Practical, easy to remember tips, that I will keep in mind and apply even outside of the naturism topic. Thank you so much !!
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I do think ignorance is the main component in these controversies, more so than deliberate misinfo.
I do understand the general, strong apprehension some might feel about certain aspects of naturism... especially if they have never experienced it; never were close to anyone who was involved in it; are in an echo chamber where they see actual cases of a naked person in public totally out of hand... of course that's not related at all to naturism, but it might seem like it to someone who is very... ignorant.
That said, of course deliberate misinfo is the main aspect for plenty of individuals, which then can also spread to many ignorant people.
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I also think that ignorance isn't easily overcome in one-off online convos with strangers. In such a way where the ignorant person may be jumping around and assuming the worst of you... maybe even acting manipulative etc... But ultimately perhaps, just because a one-off online convo with a stranger is no way to diffuse ignorance.
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Just some little side thoughts. Thank you again so much for this great piece which I have bookmarked!
I was interested to see you apparently putting nudity and LGBTQ+ under the same banner, talking about the groups as “allies” against misinformation and prejudice. In light of the way the Pride marches mentioned included naked participants I can see how the two can get confused and conflated in the public perception.
Perhaps this area is an issue more in the US than elsewhere; you certainly seem to be on the receiving end of a lot of conservative attacks. It’s not something we see this side of the Pond, though, and we see no obvious alliance of naturism and LGBTQ+ politics - indeed, I’d say that would fall under the heading of trying to distance the naked from the sexual.
The politics appear to be quite feverish Stateside, while our politics are simply messy, inward-looking, and without impact on naturism/nudism. Our main problem is a tabloid press who think bare bums are good for a schoolboy snigger.
Thank you for the comment. In this case nudists and the queer community are being lumped together as the targets of these media stories. The group being maligned at Toronto pride is FCN, the Federation of Canadian Naturists. The groups being criticized as perverts for exposing themselves in front of children are participants in the World Naked Bike Ride, very much a naturist-heavy event. I see nudists try to separate themselves from the lgbtq community as if it will preserve their image with the critics, but a) it won’t, and b) it ignores that many queer folks are nudists, and many nudists are queer. It is also bad debate to refute that kind of criticism by conceding immediately that one form of nude expression is more wrong than others, when their opening argument contains no evidence that nudity is harmful to begin with. Nudists have a tendency to say, in response, nudism isn’t inherently sexual. Well, neither is being gay or trans. So in the end, that sort of response doesn’t help nudists, and it denigrates and reduces the other group being targeted by these attacks, which are specifically designed to divide. As soon as we go there, they’ve already won.
I understand the group membership overlap, but do the agendas of each group also overlap? Too close a conflation of the groups and what damages one will damage the other. Obviously the social context and politics are very different between US and UK.
Surely the agendas do overlap. Both groups essentially want the Daily Mail and it’s readers to let them get on with their lives as they choose. Of course LGBTQ+ folk are not choosing their feelings but want to be free to express those feelings through their lives.
For both groups the charge of the pearl clutching moralists is the same, that their activities are sexualising those who see them expressing themselves. And for both groups the charge is nonsense; for naturists/nudists to claim that “we’re not like them” does neither group a service and falls into agreeing with the critics that there is something wrong with being LGBTQ+.
This is excellent advice for dealing with a difficult political climate. Thank you.
Some naturists feel that it is best not to mix up nudism and politics but I feel that, like any other societal issue, it is by definition inherently political. I agree very much with your point that naturists should feel comfortable aligning with the LGBTQ+ community, as I feel that naturism is all about accepting other people as they are, (including accepting ourselves and our own sexuality), without any kind of discrimination or judgement.
Nice article Evan. I really like the approaches you mapped out. So often, naturists are on our heels, reacting. The positive message is so quiet and secluded that when the trolls grab the megaphone, we are drowned out and seem to respond with weak arguments that simply center around, “no, that’s not right”.
A year or so ago, I saw that BN had set up a large display at a Caravan (RV) show in the UK. It was very professional looking, like all the other booths, no nudity displayed, the BN representatives had smart BN polos on and such. I only saw photos but it looked like it went quite well -- people were stopping by, talking, asking what it was about, etc.
Now that may be a usual BN thing, but I’ve never seen that type of promotion here in the US. Sadly, I have no doubt someone at a US show would probably be “offended” and create a scene, demand they be removed, “what about the kids”, etc... But I like this type of everyday advertising, getting the message out personally, without drama, hopefully troll free, planting a seed of “what if” with someone. Then, when they come across some slanted anti-naturist article, they have something to fall back on. If naturists are silent, there is no positive message to fill the space. The trolls will take it all up.
I know I’m simplifying this terribly. Naturist booths at RV trade shows won’t cure the anti-naturist vitriol. But it’s little things like this that can help normalize naturism and naturists.
“The enemy we face is not ignorance or prudishness but manipulation and deliberate misinformation.” Excellent point. Thanks for setting up this guide!
Thanks! Trying to channel my frustration and fury into something constructive 😬🙃
Yes - I can tell! Very commendable!
Practical, easy to remember tips, that I will keep in mind and apply even outside of the naturism topic. Thank you so much !!
___
I do think ignorance is the main component in these controversies, more so than deliberate misinfo.
I do understand the general, strong apprehension some might feel about certain aspects of naturism... especially if they have never experienced it; never were close to anyone who was involved in it; are in an echo chamber where they see actual cases of a naked person in public totally out of hand... of course that's not related at all to naturism, but it might seem like it to someone who is very... ignorant.
That said, of course deliberate misinfo is the main aspect for plenty of individuals, which then can also spread to many ignorant people.
___
I also think that ignorance isn't easily overcome in one-off online convos with strangers. In such a way where the ignorant person may be jumping around and assuming the worst of you... maybe even acting manipulative etc... But ultimately perhaps, just because a one-off online convo with a stranger is no way to diffuse ignorance.
___
Just some little side thoughts. Thank you again so much for this great piece which I have bookmarked!
Thanks so much!
I was interested to see you apparently putting nudity and LGBTQ+ under the same banner, talking about the groups as “allies” against misinformation and prejudice. In light of the way the Pride marches mentioned included naked participants I can see how the two can get confused and conflated in the public perception.
Perhaps this area is an issue more in the US than elsewhere; you certainly seem to be on the receiving end of a lot of conservative attacks. It’s not something we see this side of the Pond, though, and we see no obvious alliance of naturism and LGBTQ+ politics - indeed, I’d say that would fall under the heading of trying to distance the naked from the sexual.
The politics appear to be quite feverish Stateside, while our politics are simply messy, inward-looking, and without impact on naturism/nudism. Our main problem is a tabloid press who think bare bums are good for a schoolboy snigger.
Thank you for the comment. In this case nudists and the queer community are being lumped together as the targets of these media stories. The group being maligned at Toronto pride is FCN, the Federation of Canadian Naturists. The groups being criticized as perverts for exposing themselves in front of children are participants in the World Naked Bike Ride, very much a naturist-heavy event. I see nudists try to separate themselves from the lgbtq community as if it will preserve their image with the critics, but a) it won’t, and b) it ignores that many queer folks are nudists, and many nudists are queer. It is also bad debate to refute that kind of criticism by conceding immediately that one form of nude expression is more wrong than others, when their opening argument contains no evidence that nudity is harmful to begin with. Nudists have a tendency to say, in response, nudism isn’t inherently sexual. Well, neither is being gay or trans. So in the end, that sort of response doesn’t help nudists, and it denigrates and reduces the other group being targeted by these attacks, which are specifically designed to divide. As soon as we go there, they’ve already won.
I understand the group membership overlap, but do the agendas of each group also overlap? Too close a conflation of the groups and what damages one will damage the other. Obviously the social context and politics are very different between US and UK.
Surely the agendas do overlap. Both groups essentially want the Daily Mail and it’s readers to let them get on with their lives as they choose. Of course LGBTQ+ folk are not choosing their feelings but want to be free to express those feelings through their lives.
For both groups the charge of the pearl clutching moralists is the same, that their activities are sexualising those who see them expressing themselves. And for both groups the charge is nonsense; for naturists/nudists to claim that “we’re not like them” does neither group a service and falls into agreeing with the critics that there is something wrong with being LGBTQ+.
This is excellent advice for dealing with a difficult political climate. Thank you.
Some naturists feel that it is best not to mix up nudism and politics but I feel that, like any other societal issue, it is by definition inherently political. I agree very much with your point that naturists should feel comfortable aligning with the LGBTQ+ community, as I feel that naturism is all about accepting other people as they are, (including accepting ourselves and our own sexuality), without any kind of discrimination or judgement.
This is the best retort I've read about the hysteria concerning naturism/nudism
Nice article Evan. I really like the approaches you mapped out. So often, naturists are on our heels, reacting. The positive message is so quiet and secluded that when the trolls grab the megaphone, we are drowned out and seem to respond with weak arguments that simply center around, “no, that’s not right”.
A year or so ago, I saw that BN had set up a large display at a Caravan (RV) show in the UK. It was very professional looking, like all the other booths, no nudity displayed, the BN representatives had smart BN polos on and such. I only saw photos but it looked like it went quite well -- people were stopping by, talking, asking what it was about, etc.
Now that may be a usual BN thing, but I’ve never seen that type of promotion here in the US. Sadly, I have no doubt someone at a US show would probably be “offended” and create a scene, demand they be removed, “what about the kids”, etc... But I like this type of everyday advertising, getting the message out personally, without drama, hopefully troll free, planting a seed of “what if” with someone. Then, when they come across some slanted anti-naturist article, they have something to fall back on. If naturists are silent, there is no positive message to fill the space. The trolls will take it all up.
I know I’m simplifying this terribly. Naturist booths at RV trade shows won’t cure the anti-naturist vitriol. But it’s little things like this that can help normalize naturism and naturists.
very well said about the approach we the naturists have to adopt to tackle the critics. nice short article.