Very interesting article on the Beeb about Stephen Gough, the rlNaked Ramblerrl

This is the chap who's spent almost all the last six years in jail, as he refuses to wear any clothes.

What should be done? Should anyone be left alone to walk naked wherever they want? Would you want Gough wandering (as apparently he has) past a school playground, perhaps where your 6 year olds are playing?

There is an argument for saying "let him do what he wants, he's just a weirdo, there's no shame in the naked body. That's all very well if everyone who sees him knows who is and is comfortable with that. But to me, and I think most people, coming across a person wandering in public naked, whom I don't know from Adam, immediately flags up "nutter", "perv" and other reactions. OK, he may not be any of those things (although if he does wander naked past schools then in my book he is certainly one or more of those sort of things as there's just no need for it) - but how is anyone, especially kids and old ladies, to know that the naked man is in fact "harmless", and "exercising his rights", instead of the potential nutter that most would fear?

If anything is to be done with him - then what?

Perhaps he is not the problem?

I'm naked in the office now.

If you want to make a case as to why he [ishouldn't be[/i (if that is your view), feel free, but with respect as things stand, he very clearly [iis [/ithe problem, he's cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds so far and looks like cracking on unabated.

Why is he 'clearly' the problem? He was born naked and it's other peoples hang ups that are forcing him to wear clothes or face being be locked up.

If he's parading around, waggling his manhood at all and sundry then he becomes a nuisance ..... but if he's simply walking around unclothed, leave him be!

There's a lot more 'problem' people out there, most of whom are fully clothed!

He's wandering around naked, in Scotland. For most of the year even John Holmes wouldn't have anything to waggle...

Josh Perry is a keen nudist and is often seen naked in St Helens.

...... has Morley scored a try yet this year? He may well put in a special effort to score tomorrow given the precedent has been clearly set (or Winwick Road may be 'interesting' come rush-hour Monday!)

It would be nice if everyone was free to, but that doesn't take much notice of the people who want freedom from. I think you'll find they're the overwhelming majority.

[sizeI don't have any figures to back that up but I licked my finger and stuck it up to get a sense of things.[/size

Where is the photographic evidence ?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. 4.6748046875:5