Debate finally settled: Nude Hikers not welcome - a lesson in direct democracy.

[Democracyinkind]

So there was this phenomenon of (mostly day-trip Germans) people coming to Switzerland to have a nice walk without being weighed down by all those uncomfy clothes. But apparently nakedness does not go unnoticed even in the remotest of places - many a Granny was offended by the sight of... well you know... (Somehow, nude hiking turns out to be a rather manly thing; as I have read, the men-women ratio is like 10:1)

So the people of Appenzell did what the Swiss do best: they held an election on banning nude hiking. So what do you say? Infringement of rights or protection from unhealthy visual input?

story

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Swiss+region+residents+despicable+nude+hiking/1538347/story.html

[MineralMan]

1. Who wants to see nude hikers rubbing sunblock on their

naughty bits, anyhow?

[cliffordu]

6. Every time I do that I never get out of the house.

And FWIW, Bannana Boat ultra sweatproof SP30 is a filthy whore.

[MADem]

2. The nude hikers can go hike in Germany. Why wave their sausages at the Swiss?

They can let their frankfurters fly free in Frankfurt. They can swing their bratwurst in Berlin!

They're not denying anyone an education or brutalizing anyone. If you don't want to be fined, don't go there nekkid.

[MineralMan]

3. And who wants to see their Vienna sausages, anyhow?

Or is that Li'l Smokies.

[backscatter712]

4. If I were Swiss, I'd ban them too.

Who wants to see fat pasty Germans with their bratwursts in plain sight?

:puke:

[DireStrike]

5. OMG did you catch this part?

"It's ridiculous that Appenzell is getting an international reputation for such a despicable habit," said Peter Schmid, who turned up bearing the canton's traditional long sword to vote against nude hiking at the annual open-air Landsgemeinde.


Well no wonder they are offended by such wee willies with their long swords!

[MADem]

8. I'm thinking they mean business!! nt

[kestrel91316]

7. My sister and BIL will be traveling to Switzerland, among other places,

in late May and will be hiking in the Alps with Swiss friends. I am relieved that my slightly straightlaced sister won't have to be appalled by nudie hikers. She would disapprove. I, on the other hand, would drop my jaw and then crack up.

[pnwmom]

9. Young girls and shyer women might be intimidated enough

not to hike there at all. That might actually be the reason the ratio is so skewed now -- there are plenty of women hikers in other areas.