Flashing - Just say No

A lot of the stories on here are about the excitement some people get from 'flashing', which I'll define as 'intentionally exposing one's genitalia to other people without their express consent, in circumstances where such exposure would not be expected.' So, wandering around a nudist resort isn't flashing. Undressing in a communal changing room isn't flashing. Opening your underwear in front of someone walking past 50 yards away, IS. 

Flashing is fundamentally wrong because by definition you're using other people for your own sexual gratification without their prior agreement (and by 'agreement' I DON'T mean 'happens to be somewhere in the vicinity'.) In other words, it's a form of sexual assault.

Men: you probably think that because no touching is involved, you're not doing any real harm. Well, since you don't know anything about your flashee(s), how do you know that? The elderly woman to whom you're exposing yourself might have been raped as a child and you're forcing her to relive that trauma. The group of schoolgirls might grow up to think that all men are selfish, sex-obsessed perverts who don't give a damn about how they feel. In short, male flashers give all men a bad name.

Women: leaving aside the obvious risks to your personal safety, you can't have it both ways. If on the one hand you want women to feel safe to go where they want and do what they want without sexual harassment or discrimination; you can't on the other hand reinforce the stereotype of women being purely sex objects. The man you flash today, might decide it's okay to spike a woman's drink tonight because, 'well, they're all gagging for it, aren't they?'

Yes, I am exaggerating for effect but my point is, you can't KNOW that.

In my own opinion ALL sexual activity has to be with the explicit, full and free consent of ALL parties involved.