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To be honest I never liked the description “naturist” – humans are animals of culture and consciousness and can’t “get back to nature” just as foxes can’t stop being part of it. Once you are aware of something called “nature” you can’t be part of it except in a very general way. As creatures of culture clothes are our natural habitat so to speak. So when I joined a naturist club or when I was nude on a beach what was I? In a vague way I was a “nudist”but that raised more questions than answers. After much thought I decided that what I was came under two “bad” headings, I was an exhibitionist and a narciscist which I hope is what this site is about. What follows is an attempt to tell the truth about those terms as they related to me and I tell it in the hope that it finds some resonance with you.
Why one becomes narciscistic I don’t know but I was always extremely attractive as a child and maybe being fed attention and praise for it fed the narciscism. The physical beauty remained through puberty and into adulthood and it became supercharged by sexual maturity; I was both bi-sexual, seemingly highly sexed and necessarily uninhibited and so sought ways of sexual expression, nudity was the most effective and immediately sexy. Not only did exhibitionism invite a response it also gave a certain degree of power, effectively it was a sexual invitation for a response at whatever level the invitee chose. Being an exhibitionist always gave me a frisson, a heightened sexual awareness and aliveness. Being naked was never a neutral “natural” condition that naturists claim, it was always sexual. Because of the narcisitic element I didn’t always need an audience; if I had one I hoped for a sexual response at whatever level but being naked and alone always ended in sexual activity.
Narcisism and exhibitionism are usually seen as negative qualities but like all human personality traits we all have them in greater or lesser quantities and they are no more blameworthy than any others and no more chosen by us than any other however I have to confess that being both N and E has added a positive and enjoyable element to my life. I hope there are others on this site who can identify with this
Susan likes this
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I don’t know if it still applies, but on many French beaches they used to call them Nudist if nudity was mandatory (“Nudité obligatoire”), and “Naturist” if nudity was allowed. Of course, nudity was generally accepted on French beaches anyway, so “Zone Naturist” just mean normal beach.
Exhibitionism does have a negative taint in society as a whole, conjuring up images of flashers and perverts. The thing is, most people find it fun and a thrill to see a streaker and many people have tried streaking, skinny dipping, taking part in a charity nude event or even playing a strip game. Some sports teams streak themselves as an initiation. People who wear skimpy or transparent clothing are demonstrating an exhibitionist streak (no pun intended!) and a lot of people enjoy seeing them. I find it hard to see it as harmful, offensive or a problem in any way.
Like most things in life, so long as it isn’t taken too far, it’s enjoyable and usually completely harmless. Those who are offended by the naked bodies of others are a very small minority.
I’ve spoken to many, many nudists over the past few years and the vast majority say there is that element of thrill to it, it’s a challenge at first, something quite out of the ordinary and they like being seen. I’ve spoken to some life-long nudists who still love to see other people naked, even though they have spent a large portion of the last few decades naked with lots of other naked people, it still gives them a buzz.
Susan likes this
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Agree ..going nude still gives me a thrill & feels kindof naughty ..is that wrong?
and Susan like this
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Yes I find its a mixture of freedom and as you say heightened sexual awareness .. often naked in the garden even if wife isn’t ..there again that type of CFNM situation is also fun & exciting
Susan likes this
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I always think that it’s the opening of a sexual conversation even if you have to talk to yourself! And being bi-sexual I have more conversational options – being seen or exhibiting to males and females and, of course, whatever the response (pretty much) is exciting
Susan likes this
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@grgsum Society pretty much ensures that nudity feels naughty.
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- Ace Poster
For me, “naturism” feels slightly organised, as in naturist club, as in British Naturism (https://www.bn.org.uk/aboutus/), whereas “nudism” is what people like me do in private. Having said that, I call myself a naturist, not a nudist. I used to think it was sexual but it’s become normal for me now. I sometimes think I’ve lost something though. I miss the thrill. Stripgames are slightly different. We test our boundaries a bit (very gently) so the sense of thrill is always there. I can still feel my heart beating louder throughout a game. It’s a thrill because it feels naughty, and part of the naughtiness is the chance of becoming aroused. A much bigger part of it is just that people aren’t meant to do this!
Don Smith likes this
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That sounds about right.
I would be sad if seeing people naked lost its thrill. It’s getting close to the only one I’ve got left.
Susan likes this
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I remember watching a documentary about naturism / nudism and the terminology was explained as follows:
Naturists tend to be the older more traditional group, who regard public nudity as completely asexual and in terms of health benefits (improving your Vitamin D hit for instance) and companionship
Nudists tend to be from the younger generation, and as such are more sexually liberated, and play up to the naked-means-naughty mentality. There is (or was) a lot of feuding between these two factions.
Exhibitionism I think is separate again from the two above as this implies displaying one’s body to be looked at and admired (and possibly to cause shock) – that’s my take…
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In the UK “naturist” seems to be the party line though nudist is popular and often derogatory among non practitioners. “Naturist” is given a spurious legitimacy by its back to nature pretentions and its semi radical history but I would argue that all public nudity is exhibitionism though getting organised naturism to admit that would just open too many cans of worms. Thus us honest exhibitionists stay unofficial, excluded and offer no threat to the status quo either within or without the “movement.” Can you imagine, though, the effect of socially accepted exhibitionism?
Susan likes this
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If exhibitionism became socially acceptable it would not be fun any more! The thrill would be gone! ;-(
and Steve like this
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- Ace Poster
Yes, it would be a very different world for lots of us. I’d like to go somewhere that mixed nakedness is acceptable. Burning Man? Oktoberfest? Sauna in Finland?
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I have to admit that because of my inexperience with being naked around others I am not sure exactly which category that I would fit into. The thing is that I am extremely shy and inhibited and I think that that is kind of what the idea of being naked in front of other people gives me kind of a buzz, particularly dressed people as my primary interest is being the only one naked in sort of like a CFNM situation.
But I have never been in a situation like that and if I was in a situation like that I know that I would be cripplingly embarrassed like beet red blushing trembling. So I feel like exhibitionist doesn’t quite apply because that implies that you are very comfortable being naked and comfortable with your body and like showing off. I by contrast would be trying to cover myself up if I were naked even though I would be getting extremely excited by being in such a humiliating position.
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I identify as nudist. I think naturists have committee meetings and take minutes. Not an exhibitionist as being seen naked does nothing for me, it’s just incidental. I wish it did as tens of thousands of people have seen me naked. I’d be very happy.
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Ha! So clever. “….naturists have committee meeting and take minutes.” Love it! I’m with you. Love being naked …. even in pubic places. I wouldn’t to to a committee meeting even if it was all in the nude. 😉 ‘Wish I could somehow know how many people have seen me naked or seen my nude photos.
and Steve like this
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I was introduced to social nudity by people who called themselves nudists, I loved being naked with them so I started to think of myself as a nudist from that point. I tend to agree with the general ideas expressed above about the differences between the term – nudist, naturist and exhibitionist. At various times I’m all three, principally I prefer being naked wherever I can be but if I have to tag myself I use nudist. I’m also a voyeur, after many years of social nudism I still love seeing other naked people, especially in situations where we’re not shy about enjoying each others nudity more explicitly than in groups with committees that make rules about social conduct while naked will normally allow for.
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What is the point of socialising naked with friends, strangers or both if you only look each other in the eye? As some naturists/nudists claim to do. Yet if you’re talking to such people in a nude setting and you’re trying to remember so-and-so’s name by describing them they’re quite likely to say something like ” do you mean the person who is XX tall, with brown eyes, a scar on their hip and they shave their body?” A description they couldn’t make if they’d not looked this person up and down while nude! Its much nicer if we can appreciate the differences between us all while we’re nude together.
Susan likes this
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That’s right! What would be the point of me going to nude beaches and sharing my nude photos if it’s not so others can look at me? I love thinking that many men (and a few women) have had a moment of excitement and maybe pleasure from seeing me.
Lucky for me, I found a husband who is OK with this. I even got him to go to nude beaches with me!
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Really? There was I thinking you just showed people your nude photos and got naked at nude beaches to prove that you are a nudist! That is why I do both! I gave up waiting to play “I’ll show you mine if you show me your’s” a long time ago. Its a lot easier to start off showing everything! Its very easy to get used to, too! I hope you continue to enjoy being an extrovert nudist! Its great that your husband is OK with it too.
Susan likes this
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As far as I’ve been able to find out, at least 25% of the population in the UK have a measurable exhibitionist streak in them (find being seen naked exciting or arousing). It seems that about 1 in 4 or 5 men do and 1 in 3 women. Until recently it was seen as a mental illness. The more modern view is that it is extremely common and not indicative of other problems, therefore it is not an illness. Also (mostly in women I suspect) wearing revealing outfits etc. is often part of the human “mating ritual” in Western cultures so that can’t be a mental problem.
Of course, this does mean that a sizeable proportion of all nudist/naturists are also exhibitionists. Many are probably voyeurs too but I haven’t found any figures on how many of the general population are voyeurs. I would tend to argue that most men are, otherwise what the point be of women wearing revealing outfits?? You have to have both sides of the equation for it to work.
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- Ace Poster
“1 in 4 or 5 men do and 1 in 3 women” is interesting Men seem prepared to try out their exhibitionism on this site and at naked events. Where do women have a go though? Does going topless on a beach count as exhibitionist for women but not for men? That might explain the difference. As we’ve discussed previously, naked charity calendars seem to be mainly women but perhaps that’s just that the charity gets more money that way. There must be a risk that a male one wouldn’t cover its printing costs.
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I don’t think a male-only calendar would be worthwhile. Men are MUCH more likely to buy a naked calendar than women and the majority of men won’t buy one with no women in it.
My research over the years seems to show that whilst many women think flashing their boobs while drunk, wearing a highly revealing outfit on a night out or (to a lesser degree) taking part in a naked charity event is fun and an “experience”, any form of nudity without justification (I was drunk, it’s for charity etc.) is not acceptable.
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“Where do women have a go though?” From the evidence I’ve seen on this site women seem to get naked in their homes with a few friends and take photographs of each other to send to mutual friends!
If I was going to buy a charity calender that featured nudes I’d prefer to see naked females, mixed gender nude shots would be OK but all nude men isn’t my thing.
Susan likes this
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Well, I like to be topless whenever I go to any beach but my husband and I try to find nude beaches when we travel or at least, secluded beaches where we can be nude.
Also, I like posing nude or semi-nude for my husband’s camera. I know he has shared my pix with several of his friends. I don’t mind even though we both know what they are probably doing with my pix. And I’ve sent them myself to some online guys who asked to see me. I’ve sent four nudies to N.E. and hope you can find them all. I’ve told prof. green he can use any of them for his calendar. Maybe just me for a whole month of my own and also maybe photoshop another of my pix into a group with some nude guys….. like you.
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You are welcome to photoshop some images so we’re both nude in them if you like, or get someone else to do it if you prefer. I’ve been added to other manipulated photos of nudists, its a bit of fun, especially if the chances of being naked with the other people in them are remote due to distance etc. I’m nude on various websites and I have appeared in printed nudist magazines and in promotional material for a few nudist clubs (no jokes about the clubs now being closed!) If I decide I don’t want to be open about my nudism any more, its too late and I doubt that I will want to, so being nude with you in a photoshopped image would be a nice addition.
Susan likes this
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I think going topless at a public beach in the US would be exhibitionist. Not so much in Europe where it is much more common. I almost got into trouble once for being topless on a public beach where, I guess, it was not allowed. Two policeman came along and the older one sent the younger one to tell me I must put my top on or he could give me a ticked for ‘indecency’. Well, he was cute so I just said “Yes sir.” and put the top of my bikini on. But I couldn’t help noticing that his face got kinda red and his eyes were on my little boobies the whole time he was talking to me. After the two of them left, I took my top off again and a few people nearby, who had seen the whole thing, clapped for me.
All through the incident, my husband just sat by and didn’t say a word!!! 🙁 But afterword he told me he’d noticed the older policeman standing back and trying not to laugh at his younger partner as he did his public duty. 😉
and NudeNik like this
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I’ve never been a policeman, but if I had been the younger one I hope I’d have simply said that I appreciated you showing your boobies to the world but that my colleague was not so open-minded. So, perhaps you could just temporarily cover them up while I ensure that he is away from here, as soon as we are away please expose your boobies again to your hearts content!
Susan likes this
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The young guy was probably thinking something like that. I liked him. I smiled at him as I said ‘yes sir’ and I took my time with getting the bikini top on so he could have a good close up look. I know I’m wicked! 😉 But my boobies are so small…. he didn’t have that much to see.
NudeNik likes this
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Its nice to look someone in the eye just after they’ve been looking at your body. Apparently!
Susan likes this
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I really didn’t want to embarrass him but he was kinda asking for it. I just tried to be as friendly, even flirty,as I could while carrying out his orders. As I learned later from my husband, the older cop was having a good time with is all! All good fun.
NudeNik likes this
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I always think of nudist as someone who wants to live naked and naturist as someone who just goes to naturist beaches, maybe a naturist resort for their annual holiday. My research hasn’t specifically been into nudism but it does overlap, and it seems to be the difference between leisure and lifestyle.
Susan likes this
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I would live naked all the time if I was in a warm climate and could work nude.
Susan likes this
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What an interesting conversation! But remember the old saying, pix are worth 1000 words.
NudeNik likes this
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I agree that it is interesting, there are several recent points made here that I still want to get back on.
I’ll take your hint too, I’ll save on words! Just to prove that I am a nudist!
Susan likes this
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- Experienced Poster
I don’t how to describe myself either, but as someone said above I don’t like the term “naturist” and everything that goes with. I’m not interested by naturist meetings or naturist resorts at all.
I’d rather call myself a nudist with a hint of exhibitionist, I’ve always been shy to the point that even going topless on the beach or elsewhere was a pain, but after discovering the clothing optional beaches in Spain I decided to go bare as a personal challenge. For the first time I didn’t dare to move from my towel and stayed mostly with only my back exposed, but with time I took some confidence and decided to push the dare day after day to see where my limits would be. My first memorable experience occured a few days later on the same beach, I had drank a lot of water as the weather was hot and of course came the need to pee at some point. With no toilets available the only option was to go in the sea, but would I put my swimsuit or go naked ? I took a deep breathe and decided to try it naked, and I felt OK. When going back to my beach bed I crossed paths with a fully clothed woman who was walking on the sand. With nowhere to hide I kept on walking but had to admit that I not only felt great with the situation but also liked it.
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Ha! You finally realized that you “….also liked it …” when you were seen naked.
Now you’re surely one of us! 😉
Don Smith and like this
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- Experienced Poster
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I love being seen naked. Or even partly clothed in revealing things. But, when on a nude beach, I also like to watch the men who are looking at me. 😉 Sometimes I see interesting reactions!
My husband likes looking at the girls more than just being seen himself. But he’s learned to be comfortable being seen naked by gay men. Even when once asked, he allowed a guy to photograph him. I felt proud that he’d gotten past any bits of shyness he once had.
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I enjoy being naked. It is very comfortable. and I think I like being seen naked, and I enjoy looking at naked people.
Susan likes this
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- Ace Poster
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- Ace Poster
And while I was looking for that photo, I came across this one. I definitely don’t know this person but her face looks a lot like someone I used to know many years ago when we were young. She would never have flashed her boobs, but the resemblance in her face is uncanny! (I’m sure you all wanted to know that.)
Don Smith likes this
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“For me, the difference between a naturist and nudist is if they both did a nude walk, when they ventured upon another group, the naturist would cover up to respect the other group and not to risk offending (without knowing if nudity would) the nudist would not.
I expect a nudist would disagree, but of course neither of us are wrong or right.”
I do walk nude, with a few friends and with organised groups. Since the 2018 clarification of the laws on public nudity in the UK my approach to encounters with clothed people has tended to be that I remain nude, in both small and larger groups. Previously it was the groups’ policies to cover up and we did similar with our friends. We always cover up when crossing roads and passing by homes. There are people in the group of friends and the organised groups who call themselves naturists, others refer to themselves as nudists, I’ve never done a scientific study on whether the naturists are more likely to cover up still, while the nudists stay naked. I’ll work on it and report back!
Personally, I call myself a nudist, perhaps your conclusions are correct!
Susan likes this
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- Ace Poster
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