Clothed or not to be Clothed [Archive]

splitfeather

09-09-2002, 06:40 PM

There have been several articles in the "Bulletin" (AANR) about "clothed" persons at nudist resorts,parks,ect.. The argument is for pepole /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif to be totally nude while attending, no clothes at all. Others argue in favor of nude as well as clothed.
It seems that at a lot of resorts, there are as many clothed persons as there are nude, some times more clothed than nude.
Now, it's understandable that during cooler weather clothed while out doors make sense, but during warm weather many are dressed and nudes are the minority.
Some have stated that if the weather was 70 or above, no clothes were allowed. Teens, if not choosing to be nude, had to remain indoors (or anyone else for that matter).

Any way, the question for debate here is, if it is to be a nudist enviroment, should it be totally nude?

Is clothing obtional a good thing?
If yes, why?
If no,why?

Do any feel that clothing obtional resorts are becoming more a clothed resort with a minority nudist population?

So lets hear some input.

Thanks

splitfeather

09-09-2002, 06:40 PM

Bob S.

09-09-2002, 08:09 PM

Well, for me the term Clothing Optional means basically the same thing as nudist or naturist. And this may be the term of choice for the future with pornographers trying to commandeer the terms nudist and naturist.

There are many reasons why one could be clothed at a nudist park; weather too cold, "female problems," sunburns, newbies, etc. However, in most if not all of the parks, the pools/hot tubs are usually nudity only.

C/O is best when trying to attract newcomers who have never been to a nudist park or who are new to the lifestyle. this gives them the opportunity to have the option of wearing their clothes. However, if there are no other problems, people should be naked. The option to be clothed should be limited to a few reasons and a few places. At White Tail Park, you must be naked to swim and to venture in the residential area, and for the most part, the recreation hall. Teenagers, for the most part, are given the most leeway, especially those who live there.

As I have posted on another forum, the term clothing optional is only an issue when it applies to nudist parks. If it were the rule in general society, you wouldn't have any prob with it. It is only an issue because you are paying to attend a place to be naked.

Bob S.

David77

09-09-2002, 09:42 PM

I really can't believe that there are nudist resorts where most all those who attend are clothed. I strongly suspect that this claim is an exaggeration by some folks who are disgusted with a very few who may wear clothing at a clothing optional resort.

Turtle Lake Nudist Resort in Union City Michigan has a clothing optional policy, but practically no one chooses to wear clothing. My local nudist club is clothing optional but only one person chooses to wear clothing on a regular basis while she helps out during the meetings. Oh yes, once a man brought his wife who remained clothed in the sauma, but if she felt more mentally comfortable that way, it is fine wih me.
We Naturists want to be granted the freedom of nudity. In turn, Naturists should uphold this freedom principle to grant others freedom to wear clothing or go nude whenever and whereever they choose.

09-09-2002, 10:20 PM

At Turtle Lake Resort this last weekend there was a woman who stayed fully dressed all the time she was there. She wore a big floppy hat, a heavy long sleeved shirt and long pants. I have no idea why. Maybe she was new there, and maybe she had a bad sunburn. I've always noticed that the teen boys are only nude when they swim in the lagoon. Few people though wear anything there. I thought it rather humorous once when a girl in her early teens came to the lagoon with two teen boys. The boys quickly undressed and ran for the water. The girl, however, kept a towel wrapped around her while she undressed. She wore the towel to the water, removed it and jumped into the water. She was apparently new and shy, but she got nude anyway in her own way.

I don't know why or understand why some people stay dressed at a nudist resort. Why pay to get into one and stay dressed? The first thing I do once my car is parked is get undressed, and my clothes don't go back on until I have to leave.

Some people--particularly women-- have to work up the courage gradually before getting completely nude with strangers. I think men are usually more comfortable with their bodies. I saw a woman once at Turtle Lake who wore a bikini while she was there. In my opinion she would have been less noticed had she been totally nude.

I rode my bicycle nude at Turtle Lake. People spoke or nodded as I rode by even though they didn't know me and I didn't know them. You know these people are comfortable with their nudity. Being fairly new to social nudity myself as a middle-aged granddad, I'm still getting used to being nude around clothed people at the resort. It seems a little weird to be nude in front of clothed children and teens, but they don't notice or care. When society teaches you all your life that you cannot be nude in front of children for fear of being arrested for "indecent exposure" and being labeled an "exibitionist" or "pervert", it seems a little strange to be able to legally do what you've always been taught was "wrong". I hate clothes and love being nude. Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

LarryC

09-10-2002, 05:01 AM

I'm new to social nudism and married to a wonderfull woman who unfortunately does not practice nudism. She does however respect my enthusiasm for it. As I have recenlty discovered, as most of my fellow veteran nudists already know, participating in social nudity at some resorts is next to impossible (I live in NW Florida) unless you are accompanied by your spouse. My wife said she would go to a clothing optional facility with me as long as she had the option of staying clothed. Such a facility is ideal for someone in my situation. And who knows, maybe once she is there for awhile, she might decide to try being nude in front of others. Unfortunately the clubs in my area are strictly nude and thats fine for them, but it doesn't help me out much. There is a website for the NW Florida Nudist Associaton, but it doesn't appear to be active, at least I can't seem to get anyone from that website to respond to my emails. Anyway, the point is, there are clubs exclusively (it seems) for couples, & nude only, so yes I think clothing optional does have it's place. I just wish I had one close to me. All the clothing optional facilities that I know of in Florida are way south of me. Maybe I should start my own Nudist Association. Okay, there's my two cents for what it's worth. Be healthy and have a nude day!
Larry

Yooper

09-10-2002, 06:28 AM

I have never had the opportunity to visit a nude beach or club. Almost made it to Mezzomanie this summer but it rained the day we were in the area, and that is a nearly all day drive to get there. The same is true with the closest club or resort. So social nudity is not really something I am familiar with, but if the goal of nudists or naturists is to have places to be nude, then clothing optional fits that goal. If people are willing to pay the price to get in and behave appropriately, there should be no problem with them being clothed while others are naked. As for swim suits, they hide nothing, especially the tiny little thongs and string tops. Nude would be much more comfortable. I just wish there were places closer to me where I could be nude without offending anyone should they happen to discover me.

Lab

09-10-2002, 10:57 AM

Although I have been a nudist most of my life,
I am relitivly new to the social side of this wounderfull life style.I feel that if you are going to attend a nudist friendly area you should be nude as much as possible.I also feel that having a choice as to be totaly nude or not has its advantages,when the situation is such for personal reasons,or if you are new to the life style and are not sure about it as of yet,are good times to have this choice.Being nude is all about the freedom of being yourself with no hassles,we are all equle in this respect and I have not as of yet met a nudist or naturlist that has had any thing wrong to say about any ones
defects or short comings. Nudists are the friendlies people that I have ever had the privilage to meet.So if you go to a nude beach or club,for Gods sake and your own sake be nude and enjoy it,for I belive it will be a long time before you can be nude in public with out worrie.

09-10-2002, 11:30 AM

Lab....Right On!...I agree with your comments... The only time I think CO would become a problem would be if more than a majority were clothed.... unless of course a sudden cold front came through. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Rik

09-10-2002, 03:18 PM

I certainly think it's odd that people go to a naturist venue and keep their clothes on. However....

There was a long running thread a while back entitled "If you could do it naked". There were about 80 replies and many of them were suggesting that they would like to do things which currently would be considered unaccpetable by non-nudists such as shopping, washing the car on the street, getting the mail from the mail box and so on. One contributor summed up the whole tone of the responses by saying "Actually, I would just do everything nude and not have to worry about covering up!" I guess many of us can relate to that sentiment for we believe that there is nothing shameful or embarrassing about the body and therefore no need to cover it up.

What all of these people were saying is that they want to be able to go naked in a non-naturist setting. In other words they want everywhere to be "clothing optional". In today's climate such a policy would obviously meet with vociferous opposition.

If we stand firm against people wearing clothes at naturist venues then are we not just as bad as those who demand that we cover up in the clothed world? Doesn't this attitude lead to greater segregation and consequently less understanding of naturism?

Of course the other side of the coin is that if non-naturists invade the naturists' space then there is a likelihood that those precious and hard won spaces will revert to the clothed community as, in my experience, the more clothed people there are at any one place the more likely it is that nudists will feel uncomfortable about removing their clothes. The logical conclusion is that eventually all nudists will cover up and relinquish their "right" to be nude.

So there's certainly a dilemma. In my heart I feel that all people at a naturist resort should be nude where possible but my intellect tells me that "clothing optional" actually fits better with naturist ideals.

Perhaps we should also use the term "nudity optional".

Rik

Kristin

09-10-2002, 03:37 PM

Rik shows pure brilliance in his post. If we want the clothed world to accept our nudity in school or at the mall (my "teenage girl"-ness showing through), aren't we being hypocritical to force them to go nude in the nudist world?

NudieMatt

09-10-2002, 08:53 PM

I couldn't agree with Kristin and Rik more. I figure the more people that are exposed to nudism, the less shocking nudity will eventually become to more people. If that means allowing some people to be clothed at nudist resorts, so be it. If anyone would be uncomfortable in those situations, it should be any clothed people, not the ones who are nude.

09-10-2002, 09:46 PM

If those of us who are nudists, who prefer to be nude, and who are comfortable nude with others regardless of whether or not

09-10-2002, 09:51 PM

If those of us who are nudists, who prefer to be nude, and who are comfortable nude with others regardless of whether or not THEY are nude, refuse to be clothed at the nudist venues, I would think that the non-nudists who come there will either leave because they are uncomfortable, or they will get nude and join the fun!

I get nude as soon as I park my car, and I stay nude until I have to go home. It's a NUDIST resort and I'm going to be nude! Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

HomeNudist

09-10-2002, 09:58 PM

I feel nudist resorts should remain clothing optinal for at least my own reason. The other day my wife and I were talking about how it was such a beautiful day. I causually mentioned, yeah it would be a great day to go to a nudist resort. Her quick reply was have fun. I said you mean if I want to go by myself you would let me? She said maybe but there couldn't be any funny stuff going on. She said she would not go because she does not enjoy nudity as I do. I finally convinced her that is not why I want to go and she could remain clothed. I told her of turtle lake and said it is c/o so you would be comfortable there, to which she said I'll think about it.

09-11-2002, 12:16 AM

While I would prefer that a nudist resort be just that--nude--I realize that many potential nudists would never take that first step and visit if they were required to be nude. As I said before some people have to work into it gradually. There are a lot of years of body shame to overcome for some.

A reluctant wife may visit if she can remain dressed until she feels comfortable enough to try going even partially nude.

HomeNudist, Your wife at least didn't say, "No, I won't go under any cercumstances." She said she'd "think about it." That should give you the encouragement to keep trying. However, don't be too pushy about it. Just let her know how much you enjoy being nude and that you would like to go to a nudist resort where you can be nude outdoors, and that you would prefer to have her with you even if she remains dressed. Emphasize
the fact that she doesn't HAVE to be nude. Hopefully she will go with you and find out how much fun it is. Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Rik

09-11-2002, 02:00 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nude always:
If those of us who are nudists ...refuse to be clothed at the nudist venues, I would think that the non-nudists who come there will either leave because they are uncomfortable, or they will get nude and join the fun! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>This would be nice but unfortunately human behaviour doesn't always coincide with logic. Whilst there may be a number of stalwarts who would stubbornly remain nude when all around them are clothed (and they should be applauded), most people would shy away from that situation for fear of feeling the odd one out.

Logic says that the opposite should also be true: that the clothed should feel awkward and embarrassed when surrounded by nudists. This may be true in some circumstances but generally this does not reflect reality. Why else would non-nudists be prepared to go to nudist events? I think it's pecisely because they are people who are not uncomfortable with other people's nudity even if they don't want to be nude themselves. Those who are uncomfortable simply stay away and they're the ones who really need to be converted if ever naturism is to be more widely (or universally) accepted.

The question which really needs to be answered is "how can we persuade the world at large to accept and embrace (as opposed to tolerate) naturism?"

Rik

09-12-2002, 08:41 AM

Ben_m...I agree...especially at traditional and posted CO beaches.Making a "statement at some other areas could be risky. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

09-12-2002, 11:39 AM

Rik, apparently I'm wrong--as usual--but I thought I was agreeing with you. You stated:

"OF COURSE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS THAT IF NON-NATURISTS INVADE THE NATURISTS SPACE THEN THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD THAT THOSE PREVIOUSLY AND HARD WON SPACES WILL REVERT TO THE CLOTHES COMMUNITY AS, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE MORE CLOTHES PEOPLE THERE ARE AT ANY ONE PLACE THE MORE LIKELY IT IS THAT NUDISTS WILL FELL UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT REMOVING THIER CLOTHES. tHE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT EVENTUALLY ALL NUDISTS WILL COVER UP AND RELINQUISH THEIR "RIGHT" TO BE NUDE."

I said, "IF THOSE OF US WHO ARE NUDISTS----REFUSE TO BE CLOTHES AT NUDIST VENUES, I WOULD THINK THAT THE NON-NUDISTS WHO COME THERE WILL EITHER LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, OR THEY WILL GET NUDE AND JOIN THE FUN."

If it is at least a clothing-optional club or resort, and nudity is welcomed and encouraged there, I for one will be nude at all times unless it's too cold, in which case I'll stay home. Why would a nudist feel uncomfortable being nude? If a person goes to a nudist resort then he or she apparently isn't uncomfortable with other people's nudity even if they are uncomfortable with their own.

It is possible that if enough non-nudists stayed clothed at a nudist resort, and enough nudists stayed clothed, eventually hardly anyone would be nude, and those who are might, just might, feel uncomfortable being in the minority. Anyway, be nude and have fun. I've got to get ready to go to work now and have fun there. Ha-Ha! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Rik

09-12-2002, 02:14 PM

Nude always.

The problem I had with your statement was the word "If" at the beginning. You said "If those of us who are nudists ...refuse to be clothed at the nudist venues, I would think that the non-nudists who come there will either leave because they are uncomfortable, or they will get nude and join the fun!"

In my experience few people would want to stay nude when all about them are clothed. I think (but I'm not sure) that it's a conditioned response we have to feeling "exposed". Clothed nudists look remarkably similar to clothed non-nudists and just as most nudists would not strip off amongst non-nudists for fear of being thought odd they are equally uncomfortable amongst clothed nudists.

This is obviously not 100% true. I think nudists are more comfortable amongst clothed people who they know to be nudists but generally at clothing optional resorts or beaches we can't tell whether the clothed people are nudists or not. By way of example, in the UK there are quite a few beaches where nudism is reportedly practised. There are often accounts (in uk.rec.naturist for example) of people turning up at these beaches and, not finding any other nudists there, they remain clothed. So when other naturists turn up they too find no-one nude and assume that the beach has been taken over by non-nudists. And so it goes on. The ultimate logic is that you can have a beach full of nudists who won't take their clothes off because no-one else has! Bearing in mind that nudity is not, in itself, illegal in the UK you'd think that the nudists would be more than willing to make a stand. Not so! The law is not the issue - it is the perceived attitudes of others which affects our behaviour.

So you're not wrong when you say "If those of us who are nudists etc..." but I do think you're optimistic.

Does that make any sense?

Rik

Tia

09-12-2002, 03:15 PM

All clothing should be burned before entering the premises. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Rik

09-12-2002, 04:12 PM

Tia,
Does that include the clothes of children who don't want to be there? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Rik

Kristin

09-12-2002, 04:35 PM

Nude always, you said "I would prefer that a nudist resort be just that--nude..." But you failed to realize that nudist and nude are not the same word. I've never been nude for more than 15 * 24 = 360 hours (plus a couple on each end). If that seems like a lot, consider that I probably spend more than half my waking hours clothed during the school year (seeing as how half of them are spent in school).

Even if I could go to school nude (you have no idea how much I wish I could...wait, you probably do...sorry for rambling) my point is that nudists even in a perfect (meaning entirely clothing-optional) world could not spend their entire lives nude. A nudist resort is a place for nudists to be themselves, not where they should be forced to be nude.

Even I, as avid as I claim to be, have worn clothes at a nudist resort and not only, but more than 75% of the time, because of those reasons (feminine problems-damn them, sunburn, cold, etc.).

09-12-2002, 09:27 PM

Rik, knowing human nature as I do I agree with what you have said. I guess I'm just the exception. I don't care who sees me nude as long as THEY aren't uncomfortable. In a nudist resort, if someone doesn't like nudity why are they there? I've been called weird because of being a nudist.

Kristin, I was simply stating what I would PREFER. However, I know that what I prefer probably isn't going to happen. I know people stay dressed at nudist resorts for various reasons. In fact, when I camped at Turtle Lake Resort, it stormed my first night there. It was cold the second day, and though it warmed up during the day the rest of the week it was chilly at night--in the 50's. You can be sure I wore what I needed to keep warm.

There may be places where nudity is required--I don't know. I won't wear anything at a nudist resort unless the weather isn't warm enough. I get very little chance to be nude, and I take advantage of it whenever I can. Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Bob S.

09-13-2002, 10:48 PM

I love how this topic has evolved. Now let me jump in agian.

At nudist parks, I doubt that even if they all turned into C/O, we would have everyone clothed on a nice nude weather day. People pay money to go there. Why would they then not get naked? That would bew a waste of money. And I would think management would start implementing rules if too many people were donning clothing in perfect weather. Also, attending a nuidist park indicates that you wiill not be offended at others' nudity. If you go to a nudist park during the winter, you would expect to see clothed people wandering outside, unless you are in the tropics. And being the obly nude person in a group should not be too uncomfortable as you would know that all others around you are nudists.

At unofficial nudist beaches, it is very difficult to be the first one to undress, especially if there are other swimsuit-clad beachgoers around you. You wouldn't want to offend them and risk police action just to be free. The best thing to do if there are just a couple of people around would be to ask them if they were aware that they were at a C/O section of the beach and if they would mind if you were to disrobe. If nudists allow their traditional C/O beaches to be taken over by textiles, we will lose them. WE must stand up for them and let others know that it is a traditional spot for such activity.

So what I am saying is that who you are with and where you are will affect how you feel about being the only one naked. When around nudists at a nudist venue, you will feel fine, when around textiles, or people whom you assume are textiles, in a public area, you will feel apprehensive.

Bob S.

Gary Naturist

09-14-2002, 06:41 AM

I believe that many nudists would prefer a clothing-optional world over one that is segregated into non-nude and nude areas. How do we achieve a clothing-optional world?

One way is to invite people to experience such a world at nudist parks/resorts. But the rule needs to be clothing-optional, not nudity required, because this is what we are trying to achieve in the real world, and because this will make it possible for more people (including the other half of couples) to come. We want first to make people comfortable being among nude people, then to get people to try nudity themselves.

In addition, we need to help people become more tolerant of nudity by a minority in the real world, by pushing the envelope of where people are nude -- hot tubs, saunas, back yards, roof decks, parks, beaches, campgrounds, hiking trails, public pools, perhaps even extending to mass events like festivals, charity runs and parades. We want people to come to accept that nudity is OK in appropriate situations for others, if not for themselves.

Our ultimate goal is to get people to be tolerant of nudity, accept it as a lifestyle choice and, for a minority, even join in.

Gary

nudistwheelchair

09-14-2002, 07:08 AM

That would be cool then people in wheelchairs like myself wouldn't have to struggle to get dress if we don't need to. Also people would find out that the laundry load would be lighter /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Snoboy

09-14-2002, 01:19 PM

/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Personally, I believe we should be nude all the time unless the weather is a factor and/or we are not feeling too good. Sometimes a bad sunburn needs to be covered to give it time to heal and that should be respected as well. We come in all shapes and sizes and we are good, caring people and should understand that circumstances occasionally happen that make clothes necessary, but not routinely. I live in Alaska and have no clubs or groups to hangout with but when I visit clubs or beaches I am always nude and proud of it. Have a wonderful day.

nudelife

09-14-2002, 07:36 PM

To those of you who favor the "clothing optional" rule, please consider this: I, too, thought, "What the heck, if they (non-nudists) want to wear somenthing, that's their business." The problem is the same live-and-let-live attitude isn't returned by many of the people who chose to exercise their option to remain clothed. If you doubt what I say, go to any "clothing optional" resort when the "resort" is having a dance. Forget the nudist debate about whether lingere and/or scanty clothing are acceptable at such times in nudist society. The reality is that at a "clothing optional" dance you and your spouse will be among the few naked people in a room full of many non-nudist people who are wearing street clothes and seem to be present for the sole purpose of enjoying the view. My wife won't attend any of the dances at one of our favorite Florida resorts anymore for that reason. Her attitude is: "If I'm going to be a stripper and have men gawk at me, I'm going to get paid for it!" I said she was being too sensitive and went to the last such "do" completely, totally nude. But even I admit that when the "textiles" greatly outnumbered us nudists, I got turned off too. In short, the "clothing optional" rule attracts too many voyeurs. I may be an exhibitionist, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be the topic of somebody's Monday morning office joke!

dede46

09-15-2002, 02:21 PM

I must say this is a topic I can relate too. I am very new to this and I must say that clothing optional is perfect to attract the person who is not sure. i love to be nude at home when I can but unfortunately, living with my teen daughter and another person living in my home I cannot do it as frequent as I would like. Anyway, I for the first time went to a clothing optional in Maine and I was so accepted and comfortable no one had a clue it was my first time.I couldn't beleive I was ready to do the no clothes thing. I took my time. I started with no top. It was wonderful. Then the rest. But I had the option..... /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif It was wonderful and I unfortunately got burnt the first time and when I went again I did it again. How pathetic am I. LOL Anyways the third time was a charm. I covered my bottom. And I must say everyone and anyone was so very kind and cordial to me. If it was not for clothing optional I don't think I would have gone to begin with. It is a beautiful way to introducce people in a very comfortable way.

David77

09-15-2002, 02:52 PM

nudelife,
Thank you very much for your post of 9-14-02 regarding your and your wife's unfortunate experience at the dances at some resorts in Florida. It was a real "eye opener" for me as I had not considered that the big attraction to Clothing/Optional dances would become like a "strip show" for the vast majority of street clothed persons. I can very readily understand how that would disgust the naturist and discourage them from attending the dances.

Your post has changed my mind on this subject to the extent that, in a situation like this, the policy should be changed to "nude dance".

nudelife

09-15-2002, 05:29 PM

David77: Thanks for your comment. Let me make our position clear. We have no objection to newbies who come to a resort and wrap themselves in towels to get used to the idea. We don't mind people who attend social events wearing thongs, or frilly little nothings that conceal just the areas they think are essential. (As I said, live and let live, and if you've got it, flaunt it.) The problem we've seen lately at -- all right, I'll say it -- Paradise Lakes is the people who come in off the street and pack the place wearing exactly what they'd wear at a local bar. It's pretty clear they're there only to gawk at the "crazy naked people" and/or "check out some free T&A." Once upon a time, the dances were fun. People were nude or nearly so. Were some of them there to pick each other up? Probably. Did some of them go home together for a little extra-curricular activity? Probably. But those of us who did not care to indulge in their lifestyle (and those of us who did) were at least in the spirit of the evening together. We weren't the entertainment for a bunch of people fully-clothed strangers who planned to stay that way. Again, no matter how much of an exhibitionist you think you might be, being naked in a room full of fully clothed people is just plain weird.

hikingjim

09-15-2002, 07:17 PM

I feel good when I can be naked. I don't feel anything when you are naked or clothed. The enjoyment is in my nudity.
I like clothing optional resorts because I can be naked and feel good and know nobody will tell me I am wrong.
My wife tolerates my nudity but does not participate except swiming and on some occasions. I enjoy her company at the resort so I will always pick a CO resort over a you must be naked resort.
I undress when I get there and stay nude until I have to leave, but still prefer CO. Nice to have a choice.

09-15-2002, 08:36 PM

Hikingjim. Your first sentence says it for me: "The enjoyment is in MY nudity." I had to add the capital letters in "my" for emphasis. I hate clothes and love being nude. Sure, I like to look if there's someone worth looking at and there rarely is, but MY main reason for being there is because I want to be nude outdoors.

I ride my bicycle in the nude while I'm there or sit in the shade so I don't burn to a crisp. I get great enjoyment out of being nude indoors and particularly outdoors.

While I was camping at Turtle Lake Resort, I was in the clubhouse one Saturday evening. They had music and dancing. The music was so loud I had to wear earplugs. I also didn't like the type of music. It was too modern for my taste. I'm partial to wastzes; that should tell you I'm not young. One drunken idiot in his underwear got up and danced alone in a very provocative manner. That was when I had to leave and go back to my tent. Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Trojan

09-18-2002, 02:18 AM

I recently started to attend a nudist park. The park refers to itself as a "clothes-free resort". The rule is "weather and health permitting, you are expected to be nude." I am very comfortable with this because I enjoy social nudity. When the rule is nude-mandatory, like this park, everyone is on the same plane and socializing is more comfortable. After I completed the initial paperwork, my orientation included a 1:1 nude-mandatory tour of the park with a nude female staff member. As I undressed, she waited in the cart beside my car, chatting with another female staff member. Then we sat side-by-side in the cart as she drove me around the facility, gave me the history of the place, told me about all the activities and rules, and answered my questions. It was a forced close-proximity social interaction with a member of the opposite sex and a great ice-breaker into the social scene at the park. The nude-mandatory rule was enforced from the beginning. The attitude was frank and matter-of-fact, like "This is a nudist park. You knew that when you came here. You say you want to join and be a part of the activities here. OK - take all your clothes off, we're giving you a tour now." There wasn't time to stall around and wonder will I or won't I, should I or shouldn't I. It was either take the tour now or come back another time and take it then. Apparently no one joins the park without the nude tour first. And that's very good. Slices right through whatever qualms you may feel!

nudistwheelchair

09-19-2002, 12:01 AM

Trojan-

Was that Glen Eden? I went there since I use a wheelchair and I drive a specail minivan they let me fallow behide the cart and then I got nude in my van then she gave my a tour she didn't really ask me that many question. But I hear that anyone that went there she ask alot of question to them. Strange to me.

Trojan

09-19-2002, 01:41 AM

Nudistwheelchair:

Yes, I was referring to Glen Eden. I think it's good that they cut to the chase and basically assess the individual before approving an admission. I live in Long Beach and have been there a few times since. I think it's a great park and really enjoy myself when I go.

Rik

09-19-2002, 02:13 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Trojan:
Apparently no one joins the park without the nude tour first. And that's very good. Slices right through whatever qualms you may feel! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>This policy is presumably intended to keep out the deviants and is fine for stalwart nudists but is hardly likely to encourage the timid or first-timers.

On the face of it the resort appears to be invoking a policy of intolerance and segregation: attitudes which conflict with naturist ideals.

Gary Naturist

09-19-2002, 02:27 AM

When I (single male) visited Cypress Cove (near Orlando) for the first time -- in fact, first time at any nudist resort -- I parked near the office, undressed and left my clothes in the car, and went into the office to check in.

I was asked if this was my first time and after saying so, the staffer gave me a map and current newsletter, asked if I had any questions, and sent me on my way. I was treated exactly as I would have been at any textile resort.

I had reserved in advance for several nights. If I was registering for day use only, it's possible that I might have been checked out more closely. However, I was very pleased at the non-discriminatory treatment that I received.

Gary

nudelife

09-21-2002, 05:31 AM

Gene: Thanks for your private e-mail. In some ways we disagree with your take on the "lingere dances" at Paradise Lakes. We do not object to people wearing the scanty, revealing outfits which you found "trashy" and "vulgar". Let's remember that the people wearing those outfits (and we've been among them) have been running around naked all day. They're not revealing anything that hasn't been revealed already. The outfits you complain about are in our opinion little more than a way of being "naughty" in a safe, sane, understanding environment. Sure, some people attend to get "turned on" or turn each other on, and they may or may not "go home together." So what? As Lady Chruchill once said, "As long as they don't do it in the roadway and frighten the horses."

Our problem lies with the increasingly large number of the general public who attend wearing street clothes: the kind of thing you'd wear going to the mall. They're not at the dance to participate, to enjoy the freedom of being nude or wearing something they'd never wear anywhere else. They're there for only one reason: to gawk. And that's the problem. A few years ago, the crowd was nude or nearly nude, and one or two gawkers huddled around the bar. They were the outcasts and we could ignore them. Now the situation is reversed: the few of us who attend nude or almost nude are being made to feel like goofy nonconformists in what was supposed to be our home turf. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

T&K

09-21-2002, 07:49 AM

First of all, to hikingjim,"AMEN, brother!"

We are Libertarians, and by definition, freedom means more to us than the average person. That has to translate to allowing those who choose to remain clothes to do so.
We attended one of those dances where a small group of 7-8 of us were the only ones totally nude in a room of approx. 150 people. My wife, bless her heart, said it for all of our group when she asserted,"This is supposed to be a nudist resort. I am nude. Let 'em look all they want. If I was worried about others looking at my body, I would not be a nudist!"
We would go everywhere nude, temperature permitting, if we could do so without being arrested, harassed, etc. We simply enjoy being without clothing. The presence of other people who are clothed is irrelevant. Due to a blues concert, there were a lot more clothed people than normal at our "regular" resort last weekend, but a freedom-loving nudist doesn't care, and we certainly wasted NO time thinking about the ones who were clothed.
A factor in this subject, however, is property rights. I believe the owner of any resort has the right to operate it the way he chooses, as pertaining to this subject or any other policy. I have the right to attend or decline. I choose with my presence, and my dollars, which resorts have the "right" policies" for me.

Bare with us.............T&K

09-21-2002, 10:52 AM

I was at a hot tub party once at a nudist club. There were a lot of people. Only about a half dozen or so of us were nude at any time. Of course, I got nude as soon as I got there and stayed nude. I thought being nude was part of the reason for having the party--besides socializing. Why pay to get into a nudist club or resort and never get nude unless the reason for being there is for sightseeing. Of course, we nude ones were the minority, and it didn't bother me, other than making me wonder why the clothed ones came there. Be nude and have fun. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Trailscout

09-21-2002, 07:10 PM

Cypress Cove Nudist Resort is "clothing mandatory" for dances. The exception is that you can dance nude if you dance just outside the dance hall. You are also free to sit nude at the tables in the dance hall as long as you don't dance.

They never explained their policy to me. I have never tried dancing nude with a girlfriend, but is there anyone who would not be sexually aroused if the dance involved prolonged physical contact with your partner? Maybe they figure contact dancing would lead to public sexual intercourse.

To the broader question about textile encroachment at nudist resorts, I like the "carrot and stick" approach that some parks use: make nudity mandatory in the water, but optional elsewhere. Of course, we who are dedicated nudists must set an example by being totally nude as much as our bodies will allow. I have been nude in chilly weather. Within limits, your body will adjust to it if you give it a chance. (Darwin noticed this about the natives of the very chilly Tierra del Fuego).

David77

09-21-2002, 09:11 PM

I want to "testify" regarding the joint AANR/MSA Convention dance last year. Very many nude persons danced on the large outdoor dance floor in the pavilion and no one was visably aroused.
The band played both fast and slow music, including romantic music. Most of the dancers left at least an inch or two of space between their nude bodies.

Cyprus Cove's policy of clothed dancing must have arisen from an unfortunate experience from a different type of crowd at some time.