Disrobing in public in Solarium? Should I have not been shocked?

[Desert Cruizers]

I saw a lady across the pool very discreetly maintaining a towel around her, change from her suit into her shorts or whatever. How she managed to get the bra on I don't know, I am not even that agile.:D

[PhoenixCruiser]

This lady was just changing, not sunbathing. Something she probably never thought twice about.

 

I find this post very hypocritical as most American's are totally arrogant of other cultures, especially when they are outside the US visiting those countries. For example, people from the US talk a lot louder than people from other countries. As soon as you leave the US, do you talk quieter as respect for others? In my experience, no, American's talk at "normal" loud volume all over the world. No matter how obnoxious they are. I find this particularly rude in restaurants. So, before you start throwing stones...

 

What :eek: Getting naked in public in the USA is NOT normal! Good gosh you could get arrested for doing that in certain parts.

 

###

[Bakincakes]

Hmmmmmmm...no need to wonder why Germany made the Top Five Rudest Nations for Travel , in Forbes.;)

[Huddler]

If I saw someone changing at the pool I might be a bit surprised, but I would just figure it was someone from a different culture and go on about my business. Definitely not shock worthy or stare at in horror worthy.

I agree with this sentiment! I wouldnt stare her down as if I hadnt seen, gasp, oh heavens no, a naked body before. Get over yourselves with this 'they must follow MY cultural mores while they are in my presence". Who are YOU to say what the cultural norms should be in INTERNATIONAL WATERS? No need to stare or be offended. Are we really that absurdly prude in America? Wow! :eek:

[Norwegianlatvian]

Hmmmmmmm...no need to wonder why Germany made the Top Five Rudest Nations for Travel , in Forbes.;)

 

Sometimes I just LOVE statistics and surveys!:)

 

...ouch..! Beatend by germans:)

[Huddler]

Public nudity may not be shocking for Europeans but they need to consider that everyone on the ship are most assuredly not Europeans. Have respect for others for goodness sake.:eek:

 

Respect is a two way street. You demand that she respect your culture, and yet, you will not extend the same courtesy? With the 1000's of different cultures in the world, how can we possibly know how to show respect to each of them and abide by their customs? Or is it enough that they show respect to MY cultural norms? I am appalled at the intolerance and lack of respect by my fellow Americans. Why cant we accept that is how some folks are and go about our own business without staring them down and pillorying them afterwards?

[beachchick]

Umm there are places for that. I don't believe it is acceptable anywhere (except in certain communities or Africa) to walk into say, a grocery store or restaurant without shoes and shirt.. let alone pants! Some people are just clueless... They just don't THINK! Example... was in a ladies restroom recently when a man came in with his 6-7 yr old daughter. I thought, "Oh well I guess he just didn't think about the fact that he, a grown man was in the ladies restroom, and just thought about taking care of his little girl". Well then when the girl didn't have to "go", I could hear the belt being unbuckled and the loud waterfall begin!!( I have 2 sons:o) That was way inappropriate!! I guess he probably thought, that while he was there....."

And by the way... my part of "we" does not have any part of porn and those that have a problem with immodesty most likely don't either. Just sayin'

 

OTOH, it's possible that he was alone with his daughter. I'd much rather have him do what he did (in the privacy of a stall, I assume) than either leave his daughter alone while he went into the men's room or bring her at that age into the men's room while he took care of necessary business.

 

beachchick

[time4u2go]

The Op said well over 50...what is well over? If it is 30 years over maybe but if it is 5 years over I take exception....you don't see me baring my keester on a cruise ship!!!:eek::eek::eek:

 

So you don't think people in their 50's can have dementia just because you don't have it? Trust me, they can.:(

[sandravb79]

I hate how everyone kind of immediately assumes she was European and how Europeans are considered to be running around naked all the time.

 

I don't go topless on a beach, I don't run around naked and I wouldn't undress/ change in public before a lot of strangers.

[amajaa]

public nudity is not a problem for Europeans. So, yes, I guess you could say she's considering you as a stuffy American.

 

I guess you can't be including Brits when you say Europeans as most are even more reserved about nudity than Americans.

[Galveston Cruiser]

This lady was just changing, not sunbathing. Something she probably never thought twice about.

 

I find this post very hypocritical as most American's are totally arrogant of other cultures, especially when they are outside the US visiting those countries. For example, people from the US talk a lot louder than people from other countries. As soon as you leave the US, do you talk quieter as respect for others? In my experience, no, American's talk at "normal" loud volume all over the world. No matter how obnoxious they are. I find this particularly rude in restaurants. So, before you start throwing stones...

 

I agree with you.

Having traveled and lived in a great portion of the world, we (Americans) are very quick to be critical of others, but never look at ourselves:o

It is about time this subject was dropped as it is no one's business.

 

See you on the:) Mariner in October

[misty57]

OTOH, it's possible that he was alone with his daughter. I'd much rather have him do what he did (in the privacy of a stall, I assume) than either leave his daughter alone while he went into the men's room or bring her at that age into the men's room while he took care of necessary business.

 

beachchick

 

Yes but she asked him "where's mom?" and he replied"Oh she's out there".

[zap99]

What a fuss.

 

It is assumed that this Lady was European as she exposed her bits getting changed. She could have been from Idaho and a methodist minister for all we know. Her view could have been If poeple are offended they will turn away. No what actually happened was that some prude stared at her. Who's the offender ?.

 

Another European custom is " Live and let live ". Get a life.

[newbiecruiser09]

She took her sweet time drying off her bare breasts, putting on her bra and tshirt, removing her swimsuit bottom, drying her posterior, donning her panties, and trousers afterwards.

 

I really don't have problems with folks sunbathing topless (or even nude if it is a nude beach-not a family environment). What seems to bother me is the changing in public and the drying of "parts" in full view of everyone. If you want to take care of "personal" hygiene, keep it personal.

[buffi001]

We had a similar thing happen this summer in Cape May, NJ when a

woman , from Russia, came to the beach fully clothed, changed into her

bathing suit on the beach and then reversed the process when she was

done for the day. It was like it was the most natural thing in the world for her

to do. She was the fiance of someone in our group, and it came as a shock to most of us.

 

It must be more commonplace in other cultures, but it certainly kept us talking for days.

[johneeo]

 

Another European custom is " Live and let live ".

 

Maypole dancing, warm beer, La Tomatina, British Royalty, and running of the bulls are also European customs.

 

Well, we are not Europeans.

 

We escaped centuries ago.:rolleyes:

 

And we just love to judge others.;)

[misty57]

This lady was just changing, not sunbathing. Something she probably never thought twice about.

 

I find this post very hypocritical as most American's are totally arrogant of other cultures, especially when they are outside the US visiting those countries. For example, people from the US talk a lot louder than people from other countries. As soon as you leave the US, do you talk quieter as respect for others? In my experience, no, American's talk at "normal" loud volume all over the world. No matter how obnoxious they are. I find this particularly rude in restaurants. So, before you start throwing stones...

 

Nakedness is a different issue than volume of talking. I mean Adam and Eve were upset about it when their eyes were opened! ( If you don't care for that comment then ignore it please...) The funny thing is I don't agree with you! I work in a neonatal intensive care unit. We try to keep the sound low to protect the rest and the hearing of our little patients. I am very sensitive to loud volumes myself. My DH's family is very German and do they talk loudly!! When we were on tour at NASA there was a group of people from Belgium and we could not hear the guide for the volume of the other people's conversations. It could be that you have encountered people who are generally loud because they are ( or are hard of hearing which can make someone speak loudly) and I may have also noticed the loud ones coincidently. People are people and we should all try to be respectful of others but none of us are perfect.

 

I get really annoyed though when people lump all Americans together in behavior or values. We are as diverse a group as you will find ( and getting more so apparently;) I may have an impression of someone of a different nationality but that doesn't mean that the majority of people from that country are like them!

 

So I guess for the group of people on this thread, we should keep our clothes on, not get too upset when someone strips naked in front of us, and keep our voices down.

[Norwegianlatvian]

We had a similar thing happen this summer in Cape May, NJ when a

woman , from Russia, came to the beach fully clothed, changed into her

bathing suit on the beach and then reversed the process when she was

done for the day. It was like it was the most natural thing in the world for her

to do. She was the fiance of someone in our group, and it came as a shock to most of us.

 

It must be more commonplace in other cultures, but it certainly kept us talking for days.

 

wow! So exotic! .....

[lysolqn]

This lady was just changing, not sunbathing. Something she probably never thought twice about.

 

I find this post very hypocritical as most American's are totally arrogant of other cultures, especially when they are outside the US visiting those countries. For example, people from the US talk a lot louder than people from other countries. As soon as you leave the US, do you talk quieter as respect for others? In my experience, no, American's talk at "normal" loud volume all over the world. No matter how obnoxious they are. I find this particularly rude in restaurants. So, before you start throwing stones...

 

Thank you for painting all Americans with the very broad brush of arrogance, rudeness and obnoxious behavior based on credible evidence resulting from your own scientific and sociological studies, namely, your observed behavior of a miniscule few Americans whose paths you've crossed. No nation (or continent for that matter) has a monopoly on hypocrisy, arrogance, rudeness and obnoxious behavior. I think you would agree that history proves such behavior transcends national borders. Perhaps you should consider your own admoniton "before you start throwing stones." Happy cruising!

[Ocean Boy]

You're kidding, right? You're comparing a woman taking off a scarf to a woman taking off all her clothes? Really? :rolleyes:

 

What the difference? She was NAKED. That's the difference. Wow. :eek:

 

I've yet to see a naked person that had any parts that I didn't already know about. I just don't see this as an overly taumatic event.

[Norwegianlatvian]

Without getting into particulars re arrogance as it pertains to world history, let us agree that arrogance, rudeness and obnoxious behavior transcend national (and continent-al) borders. Happy cruising!

 

well, the issue (problem for some) is that what is rude, arrogant or obnoxious behaviour for some, is normal and/or acceptable for others. I guess the key words is tolerance and consideration - hand in hand?

 

And happy cruising to you as well!:)

[monicajay]

If I was cruising on a ship in Europe this would not surprise me a bit.

 

I'm sure the woman was not trying to upset anyone. She just wanted to get out of her wet bathing suit and it seemed 'normal' to her to do it in the solarium.

 

There are so many culture differences. Let's stop judging each other so much and learn a little tolerance.

[Ocean Boy]

I guess you can't be including Brits when you say Europeans as most are even more reserved about nudity than Americans.

 

But the British view on this issue was imported here on the Mayflower.:D

[reeran]

"Won't somebody please think of the children" - Helen Lovejoy (the simpsons).

 

Whilst I've seen some sights I would much rather not see around a pool I do chuckle on the inside, but if I had kids don't think I would want to expose them to that (or anything unsavoury) if only to avoid the awkward questions that wouold arise.

 

 

It was the solarium pool and children under 16 (I think) aren't allowed in there anyway. I made an earlier post stating that it was disrespectful without realizing it was a European cruise. I retracted that because nudity is accepted in most European countries so while shocking and unappetizing to us...when in Rome...:eek:

[reeran]

But the British view on this issue was imported here on the Mayflower.:D

 

But it looks like Prince Harry is helping to loosen us up too!!:D:D