So, I woke up this morning to a series of email notifications indicating that three of the posts on this very blog have been "flagged for review", and "put behind a warning for readers" because they "contain sensitive content". And I'm just trying to wrap my head around it. I've been posting regularly or semi-regularly (as in the last few years) to this blog since the spring of 2010. That's thirteen years ago. And the very purpose of this blog is to discuss controversial subjects (while sharing my own, at times sexually explicit, photography). The entire blog has been behind a "sensitive content warning" page - voluntarily - since the beginning. Which leaves me with a few questions.
Like, what's the point of putting a sensitive content warning on a post that already has one? Why were these three posts singled out, when this blog contains 13 years of sensitive content? How were they flagged? Am I being punished for advertising my blog more on Twitter, in the form of a larger audience leading to malcontents coming in and complaining about what they see? Or is this yet another case, as is becoming disturbingly common these days, of bots running rampant and creatively interpreting their directives? Were there even any humans involved in this decision at all?
Which leads me to my most important question: will I ever get any answers? The emails don't offer any kind of option to get feedback on this administrative decision. I can't even ask someone, "hey, what's going on? What's this all about?" The most they'll give me is a link back to the post editor where I can request to have those posts re-reviewed. But I don't see how that would accomplish anything. Nobody's going to tell me why these posts were flagged (other than a vague link back to the entirety of their Community Guidelines, so I can play a guessing game), so it's not like I can fix anything. And reviewing them again won't accomplish anything, because we both already agree that they contain sensitive content. That's why I already put a warning on them!
But let's play the guessing game anyway. One of the three posts is about foot fetishism. Like, really? Come on. Another is a discussion of pornography law which broaches the subject of bestiality. Ok, that one's obvious. But it hardly stands out on a blog like this one (I'm surprised they didn't find the post that discusses necrophilia). Moreover, I didn't describe any explicit acts, or even say that I support bestiality. I just wanted to have a discussion that's evidence-based and non-judgmental. Can we not even do that about taboo topics anymore? This is EXACTLY the thing that freedom of speech is supposed to protect. Here's a quote from that very post:
"But if we're more concerned with truth than politics, and wish to be consistent in our beliefs and ideologies, then we must be willing to extend the principles we apply to the popular issues to the unpopular issues also."
And on the subject of thoughtcrime, the third post is one that tries to build a bridge between prudes and perverts, on the subject of having sexual feelings about pictures that weren't designed for that purpose. I really think it's a stretch to define that as "revenge porn", since we're not talking about explicit images, nor are we talking about sharing them.
But again, my blog is filled with discussions of sensitive subjects. And they're already behind a warning filter. Why these three all of a sudden? And what's the point of filtering an already filtered post? I just want to understand how this process works, so that I can work within it most effectively, to the benefit of both myself and the platform. And I'm never gonna know, am I? How does this make any kind of sense? And yet, this kind of Kafkaesque social media bureaucracy is becoming more and more common. Are we going to have to start thinking of algorithms as an unpredictable force of nature, capable of random and senseless acts of digital destruction?
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Thursday, March 2, 2023
The Heteronormative Sexism of Casual Nudity
In my last post, I talked about a type of culture in between nudism and gymnophobia, that is less neurotic about casual instances of nudity in everyday life, without adopting a "nude for the sake of being nude" approach. And the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that this is indeed a fantasy. Even in the movie that inspired my ruminations, the casual attitude towards nudity seems confined to specific circumstances and among certain company. This isn't so much different than the gymnophobic culture in which I live - casual nudity still occurs, you just rarely see it because it's hidden from general audiences. The appeal of the arthouse film is that the camera takes you where you don't often get to go.
Think about dressing rooms, bath houses, dormitories. Nonsexual, social nudity does occur among textiles sometimes, but it's almost always segregated by sex. Which actually reinforces the sexual connotation of nudity. In a heteronormative framework, two (or more) people of the same sex can see each other naked, only because there's no possibility of sexual attraction. But add somebody of the other sex, and suddenly the whole situation takes on a decidedly more sexual atmosphere. The nudity isn't truly "casual"; it still maintains an air of intimacy (often involving only friends or family).
Sometimes gay people are included in groups of the opposite sex for this reason ("he's gay, so it doesn't matter if he sees me naked"), but otherwise (and especially when closeted), they would seem to be in a unique position to take advantage of this arrangement. But none of this considers the true fluidity of human sexuality. My argument is simply that two people who are attracted to each other should be able to see each other naked and still conduct themselves appropriately (whatever that means in a given situation). Nudism proves that it can be done.
Why, then, are we so uptight? I believe this is an artifact of what is probably a religious-based morality - that even just seeing the other sex nude is a form of carnal knowledge ("whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart" - Matthew 5:28), forbidden except under tightly controlled circumstances (such as in the bedroom with your married spouse, only while in the process of procreating, and without excessive pleasure). But whether religion is the true culprit or not, you cannot deny the presence of this moralist strain of sex-negativity in our culture. People do not permit themselves erotic delight without grave consequence.
Often, there is an assumption of lack of self-control. Sight of a naked body will send a person into a sexual frenzy. Or is it more deliberate? Take the mythical "blue ball" effect, that unscrupulous men use to justify sexual coercion. What if it's not that they'll lose control, but that they don't want to experience sexual arousal without feeling entitled to an outlet? So, rather than risk turning somebody on, it's better to cover up. But that attitude disgusts me. It leads to burqas being imposed on women, and it's the antithesis of freedom and pleasure. It's not a bad thing to be exposed to subtle erotic triggers throughout the day, even if you can't have sex with every woman you encounter.
And that's what nudists trip over whenever I bring up the subject of sex-positivity. I appreciate the way nudists are trying to separate nudity from an inherently sexual context. But in life, I think a low level of eroticism is unavoidable in some circumstances. And that's fine. I don't see two extremes - sexually explicit and nonsexual. I see a third option in the middle. We should disengage the assumption of sexual intimacy from every instance of nudity, but without having to profess that there can be nothing erotic about it. And we should learn to embrace those erotic feelings for what they are, without needing to tie them to anything more complicated.
Think about dressing rooms, bath houses, dormitories. Nonsexual, social nudity does occur among textiles sometimes, but it's almost always segregated by sex. Which actually reinforces the sexual connotation of nudity. In a heteronormative framework, two (or more) people of the same sex can see each other naked, only because there's no possibility of sexual attraction. But add somebody of the other sex, and suddenly the whole situation takes on a decidedly more sexual atmosphere. The nudity isn't truly "casual"; it still maintains an air of intimacy (often involving only friends or family).
Sometimes gay people are included in groups of the opposite sex for this reason ("he's gay, so it doesn't matter if he sees me naked"), but otherwise (and especially when closeted), they would seem to be in a unique position to take advantage of this arrangement. But none of this considers the true fluidity of human sexuality. My argument is simply that two people who are attracted to each other should be able to see each other naked and still conduct themselves appropriately (whatever that means in a given situation). Nudism proves that it can be done.
Why, then, are we so uptight? I believe this is an artifact of what is probably a religious-based morality - that even just seeing the other sex nude is a form of carnal knowledge ("whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart" - Matthew 5:28), forbidden except under tightly controlled circumstances (such as in the bedroom with your married spouse, only while in the process of procreating, and without excessive pleasure). But whether religion is the true culprit or not, you cannot deny the presence of this moralist strain of sex-negativity in our culture. People do not permit themselves erotic delight without grave consequence.
Often, there is an assumption of lack of self-control. Sight of a naked body will send a person into a sexual frenzy. Or is it more deliberate? Take the mythical "blue ball" effect, that unscrupulous men use to justify sexual coercion. What if it's not that they'll lose control, but that they don't want to experience sexual arousal without feeling entitled to an outlet? So, rather than risk turning somebody on, it's better to cover up. But that attitude disgusts me. It leads to burqas being imposed on women, and it's the antithesis of freedom and pleasure. It's not a bad thing to be exposed to subtle erotic triggers throughout the day, even if you can't have sex with every woman you encounter.
And that's what nudists trip over whenever I bring up the subject of sex-positivity. I appreciate the way nudists are trying to separate nudity from an inherently sexual context. But in life, I think a low level of eroticism is unavoidable in some circumstances. And that's fine. I don't see two extremes - sexually explicit and nonsexual. I see a third option in the middle. We should disengage the assumption of sexual intimacy from every instance of nudity, but without having to profess that there can be nothing erotic about it. And we should learn to embrace those erotic feelings for what they are, without needing to tie them to anything more complicated.
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Between Nudism and Gymnophobia
I'm watching a European arthouse film from the '80s. I understand that it's a fantasy, that may or may not reflect the real world to any degree. And I know its approach to nudity is deliberately constructed - it's essentially the main draw of the film. But the casual attitude toward nudity in this fantasy world this film is positing intrigues me.
On one end of the spectrum, you have the sort of gymnophobic culture in which I was raised (and continue to live). In such a culture, exposure to nudity is considered a scandal that must be avoided at all costs - except within the narrow confines of a sexually intimate encounter.
Nudism lies at the opposite end of the spectrum - where the taboo on nudity is demolished, and people freely expose themselves without fanfare (or the assumption of a sexual context) before God and man, in the full light of day, among family and friends, strangers and acquaintances, children and the elderly alike.
In the middle, you have what is depicted in this arthouse film - a permissive but unobsessed culture. People do not go out of their way to embrace nudity, but nor do they rush to cover it up when it occurs naturally - as it will, when you don't have a complex about staying hidden.
Imagine, if you will, various scenarios. You undress for swimming. You roll out of bed in the morning. You've just finished bathing. You're changing your clothes. In a gymnophobic culture, you will swim in a suit, sleep in pajamas, wrap yourself up tightly in a towel, and shut the door before undressing.
Nudists posit an alternate world where everybody is naked pretty much all the time (to the extent that environmental conditions and safety precautions permit). Why so much nudity? It makes sense as a deliberate rejection of gymnophobic conditioning. The substitution of an unhealthy extreme for an equal obsession with its opposite.
What if we lived in the middle, between these two worlds? If seeing people naked was not necessarily a ubiquitous phenomenon, but not an uncommon one either? Where such an experience may still carry the thrill of delight, without being burdened by the weight of taboo?
Imagine a world where people swim, sleep, and bathe naked, and move seamlessly from those activities to others (and between different stages of dress), not overly concerned with the exposure of their bodies to others, but also without eschewing the social function of clothes entirely.
I think this is really what I lament the absence of in the culture I live in. I've no doubt I'd still choose nudity more often than usual for its comfort, as well as its aesthetic appeal. But I don't need to live in a "permanude" society in order to be happy.
It's being a nudist, and yet still having to cover up like a textile whenever there are other people around (in essence, preventing me from ever completely forgetting the neurotic conditioning that was drilled into me) that is so frustrating.
I don't mind being considered an eccentric. But it's the fear of being labeled a pariah - or worse yet, charged as a criminal. Of losing connection with people who appreciate your individuality - until it runs afoul of the nudity taboo.
I want to see other people naked, too. Not in a creepy, voyeuristic way. But because the human body is beautiful, and seeing one dressed minimally in public never fails to make my day. Seeing more of it would only bring that much more sunshine into my life.
And, in this world, the artistic appreciation of nudity - even in a slightly erotic, but not overtly or intimidatingly sexual way - would be so much easier to understand, when it's not being confused for something that is considered decidedly more sinister.
I imagine that's the culture in which arthouse films like this one arose. Unless that's a fabricated part of the fantasy, too. But be it reality or illusion, I long to live in that world, and envy those who have had the fortune to experience it.
On one end of the spectrum, you have the sort of gymnophobic culture in which I was raised (and continue to live). In such a culture, exposure to nudity is considered a scandal that must be avoided at all costs - except within the narrow confines of a sexually intimate encounter.
Nudism lies at the opposite end of the spectrum - where the taboo on nudity is demolished, and people freely expose themselves without fanfare (or the assumption of a sexual context) before God and man, in the full light of day, among family and friends, strangers and acquaintances, children and the elderly alike.
In the middle, you have what is depicted in this arthouse film - a permissive but unobsessed culture. People do not go out of their way to embrace nudity, but nor do they rush to cover it up when it occurs naturally - as it will, when you don't have a complex about staying hidden.
Imagine, if you will, various scenarios. You undress for swimming. You roll out of bed in the morning. You've just finished bathing. You're changing your clothes. In a gymnophobic culture, you will swim in a suit, sleep in pajamas, wrap yourself up tightly in a towel, and shut the door before undressing.
Nudists posit an alternate world where everybody is naked pretty much all the time (to the extent that environmental conditions and safety precautions permit). Why so much nudity? It makes sense as a deliberate rejection of gymnophobic conditioning. The substitution of an unhealthy extreme for an equal obsession with its opposite.
What if we lived in the middle, between these two worlds? If seeing people naked was not necessarily a ubiquitous phenomenon, but not an uncommon one either? Where such an experience may still carry the thrill of delight, without being burdened by the weight of taboo?
Imagine a world where people swim, sleep, and bathe naked, and move seamlessly from those activities to others (and between different stages of dress), not overly concerned with the exposure of their bodies to others, but also without eschewing the social function of clothes entirely.
I think this is really what I lament the absence of in the culture I live in. I've no doubt I'd still choose nudity more often than usual for its comfort, as well as its aesthetic appeal. But I don't need to live in a "permanude" society in order to be happy.
It's being a nudist, and yet still having to cover up like a textile whenever there are other people around (in essence, preventing me from ever completely forgetting the neurotic conditioning that was drilled into me) that is so frustrating.
I don't mind being considered an eccentric. But it's the fear of being labeled a pariah - or worse yet, charged as a criminal. Of losing connection with people who appreciate your individuality - until it runs afoul of the nudity taboo.
I want to see other people naked, too. Not in a creepy, voyeuristic way. But because the human body is beautiful, and seeing one dressed minimally in public never fails to make my day. Seeing more of it would only bring that much more sunshine into my life.
And, in this world, the artistic appreciation of nudity - even in a slightly erotic, but not overtly or intimidatingly sexual way - would be so much easier to understand, when it's not being confused for something that is considered decidedly more sinister.
I imagine that's the culture in which arthouse films like this one arose. Unless that's a fabricated part of the fantasy, too. But be it reality or illusion, I long to live in that world, and envy those who have had the fortune to experience it.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Opposing Government Regulation of Porn Use
Modern politics is like a creepy stalker. I don't want to have anything to do with it. I just wish it felt the same way about me.
Recent news has been targeting me on two separate fronts, as a gender-nonconforming individual who occasionally stars in sexually explicit media. All of these anti-trans bills going around are legitimately heartbreaking (almost as much as the relative silence they're being met with, outside of dedicated trans activist circles), but what I want to talk about today is these attempts at enacting stricter regulations on sexual expression.
But first, let me direct your attention to the fact that in both of these cases, the issue is disingenuously being framed as a measure designed to protect children (when the literal opposite is true), because that is absolutely the best way to silence opposition. It's clear to me that any bill or policy that mentions children should be held under the highest scrutiny.
"The political figure of the innocent and imperiled child just has a never-ending purchase on American politics ... [it] essentially shuts down debate because it immediately creates a binary in which anybody who disagrees with you is [a] perverted groomer." - Whitney Strub, associate professor of history at Rutgers University [source]
This time, the forces of chastity are pressuring the government to require you to transmit your ID online (opening yourself up to the risk of identity theft, and the possibility for discrimination and blackmail), just to watch porn. And they're disguising it as age verification, because who can argue with that? I've struggled in the past to explain why these sorts of restrictions are an egregious assault on our rights, but the way they're framed (as "protecting" children) makes it very hard to do, and that's what makes these bills so insidious.
Others are better at constructing effective arguments against the meat and potatoes of these bills (click the Guardian and FSC links above), but what gets to me is that the most specious argument (which most stances, for or against, tend to agree on) is also the hardest one to refute, on emotional grounds. It just kills me that, in what hails itself to be the land of free speech and civil protest, I can't find a way to say "the perceived harm of a person under the age of 18 being exposed to pornography is exaggerated, and most certainly does not justify an unconstitutional overreach into individual liberty and privacy" without feeling like I'm shooting myself in the foot, because nobody is going to take me seriously.
But I do believe that. And I'm not dangerously insane. I agree that it's reasonable to take precautions to prevent young children from being exposed to hardcore pornography - the industry already does that. On the other hand, discovering porn is practically a rite of passage for older kids who actively seek it out. Sexuality doesn't switch on at 18. Maybe we shouldn't encourage this, but it happens. And it doesn't destroy their lives. And though porn isn't the best education, it's not like we do a good job of educating them otherwise.
Whatever harm is caused by watching porn (and believe me, these harms are exaggerated by a sex-negative bias), I simply don't think it's reasonable to unquestionably go to such lengths as violating people's Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and privacy, all to prevent some teenager from consenting to something the law doesn't permit them to consent to. This is textbook nanny state politics. Why is the "party of small government" not opposing this?
I mean, it seems particularly ludicrous to me, because I look after kids, and I don't want them exposed to that kind of material at their age, but they're exposed to it anyway, outside of my control. And you know what? They're just fine. But I can't say "the kids are alright" without making it sound like I don't care about the kids - and I absolutely do! But even if I think it's too much too early (not that the standard approach of "too little too late" is any better), I still don't think it justifies Draconian measures of prevention, that are informed by and contribute to the deadly stigma of sex work. What makes it even more frustrating, is that I can't prevent these kids from voluntarily exposing themselves to this material (no matter what restrictions we enact, you cannot kill the human spirit), yet I'm not realistically given the option of introducing them to the healthful benefits of nonsexual nudism. It's backwards!
But make no mistake, this has nothing to do with kids watching porn. This is puritans who have a categorical opposition to pornography. When they talk about the negative impact on kids being exposed to pornography, they're talking about everybody. They just know that focusing on kids is the way they're gonna get average people to agree with them. This is how we swallow discriminatory stereotypes about pornography - which is a vast and varied medium.
In a truly free society, if somebody else doesn't like porn, they have no control over your choice to watch it. In our society, the government will be pressured by religious conservatives to do whatever it takes to discourage you from watching porn, and punish you if you go through with it anyway. And it works, because we will "happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty for the benefit of the most precious treasure of the people" - the innocent, defenseless child.
Recent news has been targeting me on two separate fronts, as a gender-nonconforming individual who occasionally stars in sexually explicit media. All of these anti-trans bills going around are legitimately heartbreaking (almost as much as the relative silence they're being met with, outside of dedicated trans activist circles), but what I want to talk about today is these attempts at enacting stricter regulations on sexual expression.
But first, let me direct your attention to the fact that in both of these cases, the issue is disingenuously being framed as a measure designed to protect children (when the literal opposite is true), because that is absolutely the best way to silence opposition. It's clear to me that any bill or policy that mentions children should be held under the highest scrutiny.
"The political figure of the innocent and imperiled child just has a never-ending purchase on American politics ... [it] essentially shuts down debate because it immediately creates a binary in which anybody who disagrees with you is [a] perverted groomer." - Whitney Strub, associate professor of history at Rutgers University [source]
This time, the forces of chastity are pressuring the government to require you to transmit your ID online (opening yourself up to the risk of identity theft, and the possibility for discrimination and blackmail), just to watch porn. And they're disguising it as age verification, because who can argue with that? I've struggled in the past to explain why these sorts of restrictions are an egregious assault on our rights, but the way they're framed (as "protecting" children) makes it very hard to do, and that's what makes these bills so insidious.
Others are better at constructing effective arguments against the meat and potatoes of these bills (click the Guardian and FSC links above), but what gets to me is that the most specious argument (which most stances, for or against, tend to agree on) is also the hardest one to refute, on emotional grounds. It just kills me that, in what hails itself to be the land of free speech and civil protest, I can't find a way to say "the perceived harm of a person under the age of 18 being exposed to pornography is exaggerated, and most certainly does not justify an unconstitutional overreach into individual liberty and privacy" without feeling like I'm shooting myself in the foot, because nobody is going to take me seriously.
But I do believe that. And I'm not dangerously insane. I agree that it's reasonable to take precautions to prevent young children from being exposed to hardcore pornography - the industry already does that. On the other hand, discovering porn is practically a rite of passage for older kids who actively seek it out. Sexuality doesn't switch on at 18. Maybe we shouldn't encourage this, but it happens. And it doesn't destroy their lives. And though porn isn't the best education, it's not like we do a good job of educating them otherwise.
Whatever harm is caused by watching porn (and believe me, these harms are exaggerated by a sex-negative bias), I simply don't think it's reasonable to unquestionably go to such lengths as violating people's Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and privacy, all to prevent some teenager from consenting to something the law doesn't permit them to consent to. This is textbook nanny state politics. Why is the "party of small government" not opposing this?
I mean, it seems particularly ludicrous to me, because I look after kids, and I don't want them exposed to that kind of material at their age, but they're exposed to it anyway, outside of my control. And you know what? They're just fine. But I can't say "the kids are alright" without making it sound like I don't care about the kids - and I absolutely do! But even if I think it's too much too early (not that the standard approach of "too little too late" is any better), I still don't think it justifies Draconian measures of prevention, that are informed by and contribute to the deadly stigma of sex work. What makes it even more frustrating, is that I can't prevent these kids from voluntarily exposing themselves to this material (no matter what restrictions we enact, you cannot kill the human spirit), yet I'm not realistically given the option of introducing them to the healthful benefits of nonsexual nudism. It's backwards!
But make no mistake, this has nothing to do with kids watching porn. This is puritans who have a categorical opposition to pornography. When they talk about the negative impact on kids being exposed to pornography, they're talking about everybody. They just know that focusing on kids is the way they're gonna get average people to agree with them. This is how we swallow discriminatory stereotypes about pornography - which is a vast and varied medium.
In a truly free society, if somebody else doesn't like porn, they have no control over your choice to watch it. In our society, the government will be pressured by religious conservatives to do whatever it takes to discourage you from watching porn, and punish you if you go through with it anyway. And it works, because we will "happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty for the benefit of the most precious treasure of the people" - the innocent, defenseless child.
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Is Social Media Conspiring Against Nudism?
There's been some talk about the recent suspension of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park's Twitter account, and it seems to be raising the same concerns I've seen again and again from nudists online - that there is a conspiracy among social media platforms to censor and discriminate against legitimate, nonsexualized depictions of nudism, even where explicit pornography (often described as "filth", which betrays the sex-negative prejudice of the people making this claim) is given a free pass. Allow me a moment to attempt to ferret out the kernel of truth that resides at the heart of this myth.
Unfortunately, it's not unusual for even legitimate nudist accounts on social media to face the threat of suspension from time to time. The fact is, no matter what nudists say about the innocent purity of nonsexualized nudity, this is not a mainstream view. So, posting about nudity (especially if it involves posting images of nudity) is always going to put you at risk. That's why this is a problem nudism has, that other interests like sports or cooking or gaming don't.
Now, every time this happens, people jump to conclusions. Everybody wants to believe they're being persecuted by an organized adversary with an oppressive agenda. It makes you feel important. And it provides an excuse for every setback you encounter. But whether it's the fashion industry, oil and gas companies who feel threatened by environmentalist reform, or the alleged billion dollar pornography empire - the truth is, nudism just isn't common enough or influential enough to be targeted in this way.
Twitter is somewhat unique in that, as a mainstream social media platform, it permits explicit pornography (for now). As such, it creates a rare environment that allows for the development of a belief that there is a conspiracy specifically aimed (for some reason) at non-sexualized depictions of nudity. What this view fails to acknowledge, however, is just how often pornography - moreso than simple nudity - is placed first and foremost in the line of fire, whenever freedom of expression is up for debate. That pornography thrives in spite of this is not evidence that a powerful force is suppressing nudism. It just means that porn is really popular. Humans may be able to survive just fine with or without clothing, but without a sex drive, humanity would go extinct in a single generation.
On more conservative platforms like Facebook and Instagram, nudists will point to the fact that innocent depictions of nudity often get censored while heavily sexualized images of scantily clad women are ignored. I agree that this is evidence of discrimination against nudity. But not against nudism. For that to be the case, these platforms would have to permit nude images as long as they are overtly sexualized, and these are platforms that absolutely do not allow explicit pornography. It's not a value judgment that's being made here, about the legitimacy of sexual expression versus the purity of the human body. It's simply a matter of logistics, in an increasingly machine-driven landscape of content filtering.
I've spent years on art sharing sites where you could post the most stunning artistic portrait of a sexual act, tastefully framed, but explicitly depicted, and have it deleted, while countless people's low effort snapshots of their nether regions go untouched by censors. They're not judging the quality or value of your art. They're just coldly enforcing the rules. It would be great if we could construct a filtering algorithm that allows for consideration of artistic intent and technical construction. But the simple fact is that this is impossible. These qualities are highly subjective, and hard to gauge. The best we can do is determine whether an image contains explicit nudity or sexuality, or not.
That those two things are often conflated is an unfortunate problem, but again - it's hard to judge whether a nude body is being "sexualized" or not. What's more, society has determined that nudity is more offensive than the mere suggestion of sexuality (however overt). You can take issue with that view (personally, I think they're both fine), but it's a society-wide issue, not the secret agenda of an elite cabal, or a personal morality coincidentally shared by a few competing CEOs.
So how does a legitimate nudist account end up getting suspended on a platform that permits explicit sexuality? The answer will vary on a case-by-case basis, and very few (if any) people have all the facts in a particular case. But if you think it's only nudist accounts that get censored, then you're not paying very much attention to how much trouble porn accounts have (and it's my experience that nudists give porn accounts very little attention beyond hitting the block button and gleefully contributing to their difficulties staying afloat). That there are still plenty of porn accounts out there at any given time, proves no more than the fact that with every suspension, there are still plenty of nudist accounts out there, too.
But what, specifically, can get a nudist account suspended? Sometimes mistakes are made - both by the account holder, and also the algorithm that flags it, as well as the staff that reviews those flags. Let's assume the account in question is above suspicion of behavioral infractions - harassment and the like. Bare Oaks is a highly respected naturist resort - and one that I would very much like to visit someday. I'm confident that they have conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost professionalism.
A common issue that can lead to suspension is improper filtering of sensitive content. Sometimes, nudists think that images of nudity shouldn't be filtered because they're not pornographic. This is a valid position to argue, but it doesn't align with the guidelines for any community I'm aware of outside of nudism, besides websites specifically designed for the sharing of explicit images. I applaud you if you want to make a stand for your beliefs, but you should be aware of the repercussions when the governing body disagrees with you. Alternatively, accounts sometimes post improperly filtered content by mistake, by not being aware that your banner image or profile picture can be viewed publicly.
I'm willing to give Bare Oaks the benefit of the doubt, because I believe they are seasoned enough to understand all these things. I had not been following Bare Oaks on Twitter, so I do not know what type of content they were posting, but Planet Nude's reassuringly sensible account of the incident provides a very plausible cause. According to the author, Bare Oaks had recently posted material promoting good old-fashioned family naturism (which is consistent with what I know of Bare Oaks). It's also plausible that Twitter would have flagged it in a misguided and overzealous attempt to stamp out child exploitation. Mystery solved.
Look, I get it. Growing up in a safe environment with casual exposure to nudity is healthy - not harmful - for children. There are arguments to be made about whether it is approriate to depict this aspect of nudism publicly. Personally, I believe that censoring family-oriented nudism does more harm than good. But I think we should address the relevant issue, instead of framing it in vague terms as ammunition against a phantom menace. Does this incident support the conclusion that social media is engaged in a conspiracy against nudism? Or is it just bad code influenced by a gymnophobic society that, among other things, remains unconvinced that nudist accounts should be allowed to post images of children?
It's unfortunate that social media platforms are often unable to parse sexually explicit media from nonsexual depictions of nudity. It's not impossible to do - there are websites that have already figured it out. However, these websites still do not generally permit nudity involving minors, no matter how innocent. It sucks that the human body, by itself, is considered pornographic by default, especially when heavily sexualized depictions of clothed people are not. Raising awareness of these problems is a noble effort. But waving your hands about invisible enemies is not the way to make progress. Nudists aren't being singled out. Their unconventional lifestyle is just placing them in the crosshairs of a broader societal issue - fear of the human body, and its relationship to sex. Taking it personally ("they're targeting nudists!") or taking it out on other media you don't like ("why aren't they targeting porn?") isn't going to help.
Unfortunately, it's not unusual for even legitimate nudist accounts on social media to face the threat of suspension from time to time. The fact is, no matter what nudists say about the innocent purity of nonsexualized nudity, this is not a mainstream view. So, posting about nudity (especially if it involves posting images of nudity) is always going to put you at risk. That's why this is a problem nudism has, that other interests like sports or cooking or gaming don't.
Now, every time this happens, people jump to conclusions. Everybody wants to believe they're being persecuted by an organized adversary with an oppressive agenda. It makes you feel important. And it provides an excuse for every setback you encounter. But whether it's the fashion industry, oil and gas companies who feel threatened by environmentalist reform, or the alleged billion dollar pornography empire - the truth is, nudism just isn't common enough or influential enough to be targeted in this way.
Twitter is somewhat unique in that, as a mainstream social media platform, it permits explicit pornography (for now). As such, it creates a rare environment that allows for the development of a belief that there is a conspiracy specifically aimed (for some reason) at non-sexualized depictions of nudity. What this view fails to acknowledge, however, is just how often pornography - moreso than simple nudity - is placed first and foremost in the line of fire, whenever freedom of expression is up for debate. That pornography thrives in spite of this is not evidence that a powerful force is suppressing nudism. It just means that porn is really popular. Humans may be able to survive just fine with or without clothing, but without a sex drive, humanity would go extinct in a single generation.
On more conservative platforms like Facebook and Instagram, nudists will point to the fact that innocent depictions of nudity often get censored while heavily sexualized images of scantily clad women are ignored. I agree that this is evidence of discrimination against nudity. But not against nudism. For that to be the case, these platforms would have to permit nude images as long as they are overtly sexualized, and these are platforms that absolutely do not allow explicit pornography. It's not a value judgment that's being made here, about the legitimacy of sexual expression versus the purity of the human body. It's simply a matter of logistics, in an increasingly machine-driven landscape of content filtering.
I've spent years on art sharing sites where you could post the most stunning artistic portrait of a sexual act, tastefully framed, but explicitly depicted, and have it deleted, while countless people's low effort snapshots of their nether regions go untouched by censors. They're not judging the quality or value of your art. They're just coldly enforcing the rules. It would be great if we could construct a filtering algorithm that allows for consideration of artistic intent and technical construction. But the simple fact is that this is impossible. These qualities are highly subjective, and hard to gauge. The best we can do is determine whether an image contains explicit nudity or sexuality, or not.
That those two things are often conflated is an unfortunate problem, but again - it's hard to judge whether a nude body is being "sexualized" or not. What's more, society has determined that nudity is more offensive than the mere suggestion of sexuality (however overt). You can take issue with that view (personally, I think they're both fine), but it's a society-wide issue, not the secret agenda of an elite cabal, or a personal morality coincidentally shared by a few competing CEOs.
So how does a legitimate nudist account end up getting suspended on a platform that permits explicit sexuality? The answer will vary on a case-by-case basis, and very few (if any) people have all the facts in a particular case. But if you think it's only nudist accounts that get censored, then you're not paying very much attention to how much trouble porn accounts have (and it's my experience that nudists give porn accounts very little attention beyond hitting the block button and gleefully contributing to their difficulties staying afloat). That there are still plenty of porn accounts out there at any given time, proves no more than the fact that with every suspension, there are still plenty of nudist accounts out there, too.
But what, specifically, can get a nudist account suspended? Sometimes mistakes are made - both by the account holder, and also the algorithm that flags it, as well as the staff that reviews those flags. Let's assume the account in question is above suspicion of behavioral infractions - harassment and the like. Bare Oaks is a highly respected naturist resort - and one that I would very much like to visit someday. I'm confident that they have conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost professionalism.
A common issue that can lead to suspension is improper filtering of sensitive content. Sometimes, nudists think that images of nudity shouldn't be filtered because they're not pornographic. This is a valid position to argue, but it doesn't align with the guidelines for any community I'm aware of outside of nudism, besides websites specifically designed for the sharing of explicit images. I applaud you if you want to make a stand for your beliefs, but you should be aware of the repercussions when the governing body disagrees with you. Alternatively, accounts sometimes post improperly filtered content by mistake, by not being aware that your banner image or profile picture can be viewed publicly.
I'm willing to give Bare Oaks the benefit of the doubt, because I believe they are seasoned enough to understand all these things. I had not been following Bare Oaks on Twitter, so I do not know what type of content they were posting, but Planet Nude's reassuringly sensible account of the incident provides a very plausible cause. According to the author, Bare Oaks had recently posted material promoting good old-fashioned family naturism (which is consistent with what I know of Bare Oaks). It's also plausible that Twitter would have flagged it in a misguided and overzealous attempt to stamp out child exploitation. Mystery solved.
Look, I get it. Growing up in a safe environment with casual exposure to nudity is healthy - not harmful - for children. There are arguments to be made about whether it is approriate to depict this aspect of nudism publicly. Personally, I believe that censoring family-oriented nudism does more harm than good. But I think we should address the relevant issue, instead of framing it in vague terms as ammunition against a phantom menace. Does this incident support the conclusion that social media is engaged in a conspiracy against nudism? Or is it just bad code influenced by a gymnophobic society that, among other things, remains unconvinced that nudist accounts should be allowed to post images of children?
It's unfortunate that social media platforms are often unable to parse sexually explicit media from nonsexual depictions of nudity. It's not impossible to do - there are websites that have already figured it out. However, these websites still do not generally permit nudity involving minors, no matter how innocent. It sucks that the human body, by itself, is considered pornographic by default, especially when heavily sexualized depictions of clothed people are not. Raising awareness of these problems is a noble effort. But waving your hands about invisible enemies is not the way to make progress. Nudists aren't being singled out. Their unconventional lifestyle is just placing them in the crosshairs of a broader societal issue - fear of the human body, and its relationship to sex. Taking it personally ("they're targeting nudists!") or taking it out on other media you don't like ("why aren't they targeting porn?") isn't going to help.
Friday, February 17, 2023
100 Nude Ideas (81-100)
This week I'm responding to Nude & Happy's 100 Nude Ideas ("to increase nude time and nudist friends") - illustrated with my own photography. Over 15 years of nudity, spread across five installments. It all starts here.
#81 Organize a naked board games event.
Again with the organizing. I'm at a disadvantage with this list, since half of its purpose is making new friends, and I'm an introvert. This is a good idea, though. Playing board games naked is lots of fun - yes, I've done it. I've played a whole HeroQuest campaign in the nude. It's too bad "build Legos naked" isn't on this list, because that's even more my speed.
#82 Write a book naked.
Writing a book is a huge undertaking, no matter what you're wearing while you do it. I write naked at my computer all the time. In fact, I'm doing it right now! But I can do even better than that, because I've also written an actual book. And not just any book - a book about nudism. And, like this blog post, it's illustrated with my nude photography. It's totally for real - you can buy it on Amazon!
#83 Sail naked.
I'm starting to think the author of this list lives near the coast. So many maritime activities! (What about surfing? I've always wanted to try surfing). I've never sailed before, but it looks like fun. I'd definitely give it a try if I had the opportunity. All the better if I can do it naked.
#84 Code naked.
I was always pretty good with languages in school. And whenever I had a chance to take a computer programming class, I jumped on it. And then proceeded to excel at it. In hindsight, it's something I should have planned to do more of in my life, but I was lured to my doom by the intriguing mysteries of the natural sciences. Still, I've spent a lot of time coding naked, whether for my website, or on the backend of the RPG I'm designing. As a teaser, I'll tell you that it features a character who is a nudist!
#85 Fix what requires to be fixed in your home, naked.
I do all household chores, repairs, etc. in the nude (why not?). Unless it involves the front of the house, because then all my neighbors and anybody walking or driving down the street would see me. Cleaning out the gutters is always a fun job, because you have to climb up on the ladder above the fence line.
#86 Be a nudist friendly couch surfing host.
Is this like the AirBnB idea, but with people just crashing on the couch? I'm sorry, but this sounds like a terrible idea. It's picking up hitchhikers, but in your home and not your car. I don't want strangers in my house. I don't even like it when people I know invade my space. And adding the nudity angle just seems like you're inviting trouble. I'll gladly pass on this one.
#87 Go and do your shopping naked.
Much as I would love to do this, I've never been to a nudist resort large enough to have a supermarket, and this isn't really something you can do in the textile world. I'll take every opportunity to get undressed in the fitting room while trying on clothes (even a brief moment of nudity in the middle of a day trapped in clothes brings me joy), but that's not quite the same. I've browsed stores on the boardwalk wearing nothing but a skimpy swim brief, but even that falls short. Just give me an opportunity, and I'll be there.
#88 Have a drink at the bar.
Unless we're talking about the bar at a nudist resort, this seems to be approaching exhibitionist territory again. Especially if you've seen some of the photo sets I've seen. In either case, I don't drink, so the bar's not really my environment. And while alcohol might be just the thing to get some people out of their clothes, I'm not sure that's the best company to be naked around. But, if you're an exhibitionist, there's definitely some appeal to the idea of a naked night out on the town. Come to think of it, I was technically part of a naked bar crawl at Burning Man (I have the souvenir mug to prove it). But I got bored of it quickly, and all I drank was lemonade.
#89 Play a game of snooker, naked.
A game of what? Oh, you mean billiards. Yeah, I've done that. My dad used to have a pool table in the basement, and that was always a fun concept for a photoshoot. I even played a few games naked over the years. Thinking back on it reminds me of the excitement of my parents being out of the house, and being bold enough to play a rowdy game like that without clothes (always with one eye on the garage door).
#90 Bungy jump naked.
Why don't we just throw "skydiving" in there as well, while we're at it? I would not say that I have an excessive fear of heights - but I do have a healthy one. Climbing is fun. Jumping from about 10 or 20 feet (presumably into water) can be thrilling. But experiencing the feeling of falling any farther than that (naked or otherwise) isn't exactly high on my list of priorities in life.
#91 Carry video calls naked.
I'm not good on the phone. I don't have the kind of personality where I can easily carry a conversation one-on-one. So, calls of any kind fall outside my comfort zone. Therefore, I don't engage in them very often. But I have been naked on a video call before. Both explicitly, and with careful placement of the camera (depending on who's on the other end). To be fair, getting a call can feel intrusive. With a video call, somebody's essentially inviting themself into your home. You expect me to dash for a coverup in the time it takes to answer the phone?
#92 Learn something new naked.
In all my years of living a lifestyle characterized by frequent nudity, I'm sure I must have learned something new while being naked. I've learned to play songs on my guitar without wearing clothes. I recently learned how to solve a Rubik's cube in under two minutes, and spent most of the time practicing undressed. I've enriched myself with independent education, browsing wikipedia naked on my computer. And I basically learned how to play volleyball by joining games at a nudist resort (trial by fire, you might say). The opportunities are endless! "Anything you can do, I can do naked. I can do anything naked with you."
#93 Launch a membership recruitment campaign for your club.
I have pretty much no hope of accomplishing this. First, I'd have to join a club. I could do that, but social networking is not my forté (have I mentioned that already?). Nor am I very good at salesmanship or self-advertising. It just feels so...manipulative. Still, I'd be happy to contribute to a campaign to highlight a club's strengths, using the skills I do have - which, moreso than recruitment, might involve writing or photography. I want to help grow the lifestyle. We all just have different aptitudes and abilities.
#94 Organize a beach cleaning event, naked.
Is this a popular activity? Because this isn't the first time I've heard of it. I think it sounds like a great idea. Not only does it give you an excuse to be naked at the beach, while helping out the environment and beautifying a recreation area, but it doubles as an opportunity to demonstrate that nudists have a positive and not a negative impact on the community. They're certainly less of a nuisance than people who get drunk, make lots of noise, damage property (spray painting natural landscapes with bigoted slurs), and leave their trash behind. Because I've encountered all of that. When I'm naked at the beach, I'm minding my own business and enjoying nature respectfully. Sign me up.
#95 Create a naked hikes subgroup inside the local hiking group.
This wouldn't be a bad idea - if I were in the habit of networking with other local hikers. Again, to be fair, half of the point of this list is to make new friends. But part of what I like about hiking is that it's a solitary activity. I don't know other hikers. I don't talk about hiking. I just go out and hike. But maybe that's why I feel like an oasis in a desert of textiles. I don't know if there even is a hiking group in my area. But I might just go and search around for one.
#96 Go to hot spring pools.
I've been waiting for this one to show up! I went to a clothing optional hot spring in Colorado once, and it was wonderful. They had a guesthouse with a well-tended garden, and multiple pools of differing temperatures, all against a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. I'd love to go back again, or visit a different one. I've seen regular pools advertised as being sourced from hot springs, but clothing optional is the way to go. It almost feels like an insult to have to wear any kind of clothing while enjoying these incredible natural resources.
#97 Get a nudist cap.
As in, a baseball cap? I don't really wear hats (I don't like the way they muss up my hair), so this idea is even less practical for me than the t-shirt one. As far as ways to advertise nudism on your person when you can't be naked, I guess there aren't a ton of options beyond what this list has covered. Conversation starters are useful, but a clever nudist can find ways to subtly inject a nudist-friendly philosophy into a wide range of topics. It's surprising, sometimes, how much textiles are infected by "modesty", and body-consciousness. Be the liberating force in somebody's life, and if you're lucky, they might come to the right conclusion all on their own.
#98 Stick a nudist bumper sticker.
I'm very excited to be able to say that I've done this! I put the Universal Naturist Symbol on the bumper of my car. As somebody who prefers the term nudism to naturism - despite wholeheartedly embracing the nature element in nude recreation - because it doesn't obscure the fact that this lifestyle is defined by "nud"-ity, I was initially concerned that the symbol was too vague (in lieu of, for example, depicting the human body) to represent nudism. However, I've come to appreciate it. Upon seeing it, nudists will, by and large, understand what it means. But there are times when you want to be incognito, too.
#99 Have a set of nudist mugs.
I don't drink tea or coffee, so I don't use mugs very often. I have one mug, and it's a Hershey's mug. I use it for hot cocoa. But it might be nice to have a set of mugs for guests, as yet another way to advertise (although it's beginning to feel like hitting them over the head, at this point in the list - but I guess that's the point) that you're a nudist. I'd love to have one of those heat-sensitive mugs, where the person's clothes disappear when the mug gets hot. That would be cool.
#100 Share the love of nudism.
I consider myself an activist and an ambassador for nude recreation, so I think I've got this covered. Part of the purpose of my photography and social media presence is to share my love of nudism (among other things). But I also try to be open and unreserved in conversations with family and friends. It can be a fine line to walk, and often times you have no choice but to cover up and pay lip service to the textile majority. But I've made a conscious decision to be honest and forthright about my beliefs and my activities as regards nudity, and not keep this part of my lifestyle a secret from anyone. Because it just feels better that way.
Reflections
And that's the end of the list. Whew! I've tallied up my score, and it comes out to about 57%. The only thing more surprising than how many of these things I've done is how many of them I still haven't done. But it's understandable, given that I'm a bit of a shut-in.
I'm pleased with the volume and the variety of pictures I've managed to come up with to illustrate this list (and I hope you enjoyed looking through them), but searching for them has reinforced my concern that I need a better method of organizing and cross-referencing them. Maybe if I could stop taking new pictures long enough to catch up on sharing them, then I'd have time to do that. Or maybe I'll just have to wait until I retire...
#81 Organize a naked board games event.
Again with the organizing. I'm at a disadvantage with this list, since half of its purpose is making new friends, and I'm an introvert. This is a good idea, though. Playing board games naked is lots of fun - yes, I've done it. I've played a whole HeroQuest campaign in the nude. It's too bad "build Legos naked" isn't on this list, because that's even more my speed.
#82 Write a book naked.
Writing a book is a huge undertaking, no matter what you're wearing while you do it. I write naked at my computer all the time. In fact, I'm doing it right now! But I can do even better than that, because I've also written an actual book. And not just any book - a book about nudism. And, like this blog post, it's illustrated with my nude photography. It's totally for real - you can buy it on Amazon!
#83 Sail naked.
I'm starting to think the author of this list lives near the coast. So many maritime activities! (What about surfing? I've always wanted to try surfing). I've never sailed before, but it looks like fun. I'd definitely give it a try if I had the opportunity. All the better if I can do it naked.
#84 Code naked.
I was always pretty good with languages in school. And whenever I had a chance to take a computer programming class, I jumped on it. And then proceeded to excel at it. In hindsight, it's something I should have planned to do more of in my life, but I was lured to my doom by the intriguing mysteries of the natural sciences. Still, I've spent a lot of time coding naked, whether for my website, or on the backend of the RPG I'm designing. As a teaser, I'll tell you that it features a character who is a nudist!
#85 Fix what requires to be fixed in your home, naked.
I do all household chores, repairs, etc. in the nude (why not?). Unless it involves the front of the house, because then all my neighbors and anybody walking or driving down the street would see me. Cleaning out the gutters is always a fun job, because you have to climb up on the ladder above the fence line.
#86 Be a nudist friendly couch surfing host.
Is this like the AirBnB idea, but with people just crashing on the couch? I'm sorry, but this sounds like a terrible idea. It's picking up hitchhikers, but in your home and not your car. I don't want strangers in my house. I don't even like it when people I know invade my space. And adding the nudity angle just seems like you're inviting trouble. I'll gladly pass on this one.
#87 Go and do your shopping naked.
Much as I would love to do this, I've never been to a nudist resort large enough to have a supermarket, and this isn't really something you can do in the textile world. I'll take every opportunity to get undressed in the fitting room while trying on clothes (even a brief moment of nudity in the middle of a day trapped in clothes brings me joy), but that's not quite the same. I've browsed stores on the boardwalk wearing nothing but a skimpy swim brief, but even that falls short. Just give me an opportunity, and I'll be there.
#88 Have a drink at the bar.
Unless we're talking about the bar at a nudist resort, this seems to be approaching exhibitionist territory again. Especially if you've seen some of the photo sets I've seen. In either case, I don't drink, so the bar's not really my environment. And while alcohol might be just the thing to get some people out of their clothes, I'm not sure that's the best company to be naked around. But, if you're an exhibitionist, there's definitely some appeal to the idea of a naked night out on the town. Come to think of it, I was technically part of a naked bar crawl at Burning Man (I have the souvenir mug to prove it). But I got bored of it quickly, and all I drank was lemonade.
#89 Play a game of snooker, naked.
A game of what? Oh, you mean billiards. Yeah, I've done that. My dad used to have a pool table in the basement, and that was always a fun concept for a photoshoot. I even played a few games naked over the years. Thinking back on it reminds me of the excitement of my parents being out of the house, and being bold enough to play a rowdy game like that without clothes (always with one eye on the garage door).
#90 Bungy jump naked.
Why don't we just throw "skydiving" in there as well, while we're at it? I would not say that I have an excessive fear of heights - but I do have a healthy one. Climbing is fun. Jumping from about 10 or 20 feet (presumably into water) can be thrilling. But experiencing the feeling of falling any farther than that (naked or otherwise) isn't exactly high on my list of priorities in life.
#91 Carry video calls naked.
I'm not good on the phone. I don't have the kind of personality where I can easily carry a conversation one-on-one. So, calls of any kind fall outside my comfort zone. Therefore, I don't engage in them very often. But I have been naked on a video call before. Both explicitly, and with careful placement of the camera (depending on who's on the other end). To be fair, getting a call can feel intrusive. With a video call, somebody's essentially inviting themself into your home. You expect me to dash for a coverup in the time it takes to answer the phone?
#92 Learn something new naked.
In all my years of living a lifestyle characterized by frequent nudity, I'm sure I must have learned something new while being naked. I've learned to play songs on my guitar without wearing clothes. I recently learned how to solve a Rubik's cube in under two minutes, and spent most of the time practicing undressed. I've enriched myself with independent education, browsing wikipedia naked on my computer. And I basically learned how to play volleyball by joining games at a nudist resort (trial by fire, you might say). The opportunities are endless! "Anything you can do, I can do naked. I can do anything naked with you."
#93 Launch a membership recruitment campaign for your club.
I have pretty much no hope of accomplishing this. First, I'd have to join a club. I could do that, but social networking is not my forté (have I mentioned that already?). Nor am I very good at salesmanship or self-advertising. It just feels so...manipulative. Still, I'd be happy to contribute to a campaign to highlight a club's strengths, using the skills I do have - which, moreso than recruitment, might involve writing or photography. I want to help grow the lifestyle. We all just have different aptitudes and abilities.
#94 Organize a beach cleaning event, naked.
Is this a popular activity? Because this isn't the first time I've heard of it. I think it sounds like a great idea. Not only does it give you an excuse to be naked at the beach, while helping out the environment and beautifying a recreation area, but it doubles as an opportunity to demonstrate that nudists have a positive and not a negative impact on the community. They're certainly less of a nuisance than people who get drunk, make lots of noise, damage property (spray painting natural landscapes with bigoted slurs), and leave their trash behind. Because I've encountered all of that. When I'm naked at the beach, I'm minding my own business and enjoying nature respectfully. Sign me up.
#95 Create a naked hikes subgroup inside the local hiking group.
This wouldn't be a bad idea - if I were in the habit of networking with other local hikers. Again, to be fair, half of the point of this list is to make new friends. But part of what I like about hiking is that it's a solitary activity. I don't know other hikers. I don't talk about hiking. I just go out and hike. But maybe that's why I feel like an oasis in a desert of textiles. I don't know if there even is a hiking group in my area. But I might just go and search around for one.
#96 Go to hot spring pools.
I've been waiting for this one to show up! I went to a clothing optional hot spring in Colorado once, and it was wonderful. They had a guesthouse with a well-tended garden, and multiple pools of differing temperatures, all against a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. I'd love to go back again, or visit a different one. I've seen regular pools advertised as being sourced from hot springs, but clothing optional is the way to go. It almost feels like an insult to have to wear any kind of clothing while enjoying these incredible natural resources.
#97 Get a nudist cap.
As in, a baseball cap? I don't really wear hats (I don't like the way they muss up my hair), so this idea is even less practical for me than the t-shirt one. As far as ways to advertise nudism on your person when you can't be naked, I guess there aren't a ton of options beyond what this list has covered. Conversation starters are useful, but a clever nudist can find ways to subtly inject a nudist-friendly philosophy into a wide range of topics. It's surprising, sometimes, how much textiles are infected by "modesty", and body-consciousness. Be the liberating force in somebody's life, and if you're lucky, they might come to the right conclusion all on their own.
#98 Stick a nudist bumper sticker.
I'm very excited to be able to say that I've done this! I put the Universal Naturist Symbol on the bumper of my car. As somebody who prefers the term nudism to naturism - despite wholeheartedly embracing the nature element in nude recreation - because it doesn't obscure the fact that this lifestyle is defined by "nud"-ity, I was initially concerned that the symbol was too vague (in lieu of, for example, depicting the human body) to represent nudism. However, I've come to appreciate it. Upon seeing it, nudists will, by and large, understand what it means. But there are times when you want to be incognito, too.
#99 Have a set of nudist mugs.
I don't drink tea or coffee, so I don't use mugs very often. I have one mug, and it's a Hershey's mug. I use it for hot cocoa. But it might be nice to have a set of mugs for guests, as yet another way to advertise (although it's beginning to feel like hitting them over the head, at this point in the list - but I guess that's the point) that you're a nudist. I'd love to have one of those heat-sensitive mugs, where the person's clothes disappear when the mug gets hot. That would be cool.
#100 Share the love of nudism.
I consider myself an activist and an ambassador for nude recreation, so I think I've got this covered. Part of the purpose of my photography and social media presence is to share my love of nudism (among other things). But I also try to be open and unreserved in conversations with family and friends. It can be a fine line to walk, and often times you have no choice but to cover up and pay lip service to the textile majority. But I've made a conscious decision to be honest and forthright about my beliefs and my activities as regards nudity, and not keep this part of my lifestyle a secret from anyone. Because it just feels better that way.
Reflections
And that's the end of the list. Whew! I've tallied up my score, and it comes out to about 57%. The only thing more surprising than how many of these things I've done is how many of them I still haven't done. But it's understandable, given that I'm a bit of a shut-in.
I'm pleased with the volume and the variety of pictures I've managed to come up with to illustrate this list (and I hope you enjoyed looking through them), but searching for them has reinforced my concern that I need a better method of organizing and cross-referencing them. Maybe if I could stop taking new pictures long enough to catch up on sharing them, then I'd have time to do that. Or maybe I'll just have to wait until I retire...
Thursday, February 16, 2023
100 Nude Ideas (61-80)
This week I'm responding to Nude & Happy's 100 Nude Ideas ("to increase nude time and nudist friends") - illustrated with my own photography. Over 15 years of nudity, spread across five installments. It all starts here.
#61 Prepare and have your breakfast naked.
I do this (almost) every single morning. Granted, I don't usually cook a big breakfast - I prefer to eat a bowl of cereal and wait until lunch. But when I get out of bed naked in the morning, unlike most people, my first impulse isn't to cover up. Unless, of course, we have guests staying in the house (who are almost certainly not going to be accustomed to casual nudity). In that case, I have little choice but to cover up. It seems a small thing, but I find it very frustrating when I'm compelled to alter my habits within my own home.
#62 Have a naked canoeing day.
I don't own a canoe, but I go out on my kayak frequently. And on a quiet day, I can put my swimsuit in my bag and spend hours on the water without ever getting it wet! I even have a favorite spot on the lake that I've unofficially designated as a nude beach. It's around the cove from the main swimming area, so it has privacy, and you can access it directly via a trail that runs up to the road. I just wish I knew some like-minded people to share it with.
#63 Get married naked!
I like this idea, but this is another one that doesn't really work that well when you think about it. Statistically speaking, most of the family and friends of any nudist are going to be textiles, so you're basically excluding them from an important milestone in your life that I'm sure they'd want to be a part of. A secondary service with your nudist friends, perhaps hosted by your favorite nudist resort, or a renewal of vows or something of that sort might be a better idea.
#64 Participate in a body painting event.
I have yet to try this. Other than a photoshoot I did a long time ago, where I was trying to portray the sin of wrath, I haven't experimented much with body paint. It'd be fun to do, but I have to wonder if the focus on my body, and the tactile stimulation from the paintbrush, wouldn't produce an unintended effect in a context where it wouldn't really be appropriate. But I'm probably worrying too much.
#65 Get an overall tan.
Unlike many nudists, I'm not obsessed with my tan. I like having pale skin. Of course, you can't spend time out in the sun and not pick up some color. And I agree that tan lines are generally unappealing. But it's impossible to live in a textile culture and never step outside wearing clothes. That's why you can't judge someone's dedication to nudism by their tan lines. I like to lay out fully nude in the sun from time to time. But it's more because I enjoy the feeling of warm sunshine on my body, than anything to do with micromanaging the tone of my skin.
#66 Play volleyball naked.
Before I started visiting nudist resorts, I had only played a few games of volleyball in my life - back in high school gym class. And I wasn't that good. But I gave it another try, and I discovered how much fun it can be. Especially playing on the sand, which reminds me of the beach. Nowadays, it's the volleyball more than anything else that draws me back to organized nudism, year after year. I even have a trophy sitting on my shelf, that my team won by placing first in our bracket during a nude volleyball tournament.
#67 Waterski in your birthday suit.
I can't even remember how long it's been since I've had an opportunity to go water skiing, naked or otherwise. I feel like there'd be a potential risk of injury to your delicate bits, but I guess it's not like swimsuits cover up much either. I'd be willing to give it a try - and I think the outrageousness of the activity (and the fact that you're not getting that close to anyone) would embolden me to do it even if there were other boaters around. I might want to have some practice first, so I don't make a total fool of myself. And renting a motor boat isn't exactly on my financial radar at this point in time.
#68 Binge watch Netflix.
Oh, you mean any random weeknight? This would be a great way to watch a show like Naked and Afraid. I can actually remember the first movie I sat down to watch naked in my bedroom, that first year I deliberately embraced nudism. It just so happened to be Pan's Labyrinth - which gives you a sense of how long ago that was. I'm surprised I've never heard of any nudist groups renting out a movie theater. It could be a fun promotion for any one of these indie nudist films that come out from time to time. Better yet, string a few of them together and you could have a mini-nudist film festival!
#69 Climb rocks with the bare minimum.
This is actually one of my favorite things to do when I'm naked outdoors. Not the kind of rock climbing that's dangerous and requires gear, but just scrambling over rock piles and shelves and boulders. I like climbing up to a higher vantage point, and I like the feeling of the rocks on my skin, especially when they've been warmed by the sun. I know some good places in the woods, at the lake, and up in the mountains, where you can find some great rocks that aren't too difficult to climb over. The hardest part, usually, is avoiding other hikers.
#70 Film your naked activities.
Again, this is basically my job. And it's something I've gotten into the habit of doing more and more of, now that the phones in all of our pockets come with some pretty decent camera tech. A few years after my original Daily Nudes photography project, I challenged myself to shoot one short nude video a day for a whole year. These days, I like to shoot what I call nudist documentaries - just short videos of me engaging in various activities (including a lot of hiking, swimming and boating) while nude. There's a lot of suspicion among nudists about who enjoys this kind of media and why, but I don't question it. I'm happy to share, and even happier if people like what I'm sharing. After all, being attracted to the human body is natural, too.
#71 Have a nudist tote bag.
Tote bags aren't really an important fixture in my life, but I guess this is a safe way to advertise nudism (and your support of/participation in it) without, you know, exposing yourself to strangers. Plus, it's something you could get some use out of (moreso than a t-shirt) at the nudist beach or camp, too! I already have a Victoria's Secret bag I like to carry my stuff in when I go to the beach. It's also a conversation starter - but for a rather different sort of conversation.
#72 Taking care of yourself (pampering).
I was expecting this list to include getting a massage, but I guess that would count under this item, vague as it is. In a sense, I pamper myself every day during my shower routine. Getting cleansed and refreshed under the running hot water revitalizes me. Any other grooming tasks that need to be done (shaving, trimming, brushing, drying, painting, rubbing, etc.) will naturally be done nude. I think it would be fun to have the full spa experience, in an environment where nudity is encouraged.
#73 Visit a museum.
This is something I wanted to do for a long time, until I finally got the opportunity. It was more of an art gallery than a museum, but very similar. And it was with an organized group of nudists. The staff and tour guides remained dressed, but were quite friendly and accommodating. It was a blast!
#74 Move to a clothing optional gated community.
Hey, I'm not old enough to retire - yet! I feel like this dovetails well with "buy a house or a caravan in a nudist resort", so I'm not going to repeat myself. I do wonder about the logistics of this situation as regards visitation by non-nudist members of your family. I think having a "vacation home" in a clothing optional community would be a better bet.
#75 Make your home a nudist haven.
Oh it is. It is. I'm not entirely sure what this involves regarding the indoors (other than calculated use of curtains/blinds, or even one-way window film - both of which I've utilized), but I've put a lot of work into making my backyard (relatively) safe for nudism. The promise of being able to recreate nude outdoors was one of the deciding factors for choosing to live where I live. The yard already has a six foot fence, several trees, and a vacant property or two adjacent. I've just spruced it up with some extra plants, heavier siding, and a strategically-placed trellis or two. I'm surprised the nudist community hasn't capitalized on the need for home and yard privacy solutions by starting a nudist-friendly business. If I were an entrepreneur...
#76 Form a naked music band.
I play guitar. Where do I audition? One question that gets asked of nudists is what to do if you're at a nudist resort, and you run into someone you know (the answer is say hello). Well, that happened to me once - and it was a fellow guitarist that I knew from my days of performing at coffee house open stages! We didn't form a band (our styles are a bit different), but it was a nice surprise. I'd like to play guitar nude in front of an audience someday. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for an open stage on the calendar of events for my nearest nudist resort.
#77 Read a good book naked.
I've read lots of books naked. I'm sure at least a few of them were good ones. The one I'm reading in this picture is titled Best Friends With A Naked Girl, by A.D. Rowen. As an exhibitionist, I enjoyed it very much. If you prefer non-fiction, I just recently read a book about sex-positivity titled Perv: The Sexual Deviant In All Of Us, by Jesse Bering. I recommend it.
#78 Participate in a naked TV show.
I love this idea! But again, where do I audition? I enjoy watching Naked and Afraid; I only regret that it doesn't demonstrate that you can enjoy being naked in nature under gentler conditions, without it being an extreme contest for survival. I once posited a hypothetical alternative show called Nude and Confident, which would document nudists' struggles to get by in a textile culture. Imagine meeting and learning about the individual circumstances of a different nudist (or nudist couple or family) in each episode. I'd watch that show.
#79 Wear nudist T-shirts often.
I don't have nearly enough nudist-branded clothing in my wardrobe to do this. I have a couple shirts that I've worn, but good pieces are hard to find. In lieu of being a walking billboard, I prefer to let my actions do the talking. My fashion sense is very body-positive. You might say it's not really the same thing, but I love to wear clothes that bare a lot of skin. That takes at least as much confidence as covering up in a shirt emblazoned with the words "nudist inside".
#80 Take a bath/shower and stay naked.
I don't just do this every day, I actually refuse to get dressed after bathing until I'm thoroughly dry (and with the length of my hair, that takes some time). Even if that means holing up in my bedroom, or walking around the house in a towel. I wish this were a more common and accepted practice in our culture. I've known people who'll get dressed as soon as they step out of the tub. Who wants to put clothes on damp skin? But I guess if more people felt that way, we would have abolished swimsuits by now.
(To be continued...)
#61 Prepare and have your breakfast naked.
I do this (almost) every single morning. Granted, I don't usually cook a big breakfast - I prefer to eat a bowl of cereal and wait until lunch. But when I get out of bed naked in the morning, unlike most people, my first impulse isn't to cover up. Unless, of course, we have guests staying in the house (who are almost certainly not going to be accustomed to casual nudity). In that case, I have little choice but to cover up. It seems a small thing, but I find it very frustrating when I'm compelled to alter my habits within my own home.
#62 Have a naked canoeing day.
I don't own a canoe, but I go out on my kayak frequently. And on a quiet day, I can put my swimsuit in my bag and spend hours on the water without ever getting it wet! I even have a favorite spot on the lake that I've unofficially designated as a nude beach. It's around the cove from the main swimming area, so it has privacy, and you can access it directly via a trail that runs up to the road. I just wish I knew some like-minded people to share it with.
#63 Get married naked!
I like this idea, but this is another one that doesn't really work that well when you think about it. Statistically speaking, most of the family and friends of any nudist are going to be textiles, so you're basically excluding them from an important milestone in your life that I'm sure they'd want to be a part of. A secondary service with your nudist friends, perhaps hosted by your favorite nudist resort, or a renewal of vows or something of that sort might be a better idea.
#64 Participate in a body painting event.
I have yet to try this. Other than a photoshoot I did a long time ago, where I was trying to portray the sin of wrath, I haven't experimented much with body paint. It'd be fun to do, but I have to wonder if the focus on my body, and the tactile stimulation from the paintbrush, wouldn't produce an unintended effect in a context where it wouldn't really be appropriate. But I'm probably worrying too much.
#65 Get an overall tan.
Unlike many nudists, I'm not obsessed with my tan. I like having pale skin. Of course, you can't spend time out in the sun and not pick up some color. And I agree that tan lines are generally unappealing. But it's impossible to live in a textile culture and never step outside wearing clothes. That's why you can't judge someone's dedication to nudism by their tan lines. I like to lay out fully nude in the sun from time to time. But it's more because I enjoy the feeling of warm sunshine on my body, than anything to do with micromanaging the tone of my skin.
#66 Play volleyball naked.
Before I started visiting nudist resorts, I had only played a few games of volleyball in my life - back in high school gym class. And I wasn't that good. But I gave it another try, and I discovered how much fun it can be. Especially playing on the sand, which reminds me of the beach. Nowadays, it's the volleyball more than anything else that draws me back to organized nudism, year after year. I even have a trophy sitting on my shelf, that my team won by placing first in our bracket during a nude volleyball tournament.
#67 Waterski in your birthday suit.
I can't even remember how long it's been since I've had an opportunity to go water skiing, naked or otherwise. I feel like there'd be a potential risk of injury to your delicate bits, but I guess it's not like swimsuits cover up much either. I'd be willing to give it a try - and I think the outrageousness of the activity (and the fact that you're not getting that close to anyone) would embolden me to do it even if there were other boaters around. I might want to have some practice first, so I don't make a total fool of myself. And renting a motor boat isn't exactly on my financial radar at this point in time.
#68 Binge watch Netflix.
Oh, you mean any random weeknight? This would be a great way to watch a show like Naked and Afraid. I can actually remember the first movie I sat down to watch naked in my bedroom, that first year I deliberately embraced nudism. It just so happened to be Pan's Labyrinth - which gives you a sense of how long ago that was. I'm surprised I've never heard of any nudist groups renting out a movie theater. It could be a fun promotion for any one of these indie nudist films that come out from time to time. Better yet, string a few of them together and you could have a mini-nudist film festival!
#69 Climb rocks with the bare minimum.
This is actually one of my favorite things to do when I'm naked outdoors. Not the kind of rock climbing that's dangerous and requires gear, but just scrambling over rock piles and shelves and boulders. I like climbing up to a higher vantage point, and I like the feeling of the rocks on my skin, especially when they've been warmed by the sun. I know some good places in the woods, at the lake, and up in the mountains, where you can find some great rocks that aren't too difficult to climb over. The hardest part, usually, is avoiding other hikers.
#70 Film your naked activities.
Again, this is basically my job. And it's something I've gotten into the habit of doing more and more of, now that the phones in all of our pockets come with some pretty decent camera tech. A few years after my original Daily Nudes photography project, I challenged myself to shoot one short nude video a day for a whole year. These days, I like to shoot what I call nudist documentaries - just short videos of me engaging in various activities (including a lot of hiking, swimming and boating) while nude. There's a lot of suspicion among nudists about who enjoys this kind of media and why, but I don't question it. I'm happy to share, and even happier if people like what I'm sharing. After all, being attracted to the human body is natural, too.
#71 Have a nudist tote bag.
Tote bags aren't really an important fixture in my life, but I guess this is a safe way to advertise nudism (and your support of/participation in it) without, you know, exposing yourself to strangers. Plus, it's something you could get some use out of (moreso than a t-shirt) at the nudist beach or camp, too! I already have a Victoria's Secret bag I like to carry my stuff in when I go to the beach. It's also a conversation starter - but for a rather different sort of conversation.
#72 Taking care of yourself (pampering).
I was expecting this list to include getting a massage, but I guess that would count under this item, vague as it is. In a sense, I pamper myself every day during my shower routine. Getting cleansed and refreshed under the running hot water revitalizes me. Any other grooming tasks that need to be done (shaving, trimming, brushing, drying, painting, rubbing, etc.) will naturally be done nude. I think it would be fun to have the full spa experience, in an environment where nudity is encouraged.
#73 Visit a museum.
This is something I wanted to do for a long time, until I finally got the opportunity. It was more of an art gallery than a museum, but very similar. And it was with an organized group of nudists. The staff and tour guides remained dressed, but were quite friendly and accommodating. It was a blast!
#74 Move to a clothing optional gated community.
Hey, I'm not old enough to retire - yet! I feel like this dovetails well with "buy a house or a caravan in a nudist resort", so I'm not going to repeat myself. I do wonder about the logistics of this situation as regards visitation by non-nudist members of your family. I think having a "vacation home" in a clothing optional community would be a better bet.
#75 Make your home a nudist haven.
Oh it is. It is. I'm not entirely sure what this involves regarding the indoors (other than calculated use of curtains/blinds, or even one-way window film - both of which I've utilized), but I've put a lot of work into making my backyard (relatively) safe for nudism. The promise of being able to recreate nude outdoors was one of the deciding factors for choosing to live where I live. The yard already has a six foot fence, several trees, and a vacant property or two adjacent. I've just spruced it up with some extra plants, heavier siding, and a strategically-placed trellis or two. I'm surprised the nudist community hasn't capitalized on the need for home and yard privacy solutions by starting a nudist-friendly business. If I were an entrepreneur...
#76 Form a naked music band.
I play guitar. Where do I audition? One question that gets asked of nudists is what to do if you're at a nudist resort, and you run into someone you know (the answer is say hello). Well, that happened to me once - and it was a fellow guitarist that I knew from my days of performing at coffee house open stages! We didn't form a band (our styles are a bit different), but it was a nice surprise. I'd like to play guitar nude in front of an audience someday. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for an open stage on the calendar of events for my nearest nudist resort.
#77 Read a good book naked.
I've read lots of books naked. I'm sure at least a few of them were good ones. The one I'm reading in this picture is titled Best Friends With A Naked Girl, by A.D. Rowen. As an exhibitionist, I enjoyed it very much. If you prefer non-fiction, I just recently read a book about sex-positivity titled Perv: The Sexual Deviant In All Of Us, by Jesse Bering. I recommend it.
#78 Participate in a naked TV show.
I love this idea! But again, where do I audition? I enjoy watching Naked and Afraid; I only regret that it doesn't demonstrate that you can enjoy being naked in nature under gentler conditions, without it being an extreme contest for survival. I once posited a hypothetical alternative show called Nude and Confident, which would document nudists' struggles to get by in a textile culture. Imagine meeting and learning about the individual circumstances of a different nudist (or nudist couple or family) in each episode. I'd watch that show.
#79 Wear nudist T-shirts often.
I don't have nearly enough nudist-branded clothing in my wardrobe to do this. I have a couple shirts that I've worn, but good pieces are hard to find. In lieu of being a walking billboard, I prefer to let my actions do the talking. My fashion sense is very body-positive. You might say it's not really the same thing, but I love to wear clothes that bare a lot of skin. That takes at least as much confidence as covering up in a shirt emblazoned with the words "nudist inside".
#80 Take a bath/shower and stay naked.
I don't just do this every day, I actually refuse to get dressed after bathing until I'm thoroughly dry (and with the length of my hair, that takes some time). Even if that means holing up in my bedroom, or walking around the house in a towel. I wish this were a more common and accepted practice in our culture. I've known people who'll get dressed as soon as they step out of the tub. Who wants to put clothes on damp skin? But I guess if more people felt that way, we would have abolished swimsuits by now.
(To be continued...)
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