Honestly, this is my pet peeve! I hate when people surreptitiously take photos or videos. Be a big boy or big girl and work up the courage to ask me if you’d like to take a photo or video! I will probably say yes because obviously I’m comfortable in my skin. You aren’t even good at trying to keep it secret! LOL It is totally obvious to me.
Am I wrong? Or does wearing a thong mean being ok with pictures or videos because you are in a public space? Thoughts?
I know “secret” photos are a fact of life, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. If I felt that people were snapping my pic because I’m hot and they want to gaze at my picture longingly, I’d feel better about it, but I know it’s meant for ridicule and body shaming. Even though that stinks, I can deal with it as long as it’s for personal use. However, many people want to take it further by then posting it on social media so others can laugh. What they don’t realize is that some of us, myself included, work in career fields where a thong swimsuit post could land us in very hot water or even in the unemployment line. It’s part of why most guys would never wear a thong, the fear of being humiliated and judged, and it keeps most men relegated to the safe confines of board shorts.
I have seen people taking a picture of me and I don’t mind. I also had ladies want to take a picture with me in their thongs. I always wear a hat and sunglasses so I’m not worried about it getting out social media. Besides, it’ usually pictures of the backside. I get it’s more polite to ask but let’s face it, a guy in a thong is still shocking to most people. And most people won’t say anything either. But I know I get the looks when I’m walking. Be confident and try to not let it bother you. I admire that people sneak a pic. You know you’re a topic of conversation later that they say a dude at the beach in a thong and will show a picture.
Its vexed. At a public pool/beach have to expect people will take location shots, some of which are going to be really because they want to put on social media a guy in a thong (largely for ridicule). Been guilty of the odd ‘location shot’ in the past as it’s unusual not to be the only guy in a thong. Only shared on my private thong Insta a/c but even then so the person is not identifiable & with misgivings. I don’t do it anymore. Where I draw the line is the sneaky shots for ridicule. Like you say, ask. Sadly, my experience is it’s mostly young girls (late teens/early 20’s) who are themselves wearing skimpy/thong swimwear or disapproving mature women (40-50s often with a man in tow). What really gets me about this is the hypocrisy. If the tables were reversed, you can bet your life they would claim sexual harassment & possibly report me to the beach guards. Not sure why respect & freedom from harassment only runs one way. Most egregious experience was lying on the beach ass up with another thonger, getting a ‘sense’ there was someone there, and turning over to find a female tourist around 55yrs standing almost on top of us taking close up shots. She scuttled away to her tourist group only mildly embarrassed at being caught. All that said, my view is im not letting this get in the way of my wearing thongs at the beach/pool whether it’s within gender norms or not. To end on a positive note, I have also had positive experiences occasionally from these same cohorts including compliments & a request for a picture together (person was thrilled I was not intimidated by gender norms!) So it’s not always bad!!
It’s rude … people don’t walk up to other people in a restaraunt and take random pics. Why would you feel it socially acceptable to do it on a beach or anywhere else? That’s really all there is to say about it.
It is polite to ask first before taking a photo, but in a public space you would only look silly if you objected. I have a nice body whether from the front or my peachy bubble bottom, and I treat it as a compliment.
I think it’s in bad taste, however you are in public and a thong can be topical to many. To be honest I haven’t really caught too many people sneaking a picture. For me personally, I don’t mind.
What bothers me more, is how bad many “thong enthusiast” pictures are. I’m a photographer by trade, and I genuinely think that if enthusiasts took pictures as well as swimwear brands, you might see wider adoption of thongs
On my Costa Brava trip yesterday, the guide had a high quality GoPro and asked everyone’s permission to take photos. I’ve seen his work from the trip my GF was on last week and it’s good. With any luck, the shots he got of me will be decent.
He only shares the photos of a client with that client, which seems right to me.
It’s never appropriate to take a photo of someone without their consent. We are more likely to be new to this experience which hopefully allows us to be more understanding and respectful of others. At times it can discourage you from wearing thongs. Just be happy and confident of yourself and avoid “bad” people.
It’s absolutely a double standard. Every time i go to the beach i see people tsking pics but thankfully none have been posted online yet
@BillJ … it’s been my experience that when an unsolicited picture of myself is taken it’s by a middle aged woman who is either appalled or loving my suit. I’m never sure which, but it only happens on beaches in the Carolinas. I’ve thonged up and down the east coast from Cape Cod to Miami. Based on my time spent in the Carolinas, I’d guess it’s middle aged Mid-Western wives sending pics back to their friends who aren’t accustomed to seeing a man (or woman) in a thong and they find it to be a curiosity. People in south Florida could care less. There are thongs everywhere down there so nobody cares and up in the northeast it’s much more liberal and you don’t get Mid-Westerners up there in vacation. I can’t speak for the beaches on the west coast. I would love to hear other people’s thoughts based on my comments.
Lol it’s mostly women but I’ve seen guys take pics of me too. It’s probably a first given im in the Midwest and it’s very uncommon to see men in speedos and especially thongs. Lol i now have a decent tanline too so no more hiding it in the locker room
Honestly, it’s hit or miss depending on where I go and who just happens to be there on that day.
I’ve heard shocked comments from a woman on the beach in the keys and just last week I heard two women huffing about me on a beach in Maine.
On a positive note, I heard two sisters discussing my thong and anatomy on a beach in NH and just today a random guy I passed walking on the beach said “Hey man, that’s a great thong!”
I kind of view it like discussing politics…you never know what you are going to get
Everyone is subject to photos anywhere in this day and age unless it is strictly prohibited like at a nude resort. There is nothing we can do about it. If we are paronoid about someone taking a picture of us in minimal swimwear, then we should probably only do it privately. It doesnt really bother me in public places even though it is classless.