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balataf
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Posted - 07/12/2009 : 3:57:52 PM
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Perhaps my memory is playing tricks on me, but I seem to remember somehat more positive reporting on nudism in the late 1950s. For some reason, it evaporated as the sexual revolution hit in the 1960s. Then Hippies with their drugs and promiscuity became more associated in the popular mind with published stories of nude living.
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Warmskin
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 Posted - 07/12/2009 : 7:50:12 PM
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You could be onto something, Balataf. A bit of a blowback from the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."
James Madison
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Country: USA
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VLM34
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Posted - 07/13/2009 : 9:10:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Admin
Here's another fine example, for which writer Sarah Perry should be commended--
From Fort Worth Weekly - 08 July 2009
Needed: New Nudists
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 09:21 SARAH PERRY
Brown hills, like the crimped rim of a pie, made a privacy fence around the resort as it baked in the 105-degree heat. But at the end of a dusty gravel road, a swimming pool and icy drinks promised cool refreshment for Wildwood's club members.
<snip>
Since we are commanded to issue kudos, here's mine: The article is cleverly written. The casual reader is unlikely to find obvious factual inaccuracies, textile misconceptions, or blatant cheap shots.
In my opinion, however, Perry's article is a disaster for Wildwood Naturist Park, for Bluebonnet, and for other naturist parks in the same general area. Assuming the quotes are reasonably accurate, the disaster is largely due to manager Beatrice Taylor's gross ineptitude, but is also due to lack of wisdom on the part of Wildwood's ownership group and the gross stupidity of at least one of its members.
In addition, I strongly suspect that a public relations disaster was precisely what author Sarah Perry (and/or her editors) intended. Perry (and/or her rewrite editor) is highly skilled. Highly skilled word mechanics don't need to lie directly or to issue blatant cheap shots. They achieve their purpose by selective truth-telling and by their choice of words. The article definitely engages in both.
I shall now digress.
Legal systems have long recognized that one can lie by telling the truth and nothing but the truth, but without telling all of the truth. That's why the familiar witness oath reads as it does. Prosecutors, at least in the American system, aren't bound to bring out the whole truth, but only the part they want judges/juries to hear. It's assumed that the other side will bring out anything relevant that the prosecution conveniently overlooked. In journalism, however, especially with feature stories like this one, there is no "other side." The judge/jury, by which I mean the public, sees only what the author/editor chooses to present.
Sarah Perry could not possibly have presented everything she saw and heard. She was, of course, forced to select what she regarded as relevant, interesting, and so on. She had to choose. Moreover, Ms Perry probably wrote and submitted many more words than were printed. Her editor (who didn't visit Wildwood, who had only his own knowledge or lack thereof, and his own prejudices to go on) then tossed out whatever he didn't want to print, and rewrote all or part of the rest to suit his view. That's the system. When it's done fairly, honestly, and with balance, we get good journalism. Most of the time it isn't, and we don't.
The editorial process may include a major rewrite, seemingly minor word substitutions, or just a cleanup of grammar and style. Changing a word here and there can have a huge effect on what the reader perceives. Words have connotations. For example, American media refers to Christian preachers as ministers. Muslim preachers are called clerics. The meaning of "minister" and "cleric" are exactly the same, but one carries a positive connotation in the USA while the other is negative. As another example, "to meet" and "to encounter" can mean the same, but in most constructions the connotations are quite different.
Perception is everything. What an article actually _says_ is important only in a court of law. What the reader takes away from an article is everything. With names and other details quickly forgotten, the overall impression formed from paragraph-by-paragraph impressions, is what really counts.
With that said, herewith my comments:
Combining the words 'wild' and 'wood' in the name of a vanilla, family-friendly naturist resort just wasn't smart. Although 'Morningwood Naturist Resort' might have been worse, 'Wildwood' either creates a misimpression or brings on a snicker from some number of potential members. Compare to the soothing sound of Bluebonnet, Cypress Cove, Olive Dell, Mira Vista, Hidden Valley Resort, etc.
Para 1: The first paragraph, quoted above, combines 'privacy fence' with 'baked in the 105-degree heat' with 'dusty gravel road.' It's no doubt true, but hardly an inviting opener. Reader impression: "That's not fun. Why would anyone go there? They'd have to be nuts!" It's worth noting that this first impression is never refuted: there's no mention of shade, buildings, or air conditioning anywhere in the article. We're left with an impression of "fenced in," "dusty," and "baked in 105-degree heat." However, according to Wildwood's web site, the resort has just about all the facilities one could imagine. Perhaps Dear Sarah was victim to selective blindness.
Para 3: "Wildwood Naturist Park just isn't drawing many young people anymore." Impression from younger readers: "Then I'm not interested." It could equally well have been put as, "Wildwood is seeking _more_ of the younger set" which would leave the (true) impression that Wildwood has some younger members and that both the club and the younger members would welcome more.
Para 7: "... in 1997, the average age of those who joined was 40. Now, she said, it's 45." Well, now. This club has only 130 members. Unless the turnover is extremely high, one doubts that enough people have joined recently to produce meaningful age statistics. Why did manager Beatrice Taylor even say such stuff? A lot of what she's quoted as saying, if she actually said it, comes across as counterproductive blabbing/whining.
Para 8 & 9: Manager Taylor whines about calling newspapers without getting return calls. She's incredibly naive. If she really wants to place an ad, she creates the text and graphics she wants - professionally and to size. She decides where in the paper she wants it printed, and on what days. Then she carts her ass to the paper's ad department, puts the ad copy, the print schedule, and her checkbook on the table and says, "I want to run this." If she senses hesitation, she says, "Who is your ad manager?"
Para 10: Taylor is alleged to say that visitors are allowed but nudity is required, and they don't want oglers. Then she's quoted saying, "We want participants, not spectators." Oh, goody! To 99.9% of readers that translates as "strip at the gate before you have any idea of what the joint is like." Read the whole paragraph. Wildwood doesn't trust visitors, but visitors are supposed to trust Wildwood. I'm not surprised Wildwood isn't getting many visitors.
Para 11: "Perhaps it's not surprising that camps like Wildwood are having a little trouble with the twenty-something crowd. ... And the delights of living with skin exposed to the sun may seem foreign to a generation that's become pasty-faced from too many hours of video gaming and 'net surfing." Here, once again, no mention of shade, buildings, or air conditioning. This paragraph reinforces and drives home the impression of the lead paragraph: Wildwood is about getting skin cancer while baking dustily in direct sun in 105-degree heat. Is that how Wildwood intends to attract college students? But, once again, Wildwood's web site tells a very different story.
Para 18: "Some of (18-year-old Hillary) Bell's friends don't respond well when they learn she's a nudist." Reaction of college students: Nudism is not cool, and a great way to lose friends.
Para 19 and photo: "NOTICE! Nudity may be encountered beyond this point." What a stupid sign! It's pompous, and appears designed to engender all sorts of counterproductive feelings. A simple, friendly sign saying "Nude people ahead. Welcome." would be much better.
Para 19: "Wildwood isn't clothing optional. Visitors are asked to disrobe." Cold turkey nudity. Wildwood won't even give a visitor five minutes to look around.
Para 19: "(Manager) Taylor and many other naturists think it's the people who keep their clothes on, while looking at people who've taken theirs off, who are perverted." So, a visitor who wants to get the lay of the land before stripping, to reassure herself that this place isn't the cesspool she's heard it was -- such a visitor is a pervert. That's not my idea of how to win friends, influence people, and recruit new members.
Para 22: "Each day, many of the park residents commute to outside jobs. Some worry that people in the larger community might find out about their lifestyle and cause problems." This paragraph reinforces the impression of Para 18 above. Translation: Nudism is not only uncool, and a great way to lose friends, you may suffer real harm.
Para 25: "If people aren't comfortable with their bodies, then becoming nudists isn't right for them, Taylor said." Good grief! She's telling 95% of Americans and 99% of young Americans to stay away. All this time I thought the truth was just the opposite of what Manager Taylor says. Nudism is the best way to _overcome_ self-body discomfort!
Para 25: "There's a certain time in one's life, usually later, when self-acceptance is achieved, she said - and when people stop worrying about staring and being stared at." So, according to the manager of Wildwood Naturist Resort, you wait passively for body shame and/or body hate to go away. If and when it does, then you may wish to try nudism. And Manager Taylor wonders why she isn't getting droves of college students! This woman is nuts, and so are the co-owners who let her run the place and talk to press people.
Para 26: "In the meantime, Wildwood hosts a potluck dinner every weekend." Not my idea of the best way to attract the younger set. Many of them don't have cooking facilities, few of them have well developed cooking skills, and most of them lack the time to cook for a potluck. Aside from a swimming pool, nothing in the article speaks of activities or facilities likely to appeal to college students or to anyone else under 30. Unsurprisingly, the web site tells a quite different story.
Paras 28 & 29: "About 40 Wildwood nudists warmly greeted this Fort Worth Weekly reporter after I 'got comfortable' - nudist lingo for shedding clothes. They showed me family photos and invited me to play volleyball. 'You need to get rid of those tan lines, young lady,' Parker said." One impression comes through loud and clear to the female set: As soon as you strip, some old goat is going to look you over and make comments about your body.
~~~~~~~~~
Sarah Perry may well have been telling most of it straight, just as it happened -- the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If so, Wildwood deserves most of what it got.
On the other hand, Perry definitely misrepresented the scope of the facilities and the activities. And, strangely, the article did not mention the web site or provide its address. Perhaps author Perry didn't want to be caught in her lies of omission.
It's hard to believe that Wildwood is as bad as the article makes it out to be. I suspect that Ms Perry also did some highly selective quoting. That, or her editor did quite an editing job.
In short, I can't tell how much of the damage is due to Wildwood's policies and Beatrice Taylor's blatherings versus the dishonesty of Sarah Perry and/or her editors.
The article is at least a medium hatchet job, is definitely dishonest in the regards noted, and is perhaps dishonest in other regards as well.
Suffice to say, nudism didn't benefit from the article. It sure won't bring visitors and new members to clubs in the area.
But, Bossman loved it, and that's all that counts.
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Country: France
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nudiarist
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Posted - 07/13/2009 : 9:41:25 PM
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I largely agree with VLM34 about the Wildwood article. In a nutshell, any article which even mentions the fact that the only people at a nudist resort are old farts is a disaster for nudism. Nudists just don't do PR very well at all, most websites, even that of the Naturist Society, are unprofessional, out of date, and lacking in content. Any resort hosting a member of the press needs to get its act together with positive talking points and drop all this negative boo-hooing. You cannot solve a problem with whining and complaining.
The only organization to show some mastery of PR is AANR. The skinny-dip world record attempt was brilliant in its simplicity. This is an event which should grow in interest every year. What they need to do is ratchet it up a bit every time, perhaps trying someting on a Tunickian scale with 20,000 people in one spot. If you get that many people naked in a public place, all the local authorities can do is observe and keep the peace. Organization for such an event needs to begin now.
Bottom line is if nudists and naturists want positive press, they need to generate it themselves. AANR or TNS needs to produce their own video press releases - local stations run such PR clips all the time as fillers, presenting them as news. The press has to be played.
nudiarist
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Admin
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 02:13:28 AM
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As usual, both of you guys make arguments that are hard to refute. On a more detailed reading, VLM34's points become glaringly obvious. From a PR point of view, it was a hatchet job of sorts, whether intentional or not.
Perhaps the descriptive "fine example" was a bit over the top. Change that to "average example".
Unfortunately, what the author described was not an inaccurate description of the attitude at many nudist resorts in the US. This lack of PR finesse on the part of nudist resorts is certainly one of the reasons various demographics aren't flocking in.
We'll see what better examples of fine nudist positive writing we can come up with. Perhaps our commentary can help aspiring writers to present the subject matter skillfully. At least this article was free of the usual mosquito jokes and snickering innuendos!
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VLM34
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 06:49:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Admin
On a more detailed reading, VLM34's points become glaringly obvious. From a PR point of view, it was a hatchet job of sorts, whether intentional or not.
Still, all but one of the reader comments in the online version of the article were positive. OTOH, most of the positive comments were from nudists -- which don't count.
The first comment was interesting. Some nonnudist said she'd love to try nudism but can't due to her discomfort with her body. That, at least, confirmed one of the points I made.
Maybe I'm too critical of articles like this one. Having been raised in the biz, and having worked in the biz a bit myself, I probably see faults that others don't see.
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Admin
Forum Admin
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 11:57:48 AM
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I've had these bookmarked for some time now, thinking they should get some recognition.
From TheStar.com - May 31, 2008
Why nude is the new black
Perhaps we're finally learning to love our own imperfect, aging flesh in all its glorious reality
May 31, 2008 04:30 AM
DAVID GRAHAM
FASHION EDITOR
Could a culture obsessed with Abercrombie gods and Victoria's Secret bombshells learn to love their own merely mortal physiques?
If black represents a colour that's famous for helping men and women cover their real and imagined figure flaws, it can be assumed our current willingness to embrace all manner of nudity may be a symbol that we are becoming more at ease with our naked selves – warts and all.
Here's the thing.
A recent spate of television shows, mostly coming out of Britain, are using nudity as a means to get to a deeper subject – self acceptance.
The hottest new television show in Britain (the country where many innovative TV ideas originate) is called How to Look Good Naked. During each episode host Gok Wan takes an average Brit, and with gentle encouragement, has them feeling so good about themselves that they are willing to endure a nude photo shoot. "Give him a size 16, and all he sees is a great pair of bangers," commented The Observer last year. He doesn't tell them to lose weight or have surgery. It's about confidence, says Wan, who was a popular British stylist before becoming a TV personality.
"Styling celebrities is about being positive, not about telling them that they are too fat to fit into the sample size," he said in the article.
(The new reality format has also been picked up in the U.S. with host Carson Kressley.)
As well, the two British makeover queens, Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, the original What Not To Wear girls, have entered this enveloping market with Trinny and Susannah Undress The Nation.
In the promos, Constantine buries her face in the spandex clad rump of a very large woman, calling it gorgeous.
And not just TV.
In recent years, photographic books such as This is Who I Am: Our Beauty in all Shapes and Sizes by Seattle photographer Rosanne Olson is a tribute to women who don't fit the accepted mould of a photographer's model.
Even Leonard Nimoy – famous as the ever-rational Vulcan Spock – last year published his own book on the same-ish subject called The Full Body Project of large women in all their naked glory.
There's more.
 This month it was reported that Christie's auction house had sold a painting by British artist Lucian Freud, fetching more than $33 million (U.S.) at a New York sale. The 85-year-old Freud is the grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
The painting – called Benefits Supervisor Sleeping – was purchased by an anonymous buyer and is a life-size portrait of Freud's friend, a very large, very nude Sue Tilley, affectionately called "Big Sue." At the time of the painting, she was an official at the department of health and social security. It has been written of Sue and her portrait: "It's flesh without muscle and it has developed a different kind of texture through being such a weight-bearing thing."
[Image: The painting 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping' by Lucian Freud sold at Christie's in New York for more than $33 million in May, 2008.]
There are signs as well that men of all shapes are "dropping trou" like never before. Most recently, it is for comic relief.
Full frontal male nudity in the cinema is getting unprecedented screen time at the multiplex these days, wrote the Los Angeles Times. Comic mogul Judd Apatow told the paper he "has pledged to shake Americans from their squeamishness about male anatomy in movies."
For example, in the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, protagonist and decidedly un-buff Jason Segel puts his junk on display and laughter ensues.
"Likewise, the raunchy stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo is doing its part to counter phallic phobias. In the film's hot tub party scene, a naked supporting character's pubic hair prompts comparison to Osama bin Laden's beard," the Times reports.
This new interest in nudity is more about body image than voyeurism. This is not about a panty-less Britney Spears. This is about everyday people with everyday bodies refusing to shroud themselves.
If black was the ultimate concealer, nudity is the reveal.
At the Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park, north of Toronto, the nude comes in many glorious forms. Owner and operator Stephane Deschenes waxes philosophic on the possibility of a naked revolution, despite reports that the membership in "naturist" clubs appear to be dwindling.
Yes, the average age of the garden-variety naturist is around 55. But many naturists believe it is our newfound comfort with nudity that is precluding people from joining clubs.
As Andrew Welch told The Guardian, "It sounds too ideological, too fanatical, too eccentric. People don't feel like they have to join things any more. We will find more than a million people who say they've been on a nude beach, but they will not say, `I'm a card-carrying naturist.'"
Deschenes believes a blossoming interest in body acceptance fits perfectly with three other cultural trends.
First, our culture is less puritan than ever. Even in the "textile" world – their word for people who prefer clothes – nudity is less of a hot button issue.
The Victorian era was brutal, says Deschenes. "They felt they could do better than nature, that they were above nature," that somehow, clothing rendered human beings superior.
Second, aging baby boomers are likely to become more at ease with their figures as they finally acknowledge there is little they can do to reverse the aging process. According to Deschenes, "as baby boomers age, they really have no option but to accept themselves and accept others exactly the way they are."
(Though he had painted himself many times throughout his life, Lucian Freud painted himself in the nude for the first time in 1993 at the age of 70.)
And third, our growing interest in the environment, at least according to Deschenes, is a perfect fit for communing in the nude, even if you're not centerfold material.
"The whole basis of naturism is that nudity is a tool used to get closer to the environment. It's exhilarating – like skinny-dipping. You develop a respect for yourself and for others and for nature. Clothes are a great way to separate yourself from nature.
"Once your clothes are off, you have to deal with who you are. You relate on a very human level. You feel the grass, the sun, the wind and the water. You know what you are doing to the world. With clothes you can fake it."
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Country: USA
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Admin
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 12:12:12 PM
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This article is about Nude Dining Becoming More Popular In New York
From New York Post - July 21, 2008
THE NAKED CITY
NUDES FLASH: IN-BUFF STUFF IS HUGE!
By ADAM NICHOLS
Last updated: 9:17 am July 21, 2008
Posted: 4:42 am July 21, 2008
Welcome to Nude York City.
Some folks are stripping down to escape the scorching summer temperatures - but others aren't waiting 'til they hit the area's clothing-optional beaches.
The au naturel look is catching on at city restaurants, a Midtown yoga club and even a stand-up comedy joint.
"We're just more comfortable nude," said John Ordover, who rents city eateries for dinner parties with a strict dress code - no clothes allowed.
OM MY GOD! Practicing yoga nude, like this sexy flexy feels totally
natural for the city's attire-optional crowd - as does lounging
around naked in restaurants for private meals and even
at no-clothes comedy clubs.
Vote: Would you do Yoga in the buff?
"We're not out to shock or put on a public spectacle. We want only to do things that other people do in the way that we are most comfortable doing them. That, for us, is without clothes," he said.
About 50 diners - whose motto is "no hot soup" - regularly turn up for Ordover's monthly meals held at venues including the Mercantile Grill on Pearl Street and Pete's Downtown in Brooklyn.
They're served by regular restaurant staff - forced by city laws to keep their clothes on.
"We've never had a restaurant say no to us, and the waiters think nothing of it," said Ordover, 46, who works as a Web marketer when he has his clothes on.
"If you work in a restaurant in New York City, the chances are you've seen a lot more shocking things than a room full of naked diners," he added.
At a Midtown studio called the Phoenix Temple, twice-weekly yoga classes also are really encouraging participants to expose their inner selves.
"I had such a transformative experience on my own when I did yoga naked rather than clothed," said Naked Yoga NYC teacher Isis Phoenix. "I wanted to share that."
The classes have about 10 devotees who have to obey two rules - leave your clothes behind, and bring your own mat.
"We are reclaiming and celebrating our bodies," said Phoenix, who starts each class with a disrobing ceremony.
"The first 10 minutes of class for anyone who is new, there's always a sense of trepidation," said Phoenix. "It dissolves very quickly."
And at a Gotham comedy club, the sniggering isn't caused just by the punch lines.
"The first time I tried comedy naked, it was the best thing ever," said Andy Ofiesh, founder of the Naked Comedy Showcase, whose stable of stark-naked funnymen and women perform once a month at the People's Improv Theater in Chelsea.
"It gives you a kind of vulnerability that puts the audience on your side straight away."
That audience could also be in the same vulnerable state. Half the auditorium is reserved for people who enjoy laughing in the nude.
"We fill the space," said Ofiesh. "Finding comedians is more difficult."
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Country: USA
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Admin
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 2:34:01 PM
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From FOXNEWS.COM - August 18, 2008
FOXSexpert: Getting Naked: Is It for You?
Monday, August 18, 2008
By Yvonne K. Fulbright
Yvonne K. Fulbright - FNC
Attire-optional has been taken to a whole new level. New York City has been causing a stir this summer with its new no-clothing hot spots. With hundreds turning out to sport nothing but their birthday suits at these in-the-buff events, cities from Boston to LA are debating if they should follow suit.
So what are these latest take-it-off trends? And can baring all lead to better sex for you?
For the last couple of years, we’ve heard about nude yoga. Offered in major cities globally from Montreal to Sydney to London to Washington, these naked sessions are all about letting go, finding a deeper truth, and accepting the body as a temple. While a thrill for the occasional “peeping Tom” attendee, the turn-on for yogis has been about celebrating their spirit more than anything. Wildly popular, it’s only natural that other activities are daring you to disrobe too.
Restaurants, like the Mercantile Grill in Manhattan, are offering private, naked dining. (No worries, anybody who handles your food is required by law to remain clothed.) Comedy clubs, like the People’s Improv Theatre, are hosting events titled “Naked Comedy Showcase.” Companies are selling rental space for dinner parties with a strict no-dress rule. Organizations, like The Naturist Society, are sponsoring celebrations dubbed “Nude Recreation Week.”
And that’s not the half of it. Public nude or clothing-optional beaches, resorts, and retreats can be found worldwide, in places like France, Denmark, Jamaica, Brazil and Hawaii. Depending on the venue, you have the opportunity to do almost everything in the nude -- from hiking and kayaking to sailing and beach volleyball to swimming, sleeping, hot tubbing and whale watching. Nude holidays are among the world’s fastest growing vacation sectors.
Given our society’s issues and rules with the nude form, many aren’t sure if they should be more “eeuwww” or “ooh la la” on these get-naked opportunities.
If it helps your comfort level, and in light of the current Olympics, consider that the ancient Greek athletes were active naturists. Human beings the world over and throughout time have loved taking their clothes off and living in their natural state. Today’s fun, relaxing -- and oft very chic (think Brigitte Bardot) -- nudist activities want us to embrace our original state of being.
So what are the benefits of naked ... anything?
Stripping down:
— Is the great equalizer. Everyone is “one” sans clothes.
— Cultivates body acceptance or a reclaiming of one’s form.
— Makes for a better tan.
— Let’s you truly feel the skin you’re in, especially during an enjoyable skinny dip.
— Is exhilarating, allowing one to celebrate their body.
Sounds great, huh? But before you drop your drawers to bask in the woods or hit the water, realize that there are rules to abide by (and these are just the major ones) ...
Do not engage in overt sexual activity. Nude isn’t lewd, so take your exhibitionism elsewhere. You must have a person’s consent to take photos. Gawking is impolite. Advances are unwelcome and unwanted. Get dressed before you leave. Know the law.
It can’t be stressed enough that nudist/naturist activities are not catalysts for sex parties or orgies. Yes, you may see someone who appears turned on, but this is not necessarily a sign of sexual arousal per se. And even if the individual is sexually aroused, he or she may not always realize it. The experiences naturist activities provide are meant to be transformative and empowering or natural and nonsexual in bringing you back to Mother Nature.
That is not to say, however, that taking the leap with one of these activities can’t boost your sex life. By being exposed in the rawest form, you can become more comfortable with your body -- more at ease in sharing it with your partner. These novel activities, especially when done with your lover, can heighten your sense of adventurism and conquests, making your naked selves feel sexier and more titillated in your own bedroom.
For those of you willing to go there, keep two things in mind: First, if you’re going to hang out at one of these venues, take the plunge. Take it all off, lest you’ll look silly for being the only one clothed -- plus risk getting labeled as a nuisance voyeur.
And second, don’t forget your clothes. You’ll eventually need to put them back on. Plus, leaving your clothes behind may lead to unnecessary worry. Read on:
Fearing that a couple had committed suicide or drowned, British authorities recently launched an $18,000 police search after finding two sets of clothes on an abandoned beach. They later learned that the clothes had been forgotten by yogis, out for a midnight yoga session on the beach.
Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, "Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots."
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Country: USA
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Admin
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Posted - 07/14/2009 : 2:42:31 PM
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From The Daily Texan - Thursday, April 2, 2009
Nudist club gets down to the essentials
Naked get-together among friends, couples is 'safer than going out to a bar'
Roxanna Asgarian - Daily Texan Staff
Published: Thursday, April 2, 2009
As I head down the winding, tree-lined Highway 71 on Saturday evening, I can’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I am going to the home of John and Connie, who withhold their last names, to have my first social nude experience.
Pulling up to the driveway, I am floored by the beautiful, secluded home.
I shyly ring the bell and look through the glass front door into the house, and see an awesome view of Lake Travis, which lines the backyard. A naked man appears in my line of vision. I blush as he beckons me in.
“Here goes,” I think, as I strategically avoid his lower region with my eyes as he directs me to a room to change. On the way, I glance at 10 or so middle-aged people, mostly couples, hanging out by the bar. Most of them are naked, although some have on a shirt or a sash covering select parts of their bodies.
We talked at length about nudism before the event, and they set my mind at ease. I was curious to know what goes down at a nudist event and how I would handle being naked in public.
The Hill Country Nudists club throws clothing-optional themed parties
that are open to the public. The theme of the most recent party was
“Peruvian night“ and featured Pisco sours, empanadas and ceviche.
Photo illustration by Kim Espinosa/The Daily Texan
“Women have an additional barrier to nudism,” one man said. “Many women don’t know whether nudism in a group setting will be safe, when actually it’s incredibly safe. It’s safer than going out to a bar, because you know and trust these people.”
I thought it was funny that, before I went to the Hill Country Nudists’ gathering, all my friends asked, “What are you going to wear there?” as if my outfit would be even more important since it would only be on for five minutes. I have on yoga pants and a T-shirt, and when John drops me off in the guest room with two other changing women, I peel them off.
The youngest woman there, besides me, is 24 and also a UT student. Other than that, the crowd is primarily middle-aged and most of them have their partners with them, which helps me loosen up and let my arms hang by my sides, rather than gripping tightly around my body.
They all introduce themselves as I crack open a Red Stripe and someone blends Pisco sours, a traditional Peruvian drink that tastes like a margarita topped off with bitters.
The theme of the evening is “Peruvian night,” and Virginia and Carlos, a married couple from Peru, fix empanadas and ceviche in the kitchen.
Then I meet Paul, who takes me out to the backyard to look at the view. In the back of my mind I wonder if “look at the view” means different things to each of us, but I figure I’m here to participate. Once I am naked, I feel like the hardest part is behind me. He is surprised when I tell him this is my first social nude experience.
“You seem so at ease,” he said.
I take that as a compliment. I had been worried leading up to the event that I’d arrive to find some massive middle-aged orgy, or that I wouldn’t be able to stop looking at all the penises on display. But no orgies (at least in front of me) and I only sometimes glance at the penises, a little. The ceviche and empanadas are divine, and the atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and respectful.
After dinner, the group takes turns in the hot tub, which is housed in a room with hanging plants and a wall of windows overlooking Lake Travis. Saturday evening also happens to be Earth Hour, a time when people around the country are urged to turn off the lights and conserve energy for one hour.
So off go the lights, and I sit in the hot tub, in the dark, with a couple of middle-aged men. I marvel at the fact that there isn’t even a hint of sexual overtone.
I’m serious. They’re asking me about my career goals and I am responding openly. I definitely feel naked, but I don’t feel exposed or sexually objectified.
I realize that these people are onto something, and that it takes maturity to be able to hold it down like this when you’re all nude.
At the end of the evening, after retreating to the guest bedroom to put my clothes back on, I say my goodbyes. I am invited back and told to bring friends. I take their invitation seriously, but am not sure if I want to become a lifetime member just yet. I hug the women and men and promise to come back. And on the way out, I don’t even glance at the penises.
For more information on the nude lifestyle, visit www.hillcountrynudists.com.
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The mainstream media is slowly accepting nudism
