Nudity taboos in Trek

[Locutus of Bored]

If attitudes are essentially as varied as today, why even have communal showers on the U.S.S. Cerritos (and presumably others)?

1) Because the whole show is a parody of not just Trek but scifi tropes and the communal shower is one of the big ones.

2) Because the show is really pushing the lower decks gets shit resources and living conditions angle by having them all sleep together in the corridors instead of their own quarters, or even a shared barracks like on the 2293 Excelsior.

3) Because Roddenberry was a giant horndog and "Gene's Vision" would most definitely include some boobies with his morning shower.

4) Because no one is denying that people in the Federation and beyond generally have a less uptight attitude towards nudity and fewer sexual taboos than modern people would, but your characterization of it as some kind of "inconsistency" or "mess" that individuals and cultures still exist that don't care for public nudity is an overreach.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

One I always thought was so weird was Tuvok's dream in "Waking Moments" of going to the bridge naked. That's a nightmare that seems very particularly human, and quite un-Vulcan, to me.

That nightmare had four things that would really bother Tuvok happening simultaneously:

• He was made to look foolish and not in control in front of the crew.
• He broke Starfleet protocol in front of a superior officer.
• Everyone was laughing and demonstrating a great deal of emotion.
• Neelix was there.

 

[at Quark's]

This is the Federation, a huge cooperation of different cultures, which agree on some core points, but otherwise might have very different values, e.g. on nudity. I wouldn't even expect all Humans or Klingons or Vulcans to think in the same way, even though Trek is weirdly fond of monocultures.

Also, even if Starfleet/human culture of the late 24 century would 100% derive from contemporary American culture (which it wouldn't), the mores in 2370 probably would be as different from ours as ours are different from those back in 1674.

 

[valkyrie013]

You could have an Amish planet/colony that has humans. And like the Amish, they do interact and even leave. So day an Amish person joins. They may be uncomfortable with communal showers etc.

But also think, not all species have there private parts in the groin area. Think the ST6 alien with his knees.
Or B5 with the centauri having 6... .. They have 6.. On there torso. May still have openings or opening to relief. Themselves though. (Still dont know how they got away with showing Londo penis on that episode )

 

[Richard S. Ta]

That nightmare had four things that would really bother Tuvok happening simultaneously:

• He was made to look foolish and not in control in front of the crew.
• He broke Starfleet protocol in front of a superior officer.
• Everyone was laughing and demonstrating a great deal of emotion.
• Neelix was there.

Perfectly put.

 

[fireproof78]

Bodily modesty has actually been increasing, not decreasing, with swimwear anyway.

Bikinis are still worn, but sarongs and tankini are making inroads.
Men are rarely seem wearing speedos anymore, longer shorts seem to be the thing. And where it used to be the norm for boys to swim shirtless, we now often see their swimsuits including shirts.
At the rate we're going, swimsuits will cover most of our bodies again by the 2070's or so.

Skin cancer sucks.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Bodily modesty has actually been increasing, not decreasing, with swimwear anyway.

Bikinis are still worn, but sarongs and tankini are making inroads.
Men are rarely seem wearing speedos anymore, longer shorts seem to be the thing. And where it used to be the norm for boys to swim shirtless, we now often see their swimsuits including shirts.
At the rate we're going, swimsuits will cover most of our bodies again by the 2070's or so.

Society is going in the wrong direction.

We need to be more sexually liberated.

Men should feel comfortable wearing "Banana Hammocks".

Women should feel comfortable showing off their bodies with smaller Bikini's.

We need "Equal-Opportunity Top-less-ness" for all people.

Skin cancer sucks.

Apply better Sun-Screen onto your body.

 

[fireproof78]

Apply better Sun-Screen onto your body.

Or, wear more coverings. It's not a bad thing.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Or, wear more coverings. It's not a bad thing.

Nah, take off your clothes FireProof78!!!

You gotta show off that Dad-bod!

 

[FormerLurker]

But also think, not all species have there private parts in the groin area. Think the ST6 alien with his knees.
Or B5 with the centauri having 6... .. They have 6.. On there torso. May still have openings or opening to relief. Themselves though. (Still dont know how they got away with showing Londo penis on that episode )

Attributes. The word is attributes.

 

[fireproof78]

Nah, take off your clothes FireProof78!!!

You gotta show off that Dad-bod!

Ok.

See I don't care. I'm nude most of the time at my house. But, there are legitimate reasons to cover up, especially right now when it's 19 degrees outside in full sun.

Also, my family doesn't tan so the odds of skin cancer go up, and sunscreen is not effective for them. Caution is advisable.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Ok.

See I don't care. I'm nude most of the time at my house. But, there are legitimate reasons to cover up, especially right now when it's 19 degrees outside in full sun.

Also, my family doesn't tan so the odds of skin cancer go up, and sunscreen is not effective for them. Caution is advisable.

How pasty are you? Do you lack that much melanin?

Are you WWE Sheamus pasty?

 

[fireproof78]

How pasty are you? Do you lake that much melanin?

Northern European heritage will do that. I turn red not tan.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Northern European heritage will do that. I turn red not tan.

So you need "Transparent Clothing" that specifically blocks UV rays.

 

[fireproof78]

So you need "Transparent Clothing" that specifically blocks UV rays.

Yup. Goes with my transparent skin.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Yup. Goes with my transparent skin.

Your skin's not transparent. That's not biologically possible for humans.

It's Translucent at best.

 

[Oddish]

Skin cancer sucks.

But they're doing it at indoor pools. Afraid of getting cancer from those overhead fluorescents?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

But they're doing it at indoor pools. Afraid of getting cancer from those overhead fluorescents?

They should've moved onto LED bulbs by this point in time.

FAR more energy efficient, especially for a "InDoor Pool facility".

Yup. Goes with my transparent skin.

Have you not seen modern transparent clothing?

 

[fireproof78]

Your skin's not transparent. That's not biologically possible for humans.

It's Translucent at best.

Have you not seen modern transparent clothing?

Humor...it is a difficult concept.

But they're doing it at indoor pools. Afraid of getting cancer from those overhead fluorescents?

Or, preferred fashion style. And, based upon my recent trip to the clothing store bikinis and swimwear and such are not being made from more material.

 

[Oddish]

Maybe it's a local fashion trend. Either way, if future men want to swim in T-shirts, or overalls, or clingy full-body coveralls like Seven's... not my problem.