We came across a story whilst we were at the Lammas Festival, Camp, but we were not able to address it because it was a busy camp, and we had a lot going on, so now we are back we would like others to consider this topic and address it.

There is a member on ANW who is also a member of BN, who has made the decision to walk away from naturism completely. They have decided this, because it is their belief that naturism is no longer safe or suitable a way to bring up their family and children, and they do not want to add extra grief by raising their children within naturism as they grow up telling people they are naturists.

The person in question is very positive about the work that ANW do, but has reached the belief that naturism is no longer something that naturists can comfortably enjoy as part of a family life.

As you can imagine at the time, we were right in the heart of the Lammas camp, where children were running around with our own daughter, having the time of their lives, and yet as we read this, we felt helpless, because we wanted to reach out to this person and talk to them.

So ANW, what say you?

 

Has naturism become too toxic a subject for families to be included within?

 

For us this feels like a mighty blow, because as all of you know we have tried to be a strong voice for the case of wholesome family inclusive naturism, for it is the very heart of naturism because we believe if we do not cater to families and become more welcoming, naturism will ultimately die out. We have been involved with two camps this year for this very reason, as a family we too have lost one of our children who has been swayed by the social media driven drool fed to our children, which makes them hate their bodies and turn every ounce of naked skin into some form of lewd and sexual connotation.

In recent years as we have spoken out against, what we have seen a seismic shift away from family inclusive naturism, to a more 18+ only approach so that the media driven puppets of the general public are kept at bay.

Earlier in the year we tried to come up with a solution so that we could find some means of opening naturism up after the protests of 2019-20 which created a media storm around the naturist swims at Blackpool and Water World. It was a terrible time, no one enjoyed it and certain individuals suffered as a result, it was something that appalled all naturists, as a group of completely misinformed protestors made slanderous comments against this community.

The FIN project was a means by which to allow families to identify which places were welcoming to them, in hope of allowing some form of return to normality. We wanted to help, we wanted to find a solution, but we soon found that we were opposed from within, and things got very political real fast, as we encountered what anyone trained in the most basic of psychology would call a rhetoric of fear within many of our correspondences. We encountered lines in the responses to us such as:

 

“Some who you may not want to know!”

“The landscape of the world has changed!”

“Give this group more ammo, and they will turn up!”

“More cautious era of family naturism!”

“Through Adversity!”

“Post protest, post pandemic, evaluating the current landscape!”

We have even had messages sent to us whilst working with NWNS, that state, "Stop mentioning families"

All of this when read by naturists, identify perceived ongoing threats, and yes, it does breed fear. Recently we were talking to a member of our national organisation, and we heard a word that we had also seen in our national magazine, we heard “Vigilantes.” Mentioned.

We can well understand why the individual above feels as they do, when they are hearing such things from within the naturist world, if you consider the point carefully, then one can only ask, if the inside is living in fear, then how do we face the outside?

So ANW members, what is the solution, from an RnR point of view, we decided to can the FIN project and become even more pro active, we teamed up with NWNS and helped plan a series of events that would welcome and embrace families. We felt we would provide a safe place in a wonderful location to allow families to meet, talk and enjoy social naturism, because we do see this as possibly one of the most important aspects of naturism today. Lammas had a few families, and we have even more coming to Summer Camp. Our solution was to not sit on our hands, but become involved, and try to open doors that allowed families to meet, because lets be honest, it is the biggest problem we face, we need more places to allow families a space to meet.

We note that Broadlands is also playing its part, and are organising a family weekend which we know Anna and Steve will be attending, we really wish we could be there at their sides, but sadly we will be working on the final days and breakdown of Summer Camp.

The solution in our eyes, is not to hide, we have to do more, we have to create more corridors within naturism where families can walk and meet up, because we honestly do believe that the biggest cause of families leaving naturism, is isolation.

Talk to us ANW, let us know what you feel, because we will be working next year to try and support more families, and if you do encounter others who are struggling through lack of events, send them to us to talk, because you can bet your last bit, we will do what we can to help.

 

Let’s get this discussion moving.  

What a sad story you are sharing with us 😞 I think it's unfortunately a symptom of a greater and highly negative trend the world is facing nowadays. There seems to be a huge lack of tolerance, lack of acceptance of differences, lack of accommodation of other peoples way of living and beliefs and I could go on. A lot of things are presented, promoted and perceived as either black and white, you against us and only I/we have the right solution. Look at today's politics in the US, Russia, Turkey, India not to mention the increasing numbers of dictators in the world. Your example of the naturists swim and the family feeling forced to turn their back on naturisme is jet another example on lack of acceptance. 

On the other hand we naturists also have to accept that others do not want to live their live as we do (how odd it may seems ;-). We can inform and invite but should of course not try to impose naturisme on anybody including our children. It's the same as with religion. I'm content as long as I can help people make informed decisions.

I also think, that you are pointing at the right way a head. Get involved, continue to share information about naturisme, support those who is troubled.

Just my thoughts R&R. The a lot for sharing and inviting for sharing out thougts.

Another point we feel strongly should be considered, is our own voices, we have an RnR email, and we use it to not only talk to naturists, but also write to news papers who misrepresent us. We state our case, and also point out that we are a minority, just like LGBT, Vegans, and other creeds and races, and we have the right under English law to meet and share our lifestyle, which is not sexual.

They say there is at least six million naturists in the UK, so where is their voice? Anyone can set up an email, and use it, and it does not indentify them personally, and if we gathered as a group, and complain, not only to the papers printing mis information, but also the regulating bodies, we could see a shift in the media's perception towards change. We are not helpless, but we do feel at times naturists run for cover and hide at the slightest wrong comment, and allow the papers and media to slander and ridicule us.

Naturism is not about converting people, it is about being given the chance to show that we are harmless and not hurting anyone, in a wholesome and healthy lifestyle, and until we all as a collective speak up, nothing will change and the media will drive us back behind the hedges, and families out of naturism forever. Lammas was a massive success, trust us, even we were surprised, because we have never done anything like this in naturism before, Summer Camp will be bigger with more families, it can be done, but not by hiding behind a hedge, Naturism needs to protect families like the one we heard about, and it needs to do more to safegurad them.

Thanks for setting up this topic RnR. Funnily enough we were planning to set up a topic about this issue today and you beat us to it. 

When the family got in touch to say they were backing away from naturism for the sake of their children I found myself feeling two things. Saddened that they should feel that way and sympathetic towards their reasons. 

Naturism has become lethargic about promoting naturism as family friendly. It has become to willing and eager to please the general public BUT can it not see it has never pleased the general public and no matter what it does currently it will not please the general public. 

Naturism is misunderstood and mistrusted. The public consider nudity as sexual. They fear the idea of social nudity. By removing children and families we are not going to change that. In fact we will make it worse. 

Logic dictates that the average person will be more likely to trust a group of people that includes families and children than a group of people that secludes them. Add nudity into the mix and SEX is the first thing that will come to peoples minds. It is obvious. 

Naturists should not fear promoting something as family friendly they should fear not promoting something as family friendly.

If we took the film Bambi for example and considered the threat, the fire, the scary father and the death, the loss of the mother, the fear of the hunter, and then considered the characters are all naked, and then considered the flirtations of springtime animals, the pairing up and the offspring that came from these couplings. If we then decided that the film deserved an 18 certificate the adult only premise would change the whole concept of the film. The film is a sweet film, and totally safe for families, but if it was suggested it should be adult only people who had not seen the film would assume the worse. That is what they are going to do to naturism. 

Has naturism become too toxic for families - not yet but remove the families and it will be. 

But has the attitude become too toxic for families. Maybe! Because in an attempt to ensure that naturism is seen as totally PC and woke we are allowing the idea of hiding the existence of families to not just be hidden from non-naturists but also naturists themselves. Hiding is even worse than banning. For by hiding families we act furtive: why are they hiding the fact that their are children at an event? Is it because they have a reason to be ashamed?

Naturist families feel alone, they feel unsupported and they feel vulnerable - and THEY FEEL UNWANTED! If we treated gay naturists or black naturist or naturist with disabilities with the same shame we would deserve to be seen as a very unhealthy and prejudice life choice. Yet the idea of saying "Don't mention families" or "Don't admit that there are children at an event" or "Don't allow children at an event" is OK. Substitute the word families and children for any other aspect of our society and consider the implications. 

We are allowing the poison of paranoia within society to penetrate naturism. People rightly hate child abuse. They rightly want to keep children safe. As naturists we need to say the same: Children must be kept safe and child abuse is a disgrace. We must say that we are not going to remove children and families from naturism and we are not going to hide the existence of children and families in naturism. We have to educate and share, we have to do it by being honest and real and open. Some people will still not like naturism, but they will like it a hell of a lot more if we don't act ashamed of being family friendly and we don't allow the idea of being adult only to exist. I would never have gone anywhere near naturism if I had been told it was adult only. the implications are not something I would want to be involved with. It is the inclusive, safe and healthy idea of naturism that attracted me to naturism. And I think the vast majority of people feel the same. 

Let us consider people's preconceptions and ideas of statistics. 

The internet is full of sexual sharers. Child abusers exist but they are much rarer. Families sharing time together are generally seen as trustworthy and healthy. Adults spending time together where children are not allowed are generally seen as drunk, flirtatious and looking for a partner. 

So what will the average person think of a naturist event with children compared to a naturist event with only adults? Yes a handful of sickos will consider the most illogical thought. Families in naturism are taking part in some sort of crazy pervy world! But I am not even so sure that these protestors ever thought that. I think they played on people being gullible enough to believe it to be true if they said it. But I do think that the average person assuming an adult only naturist event is sexualised is not much of a stretch of the imagination. Especially when libertine venues do exist to back up the fear. And look at the images from such events. Naked people raving while shoved up against each other. Naturist may get that that can be done without it being sexual, but can non-naturist see that? No way! Gosh look at how open these people are with each other, it is like an orgy! But if you pulled back the camera and added a few children and families into the dance then suddenly you have a harmless image that shows how cool naturism really is. Gosh look at how comfortable people are with their bodies, it is like paradise!   

We will see parents fearful of bringing up their children as naturists. The modern world of internet and judgement is tough. The only way we can help is to ensure that naturism is completely trusted and welcoming of families. That way at least those that brave the prejudice will feel safe and welcome, and who knows with time people will see the truth. But while we hide families and refuse them entry, we make the problem worse. We encourage the misconceptions, we feed the mistrust and we make it harder and harder for anyone to consider bringing up their children as naturists. Being an unwanted minority within an unwanted minority is not easy for anyone. 

Yes Thanks RnR. Part of the family's concern was based on protecting their children - not so much form protestors but from everyone. And I do get that. 

Steve and I are often asked to take part in newspaper articles, magazines, TV shows etc. And although we are often happy to help with research and connections we are very wary of raising our profile within non-naturist circles. We do not fear protestors at all. We understand that they were nasty people doing nasty things but they are such a small insignicant group of people. Our main concern has always been about protecting our children. 

It is a really tough world out there. Our oldest still has difficulties on almost a daily basis from the lies that were created about him around a year and a half ago. Lies that had him basically linched, and despite moving schools these lies have been sent via word of mouth and social media to the new school. But ebven without the fake accusations life is not easy. Children mock and bully others about anything. Religion, weight, sexuality, clothes, looks. Our oldest son is afraid of people knowing he is a vegetarian - and he has already been torn apart by some for it. He is also mocked for not vaping - one of very few in his year. Our youngest son was given racial abuse for coming from Spain and having a Spanish accent. 

You may feel it is just words but it isn't. The linching proved that. One mother cried when she was talking to me about how upset her son had been witnessing it. The boy thought they were going to kill him! All because he accidentally brushed against a girls breast (covered by at least three layers of clothing) while he was falling over after being tripped up. The girl spread rumours about him groping her and basically whipped up a mob that attacked him in the playground. The school attempted to put things right and punished the girl severely (as she had already acknowledged the day before while seeing CCTV that our son was tripped over). But the harm had been kicked into motion - and the other lies sprang up. Before long there was an idea that he was expelled from school for being a pervert (we actually had planned to leave before the incident as we were not happy with the teaching level and had visited the new school prior to the incident), that he looked up girls skirts, sent sexual images to young children etc. Trouble makers got involved and started wanting to beat him up, have been phsyical with him on several times, one made up a fake social media page under his name and sent threats to girls, and one girl actually pushed our son over because of lies that she had been told and repeated kicked him while he was oin the floor. He said "what could I do if I fought back I would be in trouble for fighting a girl!" The school has been great and very supportive but they have not been able to control the lies. They bring in the children and explain the lies but they continue. Two boys are on final warning for expulsion. But our son has just had to live with it. 

Could you imagine the field day children would have at the best of time if they came across a child's Mum and Dad on a TV show as naturists?  With our son's existing mistreatment it would be uncaring of us to place him in such a situation. 

Obviously the link to nudity in naturism doesn't help, but to be honest we would not want to bring attention to our children in anyway through general media like that. Not without some very strict control and precautions. If we spoke about anything from apples to zebras it would be bound to  cause issues if anyone saw it. The level of cruelty that some children enjoy inflicting now is simply beyond belief. The world may like to pretend it is woke and PC and accepting but it is not at all like that for children. Anyone who is at all different is hated. The teachers may tell them to be woke and place those in minorities into special clubs and give them special privileges but all that does is make others hate them more. Why are they able to get away with certain things when we cannot? Why are they so special? Why are they given better treatment? Choices are also a source of bullying. The boys at school now make fun of boys who don't shave their pubic hair and say it is disgusting. Our son says that people are bullied for wearing hats! 

It is like in social media. The majority are fine, but the loud minority stand out and before you know it they change the way others think. The world is not becoming more accepting. It doesn't matter how many signs are put up about being proud of this or celebrating that in reality society has a growing contempt and the children are feeling it first. 

So is there any surprise that some families want to back away from naturism. They simply want to protect their children from nonsense gossip that could become bullying. 

We want so much to help support naturism, and we know that naturism needs people like us speaking up for it on newspapers and the TV but when you have children to protect you have to put them first. Steve and I take a calculated risk by promoting naturism through social media, and ANW and naturist magazines but sadly we feel that going into national TV is something we cannot do while our children are at school. 

We all need to work the best we can to ensure the world does not see naturism as a scary or shocking thing but we can not do so at the expense of our children. However, we mustn't feel that naturism isn't safe for children or too toxic for them. To do that we may need to make sensible decisions but we do not have to reject naturism altogether.

This message must be sent out to all families: Naturism wants them, needs them and cannot exist without them.