Anna ANW said:

I think part of what makes the human race consider nudity as unsuitable is because when not actually dealing with it in a natural situation they consider what it may mean: they look at threat, danger, sexuality, exhibitionism. So they feel they need to consider it with those negatives in mind. Worse case scenarios in play."

I think that nails it very well, Anna. The "natural situation" is key. However, as you rightly mentioned, society has defined that nudity is "threat, danger, sexuality, exhibitionism". Like in an other thread where you mentioned that most people have god intentions, nudity is mostly depicted as bad, although in most natural situation, there's nothing bad about being naked.

Take somebody sunbathing naked on a beach, just casually lying on his/her towel, reading a book or chatting. Does this person have bad intention? Probably not. However, if the beach is not a nude beach, this person will be asked to wear a swimsuit and probably fined or arrested for lewd behavior. This does not make any sense. This is one of the reasons I've decided to live naked respectfully with others. Respectfully means consent in my mind. I'm not going to impose my nudity onto others, however, I will get their consent and live naked with them if they agree (which, in my past experience, happens 99% of the time).

An interesting point of view but I'm not sure i agree. I'm sure there are some people you would never gain acceptance from.  It's important to remember we have rights to. I could be spoilt by where  I live. We actually don't have official nude beaches as by creating official nude beaches because by creating them you automatically make the others non-nude beaches. In reality here nudity is allowed on any beach. Our law defines nudity as self expression and that new zealanders have the right to self expression.

TTherefore I always try not to offend but I will always remember that we have rights as well and it is important not to let them be eroded.

It would be nice if nudity was treated as self expression here in the US but I don't think I'll see that change in attitudes (and the law) in my lifetime.

It's weird how the attitude to nudity differs so much between the US and Europe,  with the UK falling somewhere in between.  The legal position on nudity here has got more liberal over time but the attitude of the populace hasn't always moved with it.  A lot of people here still think it's illegal however the judiciary and law enforcement know it is not.

One of the issues we face is the predominant of American media in the English speaking world.  They carry the puritanical undertones of American society intrinsically. Thus a lot of people are influenced by that.  Interesting that a society of that ilk produces and generates so much porn creating the link between sex and nudity.

That said I beleive the only way to actually get acceptance is to be seen living a normal life according to our ethos. The more we  interact with friends, neighbours, family and acquaintances in accordance with our lifestyle the more we will normalize it.

The several questions are, in reality, all directed to body confidence in different scenarios.

I am body confident. That confidence has grown with experience and with age, but my confidence is founded upon the way I was treated as a child by my wonderful parents, who regarded nudity as a normal state of being-as normal as being clothed.

My being naked is not an enjoyment of being naked per se, it is simply an acknowledgement of the way I choose to be, and I enjoy myself-whether alone or in company-regardless of being naked or clothed.

That said, there are obvious instances where being naked is inappropriate. Travelling by bus or train, shopping, collecting children from school…and a miriad of other such instances where being clothed is the norm. Indeed, I recognise (as must we all) that social propriety requires clothes to normally be worn.

But when the occasion arises, I am happy to be naked with others. Indeed, I welcome the company of other naked or clothed people, friends or strangers, but normally in such circumstances where I am satisfied that no-one would be surprised by my lack of attire. That said, I have often been on the beach or out walking and met people (strangers) who are clothed and had good conversation. Indeed, just some 5 weeks ago I was swimming (naked) on a textile beach and as I started to leave a father with his young daughter came up to me and asked if I knew I was swimming with dolphins. Nothing was said about my being naked and it is generally my experience that people are accepting.  

This post was edited by Woodbeforebreakfast at August 6, 2025 10:37 PM BST