Category Archives: nudism

nudism, personal, ramblings

Five Questions #3

OK, so here, as promised, is my answer to the third of the five questions I promised I would answer.

This one is quite easy for me to answer. But it may be uncomfortable for some to read. So …

Question 3. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Answer: Have the courage to go nude in public much more.

As many out there will know from previous posts I have no problem with nudity and I have never hidden the fact that I spend a lot of time at home unclothed, or barely clothed. I had a somewhat Bohemian upbringing and was introduced to naturism by my parents at the age of about 9 or 10. As a consequence I have never had a problem with nudity — mine or anyone else’s.

However I am acutely aware that many others do find nudity a problem and that the law — often erroneously — acts as if public nudity were illegal, which by default it isn’t in the UK. As I understand the law (and I’m not a lawyer so it likely isn’t this simple) public nudity only may become illegal if there is intent to harm or disturb people, or if there are complaints; essentially the police generally have no powers to intervene unless there are, or they have good reason to believe there will be, complaints.

Given that others are likely to be upset by nudity and that one wishes to be a good neighbour and not to fall foul of the law, this means that I am a little circumspect about where I practice nudity. Indoors or on the patio where there is little chance of being overlooked is fine; walking down the High Street probably isn’t.

So one has to draw the line somewhere. One doesn’t go out unclothed. I mostly don’t stray down the garden or answer the front door without donning a pair of shorts, at least. And one doesn’t entertain visitors without at least a modicum of clothing. But I would like not to have to feel this way.

If I were braver, which is what this question is asking, I would be happier to answer the door, or do things in the garden or with visitors around, without worrying about being clothed. And one would have the courage to demand that the local swimming pool run “clothes optional” session — after all isn’t this part of equality and human rights?

Would I be happy to go shopping in the nude? I don’t know; it may not be a physically comfortable thing to do, and besides one needs somewhere to keep a credit card. But I would like to think that I could, legally and without upsetting people, if I wanted to. It shouldn’t be a big deal.

Sadly too many people still regard any nudity as a sexual act. It isn’t. And here, unfortunately, TV and the other media are very much to blame: if they portray nudity it is almost always in a sexual context so we shouldn’t be surprised that nude = sex in many people’s minds. And as we know there is the misapprehension that sex is dirty, hence nudity is dirty and disgusting … and we have arrived at prudery. But there is not a shred of evidence that nudity causes harm; if anything the opposite is true as this and this briefing documents from British Naturism highlight.

If anything nudity is less sexual (and much healthier) than being clothed. That pretty girl (or guy) you just saw walking down the street probably looks ordinary without clothes. In the nude state little is left to the imagination, so there isn’t the prospect of what’s being hidden to titillate us. Once you’ve seen half a dozen you’ve seen them all: young or old; fat or thin; male or female; black, white or sky-blue-pink. Clothing is much more sexual than nudity, despite that we all know — give or take the odd scar — what is underneath our clothes. (And anyway scars are interesting; they tell stories!) So where is the problem? Why do we have to hide our bodies away?

I actually think this is important for all of us and that prudery is a major public health risk. I have written here, and in other posts, about how a relaxed attitude to nudity is good for us.

I passionately believe that if we were all more relaxed about nudity and more comfortable with our, and everyone else’s, bodies (and sexuality) we would be a lot healthier. Both mentally and physically. If we were we’d find it much easier to discuss our bodies (and bodily functions) with each other and especially with the medical profession — something which doesn’t cause me a problem. As an example I had to visit my (very nice, lady) GP a few days ago because of a problem with my male equipment. I had no problem whatsoever being examined or talking to her about it. Why should I? My GP has seen and heard it all before; probably so often she is bored stupid by it. Isn’t it better I get a possible problem checked out now rather that leave it to become a serious problem later? You still hear so many stories of people who, for whatever imagined reason, “don’t like” to get things checked out and hence end up with major medical problems or worse. It just isn’t worth it.

We need to normalise nudity, and sex, not marginalise and criminalise them.

Really where is the problem?

beliefs, nudism

What's so Shocking about Breasts?

BBC TV Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid has accused viewers of over-reacting to sightings of her cleavage.

Oh FFS! What’s so shocking about breasts? Even whole breasts, let alone glimpses round the edge?

Answer: Nothing!

Women have breasts. So do men. Women’s breasts are multi-functional. Men’s aren’t. Men are allowed to show theirs. Women aren’t. How is this logic? Where is the problem?

Answer: In your mind!

Who cares whether the breasts in question are on TV, at the supermarket, in my front room, or on the beach? Why should that make any difference?

We all know, give or take the odd interesting scar, what’s under these pieces of fabric we call clothes. So how does it matter if the fabric isn’t there? If everyone was naked, wouldn’t we find it obscene that people wanted to cover themselves up?

Come on people, get a life! Bodies and nudity are normal. They aren’t de facto sexual, or criminal, or dirty, or “not nice” — except in your mind. Try getting real and getting comfortable with bodies; try being body and sex positive for once. Try adjusting your mind.

Yes, it’ll change your outlook on life — for the better. And who knows, you might actually like it!

And remember: If you see anything God didn’t make, throw a brick at it!

Good call, Susanna!

nudism

Social Nudity: Follow-up on TV Programme


Following up on my snippet alerting people to My Daughter the Teenage Nudist there’s an interesting post by Alex, seen topless in Manchester in the film on that experience. Frankly I thought the attitude of the policeman involved was disgraceful and that a formal complaint would not have been out of order: he was arrogant, uncommunicative and inflexible specially considering that nothing illegal had taken (or was obviously about to take) place. Whatever his personal view may have been, at best he didn’t portray the police in a good light.

More power to Alex for taking the stance she did — and indeed to everyone for taking part in what was a well balanced film with personal attitudes both pro and con social nudity being expressed. More power too to Channel 4 for making and broadcasting the programme, and to British Naturism for facilitating it.

If you missed the original programme, My Daughter the Teenage Nudist is still available on 4oD.

beliefs, nudism


If you’re interested in nudism, need your mind expanding or have kids with body image hang-ups (ie. most teenagers) this should be worth watching.

My Daughter the Teenage Nudist
Channel 4; Thursday 12 January; 10pm
Filmed in collaboration with British Naturism

medical, memes, music, nudism, personal, photography, science, sexuality, topographical

Ten More Things

Quite a while back Katyboo resurrected the “Ten Things” meme. Although I’m doing a monthly sequence of ten things, I thought I’d join the overladen tumbrils and bandwagons rolling down the cobbled streets. So leaving out the inevitable choices of food, wine, cake, coffee, my wife, the cats, blah, blah, blah, here’s my slightly more unusual, and possibly controversial, version.

    Hockneylated ...

  1. My Cameras. I realised recently I’ve been taking photographs for 50 years, having started at around 9 or 10 with my father’s Kodak Box Brownie. It has remained something I enjoy. I wouldn’t claim to be a good photographer and I’ve never had any formal photographic training. What skill I have was acquired at my father’s knee. My approach has always been to take what I see; what interests, intrigues or amuses me. It is about trying to see things and make them into a picture. I have no interest in fashion photography, formal portraiture, studio and still-life work, getting up early for special shots, sitting in wet woodlands waiting for worms or tigers, spending hours in darkrooms or doing loads of fancy post-processing. None of these things do it for me. I’m happy photographing wayside flowers or just sitting somewhere watching people go by.
  2. Romney Marsh & Dungeness. The far south-east corner of Kent is almost wholly reclaimed land. This whole area SE of the arc of the Royal Military Canal running roughly from Hythe in the NE to Rye in the SW was largely sea until a few hundred years ago. The escarpment to the NW of the canal used to be the shoreline. Henry VIII had shipyards at Smallhythe on an estuary; it’s now 10 miles inland! Storms and the sea moved the rivers and built up the single bank of Dungeness — and the sea is still moving it about. In phases since the Romans man has reclaimed the marsh between the gravel and the escarpment as pasture for sheep and as arable land. I have ancestors who come from New Romney and from around the margins of the marsh. The area is dotted with delightful medieval churches, all with a rich history. And sheep. Thousands of sheep. Although fewer than there used to be. Dungeness is a desolate, windswept wasteland populated only by a few hardy souls, a couple of lighthouses a nuclear power station, an Army firing range and miles of endangered wildlife. It is one of those visceral and cathartic places.
  3. Nudity. One of the things I have to thank my parents for is a slightly bohemian upbringing where nudity was normal, doors were left open, and sexuality was normal, as were books and discussion. I was taken to a nudist club on several occasions when I was about 10; partly this was “educational” but my parents wouldn’t have done it unless it was also something they wanted to do. Consequently I’m comfortable with nudity and bodies — mine and other peoples’. Indeed I enjoy being nude and spend much of the time at home that way. I dress if I’m too cold (which isn’t often) and to save the blushes of other people. Nudity is natural, normal and good for you. Even Benjamin Franklin used to take “air baths”.
  4. My PA. No idea WTF I’m talking about? See here. [NSFW warning!] Viewings by arrangement.
  5. Pink Floyd. They’re just one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Think See Emily Play, The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Learning to Fly. Despite the inevitable rocky times the surviving members have gotten back together in recent years and are performing occasional gigs again.
  6. Pretty Girls with Maps of Tasmania. All at sea again? See this post of some while ago. Oh come on! Let’s be honest. What red-blooded (hetero) bloke doesn’t enjoy looking at pretty girls? And why shouldn’t they? And girls … Don’t try kidding us you don’t like seeing good looking fellas. We know you look at them. You’re just a lot more subtle than most of us blokes.
  7. Seaside. I love the smell of the sea. The sound of the sea. Warm sand between my toes. There’s always something interesting going on in a harbour, on the beach or under the cliffs. Just standing on the seafront having the cobwebs blown away is exhilarating.
  8. Sunshine. I always feel better when the sun shines, especially in winter. I suffer from SAD (thankfully only mildly) so winter sun always boosts my mood. And I love the feel of the sun on my back. But I’m not one for lying and toasting on the beach, despite my love of being nude, so you’ll never find me with a high tan.
  9. KCMWearing Glasses. This is something else I’ve done since I was young — like about 14. I’m basically short-sighted, so I’m pretty blind without my glasses. Which is why I’m not a natural ball-player, despite my love of cricket and hockey. Contact lenses weren’t around when I started wearing glasses, so there was no choice: wear glasses or not read the blackboard at school. I hated glasses at first, largely because I had horrible frames. But once I was allowed to choose my own metal frames (like when I could pay for them myself) and have plastic lenses I got to like glasses. They don’t worry me. Most of the time I don’t know I’m wearing them. Yes, keeping them clean is a pain. But for me lenses would probably be worse; I’m not sure if I could adjust to them and this would be harder given my hayfever etc. — all the lens wearers I know seem to have continual trouble with them.
  10. Being Eccentric/Outrageous. Yeah well you know this already, right? Being open about what I think and feel is, to me, all part of my role as a catalyst and controversialist; as is playing Devil’s advocate. Hopefully this introduces people to different ideas and new ways of looking at the world; makes people think; and thereby to helps them develop. I can’t abide being prissy and prudish; and standing on one’s dignity or unnecessary formality. I’m me and you take me as I am, or not. Your choice. At the other extreme, neither am I one to be disreputable and sluttish. I try to retain a certain amount of decorum; indeed professionalism even if it is slightly disgraceful.
medical, nudism, science

Sleep in the Raw

Yesterday I found a potentially useful little site called sleep.com. And yes, it is all about sleep. Being a confirmed nudist what caught my eye was a short item entitled Benefits of Sleeping Naked. Ah-ha! At last we aren’t the only ones to appreciate a lack of nightwear:

Sleeping naked can increase feel-good hormones in the brain, strengthen emotional ties and heighten both desire and intimacy between you and your partner.
…
You don’t have to have a partner to enjoy the benefits of sleeping naked, however. Research shows that sleeping naked:
— Allows the body to relax and rest more peacefully, which can in turn, increase your energy and daytime alertness levels.
— Improves self-confidence.

Yes, indeed. Apart from the occasional sojourn in hospital, I’ve eschewed night attire entirely since I was a student. Yes, that’s right, not even a pair of boxers. I was brought up to wear pyjamas and frankly they were often necessary in an unheated house in the 1950s, although my parents often slept in the nude. But as soon as I left home and had a room of my own (rather than a shared room or lodgings) I threw off my pyjamas, never to look back — it felt better and was a lot more comfortable.

For us sharing a bed and sleeping nude is all part of a good, healthy relationship. As the article says:

Skin contact creates more than just useful hormones — it creates a bond! Increase the sense of bond between you and your partner and feel closer together than ever before. Remember, increased closeness encourages greater sex.

What better excuse could you want?!

amusements, beliefs, books, current affairs, freedom of speech, nudism, quotes, thoughts

Quotes of the Week

So here’s this week’s cornucopia of quotations. There’s a philosophy PhD in this lot somewhere!

A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.
[Unknown]

At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived.
[Rose Macaulay]

A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.
[Robert Frost]

The human body can remain nude and uncovered and preserve intact its splendour and its beauty … Nakedness as such is not to be equated with physical shamelessness … Immodesty is present only when nakedness plays a negative role with regard to the value of the person … The human body is not in itself shameful … Shamelessness (just like shame and modesty) is a function of the interior of a person.
[Pope John Paul II, The Theology of the Body]

The prettiest dresses are worn to be taken off.
[Jean Cocteau]

The best things in life aren’t things.
[Unknown]

Those who are at ease with themselves […] want to undermine authority rather than exercise it.
[Prof. Paul Delany]

[Tony] Blair has […] told us, “Hand on my heart, I did what I thought was right”. If a dry-cleaner said this after ruining our jacket, we would not be pleased with the explanation. Politicians are different: don’t look at any unfortunate results, they say, just admire my generous motives.
[Prof. Paul Delany]

A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason, and the real reason.
[Financier JP Morgan]

One of the basic human rights is to make fun of other people, whoever they are.
[Anthony Powell quoted in John Russell, Reading Russell: Essays 1941 to 1988]

If you don’t like our sense of humour, please tell us so we can laugh at you.
[Unknown]

freedom of speech, nudism

Naturism is Under Threat

3 Comments

There’s an important article in the latest issue (#188) of BN, the magazine of British Naturism. Although in the public domain the article isn’t publicly available on-line so I’m reproducing a slightly cut version here. I trust BN and the author, Malcolm Boura, will forgive the reproduction which I hope is in naturism’s best interests.

Naturism is under threat – again

[BN] Research & Liaison Officer Malcolm Boura reports on the continuing fight to keep [naturism] within the law

Westminster Doings
The European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act are very important to naturism but they are under attack like never before. Some people do not like a requirement to treat people fairly.
They do not like having to treat people according to facts not prejudice and their tactics are appalling. As Liberty said in a recent letter “The amount of misinformation … is shocking”. The HRA
does not attack Parliament’s sovereignty, indeed it states that Parliament comes first. The convention has nothing to do with the EU and it was mainly written by Britain. A Bill has been introduced to withdraw from the convention. Prime Minister David Cameron intends to abolish the Act and there is no real prospect of an adequate replacement.

A few weeks ago, in an article for another magazine, I wrote, “We expect the Equality Act to be next. Just as we are reaching the point where we have some worthwhile legal protection it is under serious attack.”

Since then the government has launched, and concluded, an on-line consultation. I long ago gave up expecting government and politicians to aspire to the highest standards of probity but this was
particularly disturbing.

The consultation was described incorrectly so it was only by pure chance that we even heard of it. The title was “Unnecessary Regulation” but the Equality Act is not regulation, it is primary
legislation.

It was presented in a biased way. The title assumes that the Equality Act is unnecessary.

It only allowed a couple of weeks to reply but the Government code of practice says that the minimum should be 3 months.

BN made a response and it is available on our website. Don’t be under any illusions, the Equality Act is important to us. For example, a few months ago it helped one of our members obtain compensation when they lost their job, at least in part because they are a naturist. It could be of assistance in many other ways but there are already signs that Westminster is working to water it down and to restrict the activities of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The government and some influential MPs are working to censor the internet. Even they admit that there is no real evidence to justify it so it is nothing but prejudice. Instead they are shouting “Think of the children” and far too many people are jumping to obey without stopping to
actually think. Instead of proper consultation and debate they are bullying the ISPs into doing their dirty work for them and few people realise what is being done. There can be no public debate when the public don’t know about it. If this is approved, to reach naturist websites, you will have to prove that you are over 18 and sign up for ‘pornography.’ The message will be very clear. That naturism is dangerous, that it is pornography, and that if you are interested then you must be a social reprobate or pervert. The consequences for naturism will be very damaging.

Censors permitting, you can find out more on the BN website and members can join in the discussions on the BN members forums.

Police and legal
The trend in the right direction has continued and some patterns are emerging. Membership of BN does seem to make a difference. If there is a complaint then it helps to reassure the police that the nudity is because of naturism and not for some nefarious reason. That helps to prevent a complaint turning into an arrest and an arrest into a prosecution.

[…] The law gives the police immense discretion and there is no case law so nothing is certain but on a number of occasions recently the police have told a complaining neighbour that there has not been any offence. Indeed in one case the police investigated the complaining neighbour to see if they had committed the offence of “hate crime aggravated harassment”. BN membership and intervention by BN helped considerably with that case. […]

Poll
In 2001 naturism was threatened by the Sexual Offences Bill and BN commissioned NOP to carry out a public opinion poll. It was very helpful in seeing off that threat and it has proved very useful on many occasions since but it is getting rather dated. The tenth anniversary is a good time to repeat it. Some questions will be modified to better suit present circumstances but may well remain the same so that we can make comparisons.

Personally, I am not optimistic about the trends. There have been all sorts of pressures: government, prejudiced lobby groups, political opportunists, bigots, prudes, and many others that have contributed. We are now facing a series of challenges that are less obvious than the Sexual Offences Bill but that does not make them any less real and any less a threat. Much of it has been built on paranoia and myth over children.

A good quality poll is expensive so we are running an appeal to help pay for it […] We will announce the outcome of the appeal, and hopefully the results of the poll, in the next issue of this magazine […]

So what can we do to help?

Well the obvious thing is to write to your MP pointing out what’s going on and asking them to oppose any retrograde changes to the Human Rights and Equality Acts. I actually sent my MP a copy of this, and another relevant article. You could also join BN or contribute to the appeal to fund the new opinion poll.

Nudity needs to be normalised, not ostracised and submerged. I think few people realise how great, indeed how important, it is to be brought up to know nudity is perfectly normal.

Let’s hope some common sense prevails, but sadly, like Malcolm Boura, I’m not optimistic.