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AIBU

Would this offend you?

(152 Posts)
surfingsal Sun 26-Jan-25 10:05:35

We live on the coast and our road is often full of surfers stripping off to get into their wet suits, most of them try to be as discreet as they can and it is not a problem . I have lived here 50 years and is has never bothered me or my neighbours but a new family have moved in down the road and have put a complaint into the council and the police and have started a petition to stop the surfers changing, I refused to sign and think they are being petty , would this bother you ?

Witzend Sun 26-Jan-25 11:32:44

Can’t say it’d bother me in the slightest.

I wonder what they’d have said about the sight I witnessed while walking down Piccadilly a couple of years ago.

At least 100 stark naked cyclists (nearly all male) in convoy down the street! On a very hot day, too - I did wonder about their bits getting sunburnt.
I didn’t see anyone on the very busy street who didn’t just find it highly amusing!

GrannyIvy Sun 26-Jan-25 11:29:43

If they are discreet that fine and you don’t have to look. So no would not worry me. I wouldn’t sign the petition.

Harris27 Sun 26-Jan-25 11:28:44

Very petty. I wouldn’t sign either.

Whiff Sun 26-Jan-25 11:25:52

No it wouldn't bother me . I am of the generation where we used to try and wiggle out of our wet swimsuit while mom held a towel round us. Many people must had a glimpse of my bare bum if mom wasn't quick enough when I bend over like we did with everyone else doing the swimsuit or trunks wriggle .

Lollin Sun 26-Jan-25 11:20:26

I agree with 25avalon
If the surfers and long-standing residents are used to it, maybe they’ve gradually acclimatised to more bare flesh over the years.
I wonder if their home gives them a different view/angle to other homes. If the surfers are not using dry changing robes then it would seem a simple solution for everyone.

Tenko Sun 26-Jan-25 11:19:49

No it wouldn’t bother me . I have family in Cornwall and a lot of the surfers there have camper vans and change there . Also the few times I’ve surfed or windsurfed I’ve worn my costume under my clothes and even though I’ve stripped off my clothes to get into a wetsuit , everything is still covered . And afterwards I’ve used a large towel to change under . This was before dryrobes .
It sounds like the newbies didn’t do their research before buying .
My husband clayshoots and people move nearby and complain about the noise . It’s 4 hours and on 2 Sundays a month.

Elowen33 Sun 26-Jan-25 11:15:44

It wouldn’t bother me but if I had children it probably would.

Greyduster Sun 26-Jan-25 11:10:41

It’s no worse than people changing on a beach, and we’ve all done that. I would refuse to sign the petition too; it’s ridiculous. Perhaps you should start a counter petition - give ‘em something to think about!

AGAA4 Sun 26-Jan-25 11:03:21

When we went diving people got into their wetsuits on the beach. How far away are the people changing from the houses?

yogitree Sun 26-Jan-25 11:02:29

It wouldn't bother me in the least. Wouldn't be the first time I have seen a body for goodness sake!

ViceVersa Sun 26-Jan-25 10:58:44

Most of them around here (not so much surfers, but wild swimmers) use the dry robes for changing anyway, so you'd have to be looking awfully closely to spot anything interesting! wink

25Avalon Sun 26-Jan-25 10:50:52

Maybe the new family have children or grandchildren and don’t want to see people changing in public. Maybe when they bought the house they didn’t realised this happened. To be fair I probably wouldn’t. It sounds inappropriate to me and proper changing facilities should be provided or the surfers kept to one discrete area. It will be interesting to see how many signatures the petition gets.

maddyone Sun 26-Jan-25 10:50:28

It wouldn’t offend me so long as they were being as discreet as possible, which apparently they are.

ixion Sun 26-Jan-25 10:45:15

How far do you strip off to don a wet suit?

TerriBull Sun 26-Jan-25 10:41:07

Maybe the answer is for the council to provide some sort of changing facility.

TerriBull Sun 26-Jan-25 10:37:46

No it would bother me. Just don't look! Newcomers should not seek to change established customs, if they want to get on with their newly adopted community. I imagine that would be pretty much a thing where there are surfers and if I lived where you live OP, I wouldn't want to drive the surfers away so I would refuse to sign the petition too. Personally, I think surfing looks absolutely exhilarating and it's great that it has become a growing pursuit here now.

woodenspoon Sun 26-Jan-25 10:27:51

Some people will always find something to complain about. What is it that worries them exactly. Are they doing it in front of their windows? If not, why bother.

Galaxy Sun 26-Jan-25 10:27:17

It isnt really about offence or whether people are forced to look, it will be about the law.

mum2three Sun 26-Jan-25 10:26:13

Is anyone forcing them to look?

Shelflife Sun 26-Jan-25 10:23:32

Absolutely not ! Your new neighbours need to find something serious to complain about.

ViceVersa Sun 26-Jan-25 10:22:21

What offence would that be? As has been said, most try to be as discreet as possible. I doubt they are parading up and down in the buff! There are far worse things to be getting one's knickers in a twist about.

Barleyfields Sun 26-Jan-25 10:20:48

I doubt it’s a pleasant sight in many cases. They are probably committing an offence.

Norah Sun 26-Jan-25 10:11:57

No.

Skydancer Sun 26-Jan-25 10:08:56

I think it’s petty. Some people move next door to a pub and then complain about the noise. Let the surfers have their fun.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 26-Jan-25 10:08:33

How silly of the newbie’s.

They obviously didn’t do their research before moving.

It’s like moving next to a main road and complaining about the noise from vehicles.