It is fair to say that there are many different interpretations of what naturism is and what it isn’t. I accept that my definition is just one of a multitude, but after many years in the naturist community, I can arguably say that my interpretation is shared by many, perhaps the majority of people who consider themselves naturists.
Many of you will know that I am active on several naturist platforms and some of you will have seen some of my contributions to those sites.
One site, Nude Revolution, is one of my go-to places for naturist content. It is behind a paywall, which keeps the content largely in line with my ideals about naturism, nudity and sex, a line that is often blurred on free-access sites.
A post recently went up on Nude Revolution reminding people of the guidelines around posting images, specifically semi-erect close-ups or “show-off” pictures of genitals. It seems that more of these “aroused” images were being posted under the banner of naturism.
Such pictures, while common on many free sites where naturists are just one group of people trying to find their community, are far less common on dedicated naturist sites that sit behind a paywall.
As these dedicated sites become more popular and accept more and more people into their walled haven, more people are willing to push the boundaries. In these paywalled communities, naturists are quicker to call out the images as inappropriate for the specific platform.
I accept that everyone’s definition of naturism is different and that many have a clear line between simple nudity and sexual content. In contrast, others consider sex and arousal as a natural part of the human condition.
I am not here to argue the merits of either stance or to say that those with a more liberal view are wrong. They are not. Sex and arousal are part of the human condition. The intimacy and pleasure that people get from their versions of sexuality and within the confines of their relationships is absolutely something to celebrate and cherish. A loving and fulfilled sex life is something that everyone should have access to and is part of what completes us as human beings.
I salute anyone who finds happiness and sexual satisfaction no matter their gender identity, persuasion or kink. Only you know what makes you happy and if you find your happiness, then I take my hat off to you.
As far as sharing that aspect of one's life, I am less convinced that it needs to be displayed on naturist social media, and I am certain that it doesn’t belong to the definition of naturism that I, and many others, subscribe to.
Naturist sites, especially those behind a paywall, tend to be very clear about the exceptions and the boundaries of contributions to their platform. Most of these sites have been created specifically to focus on non-sexual nudity and to keep out the more sexualised content, something that millions of naturists prefer not to see in their community.
I accept that not all naturists are opposed to such content, and I often see comments encouraging people to push boundaries, but there are other sites that cater to the more extreme content.
For the significant group of people who prefer non-sexualised images of nudity, the people who have gone to the trouble, and cost, to create or join these naturist social media sites, their definition of naturism is one of non-sexual content.
It seems that there are many people out there who have seen naturism as a possible gateway to getting into picture-sharing and making connections online to satisfy their particular sexual needs.
Some from other niche communities seem unaware of the non-sexual element of social nudity and think that they have found a community that will let them engage in their fantasies without judgement.
Naturists often consider themselves some of the most non-judgemental people that there are, but cross a line and sexualise their nudism and you will find out just how judgemental they can be.
As a moderator for the Naturism feed on Bluesky (the one with the Naturist symbol), hardly a day goes by when someone is not added to my growing list of accounts that do not fit my definition of social nudism.
You may think that I am being harsh, but my feed, my rules. Accounts showing guys aroused and intimate with some guy in a leather pup mask or a furry costume, with the words “what I would get up to at a nudist camp” do not fit the definition of social nudity that I subscribe to. Judging by the post on Nude Revolution asking people to be more in line with their posting guidelines, I would suggest that I am not alone in my attitude.
I read somewhere that boundaries don't keep others out, they only fence you in. I have reached a stage in my life where I am happy to be fenced in with others who share my attitudes about non-sexual social nudity.
"When someone oversteps your boundaries, they're letting you know that what you want doesn't matter."
Phil Good - musician
Thank you for reading. Have a comfortable day.
There is never a reason to post a non-flaccid photo of one's penis on a nudist site. Just wait until your erection to subside before taking the photo. If you can't do so then don't take the photo.
I personally feel Social Media does have a places in naturism/nudism today, as it has since its inception. What we call Social Media today, didn’t exist just a few years ago. Before the World Wide Web, Social Media existed in the form of magazines, flyers, and other periodicals. While those do still exist, back then, that was about the only way to “get the word out” or show those curious, what naturism/nudism really is. Today, thanks to technology, we can “look it up” by just typing a few words into a search engine on the devices many of us have on us or near us 24/7.
And as the OP has pointed out very well, this is the issue or problem with Social Media. And to a point, was a problem even back before the Internet existed. Nudist or Naturist Magazines were found in the “Adult Sections” of newsstands or bookstores. In some of the actual Adult Magazines, the publishers did then, what some Adult Entertainment Websites do now and that is use the words Naturism/Nudism to “sell” their product, which is not Naturism/Nudism.
To me, this is the biggest problem we face when it comes to Social Media and Naturism/Nudism. When searching for Naturism/Nudism on the Net, how many of the above mentioned in the comments here, actual “real” Naturism/Nudism sites actually show up on the first or front page? Maybe one or two? If any?
If a person honestly curious about Naturism/Nudism, searches, what are we expected to think when these people open the sites that claim to be Naturist/Nudist sites, and it isn’t “real”?
I only have one real problem with Adult Entertainment Companies. I do feel they should be allowed to exist, not going to lie, I’ve used them, or visited them. Some are fun, some are actually interesting. They DO have a place in our society. I mean, we’re all sexual animals. My only real issue is that some, not all, have what I call, “Hijacked Naturism/Nudism” to sell their product. And as a true honest Nudist, this bothers me. There needs to be a separation between Adult Entertainment, and Naturism/Nudism.
Without the “Old Time” Social Media, I most likely wouldn’t have learned of the wonderful world of Nudism when I did. I saw normal, everyday people, doing normal, everyday things, nude. What I took away then from seeing this, was they were always happy, smiling and having fun. They looked free. Enjoying life. I didn’t think “sex”, in fact, didn’t know what sex even was at the time. I wanted to be like those people. Today, I am.
The Internet is a great and very productive tool that we as Naturists/Nudists can use to “spread the word” about honest true naturism/nudism. Finding honest true nudism sites is and will be a problem we’ll be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Can we really blame “newbies” or curious naturists/nudists for not knowing what is correct, acceptable, or okay, with all of the “misinformation” that exists?
I applaud the OP for doing his part in moderating the sites he does. I’ve had and have “blogs” geared towards actual naturism/nudism on different sites over the years. Moderating them could almost be a full time job. Blocking pictures, stories, experiences that are NOT naturism/nudism, happens more often than not. Maybe one out of ten “submissions’ I receive is approved.
Education is the key, but the struggle continues.