"Unpopular opinions" in nudism
There's a "meme" I've seen around the internet listing "unpopular opinions." There's even a subreddit dedicated to it.
I thought it may be interesting to have a similar thread here. I'm not talking about non-nudists' opinions of us; but rather opinions - that may be deemed "unpopular" - from nudists themselves. I'm not including the "sexual stuff." Here are some I've heard from nudists:
- "Involving children under 18 in social nudity is basically child abuse."
- "If nudism is about freedom, then people should have the freedom to wear as much or as little as they want in a nudist setting."
- "People-watching is a normal activity at public venues; why should it be any different at nudist venues?"
- "Reluctant women should not be given special consideration at nudist resorts. Get naked or stay home."
- "Resort nudism should be open to anyone - or deserve to die out."
That's a few off the top of my head. Obviously, they are subjective and some may not consider them "unpopular" at all.
Ant others?
It's often been noted that classical Greek statuary rather de-emphasizes the genitalia, while glorifying the naked male body. (Classical Greek females were represented robed; the naked ones came later.) Scholars think this represented an ideal of mastery - athleticism combined with control of the passions, Plato's ideal. Nudity was ceremonialized around the gymnasium and athletics, but not socially common. Even a little transgression like pulling back the foreskin would draw comment.
We do see grossly sexual images on pots and so forth, and "barbarians" were often depicted with exaggerated genitalia. This was titillation, of course, and also mockery. The modern equivalent would be the hypersexual / humorous depictions of black people that have only within our lifetimes fallen out of fashion. They -- name your favorite outgroup -- are slaves to passion; We -- name your favorite in-group -- have such self-mastery that our passions are controlled even in nudity.
Formal nudism feels to me much like an attempt at the Greek ideal - a deliberately, exaggeratedly de-emphasized sexuality; self-control pridefully displayed along with the body. There's a subtle thrill in that - Wilde's idea that chastity is the greatest perversion. To say, in the formal nudist context, that something is "only natural", is to break with the understanding that distinguishes the in-group. "You're not a real nudist."
- "If nudism is about freedom, then people should have the freedom to wear as much or as little as they want in a nudist setting."
It may not be popular but I actually agree with this statement. I prefer Clothes Optional to enforced nakedness (even though I'd be the first to get naked). It helps ease new nudists into the lifestyle and allows a couple to attend a CO setting when only one of them is keen to be naked.
I believe there is a place for both.
There is a men's resort near me, CCC. It is fully clothing optional. You are free to be nude or wear whatever you want -- throughout the resort. Many resorts require clothing in the dining room. At CCC, nudity is fully acceptable at the cafe. Many resorts require nudity in the pool, hot tub, and sauna. At CCC, you're free to wear whatever clothing you're comfortable in. I arrive nude, am nude the entire time I'm there, and I leave nude. Other guys have clothing on the entire time. It's totally up to the individual. But CCC is not a nudist resort; it's a men's resort at which your choice of clothing is entirely yours.
My house, in contrast, is nudity required. Yes, I make the exception for appliance repairmen and the like, but I let them know that I am a nudist and I will not be wearing clothing. Otherwise, there are no onlookers or spectators. I make this clear for everyone else so there are no surprises at the door.
If I were to run a nudist resort, I might have a small clothing-optional area set aside for those who are not sure."If nudism is about freedom, then people should have the freedom to wear as much or as little as they want in a nudist setting."It may not be popular but I actually agree with this statement. I prefer Clothes Optional to enforced nakedness (even though I'd be the first to get naked). It helps ease new nudists into the lifestyle and allows a couple to attend a CO setting when only one of them is keen to be naked.
Something that's frequently considered sexual but I believe should not be is erections.
Cocks tend to be considered sexual regardless of their state of tumidity.
My unpopular opinion is that cocks (flaccid or erect) should be a total non-issue. If it's erect, it could be simply random and not "mean" anything at all. However, even if it is erect as a result of what the man sees or is thinking, so what? No one is harmed by it. It's a normal and natural part of the male body.
At most, it's a visible barometer of the man's state of mind. How is this a bad thing?
It's my understanding that the Greeks saw small cocks as being more aristocratic -- big cocks were barbaric. Thus, Greek statues tend to have smaller cocks.It's often been noted that classical Greek statuary rather de-emphasizes the genitalia.
Thus, Greeks tended to sexualize genitalia.
- "Involving children under 18 in social nudity is basically child abuse."
I don't understand that people who say that call themselves nudists. They have a completely opposite understanding of social nudity than a nudist. Children should be protected from them.
If we let kids be the natural nudists that they tend to be, they would more likely grow to be naturists without any sense of shame. That does not mean that nudity would or should be accepted everywhere on every occasion, but as a normal state of being there would be no objections to it.
That's pretty much right out of the book, That Famous Fig Leaf.If we let kids be the natural nudists that they tend to be, they would more likely grow to be naturists without any sense of shame. That does not mean that nudity would or should be accepted everywhere on every occasion, but as a normal state of being there would be no objections to it.
Although the author is not a nudist, he does believe nudity should be social acceptable is many everyday situations. He also believes children should be raised without body shame.
My problem with unpopular opinions in nudism is less the opinions and more the ism. Not wearing any clothes is natural as we were born, calling it nudism makes it some kind of belief structure or lifestyle with ascribed norms and morals. How can we even define nudism? If you aren't wearing clothes at home in the shower are you nudist? Or making breakfast? If you're bare chested wearing just a speedo on a beach? Or how about only a baseball cap with more material? What really constitutes nudism? If you go to a hotel sauna in Scandinavia, chances are you will find naked mixed gender adults quietly taking a sauna together, but they likely don't call themselves nudists. On the other hand, ask them to talk with the stranger sitting next to them and you will likely create anxiety. You can be naked in front of strangers there, but not talk with them there since that's an invasion of privacy. So the "true nudists" increasingly sound to me like church goers insisting their views of nudism are the only right way. Meanwhile, I'm more comfortable without clothes and don't want it to become a flag to wave.
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