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Topless in High Street - acceptable or not?

(58 Posts)
Lovetotravel Fri 18-Jul-25 10:06:09

Went to our local town a couple of days ago and saw a man walking down the High Street topless. IMO it’s not acceptable, at the seaside, yes but there’s a place for not wearing a top and it’s not the High Street. Does anyone else feel the same?

BlueBelle Fri 18-Jul-25 15:23:10

Oh what a load of nonsense it’s lovely weather why should we all be bundled up in clothes, live and let live if a man wants to go bare chested what’s the problem he’s not showing any bits that shouldn’t be seen
I don’t remember ever coming into physical ‘contact’ with a man’s body down the high street 🤣 I’m obviously missing out

As for sweat the most likely person you ll get sweat from is a woman leaning across the counter or freezer to reach something whilst wearing a sleeveless top

Good manners to put a t shirt in when going in a restaurant for a meal I agree

Mollygo Fri 18-Jul-25 15:06:09

Oreo

It’s nothing to do with prudishness. Going in and out of shops and cafes with sweaty uncovered bodies is just grim.
It’s the High St not the beach.

Prudish is different. It means
easily shocked by rude things, especially anything relating to sex
Nowadays few people are shocked by nudity .
Rather they are shocked or disgusted that people think it’s OK, pleasant for others, hygienic etc to walk round with your bits and bobs on view, or your sweaty body hanging about where others may be obliged to come into contact with it.
🤮🤮

Lathyrus3 Fri 18-Jul-25 15:00:13

Odd isn’t it, the bare bits that are just not on.

I was eating in a restaurant recently and the woman on the table adjacent kicked off her sandals and sat with her feet turned up so that I had a full frontal of the soles of her feet.

I have no idea why I was revolted by this but I was. Luckily I had finished my meal but I would have had to ask to be moved otherwise.

On the other hand a complete stranger told me last week that I should wear long sleeves and not expose my wrinkly arms.

I’m just musing really. Need to get up and do something……..

Oreo Fri 18-Jul-25 14:50:30

It’s nothing to do with prudishness. Going in and out of shops and cafes with sweaty uncovered bodies is just grim.
It’s the High St not the beach.

Fatoldlady Fri 18-Jul-25 14:43:50

There's nothing wrong with human bodies, why shouldn't anyone go topless if they want? All bodies are different, folks shouldn't be so critical if a body doesn't conform to what they think is "correct". or "nice". There are a lot of faces that don't conform to the norm, but you wouldn't expect them to cover their faces would you? So many people are so prudish!

Chardy Fri 18-Jul-25 13:56:53

This morning, I saw a little boy (2ish) in a buggy watching a male jogger with no shirt on for 10 or 15 seconds with an expression of disbelief on his face. Why hadn't the man got properly dressed this morning?

Cossy Fri 18-Jul-25 12:13:23

JaneJudge

Yes the young girls and their bra tops smile I would scare the horses if wearing similar

I would scare far more than just horses 😂😂😂😂

Cossy Fri 18-Jul-25 12:12:16

LizzieDrip

It depends Lovetotravel.

A bronzed, toned Adonis with a six pack … yes please❤️

A fat, flabby overhanging belly … no thank you🤢

Sorry to lower the tone 🤣🤣🤣

Oh how I agree!

The issue here, in Southend, is our main (horrible) high street leads straight onto the beach.

To be honest, it doesn’t really bother me at all live and let live.

Daddima Fri 18-Jul-25 12:11:21

I noticed on holiday in Greece that a lot of ( mostly British) men were happily going about ‘taps aff’ ( tops off), presumably to exhibit their many tattoos. It was not pretty, though not as bad as those who thought Speedos were were acceptable wear for overweight 60+ year olds!
I also noticed that a lot of women were out and about in swimwear. Are sarongs and the like no longer needed?

Caleo Fri 18-Jul-25 12:09:28

People hide their private parts to be polite to other people.

People also conceal parts of their bodies that are unsightly as people don't generally want to look unhealthy or ugly.

I don't understand the motives of people who don't care how they look to others.

Witzend Fri 18-Jul-25 11:55:09

Ilovedogs22

Well I'm always buttoned-up! I was born middle-aged and prudey.
I hate it when my Daughter in law comes round showing her bits!
It's too much for MrIlovedogs, I stare at him to make sure he's not having a sneaky peek at her, which makes him even more shifty! 😐

Which ‘bits’, if I’m allowed to ask? A major case of her dumplings boiling over, as a colleague of my mother used to put it?

dotpocka Fri 18-Jul-25 11:48:11

in usa public store pubs etc
no shoes no shirt no service
male or female

Ilovedogs22 Fri 18-Jul-25 11:41:41

Well I'm always buttoned-up! I was born middle-aged and prudey.
I hate it when my Daughter in law comes round showing her bits!
It's too much for MrIlovedogs, I stare at him to make sure he's not having a sneaky peek at her, which makes him even more shifty! 😐

M0nica Fri 18-Jul-25 11:34:42

bra tops? That would be cheating!

Aveline Fri 18-Jul-25 11:31:07

Maybe we should do a flash mob of grans in bra tops? Then when interviewed we can say it's a protest against topless men!

JaneJudge Fri 18-Jul-25 11:27:45

Yes the young girls and their bra tops smile I would scare the horses if wearing similar

Mollygo Fri 18-Jul-25 11:24:57

I’d rather not see naked, sweaty flesh when I’m out shopping, but it amazes me that even in the heat wave men and boys were still walking round in hoodies, sometimes with the hood up!

Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 11:18:38

Well re sitting in just a bra, some of the tops (usually worn by mere slips of a girl) sizes 6,8,10 are little more than a bra same with bikini tops.
The bigger a woman is “up top” the more flak she gets. It is NOT fair.

It is a gender imbalance thing because to me boobs are just my boobs and I would love to swan around topless like I was able to ‘til about aged 10 - (things have changed about what is ok for children) however boobs are regarded by many as a sexual appendage like genitals.

Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 11:07:44

I think the back garden at home or on the beach obviously is acceptable.
Hope they are wearing high factor sun protection.

Ilovedogs22 Fri 18-Jul-25 11:04:21

I think it's unacceptable too Lovetotravel.
Here in the West Midlands going into town used to be a treat but not anymore! I seen half-dressed scary-looking men wandering around with cans of beer during the day. I now tend to shop locally.
Standards are certainly dropping in many aspects of the life in UK but there's always been morons, slobs & drunks around.
Thinking about the Hogarth prints of the reprobate's at the Derby horse races, where the spectators were half-dressed, & drunk and very out of control!
I wonder if I've still got my liberty-bodice somewhere some of us still have principles! Now where my gin. 😊

Oldbat1 Fri 18-Jul-25 10:59:06

Definite no from me. Where are they going as surely they are not going into any shops or pubs or public buildings.

JaneJudge Fri 18-Jul-25 10:55:50

It's not acceptable to walk down the high street at the seaside bare topped either! It's honestly gross.

So many men sitting outside pubs with their tops off too, you don't see ANY women taking their tops off and just sitting there in their bra

LizzieDrip Fri 18-Jul-25 10:55:49

Each to their own Oreo 🤣

TheWeirdoAgain60 Fri 18-Jul-25 10:52:30

Ugh! No!

I fully agree with AGAA4 !

Oreo Fri 18-Jul-25 10:46:14

LizzieDrip

It depends Lovetotravel.

A bronzed, toned Adonis with a six pack … yes please❤️

A fat, flabby overhanging belly … no thank you🤢

Sorry to lower the tone 🤣🤣🤣

Nope, not even an Adonis, in the High Street thanks.A time and a place and all that.