We came across this post on the Sunkissed Naturists blog, and noted a comment that we think is quite an insightful observation:

we have heard of people leaving the lifestyle that they had discovered in their 20’s & 30’s, only to pick it up again when the children had grown up.

We found the observation interesting because it would suggest that the nudist lifestyle might actually follow phases or patterns. Very young children certainly have no hang-ups about being nude, but through their teens are highly unlikely to particpate (and even nudist families report the children opting out during early and mid-teens). Then in our 20’s and 30’s we might participate again, at least in the form of home nudism and the occasional skinny dip.

Do we then fall out again? The observations of the writer suggest that nudism tends to have good uptake again in the late 40’s+ age group, particularly with women (at least statistically). In fact, the article noted:

I read with interest a posting to one of the Naturist online forums where a woman involved in the lifestyle made the suggestion that women on reaching 40+ reach a point where they feel a lot less pressure to conform to the airbrushed ideals of the fashion magazines. If they can start to find an easy acceptance of their bodies then armed with this mindset they are ready to discover the full liberation of Naturism.

Interesting to ponder the implications – perhaps nudist communities are never likely to have the cohesion or life-long social associations that you might get with other community groups – we fade in and out depending on our stage in life…

Thoughts?

It would appear Skinbook has annoyed as many people as they have members – with rejection rates somewhere around the 90% range (can’t remember where we read that, but from memory it was 10000 members for every 150000 applicants), it would seem the site is splitting community views!!

So, this article that recently appeared on the Nudiarist site is an interesting analysis of why Skinbook seems to be so popular, and also causing so much angst!!

The problem with Skinbook is that it was founded upon shame, by people who admit to being embarrassed by their nude lifestyles and were uncomfortable on Facebook. 25 year-old co-founder Karl Maddocks also expresses some disgust for “elderly guys in sandals” at a nudist “colony”. Such age discrimination is not only troubling, it’s contrary to all accepted nudist and naturist philosophies. Maddocks also inferred that nudity should be primarily for the young and fit, admitting in a Times interview that “he works out regularly and that part of the joy of stripping off in his twenties is “we’re all going to look crap naked one day”.

Check out the article, well worth the read!!

A little while back (ok, perhaps a year ago) this little site called Skinbook was pointed out to us (we even wrote this post about it soon after). We even tried to set up an account on Skinbook, so this site would have another portal in the global nudist community where the good word could be spread!

But we were rejected, without reason, and no response to our enquiries…

But in an article posted today on The Times Online, it would appear that less than 10% of applicants get through. Interesting stat indeed!!

Check out the article on the link above, and drop us a line if you are a member of Skinbook and want to share your experiences!!

For those who are regulars at the Confab Clothing Optional swim nights, usually held in Collingwood, an alternate trial venue has been proposed and Confab want to gauge interest!!

From the email sent to the Melbourne forum:

Hi all,

Some exciting news to pass on from the Confab team…

We have been looking at numerous venues that could host clothing optional events and have secured the use of one venue as an alternative trial.

This venue is in Castlemaine.

Before going ahead with the Castlemaine venue we need to know who would be interested in attending – basically we need to know approximate numbers to see if it is viable.

It will be a 3pm start and finishing at 6.30pm on Sunday 6th June.

Castlemaine is 120km from CBD, mostly Calder freeway, driving time approx 1.5 – 2hrs.

For those who want to use public transport, a train leaves from Southern Cross at 1:35pm arriving at 2:55pm and departs Castlemaine at 6:45 arriving Southern Cross at 8:30pm, return cost $33.40 or $16.40 conc (includes metropolitan zone 1& 2 travel if pre purchased (see v/line for more info.). Trains leave approx every hour. The venue is a 5 minute walk from the train station.

You can contact us by email at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ] with requests for car pooling.

We would like the cost of entry not to exceed $10.00 person.

The facility is a quaint older building and includes an indoor heated swimming pool, small spa (not much warmer than the pool), Dry Sauna, an area for massage tables and refreshment tables, Cardiovasular exercise machines, and male / female showers.

If everyone attending could bring something for Afternoon Tea, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please let us know if could be attending, whether it be a yes, no or maybe, by 27 May. If we do not get enough positive responses, to cover the cost of the hire, the event will be canceled. Please respond to 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

Please also remember that ConFab is run completely by volunteers, is not for profit, and all are welcome. – please help spread the word.

We will confirm the event on the 29th May via email to those who have made contact with us at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

If you are able to get there, and are interested in attending, send the organisers an email ASAP!!

This case has been pottering around for quite a while now, and many nudists in Australia may not even be aware of it. The situation is simple, but the ramifications are complex!! Basically, a 13yo boy and his 11yo brother were uncomfortable at home around their nudist mother and step-father, and mentioned it to the biological father. The father called police, and then the interesting ramifications came to light!!

As mentioned in this article and others:

The questions raised – whether parents have a right to practice nudism in their own home; whether children need to be protected from it; whether law enforcement can seek to stop it – put a new twist on a long-standing issue.

We’re not going to do any detailed analysis on this one, it is a US case that has some interesting implications here in Australia. Everyone will have a different opinion on this anyway, and the law does not appear to be clear (and it’s often different between states, and countries). Our only observation was that the children had expressed their discomfort to their parents, who perhaps should have acted on that knowledge more pro-actively than they did. We almost certainly don’t know all the facts, but there’s no doubt that nudism in the family home is a tricky one, particularly with children involved – not because there’s anything wrong with simple nudism and children, but because children must have an environment where they feel comfortable – so their needs automatically win, don’t they?