Why do non nudists try to cover themselves when participating in a nude event?

[nudeyooper]

It makes me laugh a bit when people who would not consider themselves as nudists take part in a nude event. Videos of WNBR, skinny dip record attempts or sporting events and things like these have the men with their hands cupped in front and so many women with one arm across both breasts and the other covering the genital region. Don't they realize that those hands will be in more important places once their activity begins?

[EltonJ]

Don't know. I guess it's as my dad said, "Clothes are for hiding our nakedness."

[Bob S.]

The point may be their hands will be doing more important things when they are active. When not active, what to do with hands? With non-nudists, they may actually feel more exposed and have an instinct to cover themselves up, especially when talking with others, posing for pictures, or even knowing pictures are being taken of everyone.

With me, when clothed, I tend to put my hands in my pockets occasionally just out of habit. When naked, I don't have that luxury (unless someone can create pockets for nudists that can be placed around the hips).

Bob S.

[NudonyII]

For non-nudists, it's different when they're "moving along" as opposed to interacting nude. When they're zooming past other people - biking or running - they don't feel as self-conscious because they figure people will only catch "passing glances" of them naked. But interaction implies standing naked in front of someone, which is much more "confronting" and therefore stressful. Especially when there are other people standing around with cameras. So the hands instinctively come up.

[nudeyooper]

The point may be their hands will be doing more important things when they are active. When not active, what to do with hands? With non-nudists, they may actually feel more exposed and have an instinct to cover themselves up, especially when talking with others, posing for pictures, or even knowing pictures are being taken of everyone.

With me, when clothed, I tend to put my hands in my pockets occasionally just out of habit. When naked, I don't have that luxury (unless someone can create pockets for nudists that can be placed around the hips).

Bob S.

I think that the creator would have done us a favor had pockets been designed in. I find that working while nude can be troubling because of no pockets, and a tool belt can be rather cumbersome. It may not be the best body language, but I tend to place my hands on my hips, where pockets would be, folded across my chest, or simply one hand in the other in front of me.

[Mosquito_Bait]

The reason for this may be so that photos can be published in news articles, posted on social media, or shared with friends and family. I've done this myself so that I would have vacation photos I could show to non-nudist friends.

[seanotanline]

The reason for this may be so that photos can be published in news articles, posted on social media, or shared with friends and family. I've done this myself so that I would have vacation photos I could show to non-nudist friends.

I bet we all have photos like this! And you are spot on with the reason: this one was sent by text to a friend working away in the office while I was out skinny dipping in a mountain lake, but someone to whom I would not send a nude photo.

[naturistrebel]

People who cover their genitals when a photograph is taken may not be seasoned naturists. For most people, the old textile nurturing takes time to be dismantled and put aside. For many of my naturist friends and myself, covering our genitals is unheard of. But there are many nudists (especially closet nudists) who will cover not just their genitals but also their faces.

[Kouak]

What if they just realize, that once pictures are taken, they can be posted on the 'net for all to see. They may not care if someone knows they shed their clothes but don't want anyone not in the lifestyle to see.

[Kouak]

Also they probably don't want to end up on a porn site.

[nudeyooper]

This is all good information and I appreciate it, but the premise of my question really did not involve posed pictures, but things like contestants lining up at the start of a nude foot race, or running on to the field for a nude soccer game. Most of those pictures I would assume are candid shots and videos and the participants would have to know that they will have to uncover themselves once the activity starts.

[NYLancelot]

Only the people who actually do this would have an answer.