This week’s cartoon is one for a sunny summer Friday …
Something for the Weekend …
Category Archives: nudism
The Pornography of David Cameron
So David Cameron is intent on restricting internet access to anything which he deems might in someone’s eyes be pornographic.
This is so prattish and dangerous it makes me angry on just so many levels.
Just who does DC think he is to tell other people what to think, say and look at? How dare he impose his (apparent) morality on anyone else? Imposing one’s morality on someone else is frankly … well … immoral!
This is government censorship. Given that freedom of speech and belief is enshrined in international law, that probably means the UK would be in violation of international law.
A freedom which exists only when it is in accord with your views, is no freedom at all.
These two images are perfectly legal, and must remain perfectly legal. If you don’t want to see them, don’t look. If you don’t want your kids to see them, take responsibility yourself for looking out for what your kids view.
The proposals are impractical and pretty much unenforceable. Any law which is unenforceable is (a) bad law and (b) a waste of time. It is impractical because of the complexity of the internet and the fact that everyone is not dependent on just one service provider but many.
What is even more worrying is that there is absolutely no evidence to back up the necessity for this. On the lack of evidence see, for example, here, here, here and here.
It’s about time that we let people make up their own minds and take responsibility for their own actions — ie. develop their own sense of morals and responsibility. We’re becoming a nation of the molly-coddled; people who have to have everything done for them; who are unable to think for themselves or cope for themselves; people who cannot cope with adversity. People cannot be protected by outside agencies from all dangers and risks — that way lies a mixture of amorality (because people won’t have to think) and a police state. In the words of Thomas S Monson (Pathways To Perfection):
When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be.
Goethe says the same:
If we take people only as they are, then we make them worse; if we treat them as if they were what they should be, then we bring them to where they can be brought.
Or looking at it another way, in the words of the great Spanish ‘cellist Pablo Casals:
Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage.
If we want people to be responsible, then we have to treat them as if they are responsible.
Finally, as I’ve said many times before (for example here and especially here) sexuality and nudity need to be normalised, not marginalised and criminalised. Only by doing so are we likely to drastically improve the nation’s overall health and well-being.
It is time to be a leader, not a cow-herd with an electric cattle-prod!
[PS. No of course rape, violence and child abuse are not acceptable; no-one is saying they are! But blanket censorship is not going to get rid of them; it will just drive them further underground and into the hands of the criminal fraternity.]
Nudity and Children
A few days ago there was a piece in the the Portsmouth News, the local paper for the eponymous city on England’s south coast. The reporter, Liz Bourne, asks “Why do we think nudity is shocking for children?” and comes to the conclusion that it isn’t.
This interested me because, aside from my interest in nudism, local papers are not often known for their liberal views. But here was a balanced and reasonable article which said essentially children aren’t phased by nudity, even when “a little squeamish about wrinkly bits” and we can all understand why some people want to be nude even if it isn’t for us.
Here are the nuts of the article:
In my experience, children love nudity. When very young, two of my children both enjoyed stripping off and flouncing around with the sun on their bare skin. On several occasions my son was known for taking all his clothes off in a rage, usually in the most public of places … Although not encouraged, within reason I did accept it as an expression of their innocence and, in my son’s case, frustration of being restricted by clothing. Now that they are older, they are less keen to bare all. And when news of the naked bike protest was revealed, they were struck with both bemusement and horror.
“Ughh, all those saggy old men”, one declared.
“Won’t they get cold?” was another reaction.But as a parent of three impressionable children, at no point did I feel the need to sign a petition against the protest. By making a point about nudity being ‘offensive’ and ‘indecent’ aren’t we sexualising it unnecessarily? Children revelling in their own nudity isn’t sexually motivated. And the naked cyclists had other things on their agenda. By protesting against it, isn’t this linking nudity with a sexual element, which is much more skewed?
I explained to the children that the cyclists were protesting against global oil dependency and our inherent car culture, as well as how vulnerable cyclists are on the roads. With this information, they understood the purpose of the nudity and, although still a little squeamish about wrinkly bits, accepted that if this is how some people wish to express themselves, so be it.
The protest took place in the middle of the day — a school day — and passed without incident … for research purposes, I took a couple of snapshots and showed them to the children. The images of blurred buttocks were met with derisory laughter, not shock and outrage. They were more perplexed that I had chosen to go and watch it …
Why anyone would be concerned about such an event I am not sure. Why should we protect our children from nudity? There are so many other things we should be protecting them from — drunk people in the street, dog poo on the pavement and the overpowering stench of celebrity culture in the media … That, in my mind, is much more damaging than seeing a few saggy buttocks on bikes.
Indeed so!
Something for a (Public Holiday) Weekend
Monday is a Public Holiday in the UK, so I thought this week we’d have something amusing but also worth thinking about to do with Mondays.
Nudity is Good for You!
I make no apology (when did I ever?) for returning to the subject of nudity.
In the last couple of days I have seen two rational, reasonable and apparently well researched articles supporting the contention that nudity is actually good for you, does no harm to children etc.
The first was written by Lee Jenkins on the Backbencher blog.** In it Jenkins very briefly summarises the arguments against the main objections to public nudity:
* It’s harmful to children
* It’s unsanitary
* It will encourage rape and sexual assault
* I shouldn’t have to see it
* It’s just wrong
All of which are just plain wrong. Here is just one snippet:
[A]n 18-year longitudinal study [by Dr Paul Okami] showed that, if anything, [childhood exposure to nudity] was associated with slight beneficial effects …
“Boys exposed to parental nudity were less likely to have engaged in theft in adolescence or to have used various psychedelic drugs and marijuana … Girls were also less likely to have used drugs such as PCP, inhalants, or various psychedelics in adolescence.”Public attitudes to sex and nudity are far more relaxed in Europe … Much like alcohol, the difference is cultural. Indeed, it’s rather telling that British and American attitudes to nudity are fairly similar, and both the US and UK have a teen birth rate far in excess of their European counterparts.
The second report, by Hank Pellissier at Immortal Life,** is more concerned with promoting the benefits of nudism, rather than refuting the objections. Under headings like “Weakened Bodies”, “Barefoot Medicine”, “Superior Socialisation”, “Soothe Away Your Crazies” and “Soak Up the Rays” he provides links to research and articles suggesting that nudity would improve our lot. Especially there appears to be evidence that the young would develop better (mentally and physically) from nudity, we would be better adjusted mentally and we would all benefit from time soaking up sunshine to counteract what is an increasing deficiency in Vitamin D.
As Jenkins observes, if you are genuinely troubled by the site of human form, it’s probably worth asking yourself why, rather than insisting others cover up. According to Pellissier’s article twenty million Europeans already go to nude beaches and spas. What’s stopping the rest of us?
** As far as I can see both these blogs are independent and not associated with any nudist or naturist organisation nor has any overt commercial axe to grind.
Under our Clothes …
Just found this on the intertubes. Exactly my sentiments …
Dress
Seen today on Facebook …
How to dress for your shape: are you human-shaped? play up your confidence and natural sex appeal by wearing whatever the fuck you want.
Life Tip: As the weather gets warmer, continue to wear whatever the fuck you want. Flaunt everything or keep it cool under cover. Dress to make yourself feel rad.
How to get a bikini body:put a bikini on your body
Want sexy own-the-beach summer legs? shave, or don’t because they’re your fucking legs.
The only thing to add is: Or wear nothing at all! ☺
On the Offensiveness of Vaginas
A few days ago Naturist Vision fired a loud warning shot across the bows of all of society. In a post entitled Vaginas and Nudity the author points out that words such as “vagina”** must not be ostracised from the vocabulary just because a few puerile prudes deem it offensive. It’s a short article, but here is it’s essence:
[…] Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown’s use of [vagina] led to her censure. In the aftermath a state representative declared the word “vagina” so offensive that he wouldn’t say it in mixed company.
Now [a male] Idaho High School science teacher […] is being investigated for saying “vagina” during a sophomore science class […]
[…] it is time for us to pay attention. That our society finds the proper term for any body part offensive suggests we need to redouble our efforts to educate the public about body acceptance. That the “offensive” word refers to a specifically feminine body part is more evidence of the misogyny [in] our society.
We must find a way to normalize words that describe our bodies. Teaching our children to refer to their genitals as “wee wee” or “pee pee” […] is a huge mistake. Bowing to a misinformed public who prefers not to hear words like “penis” and “vagina” is another.
The underlying message is that women are bad, sex is bad and our bodies are bad. Turning the vagina into [something] whose name shall not be spoken can only have disastrous effects on our society as a whole […]
[…]
It stands to reason that if people are offended simply by hearing the word “vagina” they certainly wouldn’t want to see one live and in person!
OK, so this is religiously prudish America and the post is partly about the loss of rights to nudity and nudism. That makes the general thrust no less apposite, in America or the UK, or indeed anywhere else.
It is becoming increasingly important, as I observed again the other day, that nudity and sexuality are normalised, not marginalised and criminalised, and that this would actually be to the benefit of the whole of society.
** For now we’ll gloss over the fact that most times folks use “vagina” they actually mean “vulva”.
Kids and Nudity
I’m getting increasingly worried about society’s attitude towards children and nudity. Both allowing kids to see adults nude and adults to see children nude.
Neither is actually a problem, but society is making it into one.
There’s an interesting opinion piece by Laura over at Catharsis under the title Why NOT Being Naked In Front Of Your Kids Is Weird:
[A] single father, recently found himself under Child Protective Services investigation after some mothers of his 6-year-old son’s friends reported him for showering with his child.
These mothers apparently think because the dad showers with his son, he’s a pedophile. NOT because the kid reported his dad touched him inappropriately or because the kid reported his dad demanded to be touched inappropriately by his son.
Simply because the dad showered with his 6-year-old son. Period.
You know what I think about that? I think that’s bullshit. And I think anyone who takes an innocent act like being naked around a child to the level of pedophilia ought to be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
There are real cases of sexual abuse out there — cases of children being seriously harmed by the adults around them. THERE ARE REAL PREDATORY ABUSERS OUT THERE SCARRING CHILDREN PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. Simply because a parent is naked in front of his children does NOT make him an abuser, and threatening a parent’s custody of his child with no evidence of such activity is both negligent and irresponsible.
(Emphasis in the original.)
Which, of course, is absolutely right.
OK, so that’s in America. But we’re very little different in this country.
I am concerned at the vilification of artist Graham Ovenden for his portrayal of naked children. OK, Ovenden has recently been convicted of inappropriate conduct with some girls many, many years ago. I don’t know how much abuse, if any, really did occur; I wasn’t there at the time, I wasn’t at the trial and I haven’t seen the evidence only some of the press reports. But the very fact that an artist can be pilloried in the way he has, so long after the event, and when he appears to have taken care that children he was drawing/painting were chaperoned, is deeply worrying. The fact that the charges relate to events 30-40 years ago, and in large part it seems to be the girls’ word against Ovenden’s, smacks of trumped up complaints and something which probably should never have got to court. Although as I say I’ve not followed the details closely, so I may be wrong. But it has been enough to set my alarm bells ringing.
That’s not to condone paedophilia; far from it. As Laura says (above) there are predatory abusers out there; and it is right that where there is sufficient evidence they are brought to justice. But I worry that we are straying into witch-hunt territory, where merely making an allegation is enough for a conviction and that having to provide evidence and to prove a case “beyond reasonable doubt” has gone by the board. This is gutter-press, mob justice.
Merely painting, drawing or photographing a child naked, or showering with a child (yours or anyone else’s) does not constitute paedophilia. Just as a mixed, nude, adult sauna (the norm in Scandinavia!) does not ipso facto mean there is sexual abuse.
We are rapidly approaching the stage where it will be a criminal offence for anyone to see any child nude at any time: parents will not be allowed to bath their newborns; and doctors will not be able to examine child patients. Clearly this is a nonsense and would lead to a major deterioration in health.
As I have observed before nudity and sexuality need to be normalised, not marginalised and ciminalised. I have always maintained that if we had a healthier understanding and acceptance of desires, sexuality, nudity and our bodies it would have far reaching positive effects on our health and our attitudes. Bring children up to understand their bodies, their sexuality and to accept nudity as something normal and they will be more balanced as individuals; more able to discuss their inner feelings and worries; more at ease discussing their medical problems with their doctor. All of which has to be good, if only in terms of catching serious disease earlier and when it is more easily, and more cheaply, treated. But I believe it would also be of great benefit psychologically.
Five Questions, Series 3, #5
OK, guys & gals, we’ve come to the last of the Five Questions I posed some weeks ago. So here goes …
Question 5. If you could get everyone who reads this to do one thing, just once, what would you get them to do?
Now this probably isn’t going to come as a surprise to many of you but I think my answer would have to be:
To go completely nude in public, or just in their garden, for 1 hour during the hours of daylight with their friends and/or family.
Those who read here regularly will how I believe that we would all be better adjusted mentally, and healthier, if we were all more comfortable with our bodies, nudity, sex and sexuality. We would be more comfortable discussing “intimate” matters with our doctors so we wouldn’t delay seeking help for supposedly embarrassing ailments. We need to normalise nudity and sexuality, not marginalise and criminalise them.
To go nude, with friends and family is the start of this process. I was brought up in a family where nudity was nothing to be remarked about, and indeed quite normal. Consequently I have no fear of being nude, of seeing other others nude, nor of discussing anything “embarrassing” with my doctor. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed about — at the end of the day we all know, give or take the odd scar and mole, what’s underneath those jeans and t-shirt. So where’s the problem?
And no, being the wrong size or shape isn’t an excuse! We’re all the wrong size and shape, because there is no right size and shape! We’re all different. Some are tall, some short; some fat, some thin; some have darker skin than others; some have larger or smaller accoutrements than others. It’s all normal. And the variety is all part of the spice of life. No men, you don’t end up getting an erection (and frankly so what if you do, it’s natural); girls don’t end up looking at every bloke’s dangly bits; and men don’t spend their whole time ogling girls’ chests (or lower). No-one gives stuff whether you shaved there or not. And no, it doesn’t pervert children; they’re actually remarkable unfazed by it all and there’s actually evidence they end up better adjusted. So you end up behaving like civilised beings! Try asking the Swedes, where anything other than a totally nude, mixed sauna is seen as rather odd.
Indeed if we could get people to experience social nudity, then I bet that a good proportion of them would actually enjoy it and find it liberating. They may well end up wondering what all the fuss was about.
In my view social nudity is a basic human right, and I think all public swimming pools etc. should have to provide a few hours of clothes optional sessions every week. I bet it would soon catch on (and no, not for those reasons).
Try it, you might like it!
— oo OO oo —
OK, that concludes Five Questions, Series 3. I’ll do another series in a while.
Meantime, do please suggest suitable questions for consideration.