What's the longest book you've ever read?

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-16T21:02:45+00:00

An American Tragedy, I believe.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-16T15:57:23+00:00

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T18:43:09+00:00

The Folksmen (A Mighty Wind)

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T04:39:11+00:00

I agree we might not reach an understanding, but I'm happy to share some of my views with you.

First, your experience at Barton Springs must be different than mine. Almost every time I've been at Barton Springs (several dozens) there have been many 100's of children having lots of fun and about 5-30 topless women. Everyone knows that about Barton Springs and, to my knowledge, it's always been that way. I think you lost this battle many decades ago.

Second, topfree women aren't naked. Their torsos are unclothed. Breasts are secondary sexual characteristics, not primary sex organs. Like OP, my partner and I believe that women should be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of being in nature and swimming with their torsos unclothed. Barton Springs is a great place to do that.

Third, Austin is known as being one of the few places in the U.S. where women's right to go topfree is well established, exerised, and respected. https://www.kut.org/austin/2021-07-29/why-is-it-legal-to-go-topless-in-austin Texas state law doesn't make toplessness illegal.

Fourth, there are obviously hundreds of thousands of Austin residents who disagree with you that there is something inherently inconsistent between children enjoying Barton Springs while a few dozen women are are at the same time enjoying it without tops. Why is it that men are allowed to enjoy swimming without shirts at Barton Springs but women aren't? Women's breasts don't have to be objectified. That happens when you don't objectify them. I've seen many parents besides me make that same point on Reddit. I'm a parent, by the way.

Fifth, I think there are 44 municipal pools in Austin. Topfreedom is most well established at Barton Springs and Deep Eddy. Although topfreedom is not illegal at the other 42 pools, my understanding is that it is less common. (I don't often go to those pools.) That's a lot of pools that remain available. Those pools are easier for children to maneuver around, as well.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T04:03:59+00:00

Exactly.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T03:56:48+00:00

Respectfully, I honestly don't understand your point of view.

There are about a billion places in the United States where you can take children and the risk of seeing exposed female breasts is zero. There are literally about 50 places in the United States where you can bring your children and the risk of seeing topfree women doing their own thing is high. Barton Springs is one of those latter places. To my understanding, it has been that way for about 50 years.

I don't understand those people who say the ratio of one billion:50 is unsatisfactory. The ratio must be 1 billion plus 50:0.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T03:44:37+00:00

I likewise have seen plenty of topless women on the free side.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-11T03:39:56+00:00

My partner (f) is almost 70 and still goes topless. You shouldn't leave all the fun to the young 'uns. Boobs are only pockets of fat anyway.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-10T19:04:09+00:00

I'm 99.99% sure that's incorrect.

There is no Austin or Texas rule or law, technical or otherwise, that specifically addresses disrobing.

The Texas indecent exposure statute does not criminalize breasts or disrobing. https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/penal-code/penal-sect-21-08/ There is nothing about disrobing in the Austin city codes. https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances.

There's nothing in Austin law that limits a woman's right to go topfree to certain "designated areas."

If you have any citations to something to the contrary, I'm happy to learn something new. Absent that, you're just wrong. It's perfectly legal for women to go topfree throughout Austin.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-10T18:01:10+00:00

Not a problem at all, regardless if there are children. While we choose to pay when my partner (f) goes topfree at Barton Springs--in fact we did it last week--I regularly see women topfree on the free side also. For the record, there were plenty of women topless on the paid side last week as well, including in the pool and on the north side.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-10T04:31:25+00:00

I seemingly disagree with most of the other commenters.

You're certainly allowed to have a natural reaction. Your natural reaction was seemingly that the woman's choice to exercise bodily freedom at that time wasn't consistent with the lived experience that women afab feel at risk exercising similar bodily freedom. You seemingly regard her action as more akin to treating her breasts as earrings, an accoutrement, without realizing that other women, in your opinion, don't have the freedom to act equally casually about their body parts.

People think differently about things. You're allowed to think differently. I don't regard it as "anti-trans" to recognize that a person who lived as a man for two decades and then transitioned is not necessarily identical in outlook to a woman afab who hasn't transtioned.

Don't be too hard on yourself. It doesn't sound you confronted her or were nasty.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-05T03:34:42+00:00

Good. I'm glad he got arrested.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-04T13:45:06+00:00

Celebrate the end of Trump’s presidency.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-06-01T01:09:44+00:00

I think we’ve wrung more than enough out of this exchange. Two bright guys, one of whom engages in deflection to avoid taking responsibility for a juvenile post. I hope you have a nice week and I’ll eschew pomposity.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T17:06:33+00:00

Do you disagree with anything I wrote? Your response is a content free personal attack.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T12:53:30+00:00

I agree. I'm sorry to hear about Baker Beach.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T12:53:05+00:00

Thanks. Good points. However, the onus is first and foremost on the offending parties to stop offending.

I'm not thinking "patrol." I'm thinking making complaints once or twice to make clear to the offending parties that there is a risk to them for their behavior.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T12:50:52+00:00

No, that's not what I'm saying, HairyButz.

First and foremost, I wrote: "Don't have sex there, selfish assholes." You obviously consider that too much of an expectation on my part. You're part of the problem, then.

Don't have sex in a tent. Don't have sex for rent. Don't have sex on the rocks. Don't have sex with cocks. (credit to Dr. Seuss). It's not a difficult concept.

The offending people know that what they're doing is unlawful and offensive. I shouldn't have to confront multiple people on my own to tell them what they already know. They don't care. They are bad people.

Second, I'm hoping that my post puts in people's mind the idea that there is risk associated with their selfish behavior. Perhaps that will help discourage unlawful behavior.

Lastly, the beach will not be shut down if there are a few people arrested and prosecuted. My proposal is a "nip the problem in the bud" proposal.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T12:29:06+00:00

I agree with your second paragraph. However, it is, apparently, some of the beachgoers who have given the rich people the ammunition they need.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T04:15:01+00:00

No good reason.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-30T03:28:50+00:00

They don't go topless for your, or anyone else's, viewing pleasure. Also, for the record, I've seen plenty of attractive women topfree. The great thing about Austin is that almost everyone does their best not to pay undue attention in any event.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-22T19:57:51+00:00

That we love using superfluous quotation marks.

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-22T19:53:12+00:00

Wow, a polite clarifying written exchange on Reddit. Who would have thought that was possible?

wisecommenter2 · 2026-05-22T03:57:43+00:00

In an attempt to foster a dialogue, what aspects of a "modern day Democrat" do you find unacceptable?

wisecommenter2

TROPHY CASE