The 'Naked Rambler' jailed for 22 months, following arrest within 60 seconds of his release!

[Onket]

"The human body isn't offensive," he says. "If that's what we're saying, as human beings, then it's not rational."

Correct, tbf.

 

[kenny g]

Absolutely disgusting that he continues to be imprisoned. It wouldn't be my choice of a protest but the idea that he is having to go through this medieval process for absolutely no apparent purpose for the state just goes to show that power corrupts. The people locking him up should be given a good beating imho.

 

[newbie]

A harmless eccentric, I suppose, and I'm sorry he keeps getting locked up.

I don't really agree with this cause, though. Should we have the right to go about naked in public? I'm not convinced.

Most of us look better with our clothes on and, in any case, there are places where nudists ('naturists', I think they call themselves) can do their nudist thang unmolested by the rest of us. Isn't that enough? Is it really too much to ask him at least to wear a pair of shorts or swimming trunks when he goes rambling?

I wonder if he has focused on this strange cause as a way of not thinking about other things - perhaps things that have gone wrong in his life and would make him really unhappy if he were not so engrossed in his long struggle for the freedom to walk around with his genitals on display.

yes, naturist is the preferred term, though nudist is pretty much interchangeable, with 'clothing optional' being the most accurate description. There are indeed a few public beaches and a network of clubs, campsites and swimming sessions around the country where people can wear as little or as much as they please. Are there enough? well, the clubs I know would love to see new members, it's not such a massively popular pastime that demand far outstrips the supply of opportunities, OTOH, the occasional out of season theme park booking is well attended so there is clearly some demand for an expansion of facilities.

There are also groups who go out on naked walks, but they tend to choose fairly empty places to do it because there are very, very few evangelists, the rest just want a nice walk without any difficulties. And a few individuals who like to wander about unclothed (one walked past us on a barren hillside last year which was slightly surprising). Which is why this bloke (and before him the guy with the 'Naked protest' sign) has little support, imho. He's not spearheading something the organised naturist community cares about, or demands or even particularly wants. We know we can't magically wish away the ridiculous attitudes to the human body in the rest of society.

He just comes across as a stubborn eccentric. In an earlier age he'd have sat on a pole in the North Sea or something. That said, I can't see that locking him up for years at a time is right or proportionate. Both he and the Scottish legal system need an exit strategy.

 

[SaskiaJayne]

There a naturist beach at St Osyth nr Clacton. Very popular with the tattoed & pierced, see them parading up & down the beach on a sunny day.

 

[veracity]

I found that article very interesting as I'd often wondered why he was doing this. What he says makes absolute sense to me, what can possibly be wrong with a naked body that it is deemed offensive and an affront to the public?

It's an absolute disgrace he's been locked up for so long.

 

[skyscraper101]

Bump. Looks like they've let him out. Ramble on, fella

Naked Rambler Stephen Gough has walked free from prison after spending 657 days locked up.
The 53-year-old said he was looking forward to seeing his children for the first time in years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-18873631

 

[josef1878]

I hope he's going to the Olympics

 

[past caring]

Which ones?

 

[josef1878]

2012

 

[Wilf]

Naked Rambler Stephen Gough has walked free from prison after spending 657 days locked up.
The 53-year-old said he was looking forward to seeing his children for the first time in years.​

Presumably he could have seen them a lot sooner if he hadn't been so self indulgent for the last few years. Have to admire somebody so strong willed standing up to power, but less so when the cause is so pointless. Same time, the courts have been just as pig headed and inflexible. Pretty impressive way of adding to the national debt really.​

 

[skyscraper101]

If everyone just let him go about his day, he'd probably put some clothes on, he must get well cold/wet. Poor bloke.

 

[weltweit]

The 53-year-old revealed he had spent the vast majority of his time in solitary confinement in maximum security Perth Prison.

Because that is how offensive nakedness is.. maximum security - eh ??

 

[Garek]

Seriously, WTF is wrong with this freak?

'Freak'?

 

[fractionMan]

​

Presumably he could have seen them a lot sooner if he hadn't been so self indulgent for the last few years. Have to admire somebody so strong willed standing up to power, but less so when the cause is so pointless. Same time, the courts have been just as pig headed and inflexible. Pretty impressive way of adding to the national debt really.​

 

[Wilf]

why so?

 

[fractionMan]

Since when has refusing to kowtow to the state enforcing ridiculous laws been pointless and self indulgent?

Should he be thinking of his children, is that it? Thinking of the national debt ffs?

 

[fractionMan]

why so?

Don't make a stand against a law that affects everyone because that makes you a selfish bastard. Don't make a stand because it might involve hardship or sacrifice. Don't make a stand because the courts are rigged against you. Think of the taxpayer. Don't make a stand cos it'll cost the taxpayer money to keep you in prison.

Bizarre thinking imo.

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

Being naked isn't a crime. The British, (mainly Scottish), judiciary are making a moral call that the naked form is so outrageous that it is likely to encourage others to commit crime. I think they are wrong and I'd bet the European Court of Human Rights would agree with me.

you bin to scotland?

one step inside of some parts of glasgow in the nuddie and there'd be an attack on him... which is probably what's happened previously...

 

[Wilf]

Since when has refusing to kowtow to the state enforcing ridiculous laws been pointless and self indulgent?

Should he be thinking of his children, is that it? Thinking of the national debt ffs?

Pointless and self indulgent because, in the scheme of things, public nudity laws don't really matter. His choice whether he wanted to play the martyr, not yield - fair enough, really is his choice - but it does mean he can't see his family. Some things are worth making a stand on but, in my opinion, this ain't one of them.

The point about the cost was aimed at the police and courts. Yes, their actions are beyond stupid, they should have found a way for him to do his thing without all this drama. It is moronic that they are doing this cat and mouse thing, re-arresting him - presumably could have kept a hospital ward open for a good few weeks on what's been wasted here. It wasn't some kind of 'wasting tax payer's money' comment, just that from the logic of the state itself this is a shocking waste of resources in a slump. However the stupidity of the state only makes me sympathetic to him in terms of his prison time. Doesn't make me sympathetic in terms of the choices he's made.

 

[fractionMan]

Pointless and self indulgent because, in the scheme of things, public nudity laws don't really matter. His choice whether he wanted to play the martyr, not yield - fair enough, really is his choice - but it does mean he can't see his family. Some things are worth making a stand on but, in my opinion, this ain't one of them.

What? Of course it's his choice if he wears clothes or not. That's the fucking point. Why should the state mandate you have to wear clothes? And throw you into prison if you don't. Repeatedly. Why should he accept that, why should any of us accept that?

He's not playing the martyr here. He's making a stand, for a cause. Why do you get to choose what's important enough to fight and what isn't?

The point about the cost was aimed at the police and courts. Yes, their actions are beyond stupid, they should have found a way for him to do his thing without all this drama. It is moronic that they are doing this cat and mouse thing, re-arresting him - presumably could have kept a hospital ward open for a good few weeks on what's been wasted here. It wasn't some kind of 'wasting tax payer's money' comment, just that from the logic of the state itself this is a shocking waste of resources in a slump. However the stupidity of the state only makes me sympathetic to him in terms of his prison time. Doesn't make me sympathetic in terms of the choices he's made.

They could have found a way for him to do his thing, yes. They didn't. Yet you still blame him.

 

[claphamboy]

'Freak'?

Yes, he's certainly unusual in his behavior, are you suggesting otherwise?

 

[Wilf]

What? Of course it's his choice if he wears clothes or not. That's the fucking point. Why should the state mandate you have to wear clothes? And throw you into prison if you don't. Repeatedly. Why should he accept that, why should any of us accept that?

He's not playing the martyr here. He's making a stand, for a cause. Why do you get to choose what's important enough to fight and what isn't?

I don't agree with laws on public nudity - I agree it shouldn't be prosecuted. Just don't think, in the scheme of things it's that important or worth an obsessive approach. 'Why do I get to choose what's important to fight?' - I don't, we all make our own choices, in this case he did - that's my point. However on a bulletin board, on a thread explicity about him, I do have the right to express an opinion. That's what I was doing - if you don't like that, tough shit.

They could have found a way for him to do his thing, yes. They didn't. Yet you still blame him.

Nope, I blame them 100% for arresting him, imprisoning him, not being adult enough to work something out.

 

[8ball]

Why should the state mandate you have to wear clothes?

The state mandates a lot of things. He should have the good sense to do what the rest of us do, and avoid getting caught.

 

[fractionMan]

The state mandates a lot of things. He should have the good sense to do what the rest of us do, and avoid getting caught.

yeah, that'll help.

 

[8ball]

yeah, that'll help.

It does tend to.

 

[fractionMan]

I don't agree with laws on public nudity - I agree it shouldn't be prosecuted. Just don't think, in the scheme of things it's that important or worth an obsessive approach. 'Why do I get to choose what's important to fight?' - I don't, we all make our own choices, in this case he did - that's my point. However on a bulletin board, on a thread explicity about him, I do have the right to express an opinion. That's what I was doing - if you don't like that, tough shit.

He chose to go to jail, wah wah wah.

Sure, express your opinion. Your opinion is shit.

 

[stuff_it]

If everyone just let him go about his day, he'd probably put some clothes on, he must get well cold/wet. Poor bloke.

TBF if they really wanted him to wear clothes surely they could have let him out of jail during some snow.

 

[8ball]

Maybe there should be an iPhone app that tracks all publicly nude people and sounds a small alarm if you're out rambling and don't want to see it.

 

[Wilf]

He chose to go to jail, wah wah wah.

Sure, express your opinion. Your opinion is shit.

Where is he in your list then, just above Aung San Suu Kyi, but below Rosa Parks?

 

[stuff_it]

Maybe there should be an iPhone app that tracks all publicly nude people and sounds a small alarm if you're out rambling and don't want to see it.

I remember being at a ridgeway party and a naked rambler (afaik a different one) lept over me while I was sitting skinning up and went for a boogie. Got chatting and he was some local bloke who lived round there because he liked to walk about nude.