This was no bacchanal. A few students danced, with less body contact than normal, and the men seemed more self-conscious than the women. When a couple started making out in the back of the room, a barefoot member of the Pundits, the student society that threw the party, asked them to leave. (…)
“It’s one of those things people feel they need to do before they graduate,” says Megan Crandell, a senior who estimates that she has been to a half-dozen naked parties during her time at Yale. “The dynamic is completely different from a clothed party. People are so conscious of how they’re coming across that conversations end up being more sophisticated. You can’t talk about how hot that chick was the other night.” (…)
“With this whole 20-something party culture, getting dressed to go out is such a big deal,” says Kate Horning, a senior who went to the party. “But that whole part of the evening is purposely absent. My friends who didn’t go were like, ‘Oh, my God, were people just staring at each other’s bodies all night?’ And I said, ‘No, people were just kind of chatting and playing pool and playing piano.’ ”
ARTICLE ["Black Tie Optional"]
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The Conversation {4 comments}
This is yet another one of those cases where I feel we are treating a symptom, not the actual problem. This article is written in a mostly positive light to suggest that many go to these parties and learn that a physical appearance isn’t all there is to meeting someone–that a “clothing optional” atmosphere can actually be awkward and increase shyness. All right, fine, fair enough.
The problem is: shouldn’t 20-somethings have already learned this quite a while ago, without having to go to a “naked party?” It seems to me, at least according to this article, that these parties are somewhat supposed to be a lesson in self- and fellow-respect. That should have been taught and learned long, long ago for these young men and women. I guess our cultures’ over-sexed and often irresponsible views of one’s physicality greatly contributes to some people treating others as mere objects.
I’m not saying it’s not a good lesson for some. I’m only stating that it’s sad that it takes this long for some to learn this, and in this way.
I feel that. Have you learned? I don’t think I have.
Respecting others in social settings, I’d say I’m good with. My own level of self-respect is fine, too, I think. Just have to remember you’re both unbelievably important and amazingly insignificant all at once, and you’re good to go. XD
Haha, working on it.
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