[rec.nude] REC.NUDE FAQS Part 1 of 5
D. Kirkpatrick
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Version: 10-Oct-05
Copyright: (c) 1998-2005 Dennis Kirkpatrick
Maintainer: D. Kirkpatrick <recnu...@sunclad.com>
REC.NUDE FAQ Part 1 of 5: The Newsgroup Itself - REV: 10-Oct-05
Maintainer - Dennis Kirkpatrick - recnu...@sunclad.com
===============================================================
This part of the rec.nude FAQ talks about the newsgroup itself and how
it works.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. What is rec.nude?
2. rec.nude rules and etiquette
2.1. Cross-posting
2.2. Binary posts
2.3. Posting format
2.4. Replying to messages
2.5. Harassment, threats, etc.
2.6. Stay on topic
2.7. This is not a pick-up joint
3. What is RNEO? (Section Deleted 1-Jul-02)
4. What to do about spam?
5. Is it possible to participate anonymously in rec.nude?
5.1. Use alternate Internet access
5.2. Use a rec.nude "courier" (Section Deleted 1-Jul-02)
5.3. Abuse of Anonymous Services
6. Endmatter
6.1 Revision History
______________________________________________________________________
1. What is rec.nude?
rec.nude is the Usenet newsgroup dealing with naturism. From the
rec.nude charter: "rec.nude serves as a medium for exchange of views,
news, philosophies, and ideologies relating to the nudist and naturist
lifestyles. Here you will find discussions of locations to enjoy
nature naturally, notifications of legal proceedings affecting
nudists/naturists, notices of gatherings and trips, and spirited
discourse on issues relating (most times) to nudism."
2. rec.nude rules and etiquette
Observing the following guidelines will make rec.nude a worthwhile
pursuit for all involved.
2.1. Cross-posting
Cross-posting of messages between rec.nude and non-naturist newsgroups
is almost always a bad idea. (See Part 5 for a list of other naturist
newsgroups.) Cross-posting between rec.nude and the various alt.sex.*
newsgroups is an especially bad idea. Threads get confused and the
discussion quickly gets "off track". You should only cross-post between
rec.nude and another newsgroup if the discussion at hand is really,
truly relevant to both groups. This is rarely the case!
2.2. Binary posts
Posting of binary files ("binary" = not text, e.g. pictures) is not
allowed. This is more of a general Usenet rule, rather than a rec.nude
rule; binary posts are only allowed on Usenet in groups specifically
intended for that purpose (which have the word "binaries" in their
names.) Binary posts made to non-binary groups (such as rec.nude) are
often canceled by spam cancelers without notice.
2.3. Posting format
Some recently-released news programs allow you to post messages in
formats other than plain text, such as HTML. Don't do this - not
everyone is "blessed" (some would say "cursed") with these programs,
and your messages will appear unintelligible or worse to these people.
rec.nude posts should be made in plain text to be of benefit to the
most readers. (Some programs allow you to post in both plain text and
HTML in the same message - this is a waste of bandwidth and should be
avoided as well.)
2.4. Replying to messages
When following up or replying to posts on rec.nude, it is usually a
good idea to quote a few lines from the original message, in order to
establish the context. For example, when asking a rec.nude poster for
directions to some place the poster has mentioned, you should quote a
few lines from the post so that the original poster knows which place
you're talking about. But - do not quote the entire original message!
Only quote as much as is necessary to let everyone involved know
what's being discussed. And don't quote things like signatures,
headers etc.
2.5. Harassment, threats, etc.
Do not make harassing, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate posts
to rec.nude, or follow-up/reply in that manner. Don't say anything in a
news post or a mail message that you wouldn't say to that person's
face. Let's try to keep a civil and friendly atmosphere on rec.nude.
Many people who are completely new to naturism read rec.nude, and we'd
hate for them to get the impression that naturists just bicker and
fight and call each other names. (Many would-be naturists have already
left rec.nude in disgust over this very problem, most of them never to
consider naturism again - and that's really too bad.)
Notes: Some states now carry laws against threats against bodily harm
via the on-line medium. As such posters should moderate themselves in
this area or you may be subject to process by the authorities.
2.6. Stay on topic
Discussion which is not germane to the topic of naturism should be
avoided. It is not my duty as FAQ author to dictate which topics are
acceptable and which are not. I suggest that you read rec.nude
carefully for several days before posting, to get a feel for what the
group considers to be proper discussion.
2.7. This is not a pick-up joint
rec.nude is not a place to pick up someone. Personal ads and the like
are not appropriate for this group; please investigate the
alt.personals.* groups if such is your desire.
3. What is RNEO? (Section deleted 1-Jul-02)
(Adding the tag "RNEO" (rec.nude eyes only) within the subject line was
an attempt to offer readers a method of identifying postings that were
on topic as well as non-spam. However after an initial period of usage
it was found this did not work in this newsgroup for many reasons.
Among these were varied types of news programs that did not sort such
messages into one location or the lack of news reader filters to locate
these messages or ignore others. Since this has not been used to any
extent in over a year this section has been deleted by the FAQ author.)
4. What to do about spam?
First, never respond to spam by posting hate mail to rec.nude. Ever.
In 99.9999% of cases, the spammer will never see your post, and you
will only serve to increase the amount of off-topic posts. (Especially
if you respond to a spam with more spam.) Invariably, people
responding to spam by posting to newsgroups waste more time, money
and/or resources than the original spam did. If you feel the need to
respond to spam, do it in private e-mail. And don't waste your time
responding ineffectively; before you respond to spam, please consult
The Spam Boycott Page <http://spam.abuse.net/> for good, useful advice
on how to do so. A rational, well-directed e-mail response to spam
(e.g. by mailing abuse contacts at the offending ISP) has been shown
to be much more effective than ranting and raving on rec.nude about
it. It is my opinion that nothing will stop spam completely, so if you
are going to respond to it, you might as well do it in a way that
maximizes the positive results.
A moderated newsgroup (alt.nudism.moderated) exists where messages are
reviewed by a team of moderators before they are posted to the newsgroup.
Readers may want to check into that newsgroup for messages as well.
5. Is it possible to participate anonymously in rec.nude?
There is nothing wrong with nude recreation, and one should not be
afraid to post to rec.nude. That said, there is the fact that some
people are closed-minded and some people may be hassled for posting
here; some may lose jobs. These people have some options for posting
to rec.nude without revealing their identity:
5.1. Use alternate Internet access
For instance, open an account with an Internet service provider (ISP)
that will allow you to use a pseudonym as your account name. This will
allow you to post not as "joh...@bigcompany.com" but as, for
instance, "nudes...@isp.com". A few ISPs exist that will even allow
you to be completely anonymous, even to the ISP, if you so desire.
5.2. Use a rec.nude "courier" (Section deleted 1-Jul-02)
The concept of using a volunteer poster to carry anonymous postings to
rec.nude was a viable system in Usenet's early days, especially when
newsgroups were not widely accessible. Couriers volunteered to handle
such postings to the net for said posters. The availability of
alternative methods for anonymous posting is now widespread and the
volunteers have, for the most part, departed rec.nude. As such this
section was deleted.
5.3. Abuse of Anonymous Remailers
Anonymous remailers which allow one to post to newsgroups or send E-mail
anonymously were created with the intention of protecting those who had
serious personal issues that required that they remained unknown. The
corporate whistle-blower fearing for public safety, victims of abuse
seeking outreach and information, or those fearing serious retaliations
for their outspoken manner are but a few examples. Sadly, in some cases
individuals can and do abuse the anonymous remailer services by using
them to post slanderous, libelous and untrue information steeped in
personal agenda for profit, hate and prejudice, obsessive behaviors, or
even mental illness. The discerning reader of any newsgroup should be
able to determine whether a person posting through such a service has a
genuine need and agenda or whether the poster is simply taking advantage
of both the remailing service and the readership for selfish or illegal
means.
6. Endmatter
Copyright 1998-2005 - Dennis Kirkpatrick
All rights reserved. <recnu...@sunclad.com>
Contributions to this FAQ have been added by numerous persons since the
rec.nude newsgroup was founded. This includes the various FAQ maintainers
and newsgroups users as well. This body stands as a compilation of these
efforts over time and serves as both newsgroup charter and FAQ.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this
document, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or
omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information
contained herein.
This document may be reproduced and distributed in any medium,
physical or electronic, so long as the entire document, including this
copyright notice and the modification date below, remains intact and
unchanged on all copies. Commercial redistribution is permitted, but
you may not redistribute it, in whole or in part, under terms more
restrictive than those under which you received it. If you have
questions regarding reproduction and/or distribution of this document,
please contact Dennis Kirkpatrick at: recnu...@sunclad.com
The latest version of the FAQ is always available at the following
location(s):
NEWSGROUPS:
----------
rec.nude - posted on or near the first of each month or
within the first 7 days of a month.
rec.answers - same as above.
news.answers - same as above.
Your news reader program can be back-dated if you miss these postings.
FTP:
---
rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/part1
rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/part2
rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/part3
rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/part4
rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/nude-faq/part5
Using an FTP or "Anarchie" type program you can access the FAQ from
this public archive.
WEB:
---
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-author/recnu...@sunclad.com.html
---or individually---
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/nude-faq/part1/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/nude-faq/part2/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/nude-faq/part3/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/nude-faq/part4/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/nude-faq/part5/
While other WWW sites may carry versions of this FAQ, this location
is considered a definitive and authoritative version in that it
emanates from the same point of origin at rtfm.mit.edu.
For BOTH the REC.NUDE newsgroup and NUDE BEACHES FAQs, you can bookmark:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.nude.html
6.1. Revision History
This document will carry a revision history by date. Any time a change is
made to any of the five sections of this FAQ the revision date will change
on each section to reflect the revision date of the FAQ as a whole. The
revision dates will be carried in last to first order with the most recent
change at the top of the document. This will allow readers to know when
the FAQ was last updated.
Revision 10-Oct-05 -Updated various sections to current requirements.
Revision 16-Aug-03 -Updated link to Prodigy Message Board & other updates
Revision 1-Jul-02 -Issued various corrections & updates as noted within.
Revision 1-Nov-01 -Various updates to links and addresses.
Revision 5-Mar-00 -Updated various web links to current requirements.
Revision 1-Sep-99 -Updated listings for AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, and
other reference material as necessary and submitted
by newsgroup users. Parts 1, 4 and 5 effected.
Revision 1-Aug-98 -Updated Posting Locations of FAQ and various URL
updates.
Revision 1-Jul-98 -Added FTP locations for FAQ.
Revision 31-May 98 -Added HTML locations for FAQ and other link updates.
Revision 15-May-98 -Changed information for the Nude Travel section on
the AOL system in Part 5 of the FAQ.
Revision 21-Mar-98 -Corrected URL for Fed de Quebecoise de Naturisme
Revision 1-Mar-98 -Adjusted 4 part FAQ into 5 to conform with limits of
web browser sizing.
Revision 1-Feb-98 - Carried over from previous FAQ maintainer and updated
FAQ maintainer contact info and some access info
regarding the AOL Naturist/Nudist posting areas.
Revisions Prior to January 1998 not documented.
Please do not e-mail the FAQ maintainer with questions that may otherwise
be answered in the newsgroup FAQ or the associated Beaches FAQ.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
D. M. Kirkpatrick
FAQ & Charter Maintainer - Newsgroup: REC.NUDE
recnu...@sunclad.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
D. Kirkpatrick
Posting-Frequency: monthly
VVersion: 10-Oct-05
Copyright: (c) 1998-2005 D. Kirkpatrick
Maintainer: D. Kirkpatrick <recnu...@sunclad.com>
REC.NUDE FAQ Part 2 of 5: The Newsgroup Itself - REV: 10-Oct-05
Maintainer - Dennis Kirkpatrick - recnu...@sunclad.com
==========================================================
This part of the rec.nude FAQ introduces the concept of naturism and
answers many questions about naturism.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. But first, a semantic note
2. What is naturism?
2.1. Clothing optionality
2.2. Body acceptance
2.3. Separation of nudity and sex
2.4. Concern for the environment
2.5. Activism
3. Arguments for nudity
3.1. Comfort
3.2. Health
3.3. The equalizing aspect
3.4. Cleanliness
3.5. Convenience
3.6. It's fun!
4. Rebuttals To Arguments Against Nudity
4.1. Shame
4.2. Embarrassment
4.3. Gender-specific embarrassment
4.4. Feelings of inadequacy
4.5. Vulnerability
4.6. Fear of sexual consequences
4.7. Fear of gawkers
4.8. Religious teachings
4.9. Fear of legal consequences
4.10. Concern about sunburn and skin cancer
4.11. Cleanliness
4.12. Safety and comfort
4.13. Offending others
5. Nudity And The Law
5.1. Choose remote areas
5.2. Carry & post signs
5.3. Know the law
5.4. Support local & national groups
5.5. Vote
6. Nudity And The Sun
7. Endmatter
7.1. Revision History
______________________________________________________________________
1. But first, a semantic note
There are two terms that are commonly used to describe the way of life
rec.nude deals with: "nudism" and "naturism". Some people prefer one
or the other, some use either term, and some use neither. (This will
be discussed later in the FAQ.) Feel free to substitute your own
terminology in your mind as you read.
2. What is naturism?
There are probably as many answers to this question as there are
naturists. One common definition is the one suggested by the
International Naturist Federation in 1974:
"Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterized by the
practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-
respect, respect for others and for the environment."
(It should be pointed out that naturism does not necessarily have to
be enjoyed in a "communal" fashion. Many naturists enjoy being nude by
themselves, or just with their SO's, or in numbers that aren't really
"communal". Of course, there is nothing at all wrong with this.)
The main tenets of naturism are:
2.1. Clothing optionality
Naturists believe that, while clothing does have some practical uses
(such as for warmth or protection), many activities are better
performed nude. In many cases nudity is more comfortable, healthy, or
fun than wearing clothes. Naturists do not intend to force everyone to
go nude; rather, they advocate the optionality of clothing when and
where appropriate.
2.2. Body acceptance
Too much emphasis is put on the perfect body by clothing-obsessed
society. Naturists know that almost no one has a perfect body, and
that beauty can be found in bodies of all shapes, sizes, colors, and
ages. Nudity is the means to the goal of body acceptance; when nude,
the full beauty of the human body is exposed, creating pride in what
you've got and reducing the desire for what you've not.
2.3. Separation of nudity and sex
For hundreds of years, people have assumed a connection between nudity
and sex - after all, the only time many people are nude, other than
while bathing, is during sex. Naturists reject this assumption. Nudity
does not automatically lead to sex - and, incidentally, you can have
sex with your clothes on. The two are quite simply not related.
2.4. Concern for the environment
Nudity is a natural state. Naturists often choose to go nude in the
remote, undeveloped areas of our planet. The feeling of standing nude
atop a mountain peak cannot be duplicated! But in order to preserve
this opportunity for future naturists, we must take care of our
planet. Too much damage has already been done; we might not be able to
repair it, but we can avoid further damage.
2.5. Activism
Naturism is not the majority opinion - not yet, anyway - so naturists
must, out of necessity, be advocates for the practice of naturism.
Naturists have lobbied for the designation of clothing-optional areas
on public lands, the repeal of laws that ban simple, non-sexual
nudity, and many other related causes. Recent years have seen a rise
in activism and a decline in the closeted anonymity that typified
naturism in the past. (It should be noted that there are naturists who
prefer not to get involved in the politics of naturism, and some who
support some of the politics but not others. As with non-naturist
politics, there is a spectrum of opinions, and it's impossible to
categorize all naturists with one brush stroke.)
3. Arguments for nudity
Why did naturists decide that nudity is worth speaking up for? There
are several appealing things about it:
3.1. Comfort
Anyone who's spent any amount of time in ill-fitting, uncomfortable
clothing knows how good it feels when it's not being worn. Clothing
is, by nature, something foreign to the body, and its presence is
always known to the wearer. When you're not constantly being reminded
that you're dressed, it's easier to think about other things! There is
a tremendous feeling of freedom when nude. Once you have been swimming
nude, you'll never understand why anyone would ever want to wear
clothes in the water.
3.2. Health
Medical research has shown that clothing can be unhealthy in certain
situations. For example, evidence supports a hypothesis that wet,
clingy swimsuits can constrict the flow of bodily fluids. Eliminate
the swimsuit, and you've eliminated that problem! Anecdotal evidence
suggests that disease-carrying insects like to hide under clothing -
another potential advantage for the naturist.
3.3. The equalizing aspect
Thoreau wrote: "It is an interesting question how far men would retain
their respective rank if they were divested of their clothes." All
other things held equal, when nude, a king appears no different than a
peasant, a doctor no different than a steelworker, a wealthy CEO no
different than his lowest-paid employee. Thus, these classifications
disappear and the playing field is leveled.
3.4. Cleanliness
Dirt, sand, and salt accumulate in clothing. It is a lot easier to
stain clothing than skin. It is a lot easier to rinse skin than to
wash clothing.
3.5. Convenience
Society says you must have clothing at all time when in public. Even
the simplest tasks, such as stepping out your front door to pick up
the newspaper, require you to get dressed. A naturist's outfit is
always easily available. Sleep nude, and you are already "dressed"
when you awake.
3.6. It's fun!
This is the best reason for going nude, and requires no further
explanation.
4. Rebuttals To Arguments Against Nudity
Here are some rebuttals to common excuses for keeping the body
covered:
4.1. Shame
Centuries of oppressive thought have convinced many people that the
body is a shameful, worthless object that should be hidden. Nonsense!
The human body is one of the most elegant, masterful and valuable
things on earth. There are few things in existence which compare to it
on an artistic, technical, or philosophical level. Celebrate the human
body! It's one of only a handful of truly unique creations.
4.2. Embarrassment
Some people are afraid of running into someone they know while nude,
or - worse - being seen by someone they know (or someone they don't)
while nude. Remember that you will be around many other people who
will also be nude. You may be momentarily embarrassed at first - this
is normal - but as you spend more time nude, you will realize that if
everyone is nude, no one has cause for nudity-related embarrassment. As
for the possibility that you'll run into someone you know - well, if
you like them, you've got something new in common to talk about?
Besides, what is there to be embarrassed about? They are there, too,
for the same reasons as you.
4.3. Gender-specific embarrassment
Naturists know that both erections and menstruation are normal, so
don't be afraid that your body's natural occurrences will offend other
naturists. An erection is embarrassing, but rare, and easy to hide -
just grab a towel, roll over, or jump in the water. Most naturists
won't even comment about it. (Don't fear the erection your first time
- most men will tell you they were too nervous for it to even be
possible!) Women may feel uncomfortable being nude during
menstruation. No one will be offended if women choose to wear shorts,
tampons, etc. during these times.
4.4. Feelings of inadequacy
Many people refuse to go nude because they feel that their height,
weight, build, features, etc. are unacceptable. There is no need to
feel that you must conform to a standard of beauty or acceptability,
especially one you had no part in creating! Naturists come in all
shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and beliefs. Naturists have even
undergone surgeries, mastectomies, etc., and have the scars to prove
it (many have said that naturism helped them further accept these
scars.) In naturism, there is no ideal of the perfect body other than
yourself. If you can accept yourself for what you are, you will have
no problem overcoming your perceived imperfections.
4.5. Vulnerability
By stripping away clothing, you strip away the armor that protects you
from an unkind world. Some people fear this. Naturists believe
vulnerability is a good thing. Think about this: in a naturist
setting, everybody is vulnerable. The shared vulnerability creates
respect and caring for your fellow naturists. Besides, most of your
vulnerability probably comes from the awareness that you are nude - an
awareness that becomes less important to you as you spend more time
nude.
4.6. Fear of sexual consequences
Many people are afraid that if they go nude, they invite unwanted
attention, possibly even rape. Naturists decry sexual harassment and
sexual assault, and are committed to creating an environment where
women and men may both feel safe and non-threatened. Don't let this
fear prevent you from trying naturism - harassment and assault are
very rare, and are not tolerated by naturists. (And, by the way,
naturists enjoy healthy sexual lives like most everyone else - but
they enjoy them in private, like most everybody else.)
4.7. Fear of gawkers
By "gawkers" we mean the people who hang around naturist areas solely
for the thrill of seeing naked people. Gawkers are not a problem in
most areas, but you may encounter them from time to time. Don't let
them make you feel uncomfortable. Instead, you should make them feel
uncomfortable and out of place. Either they'll leave, or come around
to our way of thinking.
4.8. Religious teachings
Some world religions are firm in a belief that the human body was
created, and should forever be regarded, as a sinful object. It is
worth remembering that all men and women are born nude. (A popular
nudist slogan, meant only partially in jest, is "If we were meant to
be nude, we would have been born that way.") In the Christian
tradition, Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden only after they
clothed themselves, in rebellion against God. And some people believe
that the display of the nude body is a glorification of its Creator.
Rejection of the body is the work of man, not of God.
4.9. Fear of legal consequences
See "Nudity And The Law" below.
4.10. Concern about sunburn and skin cancer
See "Nudity And The Sun" below.
4.11. Cleanliness
Some will ask "What about bodily excretions that I am used to having
caught by my underwear?" Naturists are mindful of this, and it is
common naturist practice (and a rule at many naturist facilities) to
carry a towel to sit on.
4.12. Safety and comfort
Naturists do not claim that nudity is always appropriate. Clothing
does have its practical uses. Clothing is a good idea in cold weather.
Clothing is a good idea when frying bacon. No naturist will disagree.
That doesn't mean that clothes should be required all the time. We
should all be allowed to use common sense to decide when we should be
clothed and when we should not.
4.13. Offending others
Doesn't nudity offend some people? Well, yes. Walking nude down Main
Street will offend others. It may also do harm to the naturism
movement. But going to a private naturist resort or traditionally nude
area should not offend others. If somebody passes a sign that says
"nudity permitted ahead", it is their fault if they take offense. This
is why naturists continue to press for management rather than
banishment; naturists would get the same treatment as other taxpayers,
and complainers need no longer complain.
The arguments for nudity outweigh the arguments against. The opinions
against may be more popular, but ours are more sensible. If you are
hesitant to try naturism, try to decide why you feel this way, then
find out if your hesitance is justified. More often than not, you'll
find that it's not. Naturism's advantages are much greater than any
perceived disadvantage. Give it a shot!
5. Nudity And The Law
Nudity in private clubs, homes, and the like is legal in most areas.
You generally need not concern yourself with the law if your nudity is
confined to a private place. Laws prohibiting private nudity are
uncommon and generally unenforceable. (Note, though, that there could
be problems in private places that are easily viewable from public
places, such as through an open window of your home. If the offended
person has to go to some trouble to be offended, it is more likely
that they could be in trouble for being "peeping Toms".)
Public nudity is a different story. Depending on your locality, simple
public nudity may or may not be legal. There are some jurisdictions
which explicitly prohibit simple, non-sexual nudity, and some which do
not prohibit public nudity, but in many areas public nudity is
prosecuted under the codes for indecent exposure. Cases in various
jurisdictions have begun to establish a precedent that simple public
nudity, absent any malicious or sexual intent, cannot be construed as
indecent. However, we are far from achieving the goal of total
decriminalization of public nudity. Check with authorities and be
careful.
There is no prohibition against simple nudity on federal lands.
However, depending on where you are, the federal authorities may
enforce any local or state prohibitions. This is called "concurrent
jurisdiction." The rec.nude Legal FAQ (under revision) will be helpful in
finding out just what the law says in your area, or see a composite by
the Naturist Action Committee at <http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/>
In many areas, the tide is turning in our favor. Government is
realizing that there are more important things to worry about than
harmless nudity. And as naturism grows worldwide, people are realizing
that naturism is good business, too. However, many governments choose
to ignore the current progressive trend and keep their heads buried in
the sand.
Naturists should not live in fear of the law; they should know the law
and make it work for them. Naturists are being cited for simple nudity
under ordinances that, in many cases, do not ban public nudity unless
lewdness or malice is present. This must change. Believe it or not,
the law is often on our side; it takes an informed naturist to know
when it is. Here are some things you can do to avoid arrest:
5.1. Choose remote areas
The further you get from civilization, the less likely it is that you
will run into easily offended people. Even if you do run into somebody
who claims they are offended and will complain, bear in mind that in
most cases, complaints must be made in writing. Most people will not
go to the trouble to make a written complaint, and most authorities
won't act without one. Nonetheless, if there is a complaint, and you
are far enough from civilization, you can be out of the area before
the authorities arrive.
5.2. Carry & post signs
This may increase your chances of being left alone by the easily
offended. If people are informed that nude persons may lie ahead, a
defense can be made that they were warned and chose to be offended,
thus theoretically invalidating their legal basis for objection. A
commonly-used sign, which has been used successfully for this purpose
in many places, reads "Attention: Beyond this point you may encounter
nude sunbathers."
5.3. Know the law
Go to the library, or talk to an attorney. Find out what is prohibited
and what is not in your area. You may be surprised! Laws in many areas
do not appear to prohibit simple nudity in public, and court decisions
have upheld this opinion in some cases. In most areas, law enforcement
officials know when they can and cannot arrest you, but in some areas
the officials are ignorant. An informed citizen is the mortal enemy of
improper law enforcement, so know your rights.
A composite of state lasw regarding nudity can be found atthe web site
for the Naturist Action Committee at <http://www.naturistsociety.com>
5.4. Support local & national groups
Naturist groups have made significant inroads recently towards the
elimination of improper laws. Nude areas at New Jersey's Sandy Hook
and Miami's Haulover Beach have been authorized thanks to the efforts
of local naturist groups. National organizations such as the Naturist
Action Committee <http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC> are constantly
working to make the legal world friendlier to naturists. These groups
deserve whatever time, money, and support you can give.
5.5. Vote
Vote for mayors, supervisors, sheriffs, etc. that support naturism.
Vote for people who will stand up against pressure from zealots to ban
activities not normally considered illegal. The state should not be
our adversary - the state should be on our side! Send a message to
government that you expect both support for naturism, and an
unyielding stance against anti-nudity extremists. Remember, the
government is in your service - not the other way around.
6. Nudity And The Sun
Naturism has often been associated with the all-over tan. (The word
"sunbathing" has been used as a euphemism for years.) However,
research has shown that the sun can be harmful when taken in excess,
and that things aren't going to change for the better. Skin cancer, in
particular, is a major concern for active naturists. This doesn't
necessarily have anything to do with nudity - nudity exposes only
slightly more skin than a swimsuit - but it has everything to do with
the long hours in the sun favored by some naturists.
This is not to say that you shouldn't sunbathe. Sunbathing is not
deadly if done in moderation. Use a sunscreen. Avoid sunbathing during
the middle of the day when the sun's rays are the most intense. Limit
your time in the sun to avoid burning. Above all, be sensible. Know
what you're doing and what the possible consequences are.
Nude activity doesn't have to depend on the sun. For example, you
could hike nude through a shady forest, or enjoy a nude jog in a warm
spring shower. Indoor naturism is popular as well. And skinny-dipping
by moonlight is a time-honored tradition. So, naturism can be enjoyed
in and out of the sun. The best strategy is to do each when
appropriate, and don't overdo your sun exposure.
7. Endmatter
7.1. Revision History
This document will carry a revision history by date. Any time a change is
made to any of the five sections of this FAQ the revision date will change
on each section to reflect the revision date of the FAQ as a whole. The
revision dates will be carried in last to first order with the most recent
change at the top of the document. This will allow readers to know when
the FAQ was last updated.
Revision 10-Oct-05 -Updated various sections to current requirements.
Revision 16-Aug-03 -Updated link to Prodigy Message Board & other updates
Revision 1-Jul-02 -Various updates & Corrections as necessary.
Revision 1-Nov-01 -various updates to links and addresses.
D. Kirkpatrick
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Version: 10-Oct-05
Copyright: (c) 1998-2005 Dennis Kirkpatrick
REC.NUDE FAQ Part 4 of 5: The Newsgroup Itself - REV: 10-Oct-05
Maintainer - Dennis Kirkpatrick - recnu...@sunclad.com=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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Curious to know if there's a beach, swimming hole, campground, club,
or resort near you where you can enjoy nature naturally? Here's a
list to help you get started.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. National And International Organizations
1.1. The U.S.A.
1.1.1. American Association for Nude Recreation
1.1.2. The Naturist Society
1.1.3. The National Nudist Council of the Americas
1.2. Canada
1.2.1. Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN)
1.2.2. Federation Quebecoise de Naturisme (FQN)
1.3. Other Countries
1.3.1. Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN)
1.3.2. Australian Nudist Federation
1.4. International Organizations
1.4.1. International Naturist Federation (INF)
1.4.2. International Naturist Information Center
2. Publications
2.1. Guidebooks
2.2. Periodicals
3. Endmatter
3.1. Revision History
______________________________________________________________________
1. National And International Organizations
1.1. The U.S.A.
1.1.1. American Association for Nude Recreation
The AANR is the premier organization of American nudist resorts and
facilitates lobbying and education efforts, while TNS serves as a
publishing organization emphasizing fair use of beaches and other
public lands. There are hundreds of local clubs, camps, and resorts
too numerous to list here.
American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), 1703 N. Main St.,
Suite E, Kissimmee FL 34744-9988. (800) 879-6833; (407) 933-2064;
(407) 933-7577 FAX. http://www.aanr.com/
Web site is searchable by region and state for member clubs.
1.1.2. The Naturist Society
The Naturist Society represents many of the "free beachers" and grew
out of that phase of the nudist/naturist movement in America. The
Naturist Action Committee, in conjunction with TNS, works with
officials to increase public acceptance and opportunities for
clothing-optional recreation.
The Naturist Society (TNS) and the Naturist Action Committee (NAC), PO
Box 132, Oshkosh WI 54902. (920) 426-5009; (920) 426-5184 FAX.
http://www.naturistsociety.com/, E-Mail natu...@naturistsociety.com .
Web site is searchable by state for member clubs.
1.1.3. The National Nudist Council of the Americas
(Removed 10/05) The untimely passing of NNC=B9s last president has=20
seen this organization disappear from all known sources. As such we=20
have removed it from the FAQ.
1.2. Canada
Many Canadian clubs are AANR clubs. However, Canada has two national
movements (one English, one French) and is the only country in the
world to have two INF (International Naturist Federation) member
groups because of this.
1.2.1. Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN)
FCN, PO Box 186, Islington, Ontario, Canada M9A 4X2.
http://www.fcn.ca/
Web site is searchable by province for member clubs.
1.2.2. Federation Quebecoise de Naturisme (FQN)
FQN, 4545 av. Pierre-de-Coubertin, C.P. 1000 Succarsale "M", Montreal,
Quebec, Canada H1V 3R2. (514) 252-3014; (514) 251-8038 FAX.
http://www.generation.net/~legrand/fqnhome.htm
1.3. Other Countries
1.3.1. Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN)
CCBN, 30-32 Wycliffe Road, Northhampton NN1 5JF UK. Telephone (within
UK): 01604 20361, (from abroad): +44 604 20361; FAX: 01604 230176.
http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/british-naturism/
1.3.2. Australian Nudist Federation
The Secretary, ANF, P.O. Box 268, Belconnen, ACT 2617
1.4. International Organizations
There are many, many countries with national organizations. For
information on your country write to the following groups:
1.4.1. International Naturist Federation (INF)
The INF Secretariat, St. Hubertusstraat 5, B-2600, Antwerpen, Belgium.
Phone +32 3 230 05 72. Fax +32 3 281 26 07.
http://www.inf-fni.org/ =20
1.4.2. International Naturist Information Center
International Naturist Information Center, PO Box 2082, 2800 BE Gouda,
Netherlands
2. Publications
2.1. Guidebooks
-- Note: Prices may vary since the time of this publication.
o The North American Guide to Nude Recreation: A guide to all AANR
members camps, resorts and non-landed clubs. $24.95 ($16.95 for
AANR members) + $3 shipping from the AANR. Floridans add sales tax.
200 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, soft cover. (Quoted price approx.)
o World Guide to Nude Beaches & Resorts, by Lee Baxandall: A Naturist
Society publication covering the USA and 80 other countries. $28.00
+ $4 shipping in US (Outside US, by surface mail, $5 or by air,
$10) from TNS. Credit card orders can be E-Mailed to
natu...@naturistsociety.com, or faxed to (920) 426-5184.
(Quoted price approx.)
o INF World Handbook - Exhaustive guide containing information on
naturist sites, clubs, and beaches around the world. Published
every two years. $18.95 + $3 shipping from the AANR or TNS. See
also http://home.sn.no/~nnf/infguide.htm.
(Quoted price approx.)
o There are several hot springs guides that may be useful, as well as
guides for specific areas (California beaches, etc.).
o Canadian Guide to Naturist Resorts and Beaches, Federation of
Canadian Naturists (FCN), 1991, CAN $9.95, 51 pages. Contents:
Introduction to Naturism and its history in Canada; Listings for
clubs, resorts, travel clubs, and 'free' beaches organized by
geographic region: Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic; In
total, covers: 27 clubs or resorts; 8 travel clubs; 4 free beaches.
(Quoted price approx.)
o Some European guides (sorry no prices on some of them -- maybe
someone can fill me in and I will post it next go around?):
o L'Officiel du Littoral Nudiste - French beaches only. Tells you
where it is official, where it is tolerated, and where they impose
fines. Written in French, with maps and access instructions.
Editions Symbiose, 23, Rue Tronchet 75008 Paris.
o Guide du Tourisme de la Gironde - La Gironde is a region of South
West France by the Atlantic Coast. The guide is updated and
published annually. Mainstream French, official, local government
tourist brochure, with specific entries for naturist holidays.
Available free of charge from: Maison du Tourisme de la Gironde,
21, Cours de l'Intendance, F-33000 Bordeaux. Tel (33) 56-52-61-40;
Fax (33) 56-81-09-99.
o FKK Reisefuhrer - All over Europe. Beaches and inland. All in
German. Contains some very beautiful photography. Price: 19,80 DM.
ISBN 3-87261-061-9. Gloss & Co Verlagsgesellschaft, Postfach 50 03
44, D-2000 Hamburg 50, Germany.
o Naturist Guide to Europe, 2 vols, 8.50 pounds per vol. Contact:
David Martin, Coast and Country Publications, 3 Mayfield Avenue,
Scarborough YO12 6DF UK.
o Naturist Guide, Holiday Centres in France, Spain and Greece -
Published by La Vie au Soleil/Vivre Nu Magazine. In English and in
French; very good coverage of France, but probably most useful for
camping sites rather than holiday centres with only cottages. Price
50 FRF. EDIBUL, BP 21, F-84570 Mormoiron, France. Tel
+33--4-90-61-93-04; Fax +33--4-90-62-88-33.
o Bare Facts, A Guide to Australia's Nude and Dress Optional Clubs,
Resorts and Beaches. Published by Australian Sun & Health. Good
descriptions of most clubs and resorts, with contact details.
Beaches well covered, with directions and most descriptions
accurate. Price A$10, US$12 (air), US$9 (sea).
o A listing of nude beaches in Poland, in the Polish language is=20
acceassible at the home page of Tomasz Skrzydlo at:=20
http://www.kki.net.pl/tgniw/naturyzm/
2.2. Periodicals
o The Bulletin: Published by the AANR for its members. A monthly
newspaper. Contains organizational business updates, club news, and
other topics of interest to members. Single copy price - $2.75.
Subscription available with AANR membership.
o Nude & Natural (formerly Clothed with the Sun): A quarterly
magazine, included in Naturist Society membership. Provides
information about the Naturist movement on a national level. May be
subscribed to separately. Single copies $7 + $3 shipping/handling
per order. ($10 Canadian)
o Naturally Travel: Quarterly magazine, $18/year. Naturally, PO Box 317,
Newfoundland, NJ, 07435. http://www.internaturally.com/
o Naturist Life International (NLI). A subscription is $20/year (four
issues). Personal articles, religious-bent. N. L. I., Inc., POB 300
Troy, VT 05868. <http://www.together.net/~nli/>
o Hot Springs Gazette: A light-hearted travel guide for the hot
spring enthusiast. Covers mostly western US. Four quarterly issues,
$15 US. Hot Springs Gazette, 12 S. Benton G3, Helena MT 59601.
o Going Natural: Canada's National Naturist Magazine, A quarterly
report on naturist resorts, beaches, travel, events, and all
aspects of the naturist lifestyle. Subscription rate - $30.00
Canadian ($35.00 Canadian) from Federation of Canadian Naturists.
o British Naturism: A quarterly journal of the British naturist
movement. Contains information on France, Spain, Holland, and
Africa, too. Sample copy, $5. Year, $12 by sea mail, $20 air mail.
CCBN, 30-32, Wycliffe Road, Northampton, NN1-5JF, UK.
http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/british-naturism/
o Australian Sun & Health: A glossy color magazine published
quarterly with lots of photos & information about the nude and
dress optional clubs, beaches & resorts in Australia and overseas.
Australian Sun & Health, P.O. Box 5601, Mail Centre, GOLD COAST
4217, Australia. http://www.winshop.com.au/sun&health/
3. Endmatter
Copyright 1998-2005 - Dennis Kirkpatrick
All rights reserved. <recnu...@sunclad.com>
=20
Contributions to this FAQ have been added by numerous persons since the=
=20
rec.nude newsgroup was founded. This includes the various FAQ maintainer=
s=20
is considered a definitive and authoritative version in that it=20
emanates from the same point of origin at rtfm.mit.edu.
For BOTH the REC.NUDE newsgroup and NUDE BEACHES FAQs, you can bookmark:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.nude.html
3.1. Revision History
This document will carry a revision history by date. Any time a change i=
s=20
made to any of the five sections of this FAQ the revision date will chang=
e=20
on each section to reflect the revision date of the FAQ as a whole. The
revision dates will be carried in last to first order with the most recen=
t=20
change at the top of the document. This will allow readers to know when
the FAQ was last updated.
Revision 10-Oct-05 -Updated various sections to current requirements.
Revision 16-Aug-03 -Updated link to Prodigy Message Board & other updates
Revision 1-Jul-02 -Various updates and corrections.
Revision 1-Nov-01 -Updates various addresses and links.
Revision 5-Mar-00 -Updated various web links to current requirements.
Revision 1-Sep-99 -Updated listings for AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, and
other reference material as necessary and submitted
by newsgroup users. Parts 1, 4 and 5 effected.
Revision 1-Aug-98 -Updated Posting Locations of FAQ and various URL
updates.
Revision 1-Jul-98 -Added FTP locations for FAQ.
Revision 31-May 98 -Added HTML locations for FAQ and other link updates.
Revision 15-May-98 -Changed information for the Nude Travel section on
the AOL system in Part 5 of the FAQ.
Revision 21-Mar-98 -Corrected URL for Fed de Quebecoise de Naturisme
Revision 1-Mar-98 -Adjusted 4 part FAQ into 5 to conform with limits of
web browser sizing.
Revision 1-Feb-98 - Carried over from previous FAQ maintainer and updated
FAQ maintainer contact info and some access info
regarding the AOL Naturist/Nudist posting areas.
Revisions Prior to January 1998 not documented.
Please do not e-mail the FAQ maintainer with questions that may otherwise
be answered in the newsgroup FAQ or the associated Beaches FAQ.
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D
D. M. Kirkpatrick
FAQ & Charter Maintainer - Newsgroup: REC.NUDE
recnu...@sunclad.com
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D
D. Kirkpatrick
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Version: 10-Oct-05
Copyright: (c) 1998-2005 D. Kirkpatrick
Maintainer: Dennis Kirkpatrick <recnu...@sunclad.com>
REC.NUDE FAQ Part 3 of 5: The Newsgroup Itself - REV: 10-Oct-05
Maintainer - Dennis Kirkpatrick - recnu...@sunclad.com=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
This part of the rec.nude FAQ introduces the concept of naturism and
answers many questions about naturism.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. Naturist Etiquette
2. Taking The Plunge
2.1. Find a site
2.2. Don't go alone
2.3. Review Naturist Etiquette
2.4. Come prepared
2.5. Allow plenty of time
2.6. Make sure to pay fees, obtain permits, etc.
2.7. Relax!
3. Naturist Glossary
4. What's the difference between "naturism" and "nudism"?
5. What's the difference between "nude" and "naked"?
6. Endmatter
6.1. Revision History
______________________________________________________________________
1. Naturist Etiquette
These are some generally accepted rules of Naturist Etiquette.
o Stay Out of the Dunes and other environmentally sensitive areas.
o Obey Parking Regulations and other posted rules.
o Help With Litter - bring along a trash bag. Carry out more litter
than you create.
o Don't Go Out of Established Nude Areas. To wander nude into a
clothed beach or parking area will offend many.
o No Overt Sexual Activity. Leave exhibitionism to those attending
clothed beaches.
o Respect the Property of Others.
o Ask Prior Consent For Photography.
o Privacy Is Fundamental. Many are at a club or beach for quiet time.
Body language should tell you they don't want to be disturbed. It's
not wrong to look for new friends - but it is rude to intrude when
you're unwelcome.
o Come Prepared. Bring beach supplies: beverage, food, sunscreen,
towel. Mooching is not a cool way to make friends.
o Speak Up for Standards. Don't let some newcomer who doesn't
understand the situation or our values cause trouble. Instead of
doing a slow burn, go talk, politely but firmly, to the couple
starting sexual activity, the can-tosser, the wanderer into the
dunes.
This list comes to us courtesy of the Naturist Society.=20
2. Taking The Plunge
If you've read this far, you're probably interested in trying naturism
for yourself. Here are some tips for making your first naturist
experience as painless and enjoyable as possible:
2.1. Find a site
The best way to do this is to find an organization in your area and
ask for information. The readers of rec.nude can be of great
assistance in this area, as can parts II and III of this FAQ. Another
possibility is to use an internet search engine but the buyer should be
aware that on occasion a site listing may be wishful thinking as opposed
to firm information of a regularly used and tolerated area. A good rule
of thumb is to visit more than once and determine the habits of those=20
appearing to be regular or frequent users asthis will help assure a lack=
=20
of hassle to yourself
When contacting an organization by mail, remember to include a self-=20
addressed stamped envelope for the reply - it's polite and saves much-
needed funds.) As we said earlier, you might prefer a private facility
for your first time - or you might not. It's up to you.
When contacting via e-mail, allow for some response time. Surprisingly,
but then again maybe not, some naturist web sites and mail addresses are=
=20
only maintained and checked seasonally, so message sin the winter may go=
=20
unnoticed.
2.2. Don't go alone
If you're married, by all means take your spouse. If not, take a
friend of either gender. You can go alone if you want, but you'll
probably enjoy the experience a lot more with some companionship.
(Also, you should know that some private naturist facilities will not
admit single visitors - generally, this policy is applied to men more
than to women. And many facilities frown upon one-half of a married
couple attending alone. These are old attitudes which are starting to
change, but they remain in some cases.)
2.3. Review Naturist Etiquette
Naturism is built on respect - for fellow naturists, for non-
naturists, and for the environment. Naturists have a few simple rules
of etiquette; read them, and remember that the respect is mutual. See
"Naturist Etiquette" above.
2.4. Come prepared
Bring a towel, a good sunscreen (SPF 15+), reading material,
sunglasses, food & beverage, etc., especially if you're heading into a
remote area. You will not want to dress to return to your car, so make
sure you don't forget anything! (And remember to take your trash out
with you!)
2.5. Allow plenty of time
You're not going to want to leave! So it's best to devote a day or
more to your trip. Give yourself time to enjoy the experience!
2.6. Make sure to pay fees, obtain permits, etc.
If you're heading into the wilderness of a national forest, for
example, you may need a Back-country Permit. Don't let legal
technicalities ruin your enjoyment.
2.7. Relax!
You are about to have one of the greatest experiences of your life!
Don't worry about it!
When you arrive at your site, you should make yourself comfortable.
This may mean not removing all your clothing at once. That's OK. Just
make sure you're comfortable and that you appear comfortable. Relax
and enjoy the experience - don't be tense and edgy.
Once you are comfortably nude and enjoying yourself, it's easy to be
friendly and approachable. Don't just sit off in a corner by yourself
- walk around, chat, etc. If people don't want to talk to you, you'll
notice, but a lot of naturists are very friendly and enjoy meeting new
people. Go for it!
Congratulations! You're a naturist! (And it didn't kill you!) Do you
see how good it feels? You're already making plans to come back,
aren't you?
3. Naturist Glossary
Following are some terms, abbreviations, and other things you might
run into in your naturist experiences.
AANR
American Association for Nude Recreation <http://www.aanr.com/>.
A national naturist organization of North America.
AANR-GAT
The AANR Government Affairs Team. A committee within AANR that
oversees the relationship of AANR to government and observes
changes to legislation that may have an impact on naturism.
ADMIN:
"Administrative". Put in the subject of rec.nude messages to
indicate that the topic is administrative - discussions about
the newsgroup itself, rather than discussions about naturism.
These posts are supposed to be kept to a minimum. :-)=20
ASA
American Sunbathing Association, the former name of what is now
"AANR". <http://www.aanr.com>
The Bulletin
The monthly news type tabloid-style publication of "AANR".
Canuding
Canoeing while nude, a popular naturist activity.
CCBN
Central Council for British Naturism
A national naturist organization of Great Britain.
<http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/>.=20
CO "Clothing optional."
ENG
Eastern Naturist Gathering. See "Naturist Gathering".
ESA (a.k.a AANR-East)
Eastern Sunbathing Association. The eastern regional subdivision
of "AANR". Now called =B3AANR-East=B2
FANR
Florida Association for Nude Recreation. The Florida regional
subdivision of "AANR".
FCN
Federation of Canadian Naturists <http://www.fcn.ca/>. A
national naturist organization of English-speaking Canada.
FQN
Federation Quebecoise de Naturisme. A national naturist
organization of French-speaking Canada.
FKK
Frei Korper Kultur. A German term for naturism.
IMO, IMHO
"In My (Humble/Honest) Opinion".
INF
The International Naturist Federation, an international
organization of national naturist organizations (e.g. "AANR",
"TNS", "FCN", etc.) INF's member organizations serve a
majority of the world's nations.
MSA
Midwestern Sunbathing Association. The midwestern regional
subdivision of "AANR".
N Nude & Natural, the quarterly magazine of "TNS".
NAC
Naturist Action Committee <http://www.naturistaction.org>
The political action arm of "TNS".
Naturalist
One who studies nature. Although naturalists may be
"naturists", and vice versa, the two are not fundamentally
related. Asking naturalist questions on rec.nude will make you
look silly, unless they are also naturist questions. :-)
Naturist
See "Nudist".
Naturist Gathering
(as in "Eastern Naturist Gathering") One of several annual
regional meetings of naturists organized by "TNS". Three or
four are typically held each year (one in mid-winter, the rest
in summer), in various parts of the country. Naturists converge
at these events to meet, greet, participate in activities,
listen to talks, and have fun.
Naturist Festival
Often regional meetings of naturists semi-sponsored by national
organizations but otherwise organized by local or regional naturist=
s.
NEF
Naturist Education Foundation <http://www.naturisteducation.org>
The educational arm of "TNS".
NIFOC
"Nude In Front Of Computer".
Nudist
See "Naturist".
ObNude
"Obligatory Nude". Used by some rec.nude readers to introduce an
on-topic statement following an off-topic statement.
RNEO (depreciated)
Rec.Nude Eyes Only. A spam defeating acronym. When placed at the
beginning of a subject line it allows readers to easily locate=20
on-topic messages. replies under "RE: RNEO...." It may also be=20
used in conjunction with news program filters or search services=20
as an aid to locating topical material in the newsgroup.
(Removed from the FAQ file 1-Jul-02)
SO=20
Significant Other. A spouse, partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.
SWSA
Southwestern Sunbathing Association. The southwestern regional
subdivision of "AANR".
Thong
In naturist parlance, a G-string style swimsuit which exposes
the buttocks. Wearing only a thong is the next best thing to
being nude, in some naturists' minds.
TNS
The Naturist Society <http://www.naturistsociety.com/>. An
international naturist organization based in the United States.
Topfree
Lacking a top. What a non-naturist calls "topless", a naturist
calls "topfree"; the "-less" suffix implies that something
important is missing, while the "-free" suffix implies a lack of
improper additions, such as a foreign piece of clothing. (Also,
"topless" is commonly associated with strip bars and other
commercial exploitation of nudity. "Topfree" has no known
negative connotations.)
WNG
Western Naturist Gathering. See "Naturist Gathering".
WSA (a.k.a. AANR-West)
Western Sunbathing Association. The western regional subdivision
of "AANR".
World Guide
The World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts
At <http://www.naturistsociety.com/> by Lee Baxandall.
A very good and oft-quoted guide to naturist locations worldwide.
Published by "TNS".
Note: Don't use the term "nudist colony." Most modern naturists
consider this term to be pejorative. Naturists live normally among the
rest of society, not in isolated "colonies." Instead, refer to
nudist/naturist beaches, campgrounds, parks, clubs, resorts, etc.
4. What's the difference between "naturism" and "nudism"?
Some people make distinctions between "naturists" and "nudists." To
some people the differences (whatever they perceive them to be) are
quite important, but many people use the terms interchangeably today.
When asked to use one or the other, I usually call myself a "naturist"
because I like the association of that word with "natural". (However,
in actuality I prefer neither term - I'd rather be known as "a regular
guy who likes to be nude.")
The rest of this section, contributed by Durand Stieger, goes into
more detail (more than I did, anyway) about the differences between
"naturists" and "nudists." Please note that I have not edited Durand's
words - any opinions expressed are his, although I agree with much of
what he has to say.
While nudism has long been defined in dictionaries, naturism has not.
Indeed, the word "naturist" is only recently beginning to be added. In
the USA today, the words nudism and naturism may be best defined by
the two principal organizations representing these "-ism's": the
American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist
Society (TNS). Both organizations believe in the essential
wholesomeness, naturalness, and healthfulness of social nudity. AANR
has, since its beginning as the American Sunbathing Association (ASA),
represented nudists on private property -- generally at its privately-
owned nudist campgrounds and resorts -- and expects its members to be
"clothed when practical, unclothed when possible." TNS has been the
primary champion of clothing-optional use of appropriate public lands.
And both organizations have some areas of overlap, both in activities
and membership.
However, most of us wonder less about the "-ism's" and more about the
differences, if any, between nudist and naturist -- and, more
particularly: which should we consider ourself to be? Nudist and
naturist can perhaps best be defined by their stereotypes, both of
which relate to their typical environments. Of course, all nudists and
naturists have that common belief in the essential wholesomeness,
naturalness, and healthfulness of social nudity.
The stereotypical nudist prefers to enjoy social nudity at enclosed
private-property sites, safe from prying eyes or harassment from the
law. She enjoys use of the facilities and amenities which these
campgrounds and resorts provide. She prefers organizational structure
-- if not to participate in, then at least for the rules and
regulations afforded. And she enjoys the social structure and
activities which many private sites provide.
The stereotypical naturist prefers to commune with nature in the open
outdoors -- e.g., at a lake, stream, beach, or wilderness setting --
without the feeling of being enclosed behind tall fences. She needs
few, if any, facilities or amenities -- preferring, instead, an
undisturbed natural setting. She wants no organizational structure,
thank you, nor any list of rules or regulations imposed on her (beyond
basic beach etiquette, that is). And she needs no social structure or
activities; if there are some friends to visit with, that's fine, but
it's also fine to be alone or with just a companion or two. Further,
since the stereotypical naturist usually uses public lands for her
nude recreation, she realizes that these clothing-optional areas may
have clothed users as well.
Many of us nude recreators do not entirely match either above
stereotype; instead, we are somewhere along the continuum between
these two (and even extending somewhat beyond each). For example, if
half the time you prefer a naturist site on a beach or stream, while
the other half you prefer nudist activities at a resort with
amenities, then you are about halfway between these two on that
continuum.
Before Lee Baxandall formed The Naturist Society, "naturist" was the
European equivalent to the American word "nudist" (as in the
International Naturist Federation, the international nudist
organization headquartered in Europe). Americans formerly known as
"free beachers," or just "skinny-dippers," overnight became
"naturists" -- when Lee then pulled the term out from under the
nudists and gave it new meaning in America. The former free beachers
readily adopted the new term, particularly as it emphasized the
aspects of "nature" and "natural" so dear to free beachers.
There are those of us who believe that the use of two different labels
for us, nudist and naturist, is divisive -- and that we are really all
pretty much the same, so we should treat the two terms as synonymous.
While they are entitled to their synonymous-view opinion, they should
not take umbrage when others wish to use the two terms separately --
in reference to organizational and/or philosophical denotations.
Perhaps when the day arrives that AANR and TNS are either no longer
needed or have identical objectives, then a common label will suit
both.
Thus, each of us is free to choose whatever label for ourself that we
like best. Nudist, naturist, skinny-dipper, free beacher -- whatever
-- and we are free to use one label at one time and another at another
time, as our mood fancies. Some Naturists also see purpose to
considering Naturism as a belief, to be respected and afforded
protections, and these people (plus those of us who wish to show
respect for this view) use Naturist and Naturism in their capitalized
form.
Almost every adult in America knows (or think they know) what "nudist"
means, while very few know what "naturist" means. However, it is far
better and more accurate for us to identify ourselves as naturists as
we influence the public toward tolerance of appropriate clothing-
optional areas on public lands.
It is also vital that we steadfastly maintain, to ourselves and the
public, that overt sexual activity has nothing whatever to do with
naturism or nudism. A common public myth is that social nudity
involves or promotes sexual activity. And we also know that some
individuals and businesses, with sexual agendas of their own, see us
as a nude, liberal-minded, meat-market hunting ground for their own
purposes. Indeed, some swingers and others with sexual agendas have
infiltrated into our organizations -- and some businesses, promoting
or allowing sexual activity, have masqueraded as nudist/naturist
businesses. These are cancers and must be removed; they are not us,
they hurt us, and they should never be considered part of us. We
cannot tolerate even a few.
5. What's the difference between "nude" and "naked"?
Some people point out a difference between the words "nude" and
"naked." The point made is that the formal definition of "naked"
implies that something normal is missing or that something
abnormal/improper is happening, while "nude" has no such connotation
(see "topfree" above.) I use "nude" most of the time for this
reason. (But, as with "naturist" vs. "nudist", other people disagree
and think "naked" is preferable, and still other people see absolutely
no difference between the two. To each his/her own.)
6. Endmatter
Copyright 1998-2005 - Dennis Kirkpatrick
All rights reserved. <recnu...@sunclad.com>
=20
Contributions to this FAQ have been added by numerous persons since the=
=20
rec.nude newsgroup was founded. This includes the various FAQ maintainer=
s=20
is considered a definitive and authoritative version in that it=20
emanates from the same point of origin at rtfm.mit.edu.
For BOTH the REC.NUDE newsgroup and NUDE BEACHES FAQs, you can bookmark:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.nude.html
6.1. Revision History
This document will carry a revision history by date. Any time a change i=
s=20
made to any of the five sections of this FAQ the revision date will chang=
e=20
on each section to reflect the revision date of the FAQ as a whole. The
revision dates will be carried in last to first order with the most recen=
t=20
change at the top of the document. This will allow readers to know when
the FAQ was last updated.
Revision 10-Oct-05 -Updated various sections to current requirements.
Revision 16-Aug-03 -Updated link to Prodigy Message Board & other updates
Revision 1-Jul-02 -Various updates and corrections.
Revision 1-Nov-01 -Updated various links and addresses.
Revision 5-Mar-00 -Updated various web links to current requirements.
Revision 1-Sep-99 -Updated listings for AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, and
other reference material as necessary and submitted
by newsgroup users. Parts 1, 4 and 5 effected.
Revision 1-Aug-98 -Updated Posting Locations of FAQ and various URL
updates.
Revision 1-Jul-98 -Added FTP locations for FAQ.
Revision 31-May 98 -Added HTML locations for FAQ and other link updates.
Revision 15-May-98 -Changed information for the Nude Travel section on
the AOL system in Part 5 of the FAQ.
Revision 21-Mar-98 -Corrected URL for Fed de Quebecoise de Naturisme
Revision 1-Mar-98 -Adjusted 4 part FAQ into 5 to conform with limits of
web browser sizing.
Revision 1-Feb-98 - Carried over from previous FAQ maintainer and updated
FAQ maintainer contact info and some access info
regarding the AOL Naturist/Nudist posting areas.
Revisions Prior to January 1998 not documented.
Please do not e-mail the FAQ maintainer with questions that may otherwise
be answered in the newsgroup FAQ or the associated Beaches FAQ.
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D
D. M. Kirkpatrick
FAQ & Charter Maintainer - Newsgroup: REC.NUDE
recnu...@sunclad.com
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D
D. Kirkpatrick
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Version: 10-Oct-05
Copyright: (c) 1998-2005 Dennis Kirkpatrick
Maintainer: D. Kirkpatrick <recnu...@sunclad.com>
REC.NUDE FAQ Part 5 of 5: The Newsgroup Itself - REV: 10-Oct-05
Maintainer - Dennis Kirkpatrick - recnu...@sunclad.com
==========================================================
Naturism is flourishing on the Internet. Here is a list of electronic
resources for your perusal. This is an incomplete list.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. World Wide Web
2. Newsgroups
3. Mailing Lists
4. Point-to-point Communications (Instant Messaging)
5. Online services (AOL, CompuServe, etc.)
6. Bulletin Board Services (BBS)
7. Endmatter
7.1. Revision History
______________________________________________________________________
1. World Wide Web
There are hundreds of naturist web sites, with more being added all
the time. Since there are several pages that attempt to exhaustively
list all these pages, I will not duplicate that effort here, but will
instead refer you to these links:
o rec.nude FAQ - (this document)
The FAQ file describes this newsgroup, its operation, various quirks,
popular usage, and a substantial amount of information about
nudism/naturism as a lifestyle practice and on-line.
o Site Reports FAQ - (depreciated and removed).
No longer maintained or archived)
o Legal FAQ - (depreciated and removed)
See: http://www.naturistaction.org/ for a state by state
synopsis of nudity laws.
o uk.rec.naturist - A forum or place for the discussion and exchange
of information & ideas of Naturists & Naturism in the UK and Europe
The full FAQ post can be seen on the NUFF website at
<http://www.gravis.demon.co.uk/naturist/pages/nuff/FAQ.htm>, or the
Easy-to-remember URL for NUFF is <http://w3.to.nuff>
o Kent Ashton's list of links
<http://members.home.net/kjashton/naturist.htm>
o Charles Daney's list of links
<http://www.best.com/~cgd/home/naturism/nudelink.htm>
o Naturism and Nudism Web Ring:
<http://www.sunclad.com/webring/>
The Nudism Web Ring is a moderated resource of naturist/nudist web
sites, private, commercial, and group, that are on-topic, spam free
and porn free. Each site in the network carries a link system to all
of the other sites. Great for naturist/nudist web surfing!
Links are also provided where appropriate in other sections of this
FAQ. In particular, there are many links to various organizations in
part II of this FAQ.
2. Newsgroups
Besides rec.nude, there is:
o alt.nudism.moderated, established in 1999 in response to growing issues
of off topic postings and "flaming" in rec.nude. This newsgroup may
not be on all news servers as yet but a request to your news
administrator may bring results. Make sure you explain that it is a
"moderated" newsgroup.
o uk.rec.naturist, for discussions of topics pertinent to naturism in
Great Britain.
o aus.culture.naturist for discussion pertinent to naturism in
Australia and New Zealand.
o nl.naturisme, for discussions (in Dutch) of topics pertinent to
naturism in the Netherlands.
o es.rec.naturismo, for discussions (in Spanish) of topics pertinent
to naturism in Spain.
o alt.christnet.nudism, for discussions amongst Christian naturists.
o alt.cult.nudism, which exists for no purpose evident to me (and
gets very little traffic of note, anyway.)
o Regional newsgroups that are specific to a particular geography are
always being added to the choice of Usenet styled newsgroups. Running
a search on the available "Full Group List" from your internet service
provider may turn up one of these groups in your area. Recommended
search terms include "naturist", "naturism", and "nudist" or "nudism",
although you may turn up some newsgroups with questionable agendas in
doing so. A discerning eye will find the right newsgroup.
In those instances when a newsgroup is not available or a request is
refused by a news administrator, a good source for locating newsgroup
material is the free service at <http://www.google.com/> Google.com
With any web browser you can search this service by keyword and topic
and view newsgroup postings from both current and archival material.
Note that the group "alt.binaries.pictures.nudism" is not considered a
naturist group, but is (like most of the alt.binaries.pictures.* groups)
chiefly an outlet for pornography of various types. This group was not
created by naturists (or nudists), and most rec.nude readers want
nothing to do with it. Due to problems with illegal material or
copyright violations of photo authors some servers do not carry this
newsgroup (such as AOL and CompuServe). Various other "nudism" groups
exist for purposes of binary (image) posting that are generally not
supported by most on-line nudists due to association with soft or
hard porn.
3. Mailing Lists
Some mailing lists relevant to naturism:
o The CO Digest, one of the oldest mailing lists on the net for
naturist information, news and discussion. Moderated by John Hendry
<mailto:codi...@codigest.org>, and distributed as an irregularly-
mailed digest (usually on the order of two to three issues a month.)
See the CO Digest web page <http://www.codigest.org/> for more
information.
o Cybernude Chat, Sponsored by CyberNude <http://www.cybernude.com/>
and operated by Dave Rossow <mailto:nud...@cybernude.com>. See the
CyberNude web site for subscription information. Web based.
o NetNude <http://www.netnude.com/> Hosts various naturist pages and
a web-based chat system. Based in Ontario, Canada but with interest
to a global market.
o RixPlace, a mailing list run by Rick Jaggers
Nudist News & Views of a social/friendly nature. See
their web page <http://www.rixplace.com/> for information on
how to subscribe or e-mail at: <ri...@rixplace.com>.
Individual list server style messages or digest formats
available.
o The Naturist Forums & newsletters
http://www.sunclad.com/nforum
Web message board and several topical privately hosted list servers.
4. Point-to-point Live Communications
4a. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
Naturists gather in several channels on several different IRC
networks. Due to the transient nature of IRC channels, a list is not
possible. Look for channels named #nudists, #nudism, #naturists, etc.
4b. Instant Messaging.
Instant messaging is available from various providers. AIM (AOL Instant
Messenger which links to all other AIM users and AOL's Buddy List for
AOL account holders), MSN Messenger (links only within MSN) and Yahoo
Messenger (Links to only other users of Yahoo Messenger). Programs allow
users to direct-communicate with your acquaintences when they are
on-line.
5. Online services (AOL, CompuServe, etc.)
Updates from those who are on these services is always appreciated.
o America Online: Frequent System-wide reorganization of topical
material sometimes makes it difficult to keep track of AOL. As of
the latest update of this FAQ the Naturist messages are located on
the Travel Channel under Best Beaches and called Best Nude Beaches.
This title may change from time to time. AOL message boards are
now "web-ified" meaning that AOL-styled URLs no longer apply.
Access of these message boards default to your resident web browser.
Older web browsers may not be able to properly render content.
o CompuServe: Nudist area closed in 2000 when system was revamped.
o Delphi: (depreciated and removed - no longer active)
o UPDATE 8/2003: Prodigy announced the closure of its message boards
to be effective in October 2003. The moderator has set up an alternate
location at Yahoo Groups (tm) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/P_N_R
6. Bulletin Board Services (BBS)
With the proliferation of Usenet and the web private BBS services and
other services such as FIDO echos are quickly becoming a thing of the
past. Persons hosting or having knowledge of BBS systems dedicated
to the nudist/naturist option are welcome to contribute that information
for inclusion in this FAQ.
7. Endmatter
7.1. Revision History
This document will carry a revision history by date. Any time a change is
made to any of the five sections of this FAQ the revision date will change
on each section to reflect the revision date of the FAQ as a whole. The
revision dates will be carried in last to first order with the most recent
change at the top of the document. This will allow readers to know when
the FAQ was last updated.
Revision 10-Oct-05 -Updated various sections to current requirements.
Revision 16-Aug-03 -Updated link to Prodigy Message Board & other updates
Revision 1-Jul-02 -Various updates and corrections.
Revision 1-Nov-01 -Updated various links and addresses.