From: middleto@poincare.ucsd.edu (Tom Middleton ; System Manager)
Newsgroups: rec.nude
Subject: Re: Interesting (?) opinion :)
Date: 26 Aug 1992 00:59:00 GMT
Organization: Institute for NonLinear Science, UCSD
NNTP-Posting-Host: poincare.ucsd.edu

In article <> Michel Fougeres <mf0w+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>I think the immense majority of nudists ARE born exhibitionists (or at
>any rate they have acquired the taste) -- whether they will admit to it
>or not.   They enjoy being seen as much as they like to watch others --

I think we must be careful how loose we play with the word "exhibitionist"
here.  The dictionary* currently at my side gives two definitions for
exhibitionism.  "1) a perversion marked by a tendency to indecent exposure
of the person so as to excite or gratify oneself sexually by such exposure.
2) the act or practice of behaving so as to attract attention to oneself."

If you accept #1 I strongly disagree. Obviously being nude at an area for
nudists isn't indecent and few nudist are sexually gratified simply by
visiting a beach or resort.
If you disregard #1 and accept #2 you must include any person who dresses
up to go to chuurch or dinner or the theatre because they are obviously
trying to attract attention to themselves.  I doubt if anyone spends hours
picking the right clothes, cleaning up, putting on makeup and cologne and
jewelry just to be ignored.

I also bring into question your "immense majority" comment.  You seem to
support this with only a few visits to Cap D'Agde as supporting evidence.
And you use the interaction with textiles as examples.  At the five nudist
resorts I have been to and at nude beaches I have been to there are no
non-nudes to shock.  With everyone equally nude it can't possibly be a
perversion, in such an environment wearing clothes is a perversion.

Nudists are people and people are social animals, whether dressed or not
we tend to gather for conversation and games.  The fact that some of us
have gotten over the perverted desire to drape animal hair or skin or
synthetics over our bodies in order to hide our natural selfs can not
possibly be construed as exhibitionism.  In fact, I would have to say it
is a sickness that makes people want to hide their bodies.

>entering it, the mischievous nudists had, in the course of a few weeks,
>practically destroyed those signs or damaged them beyond recognition, so
>that nobody knew any longer where the nudist and the textile beaches met

Did you consider the possibility that the nude portion of the beach was too
small and crowded and the nudists were merely attempting to find more
breathing room?

>but if that unto-now-textile was a man, he would often get such a charge
>out of exposing himself 100% bare that he would sprout an erection, and
>the usual reflex (of that person) was to make a dash for the
>Mediterranean sea close by, for a cooling period.

Have you asked these men if the erection was because they were finally
getting to show their body to someone?  How do you know it was exhibitionism
that caused it and not something else?  Have you considered the other 
possibilities?

Michel, I don't know what motivates you or what goes on in your own mind.
Perhaps your desire to believe most nudists are exhibitionist is a 
defense mechanism that allows you to justify your own tendencies.  Why
did you go to Cap D'Agde, was it to show off your body?  Did you get a
sexual thrill out of it?

I honestly can not speak for all nudists, I do not consider myself an
exhibitionist.  I know some exhibitionists are also nudists.  I don't
know what definition of exhibitionism you use but in any case I don't
feel I fit in that category.  Perhaps someone will survey rec.nude
readers and get a rough estimate of how many consider themselves
exhibitionists.  Perhaps Pat O'Brien of the naturist society has more
information on this.  Perhaps I am naive, but I think it is erroneous
to claim that the majority of nudist are exhibitionists.  We are
uninhibited with regards to our bodies but that certainly is not the
same.

Tom

* dictionary referred to is Websters Third New International Dictionary.


In article <> Michel Fougeres <mf0w+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>(what does a System Manager do ?  is s/he some kind of bouncer ?)

I don't know what a system manager does.  This one sits around reading
news and writing opinions in rec.nude.  Fortunately, my boss doesn't
know what a system manager does either.  Sooo, as long as the paychecks
keep rolling in I'm not going to do anything to rock the boat such as
asking my boss "what am I supposed to be doing anyway?".

	:-)	:-)	:-)	:-)	:-)	:-)	:-)

-- 
===============================================================================
Thomas Earl Middleton		| Camping Bares:  "An Anarchist Disorganization
aka Happy Bare			| Dedicated to the Destruction of the Fabric of
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Newsgroups: rec.nude