Flashing, streaking often occur after drinking
Whether a result of a drunken dare or something more
psychologically substantial, indecent exposure shocks people from
football stadiums to parking lots.
Streaking is to dash naked in public as a prank, while flashing
is to display or expose briefly, according to Webster’s New World
Dictionary.
Although both are calls for attention, the origins of each may
be unique from one another. Exposing oneself in a parking lot to a
random individual may be more serious than streaking at a public
outing according to Dr. Leonard Meadows of Affiliates in Counseling
and Forensic Psychology, 1217 E. Elizabeth St.
“One is a little more offensive than playful, it may be a way
for certain individuals to relieve stress,” Meadows said. “It can
become an addiction for someone who exposes themselves repeatedly,
while in a crowd situation it is likely to be a one-time
thing.”
Streaking is most often a case of a daring impulse and often due
to the drunken state of the individual.
“It’s a pretty impulsive behavior, definitely more likely when
inebriated because thresholds can be lowered,” Meadows said. “Some
people have the ‘let me shock you’ attitude, they want to impress
their friends.”
While streaking may be all in fun, flashing may have more
serious implications.
“(Flashing) has more about some insecurities, it doesn’t mean
that people are necessarily sexual offenders in other ways but you
wonder how many times they’ve done that before,” Meadows said. “The
person who exposes themselves to someone repeatedly may be more
serious.”
CSU junior Eric Love streaked through the Highlands Ranch Movie
Theatre, in Littleton, as a high school senior.
“It was a Saturday night back in high school, before we drank,
so we had nothing to do,” Love said. “It was a busy night, I
thought it was funny.”
Love’s streaking was basically for the reaction of those
watching, which ended up to be to be a little more than he
expected
“We did it to see people’s reaction,” Love said. “These guys
ended up chasing after us and we were naked.”
Although Love hasn’t streaked recently those who are considering
streaking should know that CSU Police Department takes the act
seriously.
“It is something everyone knows from about five years old you
shouldn’t be doing,” Capt. Bob Chaffee said. “We have to take it
seriously because it doesn’t reflect well on the university.”
Chaffee says CSUPD sees most of its cases right when the first
snow of the season hits, those students who are caught are
reprimanded with university consequences and a petty offense
charge.
“It’s kind of like a food fight,” Chaffee said. “If you don’t
nip it right away it can go out of control.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.