Conference moira::naturism

    
    re .0
    
    
    >NATURISTS may skinnydip with family members or feel comfortable with
    >body freedom in larger social gatherings.
    
    
    This sentence seems to stand out in the list of statements. Maybe
    it's the wording (ie skinnydip) that makes it seem juvenile in light of
    the other statements. I would think the NATURISTS would not only swim
    nude with family members, but many other things as well.
    
    ed

I take skinny-dipping as a spontaneous naked swim with somebody.  I don't feel
it is a juvenile statement.  However, my dictionary says skinny-dipping is 
swimming in the nude.  Spontaneous or not!  :-)

Judy

For me, the word "skinnydipping" neatly sums up the fact that there are 
millions of people who might occasionally take off all their clothes for
a quick swim, alone or with their family or a few friends.  Many of these
people aren't "nudists" or "naturists", and aren't engaging in "clothing-
optional activity".  

I'm hard-put to explain exactly what the difference is.  It seems to have
something to do with informality.  Maybe it's that "skinnydipping" is an
American tradition, right along with apple pie and the 4th of July, while
"nudism" is exotic and suspect.

On the one hand, the skinnydipping tradition can generate a certain
legitimacy for nudism -- "We aren't doing anything that Americans haven't
been doing for centuries, without ever thinking twice about it".  On the
other hand, it's important to remember that the true skinnydipper, who
occasionally swims nude in the local swimming hole on hot summer afternoons,
probably has no particular interest in the legal and cultural ramifications
of nudity in American society, and no desire to be dragged into the nudist
movement.

	-Neil

    I didn't quite understand the inference about clothing making one the
    pawn of the state.  
    
    It occurs to me that each of us is to some degree a pawn of the society
    in which we live, and that any expression of the freedom of the soul
    makes us less of a pawn (acted upon) and more of an active participant.
    Shedding my clothes is one such expression of my freedom.
    
    The state is clearly one of the many organs of the society in which we
    live, but, as the state doesn't hold the monopoly on enforcement, and
    routinely abdicates in the face of controversy responsibility it might
    be construed to have,  I think the clause is overstated and
    unsupported.  The state is a problem, but not the primary problem.
    
    In many parts of the country, particularly in the deep south, I suspect
    that the state is probably at least marginally more progressive than
    popular  sentiment.  They can't _afford_ to be _much_ more progressive
    than  popular sentiment, as it is popular sentiment that chooses who
    will govern.  This is democracy operating as it should.  It is popular 
    sentiment which needs to change.  Accomplishing this is also a part of
    the democratic process. That is the purpose of a free press and free
    speech.  This requires more education and persuasion than direct
    political action.
    
    Question of the hour:  How does one demonstrate to an open-minded but
    conservative individual (yes, they do exist) that nudity isn't
    tantamount to sexual anarchy?
    
    							Ralph

    
    .4> Question of the hour:  How does one demonstrate to an open-minded but
    .4> conservative individual (yes, they do exist) that nudity isn't
    .4> tantamount to sexual anarchy?
    
       Well, emphasizing the word demonstrate, one might attempt the
    following with said "open-minded but conservative individual"...
    
    	a) Take 'em to a nude beach and/or naturist resort. They go, keep
    	their bathing suit on, and witness for themselves that there aren't
    	any orgies going on. Maybe they'll even take their clothes off.
    
    	   Of course, this assumes that you take them to a place where
    	there isn't any sexual activity. Therefore, *some* nude beaches
    	might not be appropriate.
    
    	b) Take 'em to a party a Judy's (?) house. I've never been to one
    	but from the descriptions in this conference it seems like there
    	isn't any sex involved.  :-)
    
    	c) Take 'em to one of the NENA open events. Again, same caveat as
    	item b) above.
    
    	d) Shock treatment. Invite them to your house for a cup of coffee
    	and answer the door in the buff! Don't make any sexual advances
    	towards them while they're with you.  :-)
    
    
    Frank
    

If you answer your door in the buff, your friends may decide they have the 
wrong house and leave!  ;-)

We took some friends to a local hut-tub rental place, started with suits on
but took the suits off while still in the water.  It just felt natural to 
continue being nude and never put the suits back on.  No one seemed to be
uptight about getting out of the tub nude, I don't think they were comfortable
with the idea of being nude when we first got in tho.  We have hut-tubbed
together since and naturally start off nude now.

When Ben was here a year ago, he stayed with us one night.  Sure was nice not 
to have to worry about putting a robe on before leaving the bedroom (we sleep 
in the nude) or worry about being completely dressed before traipsing out into 
the kitchen. 

It was a much different scene when Bob's aunt stayed with us for 2+ weeks.  It
was a drag to insure we were properly attired before scooting from room to room.
We were in much better moods after she left.  It is amazing what the freedom
away from clothing can do for the mind!  :-)

Judy

    Last summer I had a non-naturist friend living with me for a month
    while he and his wife worked some problems and it about drove me crazy
    having to remember to wear something around the house. 
    
    -j