Naked Coffee Guy: Victim or Villain?

Apparently you can't walk around naked, even at home. Or at least you'd better make sure windows are covered and no one is passing the house. Seriously.

A little blurb I heard on the radio got me curious. I looked online and found an Associated Press story about a Virginia man who is facing indecent exposure charges for allegedly standing naked inside his house as a woman and her 7-year-old son walked past.

There was some fuss and fury over this on the radio. One talk show host defended the man, 29-year-old Eric Williamson. The host said Williamson was getting up, he happened to be naked, and decided a cup of coffee was more important than putting on his shorts. Then the mother and son walked by (on Williamson's property) and they learned a bit more about the neighborhood than they ever expected. Sounds like a silly accident. And now Williamson is known as the Naked Coffee Guy. Probably not coming to a Starbucks near you.

Of course, other reports are saying Williamson was first spotted standing naked in his doorway, and he then followed the pair as they walked by, exposing himself deliberately through a large window. Naked Coffee Guy Part Two?

We don't know who's telling the truth. Police said they would not pursue a case of accidental exposure. And Williamson says it was an accident. The mother who got an eyeful says it was deliberate. Further details are emerging. One of Williamson's roommates says he was at one point walking around wearing nothing but a construction hat. Is that technically naked? I can't help but laugh at the eccentricity of that one. Matthew McConaughey playing bongos in the nude, anyone? Kind of funny, but the naked roommate probably isn't coveted by anyone, even if he pays the rent on time.

Now, if Williamson did see the pair walking by and decided to flash them, well, it's a bit scuzzy. No one wants their kids to be exposed to the creepy naked guy. Kids face enough dangers.

However, if it was accidental, say, this lady passed the house and oops!, she looked up and by chance spotted a tired and groggy Williamson was in dire need of a cup of coffee, pajama bottoms be damned, I say, oh well, accidents happen. A guy or gal who wants to walk around the privacy of their own home au naturel should be allowed to. If you want everything to have a bit of freedom and fresh air, why not? Just let's not educate the kids too much. An accidental flash is one thing, but if 5-year-old Jennifer is seeing all of Dad, with or without headgear, or if 6-year-old Jimmy is seeing all of Mom, well, that's just too weird. And I'm pretty liberal.

But if Williamson is getting hassled for wanting to be nude around the house, then that's a shame. A guy's home is his castle, and he should be able to wear, or not wear, what he wants, so long as no malice is intended.