Ze burkini is a problem with Ze France

[merithyn]

Also, for what it's worth, I could see benefit in gender segregated swimming, particularly for women who are either embarassed by their looks or annoyed by people like me ogling them.

Not everything has to be Goddamned political.

This is what I was kind of thinking, too. So long as it's a choice and not the only option, I really don't see a problem with women-only times and men-only times.

A friend of mine once got into a discussion with a group of us about how the bikini is actually more oppressive to women than the burka. I never really heard her full argument on it, but it had something to do with making women nothing more than a sex object is more demeaning and oppressive (as a bikini does) than making them nothing but lumps of fabric.

I've heard the argument before and disagree with it, as it's completely by choice that women wear bikinis whereas burkas are usually enforced by either religion, family, or law. Some could say that for Islamic women, it's a cultural pressure that enforces the burka, and for the women in bikinis it's the same thing. Given that I haven't worn a bikini since I was 13 and never felt pressured to do so, I think that last bit is total bunk.

[Valmy]

Yeah?  What good could possibly come from encouraging the emergence of dead/dying regional languages?

[Valmy]

A friend of mine once got into a discussion with a group of us about how the bikini is actually more oppressive to women than the burka. I never really heard her full argument on it, but it had something to do with making women nothing more than a sex object is more demeaning and oppressive (as a bikini does) than making them nothing but lumps of fabric.

What a bunch of unbelievable bullshit.  Yes the woman body is evil and men looking at it is doubly evil.  Women should be locked away and covered for their own freedom and protection.  Everytime I lust in my heart I shall ritually scourge myself.

I hear arguements like that from religious fanatics all the damn time.  Please let me know how people being sexually attracted to me makes me a sex object?  I never understood that ridiculous arguement.  Being a sex object does not mean you go to swim and some people think you are hot.  I mean does every concept have to watered down to ridiculous levels?

I've heard the argument before and disagree with it, as it's completely by choice that women wear bikinis whereas burkas are usually enforced by either religion, family, or law. Some could say that for Islamic women, it's a cultural pressure that enforces the burka, and for the women in bikinis it's the same thing. Given that I haven't worn a bikini since I was 13 and never felt pressured to do so, I think that last bit is total bunk.

Thank you.

[Grallon]

Wow that is horrible.  A staple of Western civilization for centuries has been the fact the genders hang out together, I know that is completely anathema to the Middle Eastern cultures and all but...

well that is why I really dislike religions that put ancient cultural values and claim they are eternal moral standards.  That is bullshit and total coocoo nonsense.

That's multiculturalism in action.  Where weastern values are watered down to cater to 3rd World savages. 




G.

[Valmy]

You should come to Spain, you'd have a blast. 

Yeah and I notice how open minded and peaceful encouraging all that regional bullshit makes the people of Spain.

[Valmy]

Also, for what it's worth, I could see benefit in gender segregated swimming, particularly for women who are either embarassed by their looks or annoyed by people like me ogling them.

Sure that is what private pools are for.  Anyway maybe these women should grow up, be adults, and get over it?  I don't really  like the idea my ability to swim at a public pool has to be restricted to accomadate insecure people or some sort of foreign cultural value.

[Caliga]

I'm not sure I understand why a woman wouldn't want her tits to be admired. 

[The Larch]

You should come to Spain, you'd have a blast. 

Yeah and I notice how open minded and peaceful encouraging all that regional bullshit makes the people of Spain.

Regional bullshit is quite important over here, thankyouverymuch. Repressing/Denying it would be futile and counter intuitive.

[Eddie Teach]

Sure that is what private pools are for.  Anyway maybe these women should grow up, be adults, and get over it?  I don't really  like the idea my ability to swim at a public pool has to be restricted to accomadate insecure people or some sort of foreign cultural value.

Many pools will be closed to the public at times when they're offering classes, this isn't much different. Ultimately, it's a business decision.

[HVC]

You should come to Spain, you'd have a blast. 

Yeah and I notice how open minded and peaceful encouraging all that regional bullshit makes the people of Spain.

Regional bullshit is quite important over here, thankyouverymuch. Repressing/Denying it would be futile and counter intuitive.

Besides some crazy Basque trying to blow stuff up the rest of you guys seem to get along well enough

[Valmy]

Regional bullshit is quite important over here, thankyouverymuch. Repressing/Denying it would be futile and counter intuitive.

I know but I cannot say I think it is such a great thing that it should be introduced other places.

[Valmy]

Many pools will be closed to the public at times when they're offering classes, this isn't much different. Ultimately, it's a business decision.

And I am free to take those classes.  Besides we don't pay for public pools since that is what we pay taxes for.

Also most of the classes happen when the pools are already closed to the public or take up only part of the pool.

[The Larch]

You should come to Spain, you'd have a blast. 

Yeah and I notice how open minded and peaceful encouraging all that regional bullshit makes the people of Spain.

Regional bullshit is quite important over here, thankyouverymuch. Repressing/Denying it would be futile and counter intuitive.

Besides some crazy Basque trying to blow stuff up the rest of you guys seem to get along well enough

At least it provides for a hefty amount of arguments on internet boards. 

[Ed Anger]

I'm not sure I understand why a woman wouldn't want her tits to be admired. 

[Eddie Teach]

Besides we don't pay for public pools since that is what we pay taxes for.

Does the government actually pay for pools? I don't know of any free pools around here.