Many nudist/naturist websites have a team of moderators to ensure the content complies with the site rules. Naturally, the Naktiv site has it’s own rules too.
When somebody posts something which is “non-compliant”, there can be cries of “off with his head!” (it’s usually a guy posting something inappropriate), or “that must be deleted!”. These yells come from the moderators, and also from the site users too. The problem with removing the user account, is that you have now lost the opportunity to educate that user, other people, the public, about nudity. There is always the “final solution” to delete the user account, of course, but unless the person is being especially obnoxious, or divisive, or constantly posting sexual material (for instance), then I think the more positive approach is to point out what is inappropriate and permit the user the opportunity to adapt their behaviour.
Faceache is renowned for it’s puritan attitudes, whereby FB finds it acceptable to post decapitation videos, but constantly censors nudity because it can’t differentiate between nudity and sex. According to FB. moderators the one is essentially a synonym for the other. Naktiv is different.
The Naktiv site Mission Statement makes it clear that the site is here to promote naked activities, to encourage people to not be ashamed of their nudity, or anyone else’s, to educate society about the naked human body. We can’t educate people by hitting them over the head. There is a story about a boy being taught Latin at school. Every time he got the grammar wrong he’d be wrapped over the knuckles with a switch stick by the teacher. The association of the punishment with the subject was NOT a positive reinforcement! That boy did NOT like Latin.
If we want to promote healthy attitudes toward nudity amongst people who have never had a positive naked experience, we need to EDUCATE them as to what is an appropriate attitude. This takes patient care, demonstration by example, and more patience. This is why wielding a big stick, or running away from the problem, are not real solutions. Sometimes we will get this wrong, we’re all human, if no-one tells us, how would we know? Hopefully, when we get it wrong, someone will point this out to us, such that we can adjust our behaviour, what we post and the comments we make, and learn to contribute in a positive fashion in the future.
Education, by example and by positive reinforcement, is the way to promote a naked lifestyle, and to encourage people to COME OUT NAKED.
The Naktiv site Mission Statement makes it clear that the site is here to promote naked activities, to encourage people to not be ashamed of their nudity, or anyone else’s, to educate society about the naked human body. We can’t educate people by hitting them over the head. There is a story about a boy being taught Latin at school. Every time he got the grammar wrong he’d be wrapped over the knuckles with a switch stick by the teacher. The association of the punishment with the subject was NOT a positive reinforcement! That boy did NOT like Latin.
This is why I like the clothing optional approach, once people curious about our lifestyle see what its like to mix with nudists/naturists they find it easier to "join in" and disrobe. If some of these potential nudist/naturists found themselves forced to undress before entry many of them would walk away and never return.
Any all or nothing solution is a bad solution. All black/white, all good/bad, all rich/poor, all Christian/Muslim/etc., all fat/thin, all this/that, all naked/clothed. It's ALL so unnecessarily fanatical.
Awesome post Richard. Well said.
It's really important we get our head around the idea of educating people as to what is appropriate. Photos like Maurice (naked) and his daughter (clothed) do so much to show that being naked does NOT mean everyone else has to be naked at the same time. It's exactly the same for any clothed environment – there is NO requirement for everyone to dress the same. Kudos to Maurice and co. This is educational.
http://www.naktiv.net/photo/7914/selfie-safe/userid_321/