Noticing what people are wearing is fine. Being attracted to people is fine. I just think that a distinction between appreciation and objectification is semantics in this instance. If you don’t know anything about the person except that they are wearing a thong how are you able to appreciate them as a person?
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How are you able to appreciate a person wearing a thong? The same way you would appreciate any one, with kindness and respect. Engage in friendly conversation. Be genuine. Don’t make the fact that someone is wearing a thong the center of your attention or attraction.
While a thong may be the thing that gets my attention, it’s the personality, smile and intelligence that holds my interest.
if this what we are calling appreciation that’s fine. I had taken this as a situation where they weren’t interacting with the person and making a distinction between appreciation and objectification in that situation.
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I think I need more information to understand why you’re conflating appreciation and objectification. How would you define appreciation? Do you have a specific experience or example in mind that leads you to believe they’re the same in some circumstances?
Firstly no one can give me a clear definition of how they are different. To me calling it a different word doesn’t change what it is. If you go and talk to someone in a thong then I can understand how you can appreciate someone for who they are as a person but if it’s purely visual I struggle to see a meaningful difference between appreciation and objectification.
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Appreciating someone means to value or admire them, whereas objectifying them means to treat them as a mere object.
Are you suggesting that you cannot appreciate someone you don’t know, and that observing them in a thong is therefore inherently objectification?
If so, I would argue that isn’t true. You can appreciate how a stranger looks while still respecting their personhood, just as you would if they were wearing any other attire.
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In the words of that, Great American,President Jimmy Carter;
I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times."
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You are right. They are two issues. I said “like” those two other movements. What I propose is a movement focusing on the right for anyone to wear a thong.
I have never had an issue with families and the like when on the beach. The occasional obnoxious American maybe. I am only there to work on my tan, go for a swim and have some fun.
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Children are too often used as a human shield for authoritarian people to strip away our liberties - from communications privacy to what we can wear.
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