I read some comments online recently regarding the propensity of so-called “Genuine Naturists” to criticise or look down upon those nudists and naturists that support a sex-positive outlook and their criticism of anything sexual in the naturist scene.
I prefer the term PLATO•NIC when discussing the ( historical economical practical spiritual/religious health/medical/therapeutic artistic scientific social psychological emotional romantic intellectual environmental ) benes & aspects of Naturism & Nudism; “non-sexual” seems a bit too cheeky, employing “sex” as a bait/lead/teaser term to talk about everything aside from “ProCreation LoveMaking & Sensual Joy” ( “sex” is traditionally just a reductive cheap commercial pejorative for these essential & productive aspects of Human Existence ).
I agree with you. Humans are a VERY SEXUAL species, and we don't become asexual by taking off our clothes or becoming nudists. The Nudist Association's mantra "nudity is non-sexual" has hurt organized nudism for decades. Of course nudists are sexual beings. Our species didn't multiply to almost 10 billion by being anything less than very sexual. Organized nudism needs to come to terms with the fundamental sexuality of our species. That doesn't mean fucking in public on beaches, but neither does it mean attacking anyone who flirts or invites a suitable partner. We all need to accept our humanity, and stop driving away normal humans.
As ever the discussions that cover social nudity and sexual behaviour reveal how different individuals' takes on this can be.
Regarding the idea that there is 'no such thing as non-sexual nudity; if nudists/naturists are merely doing as textiles do, but without clothing, how much overt sexual behaviour in everyday textile social situations is the norm in people's eyes? If I see textiles hiking, at the beach, relaxing in their gardens, playing sports, dining in restaurants etc etc in social situations, I don't see much that could be interpreted as overtly sexual, other than maybe things like teens flirting. I do know nudists who have met in social circles that I am involved with and then started relationships, so I guess there was a spark between them during their initial encounters, but I've seen no behaviour in public between them, other than how I might see established nudist couples behave socially, holding hands, a quick kiss, an arm around each other. All of which is no different to what I see in everyday textile situations. In my opinion claims that there is no such thing as non-sexual social nudity is an attempt to blur the lines at the least. I've socialised regularly in nude environments since my teens, many, many years later and after numerous social nudism experiences, I stick by what I've stated above. Yes, there are environments and clubs which aim to attract both nudity and sexual behaviour, many misuse the naturist/nudist terms in seeking participants/members, as the porn industry has done.
As far as I am aware nudist/naturist clubs and societies have membership clauses which state that sexual behaviour will not be tolerated. Beyond 'organised' social nudity there can be confusion/blurring of lines. Many people will have seen 'meerkats' near public nude beaches, lurking in dunes and bushes spying on nudists as voyeurs. Others will see people 'cruising' in those same areas, their sexuality varying. This is much like you could see in locations where 'casual swinging or dogging occurs, its not nudism as I understand it or experience generally. Where public social nudity occurs this can be used as a screen for other activities, claiming that there is no non-sexual social nudity fits alongside this in my view. Nudists are not angels and also have sexual desires, people do see others that they find attractive, much like they might across a room or similar while dressed. But I don't see them immediately behaving in a sexual manner once this has happened.
As a rule of thumb, do your social interactions condone sexual activity as part of the day-to-day? Would you start having sex in the office, in the shops, at the sports field? If you don’t do it clothed why do it as a nudist/naturist?
Émile Armand’s 1916 treatise “On Sexual Liberty” is an excellent & on point read which sums up My feelings almost exactly.
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/emile-armand-on-sexual-liberty
I prefer the term PLATO•NIC when discussing the ( historical economical practical spiritual/religious health/medical/therapeutic artistic scientific social psychological emotional romantic intellectual environmental ) benes & aspects of Naturism & Nudism; “non-sexual” seems a bit too cheeky, employing “sex” as a bait/lead/teaser term to talk about everything aside from “ProCreation LoveMaking & Sensual Joy” ( “sex” is traditionally just a reductive cheap commercial pejorative for these essential & productive aspects of Human Existence ).
I agree with you. Humans are a VERY SEXUAL species, and we don't become asexual by taking off our clothes or becoming nudists. The Nudist Association's mantra "nudity is non-sexual" has hurt organized nudism for decades. Of course nudists are sexual beings. Our species didn't multiply to almost 10 billion by being anything less than very sexual. Organized nudism needs to come to terms with the fundamental sexuality of our species. That doesn't mean fucking in public on beaches, but neither does it mean attacking anyone who flirts or invites a suitable partner. We all need to accept our humanity, and stop driving away normal humans.
As ever the discussions that cover social nudity and sexual behaviour reveal how different individuals' takes on this can be.
Regarding the idea that there is 'no such thing as non-sexual nudity; if nudists/naturists are merely doing as textiles do, but without clothing, how much overt sexual behaviour in everyday textile social situations is the norm in people's eyes? If I see textiles hiking, at the beach, relaxing in their gardens, playing sports, dining in restaurants etc etc in social situations, I don't see much that could be interpreted as overtly sexual, other than maybe things like teens flirting. I do know nudists who have met in social circles that I am involved with and then started relationships, so I guess there was a spark between them during their initial encounters, but I've seen no behaviour in public between them, other than how I might see established nudist couples behave socially, holding hands, a quick kiss, an arm around each other. All of which is no different to what I see in everyday textile situations. In my opinion claims that there is no such thing as non-sexual social nudity is an attempt to blur the lines at the least. I've socialised regularly in nude environments since my teens, many, many years later and after numerous social nudism experiences, I stick by what I've stated above. Yes, there are environments and clubs which aim to attract both nudity and sexual behaviour, many misuse the naturist/nudist terms in seeking participants/members, as the porn industry has done.
As far as I am aware nudist/naturist clubs and societies have membership clauses which state that sexual behaviour will not be tolerated. Beyond 'organised' social nudity there can be confusion/blurring of lines. Many people will have seen 'meerkats' near public nude beaches, lurking in dunes and bushes spying on nudists as voyeurs. Others will see people 'cruising' in those same areas, their sexuality varying. This is much like you could see in locations where 'casual swinging or dogging occurs, its not nudism as I understand it or experience generally. Where public social nudity occurs this can be used as a screen for other activities, claiming that there is no non-sexual social nudity fits alongside this in my view. Nudists are not angels and also have sexual desires, people do see others that they find attractive, much like they might across a room or similar while dressed. But I don't see them immediately behaving in a sexual manner once this has happened.
As a rule of thumb, do your social interactions condone sexual activity as part of the day-to-day? Would you start having sex in the office, in the shops, at the sports field? If you don’t do it clothed why do it as a nudist/naturist?