NationStates Jolt Archive

I've always thought nudism would be weird but then again thats because of cultural influence. I was wondering what do other people think on the matter? So answer the poll and make sure to post your opinion.

Thanks,
Miamoria

it seems rather natural to be naked at home or in other private circumstances.

i dont really understand the who nudist colony thing where you hang out with people based on their willingness to be naked.

Every human culture has a nudity taboo, even in cultures where being clothed consists of a grass belt around your waist. Clearly the desire to be clothed is separate from the desire to protect various sensitive parts of the anatomy. So I have to say that, for humans, nudity is strange. Clothing is also strange.

Addendum to above; in some cultures, the nudity taboo only applies above a certain age. This has practical reasons, particularly in hot climates where clothing isn't necessary to retain warmth - after all, children are only going to get their clothes dirty, or grow out of them, and in a pre-industrial society fabric is quite expensive, and clothes are a lot harder to wash.

I like my clothes, thank you very much. Plus, imagine hugging. You could go around three bases in one fell swoop.

I find it natural and strange at the same time lol.

I've always thought nudism would be weird but then again thats because of cultural influence. I was wondering what do other people think on the matter? So answer the poll and make sure to post your opinion.

Thanks,
Miamoria

Nudity is natural.

Public Nudity is not strange, tho alot of societies do ban it, but not because it's 'strange'.

Me, being nude in public, is not strange... just damn frightening. :p

Ya I think it's natural but that doesn't mean it couldn't be strange. Although since were born nude and started out as a species nude it couldn't be so horrible.

Strangely natural.

It's completely natural but often hygiene demands clothing. I don't have a problem with being naked at home or topless in public, but it's probably a smart idea to cover your ass. The amount of E-coli that would get passed around in a naked society would be unbelievable. I'm sure that nudist communities probably have hygiene procedures in place but the mass public is in my own opinion too stupid/inconsiderate to handle things as adults.

Case in point, when going to the public bathroom how many people do you see who fail to wash their hands, or just rinse them for 3 seconds, or worse (get ready to retch!) come out of the stall and just dry their hands. (yeah, I know, *puke*)

People are dirty, I don't want their dirty asses sitting on park benches.

Normal. Clothes are unnatural, but unfortunately necessary.

Strangely natural.
This, here.

Normal. Clothes are unnatural, but unfortunately necessary.I suppose they provide the advantage in colder climes, but still ... :(

It's completely natural but often hygiene demands clothing. I don't have a problem with being naked at home or topless in public, but it's probably a smart idea to cover your ass. The amount of E-coli that would get passed around in a naked society would be unbelievable. I'm sure that nudist communities probably have hygiene procedures in place but the mass public is in my own opinion too stupid/inconsiderate to handle things as adults.

Case in point, when going to the public bathroom how many people do you see who fail to wash their hands, or just rinse them for 3 seconds, or worse (get ready to retch!) come out of the stall and just dry their hands. (yeah, I know, *puke*)

People are dirty, I don't want their dirty asses sitting on park benches.
I think they sit on towels or something...
Originally Posted by Free Bikers
Strangely natural.
True that.

I've always thought nudism would be weird but then again thats because of cultural influence. I was wondering what do other people think on the matter? So answer the poll and make sure to post your opinion.

Thanks,
Miamoria

I voted strange since clothes protect one from the elements, namely heat, cold, and all sorts of weather, not to mention diseases and whatnot. To deny yourself that from that in the name of flaunting a trivial social convention is strange.

Ya i think they use towels to sit on. Either that or they use a lot of lysol. Personally i think its natural but i realize there is many setbacks.

To deny yourself that from that in the name of flaunting a trivial social convention is strange.Trivial? Perhaps ... perhaps nudity generates a significant amount of capital in certain regards.

Strictly speaking, it is, in fact, natural, as nature produces us in the nude. However, given social norms in the society in which I live (and, in fact, the social norms for most of humanity) it is, in fact, strange as well. The two are not mutually exclusive, though the options in this poll are.

For purposes of hygiene and protection from the elements clothing makes sense, the value as far as simple social mores go notwithstanding.

The only place it could be natural is in the Equator...anywhere else, nudity is a product of economic luxury where clothing is not a necessity for survival.

The weight of all the ants in the world exceeds the weight of all the humans in the world.

Only humans and a few pets wear clothes.

Therefore, nudism is much more natural than wearing clothes.

The weight of all the ants in the world exceeds the weight of all the humans in the world.

Only humans and a few pets wear clothes.

Therefore, nudism is much more natural than wearing clothes.Wasn't this a Monty Python episode?

I think it would be kinda chilly during much of the year. But fine on a nice sunny day. It would also increase sunblock sales dramatically. If more people went around nude, that is. Assuming of course that laws would be changed so that such would be an option.

Another problem would be the increase skin cancer but like you said if you buy enough sunblock you wouldn't have that problem. Whether you think its strange or natural it would definitely take time to get used to.

I have no problem with nudity. Cultural taboos have made it become something strange, but I think it's absolutely fine.

We are a strange species. Nudity is natural but our society and hygenic reasons make clothes a practicle and acceptable thing. They are both wierd...

Yeah, clothes are lame. People judge you based on what you're wearing all the time. Nudity FTW.

There's absolutely nothing wrong or strange about near-complete nudity, by which I mean only wearing the underpants. However, absolute nudity is unhygienic and impractical.
You don't want to look at non-perfectly wiped butts or dripping dicks, and hey - people can be not only young and beautiful - people also don't want to look at female parts when it isn't the case.
Bras, illegality of walking topless (I don't like the "topfree" word as it's retarded) is merely a social taboo, however, based on sexualization of the female mammary tits.

I've gone for strange, purely because I quite like being protected from the elements by my clothes. Otherwise I'd not have a particularly fun time with British weather.

I've gone for strange, purely because I quite like being protected from the elements by my clothes. Otherwise I'd not have a particularly fun time with British weather.

here in Finland average summer-temperature is 7-10 celsius.then there is the probability of rain.this year in the beginning of summer,it rained a lot.almost every day.

There are several cultures where nudity is normal, or nothing unusual. Granted, most of them are around the equator. Even historically, nudity was rarely a problem. Only under christianity nudity is inherently shameful. In other cultures it may not be something you do in public, but nobody cares about private nudity.

Also, clothes are, in certain circumstances, detremental to the wearer's health. For example, ticks don't like naked skin, but love to crawl under clothes.

Can't it be both strange and natural? Like invertebrates!

Touch strange, especially in temperate to cold climates, or in hot places where hi-tech polymers help to keep you cooler than if you were merely wear nothing.

Clothes serve a primarily functional purpose.

Humans, to the best of my knowledge, are the only lifeforms that wear clothes. Clearly there's more nudity in nature than not.

Humans, to the best of my knowledge, are the only lifeforms that wear clothes. Clearly there's more nudity in nature than not.

We're also the ones who get royally fucked when it comes to the natural clothing that other animals have...I doubt there are many others that possess as little body hair as we do. Not to mention our brains give off huge amounts of heat, which means we're bound to suffer a dangerous drop in body temperature if left unprotected in colder climates.

I guess it's a trade-off.

Well, with naked there's good naked and bad naked. Nudism is bad naked.

Then what exactly is good naked?

We're also the ones who get royally fucked when it comes to the natural clothing that other animals have...I doubt there are many others that possess as little body hair as we do. Not to mention our brains give off huge amounts of heat, which means we're bound to suffer a dangerous drop in body temperature if left unprotected in colder climates.

I guess it's a trade-off.

That wouldn't have been a major problem seeing as we probably evolved in eastern Africa.

Not renowned for being particularly chilly, to be honest.

I suppose they provide the advantage in colder climes, but still ... :(

I would ascribe this then to personal choice. I find nudity quite natural. ;)

Nudity is the way forward. I'm pleased that my parents brought my up in a 'naked' household, I'm comfortable walking around naked.

Ya, I'd say peoples opinion on nudity is largely based upon what their parents have said and done. Like whether your parents got out of the shower and covered themselfs or not or if you and your siblings have grown up not caring if the other sees you get dressed.

Then what exactly is good naked?
Porno.

And, while it is true that animals don't wear clothes, they do have fur, exoskeletons, penis sheaths, etc, which makes up the difference. Similarly, our ancestors wore animal furs (and before that they had their own fur). Modern "nudism" isn't natural at all, as any species that wandered around with its testicles hanging out and its skin open to poisons and thorns wouldn't have lasted long.

That wouldn't have been a major problem seeing as we probably evolved in eastern Africa.

Not renowned for being particularly chilly, to be honest.

Yeah, but Eastern Africa has its own problems, especially those nasty tropical diseases which seem to be particularly good at infecting us and our primate cousins. Sort of damned if we do, damned if we don't in the end...I guess wearing clothes to protect against the northern European winter is worth avoiding malaria and Lassa fever.

Being naked is natural. If I recall correctly, I was born naked, and spent much of my younger years wearing very little, if anything.
Nudism, as in a social movement dedicated to being naked, is a little odd, only because clothing makes so much sense. When it's hot, you put on a little, when it's cold, you put on more, when it's raining you wear a rain jacket, when it's snowing you wear snowpants, etc. The concept of clothing is brilliant, changing clothing is much easier than evolving a new exterior.

True. This is definitely my most interesting thread.

I've always thought nudism would be weird but then again thats because of cultural influence. I was wondering what do other people think on the matter? So answer the poll and make sure to post your opinion.

Thanks,
Miamoria

Natural, but I'm comfortable in my strangeness.

Do not like public nudity. Or at least nudest beaches. All the pervs come out to play. Well, more so than usual.

To paraphrase Drew Carey, "I wear clothing out of respect for my fellow human beings, I DON'T have a 'good' body, so I cover it the fuck up" Think sasquatch with a bit of mange, 'nuff said. *grunt, grunt* :D

It is strange depending upon the culture one resides in; it is always natural (which should not be used as an argument to justify it).

Its more natural....but, so is Organic Foods...and i aint on that shit....

cant live without the old High Fructose Corn Syrup, lol...

One does have to wonder ,though, exactly HOW nudity taboos evolve(d) to begin with.
The social mechanisms for INITIAL taboo must have been profoundly compelling, (and fascinating!). Just how DOES it all start?, you have to wonder.

One does have to wonder ,though, exactly HOW nudity taboos evolve(d) to begin with.
The social mechanisms for INITIAL taboo must have been profoundly compelling, (and fascinating!). Just how DOES it all start?, you have to wonder.

More fascinating is, Which was the first Ape to rip all his hair out and go nude in the first place...Just seems horribly inefficient to lose all your fur and start stealing other animal's fur...

Worse than that, which was the first one to look at that and go, "that sounds like a great idea!" *rips fur off* lol...

...Leave my fur ALONE, Damnit!

:eek:
O...M...G...!
:eek:

I BROKE THE CODE! I ROCK!!! :D
:hail::hail::hail::hail::hail:

btw...
threadwin! biz-nitch!

Not only that but wouldn't the apes just die of hypothermia? LOL

It probably took thousands of years for them to fully loose all their hair.

nudism is strange. naturalism is natural however.

when its cold where a coat. and for the love of god if you walking anywhere put on some shoes.

nudism is strange. naturalism is natural however.

when its cold where a coat. and for the love of god if you walking anywhere put on some shoes.But on certain surfaces walking barefoot can be nice. Notable exception is asphalt on a hot day.

More fascinating is, Which was the first Ape to rip all his hair out and go nude in the first place...Just seems horribly inefficient to lose all your fur and start stealing other animal's fur...

Worse than that, which was the first one to look at that and go, "that sounds like a great idea!" *rips fur off* lol...

we lost all our hair in the nice warm parts of Africa. when we moved north we didn't grow it back because we had started wearing other animals fur.

Depends on the level of lipids.

I never wear clothes when I can help it, I just don't like the feel. Michigan being what it is, however, there are only a few months of the year when being naked all the time is practical.

But on certain surfaces walking barefoot can be nice. Notable exception is asphalt on a hot day.

when you walk long distances you will walk on a multitude of surfaces. so wear shoes. short distance sure what ever.

when you walk long distances you will walk on a multitude of surfaces. so wear shoes. short distance sure what ever.Hell, when you walk a long distance you'll want to wear shoes no matter what you're walking on. A well shaped sole helps to spread the pressure on your foot away from the main pressure points or something.

I'm sure people in Nudest colonies wear shoes. They would have to or their feet would be so damaged they couldn't walk. Nudism is natural but I think it would be close to impossible to stricly follow. I guess you could if you lived in a gated neighbourhood in a really hot place though.

Most people at the nudist place I go to do wear shoes outside. I prefer barefoot for long walks, but note that it is mostly on grass and sand.

Are you a nudist then? What other details can you tell us?

I think the shame associated with nudity is what is strange. Embarrassment that we don't fit the description of the models in the glossy photos of the magazines is strange. nudity... not so strange and completely natural. Smunk makes an excellent point about hygiene though.

More fascinating is, Which was the first Ape to rip all his hair out and go nude in the first place...Just seems horribly inefficient to lose all your fur and start stealing other animal's fur...

Worse than that, which was the first one to look at that and go, "that sounds like a great idea!" *rips fur off* lol...

Hey, at least you can take clothing off...if you're hairy beyond reason you're sort of in a bind no matter what you're wearing. Unless of course you're either a Viking or a Gaul, but in that case you missed the party by a millennium or two.

An impossible question to answer without a solid, unambiguous definition of the word natural.

I think the shame associated with nudity is what is strange. Embarrassment that we don't fit the description of the models in the glossy photos of the magazines is strange. nudity... not so strange and completely natural. Smunk makes an excellent point about hygiene though.My shame about nudity has nothing to do with how I look and everything to do with my dad's vainglorious attention seeking exhibitionism.

so shouldn't you feel shame for your father rather than shame about the concept or act of being nude? I don't get how one translates into the other and therefor my vote remains in the strange category for shame associated with nudity.

childhood trauma maybe. I just associate naturalism very heavily with exhibitionism. I was also very shy when I was young. Consequentially I don't like being nude in public or strangers being nude around me in public. Maybe it was the nudist beaches as well with lecherous old men eying up EVERYONE.

hawtness!

:eek: pervert! :p

edit: however, there remains the rational part of me that in and of itself there is nothing strange or unnatural about nudism... but, reason never wins out on this issue with me.

I have to say I went to France and Spain this summer and I went to my fair share of beaches and most of the girls were topless. The first time I went to the beach I couldn't keep myself from looking but by the six time it was just so natural it was like "ya so they're topless big whoop."

Lmao...Sorry, but, i just realized that due to my recently banned status, i voted in this poll twice...

My ripple spreads further, lol...

I have to say I went to France and Spain this summer and I went to my fair share of beaches and most of the girls were topless. The first time I went to the beach I couldn't keep myself from looking but by the six time it was just so natural it was like "ya so there topless big whoop."


Yeah, but imagine if a dude went there and got a boner, which may turn on some gays, and that may turn on women too. It would eventually turn into a wild college sex party with older people. Also, you may've LOOKED, but did it TURN YOU ON? It would me. That is why I think that nudism/naturalism en general should be legalized but not forced upon anyone. They could just put laws in to make you make sure you did not have any "dripping dicks" or "Non-perfectly wiped ass" as some people have said.

I agree nudism should be legal and not forced upon anyone but they would have to make soooo many laws to make sure health wasn't neggatively affected.

it seems rather natural to be naked at home or in other private circumstances.

i dont really understand the who nudist colony thing where you hang out with people based on their willingness to be naked.

Go to a public clothing optional beach. Take it all off and you will enjoy yourself. Nothing like releasing yourself from a cold, wet, and clinging bathing suit to feel the freedom an wonder of pure nakedness.

Go to a public clothing optional beach. Take it all off and you will enjoy yourself. Nothing like releasing yourself from a cold, wet, and clinging bathing suit to feel the freedom an wonder of pure nakedness.

I just pictured myself naked and it makes me really not want to do that....

Have to say, im with Drew Carey on this one, lol...

I just pictured myself naked and it makes me really not want to do that....

Have to say, im with Drew Carey on this one, lol...

You sound like my wife. It isn't about how you look naked it is about how you feel when your body is not restricted by clothing.

You sound like my wife.

Considering my last couple of days, that just made me lmao...

But, yeah, i just dont look good naked so i just wouldnt be able to square it with my conscience...

like, id be restricted by me being so self conscience...

Do not like public nudity. Or at least nudest beaches. All the pervs come out to play. Well, more so than usual.

Source, please.

An impossible question to answer without a solid, unambiguous definition of the word natural.

Natural: An animal pleasure which the speaker enjoys.

Un-natural: An animal pleasure which the speaker does not enjoy.

I just pictured myself naked and it makes me really not want to do that....

Have to say, im with Drew Carey on this one, lol...

A celibate, eh?

I voted strange since clothes protect one from the elements, namely heat, cold, and all sorts of weather, not to mention diseases and whatnot. To deny yourself that from that in the name of flaunting a trivial social convention is strange.

Well thats why we evolved in a place where we don't need to wear them. We are just animals, if we went someplace cold, we would either die or adapt. Turns out we died, but were clever enough to learn about clothes.

Therefore, nudity is natural, and clothing is not always a social requirement as much as a natural one. However, I feel that we should all just grow a layer of hair or go back to Africa, because we have no business being up here in the cold. (I love the cold, please don't send me to hot, sweaty Africa, even though that is what I believe...)

Sorry to bring religion into this, but here's where I stand. Before the fall of Eden, people were naked. It was natural. After the fall, God gave them clothes, for various reasons. They provide protection, whether from cold or from physical hazards. Also, now that we live in a fallen world in fallen bodies, we are inclined to "sins of the flesh," and clothes help dispel the temptation to do such things. So, in short, what was natural in the beginning is not necessarily natural now. Being naked is fun, though. :p

Also, now that we live in a fallen world in fallen bodies, we are inclined to "sins of the flesh," and clothes help dispel the temptation to do such things.

Nudity is only arousing when it is unusual; I hate to have to use a trite comparison, but I feel it is relevant: Islam/veils.

Source, please.My own two eyes when they were 10 years old along with the rest of me. I don't care if it's not good enough for you, because it's good enough for me.

Are you a nudist then? What other details can you tell us?
What more do you want to know? It's not really about seeing naked or being seen naked, just about being naked, which feels better. Occasionally we get gawker types, but management runs them off. As far as hygeine, you keep your towel with you at all times to sit on.

I would have to agree being nude is a different experience to say the least. I think the towel idea would work but as others have said I would definitely say it would attract some pretty strange people. Also now with camera phones people could take pictures and post them on the internet. So how do you cure that problem?

I would have to agree being nude is a different experience to say the least. I think the towel idea would work but as others have said I would definitely say it would attract some pretty strange people. Also now with camera phones people could take pictures and post them on the internet. So how do you cure that problem?

A nudist does not consider his body indecent; why would he care if his picture was posted online? As for lewd behavior, a moderately large knife tends to deter it.

I guess thats true if you are comfortable enough with your body why would you care if your picture was taken. It would be the exact same as getting your picture taken with your clothes on.

Nudism is natural, but with humans it's pretty much subverted by notions of decency and beauty.

I guess thats true if you are comfortable enough with your body why would you care if your picture was taken. It would be the exact same as getting your picture taken with your clothes on.

Indeed. I would wonder about any nudist who had issues about being photographed naked.

Nudism is natural, but with humans it's pretty much subverted by notions of decency and beauty.

"Indecent" is one of those English words which would be nicely replaced by the Newspeak "ungood".

I found out naturalist is another name name for a nudist so i guess thats another point for the nude side.

I found out naturalist is another name name for a nudist so i guess thats another point for the nude side.

Naturist not naturalist. And it is a silly term anyway: nudism is not about nature so much as it is about being comfortable.