Edward CharliontheBeach
I believe BareOaks in Ontario has classes as well, although nothing like the daily more structured classroom I'm envisioning here. This is definitely fairy tale nudist village stuff though.
December 20, 2021
steve Kelly
like the ruldolph analogy too. reminds me of the blind eye drawn to the jack and the beanstalk story where jack trespasses, steals and kills, in order to get what he wants.
Anna ANWInteresting thoughts as always. I suppose like most stories of this kind - Rudolph is sort of a fairy tale they are open to levels of interpretation and maybe depending on the culture you live in you may see them differently. When I grew up I immediately... moreInteresting thoughts as always. I suppose like most stories of this kind - Rudolph is sort of a fairy tale they are open to levels of interpretation and maybe depending on the culture you live in you may see them differently. When I grew up I immediately thought that the other reindeers were narrow minded bigoted bullies just as many children can be - mocking other children because of lisps, glasses, hair colouring , weight etc - as it seemed to me that the reindeer were childlike. Father Christmas then enters the scene and not really needing Rudolph (as surely over the hundreds of years there have been other foggy nights) but chooses him to head the sleigh to make him feel more important and to get the other deer to consider how foolish they have been to mock him for such a silly thing and to suggest difference can be a good thing and to put them in their place. The moral being that those that are teased will be given more love that those that give the teasing. less
Anna ANWThe Rudolph cartoon has never really been given airplay in the UK maybe that is a good thing. It is interesting to consider a point of view on a more grown up level. Like Dumbo, Rudolph in a more adult world, is only accepted because he has something to... moreThe Rudolph cartoon has never really been given airplay in the UK maybe that is a good thing. It is interesting to consider a point of view on a more grown up level. Like Dumbo, Rudolph in a more adult world, is only accepted because he has something to offer above the skills of the other deer. I guess in that world if there was no fog he would have remained hated and unwanted.
Edward CharliontheBeach
The animated special definitely ramps up the negativity here. It establishes that Christmas will be canceled due to the weather, and only Rudolph's nose saves it.
December 20, 2021
steve Kelly
a religious festival canceldd because it's foggy? as anna said there were other foggy christmas eves and its not foggy the world over
steve Kelly
very good, people have a issue with male teachers irrespective of nudity, they also have an issue with child nudity despite children the world over being nude at bath time. so both taboos together makes the ill informed more itchy about it.
SimonInteresting question about the the off-frame teacher. I had already pegged that person as female almost instantaneously. Subconsciously I must have connected gender to primary school, and there IS a big bias toward female teachers in the 5-11 age range... moreInteresting question about the the off-frame teacher. I had already pegged that person as female almost instantaneously. Subconsciously I must have connected gender to primary school, and there IS a big bias toward female teachers in the 5-11 age range so I'm not sure if I should feel guilty for the stereotyping or not...
steve Kelly
irrespective of the need for more men in early years education, especially for boys who have no male role models, the subliminal paranoia over men and kids means getting a foot in the door as a male is very tricky as i know from my own experience.
December 16, 2021
A Naturist FamilyThanks for the fascinating insight into the everyday realities of the fictional world that is growing around Charli. I instantly thought the teacher was a woman - partly as most primary teachers are but also because everyone in the strip today was... moreThanks for the fascinating insight into the everyday realities of the fictional world that is growing around Charli. I instantly thought the teacher was a woman - partly as most primary teachers are but also because everyone in the strip today was feminine so I think that also took me to the people off screen being feminine too. Incidentally we love spend a bit of time while the boys are at school at the beach. It doesn't happen often but it is a great adventure and a bit of escapism when it does. We have not had anyone "baby sit" the boys since we moved our things to Spain seven years ago - so school time is not just a time to get on with work but occasionally a time to run away and feel free of parenting duties for an hour or two. Oh this is Anna by the way. less
Free Hiker
I agree with the others. I assumed female. Having worked in education I found most teachers of that age are female, with some schools 95 to 100% female.
steve Kellygiven i have taught infants children, 4-7s, i did assume a woman, but how do we know there is only one adult as there needs to be an adult child ratio according to the age of the children and the number present. April is meant to be around six so would... moregiven i have taught infants children, 4-7s, i did assume a woman, but how do we know there is only one adult as there needs to be an adult child ratio according to the age of the children and the number present. April is meant to be around six so would probably be a ration of 4:1, four kids to one adult, so a class of 20 would have 5 adults to supervise a day trip. Also i wonder if the teachers are nude
SimonMy daughter aged about 4, at her first nudie event at Abbey House Gardens in 2012, chose a moment of quiet in a crowded cafe to ask me loudly why some boys have hairy willies! There were lots of red letter moments that day. That one sticks in my mind... moreMy daughter aged about 4, at her first nudie event at Abbey House Gardens in 2012, chose a moment of quiet in a crowded cafe to ask me loudly why some boys have hairy willies! There were lots of red letter moments that day. That one sticks in my mind clearly. Can't imagine why. Thing is, it's a perfectly good question for a young child to ask, at the right time of the life, where the answer is useful and not at all scarey or inappropriate. Without nudity though they will never get to form the question or wonder about that part of the body at all, and they will get all the way to puberty knowing absolutely nothing. No wonder teenagers are so embarrassed and scared. less
FamilyNaturallyI was born on the East Coast Region of the United States in the 80's. This was a time when the routine infant circumcision trend was at its peak. Fortunately for me, my mom happened to read a magazine that questioned the practice. She decided not to... moreI was born on the East Coast Region of the United States in the 80's. This was a time when the routine infant circumcision trend was at its peak. Fortunately for me, my mom happened to read a magazine that questioned the practice. She decided not to allow my foreskin to be removed. This is something I am always grateful for. So many parents naively continue the tradition of genital cutting without giving any thought to the ethical implications of removing healthy body parts from children. They also put their infants at risk of infection and other complications including permanent disfigurement when things go wrong. Needless to say, my wife and I replied with a forceful "NO!" when the doctor asked if we wanted to cut off a piece of our son's penis. I hope the day comes soon when the normal male anatomy will become the norm in the United States, and doctors quit asking parents if they want to cut their newborn children's genitals. less
December 13, 2021
a.b.y.a. CInteresting that I never got asked these questions. Maybe it has to do with us being naked at home all the time together that everything seems normal. An important message here is also that in most cases it's important to not make assumptions in... moreInteresting that I never got asked these questions. Maybe it has to do with us being naked at home all the time together that everything seems normal. An important message here is also that in most cases it's important to not make assumptions in communication, no matter you are talking to a child or an adult. Don't assume. Check first. Then respond. It always makes things easier.
Edward CharliontheBeach
That second part is definitely what I was going for here. As for the questions, I'm sure naturists get them far less than non-naturists. In the comic, Ryder was just goffing on his dad but it was a nice way to broach the conversation.
A Naturist FamilyMen have a brilliant way of thinking "They know best" and using their imposed authority and interfering to put things right. Men have a need to impress. This usually results in making things worse or them ending up with egg on their face. Look at how... moreMen have a brilliant way of thinking "They know best" and using their imposed authority and interfering to put things right. Men have a need to impress. This usually results in making things worse or them ending up with egg on their face. Look at how most world leaders and politicians are men and consider the mess we are in. Is this Anna or Steve writing as "A Naturist Family"? If it is Anna then she can be seen as having a go at the opposite sex - if it is Steve then he is acting enlightened towards the failings of his gender. But either way the complaint is stereotypically true. less
December 6, 2021
Vitor & FernandaI don't know... One could descent into the rabbit hole when overanalysing. For instance: the women are the ones holding the kids; all middle aged couples are overweight; there's diversity among genital shaving, yet none of the women have hairy armpits...... moreI don't know... One could descent into the rabbit hole when overanalysing. For instance: the women are the ones holding the kids; all middle aged couples are overweight; there's diversity among genital shaving, yet none of the women have hairy armpits... I'd say that most of this gaslighting terminology and general "over-woke" feelings towards genre roles is more harmful than anything. Honestly, what I see is that removing masculine and feminine traits of everybody in the world would create the total amalgamation of... nothing. less
Edward CharliontheBeachExcept that gaslighting and gender roles have led to some of the most heinous abuses against people that have been 'acceptable' by society for far too long. Masculinity has become almost singularly toxic and fragile and there is ABSOLUTELY no such term... moreExcept that gaslighting and gender roles have led to some of the most heinous abuses against people that have been 'acceptable' by society for far too long. Masculinity has become almost singularly toxic and fragile and there is ABSOLUTELY no such term as 'over-woke'.
If we're equating the 'harm' caused to men when their awful behaviours are pointed out with the harm to women caused by men who abuse them constantly in the name of the patriarchy then there is no comparison whatsoever.
As to the physicality of the cartoon characters, you'll note that they are... Cartoon characters, and are constantly evolving. You've also only seen a small sample of the overall cast so far, and if you read the original strip you'll see even more diversity there. I will sometimes fall on my biases, but I work on it and try to be better
As we all should. less
Steve ANWI was going to write "Just when you thought it was safe to go back into ANW" as a shark reference but your accompanying writing leaves more important thoughts - as is so often the case. So I would like to add that I agree with your thought process here.... moreI was going to write "Just when you thought it was safe to go back into ANW" as a shark reference but your accompanying writing leaves more important thoughts - as is so often the case. So I would like to add that I agree with your thought process here. I have never seen a big issue with paintings, sculptures and photos that show nudity in a natural way. From my childhood I have always seen that as totally part of art and a important aspect of portraying humanity. The more society continues to get wrapped up in the idea that the human body should be censored the more we build damaging ideas into our larger community and the stronger our self loathing, mistrust and levels of abuse and perversion become. It is very simple - tell a child often enough that he/she is naughty and he/she will believe it and become naughty if not in reality certainly in the mind. Child abusers use similar tactics on their victims, people can do the same to their pets or their partners. Society is doing it to itself and then... less
Steve ANW
Society is doing it to itself and then wonders why we are so messed up. Naturism as we have said won't cure the world but it could be a start in putting it right.
steve Kelly
exactly, shame is what allows an abuser to abuse, yet society shames their children and puts the fear of god up them that people are out to hurt them. all In the name of child protection.
Steve ANWWe came across Sally Mann's wonderful photographs many years back before they seemed to cause any controversy and thought nothing of them at all apart from they were lovely natural images of children she obviously cared for and was proud of. Some of the... moreWe came across Sally Mann's wonderful photographs many years back before they seemed to cause any controversy and thought nothing of them at all apart from they were lovely natural images of children she obviously cared for and was proud of. Some of the images were nudes and they seemed just as natural and normal as the dressed images. I was so shocked when shortly later they seemed to cause such offense. Maybe those that don't see the innocence in and of life need to ask themselves why?
Edward CharliontheBeachSally Mann was the reason I got into photography. Her Black and White work was so divine that I was transformed. I tried for years to come even close, and every now and then I feel I almost did... but she was a master, and in the digital age, that old... moreSally Mann was the reason I got into photography. Her Black and White work was so divine that I was transformed. I tried for years to come even close, and every now and then I feel I almost did... but she was a master, and in the digital age, that old feel of the Large Format camera she used has never really been captured again, I feel.
November 9, 2021
Steve ANWYes like the difference in cell and computer animation, feature film recording choices and for many vinyl and cd. We gain a lot but lose something too. I guess that is one of the reasons we also still paint even though photography has been around for... moreYes like the difference in cell and computer animation, feature film recording choices and for many vinyl and cd. We gain a lot but lose something too. I guess that is one of the reasons we also still paint even though photography has been around for about 200 years. Different mediums offer different layers and textures and effect us in different ways. Like the human body itself - striving for perfection beyond reality can result in a lot less rather than more. Vanity fed cosmetic surgery, air brushing and modern Playboy style ideas of beauty create a sterile and cold image of the human body that is no more interesting than a Barbie or Ken doll. less
November 10, 2021
steve Kelly'Playboy style ideas of beauty create a sterile and cold image of the human body that is no more interesting than a Barbie or Ken doll. '
the irony being people who pay a fortune to have plastic surgery to look like the aforementioned ken and barbie... more'Playboy style ideas of beauty create a sterile and cold image of the human body that is no more interesting than a Barbie or Ken doll. '
the irony being people who pay a fortune to have plastic surgery to look like the aforementioned ken and barbie are treated with more respect than those who chose to to simply like the body they have
November 10, 2021
steve Kelly
i find it quite disturbing when i hear so called sane people say only pedos are interested in kids, irrespective of naturism this is a disturbing mindset for society to have
Edward CharliontheBeachIt's been a growing concern for quite some time. When I worked in childcare, I'd constantly be asked to 'explain' why I wanted to work with children, when no female had the same asked of them. My answer was simple, "The same reason anyone does". I... moreIt's been a growing concern for quite some time. When I worked in childcare, I'd constantly be asked to 'explain' why I wanted to work with children, when no female had the same asked of them. My answer was simple, "The same reason anyone does". I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of indulging their biases. Yes, there are problematic people out there, and yes, the vast majority of them are male... but on a WHOLE, society wide, that number is fractionally tiny. As a parent you can and should exercise caution and safety for your children at all times, but to view one set of humanity as inherently more dangerous to your children is ridiculous. less
November 13, 2021
steve Kellyi agree, was at a bus stop once and a little girl asked what bus i was getting, i said the same one as you (there's only one service) her mother told her not to talk to strangers and it's a good job she can see her.
later on the bus she is talking to a... morei agree, was at a bus stop once and a little girl asked what bus i was getting, i said the same one as you (there's only one service) her mother told her not to talk to strangers and it's a good job she can see her.
later on the bus she is talking to a woman and telling her daughter to tell this female stranger her name.
teaching kids that stranger = man is so stupid when they should be taught to be warry of any adult asking them to help or go with them.
I think the reason I never got paid employment in child care was the hidden paranoia of a man working with kids. they are crying out for more men in child care, especially in early years education, then the paranoia kicks in and they dont employ any.
one school i worked in voluntarily, I was not allowed to handle money, give medication or change the children who soiled themselves, because i was a volunteer.
Ok, no problem. but the all female staff made such a big deal about the fact i could not change the kids they actually made themselves more... less
November 13, 2021
FamilyNaturallyThis is a very good assessment of the current situation. The innocent nude human body is being hidden and censored, while sexualized nudity is proliferating at an alarming rate. I often see articles on social media about the popularity of sites like Only... moreThis is a very good assessment of the current situation. The innocent nude human body is being hidden and censored, while sexualized nudity is proliferating at an alarming rate. I often see articles on social media about the popularity of sites like Only Fans, but nothing about naturism. People are perfectly fine with women selling sexualized nudity on voyeurism sites, yet adverse to the innocent nudity inherent in naturism. I also scratch my head and wonder what happened to the golden days of naturism I've heard about. There was a brief moment where many families in the U.S. gathered for naturist events. But now, there are almost no kids at U.S. naturist venues. This is not surprising when you consider the fact that naturists who are open about taking their kids to naturist events risk being ostracized by non-naturist friends. less