I always enjoy your (extremely non preachy) thoughts and perspectives on naturism. Your discussion regarding answering the door prompts me to comment. I believe that in my locality I could be arrested for not covering up, even with a notice. I live in the US in a northeastern state that is considered fairly liberal. If a child were to answer I am subject to being charged with a sex crime. Oh boy, we do have a ways to go! I would be content being nude in my semi private back yard without fear of prosecution! However, the only way to change is to keep at it.
Thank you for your comments. I can't imagine living in a place where the sight of a naked human is cause for arrest and criminal charges. It amuses me the US is held up as the example of freedom and democracy, and yet in so many ways, struggles with simple civil liberties. I sincerely hope that the situation improves for you, and I applaud the work that many people do in bringing the hypocrisy and ridiculousness of your laws into focus. There are many great ambassadors for naturism in the US, and indeed around the world, and I feel it is important to keep pushing the message. I also remain grateful that I live in a community where I will not be arrested if I am naked in my own home or yard, despite what my neighbour may think.
We need to stop vilifying sexual thoughts and attraction. I can be naked in my apartment all by myself, but I long to be naked among other naked people. While there may not be any actual sexual contact, just SEEING other naked people gives my brain a feeling of comfort. I have no social contacts anywhere like that, I do long for such things. There should be NO laws against nudity by government agencies. Public nudity should be totally legal. I could say lots about this (I am 'long winded'), but I absolutely think that it would promote better mental health if public nudity was a common thing.
Well expressed. The answer is somewhere in the middle. The community ends up making the rules at some point. However we have come a long way. NZ has approached the public nudity issue so far with common sense. Good legal precedent. Hopefully it wont derail or be hampered by the deviant behaviour of a few.
"and the presence of any type of notice or warning message on the door."
I don't warn people about meeting a naked person. The whole concept that other people need to be warned promotes the concept that even seeing other humans is dangerous or harmful. Signs designation nudist areas should be positive and inviting, not a warning. "Entering unrestricted clothing optional area. You may take off your clothing. Welcome to enjoy our sunshine."
We all need to stop "warning" people. Language matters.
I belive, the battle begins with us the consumers of sex. We've been conditioned to associate sex to a woman's naked body. A "proper" woman dresses like the Dutchess of Cambridge and a whore reveals her shoulders. She only needs to show some skin and it becomes scandalous
Humans are a very sexual species. Every one of us likes sex whether clothed or not. Instead of pretending that we are somehow asexual, we need to recognize and come to terms with our own sexuality. A proper woman is like our mothers, she got laid and became our mother. We need to stop pretending otherwise.
I agree. As "a very sexual species," we sometimes have sexual thoughts and feelings even when seeing clothed people at various gatherings. And that's considered inevitable and acceptable, as long as it doesn't lead to harrassment or worse. Yet many discussions of naturalism make much ado about these kinds of thoughts and feelings. There seems to be ideological pressure to not have them, or at least pretend that you don't. Isn't that a misguided ideal, since even clothed people can't live up to it? Perhaps not only nudity should be as unremarkable as being clothed, but also the thoughts and feelings it can provoke?
Yes, we are a very sexual species. We are a thinking one too. This should lead us to make a difference between being naked (or seeing naked people) and wanting to have sex as soon as we are naked or see naked people. Naturism makes a difference between nudity and sexuality, it does not deny sexuality. When an individual harass another one because of his/her attire or lack of, is the harasser guilty or the harassee? When a man rapes a woman and claim he raped her because she was naked or semi-naked, whose to blame? I know the world is not that black & white, but our current society has a plethora of examples that demonstrate responsibility is something a lot of people ignore and try to put the blame on others. Being naked, as a respectful naturist, does not make the exhibitionist. It’s his/her behavior that does.
I always enjoy your (extremely non preachy) thoughts and perspectives on naturism. Your discussion regarding answering the door prompts me to comment. I believe that in my locality I could be arrested for not covering up, even with a notice. I live in the US in a northeastern state that is considered fairly liberal. If a child were to answer I am subject to being charged with a sex crime. Oh boy, we do have a ways to go! I would be content being nude in my semi private back yard without fear of prosecution! However, the only way to change is to keep at it.
Thank you for your comments. I can't imagine living in a place where the sight of a naked human is cause for arrest and criminal charges. It amuses me the US is held up as the example of freedom and democracy, and yet in so many ways, struggles with simple civil liberties. I sincerely hope that the situation improves for you, and I applaud the work that many people do in bringing the hypocrisy and ridiculousness of your laws into focus. There are many great ambassadors for naturism in the US, and indeed around the world, and I feel it is important to keep pushing the message. I also remain grateful that I live in a community where I will not be arrested if I am naked in my own home or yard, despite what my neighbour may think.
We need to stop vilifying sexual thoughts and attraction. I can be naked in my apartment all by myself, but I long to be naked among other naked people. While there may not be any actual sexual contact, just SEEING other naked people gives my brain a feeling of comfort. I have no social contacts anywhere like that, I do long for such things. There should be NO laws against nudity by government agencies. Public nudity should be totally legal. I could say lots about this (I am 'long winded'), but I absolutely think that it would promote better mental health if public nudity was a common thing.
Good read as always. And yes it should always be a valid clothing choice.
Well expressed. The answer is somewhere in the middle. The community ends up making the rules at some point. However we have come a long way. NZ has approached the public nudity issue so far with common sense. Good legal precedent. Hopefully it wont derail or be hampered by the deviant behaviour of a few.
In that case we've missed what's appropriate and convenient sexual behaviour. I guess in some way we need to dissociate nudity and sex.
"and the presence of any type of notice or warning message on the door."
I don't warn people about meeting a naked person. The whole concept that other people need to be warned promotes the concept that even seeing other humans is dangerous or harmful. Signs designation nudist areas should be positive and inviting, not a warning. "Entering unrestricted clothing optional area. You may take off your clothing. Welcome to enjoy our sunshine."
We all need to stop "warning" people. Language matters.
I see a sign on the door as a courtesy to others of a more sensitive disposition rather that a warning. I agree that signed should not be warnings.
I belive, the battle begins with us the consumers of sex. We've been conditioned to associate sex to a woman's naked body. A "proper" woman dresses like the Dutchess of Cambridge and a whore reveals her shoulders. She only needs to show some skin and it becomes scandalous
Humans are a very sexual species. Every one of us likes sex whether clothed or not. Instead of pretending that we are somehow asexual, we need to recognize and come to terms with our own sexuality. A proper woman is like our mothers, she got laid and became our mother. We need to stop pretending otherwise.
I agree. As "a very sexual species," we sometimes have sexual thoughts and feelings even when seeing clothed people at various gatherings. And that's considered inevitable and acceptable, as long as it doesn't lead to harrassment or worse. Yet many discussions of naturalism make much ado about these kinds of thoughts and feelings. There seems to be ideological pressure to not have them, or at least pretend that you don't. Isn't that a misguided ideal, since even clothed people can't live up to it? Perhaps not only nudity should be as unremarkable as being clothed, but also the thoughts and feelings it can provoke?
Yes, we are a very sexual species. We are a thinking one too. This should lead us to make a difference between being naked (or seeing naked people) and wanting to have sex as soon as we are naked or see naked people. Naturism makes a difference between nudity and sexuality, it does not deny sexuality. When an individual harass another one because of his/her attire or lack of, is the harasser guilty or the harassee? When a man rapes a woman and claim he raped her because she was naked or semi-naked, whose to blame? I know the world is not that black & white, but our current society has a plethora of examples that demonstrate responsibility is something a lot of people ignore and try to put the blame on others. Being naked, as a respectful naturist, does not make the exhibitionist. It’s his/her behavior that does.