Is it normal to wear things revealing bodies we'd rather not see?
Today was a beautiful sunny Saturday, so I decided to take a walk at the beach (I live nearby). The air was a balmy 77F/25C and the water was 68F/20C, and that indescribable clear, green-aqua-grey that makes the beach such a gorgeous view. I walked, enjoying the air, the sun, and the gentle waves rolling along the beach.
And then my eyes were assaulted by something that completely ruined the view.
Other people walking towards me (in a hurry) on the beach had clearly bewildered and mildly horrified looks on their faces.
Before me was a man in his late 50s or early 60s, his silvery-grey hair in a sloppy ponytail snaking down the back of his neck. He had a "Julius Caesar" (hair forming a semi-circle around back 2/3 of his head, leaving the forehead and crown gleaming in the sun).
But that wasn't the problem.
The man was sporting a beer-gut giving him a pregnant profile but which would not be leaving after the requisite nine months. Mercifully, the gut drooped and partially obscured the triangular pouch directly underneath: he was wearing thong "swimwear."
I blinked and averted my eyes, floored that such a person would have the bad taste and judgement as to subject the beach-going public to the balance of his anatomy.
Incredulity made me look again, though, and I glanced over. Now he was walking into the ocean to swim. Notably, the thong strap was nowhere to be seen, wedged firmly (and no doubt, deeply) between his hairy, rumply buttocks and obscured from view. The "whale tale" top strap was stretched thinly across the vast expanse of butt, struggling to stay in place.
The man waddled happily into the water as people hurriedly moved past him, refraining from smiling or giving the customary "hello" as they passed by. I walked briskly past as well, fighting the gag reflex.
So, is this breach of good judgement normal? Since when do people who are supposedly referred to as "mature-aged" now stuffing themselves into hideous thong (so-called!) swimwear and cavorting on the beach, exposing the rest of us to anatomy we'd rather not see?
I know what you're thinking: would I complain if a young person who was physically attractive and fit were wearing the thong?
Perhaps the question should be asked this way, accordingly: is it normal for those who most of us would rather see fully clothed to wear as little as possible in public?
I wish "brainwashing" were real. Maybe if it were, I could scrub my brain and get that image out of my head.
| I'm not sure, need more information | 9 | |
| Eeeew, now I'm stuck with that mental image! | 29 | |
| No, definitely NOT normal | 11 | |
| OMG someone actually did this?! | 14 | |
| Yes, evidently so | 23 |