Naked man arrested for causing 'an alarm'

[Kouak]

If you look at his route on Google Earth, he wasn't just wandering around in the middle of nowhere, this is a busy, heavily populated area. The guy is either stupid or deranged. And antics like this give naturism a bad name.

How does it give naturism a bad name? He was just walking nude, not practicing naturism.

[ohioriver]

How does it give naturism a bad name? He was just walking nude, not practicing naturism.

I agree with Kouak...and disagree with Tiger79... The guy was just walking nude and not bothering anyone. I don't see how it gives naturism a bad name. He doesn't even claim to be a nudist... But, as someone who dreams about an ideal world, it would be awesome if we lived in a world where nudity didn't matter regardless of where we are... of course, it's not an ideal world...

[tiger79]

I agree with Kouak...and disagree with Tiger79... The guy was just walking nude and not bothering anyone. I don't see how it gives naturism a bad name. He doesn't even claim to be a nudist... But, as someone who dreams about an ideal world, it would be awesome if we lived in a world where nudity didn't matter regardless of where we are... of course, it's not an ideal world...

It would indeed be "awesome if we lived in a world where nudity didn't matter". But of course it isn't an ideal world, which is why civilised society has set itself certain socially-acceptable standards. One of those is that people aren't normally expected to be naked in public. Anyone who doesn't recognise that is heading for problems, as this guy found out. The reporting of his behaviour reinforces the view many people hold that nudity is strange - which is why his actions help to give naturism a bad name. You doubtless don't want to hear this, but it's a fact.

[Stu2630]

It would indeed be "awesome if we lived in a world where nudity didn't matter". But of course it isn't an ideal world, which is why civilised society has set itself certain socially-acceptable standards. One of those is that people aren't normally expected to be naked in public. Anyone who doesn't recognise that is heading for problems, as this guy found out. The reporting of his behaviour reinforces the view many people hold that nudity is strange - which is why his actions help to give naturism a bad name. You doubtless don't want to hear this, but it's a fact.

I agree. It would be awesome for nudists if we lived in a world where nudity didn't matter - but most people are not nudists.

A man walking around naked will be assumed to be a nudist and therefore, to some extent, a representative of nudism unless nudists very clearly and publicly disassociate themselves from his behaviour. Nudists should be unequivocal that they recognise many members of the public are less than comfortable with public nudity and that such behaviour causes unnecessary offence and is reprehensible.

Stu

[usuallylurk]

Stu again hits the nail squarely on the head. (and those of you who don't like that statement, I honestly don't care.)

I often wish that TNS and AANR *would* disassociate themselves more with exhibitionism cases, and publicity seekers, and perpetual "victims".

Way back when at the Eastern Gathering in Eastover, there was a "special guest" - whose name I won't mention - who had been invited, controversially - and the good ownership of Eastover Resort had passed one rule -- "no nudity in the first floor of the mansion, PLEASE." This guy decided, after his speech, to attempt to "liberate the first floor of the mansion".

The reason for the prohibition - some employees were assigned there on the promise that they wouldn't have to be around nude people. Fair enough for a place that was non-nudist 51 weeks of the year. A lot of ENG attendees spent some time, as I did, apologizing to the ownership of the resort, explaining that "that's not US. We're not out to offend or pi$$ anyone off."

At the time there was a question as to whether we'd be allowed to continue going there for the ENG. Fortunately, we were "forgiven" and were allowed to keep going back until that management closed the resort in 2009.

[nimrod]

The problem is that even if only one person out of the whole community complains, the nude person is thought to be in the wrong no matter how innocent his/her behaviour is. If someone is nude in a public area the unfortunate assumption is that (s)he is an exhibitionist, on drugs/drunk, or mentally ill, and if male a sexual predetor.

The best solution that some come up with, even some nudist, is to stay hidden and reinforce the idea that nudity is dirty and should be hidden, and distance themselves from anyone who pushes against the boundries. Really sad when you think about it.

[Stu2630]

The best solution that some come up with, even some nudist, is to stay hidden and reinforce the idea that nudity is dirty and should be hidden, and distance themselves from anyone who pushes against the boundries. Really sad when you think about it.

I have never met anyone who would say that nudity is "dirty" - that is certainly not my view. I also don't think that the adjective "hidden" accurately describes people's views about when and where nudity should occur. Instead, I think most non-nudists believe that nudity should occur virtually freely in private, but only in certain, limited circumstances in public. You feel differently about this and I understand that: you believe that there should be no such limitations or far fewer limitations. That is a legitimate point of view, but I believe you are in a tiny minority in holding it.

There is no reason to think it is "really sad"; if people don't want nudity in their environment then they don't want it. That does not prevent you from enjoying nudity in private or in places set aside for nude recreation.

Stu

[usuallylurk]

The problem is that even if only one person out of the whole community complains, the nude person is thought to be in the wrong no matter how innocent his/her behaviour is. If someone is nude in a public area the unfortunate assumption is that (s)he is an exhibitionist, on drugs/drunk, or mentally ill, and if male a sexual predetor.

The best solution that some come up with, even some nudist, is to stay hidden and reinforce the idea that nudity is dirty and should be hidden, and distance themselves from anyone who pushes against the boundries. Really sad when you think about it.

If someone walks near a public school nude, what *IS* his purpose for doing so? I wouldn't call it "dirty" , but I wouldn't call it acceptable. And if someone pushes against THOSE boundaries, we should distance ourselves from it.

[Naturist Mark]

If someone walks near a public school nude, what *IS* his purpose for doing so?

How absurd. The reason for walking near a school is because it is between the place you began walking and the place you are walking to.

YOU SIR - WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE in walking past that fire hydrant! What MOTIVE do you have? WHAT MESSAGE are you trying to make? WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?

[ohioriver]

I think what gives naturism a bad name are those who aren't truly nudists... for those who make something erotic or dirty, and not just the simple act of being nude and natural. The idea of accepting people just as they are is a big part of what nudism is all about. Nudism is not about showing off body, but about the fact it doesn't matter if someone sees our nude bodies. It would be awesome if somehow we could change the world view about nudism and maybe sometimes it doesn't hurt to take risks to change that view. I think that's probably part of the idea behind the World Bike Ride... maybe by seeing naked people and taking chances, more will realize it's not a big deal..

But it's the non-nudists that mess that up by making it dirty or erotic...I was reading a book about the history of nudism of Canada, and it mentioned a man named Ray Cornett, who the book says started the nudist movement in Canada. In the story about Mr. Cornett, it said his first thought of nudism occurred when his father said, "Wouldn't it be nice if people were so decent inside themselves that it didn't matter to them whether they wore clothes or not?" And I guess as a nudist that's the world I'm hoping for...