Thanks for the above, I hope I haven't distracted to much from the original topic by adding the nudist - naturist thread to it. I see where you are coming from Marc, though I feel you can be in your natural state in all of the above too sport, beach, hiking, cooking etc naturally and therefore as a naturist. I find the idea that we are natural more reasonable than being nude. We would for example say a dog is natural while in his fur, dressed when covered with a man made coat and only nude if the poor things was shaved and shivering. No animal is considered nude while in its natural state, except humans, and I think that is why I mainly see naturism as a better fit - we don't have to be in nature to be in our natural state. But to be nude we have to admit that we are doing something unusual, like the dog, we are removing our natural covering, and so therefore we are suggestion that clothes is the normal and natural state and nudism is our nude and unusual state. In naturism we are as nature intended, in nudism we are stripped and naked. I feel there is a subtle difference. It may be why the term nudism is often linked with more exhibitionist tendencies, particularly on line.

Maybe it is more linked to this topic that I have considered. I spend time naturally seems much more linked to the idea of naturism/nudism than the idea of I spend time nude. And maybe that is part of the difference between nudity and naturism. A porn star is nude in front of the camera, but not as a naturist, lovers are nude in bed but not for naturist reasons. It makes the difference between our lifestyle and simply being nude easier to differentiate from. Go to a libertine venue and people may well be nude, but they are not taking part in naturism, though the word nudist is much harder to separate from being nude in situations that we consider naturist. Maybe this is part of the logic in the INF and other organisations (except primarily the US) using the word naturism, ironic too that the country most attached to the word nudist is also the country that seems to have the biggest issue with people abusing the life style for other means or blurring it, and the country that many people fear their naturism being made public in, and it would appear has a bigger proportion of people who fear nudity and also is easily the world leader in porn websites.      

Having read the contributions above, I think I'm comfortably a naturist. I live close to/in nature, practice mindfulness and beleive naked is our natural state. Clothing is an aberration foisted on us by society. This is done partly by convention and feelings of shame plus inadequacy. Human are the only animal that is ashamed of its natural state.

As I think has been mentioned elsewhere this is seriously perpetuated by business pedaling clothing, makeup, cosmetic surgery, etc. You are inadequate and only we can solve that for you. The media doesn't help by continually presenting photoshopped perfect bodies rather than real people.

It is true Grahame, it used to be that make up, lighting and body doubles were used to convince us that "perfect people" existed in the world of fame and models, but now with AI anything goes. While films stars have added to the cosmetic surgery with the use of prosthetic body parts attached for nude scenes using life like breasts, vaginas and penises of any required size and shape. What heroic film star is not going to want to enhance his status by enhancing his genitals for a nude scene? It is literally all about being larger than life and it sends out a confusing message to all.      

Grahame Peck said:

Over the Christmas break i had discussion with someone who had trouble differentiating between naturism and merely being naked. This led to me thinking what do people see as the difference, if at all.

To me naturism is a life philosophy of living in harmony with nature. Sure being naked is a large part of that but it is much more. It's reducing our impact on the planet, accepting that we evolved here and that there are many aspects of living clothes free that benefit us. (Some of which we don't understand). Accepting we are social beings and that we really benefit from interacting with others in our natural state.  

The benefits are not just physical but psychological as well. We learn to accept our natural state and become more self confident and comfortable in our own skin. Our skin did not evolve to exist in moist warm air free environments and benefits from air circulation and drying.

I put this up so people can add their thoughts. 

Everyone is simply naked at some times through out the week and being naked for most is just a means to cleanliness through bathing or showering.  Nakedness means nothing to the average person and is nothing more than a need for hygiene and there is a state of utter embarrassment were someone to come into the bathroom.  

There are those that may sleep nude for the comfort only.  

For me, and others here (obviously), it is a state of desired normalcy, a desired state.  This is not just being nude to be naked but being as we were brought into the world.   Nudists and naturists have a lot in common, one common thread is sense of not being ashamed of our bodies.

I considered myself a nudist for a long time and over time and through this community, I’ve learned and now identify more as being a naturist.  This to me is more than being a nudist.  

While I love being naked for all the reasons so many speak about, I love nature even more.  Clothed or not, I prefer being at a river, lake, mountain, or trail far more than being indoors.  

The water, trees, plants, birds, animals, sun and rain are in my blood.  The feel the elements on my skin is so Earth connected even spiritual.  Being as I was born, free of textiles, brings a deeper connection to nature, I feel more part of it, and I long for it, I even pine for it.  

Rob 

This post was edited by Rob James at July 25, 2025 12:55 PM BST

Thanks Rob. It is interesting to read your thoughts here. 

Our main objectives with ANW is two fold: encourage more naturists to feel connected to other naturists, here and in the 3D world; and to encourage more people to try, understand, accept and appreciate naturism. 

In that respect our main thought is that casual, social, non-sexual, every day nakedness is the thing - and whether people call it naturism, nudism, or anything else is not so important. It is having the approach of being free of clothes that come first. 

Having said that our own personal preference has always been naturism. Because it is the most common used term around the world, and chosen by most clubs, bodies, organisations etc, because it is what we grew up with, because it doesn't have as many negative responses on the internet, and because the derivative of the word makes most sense to us. 

Our naked state is natural and we are reflecting our true nature - naturism. 

Nudity suggests the removal of clothes, which then suggest that our "normal" state is dressed. Just as a nude cat is considered one without hair - the normal state being to have hair. We are covered when dressed, not nude when undressed. So nudism to me requires a change from the normal dressed state, where as naturism reflects the return to the natural state from the unnatural. A much more positive and logical idea. One that links in with this years campaign of Naturism being The Natural Choice.  

So for Steve and myself, we feel naturism is very much part of being natural, and it is hard therefore to ignore the other aspects of connecting to nature. As Rob says: 

"While I love being naked for all the reasons so many speak about, I love nature even more.  Clothed or not, I prefer being at a river, lake, mountain, or trail far more than being indoors.  

The water, trees, plants, birds, animals, sun and rain are in my blood.  The feel these elements on my skin is so Earth connected even spiritual.  Being as I was born, free of textiles, brings a deeper connection to nature, I feel more part of it, and I long for it, I even pine for it."

We know that there are naturist and nudists that are just removing their clothes for the pleasure, comfort and joy. There is nothing wrong with that. They may say that the above quote from Rob doesn't apply to them, and they have every right to feel that way. But I still believe that somewhere their involvement with naturism/nudism is part of their subconscious want to live a better life, live a more natural life and connect with nature. It is a little like deciding to walk rather than drive a car: it may be out of pleasure, it may be for exercise, it may be for ease, it may be for the environment, it may be for finances etc. You may have a specific purpose, but inside you are subconsciously connecting to all of them. And that I feel is how naturism works. By being in you natural state you become more natural by default, and without planning to you make a difference to yourself and the world. 

So I loved reading Rob's change from seeing himself as a nudist to seeing himself as a naturist and saying it is through the lessons of the ANW community. For it doesn't just show an interpretation of words but an interpretation of naturism and why naturism is so important in this topsy turvy world. 

It is thoughts like this that we want people (particularly those who are not naturists) to really consider with Naturism - The Natural Choice, because there are millions of people who are looking to a more natural point of view, who care about themselves, the world, nature, the planet, the human race etc who should be considering naturism as part of their lives. 

One day, if we can get the world feeling at ease with naturism,  we will not need a word for naturism at all. It would simply be understood as part of being human.    

This post was edited by Steve ANW at July 25, 2025 4:47 PM BST