How is it possible...

[Pieguy]

...that anybody can be offended by what everybody has? How are the reproductive organs any different from, say, the feet?

[Pieguy]

...that anybody can be offended by what everybody has? How are the reproductive organs any different from, say, the feet?

[MJ_KC]

It is because of what people are taught growing up and what they accept as true. If it is drummed into your brain that certain body parts are not meant to be seen in public, you will tend to believe this.

It isn't easy for most people to toss off this long tern indoctrination. Most people would never agree to go to a nude beach or resort.

That's something I've NEVER understood. Even before getting into social nudism at age 55 I was never offended be anyone's nudity even though I've been a Christian since I was 17. All my live I've enjoyed being nude whenever possible.

Most people are indoctrinated with the false belief that nudity is sexual. That belief causes people to believe that non-sexual nudity doesn't exist.

[TANZ]

Nudism.The only activity where you can get chastised or prosecuted for the thoughts in someone elses mind.

Naturally,as always,Kiwi

[RalphVa]

What's even harder to understand is a boyfriend getting mad at a naked guy for being in the presence of his girlfriend. Or, a parent getting mad at a nudist for being in the presence of his kids. Bet neither the girlfriend nor the kids mind at all.

[Buzzer]

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gifI think all children should, at least, grow up seeing their parents nude. I do believe it leads to a healthier outlook for the kids.

[DoctorSurferDude]

Visually I learned early on the difference between a boy and a girl. The genitals are what define our gender when we are born. Feet, on the other hand are a trait shared by both males and females.

Another difference is that it is easy to stop a soccerball using our feet, but it hurts when we stop the ball with our genitals. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[nudenwv]

genitals are the sex organs and therefore our society has put a ban on showing them other than locker room practices. also the male sex organ,being outside the body, is not to be shown in full frontal pics as opposed to the woman whose sex organs are inside the body and not seen.

[Naturist Mark]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by keith bricker:
genitals are the sex organs and therefore our society has put a ban on showing them </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmmm ... genitals are not the ONLY sex organs. So are skin, fingers, lips, ears and that fluff between the ears. Better outlaw humanity altogether - just to be safe.

-Mark

[BackpackerBrian]

Well said Naturist Mark!!!!

I think it also has to do with that term kids are taught early-on . . . "private parts". I still am not sure who coined this phrase, but certainly think they should be educated. If anyone knows who the guilty culprit is, please shine some light here.

In society of past, the feet were "private parts" perhaps, and now the genitals are "private parts" still. Only when we STOP thinking of them as private parts, and instead of something that's exposed when conditions are favorable, and take the taboo off them, we'll always have this outdated notion of dirtiness and sexual innuendo around the reprodictive organs.

[Nudony]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It is because of what people are taught growing up and what they accept as true. If it is drummed into your brain that certain body parts are not meant to be seen in public, you will tend to believe this. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is how it starts:
"Pull your pants up!"
"Pull your shirt down!"
"What are you doing? You can't just walk around like that!"
"Nobody wants to see your Peewee! So keep it in your pants!"

Parents project their fears unto their children, and then, with society's help, methodically beat it into their brains for years and years. And as a results the genitals become taboo; an almost separate "entity" from the rest of our body. Many people will never be able to "reconnect" their genitals to the rest of their bodies and consider it as "just another body part."

[Fresh Air]

The difference is purely social...but it's a STRONG difference. It's hard to expect others to share the same views as a nudist.

Dan

[RunningNude57]

EXACTLY! Americans are so conservative in that regards. Europeans have a more healthy attitude regarding nudity and the body..

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nudony:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It is because of what people are taught growing up and what they accept as true. If it is drummed into your brain that certain body parts are not meant to be seen in public, you will tend to believe this. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is how it starts:
"Pull your pants up!"
"Pull your shirt down!"
"What are you doing? You can't just walk around like that!"
"Nobody wants to see your Peewee! So keep it in your pants!"

Parents project their fears unto their children, and then, with society's help, methodically beat it into their brains for years and years. And as a results the genitals become taboo; an almost separate "entity" from the rest of our body. Many people will never be able to "reconnect" their genitals to the rest of their bodies and consider it as "just another body part." </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Reece852]

I never really understood that much... indeed. It's a body part... woohoo http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Get over it

[Carnut1291]

Cool avatar picture! Anyways, I guess people would be offended because we are taught growing up to cover up our genital area or breasts. As the Doctor (i forgot his name sorry lol) said, "A child who has never seen his parents, brothers and sisters nude see nudism as shocking." I think thats how it goes... or something like that.

[Bob S.]

Pieguy:" How are the reproductive organs any different from, say, the feet?"

Well, playing footsie won't result in pregnancy http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
You can't take a pi$$ through your toes http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

As the Doc mentioned, feet are seen on everyone. The penis is seen on rought half the people, the vagina on the other half.

Brian mentioned that feet have been considered private parts. In some cultures today, the bottom of the foot is considered extremely private and, in fact, offensive if shown to someone else.

The phrasing of your question, Pieguy, is telling. You didn't write "genitals" but reproductive organs. The penis and vagina are more than just areas of the body for reproduction. They also are responsible for the more immediate everyday task of elimination of waste.

Bob S.

[Trailscout]

Not only that, Bob, I recollect pissing contests...
Who can melt the most snow, who could fill a coke bottle the fastest, who could put out a campfire...

It was some source of pride that we felt that we had been born with fire hoses.

As we advanced to adolescence most of that tomfoolery went by the wayside but was replaced by other sorts of nonsense. In sixth grade our female classmates took a sudden interest in giving us a quick grab by the "fire hose" and running down the hall giggling all the way.

We boys were slow-witted about such things, but we knew enough to be mildly annoyed and indignant at this trespass into our personal space.

And hoo boy things were sure different by high school! All the rules changed then.

[Boreas]

I so agree with this question. In fact I just asked a similar question on another thread.

Why do we censor body parts, yet allow murders and violence on TV and movies regularly? Why do we not want to allow children to see breasts when breasts are designed to nourish children?

Are bare bodies more dangerous than guns and wars??

[Sauna]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Still_Boreas:
I so agree with this question. In fact I just asked a similar question on another thread.

Why do we censor body parts, yet allow murders and violence on TV and movies regularly? Why do we not want to allow children to see breasts when breasts are designed to nourish children?

Are bare bodies more dangerous than guns and wars?? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You have good question. It looks to be so when you listen prudes.

[NudistGuy47]

I believe it is all in how we are raised. Backpacker Brian hit it on the head with the "private parts" label. When it is drilled into our heads like that, we form many notions that may not be right for us when we grow and learn later in life.

I for one am happy I am who I am and have no complaints about being human with all the associated pieces and parts.

[krcNY]

We use th word Private Parts with our kids.

They know the proper terminology, but we still make sure they know the genetalia is their own private part. We have taught them that everyone has their own personal space and we should respect that. The Private parts are theirs alone and no one should touch there, kind of like personal space. We did not make it dirty, just want to make sure they are aware that they have control. If someone makes a gesture of sorts, to tell us immediatly and take whatever measures they feel necessary to get away from the person.

Talking to some textiles though, they believe we are wrong letting our daughter see men besides their dad. They have no issues with our nudity at home, just taking the kids to a resort. They did not seem to care that our son sees women, why not??

[Guy L]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Buzzer:
http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gifI think all children should, at least, grow up seeing their parents nude. I do believe it leads to a healthier outlook for the kids. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I completely agree with this. The most "voyeur" people are the ones who have never seen their parents nude.

Now my question is: where does the belief -that the children should not see the parents nude- come from?

[Nudony]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Now my question is: where does the belief -that the children should not see the parents nude- come from? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not all of it, but a lot of it stems from interpretations of passages in the Bible. See Genesis 9:20-27 and the Book of Leviticus. Both passages have been interpreted (or most likely misintepreted) as seeing one's parents nude "taboo."

[Pirate_John]

Let's not forget peer pressure, too. Even kids raised as nudists often suddenly become shy during those "awkward years."