Are Children Safer at Nudist Venues than Elsewhere?

[PascoDoug]

There is an ongoing debate in another forum concerning the safety of children at nudist facilities, in regards to sexual predators etc. My personal experiences and observations have been that children are safer at a nudist resort than at say the local mall or public park. This has also been the position of nudist families I have as friends or who I have met at various nudist resorts and beaches, and thousands of naturist families around the world.

This extra level of safety if often attributed to:

* The (usually) enclosed and controlled environment
* Background checks on new members
* Supervision by parents
* Supervision by other nudists
* Supervision by staff
* Ease of spotting those "interested" in children
* Fear on the part of predators of what may happen to them

What are your experiences and observations? Are children indeed safer at nudist venues than the textile world, or are we just fooling ourselves and others?

[PascoDoug]

There is an ongoing debate in another forum concerning the safety of children at nudist facilities, in regards to sexual predators etc. My personal experiences and observations have been that children are safer at a nudist resort than at say the local mall or public park. This has also been the position of nudist families I have as friends or who I have met at various nudist resorts and beaches, and thousands of naturist families around the world.

This extra level of safety if often attributed to:

* The (usually) enclosed and controlled environment
* Background checks on new members
* Supervision by parents
* Supervision by other nudists
* Supervision by staff
* Ease of spotting those "interested" in children
* Fear on the part of predators of what may happen to them

What are your experiences and observations? Are children indeed safer at nudist venues than the textile world, or are we just fooling ourselves and others?

[Sanslines]

I can only speak for the nudist clubs that I have been to. From what I have witnessed, children are safer at nudist clubs then in general society. Nudist clubs take precautions and children are watched to ensure their safety. Problem individuals are generally removed and banned from the clubs.

[nudeM]

Children are only as safe as their parents care to keep their attention. As long as the parents keep constant contact with their kids, then yea, the kids would be safer, but that goes with any other resort, not just nudist resorts.

Is your theory that if the kids are free to roam around nude, then they would be more safe, and if so, then from who? There are pedophiles all over the world, nudist resorts included. But they are also in theme parks as well, so it is up to the parents to keep their eye open for any unusual activity.

Interesting question.

[NakedGary]

nudeM

I think most nudist resorts are safer than some churches.

You forgot to mention some catholic churches are not so safe, and many dioceses are going bankrupt fighting past and present charges of child molestation.

[usuallylurk]

quote:

Originally posted by NakedGary:
nudeM

I think most nudist resorts are safer than some churches.

You forgot to mention some catholic churches are not so safe, and many dioceses are going bankrupt fighting past and present charges of child molestation.

Be careful when you make comparisons like that, Gary.

We hear cases about Boy Scouts, church groups, etc., but using those groups' mentors' transgressions as a defense can backfire, especially when there are a lot of Roman Catholics and Boy Scout members and leaders who are in nudism.

On the other hand, I would say 'yes', they are safer -- BUT -- the world of nudism is not without its skeletons in the closet in these lines.

There have been problems over the years. I could cite many situations but I will not do so here, but let it suffice to say that the world of nudism has had a fair share of incidents.

nudeM has it correct -- parents must keep their eyes and ears open in ANY environment when it comes to their kids.

As a parent who raised his daughter in the world of nudist camps, we kept our eyes and ears open, and fortunately - only once did we have to ask a club owner to take action against someone.

But for anyone to say "ooh, there's no worry, they're completely safe".... still, use caution as you would ANYWHERE.

[nacktman]

nudeM has it sussed.

Children are no safer or in more danger at any resort nudist or otherwise with their parents attention focused to them.
When that attention wanes kids will get into things and sometimes it is things they really aught not to.

Granted at most nudist clubs there is a heightened sense of attention as to children and their surrounding environment than at other resorts. This is due to the perceptions we have as a society and should it should be heightened everywhere, alas tis not so ... predators of all stripes lurk looking for opportunity in all environments.

[gymnoboi]

I think its a poor comparison. There are always exceptions but most church's are safe,, but yeah I do think nudist clubs are perfectly safe. As safe as any other places even though things can and happen. On the whole id trust a nudist setting more than id trust any other setting.

[PascoDoug]

quote:

Originally posted by nacktman:
nudeM has it sussed.

Children are no safer or in more danger at any resort nudist or otherwise with their parents attention focused to them.

What about unsupervised? You wouldn't feel any safer letting your kids run around unsupervised at a nudist resort than say at a large shopping mall or a busy campground at a state park? Of course, I am not talking about toddlers or very young children.

Personally, I would. Even though there's always a chance something could happen, I feel the odds are smaller for something to actually happen at the nudist resort. That's not to say that I WOULD let my kids run around unsupervised all day. After all, you have to protect people from your kids, too

[EricNY]

We actually felt very little difference in how we handled our children. Like we would if we were anywhere, we always knew where our children were and who they were with. There was little difference, ane we (as parents) did not feel much different.

On the other hand there was a difference. A good fiend and I were standing and talking while my youngest was playing on playground with some other young children. We were approached a couple of times to make sure we were there for the correct reason. At first I was upset at the inquiry, but after some thought I felt very good about my surroundings and the fact that not only my wife and I were looking after my children, but so were others. THAT is NOT a normal occurence in any textile campground that I have seen.

So for the most part there is no difference. You still need to watch your kids, but I do see a difference in everyone else. Of course we are no worse off...

[Bob S.]

erc made a point that I was going to make, but I'll elaborate on it.

I liken nudist parks (the smaller ones--not so much the huge, high scale resorts) to the small communities of old where everyone knew everyone else and parents had no qualms about setting their children out to play, knowing that the other residents would be there to watch out for the kids.

This small-town community is the same that is exhibited by some of the nudist parks. Everyone knows most everyone else, keep a close eye on the kids, especially when they are away from their parents, and also tend to know what to look for with new people in terms of their intent.

Another factor that makes it safer is that it is private property and can weed out anyone for any reason. Most of the time, any bad apple will be discovered before he does anything and will be blacklisted and banned from ever coming back.

Doug, of your list, I would say the only two I disagree with are the supervision of parents and fear on the part of predators. If anything, I would suggest that parents would be a bit more lax if they are comfortable at the park due to the community feel I desribed above and have friends who are their age to play with.

As for the predators, they do not fear the repurcussions. They only fear getting caught as they will no longer have a victim and will have no outlet. All a predator wants is either a steady stream of victims (however much to make him happy) or a single victim who will always be there (for whenever he needs her). Being caught takes away both the stream or the single victim. The fear of prison, SO registry, or whatever other negative effect is less than not being able to prey on victims.

Bob S.

[nacktman]

PascoDoug, I think you are circling my point, but are not quite on target.

While under the supervision(attention) of their parents children rarely fall victims to many mishaps of any variety, but when that supervision falters they do. I don't mean little Johnny or Susie falling and getting skinned knees, that happens quite often as parents watch intently. I mean minor faux pas in manners to terminal stupidity and everything in between.

Nudist clubs have more eyes on the children than some other clubs, but one must remember those other clubs have more eyes on them as well. Though not for the same reasons per se, their focus is on disruptions and damages children have been known to cause (and that goes for children of all ages), and not so much as to the safety of the children from predators.

All predators look for opportunity and ease of accomplishing their goal and strike only when convinced they can be successful. Keeping your attention focused on your children is the best method to frustrate predators to no end ... less opportunity, less ease in accomplishing their goal ... they move on.

I know we frustrated a few predators over the years while raising our children simply by paying attention, some of those predators we warded off were not known as such or even suspected ... and maybe still are not, others were suspected and one was known. It has been such and will be as such until we as a society correct the problem(s) and stop putting a band-aid over it.

Ok, just a long wided way to say ... Watch Your Kids!

I concede the point that nudist clubs do appear to be safer than other clubs but only marginally so. The onus is still on the parents to watch their children. It doesn't hurt to have the "old time, small town" atmosphere that some of us fondly remember, everybody watched out for everybody else then, but that is extremely hard and getting harder to find. (Growing up we kept the house unlocked and the keys in the car and they stayed right where and how we left them even though the entire town knew when we had left for a week's vacation as did everyone else.)

[Zara]

I would think a nudist facility would be safer since there are so many checks and security...
But I have heard of some incidents before...
No system is perfect, but I think parents overseeing their children is still the best way to avoid such things.

[EricNY]

Personally, I have my doubts as to checks being done prior to entry. I think for the most part more is done by observing after being alowed in

[nudeM]

Clubs, resorts, nudist or not, aren't they for members and guests only? In other words, wouldn't one think that everyone would know someone else within the system?

I know, I belong to several organizations and we are a fairly close knit 'family' and we all know who attend our functions. Over the years, we have grown up as a 'family' and we have grown to trust each other.

Maybe that is the key word: trust. Maybe over the years, we, as a society, have grown up as separate 'families' and have accepted our extended 'families' as being trusted friends, whereas this is where the problems lay.

Our 'families' have grown up and have expanded so much that there are new members many of the older members don't know very well. But that doesn't discount the fact, they are acquainted with an older member who others have known for years.

Maybe it's just me, but if we can't trust our own members at our private family functions, when kids are involved, then predators are making their presence known with no shame. It goes back to my original theory, in that we need to keep a watchful eye out for our kids at all times, at all resorts, vacation get-aways, etc.

Case in example, I know of an individual who is a member of an the same organization I belong to. To make a long story short, I was searching the net and found his name on the Megan's Web site. Now, is that scary or not? Just watch your kids.