits out? Breasts are always sexual, even when feeding babies. As long as breasts = male sexual titillation then it's harmless, or only harming the owner. As soon as breasts = natural feeding mechanism, then that's threatening... Urgh
kitten-gala@reddit
She spoke about a man being visibly sexually aroused during the event.
Would you be fine with your kid seeing a man's erection in public like this?
MmmThisISaTastyBurgr@reddit
First, I have no proof that actually happened. Second, men can get erections from loads of random, embarrassing things that are nothing to do with sexual arousal, like vibrations. Third, there's a big difference around intent and whether someone is deliberately exposing themselves or embarrassed and trying to hide. If it's deliberate, I'd expect everyone around them to take action to remove that person and get them on the sex offenders register. As there was no indication of a kerfuffle in this hypothetical scenario, I'm going to assume innocence.
I believe it's important for my kid and others to see normal, naked humans doing normal non-sexual things like riding a bike to ensure they do not automatically associate nakedness with sex. I believe it's really important in an age of air-brushing, filters and AI that everybody sees what normal bodies look like. I also believe we need to desensitise and normalise non-sexual nudity so that e.g. women can breastfeed babies and people can enjoy being in their natural state, or in any clothing they choose, in non-sexual contexts, without being accused of perversion or loose morals because I'm not a Victorian prude who thinks exposing an ankle is scandalous.
On safeguarding, every kid is going to have to see a penis and an erection at some point. If they're a boy, it will be their own and they need to be taught that it's their responsibility what happens with it. Parents need to explain what penises and erections are to boys and girls in a very open way. If they see an innocent penis or erection in the wild, then an explanation from a parent can naturally happen then, so I think it could potentially be helpful.
Far too many girls and boys will encounter sexual predators in their lifetime and I personally would rather a parent has already been able to explain what is normal and what is dangerous nudity in a safe environment like this than when that child is alone. Neurodiverse people in particular have issues with understanding intent so this sort of explanation from a trusted adult is critical. The more we can arm young children with the knowledge of what constitutes danger and what is harmless at an early age, the safer our society will become.
kitten-gala@reddit
Why not show your child straight-up adult pornography at that point? That's "normal" too, and in your own words, they will "have to see an erect penis at some point".
The risk of exposing your child to non-sexual adult men with exposed, erect penises should be so, so glaringly obvious. You're training your child to accept abnormal nudity as normal, but it isn't normal to see exposed adult genitals in public, so why is it important that you train your child to accept it as normal?
It just sounds like you're grooming them to have no meaningful basis as to what is publicly acceptable behavior and how to have absolutely no basis for comparison for when they're being confronted with dangerous predator. You've taught your kid that a nude man in public isn't a threat, after all.
DizzyMine4964@reddit
Spinoff from the TERFs
MmmThisISaTastyBurgr@reddit
Tell me more?
Imaginary-Can7999@reddit
If people don't like it then that's also ok. I don't know why anyone feels the need to do it, I'd love to see a psychologist interview those doing it and strongly suspect there's a large amount of non innocent motives for it. It is flashing after all and that's illegal, if you think it isn't explain why?
Dr0wningAstronaut@reddit
I am going to attack them. I no longer give 2 fucks.
Dr0wningAstronaut@reddit
Report me to the police or crimestoppers. Its happening.
drizzy117@reddit
Is it for the Epstein charity?
kitten-gala@reddit
Why is most always mostly old white guys who jump at the chance to get their genitals out on show to the general public?
It's the bloated, selfish sense of self-entitlement that offends me more than anything.
Put your cock and balls away, or at the very least, don't pretend to be stunned if someone doesn't like it and let's you know it about it.
AlGunner@reddit
The sad truth is there are people who are, lets call them deviants who will use it hide in the group and use it for voyeurism. They have them I the city near mee and Ive been in town when it was on maybe twice over the years. There was an incident where some kids started shouting about a man with a hard on that I witnessed that ended up with the police taking the man away. While 99.9% of people taking part may do it for genuine reasons there is always a risk.
deeppsychic1@reddit
What are the genuine reasons of nude cycling? Am I insane or the world is going crazy.
deeppsychic1@reddit
Who wants to see fat men with tiny penises on bikes? Whose idea was that it’s somehow funny or cheerful.
Disgusting behaviour from some mentally unstable adults.
sihasihasi@reddit
You don't have to watch
deeppsychic1@reddit
You don’t have to do it in a public space. Rent a cycling track and be do all the weird stuff you want to do.
You have zero understanding of what community means if you think that cycling naked is ok or that I don’t have to watch. Weird media empires run by paedophiles has corrupted your brain.
sihasihasi@reddit
Yeah, ok, dude.
BTW - I'm not cycling nude. I'm not a prude either.
deeppsychic1@reddit
Thank you for not cycling nude. -which is how normal people cycle-.
ClimbsNFlysThings@reddit
This hardly seems odd in a country where people break legs chasing cheese down a hill
karlitooo@reddit
Any time some special group wants to make a spectacle of themselves it’s like “please don’t discriminate against us”
If they don’t want to book a venue for their niche interest it’s because they want an audience.
Chase_Norton@reddit
And 99% of them probably want kids as part of that audience
Crazy-Expression-177@reddit
Having a shit is normal and nothing to be ashamed of, but we don’t do it riding around on a bicycle in public.
StuPipGuy@reddit
I've shit myself on a bike more often than ridden naked on one, and I'm more embarrassed admitting about shitting myself than being naked.
Dangerous_Air_7031@reddit
Why though? Its natural.
Ok-Blackberry-3534@reddit
That's because it leaves a trail of toxic shit everywhere.
Crazy-Expression-177@reddit
Doing it ≠ Leaving it
heroics-delta8s@reddit
You should be locked up.
Fruitpicker15@reddit (OP)
What for?
OrganisedVirgin@reddit
Indecent exposure. If it's not legal 364 days a year why should it be for the 1? There's places for nudism and they have areas that are suitable for a bike ride.
cgknight1@reddit
It is legal 365 days a year - being nude does not automatically equal indecent exposure.
OrganisedVirgin@reddit
So if you walked around Tesco naked would you expect to be left alone?
cgknight1@reddit
That is a shift to a different point - that would still not be illegal.
Tesco could ask you to leave as a private business but no law has been broken.
Fruitpicker15@reddit (OP)
I did say in my original post that I have no interest in participating in the bike ride so I don't understand why you think I should be locked up for indecent exposure.
SnooRegrets8068@reddit
I can't see why I would care either way really, not hurting anyone is i.
Djinjja-Ninja@reddit
I dunno, bicycle seats are quite chafing.
SnooRegrets8068@reddit
Well causing themselves discomfort is their own issue.
Silencer95@reddit
It’s weird that it’s illegal to expose yourself in public, but if you wrap it in some performative social messaging it’s suddenly okay?
I find the whole thing weird. It really does feel like an excuse for exhibitionists to legally go around town naked. I don’t care if it’s planned beforehand, keep it to yourself or specific nude beaches.
cgknight1@reddit
It's not - the actual offence is to expose your genitals to cause shock or offence - and that is pretty difficult prove if you are just naked doing something normal like riding a bike.
gazchap@reddit
Especially when you’re riding a bike at an _organised event\ specifically for that purpose.
cgknight1@reddit
yep!
Affectionate_Comb_78@reddit
It is not inherently illegal to be naked in public in the UK.
Silencer95@reddit
It is if it causes distress, harm or harassment. Any of which could easily be discerned from this if you’re unaware the event is going on. Hence why the increased security because I saw the video of a cyclist getting assaulted by someone probably unaware of the purpose.
GaryJM@reddit
Even if you expose your genitals and it causes distress or alarm, that still isn't a criminal offence. You have to do it with the intention of causing someone alarm or distress.
Silencer95@reddit
Guess that makes it okay then.
cgknight1@reddit
Legally, it absolutely does.
cgknight1@reddit
The College of Policing specifically lists riding a bike as an activity that should not be seen as causin distress or harm (Harassment does not apply as that is a specific offense with it's own criteria and you defacto cannot harass someone by riding past them a single time).
Affectionate_Comb_78@reddit
If it is done with the intent to cause such things, not if it causes them.
OrganisedVirgin@reddit
A lot of perverts and pedophiles in this thread
Naive_Reach2007@reddit
He assaulted someone riding home after the even thinking he was a paedophile 🙄
Because let's face it its easy to recognise paedophiles there constantly driving and walking around naked🙄
PrizeCrew994@reddit
Sad but realistic
santh91@reddit
I am torn on this one, if it is a way for someone to satisfy their sexual exhibitionist kink then that could be a problem especially when it involves children.
LemmysCodPiece@reddit
The British hold themselves to Victorian values that never existed.
WolfNovel5877@reddit
Because its fucking weird mate, go nip to the shop bollock naked for a bottle of milk and then justify it as being normal, your body is normal and its nothing to be ashamed of. Its just fucking odd.
Laescha@reddit
It's a shame yeah, I get being a bit taken aback by seeing a mass of naked people when you're not expecting it, but it's not a big deal, and as you say, it's healthy to see nudity in a non-sexual context sometimes. But if security makes the riders feel safer then fair play.
Wise-Youth2901@reddit
Well, the UK is made up of a lot of different people. London even more so. So there's no doubt many different views and opinions. There are women in London that cover up most their body when out and about and there are people that are happy to cycle around naked. I do think there is a subsection of the white British population obsessed with peadophiles and perverts. This as a thing has increased as numerous very famous people have turned out to be abusers... Grooming gangs etc... There's a rich history in the UK of Puritanism. And it still is in our country, and occasionally springs forth. Equally, there's a more free spirited cavalier attitude in the UK, too. Try comparing Oliver Cromwell to Charles II. Cromwell and his puritan pals shut down the brothels and theatres and after the death of Cromwell, King Charles II opened them up again! There's different strains to the UK culturally. We're actually quite a complex tapestry despite not being a huge nation like the US.
ambadawn@reddit
There's a lot of puritans in the UK unfortunately.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.