Nude and clothing optional beaches?

Pros? Cons? Whose been there and why are they more common in europe than in American the "Land of the Free"?

[Fast Hands]

2 words: Indecent exposure. I guess I'm just more of a private person. Too many creeps in America that would take advantage of nude beaches.

[Larry_OHF]

Take advantage?
I hear that the ugliest people in the world are those that go to thse beaches...
I would not want to go, just because the women ae skanky and the guys...well...you know...there might be a gay guy amonst them!

Edited due to an offensive word that I did not realize was offensive to other nations.

[ 02-04-2002: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Downunda]

I dunno 'bout gay guys and ugly people, I'm sure there are alot of "normal" people that go to these resorts/beaches as well. I just don't see the point. I mean if you want to go nude why not do it in privacy? What's so bad about wearing togs etc... apart from the tan lines but again this can be done in private can't it? IMO people go to a nudist colony for one of two reasons -
a)They are there to show off their body
b)They are there to look at other peoples bodies
But hey if that's what they wanna do, let them do it I say! So long as they're not hurting anyone I don't see a problem with it.

[ 02-04-2002: Message edited by: Downunda ]

[Scronan]

Hi,

Hey there Larry, I think your post is pretty harsh and offensive. What gives man?

Guess I thought to expect more from a mod.

Personally, I wouldn't mind going to a nude beach, but its not high on my favorite thing to do list. Americans have WAY too many hangups about their bodies and sexuality in general. Despite the promiscuity of our modern culture its ironic how repressed we really are.

At one time our ancestors all ran ragged-assed through the jungles hunting, fishing and being nomads. Just think how many indigenous peoples there are today who wear next to nothing. Do they have hangups about their looks? I don't think they do, they accept their bodies just as part of nature and the world they live in.

People come in so many shapes, colors and forms, and I would imagine most nude beaches would reflect this.

Ok, off the soapbox...

Scronan

[Djinn Raffo]

Nicely said Scronan.

Yeah i dont think it's weird that people go to nude beaches...but that it's weird that people are so afraid of being naked.

[Grand-Ranger]

I agree with both Larry and Scronans posts. Most people do go there to just show off. Well I have never been to one, so I cant say they do that for sure. But they do it at everything else so I dont see a difrence.

On the other hand, Scronan has valid points.

But I dont really see a point too them. I dont have anything against them though.

But I think one reason you should keep your pants on, so to speak, is respecting others opionion. Some people, for one reason or another, find it offensive.

And I have never heard of it being offencive to keep your clothes on. So It doesnt offend another in turn.

[Sir ReGiN]

We have many nude beaches in Sweden, most of them in the southern parts, and it's not a big deal here..
They're still human beings, just with their clothes off..
Haven't we all seen ourself naked, and surely we have seen other people naked as well?
What's so offensive with some of us taking off our clothes when sun-bathing?

[WOLFGIR]

Have to go with Sir Regin on this subject..(hey we are both Swedes )
But there aren´t that many actually, but they do exist, and most "famous" bathing resorts have a secluded place for a nude beach or place for nude bathing.

And as he said, not a big deal here. I prefer normal beaches though..

[Garnet FalconDance]

A few quick points:

America, despite its *major* promiscuity problem, is still oddly and fanatically puritanical. (and more than a little schizophrenic when it comes to nudity)

I (being an 'options' sort of person) do not think there should be nude only beaches, *necessarily*. Clothing optional I'd gladly attend (and have). I have the scarce handful of hangups about my body (breatfeeding *does* take its toll, you know ), but adore swimming in the nude. I don't loll around ogling others' bodies nor do I expect them to ogle mine--just as soon they didn't actually. I'm not there to see and be seen--I'm there to soak up sun and water in my natural state without society breathing down my neck that I'm somehow being perverse and *nasty*.

If you would be offended by a nude or clothing opt. beach--don't go there! Then *you* are respecting another's choice to act in the manner they have chosen and they have not inadvertantly offended your sensibilities! Geesh, folks! If *you* want a choice, then by rights you must offer the same to your fellow human.

(And with some of the bathing suits these days, you might as well be nude--thong bikinis and itty bitty triangles up top do *not* cover a whole lot--so anyone who claims that *this* is ok while simply shucking those sorry excuses for bodily cover is somehow naughty or offensive is seriously deluding themselves! You can't have it both ways, folks.)