Nudist: born or learned?

[Gary Naturist]

Do you think that you were born a nudist? Or that you learned to enjoy nudism?

Could you stop being a nudist?

Gary

[Gary Naturist]

Do you think that you were born a nudist? Or that you learned to enjoy nudism?

Could you stop being a nudist?

Gary

[nudeM]

I think that nudism is a born trait. Having to wear clothes is a learned trait. Remember as a kid, it felt great running around without any clothes after a bath, but then I had to put on some clothes. This is common with all kids (non nude families). Being able to walk around the house around family members without any guilt, is however, something that I just started about a year ago. Wish I had done it sooner.

[NoodJuggler]

I have to agree with NudeM..I always loved being nude even as a child (preteen) but was always told to put my clothes back on. I also was told that it was wrong to be nude. Even tho they never could explain why. I guess that was just the way my parents were taught by their parents. Religion plays an important part also as my mom was a prude and raised in a strick religious family. I didn't really get into nudism until I moved out of the house and married and then I could do what I wanted to. But I remember the time when we were snowmobiling with my sisters family and all our clothes were wet and when we got home they took off their clothes and was running around in their thermo underwear and thought nothing of it. That was when I guess I realized that there really is nothing to be ashamed of and have been a nudist ever since.
Even when it is cold and have to wear clothes, I still am a Nudist. Cheers..Keithmj

[Ben_m]

Thanks for this poll, Gary naturist. It felt good to realize I am clearly in the majority here with my answers, at least based on the answers so far.

I feel that I was born a nudist/naturist, but given my environment and culture, an extremely frustrated and confused one. It took me several decades of this frustration and confusion to finally begin to get it figured out. At this point, many have tried and some continue to try to "beat it out of me", but to no avail.

It's good to see mechanisms and efforts like this forum and the site itself to help others get through this potential confusion.

[Buzzer]

I guess there's one in every crowd....and I'm that one.
When I was very young I'd get upset if anyone other than my parents & sister saw mw nude. I always insisted on wearing, at least, boxer shorts when at home. I really wasn't until I was fishing by myself, in Alaska, and slipped in the water, getting my pants wet, that I tried outdoor-partial nudism. Standing there in the sun, fishing while my pants dried, I decided to take the rest of my clothes off. It was a new discovery ! Since then, I'm nude whenever it won't offend anyone.

[NuTex]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I think that nudism is a born trait. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I agree with nudeM.

My opinion is that since clothing is obviously an artifact the impulse to wear it when not needed could not be genetic. As the saying goes, "If we were meant to be nude we would be born that way". So, IMHO, we have to be conditioned from early childhood to want to wear clothes. The sense that we should be dressed when the environment doesn't require it for health, comfort or safety is the result of conditioning.

So I believe that we are all hardwired to be nudists. Clothing compulsion, a term I seem to recall someone on another board once used, is a product of our individual histories and isn?t genetic. And I believe these histories are largely decided by the culture we?re raised in.
NuTex

[TXK NUDE]

nudity is definitely a born trait...ask my two year old! clothing is taught, but if taught from an early agem it can seem like you were born with clothes on!

I eas not born a nudist, however, but i was born nude! wore clothes from minute one! but i wanted to be naked at a very early age...but thought i was weird!

didn't learn the trutrh about nudism until later in life...now i know...we're all weird! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Naturist Mark]

I was borned a small naked child...

[OZJames]

Yes, definetly nudity is natural. There is so much we MUST do nude (at least in my opinion).

Birth (nudity a must)
Procreate (mad not to be)
Shower (unhigenic with clothes)
Shower with a friend to save water
Medical examinations (I guess it depends whats being examined)
Sunbake (by definition, you i.e. your body is not sunbaking if covered)
Swimming (I never wear shoes swimming because I might sink)
Massage- essencial for our health (cannot be done properley through clothing)
Holding hands (would you prefer gloves ?)
Hugging (ditto)

All the above good for our health

When i started nudity on our farm I was very concerned that friends and neighbours might find out and think we were weird.

Now I tell them - thanks Clothesfree.com - I think that reading posts on this site has changed my life

JAMES

[Kari P]

Are those who say "I learned to enjoy nudism" and those who say "I could give up being a nudist without great difficulty" mostly the same persons? At least their numbers are near.

[Mitch go Bare]

Hi Gary,
Exxxxxelent post.
I'm glad to say I'm in the majority too !
From distant dark memories....i think i was about 10 when i realised it felt great kicking about in the nick. I've been at it ever since, wow, that's 34 years !
Cheers,
Mitch. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MikeJB]

I was born nude and I intend to die that way. Ive rejected clothing in various ways in my life, now more than ever and really I cant wait to get out of this godforsaken house so I can strip whenever I want. Id probably spend most of my days at a nudist resort. I think nudity is genetics though because ive always wanted to be nude even when people forced me to wear clothes, the only thing that made me wear them was my ignorance that nudity was really good but lately ive gotten to my senses and for the most part have rejected the awful things, except for practical reasons, I mean im not a total nutcase, although im sure rocket or stu would generally think so.

Actually, ALL people are BORN nudists. As babies and toddlers they have absolutely NO body shame or feel any embarrassment at being seen naked. To them at that age there is no such thing as "private parts".

As they grow and start school, and often before they start school, they start learning body shame. What else can you call it when people are embarrassed to be seen nude? It's a totally irrational fear. They are taught that "certain parts" must be kept covered because they're "dirty", and "nice people" don't let others see "those body parts".

I was born a nudist and stayed that way--at least alone. Unfortunately, I was immersed in the false idea of being embarrassed to let anyone else see me naked.

Although I was nude when alone as often as possible all my life, I didn't experience social nudism until 2001. I wasted so many years being foolishly embarrassed for no good reason.

[nudeM]

Originally posted by Gary Naturist: "...,but many nudist kids become modest between ages 7 and 10 and don't go nude again until they are adults."

This may be so, but why the modesty? Is it because they are around "clothed" peers? If we lived in a nude society, where everyone is nude all the time, then the kids would not have the need to be modest. Personally, it is the "learned trait" of "having" to wear clothes that brings about "body shame" and/or modesty.

Comments?

[Lilwilly]

I would say I am a born nudist. I have enjoyed the naked state as far back as I can remember. Even as a child I would seek out places where I could be naked (and undiscovered, since I knew it was not approved of). As an adult I learned to my surprise that my younger brother is a nudist, I had no idea he was interested. My brother tells me one of the female members of the family likes to shed her clothes as well, so it seems to run in the family. My father always slept nude but was never nude around us kids.

[noodtoonist]

i can't recall a lot of my earlier childhood. pre-puberty, my brothers and sisters and i would all shower together, and it seemed weird when going to a public place, such as the beach or a pool, that showers were gender segregated. i knew nothing about 'nudism' until age 10-11 when i saw a tv news report about a nudist club (this was mid 70's, about one of the western australian clubs... in those liberated days they actually showed backsides and possibly breasts (memory fading!!!) in the 6 o'clock news report!!). although i know my teenage philosphy was that clothes seemed ridiculous, the orbit of my life never really connected with nudism per se - although i do remember getting nekkid on numerous occassions when my family had all left the house. it wasn't until i was at university where a group of friends went several times to a local beach, and then formed a uni club, that i became more familiar and comfortable with the concept. even then it wasn't until some years later that i somehow really reconnected with that uni experience and thought 'what have i been missing out on??'. and several years later, here i am now!!

[Jochanaan]

Born a nudist, taught to be non-nudist, had to relearn to be nude. That's my story.

[Liberty]

A great post, Johnanaan!

I was nude in front of my father and brother when I was very little and knew nothing of body shame until I went to school. As I grew older, I panicked when I realized I was nude when I put my pajamas on.

Body shame is a learned behavior. I am trying to unlearn it. Only time I experienced NO shame or self-conscious was when I was at two social nude events. I wouldn't be nude in front of my non-nudist family and friends unless they try nudity.

I'm nude at home most of time when it is not so cold. I never use heat especially I live in Southern California. When it is too chilly or my clothed neighbor visits, I wear a flannel gown with nothing under it.

[FireProf]

I voted "born nudist", though I didn't start practicing nudism until early teens. I would take extra long in the restroom after a shower so I did not have to get dressed right away. I'd take advantage to be nude every time I could when I was alone at home. I'd take advantage of no one being home and taking a shower and walking from the bathroom to my bedroom nude...usually taking the long route to my bedroom.

Could I give up nudism. Not really. It is so much apart of who I am that if forced to I'd be one miserable, depressed son of a gun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[tarsus]

well i know i am just parroting here;but i was born nude.
what i remember as a small child was nobody cared if i was nude till i started school,then everything changed.[it was also about this time that i suffered a head injury,i was 5 at the time
that would change my personally] i was told no more: i was growing up and had to conform.
the severe head injury would change my personally for over twenty years before i was able to overcome and be what i now consider a "decent person". i am glad i changed,i am glad i went back,i would not be here i truly belive,if i had stayed so inhibited.nudism is as much a part of life as getting up in the morning.it always will be.

[LeeR49]

I had a little trouble with question 3. At first glance, I thought it said, "Yes, with great difficulty." I would have checked that. I could give it up, because there are more important things in my life than being nude -- oebying God and loving my family being two of them. If my nudity come inconflict with those things, I would give it up. At the same time, I feel that "nudism is hard wired into me," so it would not be easy to leave it behind. In the end, I voted no.

There should have been a third answer to question 3: "Yes, but with great difficulty."

[LeoNJ]

I will like to share a funny story with you all. Our youngest daughter was born jjust under two years ago. After she was born they usually let the baby lay naked in a special crib with a heat lamp to keep them warm. The reason the left the baby naked was to wait for a bit to see if the baby would have a bowel movement. Well anyway when it came time for the nurse to dress our new baby girl she put up a fight in getting the onesy that the nures was trying ot put on her. Well any way the nurse commented to me as I stood right there watching her try to dress our new little princess that she will be a nudist when she grows up because of the fight she had with her to put on cloths. As the nurse said this I just smirked and giggled to my self and said only if you knew. My wife and I have been nudist for about 4 years now and we are rasing our now four children as nudist.

LeoNJ

[Bob S.]

I have always had the naked bug. My brother, sister, and I played some nekkid games when we were younger, bathed together, and our parents even allowed us to go out back in the rain naked once in a while. My brother and sister both outgrew their nudity phase, but I never did. I have always loved being naked. When I lost my sibling nakedness outlet, I just went into my room and played naked in there.

Nudity has always had a strong pull on me.

Bob S.

[nudejosh123]

Well I believe that I was born a nudist. I never really liked clothes unless the purpose was to keep me warm. When it ever got warm out I would ditch the clothes. Could I give up being a nudist, no way!

[NW Nude]

This is a tough question. I would have to say first, how did I become a nudist? When researching campgrounds on a yahoo search, I noticed a nude campground with an hour or two of our home. The curiosity was peaked and my wife said she was up for trying it. That's all it took. Did I learn it that wknd or was I/we nudists all along? I have always enjoyed a robe with no underware, any chance to go camando, and always thought skinny dipping would be a blast. Didn't vote because I'm not sure, but don't care because I love being nude.

[BikeRacer]

From what my older brother's and sister's have told me, I probably have always been a nudist. Seem's I was always taking off my diaper and frollicking around the backyard nekkid! And I probably won't wear diaper's when I'm 80 either!

[FishNude]

http://www.naturistcalendars.com/gallery/images/us_nw/rock2.jpg

Just enjoy life nude ...

[nudeinfl]

To expound upon the census; born. Anything that is our natural state is born. Anything that goes against it is learned. Look at early mankind. The wore clothes for practical purposes only. Bathing was done freely. Warm weather weas combated by shedding the loincloth. It was when we became a sophisticated people that clothing was important.

Perhaps our societies could do better with a bit less sophistication.

[shãybare]

To tell you the truth, I know I was there but I can't remember If I was born nude or not. However, from my earliest recollections I know that I have never, most of the time, enjoyed wearing clothes. I'll admit there has been a time or two that I felt good while gussied up. I do wear clothes at times but don't enjoy it, not because I feel restricted or should I say I don't feel as free.

All I know is that I feel so much more comfortable when I'm naked that just the thought of wearing clothes gives me a yukky feeling in the pit of my stomach. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[nudebynature]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kari P:
Are those who say "I learned to enjoy nudism" and those who say "I could give up being a nudist without great difficulty" mostly the same persons? At least their numbers are near. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I for one answered, that I was born a nudist and can give it up. I do give it up on a daily basis, when I go to work, thus proving that it is possible. I feel confined in clothes, but manage.

It is just a question of willpower. I have strong willpower and can give anything that is not essential for life. However, being a nudist adds a new dimension to my life, that I would sadly miss.

I feel that lots more people than are saying can give it up if they had to. I just think that life is a whole lot more fulfilling and natural. But sure, I can live a fake existence if I had to. I think I would have made a great international spy. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I don't believe the results of this poll anymore than any other.


I seem to be outgrowing my birthday suit.