Discovered naked

[Pampelmousse]

If I am in the back garden naked and someone (let us say a friend or neighbour) walks round and finds me should I bother to cover myself or not? After all, what I am doing is perfectly legal. Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine? Then they have the choice to stay or leave.

[justnude]

Personally, I would remain as natural as possible. If asked by my friend to cover up I would do so even though I am doing "nothing wrong" and it is my property. Some folks are simply not comfortable with nudity. That is me; I am pretty sure that others responding will take a very different position on this question.

[BinCo]

I agree with justnude. Although, the first time it happened I might cover up without asking. Once they know about my nudism, I would only cover if they asked. Sure, it is my property and I am within the law, (but not in my county :-(( ), but the alternative is having them leave when they might just want to chat.

[RichNH]

I guess the answer depends on you Pampelmousse. I don't know enough about the French culture in the area you live to answer that question. What do you feel comfortable with? I assume that you've lived in the area for a long time and sort of know how people would react. Is the area you live in liberal or conservative? Here in the States the general impression is that the French are far less concerned with nudity than Americans are.

It all comes back to you, only you can answer your own question.

Rich

[NCguy49]

Originally posted by Pampelmousse:
If I am in the back garden naked and someone (let us say a friend or neighbour) walks round and finds me should I bother to cover myself or not? After all, what I am doing is perfectly legal. Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine? Then they have the choice to stay or leave.

If it were me and my garden was fenced in and private and they popped in uninvited and unannounced, then I probably would not cover.

Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine?

I would rephrase that and say "I'm sorry you are offended by nudity..." Being natural in my own private setting, I offend no one. But, if they asked me to cover up, out of respect, I probably would.

[nudenwv]

while our daughter (27) was still living with us, she busted me a couple of times coming in early from work. my computer was in the dining room,the first view when you walk in the door, so i figured it was too late to put anything on. the way i was sitting she couldn't see anything anyway. i continued working on the computer and she went to her room. didn't make a big deal out of it.never mentioned again. now that they know maybe they'll give a shout before coming onto your property.

[FLBareBear]

Hi Friend,

Well in my case, I have been discovered several times, and no I did not cover (though I was never asked to). But then my friends and neighbors all know of my aversion to clothing.

All depends on your local laws. Our laws here in Florida protect my rights to privacy over the rights of intruders to not be offended.

[nacktman]

Hasn't been a problem. I do not 'cover up' when neighbors pop over, usually they are nude as well or get nude shortly.

Right now I am having to dodge pool water from the crowd in the pool as I sit on the deck - there is no clothing allowed in our pool.

Duck, in-coming!!!!

[mhookem]

I have an 8' fence running across my backyard so I didn't think anything about it when I built my patio in the backyard while nude. However, one of my neighbors started constructing an outdoor chair swing. HE climbed to the top to do some work on it and could look over the fence. He saw me working in the nude, we just looked at each other and continued on our projects.

[Centauri4]

It all depends on how they react to your appearance. Some may be startled, apologize as a reflex and turn back the way they entered. Other people will assume since the gate was unlocked that you were unconcerned about "discovery" whether it was intentional or accidental.

Beyond these scenarios I think people tend to adopt or assume a reaction of discovery from the discovered. Just as animals in the wild only startle and run when noisy humans come crashing through their environment, quiet and peacefully nudists SHOULD inspire a contemplated and equal reaction.

Good luck!

Post a small and decorative sign near the gate handle if you want even more control over the level of "surprise" visitors experience.

[nudebushwalker]

I wouldn't say "sorry.." when I wasn't - that would be hypocritical and shallow;
I would not be in a hurry to cover up - after all they would have already seen me, so what's the point..

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/cool4.gif

[Ken Palmer]

Hey Nacktman. I have a question for you. Do you by chance live in a nudist resort or club or a clothing-optional dwelling? I am asking because you mentioned about no clothing is allowed in the pool area. Just curious.

Ken Palmer

Originally posted by nacktman:
Hasn't been a problem. I do not 'cover up' when neighbors pop over, usually they are nude as well or get nude shortly.

Right now I am having to dodge pool water from the crowd in the pool as I sit on the deck - there is no clothing allowed in our pool.

Duck, in-coming!!!!

[Ken Palmer]

Hello Pampelmousse. Like someone already said here on the group, I understand the views and attitudes of your country regarding nudity to be quite different than us here in the U.S. Specifically where I live, I can't afford to be caught outdoors in the nude because I would be arrested immediately! Even though I have posted this many times here on the forum, I reside in a non-nudist apartment complex with a very small "yard" to begin with. I have even heard that in other countries such as Scandinavia that people sunbathe nude in their own front yard and no one will bother them. But don't quote me on it because I heard it on a talk radio show quite a few years back. I am not quite sure how credible the guest was. But I can tell you right now that is overall not the case here in America as far as the outdoor sunbathing goes! The views of Europe on nudity have always been a bit different from us because from what I understand, it has been a part of their culture unless I am wrong. If I am wrong, please feel free to correct me on this.

Ken Palmer



Originally posted by Pampelmousse:
If I am in the back garden naked and someone (let us say a friend or neighbour) walks round and finds me should I bother to cover myself or not? After all, what I am doing is perfectly legal. Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine? Then they have the choice to stay or leave.

[nakedjohn]

I would just be my normal self, no big deal. For sure I would not cover up.

[Pete Knight]

Its a bit difficult to generalise when talking about European attitudes, its a big place and the cultures vary considerably, take the Iberian peninsula for instance, Spain and Portugal have different laws concerning nudity, in France I'm sure you'll find the equivalent of America's bible belt, but here in offshore Europe we are mid way between the US and Spain in attitude.

Just the same as the attitudes across America differ, I think you'll find that the United States of Europe is no different.

Pete Knight

[RCH44]

I would not cover up. I have been caught by my neighbour. I am often nude in my own home and sometimes forget to close the bedroom blinds.

Ralph

Nude and Happy

Originally posted by Pampelmousse:
If I am in the back garden naked and someone (let us say a friend or neighbour) walks round and finds me should I bother to cover myself or not? After all, what I am doing is perfectly legal. Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine? Then they have the choice to stay or leave.

[nudeM]

If you are in the garden working and the neighbor catches you, chances are, you are not going to have anything to cover up with close at hand anyway. So you are going to have to expose yourself to get some cover anyway. By that time, the neighbor has already been 'blinded'.

It's up to you if you want to cover or not. If the neighbor is uncomfortable, then he/she may or may not stay. That in itself will tell you if they are offended or not. Afterall, it is your yard and htye caught you, not the other way around.

You may want to cover for modesty and then have a talk with your neighbor about your working attire if you wish, but it's your call. The first time is always the toughest. After that, the neighbor will know what to expect. They will either continue to burst into the yard, or call beforehand.

At least, they didn't call the cops, as some Americans do, out of pure panic. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/smoking.gif

[merum]

when working in the yard and nude, I will hang a sign on the fence gate "Beyond this point you may encounter casual nudity in a natural setting". I figure that ample warning of my nudity has been given and if someone comes into the yard they should not be shocked or offended.

[JohnE44]

My though is that if you cover up its like you are doing something wrong, WHEN your not I would ask if it offended them and if it did then I would throw something on

[Rick_42]

Originally posted by merum:
when working in the yard and nude, I will hang a sign on the fence gate "Beyond this point you may encounter casual nudity in a natural setting". I figure that ample warning of my nudity has been given and if someone comes into the yard they should not be shocked or offended.

Great idea. I have a sign on the door of my home "office" warning that it's a clothing optional area and that nudity may be encountered.

[Agde]

The neighbor in the garden scenario has actually happened to me in both France and the States. In France, I acted exactly as if I were dressed (greeting, handshake, conversation). In the US, I said "Pardon the informality! Let's sit under the umbrella. What's up?" (I had a towel on the chair under the umbrella and just draped it over me after sitting as we chatted.) In both cases, I knew who the person was but didn't know them that well. It is really important to act normally and cheerfully without the slightest reflex of embarrassment.

[Rabid_Clam]

I have never been 'discovered' but have been 'caught' a few times. No time when caught did I have conversation with the catcher.

Yet if discovered, what else can one do but just be as you were? Agde has a very good attitude and response to this situation.

[SpiderThug]

Originally posted by Pampelmousse:
If I am in the back garden naked and someone (let us say a friend or neighbour) walks round and finds me should I bother to cover myself or not? After all, what I am doing is perfectly legal. Would it not be simply reasonable to say that I am sorry if I am offending them, but that is the way I like to be in the sunshine? Then they have the choice to stay or leave.

I posted something up on this issue where I had police turn up due to a neighbout, most likely behind us, lodge a complaint.