I suspect most rules come out of a perception of necessity.  Granted, there are many who simply like to control others (and we could get sidetracked on this forever), but I think some of rules we have seen as naturists are the former.

Mandatory nudity in the pool:
The rationale in the US up until the 1960's was that the material suits were made of shed quite a bit and in a public pool that meant a lot of fiber in the filter.  Remember too that at that time the prevalent filtration system was "sand and gravel" and I imagine getting those fibers out could be a problem.  The issue was tolerated for women and that led to the "boys swim nude, girls don't" at the YMCA until the advent of synthetics and a change in culture.  I've also seen a poster on a nudism topic on Quora who is French and runs a naturist B&B.  The poster claims that the pool uses a minimum of chemicals and is registered as such with the French authorities.  By regulation, suits are not to be used.  If they are, the pool has to closed and a lot of regulatory "stuff" has to occur.  I don't know if this is true or not but it is a ring of veracity.

No use of last names:
This was probably much more prevalent here in the prudish US than elsewhere.  Many individuals did not want to identify themselves as naturists because doing so could have really detrimental effects on jobs and other life factors.  This probably hasn't abated in some occupations and if anything is now worse (teaching, child care).  Whether this ever changes I can't say.

As the proverbial single male (my wife is not a naturist) I don't like hearing about quotas.  I know I'm not a pervert but understand the world is what it is and not what we would like it to be.  Whether or not this rule helps or hurts naturism can probably be debated at some length.  

My two cents on the topic, for what it's worth.

We have been enjoying this topic https://www.anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/224/clubs-and-venues-closing and some of the answers are linked to rules and how some clubs are maybe a little too bogged down with rules and how rules can be off putting to even join clubs in the first place. People like to feel that they make their own rules in life. 

So let us take another look at this topic. 

Here is my take: 

Rules are seen as negative to freedom but important to ambiance. Guidelines of what a club should expect from the members = and what members can expect from their club is important for health, safety, appropriate behaviour, resepct for all - that works both ways. 

I would like this topic to shape the guidelines we should expect naturists to be happy to work with when they join a club but also what a club should be expected to offer in return. These guidelines should be universal and could be used to help people understand naturism on a global scale. 

After a two way set of guidelines is established then each club depending on the sepcifics of the club should have special additions to the club guidleines - for example a club that is based on sporting activities could ask that it's members should be prepared to be involved in at least one sport. 

In other words each club would expect it's members to follow a universal set of naturist guidelines, give a minimal set of offerings back in return and then have some unique amendments to these guidelines based on that club. This "design" could then be put in place all over the world - for landed and non-landed clubs, meet ups, sites like ANW and regional bodies - as a measure of reaching a recommended and recognised mutual resepct of each other, the opportunities and individuals involved in naturism - a sort of naturist standard that can help people understand that naturism has standards. Those that no not fit these standards are maybe not fitting to naturism. I am not thinking about hard core, obsessive doctrines but simple expectations that would positively help define this life choice to "newbies" and set a fair mutual standard of expectations from individuals and from bodies. 

What would these standards be? And would their replacement of a whole list of club rules  be a positive way of encouraging people to not fear joining a club?

The floor is yours.... 

While we are on the subject of clubs we would love to hear about your own experiences. 

https://www.anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/225/are-you-or-were-you-a-member-of-a-club-tell-us-about-it

and do look at this club poll and cast your vote 

https://www.anaturistworld.com/poll-item/view/54 



and also look at this topic 

https://www.anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/226/i-am-not-part-of-a-naturist-club-because

or if you would like to join a club and cannot find one check out this topic

https://www.anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/227/help-me-find-a-naturist-club-to-join

We think that in order to set out any kind of rules, one has to question their need.

As stated above, the expectation to be fully naked in the pool is something we think all clubs adhere to, and is the expected norm throughout all naturism.

Eye contact, no staring. Using a towel to sit on for hygiene purposes, no sexual behaviour, and being respectful and polite. These are not impossible asks, and we would imagine most naturists would be happy with these.

We have never visited or been a part of a club, we can only base our comments on what we have seen or what we have been told, and we cannot deny, we have encountered some eyebrow raising things.

We once looked into a club that demanded all members were shaved or waxed downstairs, and yes, we found that unacceptable, as it clashed with personal choice.

We have been told of clubs that demand nudity at all times everywhere, which to a degree we can understand, but when that includes visitors or people new to naturism, we cannot agree, why is so hard to tolerate someone in a bathing suit who is a little apprehensive and nervous? They will get there, it takes time for some people, surly other naturists are aware of this and would not wish to put people so blatantly on the spot? We do not agree with this policy, as it will put off new people, and feel small changes should be made.

We completely understand the rule for no men allowed in a women’s only area as Bare Oaks in Canada has in place, which allows some women, especially new to naturism women to have somewhere to acclimatize before entering the main areas, that to use make good sense, although we would argue that a similar no women rule, be applied to another area where men could be a little more boisterous without offending those of delicate sensibilities.

We can even handle a quiet only rule for another part of a camp, where things are more relaxed, we too have our quiet moments and would enjoy being there, knowing our quiet sides are not stopping those who wish to have a loud good fun.

The rule of no sexual behaviour has to be possibly the most important which is enforced with vigour, we can see any naturist disagreeing with that.

All clubs have some rules, such as respect, being tidy and be clean to the premises, and take good care of them, we would say these are universal rules that apply to everything be it naturist or not, they are as we see it sensible.

If the rules create division or distress, there has to be a rethink, and if there are more than ten times the membership, you would have to question why, and ask was this clique building, as only a certain kind of member will be allowed in?

Rule have to be sensible, easy to remember and not handed out like confetti, we feel plain and simple and not in abundance will provide the right sort of atmosphere for all to enjoy a club, however, we have not been in one, never ran one, or have one near enough we can attend, so really we are not that qualified to comment on them, but we gave it a go to see.  

My way of thinking is that their should be a naturist code - like the highway code or the countryside code. It may be common sense and common courtesy to close gates after going through them 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1052574/Countryside_Code_A5.pdf

but these rules exist to guide but also explain: Respect, Protect, Enjoy Surely that would also make sense for naturism. 

If an international code was set up then anyone investigating naturism could learn from it and be encouraged to trust it. Any person or venue not following this simple code would not be considered naturist  - on particular this allows a definition to make a clear distinction removing all clubs that are more libertine in behaviour from appearing to be naturist to the interested newbie. 

I would like to see venues, clubs and websites carry a badge for following this code. The code/rules/guidelines should be simple and of such principals that no fair minded person would feel slighted by them. 

This code should work both ways - the venue has to make certain promises too. A certain standard of safety, behaviour, and respect. 

Each venue or club after that could have its own set of "by-laws" that maybe make sense due to the venue - such as staying clear of the 200 metre drop in a hole in the ground - but these extra rules should be deemed to only be there if necessary. If for some good reason a club is adult only then that can be part of those extra rules. I would like there to be a really good reason to have such extra rules so people do not feel unnecessarily victimised or controlled. The average club should by default want to include everyone and be as welcoming and relaxed as possible. 

Maybe these codes should also be aimed at natioanl bodies. Would it not be fair to have a rule such as this - "if there are X members or more within a certain area  who do not have a club within X miles then one will be set up to represent them"  

I feel that if an international code of practise was drawn up and presented like the link above then it could be attached to all clubs, venues, websites etc and shared around the internet and to other media and it would help define exactly what naturism is about and could be used to encourage greater appreciation and trust BUT also used to remove any venues or people who do not abide by such basic principals to be distanced from naturism. For surely the biggest issues that naturism has to deal with is misunderstanding and misuse.