why do humans wear clothes?

[Eddi]

Why exactly is it that it is inappropriate to go about public spaces in the nude?

I know that it is, but why?

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

What's wrong with everyone seeing each others genitals?

Why is it inappropriate to be naked?

There must have been a point when it wasn't..... so what changed?

And why is the desire to be clothed rather than nude such a strong and powerful one?

 

[metis]

Over our 6 million or so years as being human apes, I doubt we wore any clothes up until maybe the last million years. To me, nudity is no big deal.

 

[PureX]

Perhaps the ice age had something to do with it.

 

[Eddi]

Over our 6 million or so years as being human apes, I doubt we wore any clothes up until maybe the last million years. To me, nudity is no big deal.

But what changed?

 

[Eddi]

Perhaps the ice age had something to do with it.

But the ice age didn't extend to many places where humans lived and developed clothes such as Africa and India

 

[PureX]

But the ice age didn't extend to many places where humans lived and developed clothes such as Africa and India

Sure, but "monkey see, monkey do".

 

[Quintessence]

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

There is almost always a need to keep warm or dry or protected from the sun as well as thorns, slashes, scrapes, bruises. Maybe you live in paradise or something, but most of the species doesn't. When was the last time you tried to walk barefoot in a forest? Or on pavement in the summer? Because lemme tell you, I made that mistake a couple years ago. I couldn't walk for two days without being in pain. And if I'd had open sores, I could've gotten an infection. Back in the time of our ancestors, that could've been deadly. Fact of the matter is, humans are weak and fragile without their technological crutches, including but not limited to clothing.

 

[Eddi]

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

There is almost always a need to keep warm or dry or protected from the sun as well as thorns, slashes, scrapes, bruises. Maybe you live in paradise or something, but most of the species doesn't. When was the last time you tried to walk barefoot in a forest? Or on pavement in the summer? Because lemme tell you, I made that mistake a couple years ago. I couldn't walk for two days without being in pain. And if I'd had open sores, I could've gotten an infection. Back in the time of our ancestors, that could've been deadly. Fact of the matter is, humans are weak and fragile without their technological crutches, including but not limited to clothing.

That explains clothes

But it doesn't explain why nudity is for the most part forbidden in human cultures

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Why exactly is it that it is inappropriate to go about public spaces in the nude?

I know that it is, but why?

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

What's wrong with everyone seeing each others genitals?

Why is it inappropriate to be naked?

There must have been a point when it wasn't..... so what changed?

And why is the desire to be clothed rather than nude such a strong and powerful one?

Because we tend to instinctively want to cover ourselves and have a sense of modesty about our bodies, especially the genitals. Where that came from isn't really known. Genesis offers a religious explanation why that is.

 

[Eddi]

Because we tend to instinctively want to cover ourselves and have a sense of modesty about our bodies, especially the genitals. Where that came from isn't really known. Genesis offers a religious explanation why that is.

Do you see any way in which humankind could ever change its attitudes towards nudity?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Do you see any way in which humankind could ever change its attitudes towards nudity?

I don't know. I doubt it. I don't see why we should. It's one of those things that truly sets us apart from other species.

 

[Rival]

Do you see any way in which humankind could ever change its attitudes towards nudity?

No, because genitals are incredibly vulnerable in both sexes. Women get infections easily, are susceptible to rape, have periods and so on.

Man have outer testes, rare in mammals, which are incredibly delicate, as is the penis. These things need covering for their own sake.

After millennia of this we don't like exposing our vulnerabilities to others unless we are extremely comfortable with them.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

But what changed?

We lost the body hair that our closest genetic relatives retained.

 

[Quintessence]

But it doesn't explain why nudity is for the most part forbidden in human cultures

Scholars have studied the subject if you're interested. The taboo on nudity is far from universal and IIRC actually extremely recent and modern. It's not a subject I really care about so I haven't read the literature. The former Chosen Chief of the Order wrote on it, so I might get to it some time as I deeply enjoy Philip's work:

A Brief History of Nakedness

As one common story goes, Adam and Eve, the first man a…

www.goodreads.com

 

[Eddi]

No, because genitals are incredibly vulnerable in both sexes. Women get infections easily, are susceptible to rape, have periods and so on.

Man have outer testes, rare in mammals, which are incredibly delicate, as is the penis. These things need covering for their own sake.

After millennia of this we don't like exposing our vulnerabilities to others unless we are extremely comfortable with them.

Also, sitting down on chairs naked that other people have to also use would be gross, if you think about it

 

[metis]

But what changed?

Living in colder climates as time went on, and also possibly status related.

 

[Secret Chief]

Why exactly is it that it is inappropriate to go about public spaces in the nude?

I know that it is, but why?

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

What's wrong with everyone seeing each others genitals?

Why is it inappropriate to be naked?

There must have been a point when it wasn't..... so what changed?

And why is the desire to be clothed rather than nude such a strong and powerful one?

To be fair you make a good point when you consider @SalixIncendium in all his finery.

But how often is a Brit warm and dry?!

 

[Eddi]

But how often is Brit warm and dry?!

It's dry if you stay inside

And warm if you have the heating on and/or wear warm clothes whilst being inside!

 

[metis]

If you like British weather with some white topping, come here to Michigan.

 

[sun rise]

Why exactly is it that it is inappropriate to go about public spaces in the nude?

I know that it is, but why?

Why do humans wear clothes when there is no need to keep warm or dry?

What's wrong with everyone seeing each others genitals?

Why is it inappropriate to be naked?

There must have been a point when it wasn't..... so what changed?

And why is the desire to be clothed rather than nude such a strong and powerful one?

Male "plumbing" could get caught in things. Stereotypically women enjoy clothes shopping.

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