"Teen Talk": Naked sister makes brother uncomfortable

[Baseballfan]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10845083?source=rss

read and comment.

[Oboe Shoes]

Hmmm.. I'm kinda on the fence here with the answer that was given. While I disagree with the person who thinks nudity is wrong, I do agree with that if there are other people in the house who don't feel comfortable with it that you should respect there feelings aswell.  Maybe he should get together with his mum and sister and discuss a comprimise that they can all agree on.

[Danee]

I am with Josiah here with my thoughts, if indeed, this is a real letter.  Now, Keith, you made the post, and I wonder what your thoughts and comments are?  Thanks in advance.

-Danee

[sara]

read and comment.

Yes, sir.  Will do    

I'm pretty much with Josiah's views here.

In some ways it is great to see someone who enjoys the freedom of going around the house naked, and feeling what really is the need or point of clothes in the home.  I have long had that feeling.

But, and I think it's a big but, I come from a naturist family.  My mum, dad and sister share these feelings, and I don't make anyone in my family feel uncomfortable.  In this case the girl is making at the very least her brother feel uncomfortable.  Basically, that family needs to talk and they each have to try and take into account the feelings of the others and try and resolve the situation.

As Danee says, what do you think about the article, Keith ?

[Some Snorlaxes]

I don't think anyone on the forums would agree with the advice given to the boy. I do think, though, that it is an appropriate time for a family meeting.

[pat9916]

I too have mixed feelings about the advice that was doled out. The sister should take the feelings of her family into consideration; but the "therapist" should not have taken the "nudity is wrong" stance.

[ChristineF]

The advice given was wrong, but I'd also have to say the girl is wrong as well if she knows it's making her brother uncomfortable. They need to come up with a compromise to keep everyone happy....

[papabare]

I will add to the 'Advice bad' comment pool, as well as the 'Need a family meeting' comment pool

'Kelly Richardson is a licensed therapist in Folsom who specializes in working with teenagers.'

Boy am I glad I didn't see HER as a kid, nor sent any of my children there.

Having dealt with something akin to this, ya family meeting is appropriate. If this is an actual letter

[Bobbert]

The advice given was wrong, but I'd also have to say the girl is wrong as well if she knows it's making her brother uncomfortable. They need to come up with a compromise to keep everyone happy....

Seconded!

[Baseballfan]

ok , ok. lets not all get at me for my comments. 

ummm. I 'm upset at the advice.

I will write an e-mail to the author and want you all to do so also

[rc]

the advice seemed to hard on the sister with the whole she can do it in her room case closed deal, i feel it could have stated something else but otherwise im a little on the fence but more leaning towards the sister

[youngjoe]

I also may write to this misguided therapist. She clearly has no clue about the true nature of teenagers!

[sara]

ok , ok. lets not all get at me for my comments. 

ummm. I 'm upset at the advice.

I will write an e-mail to the author and want you all to do so also

Sorry, hun, noone was having a go at your comments.  There were no comments to have a go at   

Thank you for now giving us such a full enlargement   

Anyway, I do approve of writing to authors of articles etc  giving accurate well considered information and sensible input about natursim. So, good on you for that.

[Karyn]

I have mixed feelings. I definitely think they need to talk more openly and the mom should be more involved in getting both the sister and brother to understand why each other feels the way they do. Then try seek a compromise. He likely doesn't understand anything about naturism and maybe the issue is even more about what his friends will think? Brothers can be really sensitive over their sisters reputations!

[Brandon]

In general, in society, I feel that one person's right to express himself/herself should trump another person's right to not feel uncomfortable. Where I start hedging is on hateful speech, such as racist expression. I'd hedge on sexual activity too. If the sister's boyfriend came over, I'd say the brother's right to not feel uncomfortable could trump the sister's right to make out with her boyfriend in the living room.

I would agree that some house rules might be in order: For example, if the son is having friends over, the sister's right to express herself by not wearing clothes should perhaps be temporarily suspended. (I really can't imagine the brother's friends would mind seeing the sister nude though, lol.)

Your reaction of being uncomfortable is normal, and your thoughts that this is not right sound healthy.

In response to the columnist's opinion, I would say that the only reason it might be "normal" to feel uncomfortable with nudity is that children are taught at a young age that nudity is sexual or abnormal.

I don't believe it is a "natural" reaction to feel uncomfortable around nude people.