riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Welcome to the hog, no matter what topic you browse there is going to be this kind of replies, this is a world wide forum so we have all kinds. Please do not allow these few jerks deter you. Hang in there and enjoy the ride.
Bruce in Texas.

Equus Loc: Puget Sound

If you missed anything it is that you are on a large group with a lot of differing thoughts, beliefs, opinions, etc., about what is acceptable. This is true in many of the forums in the group. The result is that some people will not be ok with males on this group while others don't care and frankly some are likely to find the photos of male nudes very desirable. Keep posting, you do good work.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Old people return to infancy and become intolerant about many things. Every little detail can push them over the edge...

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Art is art. Porn is porn. There is often a fine line that divides the two. However, the law is pretty clear on the definition. As the saying goes, I may not be able to define porn but I will know it when I see it. I have been trying to discern the difference for 6 decades and still have trouble at times.

Both the male and a female forms can be attractive or unattractive. People have preferences and fetishes. Does that make the viewer, the subject or photographer, morally repugnant or breakers of Judao Christian, Muslim or Hindu or Orthodox beliefs? Go to another country and find out the answer. The US is often referred to as "prude". But, is it really in the big scheme of things?

The discussion in this section comes up again and again yet the viewers and posters survive and to date I am not aware of any lightning striking any of the posters or subjects related to the works shown here. I would however, give up my front seat in hell to go back in time when Timmers first photographed all of his beauties and to be a co-photographer to capture some of the "ART" he has captured in those special, sweet moments in time.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I don’t think posting either is obscene if it’s done with “taste”.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Not quite, US is referred to as hypocrite. Where else do you have women castigated for breastfeeding a child, while there are topless bars all over the place?

I have been raised in Europe, France to be more exact and trust me a breast is nothing at all, just a gland once you see them on a beach... All ages, all sizes and all shapes. Trust me, you quickly lose interest and do not see the point of going to bars or strip clubs to see more.

Cloudboy Loc: Orlando, Florida, USA

And rightfully so I would say. Not prudish compared to very conservative Muslim societies, no, but compared to our closest kin in Europe most certainly. I am half-Danish and half-English and find that the way many people even change clothes at a gym or pool in the States seems very cautious and prudish. Nudity when appropriate is seen in a matter of fact manner in Europe whereas here is seems it almost always is called upon with sexual references. Part of the reason I did my nude self-portraits was to present a nude in a way that I hope questions that, and questions our approach to nudes in life drawing classes and otherwise in fine art as well.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

I say welcome to UHH and post all you want and what you want too, ignore the crappers they will always be with us.
bruce.

Equus Loc: Puget Sound

I would note also that prudishness is something that comes and goes in the west and in other parts of the world as well. I believe that it was Pope Gregory that had fig leaves put on all male nude statues in the Vatican. It seems that seeing that males have penises was too much for the good pope and apparently for god as well. Although SCA would have us believe that the ribald middle ages was a period of exposure and galavanting around half clothed, it is more likely that especially in the upper classes nudity was a bit more reserved. At least part of that may have been that the period was a bit on the nippy side. Certainly in some classes parties in the renaissance and beyond were more revealing and artists have always liked a nude. The masks of Venice uncovered a multitude of revealing behavior. Sailors in the 1800's were pleasantly shocked in the Pacific islands to find the women bare breasted. Don't forget that in the mid to late 1800's women worked in the coal mines in England and were usually either only slightly clothed or nude due to the heat. That ended with the Victorian attitude that women should not be nude around men. That attitude has stuck around in the US in various forms. However, in recently looking at old movies that were meant for general consumption I note that there was liberal use of barely concealed breasts. And there was outrage by some that the bra enhanced the breast even though it was covered.

There have always been those who object to the exposure of the human body. Just as there have been those who wish to glorify it. I note also that there have always been those who wish to portray the human erotocism in what ever medium they are using. There seem to be phaluses from long ago ancient times. Some call them dildos and they may be but they may also be fertility symbols. Perhaps the former have some wishful thinking and the latter have some religous bent. Many statues from Greek and Roman times have erotic themes. In shogunate Japan woodblock prints had to be approved by the censors (something about the ability to print lots of copies could be used to overthrow the government--another good reason to outlaw books and not teach people to read, I guess) but the erotic prints escaped the censors by being published as books, and they were pretty explicit too. Photography and film very quickly saw the benefit of the medium to produce erotic (some say pornographic) pictures and films. Some have looked at the art of the masters and called them pornographic. Some look at porn sites and see some art and others see raw sex while others see sin and something to be abolished.

I guess the bottom line is that if you like it fine. If you don't like it don't look. But what ever your position please respect the diversity of opinion and don't try to censor content on either direction.

Cloudboy Loc: Orlando, Florida, USA

Excellent short background on the history and as someone who has taught college-level art and art history I do agree.

I think for a forum like this one, nudes are in a topic heading clearly marked as "nudes and NSFW" so people know exactly what they're expecting when they open this section. I don't see how anyone could be offended then by any decently tasteful—if erotic—depictions here of adult nudity. It's pretty much what it says on the tin.

Equus Loc: Puget Sound

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Apparently you haven't caugtht up with the times. My wife breast fed both our daughters (for 3 years each) and my daughters are breastfeeding our Grandkids. Over the last 35 years your mindset has dried up significantly. No pun intended. Quite common to see women breastfeeding in public now. In fact, it is now law that breast feeding in the workplace be accomodated and encouraged. I was REQUIRED to establish a designated "Lactation Room" at my worksite even though only MEN worked at that physical location. We would have public meetings there and female visitors. It is a County owned building. BTW this was in the heart of Los Angeles. And NO there are not Topless Bars all over the place these days. It must have been awhile since you were in Los Angeles. Those topless bars have been replaced with homeless encampments downtown.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

L.A. A different world. Go to middle america and... Good luck.

Travel across the US and sex shops, live girls dives are frequent. Funny because this is where the so-called 'well-meaning' folks are fighting to ban books for kids among other things... Soo...

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

You are either painting yourself as naïve or not aware of the internet and the childish behavior on said internet. Most likely it is what is often referred to as trolling. I'm not poking fun at you. I would expect a different manner of discourse from one with an MFA from RISD (Road Island School of Design) and I'm certain your graduate committee would expect the same.

Jwshelton Loc: Denver,CO

Agree