9 Comments

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.

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Sep 16, 2022Liked by BOPBadger

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.

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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.

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Sep 15, 2022Liked by BOPBadger

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.

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Sep 15, 2022Liked by BOPBadger

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.

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Sep 15, 2022Liked by BOPBadger

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.

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