It’s always great to have these Forum Friday post that brings forward previous topics. It’s a fascinating question to which I answer simply that I really enjoy seeing other people naked. It’s not for sexual or titillation reasons, as you may have guessed, but for what I would call genuine naturist reasons. Let me explain.

—I remember when, as a kid, I was exposed for the first time to nudists, it felt strange and one side and totally natural on the other, as my parents got naked and I got naked too. It was the first time I was seeing my parents naked and after a few seconds it felt totally normal. Everyone on this beach was naked and everyone was minding their own business. Nudity felt totally appropriate in this context.
—When, a few years later, I came to naturism again partially because I was feeling incredibly comfortable entirely naked and because I felt that nudity was just the right way to be on a beach.
—Then, when I became a regular naturist to resorts and beaches, nudity became completely “normal”, the way to be. There should have been a tipping point, but I cannot remember when, the crux of the matter was that I discovered I was feeling better when seeing naked people than seeing people wearing bathing suits. To me it felt that either the bathing suit was ridiculous or was a way to attract attention. Naked people, in contrast, did not have anything to show up but themselves, vulnerable and comfortable.
—At that moment, I really realised the difference between a sexualised naked body and a naturist naked body, the difference you see between a naked model posing to attract sexual attention and a naturist doing normal things naked. The line became really clear in my mind and made me rethink about my relationship to other naked people.
—Being with other naked and seeing other naked people around me make me happy. I cannot say why nor can explain the deep reason, except that I probably feel a sense of belonging. I asked myself multiple time why I felt the way I felt. It's true that many naked bodies in a naturist setting are far from being perfect, but because I love seeing all of them, this tells me there’s a deep reason and that’s probably related to that sense of belonging I was referring too. Nudists and naturists are part of the same “tribe”, they are naked not for the sake of showing up, but for the sake of being comfortable, and comfortable they are.
—I love seeing comfortable people; hence I love seeing comfortable naturists in their birthday suits.

I thought as well about the many naturist pictures that exist on ANW or the ones that you can see on various social networks. I love seeing naked people having a normal life, enjoying life in their birthday suit. I’m amazed of the many differences that exist between human beings, at this incredible diversity that is really “exposed” while being naked. I think this is another dimension I enjoy when seeing naked people. And not it’s not about penises, vulvas or breasts, it’s about the body as one. I find naked bodies are inherently beautiful and fascinating. This is another reason probably I love seeing naked bodies.

There's, however, a question in the original post from Stephen that made me think: “Is it OK for nudists to get turned on in their mind seeing someone nude but not acting on it?” Well, the fact is that I’m not “turned on”, so I don’t have to act on it. There’s an obvious line between sexual nudity and social nudity in a naturist context. It may happen that I get turned on when seeing a beautiful person that displays some sexual attractiveness, as we are sexual beings, but I have a brain and will not act on it, of course. However, in most of the situation, I enjoy seeing naked people without being “turned on”.

I think one of the joys of naturism is its social dimension, the “tribe” effect I was mentioning. Part of it is seeing people comfortable in their own skin, living their own life and participating in activities with joy and happiness.

I truly believe seeing naked bodies as evil or dirty is a disease. Naked bodies are normal and natural. We should not be shocked at seeing our own natural self. Shame and shock are human construct built by society, culture and religion to manipulate people. Acknowledging our humanity is believing nudity is natural and seeing it as totally normal and beautiful. I know I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, and the world would be more at peace if people respected each other differences, starting by accepting seeing each other naked, vulnerable, with nothing to hide or display.

Yes, I love seeing naked people, I love being with naked people, I love naturists, nudists, naturism and nudism, I love the comfort of being naked alone and with others. That’s because I’m a proud and passionate naturist.

With Love,

marc