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I have gained acceptance by family, friends and neighbors of my involvement in nudism by breaking it to them gently. Here is the way that I proceed with someone, typically over a period of some months:
1. I mention in conversation that we have gone to a clothing-optional beach. I may not say initially that I went nude myself. However, the person always asks, and I say something like "Of course -- I didn't want to be conspicuous." Most people find nudity at clothing-optional beaches easy to accept. If the person seems intrigued, I'll describe the scene.
2. From time to time, I mention other nude activities like sunbathing nude in the back yard, or canoeing nude or staying at a clothing-optional B&B.
3. At an appropriate time, I tell the person that I like to be "clothesfree" as much as possible. The person is typically amused by this. If he/she asks questions or makes comments, I encourage further discussion. The person may subsequently describe me as being a bit weird (but in a nice way) or may tease me about nudity, but that's just fine with me.
4. At some point, I allow myself to be seen nude, more or less by accident. I do not cover up; rather, I continue as if I were clothed. If the person is close by, I may start a brief chat about something. Usually, I don't try to explain my nudity at that moment and certainly don't apologize for being caught nude.
5. After having been seen nude once, I look for other occasions to be seen nude again on an incidental basis.
6. I find an opportunity to have a philosophical discussion about nudism / clothesfreedom in general and to explain more fully my involvement in it. I also talk about how how nudism has become much more accepted and popular as a recreation.
7. Later on, with family and friends, I take advantage of opportunities to be nude for a longer period time (say, an hour or half a day) when nudity might be considered to be appropriate (or at least not inappropriate). However, I haven't taken a nude-all-the-time approach.
Note: If the person is clearly uncomfortable with the subject of nudity or by seeing me nude, I would certainly back off. However, it hasn't happened yet.
By this process, I try to establish with the person the following:
1. Gary is a nudist.
2. Nudism is OK.
3. I accept seeing Gary doing things nude, because that's what nudists do.
I have found that a good time to initiate a discussion of nudism / clothesfreedom is when having dinner with a small group of four to six people. People tend to be willing to discuss and consider things that might be somewhat conversational in this environment, particularly if they have had an alcoholic beverage or two. Within a group like this, someone is likely to be sympathetic my point of view and come to my defense if others are negative.
I have described the long version of how I gain acceptance of being a nudist. In some cases, all I?ve had to do is say ?I?m a nudist? and that?s it. But, for most people, it is better to break it to them gently.
Gary
1. I mention in conversation that we have gone to a clothing-optional beach. I may not say initially that I went nude myself. However, the person always asks, and I say something like "Of course -- I didn't want to be conspicuous." Most people find nudity at clothing-optional beaches easy to accept. If the person seems intrigued, I'll describe the scene.
2. From time to time, I mention other nude activities like sunbathing nude in the back yard, or canoeing nude or staying at a clothing-optional B&B.
3. At an appropriate time, I tell the person that I like to be "clothesfree" as much as possible. The person is typically amused by this. If he/she asks questions or makes comments, I encourage further discussion. The person may subsequently describe me as being a bit weird (but in a nice way) or may tease me about nudity, but that's just fine with me.
4. At some point, I allow myself to be seen nude, more or less by accident. I do not cover up; rather, I continue as if I were clothed. If the person is close by, I may start a brief chat about something. Usually, I don't try to explain my nudity at that moment and certainly don't apologize for being caught nude.
5. After having been seen nude once, I look for other occasions to be seen nude again on an incidental basis.
6. I find an opportunity to have a philosophical discussion about nudism / clothesfreedom in general and to explain more fully my involvement in it. I also talk about how how nudism has become much more accepted and popular as a recreation.
7. Later on, with family and friends, I take advantage of opportunities to be nude for a longer period time (say, an hour or half a day) when nudity might be considered to be appropriate (or at least not inappropriate). However, I haven't taken a nude-all-the-time approach.
Note: If the person is clearly uncomfortable with the subject of nudity or by seeing me nude, I would certainly back off. However, it hasn't happened yet.
By this process, I try to establish with the person the following:
1. Gary is a nudist.
2. Nudism is OK.
3. I accept seeing Gary doing things nude, because that's what nudists do.
I have found that a good time to initiate a discussion of nudism / clothesfreedom is when having dinner with a small group of four to six people. People tend to be willing to discuss and consider things that might be somewhat conversational in this environment, particularly if they have had an alcoholic beverage or two. Within a group like this, someone is likely to be sympathetic my point of view and come to my defense if others are negative.
I have described the long version of how I gain acceptance of being a nudist. In some cases, all I?ve had to do is say ?I?m a nudist? and that?s it. But, for most people, it is better to break it to them gently.
Gary
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