General Discussions

The ways in which people practice Naturism is incredibly varied - everything from the secretive "at home" naturist, who strips off occasionally while doing activities in the home when nobody is around, to the most ardent naturist, who is totally open to friends and family about their lifestyle and is quite happy going naked in the outdoors.

But more and more often these days I'm meeting people who enjoy being clothes-free at the beach and on forest hikes and cycle rides who have never considered themselves as "Naturists" or "Nudists" or anything else. Just ordinary folks like you and me who consider nakedness as completely appropriate for some activities. And, as we know, they are legally quite within their rights to do so.

It got me thinking. Why the need for this "us" and "them" attitude and mentality? If we want to promote to society at large the benefits and acceptability of being naked when the occasion calls for it, then why do we need to label it as Naturism or Nudism - or whatever? Why does nudity or naturism have to be seen as a "practice" or a "philosophy" that you have to join or become an adherent or disciple of? Why does being naked have to be seen as anything more remarkable than any other dress code? Obviously it is, in some people's minds, but times are changing, and more and more people in our community are enjoying being clothes-free to some extent, or at least relaxed with those who do. In all my years of hiking bush trails, meeting clothed people along the way, and skinny dipping in river swimming holes, I can think of only one occasion when somebody made a slightly snide remark about kids on the track (people often use the "think of the children!" line to cover their own discomfort).

It's probably high time we simply promoted the idea of appropriate nakedness as a dress code without giving it a label. What are your thoughts on this?

Rok