Desexualizing nudity

[FreeSpirit]

I am a nudist and attended world naked bike ride in Mexico City this year. I was completely naked for almost three hours, being watched by hundreds of people along the street and they clicked tons of pics. Felt like a celeb. Saw tons of other naked guys and dicks/asses. Not for a moment did I get hard!

 

[OKCLane]

Sex and nudity are pretty connected in my mind, but I imagine that it's like anything else... with adequate exposure, we can break the ties.

The therapist in me wants to believe that if I were on a nude beach and wanted to break the tie between sex and nudity, I might use the cognitive therapy technique often referred to as "thought blocking" where, when the undesired thought enters my head, I address it and counter it with the logical, desired thought. Another technique might be some sort of aversion therapy - perhaps a chastity device with steel spikes on the inside, so that upon physical arousal, I were met with a rather unpleasant (for me, at least) sensation.

Certainly each person is unique and responds to stimuli in his/her own way. I would think that non-sexual exposure (no pun intended) over a long period of time would negate the need for negative feedback. I don’t think a spiked chastity device is necessary for most.
I spent the first 20-something years of my life in sports locker rooms. Seeing a clothed guy would’ve been weird. This was also the age of naked weigh-ins where both teams or multiple teams in tournament situations would line up and step on the scale for the official weight. Typically several coaches along with a few officials were there to certify your weight. I was always underweight so clearly there was no practical need for me to be nude, however it’s just the way it was done. I’m sure it must’ve happened but to my recollection I never saw an erection.
I’ve attended weeklong gay camping events where nudity was the fine but not required. By the end of the more more guys were naked than at the start and erections had decreased as well.
Even if you walk around a gay bath house which is a highly sexualized environment, not everyone is hard. In the common areas (tv or snack room) you see naked guys just chilling out and chatting.
IMHO I don’t think it’s as difficult to disconnect as some might think.

 

[effedi7]

when I host couchsurfers I make clear that my home a clothes free zone and it's nice to hang out in the nude without any sexual intention; couchsurfers enjoyed it too

 

[Trekrider]

Hi

I would like to know how you guys deal with public nudity. I enjoy going to naked beaches or bath spots but I feel that the reason I enjoy it the most is sexual, to watch other guys dicks etc. At the same time I have this conflict where I would like not to see nudity as an exclusively sexual thing. I would like to just be naked around other people and not think anything sexual. When I see other straight guys naked together and how natural they act in the situation (obviously not always and I'm aware a lot of them sexualize it as well) I feel a bit of envy because I would like to act the same. How is your guys relation with nudity as a gay man?

I'm a nudist who spends several days a week at nude beaches, and have been into it seriously for the last 16 years. First, there's nothing wrong with being turned on by seeing other naked guys and their cocks. I enjoy that too. But, I found that over time, one gets so used to it that it becomes a non issue. Desensitised perhaps. My advice is enjoy what you see, and don't try to deny being turned on by it. Over time I think you'll get used to it, and start to become more focused on being naked, rather than the sexual side to it. Don't take any notice of mainstream nudist sites that deny the connection between nudism and sex. There can be a connection, but not always, and sometimes never. Other times it can be a very sexually charged environment. These days I find the social aspects of being with naked guys far outweighs the desire to have sex with them. The bonding I get in the nude world is far closer than with any clothed friends.

 

[NudeSuba]

I'm a nudist who spends several days a week at nude beaches, and have been into it seriously for the last 16 years. First, there's nothing wrong with being turned on by seeing other naked guys and their cocks. I enjoy that too. But, I found that over time, one gets so used to it that it becomes a non issue. Desensitised perhaps. My advice is enjoy what you see, and don't try to deny being turned on by it. Over time I think you'll get used to it, and start to become more focused on being naked, rather than the sexual side to it. Don't take any notice of mainstream nudist sites that deny the connection between nudism and sex. There can be a connection, but not always, and sometimes never. Other times it can be a very sexually charged environment. These days I find the social aspects of being with naked guys far outweighs the desire to have sex with them. The bonding I get in the nude world is far closer than with any clothed friends.

Could not agree more, well said.

 

[Rsechs]

If you want to “desexualize” nudity, you should do just that. Get nekkid for some reason other than sex. Do the dishes, watch TV, mow the lawn, you’ll get used to it pretty quickly.

You may also try to find a true “social nudist” group to hang out with (yoga, poetry reading, conversation; I’ve done them all). These groups are expressly non-sexual and generally welcome anyone who plays by the rules.