Not all the Greek runners in the original Olympics were totally naked.
Some wore shoes.- Mark Twain
COME ON -
ADMIT IT. YOU'RE ALL JUST SEX MANIACS!
Given that naturists are
representative of the population as a whole, then it's entirely
possible that we number an odd sex maniac amongst us. The law of
averages makes it likely that there are also several fetishists, a
healthy quota of gay men and lesbians, one or two celibates and a
handful of free love exponents. There are probably also quite a few
naturists who gain a sexual thrill from dressing up! But all of this
ignores one very important point: NATURISM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX.
For many people, the only time they
are naked with another person is before, during and after a sexual
experience. So it's understandable that they would have difficulty
separating the two. But separate they are.
It's a little like kissing. A kiss
can be a sexual act - but it can also have many other meanings: a
gesture of friendship, a welcome, a way of saying goodbye, a
comforting gesture - or, if you live in Hollywood and practise the
airkiss it can mean anything from 'fancy seeing you here' to 'drop
dead, bitch'! You learn very quickly what is appropriate and
inappropriate, depending on your audience. If you're alone with a
lover, then a little tonsil hockey would be entirely correct; if
you're greeting your partner's mother, then tongues are probably not
appropriate.
The majority of naturist resorts are
family oriented, and all are patrolled to keep away voyeurs and sort
out anyone who is acting in suggestive or crude manner. Anyone staying
at a naturist resort who made any overt sexual gestures or
inappropriate remarks in a public situation would be asked to leave.
One of the benefits of nude recreation is that it takes place in a
non-threatening atmosphere, where people are free to relax and be
themselves. Naturist resorts share many similarities with other kinds
of resort, the exception being simply that clothes are optional for
most of the activities happening there.
ISN'T IT UNCOMFORTABLE
THOUGH, NEVER BEING ALLOWED TO WEAR CLOTHES?
It's not a question of never being
allowed to wear clothes! There are lots of situations where the
wearing of clothes is very sensible - and naturists don't remove their
brains with their undergarments! Naturism is meant to be freeing and
relaxing. If you live in the north of England, for instance, then a
long walk through the woods nude in the middle of January is probably
not a good idea. Similarly if you are at sun resort and think your
skin has had enough sun for one day, you won't be thrown out for
daring to put on a T-shirt or a hat. Some sporting activities may even
require the use of protective clothing.
There are no circumstances in which
it is mandatory to be naked, and naturists are not campaigning for a
clothes free world. They just don't see concealment as a valid reason
for wearing clothes.
BUT I'M A GUY -
WITH ALL THOSE NAKED BODIES AROUND, WHAT IF I... YOU KNOW... FORGET
MYSELF?
After an hour or so in the company of
new friends at a naturist resort, the only thing you're likely to
forget is that people are naked at all. It just isn't an issue. Of
course guys, becoming a naturist doesn't mean that your normal body
responses stop. It's a fact of life that men get erections. For most
they're as natural as the weather - but sometimes they can be just as
unpredictable. Just when you're hoping for a depression in the midwest,
suddenly all is bright, sunny and positively perky! It is, however,
far less of a problem in a nude setting than you might suppose -
simply because the social atmosphere in a naturist resort is very
non-sexual.
If it were to happen, then it's a
matter of using common sense. You'd maybe want to roll over for a
little while, take a swim or practise a little strategic towel
placing!
AS A WOMAN
THOUGH, IF I'M HAVING MY PERIOD, PRESUMABLY I CAN'T GO NAKED.
Not true. It depends largely on how
comfortable you feel. Naturists understand that menstruation is a
perfectly natural part of life for all women, and you won't be singled
out for special notice! The use of tampons enables women to take part
in most naturist activities. If you prefer to use pads instead, or if
you would just feel more comfortable doing so, wearing shorts is
perfectly acceptable during your period.
I COULD NEVER BE A
Nude ANYWAY - JUST LOOK AT MY BODY!
That's the whole point though.
Naturism isn't about looking at bodies - naturists are not
exhibitionists. It's just about enjoying the freedom that a clothes
optional atmosphere brings. Naturism is about accepting the human body
for what it is - nothing to be ashamed of. So the men don't need to
hit the gym for six months, buffing their muscles to within an inch of
their lives in order to gain entry. And the women don't have to look
like Baywatch babes. The media is largely responsible for promoting
this idea of body perfection, but the truth is that the vast majority
of people do not now, nor are they likely to ever resemble this false
ideal.
So for naturists there is no such
thing as too fat, too thin, too short, too tall, too hairy. Nobody's
going to comment on the size or shape of your breasts or critically
evaluate your genitalia. And if you have any surgical scars or other
distinguishing marks you needn't worry - ignore them just like
everyone else will. For most people, their initial discomfort
disappears very quickly, once they realize they are not being judged
on their appearance.
Short Reading About Nude Culture
Being a Christian, I naturally had been taught the body shame and disgrace of being nude, especially in front of others. But for some reason, while I was about 12-13 years old, I was on a farm and found out that running in the pastures and woods was fun naked. Over the years, I would find places alone to be nude. But something was just not right. First, I was alone in my feelings and couldn't talk to anyone about it, and two, my religious teachings still gave me a guilty feeling.
When my wife and I were in our 4th-5th (in my late 30's) year of marriage, I started to look into naturism a lot more seriously, but my wife was against the idea. Not that she was against being nude with each other since we did that a lot around the house anyway, but was afraid of the social idea. She thought I was going to some sex crazed wierdo bunch. And of course she doubted that there were any more than a couple of real nudists in the whole state anyway. So that would make me stand out even more.
I found a magazine called Nude and Natural Issue 16.1 I believe. It was the issue that published the "205 Arguments and Observations of Naturism". I took that home and read it through. Then a few days later I showed it to my wife. We discussed it, prayed about it, studied it and decided to give it a try. She wanted to talk to our pastor about it at first, but I told her that we can't always depend on what they say on this. I already know what they will say, "No". So our beliefs are in vain. Either it is between us and God or it's not. So we decided to keep it between us two and we've been at it now for about four years. Keep in mind, we are not just sneaking around our church to do something "sneaky and underhanded", but doing this on our own because of our beliefs. Later we hope to tell our pastor and church. There is a couple we may tell fairly soon.
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