19 Comments

I think we can have conversations, but it's about catching people at their right point. For some people, that will be never. For others, it may come as other social inhibitions are also being shed. I know there's a lot of talk about getting young people involved but I think it's really amazing when middle-aged+ people discover something new for themselves and get joy from it! How often does that happen once you hit a certain age?

It's wonderful you choose to have open conversations, and create more awareness in those who have curiosity. Good on you!

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I don't hide it nor do I broadcast it except one evening I was in our small community talking to my next door neighbours when it suddenly dawned on me that for nearly half an hour whilst chatting I was wearing my "let the wind tickle your skin" T shirt from Nudims and proudly declaring I was a naturist. They never said a word. I'm sure the neighbourhood knows now but I care less.

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Nice article dealing with the very common question which every naturist face sometime. As you have said very rightly the approach should not be to hide it & simultaneously not to make it public intentionally..

Liked it very much..

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While I don't stand on a soapbox and preach it to the world, I don't hide the fact that I like to be free of clothing whenever it suits me. It's just another clothing option - nothing more, nothing less.

Proselytizing is pointless. If people want to know about clothes-optional living, there's plenty of info out there about it if they care to look. The best approach, in my experience, is to lead by doing. I don't tend to go to known nudist beaches these days. Rather, I go to my own local beach and strip off to swim. There are loads of camper vans there, as it's a freedom camping area, but nobody ever objects. The fear of offending is borne more often by an imaginative scenario in the minds of naturists than the reality of someone actually being offended. The same applies to hiking a forest track or cycling naked. Yes, you do meet the odd one now and again that gives a negative reaction, but hey - that's their choice. If they take offence, fine - it won't kill them!

I've just returned from a week at Kiwiburn - New Zealand's regional Burning Man festival. Our camp hosted a "Naked Rave" dance party. Over 200 people visited and stripped naked to dance and socialise over the course of the 3 hour event. And on the second to last night more than a thousand naked people danced and ran around the burning effigy! It's not a nudist/naturist event and few people there would label themselves as such. But, given the right appropriate environment and occasion, most people have no problem with nudity.

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I have long-believed and often written about the damage we nudists (or naturists, if you prefer) do to our cause by remaining “in the closet.” We have a dismal public image. Most of the general public know almost nothing about naturism and let their imaginations run wild whenever they confront the topic. Lacking the ability to consider that nudity can happen without sexual activity, they believe that any nudist gathering must be little more than an orgy. They believe such nonsense because they’re ignorant, and they’re ignorant because we don’t tell them the truth, which we’re too timid to do, because that would reveal our involvement in the lifestyle.

So while we try to convince ourselves that there is no reason for shame or embarrassment about nudity, we act like we’re ashamed or embarrassed about it by denying our involvement to our family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and aquaintces.

Because our image is so poor there are many naturists who fear ostracism if their proclivity to be nude is publicly exposed. The likelihood of that, I believe, is minute, but if the public had a realistic view about nudism, there would be no risk of exposure.

This problem is easily solved, don’t hide your lifestyle, be an advocate. Normalize naturism by showing that there are a lot of otherwise normal people who sometimes prefer to be nude.

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I am relatively overt about it. I live a lot of my life naked, I don't want people to show up and get surprised. If I have put my lifestyle choice out there, they are prepared for what they may encounter.

I find most people don't care but you do find the odd one who will avoid you. On the other hand you find the occasional one who will embrace it.

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Is a conversation about naturalism/nudism even relevant or appropriate anymore?

Arguably the nudist paradigm has been so out of step with society for so long. It instantly marginalizes people who are far more likely to sit somewhere else on the broad spectrum of body acceptance.

The generally perceived taboo of nudity in public is in near constant flux. Consider the proliferation of thong-wear this summer. It varies from near invisible strings that bare the whole buttocks, to the tiny material triangle that sits at the lower back fully exposing buttocks.

Clearly social attitudes have shifted significantly on this matter. Naked buttocks in public is considered okay.

Another example is a recent reader survey in the NZ Herald that asked whether women should be allowed to go topless at the beach and 76% of respondents answered yes.

These aren’t nudists or naturalists nor do I believe many visiting known clothing optional beaches classify themselves in that category.

The tide on social morality is incredibly slow to turn. I’m not at all convinced the nudist/naturalist conversation is ever going to speed it up. Ironically because so many practitioners still perceive public nudity as a taboo.

If this wasn’t a reality then you’d see far more at public beaches in countries like NZ and the UK where public nudity isn’t illegal.

While nudity is seen and considered to be a spectacle. Practiced by an exclusive group in specifically designated areas. Naturism/Nudism will maintain its irrelevance to the majority of people. It really is an outdated concept long past its use by date.

Let’s switch the conversations we’re having to simply enjoying the outdoors, getting into nature and enjoying the elements au natural like every other species on earth. No philosophical alignment necessary :)

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Feb 1Edited

In the US, those g-strings and thongs would be illegal in most places. The legal definitions of what constitutes a legal level of exposure usually require coverage of the rear cleft by a certain amount.

I don't see proselytizing for nudism to be useful. Many will interpret it to be an attempt to get their pants off for nefarious purposes. That's because in the textile world those attempts are not unheard of. The average person sees far more sexual exhibitions of nudity than they'll ever see nudists. So if they see a naked man on a trail, some will "think horses and not zebras." Some degree of discretion is a good thing even if you are perfectly legal.

There are specific populations in the US that tend to be more open minded and a bit of outreach cannot hurt. Even if all you get is a number of people who fondly remember a college experience with nudism, you've won.

Otherwise, just be nude where you legally and socially can. Try to take into consideration how the culture will react. (Wisconsin) Think tactically. Don't go pushing people's hot buttons. There are places where you legally can be nude but socially cannot. Doubly true if there are children around. You don't want to turn a social objection into legal prohibition.

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It’s far too easy not to fully appreciate or understand how repressive North America can be. We expect it in the Middle East, but I suspect it’s every bit as bad there.

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Feb 2Edited

If you look at it more closely, obviously the City of Madison, the state capitol, thought this was an okay thing to do. It is the rest of the state that went crazy after their influencers dumped a bunch of political gas on the issue and handed out matches. Maybe 55% of Madison is cool with it but 65% of the larger state has sprung a leak over it.

I don't know the specifics but I understand what set them off was close interaction between child spectators and nude male riders. If true, that is obviously stupid behavior on the riders' part and completely out of line. Every parent seeing it would immediately start to think about pedophilia. But I haven't seen the videos being used in the campaign, so I might be wrong. I just read some lurid descriptions.

Head south to Chicago and the WNBR has been going off without a hitch for years.

Head west to San Francisco and the nude participants in the Bay to Breakers are part of the advertising. Nudity in public events is so common as not to be noteworthy. Last time I ran it, being naked was just another costume. SF has extensive nudity in it's Gay Pride events and 4 WNBRs a year; one for every season. Any event with a permit is an opportunity to be nude.

Taking cognizance of the local culture is important.

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A couple of decades ago I did have a custom license plate that read I NUDIST. I was younger and full of enthusiasm. My children were young. A (conservative Christian) neighbor refused to allow them to visit their new puppy and forbade their kids from playing with mine. I let the plate expire without renewal.

There are a LOT of conservative Christians where I live and I had no desire to make my children pay a price for my personal interests.

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Feb 1Edited

You need more options. Or at least the ability to pick multiple options. My general approach is to share if asked (nobody ever asks) but I will mention it if I judge the person has an open mind and a related topic comes up. I don't tell everyone because there are people who I know for a fact would react badly and I don't need the heartburn. Experience speaking here.

Everyone important in my life knows: my family and and anyone who I might consider a friend.

I avoid becoming evangelical about it because people who are evangelical annoy me. My nudism is not a religion or an ideology, it's a special interest. It is disrespectful to try to convince people who are dubious.. You can tell almost immediately if it will be someone's cup of tea without attempting persuasion.

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Reading your take on things Fred, I think people also tend to react similarly to born again Christians spreading the “good news”.

For many people it’s just too much information and they don’t want gory details. Indifference is by far the preferred option.

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My wife and I tell many people. Most of my relatives know; none of my wife's. We have never received a negative comment or question about it. No one has expressed any concern about orgies.

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I recommend friends "Have a go" what have they got to lose.. but lots to gain. Freedom, Happiness, Comfort, No more tan lines, Acceptance. Less washing and ironing. Etc etc etc

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All good reasons

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My go-to line is, "The Creator designed humans to live naked in a garden. It's the textile fetish that is unhealthy." If I get another opening, "That's *live* naked; not "Go to a Caribbean beach 3,000 miles from anyone who would recognize you , take off your clothes and giggle, 'Isn't this sexy.'"

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I have never been asked, but would gladly share if I was. I have shared with my spouse and an old friend. Neither has really cared enough (in my opinion) to ask ever ask any further questions from my sharing that I am a naturist.

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We pretty much have the opportunity to tell everyone. The reason is people are always commenting on our tans, so that open the door to discuss our social nudity with others.

T & K

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