Experiment #5

[Ed]

As usual, we’ve got a huge list of male candidates for Experiment #5 and just one female candidate (there were two more but they changed their minds). So we have from now until the end of the lockdown to find (at least) two more female participants. If social distancing is still a necessary thing after the lockdown ends, that could make for an interesting experiment session.

I’ve tried getting some of the women who have taken part in previous experiments to return for this next one but the consensus seems to be that doing it once is a “challenge” or “experience” but doing it more than once is “weird”.

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[Prof Green]

When the conversation at social gatherings turns to “bucket lists” it seems fairly common for women to have getting naked on their list but then they say they can’t do it yet because the world isn’t ready or it’s too cold or they need to spend time in the gym or whatever. That would be consistent with the women you’ve spoken to just wanting to do it once for the challenge. Of course we’re all individuals though.

Speaking for myself, I imagine I’d find it very difficult the first time but then I’d want to do it again, and probably enjoy it more once I was able to relax into it a bit.

The women who used to join in when we played strip games did so repeatedly, but I suppose it’s different when you’re doing it as part of a social group. We weren’t just assembling to play strip games, we were a mixed group of long-term friends getting together in any case and it was one way we used to have some fun and express ourselves. (I need to find a way of restarting those when things get back to a bit more normal but I suspect the day-to-day practicalities of distance and family life will still get in the way – we haven’t done it for ages now.)

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[Prof Green]

Also on the subject of repetition, I sometimes visit an online forum where people discuss all manner of social and hobby activities and a few sections there are places where people can post naked pictures, either ones they’ve found online or ones of themselves. Most naked photos are posted from single-purpose accounts with names like “Look_at_me_naked” but a small number post on other topics as well as sending in pictures of their own bodies, almost always from the neck down. I noticed one woman who was posting about something else altogether (trees, I think!) and she mentioned that she also sometimes posted on a “naughty” (her word) forum because it gave her some affirmation that she was a good-looking and open-minded human. She did that now and again, not just once, presumably to remind herself that she was accepted in that way.

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[Ed]

It’s a very difficult area to get right. I tend to stay away from mentioning positive feedback from viewers to female potential participants. Back when I did, it often worked well but annoyingly often caused them to drop out. Maybe I should be more willing to take risks?

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[Martin]

Fingers crossed you manage to find the right mix that you want.

I agree that mixed is best for experiments such as this. As a reader of the previous published experiments, it was better reading about the mixed experiments. As a hopeful participant in future, I can see part of it is the unusual aspect of doing it once and that you have played on that “initial reluctance” – which may be adding to the sense of “weirdness” to do it again.

I am sure you have, but have you asked previous female participants what change they would make to repeat the experiment? With any returning experiment participant, as with any reader of the published ones, there will be advance knowledge of what happened before that means you could (a) use any returning participant as a facilitator and (b) go further than before with new participants.

[Ed]

I was hoping the experiment reports would “spread the word” more than they have so far. It would be great to try out some more daring things such as the bodypainting on the Horizon show the experiments were originally based on, and more outdoor stuff etc.

There probably will be a tendency for experiment sessions to push a little further each time anyway and explore new areas, but it would be cool to get together a group of more daring people to see where this could go.

I should start a thread for experiment suggestions.

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[RRos]

Would you be willing to attach a photo/video of the kind of bodypainting you’re thinking of? I haven’t heard of the Horizon show

[Ed]

Firstly, here’s some information on the show:
https://docuwiki.net/index.php?title=What%27s_the_Problem_with_Nudity

It looks like pictures are going to take some time as the BBC gremlins appear to have attempted to remove all media from the show from the Internet again! I’ve got the whole thing on an external HDD somewhere.

[Martin]

Certainly up for outdoor and body painting. And being the only one naked lol

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[RRos]

If I was ever in the UK, and I hope to be as participating in one of these experiments is newly on my bucket list, I would also be down for body painting and being the only one naked. Maybe even outdoors, so long as it was secluded enough that I wouldn’t get arrested. Sadly though, I won’t be able to help with your gender issues, as I’m male.

Also, weird question, do you allow pseudonyms for participants that end up in a book, or only real names?

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by RRos.

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[Ed]

Most participants use pseudonyms. I won’t tell you which don’t, for obvious reasons! 🙂

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[RRos]

Would you be able to do an Experiment, even a mini-one, via something like Skype video if this quarantine lasts? Just a thought, since I’m based in the US and that’s the only way I could participate other than a lengthy flight, not that I would be ready for that quite yet anyway

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[Ed]

If anyone can find any women at all who are willing to take part in an experiment via webcam, absolutely. My experience so far is that they all seem to fear the other participants recording it and uploading it to a video-sharing site afterwards.

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[Ed]

Looks like the #5 I’ve been planning will become #6. Another experiment has just lined itself up for me. All I need now is for the lockdown to end.

Actually there’s a slim chance that I might get permission to publish another experiment that’s already been completed but I’m still negotiating that one.

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[Gary]

The outdoor experiment is definitely something I want to try and would love to take part, especially if there is a risk of being seen (I assume you’ll find a location that’s appropriate)

 

Please keep us all updated on this

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[Ed]

I’ve scouted a few suitable locations for this. Numbers would be limited as it essentially works better if everyone is in the same vehicle.

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[Prof Green]

I wonder what happened next after a couple of the previous experiments. Did the netball team publish their naked calendar? How did Anni’s housemates / husband / cat react to her arriving home naked from her quiet afternoon out?

(Image not from the book.)

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[Author]

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