yummymummy
I agree with you about women going topless.

Who are they going to show this this tan off to when they get home?
I drop the straps of my bikini so I get a nice tan across my chest & shoulders - why does anyone need more?

We recently came back from Zante and most of the younger women kept their tops on, it was the older ones (50+) who went topless - not a good look (imho anyway).

yummy, i never took it as an insult honestly, i look as big a twat as the next man in them

dunk

Im glad there are a lot of people who have the same feelings as me on this matter, maybe something should be done about it?
But the shack lads are too embarrassed to ask them to put their bikini tops back on.

Another thing which i just dont understand, is why the partners of the women who take their tops off let them, my partner would never let me go topless (not that id want to) .

Dunk - ok, we'll let you off

I agree with posts about sunbathing topless in India as it's offensive to most Indians. But I have sunbathed topless over the years in most European countries where it is allowed, I am an independent person and I make up my own mind about my actions and certainly would not take being told what to do by my partner but then again he is not embarrased by seeing the naked human body.

Judith - i do not do what my partner tells me to do, i too am an independant woman, i earn the most money in my household, and i do not rely on men for anything.

I was just pointing out that my partner would not like me flaunting my boobs in front of other men.
I have an old fashioned view that only your partner should see the private parts of your body.

We all have our own opinions, and my opinion is i dont like to see topless bathers.

Do you think it is acceptable to be topless in front of young children ( i think this sets a bad example) .

And, as someone has already said, why do you want to go topless anyway? who are you going to show?

It must be over 20 years since I sunbathed, topless or otherwise, as getting a suntan is no longer of any importance to me, but when I did like to get a tan I wanted one that didn't show any strap marks.
I didn't do it to show to any one other than myself.
I do not think it sets 'a bad example' to children, a bad example of what. I live on the continent where we don't have hangups about nudity and I don't know of any children that I know who are at all embarrassed by seeing topless sunbathers. They grow up with it and accept it as normal.
What I think sets a bad example to children is seeing people on holiday in a drunken stupor, being sick and using foul language but then that's another topic.
If you don't like to sunbathe topless don't do it, if you do like to do it go ahead but not in India or any other country where it is unacceptable.

I'm really glad to see the last couple of posts, i was beginning to think that I was the only one qho doesn't have a problem with women (and men apparently) being topless.
Fine, cover up if you don't want to offend the locals, but to believe that a womans body should be hidden away in case someone sees a wobbly bit seems a bit Victorian.
Why not go the whole hog and wear a full body suit.
Agreed that there is a time and place for nudity, partial or full, and restaurants are not one of these places and evenings are not usually the time.
I frequently leave the beach in my swim shorts and carry my shirt, I cannot see how anyone can GENUINELY be offended by a bare chested man.
Maybe the difference between me and some posters is that I do not consider myself a guest or visitor to Goa........... but a CUSTOMER.
I dont deliberatley set out to offend anyone and honestly don't believe that I ever have, but I am adult enough to realise that other people have different standards, also adult enough to know that I do not have to comply with other peoples standards as long as I am comfortable in my conscience.

i agree with a lot of the comments, i think in resteraunts you should be wearing something not just a bikini or bare chested men, in australia where i lived a lot of my life most pubs,bars and resteraunts especially those right next to beaches insist on customers being covered ,so girls have to wear something over their swimwear & guys have to wear a t shirt. they also insist on you wearing some footwear and they do not accept swimshorts for men, you have to get changed. if you dont like it you will be asked to cover up or leave & this was in perth where its often 38-45c in summer.
im sorry but i dont want to see or sit near a sweaty sandy bare chested man whilst im eating in a resteraunt thanks very much! (or a woman either ) shacks in goa are different though

Well, that is just your opinion isnt it, next you'll be saying its ok to have pictures of topless models plastered on the walls.

Some of the sights you see walking along the beach are truly cringeworthy particularly the wizened wrinklies sashaying along dressed in nothing but a thong.

Ymummy

I don't know if your last post is addressed at me, and of course I have an opinion as do you. The origional post was about people being unsuitably dressed in Goa to which I agreed, various posts led to the subject of topless sunbathing I gave my opinion and you gave yours. I don't have any problem accepting other peoples opinions and do so without resorting to ridiculous statements about them wanting to see pictures of topless models plastered on walls. I think you are now getting a little carried away.
I really think this topic has run it's course, as far as I can see almost all posters have agreed that it is unacceptable to sunbathe topless in Goa and also not acceptable to walk around resorts or go into restaurants without being suitably dressed.

Do manboob's count?

This thread seems to be drifting rapidly towards one that would be better in General Holiday enquiries forum. The main point of the OP is that it is what GOANS see as acceptable.

I don't think that the majority of Goan people find this practice acceptable at all. They are by and large a highly religious group and I think for this reason alone, they would be offended.

I have personally sunbathed topless once or twice in Goa but I have laid on my tummy to hide my "bits" and if I received unwanted attention or I was asked to do so, I covered up immediately. When leaving the sunbed to enter the beach shack I covered up so as not to offend the shack owners, their children, staff and other shack users.......after all they don't want to be put off their food

I must admit that my bikini days are pretty well over now so I'm no longer interested in topless sunbathing. IMO everyone should be suitably covered up when leaving the beach and show appropriate respect for the local sensibilities. Would you go shopping in Tesco's in your underwear? No, of course you wouldn't so why do so in Newtons? Okay, not your underwear as such. but near as damn it.

By the way, I am not a prude and in many countries where topless sunbathing IS acceptable then fine, do so. But for Goa - no. Sorry if I upset anyone, its just my own opinion.

We were leaving the the lotus suites last December( xmas eve), as we past the pool there was a tall blonde woman, very pretty, topless and wearing a thonge, she had her back to us as we passed in a tuctuc, the driver, who has been a friend of ours for a number of years was incenced, taking out the swear words he said, that english bitch is a disgrace, she has no respect for us or our culture the bitch should die, obviously for a young man to say she should die is very worrying and secondly the English bitch in question is in fact a russian, we get tarred with all the dirty brushes. But ladies as much as us men love looking as you please cover up, you could be in more danger than having your picture taken by a local.
Danny

A very good point made Danny.

Fizzy

I don't think you have upset anyone, just about everyone who has posted on this thread has agreed that topless sunbathing and walking around in swim wear in Goa is unnaceptable.

right here is my 2pworth

in spain, greece etc i do go topless, but once i move from a horizontal postition of the sun lounger the bikini top is on, and i cover up on the street. I didn't go topless in india.

now mr wicked, well after a day at the beach he see's nothing wrong with walking back to our apt, just wearing his shorts, he usualy carries a t-shirt, should we go in a shop or restaurant then he would put it on.

so i do not see anything offesnive to traders, should i walk down the street in a bikini with a short skirt, and vest top on, is not a problem with me.
should mr wicked after a day on the beach choose to walk down the street wearing a pair of shorts and no top, again i dont' see a problem with it.

i only wish people in our country would look upon our customs as we do when were in there country

I agree with all thats been said it is disrespectful and I dont go topless in Goa and wouldnt even though I have in other countries. I dont like to see men walking around without there shirts on either!