In my first article, I used the term “Textiles” to describe non-naturist folk and it prompted one reader to comment that they found the term divisive and that they disliked its use. Interestingly, they had no objection to the term naturist and acknowledged the contradiction.
You’ve covered some good points of view here Steve.
I find myself reflecting on labels often because I’m not a great fan of them. For many of the reasons you outline.
I think first and foremost it’s because labels are typically so misrepresentative and misleading.
There’s a great deal of nonsense claims associated with naturism that have nothing to do with being naked and everything to do with just being a decent, if not humble, human being. Nudity is certainly a catalyst towards humility because it creates physical vulnerability.
People tend to use the term textiles the same way jihadists use the term infidels. You could exchange the word and the sentence would retain its meaning.
The answer is yes. Many people could say the same.
Naturists envision themselves as a marginalised fringe minority that don’t fit within social norms. So long as they see themselves that way, nudity will never be a common everyday occurrence people accept.
As things stand, naturists are actively alienating themselves from wider society. What they should be striving towards is integration within society.
As this is a blog that uses the English language the terms I use here will be those I think are used most often applied where English is the primary spoken language, allowing for well-known differences, for example between English English and American English. Labels used in these often vary, as does the spelling.
What do clothed people call those who prefer to be unclothed?
'People'? With no other words added or in place of that description?
I think that most people who come across naked people will use certain terminology to distinguish the naked ones. I think they will be more likely to refer to them as 'nudists' than anything else. Beyond the clothes-free communities 'naturist' seems to be used less than 'nudist' to describe us, 'naturist' is often confused with 'naturalist'. I can't recall seeing or hearing references made to a beach where people are naked as a naked beach, people who choose to wear swimming costumes seem to refer to the beaches I go to as 'nudist beaches'.
Personally I'm happy being in 'clothing-optional' environments, but I've come across newbie naturists who felt less at ease there than they were in all nude settings, along with others who felt more at ease being able to decide for themselves whether to wear something or nothing. I've been to 'naturist' spas where the majority wore something, I don't mean towels or wraps I mean swimwear, at 'naturist' venues?! The dedicated naked people were naked, but those less confident being nude in a clothing optional setting like that who we spoke to said they were more reluctant to join the nudes. I like all nude environments, it is how I want to be and it is nice to be among similar people, but I'm in favour of there being less rules when it comes to freedom of personal choice, to respect individuality.
Labels have their uses and fans. I understand why people prefer not to use them or have them applied to themselves. I'm fairly open about preferring to be clothes-free, friends who know this and prefer to socialise in clothing mostly call me and like-minded people 'nudists'. This is fine by me, they are OK with me referring to them as textiles. 'Textile' is a term they don't use to refer to their clothed peers as, but when they and the nudists they know want to distinguish between say beaches or events, nudist' and 'textile' work for us all. My real life nudist and naturist friends use both these terms frequently when talking about themselves, naked friends and locations. In conversation with 'textile' friends I might refer to myself and naked friends as 'nudist(s)' and the same goes for the locations where I socialise naked. We use 'nudist' so as its clear that I plan to be at a nude venue on a certain day with naked friends and 'textile' so I know that I won't be expected to be naked at other events and places.
If 'textile' is seen as derogatory, insulting, disparaging etc what do you think should be used when wanting to explain for example that we can't be naked somewhere?
You’ve covered some good points of view here Steve.
I find myself reflecting on labels often because I’m not a great fan of them. For many of the reasons you outline.
I think first and foremost it’s because labels are typically so misrepresentative and misleading.
There’s a great deal of nonsense claims associated with naturism that have nothing to do with being naked and everything to do with just being a decent, if not humble, human being. Nudity is certainly a catalyst towards humility because it creates physical vulnerability.
People tend to use the term textiles the same way jihadists use the term infidels. You could exchange the word and the sentence would retain its meaning.
Here’s a random quote from Twitter as an example: “naturists are mostly friendly, welcoming, encouraging, accepting, body positive, free of societal norms! Can most infidels say the same?” (https://twitter.com/j068downsouth/status/1488337031973453828?s=21&t=BxddgyB_krrCFnKusl7zhA)
The answer is yes. Many people could say the same.
Naturists envision themselves as a marginalised fringe minority that don’t fit within social norms. So long as they see themselves that way, nudity will never be a common everyday occurrence people accept.
As things stand, naturists are actively alienating themselves from wider society. What they should be striving towards is integration within society.
Get naked, be friendly.
As this is a blog that uses the English language the terms I use here will be those I think are used most often applied where English is the primary spoken language, allowing for well-known differences, for example between English English and American English. Labels used in these often vary, as does the spelling.
What do clothed people call those who prefer to be unclothed?
'People'? With no other words added or in place of that description?
I think that most people who come across naked people will use certain terminology to distinguish the naked ones. I think they will be more likely to refer to them as 'nudists' than anything else. Beyond the clothes-free communities 'naturist' seems to be used less than 'nudist' to describe us, 'naturist' is often confused with 'naturalist'. I can't recall seeing or hearing references made to a beach where people are naked as a naked beach, people who choose to wear swimming costumes seem to refer to the beaches I go to as 'nudist beaches'.
Personally I'm happy being in 'clothing-optional' environments, but I've come across newbie naturists who felt less at ease there than they were in all nude settings, along with others who felt more at ease being able to decide for themselves whether to wear something or nothing. I've been to 'naturist' spas where the majority wore something, I don't mean towels or wraps I mean swimwear, at 'naturist' venues?! The dedicated naked people were naked, but those less confident being nude in a clothing optional setting like that who we spoke to said they were more reluctant to join the nudes. I like all nude environments, it is how I want to be and it is nice to be among similar people, but I'm in favour of there being less rules when it comes to freedom of personal choice, to respect individuality.
Labels have their uses and fans. I understand why people prefer not to use them or have them applied to themselves. I'm fairly open about preferring to be clothes-free, friends who know this and prefer to socialise in clothing mostly call me and like-minded people 'nudists'. This is fine by me, they are OK with me referring to them as textiles. 'Textile' is a term they don't use to refer to their clothed peers as, but when they and the nudists they know want to distinguish between say beaches or events, nudist' and 'textile' work for us all. My real life nudist and naturist friends use both these terms frequently when talking about themselves, naked friends and locations. In conversation with 'textile' friends I might refer to myself and naked friends as 'nudist(s)' and the same goes for the locations where I socialise naked. We use 'nudist' so as its clear that I plan to be at a nude venue on a certain day with naked friends and 'textile' so I know that I won't be expected to be naked at other events and places.
If 'textile' is seen as derogatory, insulting, disparaging etc what do you think should be used when wanting to explain for example that we can't be naked somewhere?
Clothing mandatory?
The difference with the “textile” label is that virtually no one chooses to use that term to describe themselves.
Great post, Steve, and I totally agree with your thoughts. In fact I wrote a couple of paragraphs in our forum along similar lines, which has attracted a few additional thoughts on this: https://www.haurakinaturally.nz/forum/general-discussions/is-it-time-to-dump-the-label?