clothing optional/nude swimming

[EricNY]

I was just wondering.

Most CLOTHING OPTIONAL resorts, clubs, etc. give you an option that you can be full nude, dressed or in between the two. I assume that is a choice an individual makes based on their own personal comfort level. Yet it is MANDITORY that you are full nude while swimming.

I read Jon Marcs post where he said he witnessed a young boy getting kicked out of the swimming area unless he removed his clothes.

My question is if it is clothing optional what is the reasoning behind manditory nude swimming or hot tub?

[EricNY]

I was just wondering.

Most CLOTHING OPTIONAL resorts, clubs, etc. give you an option that you can be full nude, dressed or in between the two. I assume that is a choice an individual makes based on their own personal comfort level. Yet it is MANDITORY that you are full nude while swimming.

I read Jon Marcs post where he said he witnessed a young boy getting kicked out of the swimming area unless he removed his clothes.

My question is if it is clothing optional what is the reasoning behind manditory nude swimming or hot tub?

I'm not sure, but I was told tht the reason for having to be nude in the pool and hot tub is because of fibers from clothing getting caught in the filtering system and plugging it up, or something like that.

However, I can't understand why the lagoon (or lake if you prefer) isn't clothing optional. Personally, I prefer to swim nude as well as to do everything in the nude. Why go to a nudist resort and spend most or all of your time dressed? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[EricNY]

Jon-marc

I totally agree with, going to a nude resort the whole idea is to be nude.And I know for a fact that I would not spend a minute dressed there.

But lets say that you bring your children, and the child is not comfortable nude(yet). Why can't the child swim with a suit until nude feels more comfortable.I am sure that there are other scenarios.

As far as plugging the filters, what about non nude pools, I imagine they use the same filters.Is there any other reason?

[missouriboy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ercNY:
...As far as plugging the filters, what about non nude pools, I imagine they use the same filters.Is there any other reason? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Pool operators in nudist venues are blessed NOT to have the filter clogging problems of non-nude pools, and strive to keep it that way.

I don't know if it's intentional, but this rule also tends to gently encourage textiles to lose their threads, in a non-demanding way. "When in Rome..." /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Xen]

'Clothing optional' strikes me as being a rather misleading term because what it actually often seems to mean is 'nudity optional'.

The only time one sees 'Clothing optional' is at nudist clubs/resorts. It is not a general term at most pools and beaches where nudity is prohibited.

I realise that it may be daunting for some people to make their first visit to a club where clothing is totally prohibited (I was one such person) but ultimately the reason for going to a nudist club is to be naked in a nudist environment. If one is shy one can get used to the environment before stripping and going for a swim. Swimming is afterall fundamentally different from other sports as most of the body is in the water and not bouncing around for all to see.

Clubs with 'clothing optional' rules recognise the issues by letting people wear clothes if they want to. However as there is absolutely no benefit from wearing swimwear, it is not unreasonable for them to insist that everyone is naked in a pool/tub and thus respect the naturist basis of the club.

Perhaps children would ask for a disclaimer as they are there not by free choice but because their parents have taken them. But many things they do are determined by their parents, how hard they are expected to work at school, which religion they follow, and being naturist is surely no different to this. If the parents believe in it the children have to go along with it, they can make their own choice later.

It can be off-putting to a new naturist to be surrounded by clothed people, but it's something one gets used to. In the same way it seems not unreasonable that the reluctant nudist should be required to strip at some point if he/she wants to enjoy all the facilities of the nudist club - once one costume appears, others would surely follow and the relaxation that comes from being in a true nudist environment would be lost.

[Gary Naturist]

I believe that most resorts and parks are nudist, not clothing-optional. However, some allow new people to remain clothed on some basis -- either for a limited period of time or only in some areas.

It makes sense to me that these resorts and parks would insist on nudity in pools and hot tubs. The easiest place for a person to be nude initially is in a pool where they are not so exposed. Insisting on nudity here is a way of encouraging the person to start making the transition.

The term clothing-optional is used most often to describe places where it is specifically OK to wear clothes, but it's equally OK to be nude. Examples: beaches, B&Bs, spas, recreational swims in indoor pools.

Gary

Gary

A couple of genuine questions (because I don't know the answers).

Do naturist resorts usually INSIST that people there conform to total nudity? What if there is a couple or family and one party doesn't feel comfortable shedding everything? Doesn't this give rise to conflict?

Stu

[David77]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by stu2630:
A couple of genuine questions (because I don't know the answers).

Do naturist resorts usually INSIST that people there conform to total nudity? What if there is a couple or family and one party doesn't feel comfortable shedding everything? Doesn't this give rise to conflict?

Stu <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Hi Stu,
I have never seen the figures covering the hundreds of naturist resorts here in the USA to quote absolutely what is the "usual policy". I can, however, speak from my experience and from the web sites and literature I have read.

Some naturist resorts are "clothing optional" and some are "nudity required."

I do not know of any "clothing optiomal" resort where a person is allowed to swim wearing a "costume" - to use the British word for what we call a swim suit. (Of course, a child who is not sufficiently toilet trained is required to wear a water-proof bottom.)
Outside of this swimming in the nude requirement, anyone could remain clothed at the clothing opional naturist resort for their entire stay. Some men remind their reluctant wives that if they attend the clothing optional resort with them, they have the privilege to remain clothed. Also, young teen-agers in the family are happy about the privilege to wear pants when they are out of the pool or lake, as they have no control over their frequent erections.

Some "nudity required" resorts will grant the female one visit where she may remain clothed, so that she can acclimate herself, but on the second visit, she is expected to become nude. However, it is understood that women who are having their period may wear a bottom, if wearing an (internal) tampon is not their choice.
However, men at this latter type of resort frequenty are required to disrobe on the first visit and are not given the one day "grace period", so to speak.

Some resort who require nudity merely say "We are very understanding of newcomers" and do not strickly enforce their nude policy except in the pool.

I prefer the "clothing optional" resorts (like the one I attend) as I like families to have this choice.

My first time at a nudist venue I got totally nude. After all, I went there because I WANTED to be nude outdoors. I wasn't going to pay money to get in and be nude just to sit around with my clothes on. I couldn't have used the hot tub or swimming pool, and I love both of those. That's where I spend much of my time. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[florida-david]

my family and i just got back from the mid-winter festival at sunsport in west palm beach. it was a bit chilly in the morning and evenings, so clothes were normal then. lots of people were in variouos levels of clothing, but the pool was strictly nudist only. my 9 year old son is usually very modest, but he followed the rules and showered with everyone else and than played naked in the pool. he even got out of the pool to go down the slide many times. but as soon as the pool activities were over, he quickly got dressed and went and played other sports. my other son (6 years old) stayed naked as he is not modest yet. i think the nude only rule is great for the pool, i wonder how he my 9 year old would have reacted if he was forced to be naked all the time? he just told me that he would be naked all the time if it was the rule (he's really good about following rules). i like the clothing optional rule as it is more friendly for the little people...

[Nate Dekan]

I've been reading some posts in a group about how the YMCA and public schools used to require male nudity for showers and swimming. This has challenged my position about mandatory nudity at nudist clubs, gyms, at home etc. I had thought that nudity shouldn't be required, especially with teens as it may make them uncomfortable; I now think that I may be wrong in that, maybe in fact it should be required for all ages! Life isn't always comfortable, in fact it can be in times of discomfort when we grow the most!

Several people on the YMCA group said things like the nudity helped create bonding, a feeling of being "level" with others, relaxation, and helped boys and men feel comfortable with their bodies and the bodies of others. By banning nudity when females came in, the Y not only didn't help them benefit from all that, they took it away from the males. Leaving mandatory nudity rules in place for both sexes would have helped bring females up, instead they took males down! That may be equal, but it's bringing about equality by going in the wrong direction!

Ideally instead of what the Y and schools did, I think that co-ed nudity should be required of both sexes for swimming and other physical activities from the earliest age on. Several people in the group said that they where initially uncomfortable with nudity, but became comfortable with it very quickly, others said they had no problem with it at all. Those who said they where initially uncomfortable with nudity at school or the Y also said that that was their first exposure to nudity around other people at eight years old or often older. I believe that most of those who said they had no initial discomfort with nudity at school or the Y had already been used to nudity from a much younger age.

Most pre-school age kids, and younger have no hang ups at all about nudity, in fact it can sometimes be hard to keep clothes on them, so if co-ed non-sexual nudity was required for most physical activities in schools from Pre-school through university, there would be no trauma of first time nudity in Jr. High locker rooms because everyone would already be used to it! They would have never learned to be ashamed of their bodies. I believe that if this happened it would also help to reduce things like sexual abuse, assault, promiscuity, and pornography. I also think that if their interest in the body was satisfied openly and non-sexually more kids would wait tell they are more mature to start having sex and they may even make better sexual decisions and be more responsible! Co-ed nudity from the youngest age up, might even help males treat females with more respect, and as equals, rather than as objects. That would be equality moving in the right direction! I know that's a big list, but I really don't think I'm overstating the benefits of non-sexual nudity vs. body shame.

Nate

[theoldman]

As far as swimsuits in pools & hot tubs I can offer this: My son had friends over who were not nudists. They used his hot tub and afterwards it foamed up so badly from detergent that was in the guests swimwear that he had to drain & refill the tub. I know that washing cycles do NOT get all the detergent out of anything. If you want proof run a load of wash & when it has completed the whole cycle, run it again but add no detergent. Just watch the discharge & you'll see what I'm talking about.

Needless to say we don't have this problem when it's our family.

[brainyguy9999]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by stu2630:
A couple of genuine questions (because I don't know the answers).

Do naturist resorts usually INSIST that people there conform to total nudity?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Naturist resorts in the U.S. are all privately owned. Therefore, the owner can make whatever rules he/she wants. To be a member resort of AANR, INA, TNS, or other organization, the resort has to be accepted by the organization. Those organizations mainly want your club to be decent. I'll let an administrator of this board discuss what INA accepts or rejects when deciding whether or not to accept a resort. Otherwise, the resort owners can do as they please. If they don't want to be a member of an organization, they only have to conform to local laws.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> What if there is a couple or family and one party doesn't feel comfortable shedding everything? Doesn't this give rise to conflict? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I went to Rock Haven Resort in Murfreesboro, Tennessee a couple of times. They claim to be a nude mandatory resort. After I checked in, I got nude. I saw more clothed people there (middle of July, temps in the 75F-85F range, sunny, light breeze, perfect nude weather) than I have ever seen at Timberline Resort in Crossville, Tennessee. Timberline is a CO resort that I have visited several times a year over the past four or five years (not enough though /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif ).

Although I never asked to be sure, I believe that Rock Haven said that they were nude mandatory to scare off anyone who may just want to come in to gawk. I think that the regulars/members there were given a lot of choice as to what they wanted to wear. That does cause me to be slightly angry (it seems a bit hypocritical to me), but at the same time I understand that it is their club and they can run it any way they want to. By the way, I don't plan to return.

I definitely believe in CO resorts. My fiancee used to say that she would never go to a nudist resort. However, the more I go, the more questions she asks. One of the 200 questions she asks each time is "How many people were wearing clothes?" She hasn't said that she wouldn't go with me in a long time. I think that if she goes, she will want to stay clothed until she is comfortable with it. If there were only nude mandatory resorts I know that she would never go with me.

I think that giving people the option of getting comfortable with being around other nude people before they get nude definitely helps people into it. It allows them the chance to see other people enjoying themselves so they know what kind of behaviour is expected. Most people don't want to break any rules, especially social rules that are supposed to be one of the "everyone knows that" kind of rule.

Regardless of any benefits for pool maintenance, I do believe that requiring nudity in the pool or in a tub is a great way to get reluctant people to give it a try. If they are hot and want to cool off, they have a pool in front of them. They just have to get nude. Besides, they can hide somewhat in the water, which makes the situation a little easier for them.

Hope that helps.

bg

[gamblefish]

Originally posted by bg:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I definitely believe in CO resorts. My fiancee used to say that she would never go to a nudist resort. However, the more I go, the more questions she asks. One of the 200 questions she asks each time is "How many people were wearing clothes?" She hasn't said that she wouldn't go with me in a long time. I think that if she goes, she will want to stay clothed until she is comfortable with it. If there were only nude mandatory resorts I know that she would never go with me. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Same here, bg. My wife will not join me at my club, even though all events are CO. But she may consider it in the future if she knows she does not have to "go all the way". One thing she says is that she would feel odd being the only one partially dressed (bikini bottoms), but right now she does not see the appeal in social nudity. I hope the more I go, the more she will become interested, like your fiance. Maybe someday...

Thanks to David77 and brainyguy for answering my question. That's cleared it up for me!

Stu

[RIVERRAT]

I agree anyone who would give this person grief should be questioned. My next question totally differant, where in nortern NY, we have so few nudists, or those willing to admit it.

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jon-Marc:
I'm not sure, but I was told tht the reason for having to be nude in the pool and hot tub is because of fibers from clothing getting caught in the filtering system and plugging it up, or something like that.

However, I can't understand why the lagoon (or lake if you prefer) isn't clothing optional. Personally, I prefer to swim nude as well as to do everything in the nude. Why go to a nudist resort and spend most or all of your time dressed? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>JonMark, if you had a hot tub, would you be sure that everyone was nude so you didn't end up with threads in you're pumps. by the way what are threads, nude is the way to hot tub. I'm in!!

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Xen:
'Clothing optional' strikes me as being a rather misleading term because what it actually often seems to mean is 'nudity optional'.

The only time one sees 'Clothing optional' is at nudist clubs/resorts. It is not a general term at most pools and beaches where nudity is prohibited.

I realise that it may be daunting for some people to make their first visit to a club where clothing is totally prohibited (I was one such person) but ultimately the reason for going to a nudist club is to be naked in a nudist environment. If one is shy one can get used to the environment before stripping and going for a swim. Swimming is afterall fundamentally different from other sports as most of the body is in the water and not bouncing around for all to see.

Clubs with 'clothing optional' rules recognise the issues by letting people wear clothes if they want to. However as there is absolutely no benefit from wearing swimwear, it is not unreasonable for them to insist that everyone is naked in a pool/tub and thus respect the naturist basis of the club.

Perhaps children would ask for a disclaimer as they are there not by free choice but because their parents have taken them. But many things they do are determined by their parents, how hard they are expected to work at school, which religion they follow, and being naturist is surely no different to this. If the parents believe in it the children have to go along with it, they can make their own choice later.

It can be off-putting to a new naturist to be surrounded by clothed people, but it's something one gets used to. In the same way it seems not unreasonable that the reluctant nudist should be required to strip at some point if he/she wants to enjoy all the facilities of the nudist club - once one costume appears, others would surely follow and the relaxation that comes from being in a true nudist environment would be lost. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Hey xen, I have to go to a beach, where clothing optional is a bad word, I have to walk over a mile to get to the naturist beach, beyound this point you will encounter nude sun bathers, our beach doesn't say that, it just sometimes allows nude sunbathing, sometimes, they tollorate us, people have been ticketed for nude sunbathing, so this is where I go to get naked, we take our chances, but it is a beautiful beach, if you ask nice I have pictures, any way clothes optional isn't the norm, and for those clothed, some have a problem with it, we call them gawkers, some would turn you in and then you could end up in trouble, others love to be naked here. I guess to catch up with you is to say, clothes optioanal I wish all the time, Be nude and enjoy

Riverrat,

If I had a hot tub, I would sit nude in it because I would make sure it was in a spot where I could do that. Anyone wanting to use the tub would be told that I would be nude, and they could do whatever they wanted. If they didn't want to be in the tub with me being nude, they would be out of luck. I would allow friends and relatives to use it with swimsuits without me being in it, but if I was in it I WOULD be nude. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[RIVERRAT]

Let me add one more insite to being nude or not to be nude. There is a time and place for everything, I would love to be able to be nude in all that I do, but we all know that is not practicle, because of laws and ordanaces, we must be clothed, we can still be naked at home or where ever it doesn't offend others, we must keep trying to push that to new heights and awarenes to others. Be nude wherever you can and try to be naked, In someways where you shouldn't be, mow the lawn, sunbathe, garden, wash the car, but don't say I said so, get arrested on your own, what a great world it would be if we could just be nude.

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jon-Marc:
Riverrat,

If I had a hot tub, I would sit nude in it because I would make sure it was in a spot where I could do that. Anyone wanting to use the tub would be told that I would be nude, and they could do whatever they wanted. If they didn't want to be in the tub with me being nude, they would be out of luck. I would allow friends and relatives to use it with swimsuits without me being in it, but if I was in it I WOULD be nude. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Hey bud I don't have a hot tub either, wish I did I would be naked in it, When I belonged to gym we would work out, then go to the steam room, with few exceptions naked, then of course to the shower, always naked, whats the big deal

[EricNY]

Great replies everyone!

I think that those who said, that it is a good way to get those that are reluctant to give it a try, said it best.

I think maybe the rules should be bent for children, however.