Nudity and streaking

[Peter Stokes]

What is nudity and what is streaking? Serious question, folks.

Reading some of the posts around these forums, there's a lot of talk about 'pushing the boundaries', extending a walk on a CO beach into neighbouring area, hiking trails or woods which aren't CO/nudist areas, and so on.

Have a look at the forum on streaking.org - there are a lot of similar tales being told. Many, I admit, are what one might term 'traditional' streaking - running across the pitch in the middle of the game, and so on - but many of the posters there talk about nude hiking and the like, freedom to be naked, all the good feelings - all the same things that get expressed here, in fact.

So - one person hikes nude down a trail, it's a streak; someone else hikes nude down the same trail it's a lifestyle statement.

Are naturists just streakers trying to be respectable? Or are streakers just naturists trying to appear rebellious?

peter stokes

[Peter Stokes]

What is nudity and what is streaking? Serious question, folks.

Reading some of the posts around these forums, there's a lot of talk about 'pushing the boundaries', extending a walk on a CO beach into neighbouring area, hiking trails or woods which aren't CO/nudist areas, and so on.

Have a look at the forum on streaking.org - there are a lot of similar tales being told. Many, I admit, are what one might term 'traditional' streaking - running across the pitch in the middle of the game, and so on - but many of the posters there talk about nude hiking and the like, freedom to be naked, all the good feelings - all the same things that get expressed here, in fact.

So - one person hikes nude down a trail, it's a streak; someone else hikes nude down the same trail it's a lifestyle statement.

Are naturists just streakers trying to be respectable? Or are streakers just naturists trying to appear rebellious?

peter stokes

[fns]

Sounds like they are just broadening the use of the term "streaking", as if anything that one does in the nude is "streaking". I prefer to use "streaking" for someone making a very brief, quick appearance nude, in a place that nudity is not normally seen, i.e. running thru the field of a sporting event. They run so they hopefully won't get caught. Most hikers certainly are hoping not to get in trouble, but they know they may have a "clothed encounter" and are prepared to deal with it either by covering up, or just smiling. That's what it sounds like to me anyway, just a misuse of the term "streaking". As long as they enjoy themselves nude, it really doesn't matter to me.

[Gary Naturist]

I agree with fns' definition of streaking. Using this definition, I don't think of streaking as a nudist activity.

I define a nudist activity as one that imparts some type of feeling of wellbeing to the person (e.g. relaxation, freedom, oneness with nature).

It seems to me that streaking is linked closely to the production of adrenalin. The reaction being sought is one of excitement from being in a "dangerous" situation.

Similarly, I don't think of flashing as a nudist activity. Here the reaction being sought is sexual.

That's not to say that nudists can't enjoy feelings of sexiness and (adrenalin) excitement from nudist activities as well -- many do (more sexiness than excitement I think).

Gary

[Bob S.]

The difference between nudism and streaking, the way I see it:

streaking focuses on the nudity. Nudism focuses on the activity.
streaking, the nudity in public is the main thing. Nudism, the nudity is secondary.

So if someone were nude hiking with the intent on being seen naked, that would bee seen as streaking. If someone were nude hiking with the intent on getting some excersize and enjoying nature, that would be nudism.

Bob S.

[florida-david]

i agree with all of you and i think you said perfectly the difference between streaking and nudism. but i'm glad someone brought up the streaking.org website cause some of the stories certainly are funny on that site. the only problem with streaking is that the streakers could harm the general populations viewpoint of nudists by concentrating on the streakers exposing themselves to people you do not want to see them. most nudists would rather society not see them while they are nude, whereas streakers want to be seen. i personally think streakers are funny and expose the population to nudism because us nudists are too chicken to do it ourselves....

[roadrambler2]

Well said Florida Dave,streaking is a HOOT!!!!!!!

[missouriboy]

Streaking is just a form of exhibitionism. It's an action, and might be done by a nudist, or not, depending on how (and where) the individual is acting at a given time.

Just an opinion, of course. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[johny]

However I am not an expert in English semantics I feel the difference is that streakers have an INTENTION to embarass a clothed people around them /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif while nudists are TRYING to dont and only unexpected situations rarely makes them be seen in "unapproppriate" buff.

[Jochanaan]

Flashing, as it's commonly practiced, seems to stem from an unhealthy erotic need. But I remember an article from TIME magazine 'way back in 1974, when streaking first exploded onto the national consciousness; it quoted some academic or professional who had studied the problem as saying that, in his/her opinion, streaking was not sexual in nature. All I have read about it tends to support that opinion.

Streaking is a performance art. The world is its stage.

[hw]

Quick observation on streaking: It seems to me there are more male streakers than female streakers, much like the people who post here. Any comments on that? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Dave M.]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hw:
Quick observation on streaking: It seems to me there are more male streakers than female streakers, much like the people who post here. Any comments on that? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>If a male streaks he looked up to. If a female streaks that a whole other story and it's not good.

[BrianM]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peter Stokes:
What is nudity and what is streaking? Serious question, folks......
.....Are naturists just streakers trying to be respectable? Or are streakers just naturists trying to appear rebellious?

peter stokes <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm not quite old enough to remember exactly, but growing up in a small town when I was young, the local private liberal arts college occasionally had "sreaks" that were a topic of conversation for the adults in the community. My view of them were that they were protests of sorts, part of the body freedom movement. There were groups of people participating, even handicapped people in chairs (this college had relatively high % of handicapped as a niche). This was approximately 1972/74 timeframe. As kids in this timeframe, we sometimes followed suit, and had owr own streaks. We would strip down outside at night and run around the neighborhood, with the objective of not being seen.
I have to say that traditional flashing would not fall into the same category as streaking, however some acts of "streaking" have a "flashing" motive, if they are targeted to opposite gender, etc.

[rwyman]

This ought to be a no-brainer. Streaking or flashing is intended to shock the onlooker whether or not there is a sexual intent. Naturism or nudism shuns the shock and sexual factors. That is not to say that there is no element of exhibitionism in naturism. Certainly some nudists are exhibitionists. Some exhibitionists are sexual deviants. The difference is mostly in the intent. Unfortunately, the general public is unaware or uncaring of the difference. Therefor, streakers and flashers give the nudists a bad name.

Separating the sexual aspect from the unclothed aspect of nudism is very difficult. No amount of rules or regulations will change that. Nudity is inherently sexual. The propagation of the species depends on it to a certain extent.

We could discuss this forever, but the fact is that you will get arrested if you are nude in the wrong place or at the wrong time. Most cops, and the general public, really don't care about your intent. (sigh)

[David77]

I read in a southern Illinois newspaper, possibly a little over a year ago, that the federal government sent persons to southern Illinois to keep check on porn on the internet. These appointed persons may view naturism differently, and very negatively.

Some who have posted expression of their being very wary, seem to be entirely valid thinking, wise.

Unfortunately, some think, as the immediately preceeding post details, that nudity and sex are inseperable.

[Jochanaan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hw:
Quick observation on streaking: It seems to me there are more male streakers than female streakers, much like the people who post here. Any comments on that? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>My own instinct and experience leads me to believe that women get more body-shame messages from the media, society, or wherever, and so women have to be stronger and bolder than men both to become nudist and to streak. Pressure is building on men to be Mr. Cosmo or whoever, but it still isn't as high as it is on women. And more of my gender seem able to jettison such baggage.

(Really, such messages are utterly false. I certainly am more attracted to natural, free-spirited women than to model types, and I think a lot of men share my attractions.)

[aunaturelone]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>"Streaking or flashing is intended to shock the onlooker whether or not there is a sexual intent." <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I think that's going too far. I've hung out with a lot of streakers (done a fair amount of it myself) and the reasons for streaking are quite varied. Probably the most common is to be naughty, to do something forbidden. It's a way of being a rebel. There are also streakers who see it as political, a form of civil disobedience.

Part of it is also just in seeing how much one can get away with. That's where "pushing the envelope" comes in. My own streaking has very often been pushing the envelope. Sometimes by pushing the envelope you really can stretch the envelope and make it bigger. (Being obnoxious, insensitve and stupid in how you push it can result in backlash, as happened Andrew Martinez in Berkely a few years back.)

The annual Bay to Breakers Fun Run in San Francisco is a case in point. A few years back a few bave souls did it in the nude. They were cited but the citations were dropped due to public pressure. The people along the way LIKED seeing the nude participants. The nudies have participated with increasing numbers in every B2B since. (I was in the 2002 & 2003 runs.)

One thing I've never met is a streaker who wished for a negative response. Streaking is a form of comedic street theater. Comedians (clothed or naked) want the acceptance and approval of their audience, e.g. cheers and applause, laughter and giggles, maybe even some rebel whoops. This doesn't mean nobody in the audience can be embarassed. Embarassment can be fun and any comic knows this.

Never met a streaker yet who wanted to "shock" anyone in a negative way. More a desire to amuse, even be accepted in one's nudity. Or a desire to make a statement & wake people up from their complacency.

There are sexual exhibitionists out there who get nude in public as a way to facilitate arousal and climax. These folks usually target a specific kind of person such as little old ladies or young children or teenage girls or whatever. What I have read of them indicates they really do get off on "shock" and intentionally intrude on their subject's personal space. I haven't personally met any streakers like that, though I'm sure they must exist. I have to assume they tend more to be sexual flashers who hide in their car or under a rain coat until just the right person comes along.

I don't think "streaking" should be put in the same catagory as "flashing".

Streakers generally do it just for fun and because it's forbidden. Yes, some people may be shocked or embarrassed, but they'll get over it. I believe most people who see a streaker view it as fun and harmless. I remember a sitcom where a flasher ran though a room full of men and women, wearing a sign that said "Honk if you see anything you like." When he came back again dressed later, one woman said "Honk!" I thought that was funny.

Flashers intend to shock their victims and to get sexual enjoyment from the shocking of others. Flashing is only for the sexual pleasure of the flasher. That's my 2 cents worth.