Even a country like Denmark where are all the beaches are officially open to nude bathers, the reality is that nudists go to some beaches, not to others, for different reasons: beaches where naturism has never been established may be in the city centre, or overlooked by buildings, or in a district with a heavily Muslim population etc.

Alan,

I agree with the sentiment, but it seems that the answer is not that easy.

I would like to feel able to go onto any UK beach and be nude sunbathing, going in the sea or running along the beach. Unfortunately, there is a sufficient number of people who would complain (or who I fear would complain) and the police would get involved and I just don't need the hassle. I would not worry whether the beach was 90% or 95% textile - I just need to feel confident that I won't be hassled.

One problem is that we seem unable to get naturists to use beaches in large numbers. If we could put large numbers of naturists on pretty much any beach so that 80% or 90% of the users were naturist then it would be difficult for the prudes and police to drive them off. The point being that we as naturists suffer because we only represent a small proportion of beach users on any day so it is the numbers that win the day.

Although it is a nice idea for naturists to "spread out" and use a wider range of beaches there is a risk that the number of naturists at any one location will drop to unsustainable levels -- i.e. so low that they get driven off - so we could lose beaches that we already have as the usage would drop.

There is a further consideration - many naturists (particularly females so I believe) prefer to go somewhere official as they feel safer from hassle. They also prefer to go to somewhere that is predominately naturist rather than being a small group of naturists surrounded by textiles.

These practicalities mean that it is often better to support a smaller number of official beaches than it is to spread out over more beaches.

Nevertheless, I would still like greater freedom to use any beach naked -- I just don't know how to achieve it.

John

I rather think that we are appoaching this from the wrong angle.  The major problem is that the majority think that being seen naked is illegal.  They still think of "indecent exposure" and class nudity as such.  They are unaware of the actual facts.

Forget beaches, the problem is to educate the population mass that just being naked is NOT illegal.  The media don't help with their attitude and the style of the reporting and the bruhaha surrounding SG did the cause no good what so ever. 

What all of us involved in the lifestyle need to do is to pass the message that our activities are not illegal and that there is a very distinct difference between naturism and sexual activity in a public place.  Then and only then will we be left to indulge in our way of life without hassel.

I rather think that we are appoaching this from the wrong angle.  The major problem is that the majority think that being seen naked is illegal.  They still think of "indecent exposure" and class nudity as such.  They are unaware of the actual facts.

Forget beaches, the problem is to educate the population mass that just being naked is NOT illegal.  The media don't help with their attitude and the style of the reporting and the bruhaha surrounding SG did the cause no good what so ever. 

What all of us involved in the lifestyle need to do is to pass the message that our activities are not illegal and that there is a very distinct difference between naturism and sexual activity in a public place.  Then and only then will we be left to indulge in our way of life without hassel.

Couldnt agree more. Spot on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is what BN are doing through Andrew Welch and others responding to incidents and other media stories by explaining the benefits and legality of naked on beaches or elsewhere. But it is a slow process without huge advertising funds. We can all help spread the word but it is media opportunities that will have the biggest effect.

I rather think that we are appoaching this from the wrong angle.  The major problem is that the majority think that being seen naked is illegal.  They still think of "indecent exposure" and class nudity as such.  They are unaware of the actual facts.

Forget beaches, the problem is to educate the population mass that just being naked is NOT illegal.  The media don't help with their attitude and the style of the reporting and the bruhaha surrounding SG did the cause no good what so ever. 

What all of us involved in the lifestyle need to do is to pass the message that our activities are not illegal and that there is a very distinct difference between naturism and sexual activity in a public place.  Then and only then will we be left to indulge in our way of life without hassel.

Hi emesty,

I agree with the sentiments that you expressed. Things are complicated because there are no (or at  least very few) generally accepted answers.

As you say, SG does us no favours as he stirs up conflict. But, at the same time there are a lot of people who support him because he has been extremely badly treated by the legal system. It ends up as a confused message because it is difficult to make a clear distinction between supporting a naturist in trouble and supporting a naked person who is being mistreated by the system.

You said that "all" naturists should be involved in educating the public. That is just not going to happen - there are a lot of naturists who get what they want and do not see the benefits of pushing the boundaries so they just want to keep their heads down and enjoy what they have.

Just supposing we manage to get enough naturists to spread the word, it still will not work if the general public are not interested in being educated -- if they never see nudity (other than a sexual context) then they will not be interested in the discussion and will not be open to being educated. This means that "incidents" are very important because they raise the issue and gets the public to debate whether it is right or wrong.

Another interpretation of "incidents" is that naturists have to be seen in order to stimulate interest in the dialogue and create the possibility for education. That raises the point that a lot of naturists are not completely comfortable with the distinction between "flashing", "exhibitionism", and "just going about your business naked". If naturists are not all comfortable with this distinction then it is not surprising that the general public are even more confused.

John

I rather think that we are appoaching this from the wrong angle.  The major problem is that the majority think that being seen naked is illegal.  They still think of "indecent exposure" and class nudity as such.  They are unaware of the actual facts.

Forget beaches, the problem is to educate the population mass that just being naked is NOT illegal.  The media don't help with their attitude and the style of the reporting and the bruhaha surrounding SG did the cause no good what so ever. 

What all of us involved in the lifestyle need to do is to pass the message that our activities are not illegal and that there is a very distinct difference between naturism and sexual activity in a public place.  Then and only then will we be left to indulge in our way of life without hassel.

I could`nt more, at my local Ringstead beach there seems to be a part of the beach that naturists frequent.
I just need to be mindfull of those who choose to wear textiles when I am there and respect their choice, I quietly getting on with sun bathing or short walks.

Even a country like Denmark where are all the beaches are officially open to nude bathers, the reality is that nudists go to some beaches, not to others, for different reasons: beaches where naturism has never been established may be in the city centre, or overlooked by buildings, or in a district with a heavily Muslim population etc.

Went to Denmark many years ago. Such a locely country and people so friendly. Don't bother about not speaking Danish, they all want to speak their good English.  Some beaches were nudist only and others were a happy mix of nude and those with costumes together, though were in country area, not near any large towns.

A lovely place to go if you get the chance. Only downfall is their weather can be a bit like the UK at times. Enough said there.

Simple nudity is not illegal but I think the vast majority are unaware of that fact, and to a large degree so are the Police and local councils. I'm sure that many naturists do like the security of an "official" beach.

I know of at least two instances where naturists have informed the local powers that be that they will be walking naked in their area. There's no designated "free-range" areas. As a group we need to challenge local bigots an example of which was the councillor in Wales who said that whilst naturism was not illegal he would do all he could to ban it. (Public space protection order coming up I wonder?)

What is desirable is when a member of the public rings in to the Police to report a naked sunbather on the beach, out walking or in the back garden is for the official to ask what they are actually doing. When the caller replies just sunbathing/walking they need to be told that's OK its just a naturist. Clearly any sexual activity and the call would be treated differently. The Police can now quote the CPS guidelines on prosecuting nudity.

We still have a long way to go but progress is I believe being made.

We shouldn't need designated beaches but as things are I do fully understand the comfort they can give to naturists.

Davie  8)

This discussion is slowly coming round to  my favourite subject - telling people!

You don't have to be naked to tell people you're a naturist, and you don't have to be naked to tell them it's legal.

If half of all naturists tell, say, 50 people then quite soon everyone who hears again "I'm a naturist", "it's legal " will simply know that they've heard it before from someone else. Eventually it will become common knowledge and being a naturist will be much easier.

This will only happen if as many as possible of us are open and honest to our workmates friends and family.

Rant over....

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk