Inconsistancy noted

[Wolfsong]

Its about the latest women's swimsuits. Basically, why is it that most women will scream when they're seen in their underwear, but are not afraid to walk around in...pretty much that at the beach?
I don't get it.

[Nate]

Because swimsuits are meant to be seen and underwear isn't.

Honestly that's really it. While it obviously doesn't make a whole lot of sense, that's just how it works. You can walk around Virginia Beach in a bikini, but if you were walking around in bra and panties you'd probably get stopped by the cops. Likewise, I can go out to the store in shorts and a t-shirt, but if I went to the store in boxers and a t-shirt I'd probably get in trouble, even if the boxers were about the same length as normal shorts. Same thing with speedos, I could wear those to a beach with no problem but if I wore tighty-whities (not that I do ugh so uncomfortable) it'd be really gross.

And in the end, it honestly just boils down to "swimsuits are meant to be seen, underwear isn't."

Honestly I think people should quit being so self-conscious anyway. Give up shame, like I've done.

[K. Ayato]

Nate pretty much answered it. You have to take the environment into consideration. At the beach, it's more or less expected for a woman to wear some kind of swimsuit, be it a one-piece or a string bikini. Also, don't ignore the fact that most women (if not all) also employ a beach coverup, such as a sarong or a terry romper. And let's not forget that some want to show off their bodies 'cause now they've lost weight and can fit into a cute bikini without feeling self-conscious.

With underwear, as Nate put it, it's not supposed to be seen. Granted, some women wear clothes that reveal the undergarments, but even so, it's not called underwear for no reason whatsoever.

[Ante Bellum]

it's not called underwear for no reason whatsoever.

Or, in the UK, just pants.

There's a joke in there, I think.

[Nate]

But even before she can get her knickers on, I've seen everything.

[Wolfsong]

Put simply, I've deduced people are crazy.

Nah, just kidding. Partly. Thanks guys, I suppose I'll have to live with this answer for now, and just keep praying modest one-pieces come back into fasion.

[Nate]

Probably not likely, as most women I know dislike one-pieces due to the fact that it's much more annoying to try and make a quick trip to the toilet wearing one. It's a matter of convenience. Besides, it's not as if all two-piece swimsuits are string bikinis, there's plenty of two-piece swimsuits that are generous in their coverage. I think there have been links to a couple of sites like that when this subject comes up.

[K. Ayato]

There's always the tankini. Modesty of a one-piece with the convenience of a two-piece. I've seen swimsuits in catalogs that come with the option of ordering it either tank or tankini style and they have very nice colors and patterns.

Plus two-piece swimsuits have a variety of options for both tops and bottoms, not just the bra-and-panty look. Some have the tank top, and bottoms include skirted or even swim shorts.

[Ante Bellum]

For your sake, I hope you never stumble across a nude beach.

[Wolfsong]

For your sake, I hope you never stumble across a nude beach.

Ugh, heaven forbid

[Ante Bellum]

I had a chance to go to one once, if I recall. Though I must have been busy or just too far away. So yeah. They're around.

[K. Ayato]

^ Hahahahahahahah

[Xeno]

For your sake, I hope you never stumble across a nude beach.

Ugh, heaven forbid

Yes, heaven forbid other people don't adhere to your standard of modesty.

As far as the real topic of this thread goes, there is nothing wrong with two piece bikinis. But there are one-pieces available for teenagers and adults if that's what you want.

[Nate]

When our ship docked at St. Thomas or St. Croix (can't remember which one it was), there was a topless beach there. I didn't go to it because I was too busy drinking drinks that were three feet tall, but a couple of guys from the ship went and said it was pretty much just old women there, not really anybody you'd actually want to see on a topless beach.

So yeah I can imagine people not wanting to go to a topless/nude beach not because of modesty reasons, but because nobody wants to see fat hairy guys like me naked. To those people I say too bad, if there was a nude beach around here you can bet I'd be on it because seriously man clothes suck in the summer.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

It's really because society makes up rules. That's really it.

Why don't you just wear boy swimshorts if finding a modest one-piece is too difficult for you? Granted I think one-pieces are pretty modest anyway...

[Atria35]

^ One pieces are actually coming back into style and are easier to find than many years before. I haden't bought a swimsuit the last few years because of it - I'm not really comfortable enough with my own body to even wear boy shorts and a long top - but this last year I found a number of them in my size and awesome styles.

But basically what everyone else said - it's a matter of what society says it's okay to be seen in and not.

[Nate]

Oh sure, girls get to wear men's swimming trunks but I put on a bikini and suddenly I'm talking to the police.

[Ante Bellum]

Next time, try a changing stall.

[Xeno]

And maybe one that doesn't involve a thong bottom.

[Nate]

If wearing a thong bottom is wrong then I don't want to be right.

[Wolfsong]

I see this thread has turned into a place to make jokes at my expense.

No, no hard feelings. Thanks all for your answers.

[Nate]

I didn't see anybody making jokes at your expense, but I made a few at my expense.

Unless...wait. Are you me?

[Ante Bellum]

And the plot thickens!

[SilverToast]

I'm confused as to why this is in Christian Growth Q&A.

Bible -> ??? -> swimsuit -> ? -> profit?
Hmm... this might work.

[Nate]

I'm guessing it's in this forum because it expresses confusion at modesty standards in the US. She's not alone in this; I used to wonder why it was okay for someone to walk around the beach in their bikini but not walk around in their underwear in the same place. Then I realized the answer was as simple as "One is meant to be seen, the other isn't." It's weird, but that's the way things work.

[Wolfsong]

I guess that answers the question then.

[Nate]

Yep. And if you think about it, this isn't the only inconsistency we have in our modern society. For another example that works in the opposite direction, think about pajamas. You may wear pajama pants and a pajama shirt to bed. Would you go out in public in your pajamas? Probably not. But they cover as much as a shirt and pants, so why wouldn't you wear them in public when they cover you just fine? Because pajamas are not meant to be worn in public, they're meant to be worn in your house. Even if they cover your body as much as (sometimes even more than) regular clothes, you still wouldn't wear pajamas in public.

[K. Ayato]

People (especially ladies) still do that. Just ask Stacy and Clinton.

[Ante Bellum]

It's still not as embarrassing as wearing a Snuggie in public.

[Sheenar]

I go to the store not infrequently in pajama pants and a t-shirt.