I feel compelled to write this blog because MarcNude’s three stages of nudity (http://www.naktiv.net/blog/789/the-3-states-of-nudity-on-becoming-a-nudist/) provides a great insight for some, but definitely not for those like myself who perhaps don't even think of themselves as a nudist. This is so much the case, I don’t feel as though I can be categorised, nor do I actually want to be. There is a very fundamental reason for this, that has an essential principal in my view.
From the very outset, from as young as I can remember, I simply liked to be naked. There are photos of me from one year onwards, naked in the yard, splashing in the pool. This doesn’t even begin to account for the amount of time I actually spent naked exploring the nearby bushland right throughout my childhood.
I had no concept of nudism. Even as a teenager, hanging out with a close school friend whose family had open views on nudity, the concept of nudism never crossed my mind. We frequently went skinny dipping, played games in the house naked on wet days, and again, hiked naked as often as we could.
For all sorts of reasons there was a long period from my late teens to late twenties that nakedness didn’t feature in my life at all. That changed when I began living on my own next to the beach. I did walk and sunbath naked as much as possible. I instinctively walked around the house bare if it wasn’t too cold to do so. The idea that I might be a nudist still never entered my mind. The only reason I was ever naked, was because it suited me to be so. When it didn’t, I wasn’t.
It wasn’t until I came to Australia and after marriage, kids and a far too stressful work life decided to pursue a healthier lifestyle. This part of the story I’ve told before. Having taken up hiking more actively, being alone in the bush reminded me of all the time I spent naked in the bush as a kid. It was this that prompted me to actually consciously be naked as an adult. This is perhaps the very first time in my life that I thought to myself, “perhaps I am a nudist.”
I was hesitant to visit the local nudist area due to it’s tarnished reputation, but had few qualms about hiking naked on tracks I knew well, and visiting a clothing optional resort I knew of. Eventually I tried out the local nudist area, and that truly is a mixed bag. It does in many regards deserve it’s negative reputation, but that said, you can simply mind your own business and enjoy the river there. It isn’t an ideal environment though.
Having spent some four years now consciously being naked when I can, I can categorically say I’m not a nudist, nor do I want to be. For me, simply being naked by choice does not a nudist make. I strongly believe in people’s right to be naked without persecution or prosecution, but not because I believe in nudism, but because this should be a basic human right. The only qualification for being naked in my view is simply being a native species of the planet earth.
To this end I don’t want to be a nudist. Nor do I want to be delegated to cordoned off areas to be naked. I should be able to enjoy the wildness as I please. Nakedness in my view shouldn’t be some special thing you make an effort at. This is the fundamental issue I have with nudism. By definition "it’s a thing.” It’s also being a something, and I am when all said and done just me.
It’s because of this I sometimes get frustrated by those that come up with “10 reasons you should be naked.” There is in fact only one reason you should ever be naked, and that’s because it’s the way every other species on the planet exists. It’s only our insane hang up with ourselves, our basic make up and nature that all this artificial pretence has come about.
I don’t want my kids to be nudists. I want them to know and understand if they feel like being naked, being naked is okay. I don’t want them to be non-sexual. There is in fact absolutely nothing wrong with sex. It’s fun, enjoyable and obviously pleasurable. Why be ashamed or abashed about that? The only reason people are, is again because of this often religiously based insanity that prevails throughout the world. I have no problem with people believing what they do. I have a massive problem with the cultural genocide religion is responsible for. The messed up confused values people don’t even understand.
I feel that for myself, and other’s like me, there is only one stage. You’re born, you’re naked, and there’s little more to it than that. Hopefully one day, other people will come to realise this. John Lennon certainly hit the nail on the head with his iconic anthem.
“
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You, you may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one
"
Thanks Shane for this great post. I totally agree with you and all that you said. I believe in respect and balance, two values that are more and more absent from our world. From nakedness perspective, I believe too that society and religion brainwash people and make them ashamed of who they really are to be better able to manipulate them. We need to fight for our basic rights, while at the same time educate for better thinking. Our 2 posts are not opposed but complete each other, and I am glad to have started what I consider a healthy discussion. In the meantime, let's all stay naked of course.
Agreed Marc. There is absolutely a place for nudists, naturists, exclusive nude resorts etc. I totally get why these things appeal to many and there's nothing what so ever wrong with that.
I think where people tend to fall into a trap is when they feel there is one approach and one approach only.
That's what got me about your blog. I thought it was really good and positive, but couldn't myself align with it, but not because I didn't agree with it 🙂
Love this Shane. It expands our horizon!
I totally agree, it's not a new argument but it's compelling in its obviousness. Stephen Gough is in jail because he believes that we are talking about basic human rights when we talk about living with no coverings.
Nothing wrong with labels.
I rather label myself first, before I get mislabeled.
Agreed as long as others mean the same by the label as oneself. Trouble is this is often not the case.
I strongly agree Shane.
All words are only labels, which encompass a mass of shared meanings. 'Nudist' for me means people getting together to deliberately be naked in a special situation/location such as a nudist resort. Alternatively they might be a home nudist, defining themselves by their absence of clothing in a place where the majority would be clothed.
Like Shane I am reluctant to label myself although by my definition naturist is far nearer than nudist to what I am about as I see serious problems in all sorts of dimensions besides clothing or the lack of brought about by our divorce from nature and our origins as a species.
We're probably on a very similar wavelength Richard. I totally agree with your last statement and that is often my strongest argument for nakedness. When you observe where modern society has been heading as a whole, it's deeply disturbing.
I think however there are encouraging signs. People are realising they've been duped by marketing and are killing themselves and the planet with overconsumption. Hopefully there comes a time when they also realise they've been lied to where body shame is concerned. All it will take is a generation like that of the 50's and 60's who realise the values and aspirations of previous generations weren't entirely correct.
I suspect that is how change will come about. Suddenly and dramatically with total disregard for what is deemed acceptable. The conditions just need to be right.
I completely agree Shane. The time ought to come very soon when we can simply be naked whenever & where ever we choose. The silliest comments I hear are that naked people are a sexual threat to others. How completely ridiculous that idea is, if any daughter of mine was being attacked by a naked male I know she would certainly know what to do to retaliate and she would have a 'clearer' target!
The naked people who could/should be free to socialise anytime anywhere would pose no threat to anyone at all. If any person were to feel open to abuse it would be the naked person probably.
But this whole topic of 'threats' & 'sexual abuse' are all smoke screen topics for those who choose to deny us of our natural status, nakedness !
I'm not sure concerns centre so much around sexual assault as they do around sexual misconduct and innuendo.
If you look at a cross section of images submitted to the Naktiv site there are a fair few that are far less about being active and way more about showing off one's attributes. There are definitely times when the place has this subtle "big boy", "gay vibe" about it.
I think this is what concerns most people. What I've found is that at nude beaches in particular there is this weird kind of male vibe. It varies anywhere from guys openly masturbating, to middle aged and older guys just wandering aimlessly, checking each other out. It's basically creepy if all you want to do is enjoy the outdoors and sunshine.
It's this kind of behaviour people fear. This certainly was one of the factors that saw laws against urban nudity in San Fransisco.
If guys do want to participate in this kind of conduct they need to find their own place for it. Not sully naked advocacy, sites and public places with their insidious agenda.
I can affirm that lewd sexual conduct was a part of the anti-nudity ban but not how you would expect.
The Police Commissioner testified at the hearing in person. The police wanted the ban because of the number of people who called over and over about simple nudity. Instead of informing the complainant that simple nudity was NOT illegal they would send a car. If some one was arrested the court would throw out the case.
They were frustrated and wanted the change. He used the excuse that the police were incapable of distinguishing between a simply nude man and a man who was acting in a lewd manner, playing with himself.
I was there and heard him with my own ears. Nudity is illegal because the police are incompetent.
A minority group of anti-nudist businessmen also sent a letter claiming to represent the much larger group of which they were members.
A few lewd individuals were active and known to many of the nudists who would approach them if they met. They were not the main complaint.
On the other hand, the man leading a large nudist contingent is also in favor of public masturbation which is a gay agenda.
I concur with this sentiment as well. I dislike the labels 'nudist' and 'naturist' simply because they are labels. Naked is what we all are, it is our natural state of being. Clothes and covering ourselves are the artifice that produces label, not the other way around. The blog that you refer to initial premise is flawed it that it present a choice of three states of nudism, when they are all the same thing. Each state is not that, but merely another label to divide and set us apart from each other, when we are all the same.