Will the internet help naturism?

[smoothm]

In a recent post concerning children of nudists, someone wrote that he/she didn't have the resources available to kids today. It made me wonder if having so much information on naturism, forums like this one, and the ability to instant message other nudists might help or hinder the movement.

Certainly kids are exposed to a much broader variety of information than before, not just about naturism. Websites are available covering most every subject that face kids today.

[smoothm]

In a recent post concerning children of nudists, someone wrote that he/she didn't have the resources available to kids today. It made me wonder if having so much information on naturism, forums like this one, and the ability to instant message other nudists might help or hinder the movement.

Certainly kids are exposed to a much broader variety of information than before, not just about naturism. Websites are available covering most every subject that face kids today.

[Nudeinbama]

I think, it can only help the nudist exposure. I have all my adult life, loved being nude, but never knew of the places that exist and have for decades, until I got online and got to looking around. Where was the internet in my first marriage and in between, when I was dating ladies that would have loved to go to a nude beach or resort?

Nudeinbama

[barbararuth]

No doubt, internet resources appear endless on this or just about any other subject. From the many nudism sites, resort sites and forums that I have visited, I think the subject is well displayed and well marketed. Even the search engines seem to work quite effectively to display the site options easily and quickly. So, if the question is.. will the internet help.. I think yes.. if people actually go the sites!

[Ben_m]

Perhaps in a (yet another?) case of "the world revolves around me" syndrome, or more realistically, I simply know more about myself than I do anybody else, I can only answer for me/my circumstances.

So in my case, I believe I would have discovered and considered myself a "nudist" decades earlier had the information on the internet been available to me. As it was, I had no information availability of any kind, leading me to believe that "nudists" were only mythical. For me it was a very lonely life knowing what I enjoyed but thinking I was the only one in the world like me. It was also very confusing because even I didn't understand why I felt like I did. Internet resources have been most enlightening, to put it mildly. As I have chatted with others, I can hardly believe I'm alone in the awareness made available to me about nudism via the internet. I also have to believe this can be positive.

[DJ Guy Productions]

Overall in regards to the internet being a positive thing, sure it is and for us nudists it's nice to be able to post our thoughts on the forum, But also have any concerns, questions, and always feel better about asking how is this resort, or what if I am a first time nudist. Me I have been a nudist since 1985 and talking with others from the forum is great.

Kristopher

quote:

Originally posted by Ben_m:
Perhaps in a (yet another?) case of "the world revolves around me" syndrome, or more realistically, I simply know more about myself than I do anybody else, I can only answer for me/my circumstances.

So in my case, I believe I would have discovered and considered myself a "nudist" decades earlier had the information on the internet been available to me. As it was, I had no information availability of any kind, leading me to believe that "nudists" were only mythical. For me it was a very lonely life knowing what I enjoyed but thinking I was the only one in the world like me. It was also very confusing because even I didn't understand why I felt like I did. Internet resources have been most enlightening, to put it mildly. As I have chatted with others, I can hardly believe I'm alone in the awareness made available to me about nudism via the internet. I also have to believe this can be positive.

[namedun]

Overall, I think the internet will help naturism. I mean, I got into naturism because I stumbled upon this site. Sure there's lots of porn out there, and that definately doesn't help the idea that nudity doesn't equal sex, but anyone I'd enjoy the company of in the nude probably can tell the difference between desire and ideology.

[Florida Cracker]

Absolutely help. It seems to me that more teens today know that there even exists something called naturism or nudism because of the internet. Before internet, their chances of meeting a nudist and actually talking to one or stumbling on a nude beach or resort were very, very, very low.
Florida Cracker

[Guest]

Without the Internet I doubt that I would have ever gotten up the courage to try social nudism, or even known where to go or how to get there.

[BackpackerBrian]

I believe the internet has the potential to both harm and help naturism.

Some sites, such as this one, help naturism by providing a place where people can get straight answers from other people. This is a friendly place that in many ways is like a naturist club (just virtual). The resources in general here and and CF, as we well as other nudist organizations literally open the world to people interested in naturism, as well as some of us "old timers" as a way to make new connections.

With that said, there's the "dark side". Just try to google "nudism" and what do you mostly get? Porn, as well as sites whose only objective is selling nudist pix. These sites have the potential to damage naturism by promoting it as something sexual.

The internet can both positively promote naturism as it really is, or negatively perpetuate a false image of naturism.

Ultimately it is OUR decision if the internet will help naturism. I think we're all doing our part. That's why we need this site

But what else can we do???

[nudenwv]

yes! the internet does provide information (sometimes too much) to the younger generation! if i had access to this when i was in my twenties - i would have broadened my nudist friends list long before now!

[luvnaturism]

Most definitely, yes, the internet helps.

In my case I always had a vague expectation that nudists were people of shaky morals, and a strong sense that it wasn't something Christians did. Extensive internet research convinced me that I was wrong on both counts. Only then did I feel free to try it.

The internet also provides an unparralled chance to learn about opportunities. Who knew that there were such things as nude cruises and quality clothing optional resorts before the internet? Certainly not I.

[luvnaturism]

quote:

Originally posted by BackpackerBrianWith that said, there's the "dark side". Just try to google "nudism" and what do you mostly get? Porn, as well as sites whose only objective is selling nudist pix.

I'm not certain how accurate this statement is today. It was indeed that way with older browsers; just a few years ago one had to be careful about constructing searches if you wanted something other than porn.

But that doesn't seem so much the case today. Maybe Google has gotten more sophisticated. I just searched Google for "nudism." I looked through the first 3 pages that returned, and none of the sites were obviously pornographic.

There are no filters or parental controls set on my browser. Just to be certain that there isn't some built-in filtering that I don't know about, I also searched on some common sexual terms. That brought up porn aplenty.

So the bottom line is that I do think that web browsers have become more friendly toward those who may want to learn about naturism.

[NudeAl]

I would say it has definatly helped but as someone else has already mentioned it can hurt us as well.

In the beginging I think the internet helped tremendously and I think it still does, but we must be very vigilent about how the word nudist has been bandied about. Porn sites love to use the word to entice new veiwers. I know there have been efforts in the past to try and protect the domain name but it appears they have failed. On the whole though I would say more good than bad has come of the internet.

[BackpackerBrian]

quote:

Originally posted by luvnaturism:

quote:

Originally posted by BackpackerBrianWith that said, there's the "dark side". Just try to google "nudism" and what do you mostly get? Porn, as well as sites whose only objective is selling nudist pix.

I'm not certain how accurate this statement is today. It was indeed that way with older browsers; just a few years ago one had to be careful about constructing searches if you wanted something other than porn.

But that doesn't seem so much the case today. Maybe Google has gotten more sophisticated. I just searched Google for "nudism." I looked through the first 3 pages that returned, and none of the sites were obviously pornographic.

There are no filters or parental controls set on my browser. Just to be certain that there isn't some built-in filtering that I don't know about, I also searched on some common sexual terms. That brought up porn aplenty.

So the bottom line is that I do think that web browsers have become more friendly toward those who may want to learn about naturism.

I was just trying to make a point, and didn't even try googling today (although I have in the past) until now. On page 2 of my google search results, nestled between free pix at purenudism.com and "Nudism, Sex-Related, and Gay & Lesbian Travel in France" was nudism.com. Nudism.com is especially part of the "dark side" I was referring to. (link deleted)
On down the page there's everyone's favorite voyer site, Cocozella.

I agree with NudeAl that more good than bad has come out of it all; for those who are serious, they will (hopefully) see past the crap and find places like cff.