Explain this one to me...

As far as women go why is it ok and commonly accepted to be seen and walk around in public in a bikini. However it is not ok and you would likely be sighted for indecent exposure for walking around in your bra and panties. How is this even possible? Your thoughts...
For example OK but not OK

Underwear is regarded as intimate wear, while a bikini is public swimwear. These social rules apply to all humans, you just need to know the rules of the particular culture you are in. Going topless on some beaches in europe is acceptable, but in some Arab states its very different. The best example of this in practice, is the story of an explorer who discovered a tribe with no clothes, they all went swimming - so he stripped off to join them and was laughed at. You see they were wearing a piece of thin string around their waists, whilst he was totally naked - breaking their social rules! We all have rules of what is and isn't acceptable. There are lots of examples, a woman breastfeeding isn't the same as a topless woman! The rules don't always make sense, but we abibe by them to fit in and be accepted by others.

Best rule ever - when in rome do as the romans do!

If you are talking listal rules, both images are ok - cannot see nipples or private parts, which are banned. So you could post an image of a woman in the street wearig underwear.

Im gonna ask, would it depend where the women are?

Well lets just say walking down a street. Now that I think of it you see all these swimsuit pics outside naturally, but rarely do you see bra and panties pics outside, let alone in public.

@ NFG - Not speaking about Listal at all.

If you were at a Lingerie Catwalk Show, you'd be hard pressed to see anything but! But again, in that social context, it would be business clothing and acceptable. If they walked outside to a bar however, social faux pas.

Thats exactly my point, technically there is nothing different with the amount of coverage lets say, but it is looked at completely different.

Best ever example of context
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3h-T3KQNxU

Great video there.

As illustrated by John Updike (A&P), swimsuit wear isn't acceptable in grocery stores.

So wait me get this straight. Women walk around public with swimsuits, but dont get in trouble, and ones who have say just regular bra panties and walk around in public, do get in trouble. if thats the case, i would say WTF isn't the same

@RJ4 ever walked around during Summer in shorts? Would you do the same outside in boxers?
And don't pretend you were the guy from the Levi 501 advert - you aren't old enough

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q56M5OZS1A8

RJ4 - this is exactly my point. Doesn't make sense, just like NFG says you would get in trouble for walking around in your boxers outside in public. What is the difference? The exact same amount of coverage yet all of a sudden it is drastically different?

The same is also true in reverse - try wearing clothes in a nudist community and see what looks you get! It's not about coverage and is all about etiquette!

Nice point NFG, but one question...Would you speaking from some experience? LOL, I just find it strange about the huge reaction some woman would get walking down the street in her undies, yet it would be fine if she was in a bikini. Same with a guy, walking around in swim trunks no big deal, undies and they would lock you up.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU4bg81ZXk4

Not personal experience - although I'm a nudist at home

Let's have a girl chime in on this. First, I don't usually see girls just walking around in bikinis. Not in the mall, or at a restaurant or even just walking down the street so it's not like it's always socially acceptable. Guys may be okay with it if they saw it, but I would think it was trashy if a girl was just walking down the street in nothing but a bikini. But if I were at the beach and I saw a girl in their underwear I wouldn't really think much of it as long as it wasn't a thong and was thick enough to not be see through. But underwear isn't designed to be swimwear and we girls love to shop so we buy bathing suits which hold up to chlorine and sun exposure better, and are thicker to keep covered what should be covered.

But just to be clear, I manage a movie theater and if a girl walked in a bikini I wouldn't sell her a ticket just like if she was in her underwear. Same goes for guys. You need to wear clothes if you aren't at a beach/pool or similar place (or a nudist like NFG).