The Great Penis Debate 0f 2011

On Nov. 16 we hosted a discussion about penises. The plan was to summarize and refine the responses we received but that proved to be impossible. There was no real consensus about erections other than yes, they probably should be covered if they happen if for no other reason than people expect you to. I’m not even sure that was a consensus. At the very least, you can read through the comments and maybe learn something about how men think about their penises!

The Penis. Every male’s first question about attending a nudist event is, “What if I get an erection?” The standard response is usually, “That’s unlikely to happen but if it does, cover it up or go in the water until it’s gone.” Right?The topic today relates to the oft-repeated idea that nudists/naturists do not view the human body as a sexual object, and see nudity as a natural state. If that is the case, why do we find an erect penis to be something to be hidden? Is it unnatural? Is it obscene? If it is accidental, is it sexual?Could it be that one who sees an erect penis or erect nipples as necessarily sexual is actually less of a ‘true’ nudist than one who sees them as a natural part of life?You can start with these thoughts and take this wherever it goes! Let’s be civil and respectful, ok? Have fun!

118 Comments on this big nudist issue, Read more

Egypt's naked blogger is a bomb aimed at the patriarchs in our minds

By posing naked, Aliaa Mahdy has brilliantly challenged the misogyny and sexual hypocrisy of Egypt's leaders

When a woman is the sum total of her headscarf and hymen – that is, what's on her head and what is between her legs – then nakedness and sex become weapons of political resistance. You can witness how nudity sears through layers of hypocrisy and repression by following Aliaa Mahdy, a 20-year-old Egyptian who lit the fuse of that double-H bomb when she posted a nude photograph of herself on her blog last week.

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I'll be posting less as I take on another job

The fight for nudism acceptance in the United States surges on with many folks committed to maintaining our basic right to happiness. Keep fighting the good fight!

I'll still post from time to time, thanks for making this my most successful blog.

The Skinny on Nudism in the U.S.

People who do stuff in the buff say there are a lot of misconceptions in U.S. society about what they are doing and why

There are nude cruises, camping grounds, tennis courts, and motorcycle rallies across the country. There are at least three nude summer camps just for teens and about 260 clothing-optional family resorts in North America—nearly twice the number of ten years ago, according to the American Association for Nude Recreation.

"Naturists" say the benefits to sloughing off both clothes and convention include a sense of freedom and a better self image.

Clothing Optional

"I've taken lots of friends to nudist beaches, both men and women," said Mark Storey, an editor of Nude and Natural magazine and a philosophy professor at Bellevue Community College in Washington State. Storey is also the author of Cinema au Naturel: A History of Nudist Film.

"Some of them walked away thinking it was great, some walked away thinking it was boring. But they all walked away thinking, Most people look somewhat like me."

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15 Things You Should Know About Breasts

My Breast Friends [infographic]

The very fruit of the female anatomy. Peaches, melons, you’ve heard it all before…That’s right: boobies. The lovable funbags we’re all very familiar with.

So, what’s the big deal? What’s so magical about these gelatinous masses? Well, for one, they attract quite a lot of attention. Some women detest this, some love it, and some hunger for it. On the other end of that spectrum, there’s the men that have breasts and never wanted them… Poor guys. That’s why we have plastic surgery!

Whether it’s for approval, reconstructive, or purely “enhancing” motives, breast augmentation is the #1 cosmetic procedure in the US. Unfortunately, those procedures come with a variety of possible aftereffects. Those who wish to have a gallon or so of silicon in their bodies will often pay a dear price.

Excellent graphic dealing with most issues about women's breasts.

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Lake Como Nudist Resort

Lake Como Nudist Resort from Vita Nuda on Vimeo.

NetNude Naturist Site

International naturist/nudist site featuring information, chat facilities, message board, and pictures from participating naturists worldwide.

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What is Naturist-Christians.org?

Our emphasis is on how Christians can live naturally in their homes and enjoy recreational or social activities while free of clothing and shame. In our forums we will talk about how that works, and in our albums we will show pictorial evidence of Christian naturism in action. You will see natural affection, by way of smiles and occasional hugs, but nothing more. You will not see enticing shots inviting the thought of eroticism, that is not what we are about.

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Topless protests slam Ukraine’s future as global football bordello

The pro-active Ukrainian women's movement FEMEN have staged a topless protest against what they say are UEFA’s plans to turn economically weak Ukraine into a destination for sex tourists from around the globe. Read more

Mike and Tracy's Naturist World

 I'll recommend some wholesome nudist sites from time to time.

Welcome to Mike and Tracy's Naturist World. We are naturists living in New England. Naturism is a lifestyle that allows us to enjoy ourselves and the world around us as nature intended. Stripped of clothing, we are opened to the beauty that surrounds us, both in nature and in other people. We enjoy visiting beaches and clubs in our area as well as destinations throughout the world. We invite you to join in our adventures as you explore the pages in this site and learn what naturism is all about.

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Want to Know How to Become a Naturist?

Lara Belmont Oh Marbella by alexserbia

Hat tip to A Naturist's Journey

Testimonies: First experience at a nude resort

I had never at this point in my life, intentionally stripped off and fully exposed myself to not only the suns rays but also the beams of everyone else who populated the beach. I grabbed a long chair, dragged it down to waters edge, bore my soul and began to relax. Within minutes the whole drama, the whole heart-pounding anxiety that I had earlier felt had completely dissipated. Nude seemed totally natural and the sense that everyone was going to sneak a peek was completely unfounded. The only one doing that was me! I was amazed though; I have to tell you. The stereotype for Hedonism envelopes the old, the flabby, the red-neck. Those people that we in the civilized world consider to be less. To have morals and shapes that are all bent and twisted. This could not have been more wrong.

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Are nudists actually swingers?

Most non-nudists have preconceived notions about the nudist lifestyle. Orgies and sexual activities are supposed to be the norm while walking around nude in public, right? That’s not exactly true.

Nudist parks and/or resorts are usually family oriented. That means that on any given day, you will see children of all ages running around playing and splashing in the pool-totally nude. It would be very inappropriate to engage in any sexual activity around them!

But, there are some parks and/or resorts that are ‘adult only’ and members must be at least 21 or over to join.  These locations are not sponsored by the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR). ANNR has ‘been the credible voice of reason for nude recreation since 1931’ and is the organization that gives guidance and educational information about nudist parks and resorts all over the world.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Are nudists actually swingers? - National Nudist Culture | Examiner.com

Janet Jackson exposure fine is dropped

US TV network CBS should not be fined for broadcasting Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004, a federal appeals court has ruled.

CBS aired a glimpse of Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl half-time show.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appealed to the US Supreme Court in 2008 to force the TV network to pay a $550,000 (£345,270) fine.

The FCC said it was disappointed by Wednesday's ruling. CBS said it was grateful for the decision.
The 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said that in imposing the fine, the FCC "improperly imposed a penalty on CBS for violating a previously unannounced policy".

Full piece BBC

Love Your Body: 8 Reasons to Feel Great About Who You Are

These are some reasons why you should feel good about your body:

1. It enables you to recognize yourself, and other people to recognize you. Which is really important, because there are billions of people in the world. You have stuff going on that no one else does. It's fantastic. It's a really good thing. In fact, I want to meet you, just to see all the ways in which we're interestingly different and comfortingly similar.

2. It is incredibly complicated, but tends to work. And you're alive. Which is absolutely astounding, when you take a moment to think about it.

3. Even though you can recognize yourself, you always look different. How you feel and what you do and who you're with and what kind of mirror you're looking in all shift and rearrange the way you appear to yourself. It's cool. Sometimes it's awful. Sometimes you feel like total crap. But there's always potential for startling beauty. Or surprising awesomeness.

4. No matter what you look like, you're hot to other people. Like, seriously hot. Except to internet trolls. Even supermodels aren't hot to them. Once I read someone's rant about how big Gisele Bundchen's nose is. Which made me feel like my nose was about the size of, let's say, the moon. But longer. My friend told me that she was feeling really ugly the other day and then someone on the street was like, "Hey, you're beautiful!" A homeless guy on the street told me I have a gorgeous ass two nights ago. OK, not exactly the same. The point is -- it's pretty sweet that we're all attractive. Did I really mess that point up, with the homeless guy comment? Moving on.

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Naturism and Race

This post came out of discussions about how to make naturist events more inclusive. It is deliberately quite short, we are wanting to tease out some of the wider issues in later posts. We are looking for people who are interested in sharing their own personal experiences with us, please get in touch through the contact details here. 

Have you noticed how everyone in the naturist community is white? Well, maybe not everybody, but there is certainly a noticeable lack of people of colour in our community. Its worth noting that quite a lot of other communities; vegans, feminists, activists, etc. also have this problem.

How can we explain this? Asking around, a few people have made vague attempts to explain it away with “cultural differences”, but this doesn’t seem to sit right with me. The “cultural differences” explanation puts the work in addressing this problem back onto communities of colour, or at least somewhere external to our community. It says that people of colour need to change their cultural identity in order to fit in to our (white, western) naturist community.

Whilst culture, particularly religious ideology, may play its part – there is nothing innately white about a liberal attitude towards non-sexual nudity, nor is the anything innately non-white about a more moralistic attitude.

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Vacation Naked

Vacation Naked takes you inside the worlds most luxurious clothing optional resorts. Meet the people who vacation naked. Cameras aren't allowed in these resorts but, ours are! Dayle Hoffmann is your host as well as co-writers & co-producer. Watch more at youtube.com/vacationnaked

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Vacation Naked from Dayle Hoffmann on Vimeo.

The Courts Are Still Ruling on Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl Nipple

Seven years (almost eight, at this point) after Janet Jackson's intentional "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl and the $550,000 fine leveled against CBS is still being argued in court. Just today an appeals court in Philly threw out the case. Now it might be headed back to the Supreme Court.

Yes, the Janet Jackson Nip Slip was heard by the Supreme Court in 2009 and sent back to the appeals court. Today the appeals court ruled that because the FCC created a new policy in order to fine CBS for the offending aureola without announcing the change in advance, it acted arbitrarily and therefore illegally. Yes, that means there is no fine. But now it might go back to the Supreme Court again. This thing just follows us around like some kind of stink we can't get rid of.

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Being nude: Nothing unnatural about it

New Delhi : Kedar Ramanathan brightens up at the prospect of finding himself alone at home. He slips out of his clothes, brews himself some coffee and turns on the music. He roams around the house naked, taking pleasure in just being in his own skin.

While many would view his activities as kinky and bordering on sexual perversion, Pune-based Ramanathan doesn't actually have sex on his mind.

Far from it, being in the buff is his way of feeling free, shedding both physical and emotional baggage and being close to nature. He is a naturist, or in other words a nudist.

Naturism is a way of life that advocates practising nudism - both in private and public - without indulging in any sexual activities.

A fairly popular concept in the US, Britain, Canada and Thailand, a regular nudist meet abroad has both men and women engaging in any activity - from cooking to cycling to sunbathing - with only one precondition, everyone should be naked.

However, timid first-timers can be allowed to turn up fully-clothed to get used to the nudity around them. No one stares, no one gets erotic ideas. The whole idea is to have a friendly get-together -- sans clothes.

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This is why we fight

Some people have asked why there has to be an "-ism" around being nude. Why isn't being nude enough just by itself? Why does there need to be a movement behind it? Simply put, nudity can't defend itself. We need people to stand up for nudity; to advocate for it; to calmly and patiently explain why it's not evil or sinful or otherwise bad.

Because otherwise, we get stories like this. To say that Lindsay Lohan's career has been a train wreck is an insult to both trains and wrecks; it's been a complete and utter disaster. She needs something to get back in the public eye. Someone has apparently convinced her that posing in Playboy would do the trick, and so that's what she's doing. Even though she said back in 2005 that she'd never do such a thing. What a difference six years of self-destruction make, eh?

Here's a few things that come to mind about this. One: Magazines like Playboy, and far more pornographic stuff, exist because of the attitude our society holds around nudity. The textile world attaches all these taboos to the nude body, making it either something to be lusted after (for the "beautiful" bodies) or something to be shamed and hidden (for the rest of us.) There's no room in this mindset for the healthy appreciation and celebration of the body that is naturism. And that's why, instead of being a completely uninteresting career decision by a now B-list actress, this is such big news.

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Caribbean beaches

 Clothing-optional beach

Plan A: St. Martin's Orient Bay is easily the Caribbean's most famous nudie beach. It's quite the scene, with barbecue shacks and at least a half-dozen chi-chi beach bars hopping throughout the day, and plenty of motorized watersports. In reality, birthday suits generally are worn only at the south end — that would be the side with the parking lot where cruise ship visitors in taxi vans circle for a peek. Perhaps you were anticipating more solitude?

Plan B: Look no further than the next island over, St. Barthelemy, where wild and undeveloped Anse de Grande Saline is the solution for a beach-lover's most sybaritic dreams. Even on the busiest days it's never packed. From the parking area, a quarter-mile trail leads over a shrub-lined dune to the sand, which is soft, wide and generous. As the island's de facto clothing-optional beach, there are subsections within — hip/gay tend to swing left, newcomers usually head right. It's also probably the locals' favorite.

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The joy of nudity, summer or winter

It's just like any town and country club or Rotary meeting – except in the nude.

Like most of the group – mostly farmers, and a few mechanics – Southern Naturally president Bevan Tait strips off and enjoys the vitamin D with the ten other club members several times a year, when sunshine is in abundance. Mr Tait's sheep farm is handy, being just down the road.

In the winter, when the temperatures drop and the fire is roaring inside the old schoolhouse near Otautau that the club bought 33 years ago, it can be daunting to be outside, he says.

But part of the joy of nudity is feeling the night air – even in Southland, in July.

And, if you're part of the southernmost naturist club in the world, you are expected to be tougher than most.

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A brief history of Canadian nudity laws

In Canada, public nudity is allowed so long as you don’t “offend against public decency or order.” In fact, nudity is considered a political crime, one of the few offences that requires the Attorney General’s approval to lay charges. So, letting it all hang out among thousands of like-minded souls at the Pride Parade? You’re probably safe. But going for a naked jaunt to your local A&W—not so much. Brian Coldin, of Bracebridge, Ontario, currently faces five charges for his repeated clothing-free visits to fast-food restaurants located near his naturist resort. Coldin is fighting the charges, calling Canada’s nudity laws unconstitutional. A judge is expected to rule this fall. Until then, here’s a full-frontal look at our country’s long history of public nudity.

1918 First Canadian nudist club founded in Welland, Ontario.

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Here's looking at you

In every art studio, there is always someone who is willing to do what would make most people blush. That person is the model, the man or woman who is there to disrobe casually in front of a group of strangers for a couple of hours, hold a series of poses without a word of complaint about the inevitable chill that sets in or the hard edges of the furniture that make the joints stiffen as the body is held relaxed, but motionless.

Live models are an essential part of an artist’s education, and there is a steady demand for them. There’s also a steady supply of people offering up their bodies. Samantha Youssef, who hires for drawing sessions at Studio Technique on Ste. Catherine St. W., gets 30 emails a week expressing interest in modelling, but on average, only one of the applications will be taken seriously. Most of the ignored applications are from young people who have a friend who models and think it’s an easy way to make money, but have sought no training and don’t offer much information about themselves, like references and CVs, Youssef said.

“Some experienced models recommend people and I might try them because I respect the model,” she said. “I like people with a performance background and stage presence because they have fluidity to their poses and are athletic.”

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Yet Another Reason Why Nudism Is Good For Your Health

Looking for a good excuse to strip off your clothes, for good?

Here's a new one, from science.

Nudists (or naturists, in the U.K), are more aware of their skins' needs and consequently take better care of their outer layers, according to a new study commissioned by Comfort Pure, a fabric softener sold in Britain (via UK Express).

The research, which studied the behaviors of naturists and people who kept their clothes on, found that 45% of naturists applied sunscreen daily, and 82% examinied their skin for abnormalities on a regular basis.

Explained one nudist, Andrew Welch:

Because our members feel that clothes are not always an essential part of their daily routine, it is important that we promote awareness of how to properly look after our body and skin. However, contrary to perception, many naturists are dressed most of the time, and when we do wear clothes it’s better to go for natural fibres that are soft to the touch, and take care of them with fabric softeners, so that our skin looks and feels radiant whether it’s covered up or not!

Nudists were also found to feel much better in their own skin, with 54% saying they felt comfortable in their own bodies, while only 1 in 10 people who regularly wore clothes responded the same way.
Nudists also say there are other benefits to their lifestyle, including feeling happier and more broadly accepted by a community. And of course, there's far less laundry involved.

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