We live in the US, dude. We don't live in Saudi Arabia. This culture hasn't had a healthy relationship to the human body since the puritan folks landed. European cultures have evolved much more in this area than we have.
Blame it on the people who get repressed. That's easy. Then you don't have to think about how one might develop a decent ordnance that would preserve the nude beach but provide for some family friendly areas. It's always easiest to build the wall.
"Dude" ???? What's up with that?
This post reads as a predisposed agenda seeking a place for expression.
I know where I live. As I wrote, "it's fucked up", and by context have implied here that I'm a nudist, it should be abundantly clear that I'm not thrilled with how US society reacts to nudity.
I also wrote, "but that's how it is". Which means that while we can, (and I do) work for socio-political change (I've been an active AANR member for many years) we do also need to work within the current boundaries. Reality must be accepted and applied. Sporting wood intentionally, Humping behind the dunes, masturbating, getting a handy or being blown on a beach towel in full view, is not the way to preserve a nude beach.
Nudism/naturism isn't about publicly displayed sex. Separating these two concepts has been a constant and uphill battle for nudists. Non-nudists assume nudists are all swingers or people engaging in sex everywhere they go. They hear about lifestyle resort venues like Hedo and Desire, and because these have clothing-optional areas, assume nudity = sex. What happened at Higbee Beach was their "proof", and when there aren't good nudism examples advertised, the "nude beach closed for lewdness" newspaper articles are all they know. It's wishful idealism to think for one minute that anyone will pass ordinances permitting nude beach areas that will also permit public sex and lewd behavior. Reality.
Consider any other social cause in the US (or anywhere), how long progress for it has taken, at what cost, and then how many people are affected by it....and what importance it has in their everyday lives. Nudism is recreation. The right to self-determination, the right to vote, the right to live with and marry whom you please are not mere recreation, and look how long it's taken to gain traction there.
I know as well as you that Johnny isn't going to be traumatized if he sees a boner or where it goes. But convincing people by doing it on a nude beach never works. Time and again this has been proven.
I take a practical approach. I don't try to convince people of nudism...I'm no eveangelist. If you come to me with genuine curiosity (as opposed to freak-show voyeurism) I'm more than happy to answer questions and point you in the right direction.to venues, etiquette and pitfalls. The very first things I tell people are that it isn't sexual and I tell the guys not to worry about getting a boner. Cover it with your towel (rule #2 is to always sit on a towel, so carry one) and go on about your day. Don't jerk it in front of the crowd. I like a good boner as much as anyone, but that's not the venue for it.
I hope you better understand me.
