Every time New Year's Eve rolls around, I inevitably think about streaking. As an exhibitionist, it's an activity that seems appealing to me, but it's not something I get a lot of opportunities to do. And it's not just about being naked, or even being naked in front of other people - because I've done a lot of that. So I was thinking about what makes streaking in particular so exciting, and how it touches on the issues of taboo and consent.
One of the things that I would say defines the activity of streaking is the violation of a taboo - going somewhere you're not expected to be naked, (usually) in front of an unsuspecting crowd. You could run around a nudist camp without incident, but that wouldn't really be streaking, would it? It's missing the violation of the taboo on nudity - a taboo that nudists don't have.
But what about consent? It irritates me when people assume that exhibitionists don't care about consent. I get where that comes from, but there is a world of exhibitionism beyond public flashing, and it's frankly insulting for someone to assume that having a particular kind of sexual interest trumps all other concerns, turning you into a mindless pervert who will attempt to get his rocks off at any cost (essentially objectifying fetishism).
I'm an exhibitionist, but I don't expose myself to random strangers. The thought that I could be bothering somebody is enough to completely turn me off of the idea. I do find the juxtaposition of nudity in locations and situations where it's not usually encountered to be enticing. But I restrict myself to remote areas and nudist company, out of deference to the feelings of others, as well as my own safety. This is hardly the picture of a horny beast who will do anything for sexual gratification.
And yet, streaking seems exciting to me. But in my head, people aren't horrified by the sudden and unexpected appearance of a naked streaker - they're delighted! As I would be, if I unexpectedly encountered a naked person in my day to day life (especially if they had the body of a model). In principle, I'm an exhibitionist because I enjoy giving the "gift" of nudity to people who appreciate it. This has nothing to do with forcing it on people who don't want it.
But there is something in the violation of the taboo that makes streaking particularly enticing. The problem is, in order to obtain consent, you have to ruin the surprise. And if people are expecting it, it doesn't really feel like streaking. You could handpick an audience who has expressed comfort with nudity, but this is a lot like streaking in front of nudists. Ideally, you would have an audience of people who appreciate it, without knowing that beforehand. Unfortunately, it's the pre-confirmation of acceptance that eliminates the taboo appeal.
How bad, really, is streaking without consent, though? It's not actually a sex act. And as far as public exposure goes, you're not singling individuals out. You're not hanging around long enough to compound people's discomfort. There needn't be any physical contact involved. You're pretty much on the move, and you're gone in a flash (even if it's mainly to evade authorities). I don't see how it's substantially different, from an ethical consideration, from a World Naked Bike Ride.
So, is streaking wrong? I feel like it's pretty harmless in the grand scheme of things, but I want to know if I'm just rationalizing my desires here. Is it wrong to even find the fantasy appealing? I was downtown a couple of years ago when the ball dropped. I was naked underneath my heavy winter jacket and boots, and I flashed my partner at midnight, right there in the middle of the crowd. I positioned myself with consideration to the fact that everybody was watching the stage, so that my partner was the only one who saw me (knowing that she would appreciate the sight).
It was fun, but I can't help thinking that it would have been even more fun to be weaving through that crowd in my birthday suit, from one end to the other, hearing the excitement of the people as they gradually figured out what was going on. Is there harm in that? Or is this something that's better left to fantasy? It's not something I would do without assurance that things would turn out okay for everyone involved, but I can't help thinking in my head that it sounds exciting. Surely that doesn't make me a bad person.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Nudist Hot Takes: Fitness vs. Body Acceptance
Topic: Is nudism a salve for poor body image, or would a fitter population be more enthusiastic about nudism?
My Take: Is nudism's emphasis on body acceptance putting the cart before the horse? Is it even possible for nudism to thrive among a statistically obese population? Aren't people who are physically fit more likely to be willing to take off their clothes in front of strangers?
I'm an experienced nudist, so I have the advantage of knowing that regular exposure to normal bodies tends to lead to improved acceptance of the physical flaws we all carry. It's tempting to want to believe that nudism can be a salve for a population that struggles to cultivate a positive body image. But this can only happen if people actually try nudism, and we can't force them to try it if they don't want to.
Confronted with the idea of people appearing nude in public, "nobody wants to see that" has been a perennial argument against nudism. But it's one that I'm seeing more and more frequently as I interact with people online as a nudist outside of traditional nudist circles.
Look, I can sympathize. I may be a nudist, but it's not that I don't think human bodies can be gross sometimes. I'm a nudist in spite of that feeling, not because I don't get it. But I also view nudity from the perspective of an artist. I do legitimately believe that the human body can be a work of art. That's the thing about bodies: there are a lot of them, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
I know that it's important to a person's self-esteem to feel good about the body they inhabit - but that's a reason to embrace fitness, not an excuse to ignore it. Denying that some people's bodies look better than others (albeit with a heavy dose of subjectivity involved) is denying a fundamental truth.
And I can't help thinking that if, statistically, the population were fitter, there would be more people more comfortable with the idea of seeing more of people's bodies on a regular basis. I know this runs contrary to the nudist philosophy that seeks to de-emphasize the importance of looks*, but it's acknowledging the reality of human behavior and psychology.
*To be fair, some of the best arguments for nudism have nothing to do with looks, but if this is a reason for people to reject nudism, then it's an issue that deserves to be considered.
Nudist philosophy also insists that nudity is not intrinsically sexual, but while it would be folly to ignore the inevitable ubiquity of human sexuality, a consideration for looks doesn't necessarily embrace a sexual connotation. Yes, people are more likely to view attractive bodies in a sexual light, but even now, a person's body doesn't become a sex object the instant somebody considers them attractive. Besides, it is possible to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the human body in a way that is not explicitly sexual. Do you consider Michelangelo's David to be pornographic?
I suspect that there are nudists who hold in their heads an image of a utopia in which everybody lets it all hang out, and nobody cares what anybody looks like.** But this is an unrealistic fantasy, and an actual dystopia for anyone who appreciates the virtue of beauty. Maybe people with poor body image would enjoy being in such a world. Or, maybe they prefer this world, in which they can cover up (while still admiring those who look better than they do).
**I think that when nudists insist that "all bodies are beautiful", they are acknowledging the importance of self-esteem in the decision to doff one's clothing in public. I simply wonder whether warping our minds into seeing all bodies as beautiful is a more effective strategy than molding our bodies to become more beautiful. I think the healthiest approach is a balance of the two - grounding our expectations while fostering a positive attitude toward self-improvement.
Maybe nudism isn't a salve for poor body image, after all; maybe nudism is a lifestyle that can only really thrive among a population that takes pride in its appearance. And maybe nudists who want nudism to go mainstream should focus less on convincing the world (and themselves) that looks don't matter, and more on health initiatives to improve people's bodies, so they'll be more enthusiastic about seeing them. Then, interest in nudism will grow organically as a result.
My Take: Is nudism's emphasis on body acceptance putting the cart before the horse? Is it even possible for nudism to thrive among a statistically obese population? Aren't people who are physically fit more likely to be willing to take off their clothes in front of strangers?
I'm an experienced nudist, so I have the advantage of knowing that regular exposure to normal bodies tends to lead to improved acceptance of the physical flaws we all carry. It's tempting to want to believe that nudism can be a salve for a population that struggles to cultivate a positive body image. But this can only happen if people actually try nudism, and we can't force them to try it if they don't want to.
Confronted with the idea of people appearing nude in public, "nobody wants to see that" has been a perennial argument against nudism. But it's one that I'm seeing more and more frequently as I interact with people online as a nudist outside of traditional nudist circles.
Look, I can sympathize. I may be a nudist, but it's not that I don't think human bodies can be gross sometimes. I'm a nudist in spite of that feeling, not because I don't get it. But I also view nudity from the perspective of an artist. I do legitimately believe that the human body can be a work of art. That's the thing about bodies: there are a lot of them, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
I know that it's important to a person's self-esteem to feel good about the body they inhabit - but that's a reason to embrace fitness, not an excuse to ignore it. Denying that some people's bodies look better than others (albeit with a heavy dose of subjectivity involved) is denying a fundamental truth.
And I can't help thinking that if, statistically, the population were fitter, there would be more people more comfortable with the idea of seeing more of people's bodies on a regular basis. I know this runs contrary to the nudist philosophy that seeks to de-emphasize the importance of looks*, but it's acknowledging the reality of human behavior and psychology.
*To be fair, some of the best arguments for nudism have nothing to do with looks, but if this is a reason for people to reject nudism, then it's an issue that deserves to be considered.
Nudist philosophy also insists that nudity is not intrinsically sexual, but while it would be folly to ignore the inevitable ubiquity of human sexuality, a consideration for looks doesn't necessarily embrace a sexual connotation. Yes, people are more likely to view attractive bodies in a sexual light, but even now, a person's body doesn't become a sex object the instant somebody considers them attractive. Besides, it is possible to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the human body in a way that is not explicitly sexual. Do you consider Michelangelo's David to be pornographic?
I suspect that there are nudists who hold in their heads an image of a utopia in which everybody lets it all hang out, and nobody cares what anybody looks like.** But this is an unrealistic fantasy, and an actual dystopia for anyone who appreciates the virtue of beauty. Maybe people with poor body image would enjoy being in such a world. Or, maybe they prefer this world, in which they can cover up (while still admiring those who look better than they do).
**I think that when nudists insist that "all bodies are beautiful", they are acknowledging the importance of self-esteem in the decision to doff one's clothing in public. I simply wonder whether warping our minds into seeing all bodies as beautiful is a more effective strategy than molding our bodies to become more beautiful. I think the healthiest approach is a balance of the two - grounding our expectations while fostering a positive attitude toward self-improvement.
Maybe nudism isn't a salve for poor body image, after all; maybe nudism is a lifestyle that can only really thrive among a population that takes pride in its appearance. And maybe nudists who want nudism to go mainstream should focus less on convincing the world (and themselves) that looks don't matter, and more on health initiatives to improve people's bodies, so they'll be more enthusiastic about seeing them. Then, interest in nudism will grow organically as a result.
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