How not to be creepy

Some individuals have more trouble than others getting people to accept them. While that is true in our society as a whole, it can become even more pronounced in a naturist environment. This is likely because traditional barriers are dropped and the individual is foremost. Additionally, people who are new to naturism can feel self-conscious and clumsy as they battle emotions of awkwardness for breaching traditional societal taboos.

For single men in particular, intentions can easily be misinterpreted. It is normal for a single man to want to find a partner. But it is a fine line between showing interest and being creepy. Not all single women come to naturist clubs looking to meet someone. Women appreciate naturism because it allows them to escape society’s pressure to reach an impossible ideal of physical beauty. In naturism, they feel accepted for who they are. But too much attention from a single man, as friendly as it might be, can remind them of mainstream society’s oppressive focus on their body. It can feel like harassment.

In general, making friends in naturism is not that different from the rest of the world. Introducing yourself, being friendly without being overbearing, finding people with common interests, participating in activities, listening to people, and being trustworthy & reliable are always good ways to make friends anywhere.

Naturism is founded on respect for self and others. Being respectful (not just acting respectful) is the fundamental basis of good interpersonal relationships. In this show, we discuss some pointers for people who might be having some trouble getting accepted in a naturist club.

Minorities in Naturism

It is plainly obvious that visible minorities are under-represented in naturism. In this episode, we try to understand why and ascertain what can be done to change the situation.

Our two guests are both bloggers who have discussed the subject.

George’s Blog: TheNaturistReview.blogspot.com

André’s Blog: i-naked.tumblr.com

Episode XIX

Photo by DarkFokus

Sunshine and Vitamin D

An overwhelming number of studies have recently come out that show that there are many health-giving benefits from sun exposure. Just a few years ago, the consistent message from the medical and scientific community was that any sun exposure was bad. But we now know the vital importance of the vitamin D that sunshine gives us. Studies have shown that it helps us fight illnesses like cancer, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, influenza, psoriasis, Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (P.M.S.), sleep disorders and autoimmune diseases. In this episode we get the most up to date information from Dr. Holick who was an early pioneer in researching the link between vitamin D and cancer. As a result, he is now one of leading experts in the world on the subject.

Links to items mentioned in the show:

Episode XVIII

Women and naturism

 

Of the two genders, women get the most pressure from society to meet to unrealistic expectations of physical beauty. That is one of the reason that women benefit most from being a naturist but it is also why they have the hardest time trying naturism. For a woman, the idea of being nude in a social setting is fraught with fears related to a lifetime of sexual objectification and subconscious attacks on their self-esteem.


In this episode, we explore how women in naturism overcame some of these barriers and what they get out of living a naturist life. We also review strategies for convincing someone to try naturism. 


To summarize the strategies presented:

  1. Review your own motivation
  2. Be open and confident about naturism
  3. Be sympathetic and understanding
  4. Try a therapeutic approach
  5. Be patient
  6. Be very careful of the first experience & praise gently

Links to items mentioned in the show: 

 
Episode XVII

Lessons from Naturist History

As the American philosopher George Santayana said, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Through an interview with Doug Beckett, founder of the Federation of Canadian Naturists, we get a first hand account of what naturism was like over half a century ago.
Links to items mentioned in the show:
Episode XVI