If you have read my previous instalments, you will have heard the message repeatedly that taking an active part in enjoying social nudity can hugely benefit body confidence.
Some great thoughts there, Steve. The paragraph about social media deserves some comment. Social media, for many people, is highly addictive and consequently time-robbing. A not-so-suprising number of people I've spoken to say that, for them, social media causes them to become depressed and self-loathing after realising how much of their day has been wasted on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram instead of achieving all the things they were meant to achieve that day!
Face it. Before the internet and social media invaded our lives, we spoke to each other either in person or by using a now-antiquated device called a "telephone". These methods were amazing! You could actually gauge very accurately how a person was feeling just by hearing the intonation in their voice or watching their body-language. They were far more effective means of communication and human interaction than social media platforms will ever be. No - people don't need social media at all. They are a habit that can be broken, and astute people find the means to do that.
In a September 2021 article in The Guardian, Damien Gayle reports that Facebook has kept internal research secret for two years that suggests its Instagram app makes body image issues worse for teenage girls, according to a leak from the tech firm.
Since at least 2019, staff at the company have been studying the impact of their product on its younger users’ states of mind. Their research has repeatedly found it is harmful for a large proportion, and particularly teenage girls.
Agreed that social media has many faults, and it removes many of the non-verbal cues that we normally have in communication. I guess my point, is that while it is a problem in society, there are some for whom it allows connections that they wouldn't otherwise have. Late last year I made the decision to abandon Facebook, for many of the reasons that you mention. I decided back then that I was going to use social media as a tool rather than be a slave to it. Whether we like it or not, social media is here to stay, and will likely evolve beyond what we recognise it as now. I think some platforms are extremely damaging, especially to young developing minds, and I fear that society is yet to see the long term consequences.
I agree with MystrD that exercising and eating healthy are the most important things to do. Very often you can't do much else about your body. I just want to add it's not always about perception and media messages. Some of us have bones or other body parts out of whack so that we don't fit the norm is not perception; it's empirical, dx'd medical fact. Media messages? Nope. We had complete strangers walking up to us and giving all sorts of negative comments. For whatever reason my response from a young age was "My crooked spine does not affect you and you know it. So what is this really about?"
But the answer is the same. The textile world was so obsessed with my skeleton it was almost funny at times. Was my hunchback impeding progress toward world peace? You'd think so at times. OTOH, the nudist world doesn't care. I've been a nudist for over 10 years and I haven't gotten a strange look yet. So yes, no matter what your body is like, you'll fit in just fine.
I have a cool practice. On awakening each morning I stand naked in front of a mirror as I say,” I love you (my name) ten times. Gets the endorphins flowing.
I can’t help feeling that there’s an insidious twist to body acceptance that’s still tightly coupled with body image and perception of it.
Superficially there’s definitely an over emphasis on an unrealistic ideal of what constitutes beauty for various genders. Each have their own perception of ideal and less than ideal.
In order to be negatively affected by these ideals, you first need to subscribe to those ideals yourself and hold yourself in comparison to them.
Finding a community that encourages acceptance is great. Unfortunately encouraging acceptance of something counter to overall wellbeing conceals something that we should all be somewhat more focused on. Namely good health.
Good health and healthy habits are unrelated to body shape or size. A healthy diet and regular physical exercise is what people should focus their concerns on.
Getting naked among those who don’t care what shape or size you are does nothing for your overall well being if you’re continuing unhealthy habits.
The reason this should concern us is the terrible health ailments awaiting us later in life. I’ve been surrounded by people with grave health issues who didn’t pay any attention to looking after themselves.
You raise some interesting points. I believe that body confidence is a separate issue from the Fat-Acceptance movement, although they are intertwined.
There are some larger people who are probably fitter than I am in many measures, but their underlying health issues are not removed by embracing the fuller figure. There will always be health issues from ignoring diet and exercise, and yes we should all focus on being healthy for our own body type.
I also believe that adopting a broad naturist philosophy may give people the confidence to make healthier choices in their life, and not just around diet and exercise, but also consumption and impact on the planet.
I would never shame a bigger person, I have no idea of their struggles or their circumstances, and I would welcome and support anyone looking to give naturism a try.
I am sure that society, church, family, school and peers "did a number" on many of us to feel bad about something. I am fond of social media, I have fun with it trying to be as politically incorrect as possible. In fact, 200000 patriots, the best president we had Donald Trump and I were banned for life from Facebook. I am kind of proud of it. I cannot even read what someone posts on FB. Musk pledged that he will not allow censorship in Twitter once he owns it and so far only 3 of my posts had been censored. My page is alive, Arizonajerry.
In the same vein I point out various ills of the society and claim that I strive every day to be less and less like a human and more and more like an animal. And I can prove its benefit to you. Did you ever met a dog that would be ashamed of his tail? Thinking that it is too long, too short, too crooked, not crooked enough, wrong color? Is there a dog that go for life to therapy to make him feel better about his tail? Only people will suffer surgeries and life long contribution to the psychiatrist profession.
What I am saying? I understand the submitted article, but I cannot relate to it. I live every day in accordance with evolution, I am trying to feel oneness with the nature and I am perpetually happy. Nude or wrapped in textiles when necessary. This planet gives me everything I need and want and I enjoy it all.
Yet again. Another great article. I’m luck to have reached the age where I no longer worry what people think of me. But I do know. I feel slimmer naked than clothed. No muffin top over tight jeans, no bra back bulge. Everything settles into its natural place. I’m happier in a crowd naked , than I am dressed. It really is the best feeling for those with body confidence issues. And fellow naturist all look out for each other. It’s the BEST community around.
Thanks Di. It is a pity that more people aren't willing to take that first step to being more comfortable and more confident. I know that it is not for everyone, but so many could benefit.
Some great thoughts there, Steve. The paragraph about social media deserves some comment. Social media, for many people, is highly addictive and consequently time-robbing. A not-so-suprising number of people I've spoken to say that, for them, social media causes them to become depressed and self-loathing after realising how much of their day has been wasted on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram instead of achieving all the things they were meant to achieve that day!
Face it. Before the internet and social media invaded our lives, we spoke to each other either in person or by using a now-antiquated device called a "telephone". These methods were amazing! You could actually gauge very accurately how a person was feeling just by hearing the intonation in their voice or watching their body-language. They were far more effective means of communication and human interaction than social media platforms will ever be. No - people don't need social media at all. They are a habit that can be broken, and astute people find the means to do that.
In a September 2021 article in The Guardian, Damien Gayle reports that Facebook has kept internal research secret for two years that suggests its Instagram app makes body image issues worse for teenage girls, according to a leak from the tech firm.
Since at least 2019, staff at the company have been studying the impact of their product on its younger users’ states of mind. Their research has repeatedly found it is harmful for a large proportion, and particularly teenage girls.
Agreed that social media has many faults, and it removes many of the non-verbal cues that we normally have in communication. I guess my point, is that while it is a problem in society, there are some for whom it allows connections that they wouldn't otherwise have. Late last year I made the decision to abandon Facebook, for many of the reasons that you mention. I decided back then that I was going to use social media as a tool rather than be a slave to it. Whether we like it or not, social media is here to stay, and will likely evolve beyond what we recognise it as now. I think some platforms are extremely damaging, especially to young developing minds, and I fear that society is yet to see the long term consequences.
I agree with MystrD that exercising and eating healthy are the most important things to do. Very often you can't do much else about your body. I just want to add it's not always about perception and media messages. Some of us have bones or other body parts out of whack so that we don't fit the norm is not perception; it's empirical, dx'd medical fact. Media messages? Nope. We had complete strangers walking up to us and giving all sorts of negative comments. For whatever reason my response from a young age was "My crooked spine does not affect you and you know it. So what is this really about?"
But the answer is the same. The textile world was so obsessed with my skeleton it was almost funny at times. Was my hunchback impeding progress toward world peace? You'd think so at times. OTOH, the nudist world doesn't care. I've been a nudist for over 10 years and I haven't gotten a strange look yet. So yes, no matter what your body is like, you'll fit in just fine.
I have a cool practice. On awakening each morning I stand naked in front of a mirror as I say,” I love you (my name) ten times. Gets the endorphins flowing.
I can’t help feeling that there’s an insidious twist to body acceptance that’s still tightly coupled with body image and perception of it.
Superficially there’s definitely an over emphasis on an unrealistic ideal of what constitutes beauty for various genders. Each have their own perception of ideal and less than ideal.
In order to be negatively affected by these ideals, you first need to subscribe to those ideals yourself and hold yourself in comparison to them.
Finding a community that encourages acceptance is great. Unfortunately encouraging acceptance of something counter to overall wellbeing conceals something that we should all be somewhat more focused on. Namely good health.
Good health and healthy habits are unrelated to body shape or size. A healthy diet and regular physical exercise is what people should focus their concerns on.
Getting naked among those who don’t care what shape or size you are does nothing for your overall well being if you’re continuing unhealthy habits.
The reason this should concern us is the terrible health ailments awaiting us later in life. I’ve been surrounded by people with grave health issues who didn’t pay any attention to looking after themselves.
You raise some interesting points. I believe that body confidence is a separate issue from the Fat-Acceptance movement, although they are intertwined.
There are some larger people who are probably fitter than I am in many measures, but their underlying health issues are not removed by embracing the fuller figure. There will always be health issues from ignoring diet and exercise, and yes we should all focus on being healthy for our own body type.
I also believe that adopting a broad naturist philosophy may give people the confidence to make healthier choices in their life, and not just around diet and exercise, but also consumption and impact on the planet.
I would never shame a bigger person, I have no idea of their struggles or their circumstances, and I would welcome and support anyone looking to give naturism a try.
I am sure that society, church, family, school and peers "did a number" on many of us to feel bad about something. I am fond of social media, I have fun with it trying to be as politically incorrect as possible. In fact, 200000 patriots, the best president we had Donald Trump and I were banned for life from Facebook. I am kind of proud of it. I cannot even read what someone posts on FB. Musk pledged that he will not allow censorship in Twitter once he owns it and so far only 3 of my posts had been censored. My page is alive, Arizonajerry.
In the same vein I point out various ills of the society and claim that I strive every day to be less and less like a human and more and more like an animal. And I can prove its benefit to you. Did you ever met a dog that would be ashamed of his tail? Thinking that it is too long, too short, too crooked, not crooked enough, wrong color? Is there a dog that go for life to therapy to make him feel better about his tail? Only people will suffer surgeries and life long contribution to the psychiatrist profession.
What I am saying? I understand the submitted article, but I cannot relate to it. I live every day in accordance with evolution, I am trying to feel oneness with the nature and I am perpetually happy. Nude or wrapped in textiles when necessary. This planet gives me everything I need and want and I enjoy it all.
Yet again. Another great article. I’m luck to have reached the age where I no longer worry what people think of me. But I do know. I feel slimmer naked than clothed. No muffin top over tight jeans, no bra back bulge. Everything settles into its natural place. I’m happier in a crowd naked , than I am dressed. It really is the best feeling for those with body confidence issues. And fellow naturist all look out for each other. It’s the BEST community around.
Thanks Di. It is a pity that more people aren't willing to take that first step to being more comfortable and more confident. I know that it is not for everyone, but so many could benefit.