At least this isn’t a totally negative Metro reaction to this non-story! Pointless, but not as sensationalist as it may have been.
FROM JOHN JEFFAY AT CASCADE NEWS LTD 0161 660 8087 / 07771 957773 john@cascadenews.co.uk http://www.cascadenews.co.uk Syndicated for Bolton News with pix of naked rambler, and of photographer Chris Hoddle. Please credit pic Chris Hoddle / cascadenews.co.uk A HIKER strips to his boots and backpack to enjoy a summer stroll on Winter Hill. The naked rambler was spotted as temperatures soared to 19C in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Former head teacher Chris Hoddle, who photographed the man, He joked: It was a sunny day so I hope he had the appropriate sun tan lotion on! In England and Wales it is not an offence to be naked in public but it does become an offence if it can be proved that the person stripped off with the intention to upset and shock.
And it doesn’t offer any direct criticism of our naked friend in the article either. Also it clarifies the legality aspect – see the last sentence of the photo caption. That’s good.
Most of the irrelevant dialogue, however, is about a ‘retired educator’ (is that a new term for a teacher?) who took this photo while out, apparently, checking a walking route for a possible primary school children’s walk.
And there we have it:
- Chris Hoddle (presumably not the former England footballer) is the attention-seeking former head teacher who took the snap. He not only shared it with the press but he also apparently demands credit it for it. Credit? Did he have the rambler’s permission? Is it an invasion of the rambler’s privacy? Is Mr. Hoddle merely yet another voyeur snapping nudity at every opportunity like our detested nude beach meerkats?
- The article says that “ironically” he was out doing this survey for primary school kids. Frankly, I suspect that’s hyperbole, but let’s say, improbably, it’s true. This word “ironically” suggests that it’s wrong for primary school children to use a path used by a naked man. Ho hum! Here we go with that old ‘think of the children’ polemic again.
Leave the guy alone. He’s not harming anyone. He’s clearly not a threat. He didn’t need to see his arse in a local rag. Mr. Hoddle, mind your own business.
But perhaps we should offer a tiny thank you. After all, with respect to naturism, (nearly) all press is good press.
http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/01/naked-rambler-takes-cheeky-stroll-over-hills-of-sunny-bolton-5917876/
CasuallyBuff 