I believe it's largely to do with what situations the dress code of nakedness is appropriate for. Society has, through long tradition, set a dress code that's appropriate to every situation. And woe betide anyone that crosses the currently accepted standards. But those standards can change with time.
I believe it's largely to do with what situations the dress code of nakedness is appropriate for. Society has, through long tradition, set a dress code that's appropriate to every situation. And woe betide anyone that crosses the currently accepted standards. But those standards can change with time.
For example, when I first left school and started work as a technical trainee at Television NZ I was expected to come to work in a shirt and tie - even while working out of the public eye. Announcers and front people had to wear a suit and tie. By contrast, have a look at what front people can wear today - even when presenting the news! And techos and camera crews can now wear tidy casual clothes.
Back in the day, your best attire was reserved for church on Sundays. And, for women especially, church was even regarded by some as a fashion contest - your status and social standing determined by how expensive and "designer-labelled" was your outfit. In fact, it was this competitive nature of fashion displays that the Apostle Paul was talking about when teaching about modesty. The word "modesty" was to do with humility - not the requirement to cover up the body, as churches through the ages have come to believe. These days many churches are far more relaxed about what is appropriate dress.
But there remains many occasions when more formal dress is required - weddings, funerals, business meetings, and the requirement to wear a uniform of office: police, military, courts, etc. Nakedness aside, it would be social suicide for me to attend a wedding dressed in my farm clothes and gumboots! Again, different occasions call for a certain dress code.
Naturists need to realise that being naked is just one of many dress codes that are to be worn for any given occasion or situation. To expect western society to adopt nakedness as an acceptable dress code practically everywhere is stupidly naive - in this day and age, at least. I am usually naked around home and the farm. My neighbours often see me without clothes on and don't care - we all get on just fine. If I'm going to the beach I won't bother getting dressed to drive there. I've even stopped at an unattended self-serve petrol station to refuel on the way. I go hiking naked. I don't wear clothes on many bike rides, even on sections of roadway. I walk the forest trails without clothes and skinny dip in the rivers. I have not yet been to the Superette for milk and bread while naked - it's not yet an acceptable dress code for that. But, who knows? It may well be so at some stage in the future.
Yes, we need to be honest and open to other people about our comfort with nakedness in appropriate situations. And we need to stop acting as though nudity should be practised only in designated areas and clubs, behind high walls and hedgerows. But, like religion, we must also not bash the Naturist Bible at people! Society is elastic; you can gently push it, but be careful not to snap it!
My name is Andrew Cook. I don't subscribe to labels, but I reserve the right to sovereignty over my own body, to decide what pieces of cloth get hung on it as, when, and if I see fit.
I don't think anyone expects the world to accept nakedness as the official dress code. Ain't gonna happen. But it sure would be nice if naked were at least an option for casual dress. I guess the UK is a bit closer to that. The US has very far to go.
And you're right about evangelism. Nudity is about freedom for me and how the other guy dresses is irrelevant.
I don't expect everyone to go naked, I just think that wearing nothing should be a valid clothing option. Everyone should be free to wear or not wear whatever they like.
I believe it's largely to do with what situations the dress code of nakedness is appropriate for. Society has, through long tradition, set a dress code that's appropriate to every situation. And woe betide anyone that crosses the currently accepted standards. But those standards can change with time.
For example, when I first left school and started work as a technical trainee at Television NZ I was expected to come to work in a shirt and tie - even while working out of the public eye. Announcers and front people had to wear a suit and tie. By contrast, have a look at what front people can wear today - even when presenting the news! And techos and camera crews can now wear tidy casual clothes.
Back in the day, your best attire was reserved for church on Sundays. And, for women especially, church was even regarded by some as a fashion contest - your status and social standing determined by how expensive and "designer-labelled" was your outfit. In fact, it was this competitive nature of fashion displays that the Apostle Paul was talking about when teaching about modesty. The word "modesty" was to do with humility - not the requirement to cover up the body, as churches through the ages have come to believe. These days many churches are far more relaxed about what is appropriate dress.
But there remains many occasions when more formal dress is required - weddings, funerals, business meetings, and the requirement to wear a uniform of office: police, military, courts, etc. Nakedness aside, it would be social suicide for me to attend a wedding dressed in my farm clothes and gumboots! Again, different occasions call for a certain dress code.
Naturists need to realise that being naked is just one of many dress codes that are to be worn for any given occasion or situation. To expect western society to adopt nakedness as an acceptable dress code practically everywhere is stupidly naive - in this day and age, at least. I am usually naked around home and the farm. My neighbours often see me without clothes on and don't care - we all get on just fine. If I'm going to the beach I won't bother getting dressed to drive there. I've even stopped at an unattended self-serve petrol station to refuel on the way. I go hiking naked. I don't wear clothes on many bike rides, even on sections of roadway. I walk the forest trails without clothes and skinny dip in the rivers. I have not yet been to the Superette for milk and bread while naked - it's not yet an acceptable dress code for that. But, who knows? It may well be so at some stage in the future.
Yes, we need to be honest and open to other people about our comfort with nakedness in appropriate situations. And we need to stop acting as though nudity should be practised only in designated areas and clubs, behind high walls and hedgerows. But, like religion, we must also not bash the Naturist Bible at people! Society is elastic; you can gently push it, but be careful not to snap it!
My name is Andrew Cook. I don't subscribe to labels, but I reserve the right to sovereignty over my own body, to decide what pieces of cloth get hung on it as, when, and if I see fit.
I don't think anyone expects the world to accept nakedness as the official dress code. Ain't gonna happen. But it sure would be nice if naked were at least an option for casual dress. I guess the UK is a bit closer to that. The US has very far to go.
And you're right about evangelism. Nudity is about freedom for me and how the other guy dresses is irrelevant.
I don't expect everyone to go naked, I just think that wearing nothing should be a valid clothing option. Everyone should be free to wear or not wear whatever they like.
I agree completely.