Two partially-nude images, guess which one has me incensed

The Naked Bike Ride was this weekend. It is weird, fun, and very Portland. And it is important.

These riders are banding together to say "Drivers beware – even fully dressed, bicyclists are easy to hurt! And cut us a little slack please, it takes guts to ride a bike beside two-ton cars and ten-ton buses!"

As someone who rides a bike on our city streets (and hopes you will be able to in a few years), I appreciate their dedication to making these messages heard.

I'm fine with: Portlanders baring their own,
real bodies for a good cause.
Photo: BikePortland.org

But they are naked?!! A few people in our fair city are in a huff. Wonder why I am not?

Well, since you both have human bodies and are in the long process of learning when to share them appropriately, I offer you this handy chart that can help you figure it out for your self.

NOT a problem	IS a problem
Having or seeing a naked body is not a problem.	Taking advantage of any human body (naked or otherwise) is a problem.
Having an imperfect body is not a problem.	Taking advantage of someone's insecurities about their human body is a problem.
Making a well thought out and meaningful choice about sharing your naked body is not a problem.	Not understanding and considering possible consequences (or being old enough to understand/consider consequences) before sharing your naked body is a problem.
Making a decision about your human body that you are NOT ashamed of (and could tell anyone if you needed to) is not a problem.	Making a decision about your body that you ARE ashamed about and don't want anyone to know is a problem.
Finding another human body attractive is not a problem	Objectifying a human body (treating it as an object instead of a person) is a problem.
Human sexuality is not a problem.	Sexualizing human bodies (especially young ones) is a problem.
Nude imagery meant to educate or respectfully portray the human experience is not a problem	Creating photoshopped-to-perfection imagery of bodies designed to SELL THINGS is a problem.

I DO find objections to kind of imagery.

I can't stand(!!!): unrealistic body imagery designed to sell stuff
Photo: horrible company I will never buy anything from

All in all, it is MUCH more likely that our family will be in the naked bike ride, than I will ever buy you something from the dreaded VC. Yuck.

Love,
Mama