Thank you for this, and I couldn't agree more to everything. One other thing that never fails to astound me is how much if the naturist community ITSELF that we must be consistently and constantly on guard against in this respect. I've had past experiences with fighting the idea that genAI is 'here to stay', and we must embrace it... FROM NATURISTS. People that simply can't or won't understand just how much the technology is destructive in every single way. From the root (massively harmful data center) to the end product, harming our minds and ideas and selves with tools that require us to cease using our creative and critical human skills in favor of convenience and time.
We should never stop calling this what it really is... A crisis of unprecedented proportions that dwarfs even the dreaded industrial revolution in scale, wrapped in a banner of 'freedom' and 'ease', a banner that is a quilt made from the labors of true artists and writers and other creatives, but infested with moths and maggots and bedbugs.
Only by wholly rejecting this technology can we keep humanity on a course that maintains our realism and dignity.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful reflections on the evolving challenges facing nudists and naturists, especially the impact of AI-generated imagery and the shifting landscape of social media. These technologies, while full of potential, also pose new risks when used to distort, censor, or commodify genuine expressions of body freedom and self-acceptance.
Coupled with the resurgence of restrictive political climates, these forces make it more urgent than ever for naturist organizations and individuals to find allies who believe in the dignity of living authentically. Those of us who embrace nudism and naturism often fall outside conventional norms, and that vulnerability demands both courage and community.
Importantly, many of the strongest allies we can turn to are those who have faced similar struggles; women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others whose rights have been historically denied or are still under threat. These groups understand, often intensely, what it means to be misrepresented, silenced, or shamed. By reaching out and building coalitions across these lines, we affirm a shared commitment to bodily autonomy, freedom of expression, and the right to live without fear or stigma.
I’ve long believed that naturist and nudist communities must move beyond isolation and engage in broader movements for justice and inclusion. Together, we can insist that the rights of all people, especially those who challenge societal norms, be safeguarded, so that everyone has the chance to live openly, joyfully, and without shame.
Your essay touches on many vital points, and I appreciate the clarity with which you name both the threats and the opportunities. The path forward will require not just resistance, but creative collaboration and a renewed commitment to mutual respect. Thank you for helping to illuminate that path.
I agree, thank you very much for this article. I know I have seen the AI generated images, and much of them on Substack, but generally knew and ignored them. I never thought of the harm they could cause.
As for the rude and degrading comments. I love Substack because I am seeing more and more of these articles on nudism and naturalism. I recently read an article saying we have the right to look and not look and those comforable with thier bodies are neither offended or uncomfortable if people look. What we don't have the iright to do is to make others uncomfortable with our comments that make anyone feel degraded.
There are bodies that don't draw my attention. Those are the ones I consider brave because they are aware of that but still do it. Like the ones were parts are smaller than desired or overweight or older. They accept these shortcomings and still bare it because they are comfortable to do so.
Thank you for this, and I couldn't agree more to everything. One other thing that never fails to astound me is how much if the naturist community ITSELF that we must be consistently and constantly on guard against in this respect. I've had past experiences with fighting the idea that genAI is 'here to stay', and we must embrace it... FROM NATURISTS. People that simply can't or won't understand just how much the technology is destructive in every single way. From the root (massively harmful data center) to the end product, harming our minds and ideas and selves with tools that require us to cease using our creative and critical human skills in favor of convenience and time.
We should never stop calling this what it really is... A crisis of unprecedented proportions that dwarfs even the dreaded industrial revolution in scale, wrapped in a banner of 'freedom' and 'ease', a banner that is a quilt made from the labors of true artists and writers and other creatives, but infested with moths and maggots and bedbugs.
Only by wholly rejecting this technology can we keep humanity on a course that maintains our realism and dignity.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful reflections on the evolving challenges facing nudists and naturists, especially the impact of AI-generated imagery and the shifting landscape of social media. These technologies, while full of potential, also pose new risks when used to distort, censor, or commodify genuine expressions of body freedom and self-acceptance.
Coupled with the resurgence of restrictive political climates, these forces make it more urgent than ever for naturist organizations and individuals to find allies who believe in the dignity of living authentically. Those of us who embrace nudism and naturism often fall outside conventional norms, and that vulnerability demands both courage and community.
Importantly, many of the strongest allies we can turn to are those who have faced similar struggles; women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others whose rights have been historically denied or are still under threat. These groups understand, often intensely, what it means to be misrepresented, silenced, or shamed. By reaching out and building coalitions across these lines, we affirm a shared commitment to bodily autonomy, freedom of expression, and the right to live without fear or stigma.
I’ve long believed that naturist and nudist communities must move beyond isolation and engage in broader movements for justice and inclusion. Together, we can insist that the rights of all people, especially those who challenge societal norms, be safeguarded, so that everyone has the chance to live openly, joyfully, and without shame.
Your essay touches on many vital points, and I appreciate the clarity with which you name both the threats and the opportunities. The path forward will require not just resistance, but creative collaboration and a renewed commitment to mutual respect. Thank you for helping to illuminate that path.
I agree, thank you very much for this article. I know I have seen the AI generated images, and much of them on Substack, but generally knew and ignored them. I never thought of the harm they could cause.
As for the rude and degrading comments. I love Substack because I am seeing more and more of these articles on nudism and naturalism. I recently read an article saying we have the right to look and not look and those comforable with thier bodies are neither offended or uncomfortable if people look. What we don't have the iright to do is to make others uncomfortable with our comments that make anyone feel degraded.
There are bodies that don't draw my attention. Those are the ones I consider brave because they are aware of that but still do it. Like the ones were parts are smaller than desired or overweight or older. They accept these shortcomings and still bare it because they are comfortable to do so.