Shirtless Cosplay: When is it "Ok"

Me and my friend have been having an ongoing argument for awhile now on when a person going without a shirt is ok and when it's a bit offensive ,or just a little on the gross side. I believe that a person should be at a certain level of fitness before they start walking around a convention half naked =_= , but he argues that part of the fun of doing cosplay is being someone your not even close to being in real life, and while I agree with this, I still think it wouldn't hurt to consider other people. I'm not saying you gotta have ripped six pack abs or even be all that slim , but i really just don't want my 320 pound friend doing a Demon King Yuske from Yu Yu Hakusho. Am I being a jerk , or does someone agree with me ?

I guess it's a matter of both looks and con rules. If they're a sort of "no shirt, no shoes, no service" place, then don't bother.

If you're an obese weaboo, then it doesn't hurt to cover up. If you're in decent shape, could go either way. Really depends on your own comfort level, I'd guess.

You can tell your 320 pound friend that if he goes to a convention with his shirt off, you will disown him for the entire time you are there

Are there Spanx for men yet?
Maybe that can help him fulfill his dream. D;

Spanx are evil D:<

Why? Never used them myself, but they seem a nice accessory.
Though I guess if you're er, getting comfy with someone and find out they'd been wearing them... would be awkward.

....a push-up bra is a "nice accessory" make a B look like a C...make-up is a "nice accessory" make a girl with a bit of acne but an otherwise lovely girl , look a bit better...but a women who is a size 14 parading around as an 8 is a flat out lie...don't get me wrong ,but it's pretty much the male version of stuffing a zucchini down their pants...disappointing at best

Hmm, true. But the change they provide isn't THAT drastic. Tight pantyhose-like things can only help one so far... the people I know who wear them, it looks like maybe they went down only about five pounds. It's not enough to transform a lump into a beauty queen. The flab just gets shifted to another part of the body... it's not disappearing.

BUT ANYHOW, sorry for derailing. OP, I'd say tell your friend nicely that while you respect him for who he is, this would probably be a poor decision on his part.

I've been wanting to cosplay as the above character for a while now. I think shirtless is OK, as long as you follow a few simple rules:

1) Shave. Oh, for the love of Pete, SHAVE!!
2) You need to have a body that is not offensive to look at.
3) No costume is NO COSTUME.

i agree 200%

When asking yourself whether or not to go shirtless, there is another simple question you must ask in order to have your answer:

Got abs in any way?

Then proceed according to your answer.

If yes, please do it. I'd love to see more lovely, shirtless men at cons.

If no, please don't.

If you're able/in shape enough to confidently go shirtless in public on a non-cosplay occasion, then go for it while cosplaying.

If you wouldn't, then stay clothed. Cons are life too...