Why its harder to be nude with friends

[Davesanae]

Just my opinion, but it generally seems to be harder for folk to be naked with friends they have known as 'textiles' beforehand, than with strangers.

I guess this is generally because you care more what friends think of you than someone you don't know, and we get nervous if we feel we are being 'judged', however it may be.

The other factor I think is the S word again - Sex. Consider this - a good male friend of yours who is open about sexuality, enjoys looking at attractive ladies in short tops in summer etc., maybe even enjoys the odd blue movie sometimes, (possibly with his girlfriend) announced one evening in the bar that he would like to visit a nude beach with you and your girlfriend.

Even I, as a sometime naturist myself, would be bound to factor in my image and perception of this guy from past experiences and think to myself - is this purely innocent or does he want to go for more of a sexual reason than anything else??

With strangers, or friends you meet while nude this is not a problem - until you all have a few drinks and start talking about sex!!!

[Davesanae]

Just my opinion, but it generally seems to be harder for folk to be naked with friends they have known as 'textiles' beforehand, than with strangers.

I guess this is generally because you care more what friends think of you than someone you don't know, and we get nervous if we feel we are being 'judged', however it may be.

The other factor I think is the S word again - Sex. Consider this - a good male friend of yours who is open about sexuality, enjoys looking at attractive ladies in short tops in summer etc., maybe even enjoys the odd blue movie sometimes, (possibly with his girlfriend) announced one evening in the bar that he would like to visit a nude beach with you and your girlfriend.

Even I, as a sometime naturist myself, would be bound to factor in my image and perception of this guy from past experiences and think to myself - is this purely innocent or does he want to go for more of a sexual reason than anything else??

With strangers, or friends you meet while nude this is not a problem - until you all have a few drinks and start talking about sex!!!

[Nudony]

quote:

Just my opinion, but it generally seems to be harder for folk to be naked with friends they have known as 'textiles' beforehand, than with strangers.

I think this largely depends on "where you're at" as a nudist. For most of us, I think there would be that short "weird" moment when being nude for the first time in front of or with a long-time friend; but depending on experience, that moment could be mere minutes or even seconds. I've nude in front of a few friends and never felt "weird" for more than a short few minutes.

As far as the "significant other" dilemma, that's mostly a matter of trust. It's never happened in my case, but I know I wouldn't have any problem with a close friend seeing my wife nude (but again, I have many acquaintances but only have four or five very close male friends whom I would trust with my life). Sure, I expect they would "steal" a few glances at her; that would be a normal reaction for a male friend who has known my wife for years and is seeing her nude for the first time. But I'm secure in my relationship and trust my friends enough to know that it wouldn't extend beyond that.

You just have to ask yourself if you're secure enough in your relationship and your friendship to allow that situation to happen. If you have doubts on either, I wouldn't recommend putting yourself in that situation.

[krcNY]

I think it is because of change. You are changing the normal routine, you are accustomed to seeing them clothed and in certain environments.

Most people are afraid of change, but once it is done, you are OK with it.

If these people are truly your friends they will continue to be your friends, because thay already know you and like you. Your state of dress or undress has nothing to do with it. Again it is just a change in your "normal" with them. You all will adjust and things will be like they were before, but clothing optional.

[NudeAl]

I think it may be fear of rejection. If you are already good friends with someone and you value that friendship you may be a bit worried that by introducing the idea of social nudism they may take it the wrong way and decide you are a not the kind of person they want to have as a friend. I know I did mention our naturist proclivites to a neighbor and we noticed a cooling off in our friendship. I would love to have friends who I knew from my textile life also become nudist friends but that rarely happens. So for now and for the forseeable future I will have two sets of friends and hope for the day when our worlds may intersect. I have run into nudist friends in the textile world a few times. The best would be to run into a friend from your textile life in a naturist setting. I'm still waiting for that to happen.

[nudetone]

quote:

If these people are truly your friends they will continue to be your friends, because thay already know you and like you. Your state of dress or undress has nothing to do with it. Again it is just a change in your "normal" with them. You all will adjust and things will be like they were before, but clothing optional.

This is so true, especially when its such a close freiendship where the friends consider themselves so close to each other as if they were siblings. Kind of like the close knit friendships you form when you are in high school or college.

[Bob S.]

For some people, perhaps most, the two worlds of nudism and textilism are completely separate and different. Meeting someone else from one world in the other world can be awakward.

There is the saying that one person sees someone he knows from the nudist park out in public and says, "I didn't recognize you with clothes on." The feelings would depend on how well the two people knew each other and how friendly they were. Nudists meeting in the textile world may be weird, but they are meeting in a "normal" place.

For two textile friends to meet in a nudist park, they have to first get over the fact that their "secret" is now out in the open with the other person. There is the fear that may be felt that the relationship they had (platonic or not) will change. And it may change for the better if the two can get over the initial apprehension and realize that they have someone else to share this part of themselves with.

Dave:"onsider this - a good male friend of yours who is open about sexuality, enjoys looking at attractive ladies in short tops in summer etc., maybe even enjoys the odd blue movie sometimes, (possibly with his girlfriend) announced one evening in the bar that he would like to visit a nude beach with you and your girlfriend."

That is a totally different aspect of being naked with friends. That is more about feeling uncomfortable with the proposition than with the idea of being with him in a nudist setting. And with strangers, or friends you meet while nude, it could be the same thing. It all depends on how it is asked, not what is asked.

Bob S.

[Ceilican]

I´m not agree

[Darwin]

I have been pondering this question myself. I have a few close friends that I talk about everything with and am more worried they would join us at a nude resort as to say no. I agree that it is an issue of what is normal. I feel comfortable with my friends in an atmosphere we have had for years. Changing this comfort level would take time to adjust to. As we have all grown up our relationships have changed but we have all adapted to it. New spouses have joined the group and the same initial akwardness existed. Just like everything else change is better taken slow.
I would say start walking around with your friends with out socks to give it a try and then the nudist resort would not be that much of a jump.

Cheers,

[PestCpl]

It seem's that some of my friends are the type
to get excited looking a pictures in the sears
catalog,also here in the midwest there is a
strong attitude that if two men are naked
together they're gay.Doesn't matter that they
are talking politics or just having a beer if
they're nekkid they're having sex.I'm proud to
be a "redneck",I'm just not a "stupid redneck".

[Nude in the North]

For me I don't think it would be harder, if it was some of my more Open minded friends.
I just havn't had an opportunity to test it out yet.
But I am hoping to get one or two couples out for a skinnydip this summer.

I wouldn't have any problem being nude around them. It's to convince them to try it that would be the challenge.

Steve

[johny]

I think the straight answer on Your question is - because the friends will SURELY willing to hear an explanation of your change. To differ from strangers whom You can send hundred homes aforth. And You are instinctively afraid of that Your arguments (perhaps, who knows how) may be weaker as his. You are afraid to loose.

[tinner666]

I don't keep it secret. I've invited some textile friends to WTP, and they've come. I don't recall any embarressment. There was a brief moment 'wondering' if there was going to be any embarresment.

[hikingman]

I wish I knew the answer I have a friend that I have hiked nude with for years ,I have tried every thing I know to get him to try nude hiking but after 7 years I haven't made any progress He dosen't mind me hiking nude.I enjoy free hikng but I am starting to feel like a duck out of water kinda like going to a nude beach with a suit on .Ron

[NKID_D57]

I thought about this for a while. This is a tough question for me. None of my friends know that I favor the nudist lifestyle. I value my friends, however, many of them have a narrow mind when it comes to many things. If I went nude in front of them (other than in a locker room setting) they most likely would not be accepting of my choice. Many of them hold the idea that naked=sex and protect the children. I guess if I had a back yard pool or a hot tub, I could use this as a way to introduce them to my nudity but that is not an option. Much easier in that setting to stay naked after swimming or getting out of the hot tub as to coming downstairs sans clothes. I guess that there are two things in play for me, the first is that maybe I am not 100% comfortable with my own nudity in a social setting and being with my friends, this would be nudity (me only) in a social setting. I have yet to experience a social setting but I am hoping to overcome that, possibly this weekend at the local club. 2nd, I do value thier friendship and perhaps I am not yet willing to open a deeper part of myself to them and possibly lose that part of my life.
Questions to ponder and grow with.