Making naturism more acceptable

[Pampelmousse]

On your site, in the pics section, there is one very interesting image which shows a large number of clothed spectators watching a nude rugby match in Dunedin. Such a scenario is surely one which genuine naturists should wish to encourage. Why, therefore, are we usually much more "secretive" about our lifestyle? If, for example, a naturist wishes to shed his/her clothes on a beach that is usually considered textile this should not be problem, and therefore the standard philosophy of the moderators of this website - that naturists should not stray from officially designated areas - is a trifle absurd. Any comments on this.

[Rabid_Clam]

To stray from official designated areas nude is far from free of risk of many trials. One is of arrest. Another is that of assault.

Is prudent to do as the romans do. To force yourself nude on non receptive persons is forcing your life style on them and if they forced their lifestyle on you, you would certainly pitch an objection, rightflully so.

The best way to promote nudity is to not ruffle feathers as you shed yours.

[MJ_KC]

It all depends upon whose feathers are being ruffled and/or how many people object. If it is likely to draw the attention of law enforcement or legislators, then it is time to back off and decide how to proceed.

If only a few people object, and they can be shown that everything is going to be OK, then another nude friendly location may have been established. Places like Haulover wouldn't exist if someone didn't take the first step.

[Bobx23456]

Originally posted by Rabid_Clam:
Is prudent to do as the romans do. To force yourself nude on non receptive persons is forcing your life style on them and if they forced their lifestyle on you, you would certainly pitch an objection, rightflully so.

I agree with that philosophy as stated, nobody should be forced to be naked, or forced to be clothed. To do either is one person forcing his lifestyle on his neighbor.

Blessings
Bob

[justnude]

I must say that I strongly believe it is not correct to simply strip off in the middle of a textile beach because it feels good. For a variety of rerasons, the majority of the folks out there are not comfortable seeing a naked person no matter how innocent the circumstances may be. Why run the risk of arrest or injury? First, I feel we need to keep our own house in order and be sure that the nude beaches are not havens for the afternoon quicklie in the dune or, worse, in plain view of all. Secondly, we need to encourage more families to come on out and enjoy the nude beach. I find that when we do go there are a few couples (f/m), almost no single women, many male couples, and mainly single males roaming the beach. This is not exactly the atmosphere most families would want to bring their children to! Yes, I know, this is a gross generalization but based upon my observations.

[Fuzzy Nuts]

If I were the first to arrive on a fairly isolated beach which I didn't know if it was textile or c/o I would remove my clothes and enjoy.

As others arrived at the beach I would take my cue from them. Possibly others upon seeing me naked would also strip. If my location were given a wide berth by all those arriving I would realize that nudity was not the norm and therefore "when in Rome----"

Keeping in mind I might also be arrested lol

[Naturist Mark]

Is prudent to do as the romans do. To force yourself nude on non receptive persons is forcing your life style on them and if they forced their lifestyle on you, you would certainly pitch an objection, rightflully so.

Interesting how our use of language signals nudist acquiescence to marginalization.

To force yourself nude on non receptive persons? Why use the word "force", you aren't doing anything to them, you are choosing your own manner of dress - what could be more passive? The other person can be receptive or not, that is their free choice, your state of dress does not force anything.

if they forced their lifestyle on you, you would certainly pitch an objection, rightflully so. How interesting. Isn't that EXACTLY what the textile world does to us in nearly every public space? If they weren't forcing a lifestyle upon us, we'd be free to choose nudity when and where we felt it was appropriate, and no one else would have any say in the matter, and there certainly wouldn't be any laws involved.

I don't think you will get far if your starting position in your effort to make naturism more acceptable is to agree to not be nude. Worse yet if you agree that you should be marginalized and excluded from the get go.

A better strategy is to educate and challenge the thinking of those who object. Whenever a nudity related situation occurs (there are many every single day, and almost NONE of them have anything to do with nudists or naturists), challenge the people reacting to the nudity to explain what harm it does. Get them to think about it. Explain that the harm done by a streaker at a ball game isn't due to his nudity, but due to his interruption of the game. That the harm a flasher does is not due to exposing his pitiful shortcomings, but from his attempt to inflict mental violence in order to achieve his own sado-sexual arousal. Tell about the naked 12 year old boy who thwarted an armed robbery - and contrast that with the expert testimony that most Americans would rather die than to take their clothes off for emergency decontamination in the case of chemical or biological terrorist attacks. What causes more harm - nudity or the irrational fear of it?

[NudeAl]

Obviously not many of us are willing to go to the local city parks and get nude. We use a bit more common sense than that. One thing I do is to take a look around when I am the only one at a nude friendly location.

If I am in a location that is remote and inviting of nudity I get naked. If someone else shows up I will lay low so to speak but I will remain naked until I see how they react. Often times if you give things a chance you may be surprised that the others give nudism a chance. When hiking on a trail to a likely skinny dipping spot give nude hiking a try, you may be surprised by the reactions of those you pass by. Give the public a little more credit and you might be pleasantly surprised. We are comming into an age of more and more acceptance of nudity I think. We need to take advantage of things the pendulum is swinging our way again.

[MJ_KC]

Originally posted by Rabid_Clam:
To force yourself nude on non receptive persons is forcing your life style on them and if they forced their lifestyle on you, you would certainly pitch an objection, rightflully so.

I would only be forcing my lifestyle on them if I were to force them to take their clothes off and join me.

By the same token, they are free to practice their lifestyle as long as I do not have to participate with them. If they are extremely conservative, they are free to practice their religion as long as they don't expect me to join them.

There is a group of women who live just down the block from me and they are very conservative in the way they dress. They appear to be a group of nuns, or something similar, although they are not dressed the same as Catholic nuns. They can stay covered from head to toe if that is what they want, as long as they don't try to make their neighbors join them.

If they started causing any trouble because many people around here wear very skimpy attire when it gets hot, it would probably be met with open hostility. Each person should get to decide for themselves how much or how little they want to wear without government or individual interference.

[Ken Palmer]

Well, the pioneers at Halouver may have stepped up to the plate to promote our lifestyle. But I wonder how many of them paid a price by spending some nights in a jail cell after being arrested for indecent exposure when and if someone complained about them?

Ken Palmer

Originally posted by MJ_KC:
It all depends upon whose feathers are being ruffled and/or how many people object. If it is likely to draw the attention of law enforcement or legislators, then it is time to back off and decide how to proceed.

If only a few people object, and they can be shown that everything is going to be OK, then another nude friendly location may have been established. Places like Haulover wouldn't exist if someone didn't take the first step.