A US-based email account that I've had for many years to participate in the clothes-free online world - setting up website accounts and to keep in contact with nudists from around the world - was zapped recently. There was no warning beforehand and no involvement in anything illegal (even in the USA!) AFAIK. It was just a method that I used to keep my nudist life separate from other email accounts in a NSFW manner.
There has been no response to my approaches for an explanation, I'm not very surprised at that. I can't say for sure why the account was closed, but my suspicions sensed some sort of decision tthat can be linked to these issues.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I fear that we will see more of this type of suppression of free speech and free thinking, not just in relation to naturism and nudity.
Thanks, I agree fully that we will probably experience more things like this.
I should have stated that perhaps this is a good point to use as an illustration as to why we should look at alternative service providers. But having said that there are measures already in place, or about to be, in many countries where our online activities can be censored - i.e UK Online Safety Act with the EU and Australia taking similar steps to curtail our online freedoms under the usual cloaks like 'protecting children...'. A privacy and security focused email and related online services provider like Proton, which has used its base in Switzerland as a selling point, is considering moving elsewhere as there is the threat of new laws being implemented there that will threaten its business model focus on privacy.
Censorship has nothing to do with this. This is a matter of freedom of a business to avoid something of which it disapproves. The important issue is why a company would disapprove of something So innocent and harmless. If you look in the mirror, you might see someone who is partly responsible. As nudists, or naturists, we do almost nothing to educate the ignorant about our way of life. We rarely admit to anyone that sometimes we prefer to be nude. What others think of our lifestyle is largely a product of their imaginations. I used to be quite active on nudist forums, but that accomplishes nothing. The same problems were discussed repeatedly, and no action was taken. We cannot expect our problems to fade away or be solved by someone else. If things aren’t how you’d like them to be, DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT.
You make a valid point. The company does have the right to refuse the business because it disapproves, and yet that was not the original reason for the rejection. Only when they couldn't defend their stance regarding community standards did they pull out the "we won't, because we don't want to" argument.
I agree, many nudists and naturists do little to educate or advance the philosophy in the eyes of the broader public.
When I look in the mirror, I see someone who has written numerous blogs, been published in magazines, and repeatedly stood up to inaccurate and misleading comments about naturism. I see someone who will not shy away from admitting my preference for nudity both at home and in selected public places. I see someone who stands up to be counted and who is doing what I can to reason, inform and promote naturism.
I am lucky that I live in a country where my job or my safety is not at risk because I identify as a nudist or a naturist. For many naturists, this is not their reality. For them, standing up and being counted comes with real risks. One could argue that promoting naturism is not up to individuals, but is the role of the naturist organisations claiming to represent us.
Sadly nudists censor as well, so we don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to being censored by others. I many of my efforts have been censored and undermined by nudist establishment including the proponents of some of those mentioned in your piece. If the voices of genuine nudists with differing voices are censored then we don’t practice freedom of speech among ourselves and it sounds hollow to cry freedom when other censor us.
None of this surprises me. I saw it coming -- and much more -- when Trump was returned to office. The Project 2025 people dictating public policy behind the scenes were sure to go after nudism, and I suspect there will be a lot more censorship in the U.S. It is the main reason I have made my naturism newsletter dormant. Naturists will be targeted on any U.S.-owned site, I think, especially if there is any talk of children being involved. Be very careful what you publish here or on any American-owned site now.
Censorship is indeed evil. Children need to learn about themselves and their own species by observing a wide range of other humans doing a wide range of normal human activity. The UK has mounted a very aggressive censorship campaign, often arresting and jailing people for their media posts.
I frequently post nudist pictures on X, but even they fear nudist family photos.
AI is still just a computer program. Automating a process removes that process from human beings but perpetuates the condition of the human who set the program parameters. While reasoned argument might penetrate a thinking, responsive human, we are a long way from having that kind of conversation with a computer. The more society relies on AI the more we embed into society the ideas and mores of those writing the code and the more we lose the hope of society changing or evolving.
I would wager that the main reason for the refusal of PrintingCenterUSA to print the book would be public outcry and a damaging loss of reputation - possible even their own physical safety.
Fear of public backlash is crippling. Just a short time ago a Wellington billboard company was targeted after producing a billboard for Hobson's Pledge and their anti Maori Wards campaign. For other reasons Hobson's Pledge pulled the billboards to replace an image that was deemed inappropriate, but the billboard company refused any further involvement in the campaign after they and some of their staff received threats of violence from Maori Activists.
In the words of the late Sinead O'Connor, "These are dangerous days; to say what you feel is to dig your own grave."
You may be right, but unless we call out instances of blatant bias, nothing will change. It might not change anyway, but at least we can say we tried to do something about it.
A US-based email account that I've had for many years to participate in the clothes-free online world - setting up website accounts and to keep in contact with nudists from around the world - was zapped recently. There was no warning beforehand and no involvement in anything illegal (even in the USA!) AFAIK. It was just a method that I used to keep my nudist life separate from other email accounts in a NSFW manner.
There has been no response to my approaches for an explanation, I'm not very surprised at that. I can't say for sure why the account was closed, but my suspicions sensed some sort of decision tthat can be linked to these issues.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I fear that we will see more of this type of suppression of free speech and free thinking, not just in relation to naturism and nudity.
Thanks, I agree fully that we will probably experience more things like this.
I should have stated that perhaps this is a good point to use as an illustration as to why we should look at alternative service providers. But having said that there are measures already in place, or about to be, in many countries where our online activities can be censored - i.e UK Online Safety Act with the EU and Australia taking similar steps to curtail our online freedoms under the usual cloaks like 'protecting children...'. A privacy and security focused email and related online services provider like Proton, which has used its base in Switzerland as a selling point, is considering moving elsewhere as there is the threat of new laws being implemented there that will threaten its business model focus on privacy.
It's very unfortunate... However such incidents will continue to happen as the society is mix of people having vastly different views....
Censorship has nothing to do with this. This is a matter of freedom of a business to avoid something of which it disapproves. The important issue is why a company would disapprove of something So innocent and harmless. If you look in the mirror, you might see someone who is partly responsible. As nudists, or naturists, we do almost nothing to educate the ignorant about our way of life. We rarely admit to anyone that sometimes we prefer to be nude. What others think of our lifestyle is largely a product of their imaginations. I used to be quite active on nudist forums, but that accomplishes nothing. The same problems were discussed repeatedly, and no action was taken. We cannot expect our problems to fade away or be solved by someone else. If things aren’t how you’d like them to be, DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT.
You make a valid point. The company does have the right to refuse the business because it disapproves, and yet that was not the original reason for the rejection. Only when they couldn't defend their stance regarding community standards did they pull out the "we won't, because we don't want to" argument.
I agree, many nudists and naturists do little to educate or advance the philosophy in the eyes of the broader public.
When I look in the mirror, I see someone who has written numerous blogs, been published in magazines, and repeatedly stood up to inaccurate and misleading comments about naturism. I see someone who will not shy away from admitting my preference for nudity both at home and in selected public places. I see someone who stands up to be counted and who is doing what I can to reason, inform and promote naturism.
I am lucky that I live in a country where my job or my safety is not at risk because I identify as a nudist or a naturist. For many naturists, this is not their reality. For them, standing up and being counted comes with real risks. One could argue that promoting naturism is not up to individuals, but is the role of the naturist organisations claiming to represent us.
Sadly nudists censor as well, so we don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to being censored by others. I many of my efforts have been censored and undermined by nudist establishment including the proponents of some of those mentioned in your piece. If the voices of genuine nudists with differing voices are censored then we don’t practice freedom of speech among ourselves and it sounds hollow to cry freedom when other censor us.
A refreshingly well thought out response ... unlike the two counter arguments
Think of the children
and
Eeew Who wants to see that! Put it away!
None of this surprises me. I saw it coming -- and much more -- when Trump was returned to office. The Project 2025 people dictating public policy behind the scenes were sure to go after nudism, and I suspect there will be a lot more censorship in the U.S. It is the main reason I have made my naturism newsletter dormant. Naturists will be targeted on any U.S.-owned site, I think, especially if there is any talk of children being involved. Be very careful what you publish here or on any American-owned site now.
I've missed your blog.
I miss doing it, and the great discussions we had there. It was a lot of fun.
Censorship is indeed evil. Children need to learn about themselves and their own species by observing a wide range of other humans doing a wide range of normal human activity. The UK has mounted a very aggressive censorship campaign, often arresting and jailing people for their media posts.
I frequently post nudist pictures on X, but even they fear nudist family photos.
AI is still just a computer program. Automating a process removes that process from human beings but perpetuates the condition of the human who set the program parameters. While reasoned argument might penetrate a thinking, responsive human, we are a long way from having that kind of conversation with a computer. The more society relies on AI the more we embed into society the ideas and mores of those writing the code and the more we lose the hope of society changing or evolving.
I would wager that the main reason for the refusal of PrintingCenterUSA to print the book would be public outcry and a damaging loss of reputation - possible even their own physical safety.
Fear of public backlash is crippling. Just a short time ago a Wellington billboard company was targeted after producing a billboard for Hobson's Pledge and their anti Maori Wards campaign. For other reasons Hobson's Pledge pulled the billboards to replace an image that was deemed inappropriate, but the billboard company refused any further involvement in the campaign after they and some of their staff received threats of violence from Maori Activists.
In the words of the late Sinead O'Connor, "These are dangerous days; to say what you feel is to dig your own grave."
You may be right, but unless we call out instances of blatant bias, nothing will change. It might not change anyway, but at least we can say we tried to do something about it.
Absolutely right! People don't have to agree with us, but they need to respect our right to self expression.