A group has sprung up for naturists without taboos. My initial post was to wonder exactly what would be considered taboo. According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2001 edition, a taboo is, among other things, a prohibition or restriction by social custom, as well as something designated as sacred and prohibited. This would agree with my understanding of the term.
Of course, taboos may be religious, cultural, sexual, etc. And suddenly, something came to me: Isnt nudity itself a taboo for a great number of people? For naturists/nudists, nudity is simply the state of undress. Naturism is the ideology by which social nudity is believed to have benefits for those who practice it, as well as being simply, well, fun.
But for people who have had a more traditional upbringing, nudity in the company of others may be the ultimate taboo. Even sexual activity with one other person is at least acceptable under certain circumstances, whereas nudity is definitely not. Therefore, as nudists, we have breached one major societal taboo!
After thinking about it some more, I came to wonder whether sex may be taboo among naturists. Again, not the activity enjoyed privately, but the very discussion of it in a public context. Not everyone is comfortable with nudism and sex being mentioned in a same breath.
I always thought of naturism as doing almost anything one would do when dressed, but without the clothes. I agreed that we have to be able to clearly articulate that in naturism, sex and nudity must not be considered one and the same. I expressed hope that this philosophy may someday catch on in the textile community.
But I also indicated that I was less than happy with catchphrases such as nude is not lewd, since they convey the idea that sex itself is lewd. While we must choose the right time and place for sex, we would never want to have people think that we are opposed to sex per se.
In doing so, have I transgressed a naturist taboo?
UPDATE -- A response to a thread in Forum and my response follows. Click Here.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SocialCO Media, LLC or True NudistsOf course, taboos may be religious, cultural, sexual, etc. And suddenly, something came to me: Isnt nudity itself a taboo for a great number of people? For naturists/nudists, nudity is simply the state of undress. Naturism is the ideology by which social nudity is believed to have benefits for those who practice it, as well as being simply, well, fun.
But for people who have had a more traditional upbringing, nudity in the company of others may be the ultimate taboo. Even sexual activity with one other person is at least acceptable under certain circumstances, whereas nudity is definitely not. Therefore, as nudists, we have breached one major societal taboo!
After thinking about it some more, I came to wonder whether sex may be taboo among naturists. Again, not the activity enjoyed privately, but the very discussion of it in a public context. Not everyone is comfortable with nudism and sex being mentioned in a same breath.
I always thought of naturism as doing almost anything one would do when dressed, but without the clothes. I agreed that we have to be able to clearly articulate that in naturism, sex and nudity must not be considered one and the same. I expressed hope that this philosophy may someday catch on in the textile community.
But I also indicated that I was less than happy with catchphrases such as nude is not lewd, since they convey the idea that sex itself is lewd. While we must choose the right time and place for sex, we would never want to have people think that we are opposed to sex per se.
In doing so, have I transgressed a naturist taboo?
UPDATE -- A response to a thread in Forum and my response follows. Click Here.