Good on you, Boaz, for posting this topic and for getting involved. Sounds like a lot of fun. And a most appropriate message to those who would try to force their [now, but not pre-1902] un-Australian ideas of dress upon those of us who don't want it.

You may be interested in a bit of Australian history on beach activities and beachwear. Swimming at the beach during daylight hours had been illegal for many years in the more populated parts of Eastern Australia. Then, in 1902, a Sydney newspaper proprietor named William Gocher openly defied the law by swimming at Manly. And he got away with it!

http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/psychology/psychvideo.html

http://www.freebeach.com.au/Neck-Knee-Nude.htm

For a great overview of what eventuated over the years, get a copy of From Neck to Knee to Nude:

http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/psychology/psychvideo.html

This documentary makes the point that every improvement in acceptable wear [or non-wear] for Australian beaches has been won by open civil disobedience.

I grew up in England. In about 1947, my elder sister, who was a glamourous sort of woman, made herself a bikini for a photo session. [Bikinis couldn't be bought in England at that time, but there were photos of bikini wearers in European magazines.] I suppose, to some people, that was pornographic! LOL. She sent the photos to her then fiance in the British Army. I'm sure they helped him to think of home!

I came to Australia in 1962. My then wife looked great in a bikini and even wore string bikinis to Leeds City Council swimming pools, without any problems. When we got to Perth, we were told by well meaning friends that she would be ordered off the beach if she dared to wear such things here. But it never happened. Things were definitely improving, perhaps in part to the influx of "multicultural" people from Britain and Europe.

My personal opinion is that wearing clothes to swim in makes about as much sense as wearing clothes in the shower [something I'm told often gets done in same-sex changing rooms at health/sports clubs, schools and pool and beach changing rooms] etc

Thanx Rex.... you just demonstrated one of the great positives of a forum like this.. "multi pronged research" and now I'll be much better informed on such issues as a result of your helpful input.

Take note others who prefer to just wax increasingly eleoquent in their insults :)

I actually had it in mind to specifically research this issue.. from a social change perspective and looking at the particular agents of change, how it related to the law and to economic forces.

THANX :)

cheers cobba

CJ,

And here he is, god bless him.

http://www.davezilla.com/images/Sal-Alderman.png

Whatever Boaz's reasons.... and I am a suspicious soul, this is an excellent idea. If I lived in Melbourne I'd be there! I'm pleased Keyser Trad has been included as an unwelcome resident -- his recent 'sensitive' image is a fake. It is barely two years since he was calling for the right to stone to death adulterous women and all homosexual men.
Australians have long been puritanical, but that doesnt reflect their English origins -- more the Irish Catholic. Under English law, nude sea bathing was common until WWII. In the 1960's I wore merely a 'cache sex' pouch on the beach in Brighton and no one was offended. What intrigues me is the new 'modesty' of Australian males who today dont dare show even their thighs on the beach. Why is this? Apart from anything else, it is dangerous for boys to wear such baggy things as they make swimming impossible and drowning a greater possibility.

"Do your looks matter?" Of course they do, but not as much as most guys think. You see men are visual beings and judge women by their looks: body, hair, face, eyes, legs and etc. So a woman has a much better chance at seducing a potential lover by looking her absolute best.
This is the reason why women everyday pile on make up and spend hours in front of the mirror, doing their hair and eye shadow. When a man sees an attractive woman, the woman's looks are what initially puts the man into a sexual state and makes gives him "butterflies." Women on the other hand, tend to be seduced by words and actions. Ever noticed how when back in high school you had a crush on a girl but she never seemed to notice you UNTIL you successfully approached her and captured her attention. Suddenly after a few chats she seems to be really into you, interesting. So unless the man is some kind of a male model or a celebrity in which case women will feel the "butterflies" for him.

So while a lot of people may think that women may care about the men's looks, it isn't quiet so. So if you are not that appealing to look at, you are in luck. If you can make the woman feel all kinds of different emotions such as: love, lust, hate, warmth and tension then she will be drawn to you even if you look like George Costanza from Seinfeld. Looks can help you get an "audition" but if you do not show to her that you have much more to offer (not money or materialistic things) like the ability to make her feel an emotional connection and deep feelings for you then she will be gone in a flash.

http://www.attractwomen.com.au

This just seems like a bit of a stunt to me.

On one hand it's obviously about the infamous "uncovered meat" statement but on the other hand it also seems to prove the point.

I'm certainly no prude but parading down the street in bikinis will only objectify the women involved.

Bikinis at the beach is one thing but this is just provocative exhibitionism for the sake of it.

If Muslim women joined the parade wearing their hijabs, it would mean that it would be a legitimate womens' protest about the freedom to wear what you want in this society (which is also valid), but this is something else entirely.

Do we have to top one outrageous act with another just to feel better about who we are?

At best it will get a lot of laughs on you-tube.

I'd be there if I could, but not for political reasons.