From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: Name change for rec.nude?  Is it time?
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 00:52:40 GMT

tjw+@pitt.edu writes:
> So imagine my surprise when I receive in e-mail the following message:
>
>   I noticed your participation in "alt.sex" newsgroup and thought I could ask
>   you a few questions.  Would you mind answering some questions about penises
>   and fellatio??
>
>What I'm assuming (and I've got reason to assume this, but I don't want to
>go into it here) is that someone has mistaken rec.nude for alt.sex.  From
>some of my other e-mail, it really does lead me to believe that a number of
>people are coming into rec.nude because they assign some sort of sexual
>intent to rec.nude.  I am certainly not interest in sexual matters of this
>sort and I certainly don't post in rec.nude because I'm looking to get laid.
> [...]
>So this brings me to the point where I'll actually ask:  IS anybody
>interested in getting rec.nude changed to something that will not attract so
>much sexually oriented postings?

I see nudism as an essential aspect of freeing human sexuality from all
the things stuck to it by the society at large.
A nude beach should be a fun place where people are free to be themselves,
and where - yes - people should be *nice* to each other.
If we can free-up people from sexual-contortion before they get to the
beach, seems a lot of people will benefit.

>I also suspect that some of this may be because of alt.sex being removed
>at a number of sites.  Perhaps we simply need to state the intended purpose
>of this group a bit louder and make it clear that this group is not
>necessarily interested in sexual matters any more than soc.women or
>rec.autos is.  That is, we don't forbid questions about sexuality, but it
>really has to be "in context" with the purpose of the newsgroup.  I say this
>because while I don't see "nudity == sex", I don't buy into the view
>"once one is nude, one dare not touch anyone 'cause it leads to sex" that
>appears to be so common in some clubs.
>
>The bottom line is that I'd like to see some information posted about the
>intent of this newsgroup at the very least.  Perhaps we need a monthly
>posting that stands out or something.  Or perhaps a new name would help.
>
>So I'm tossing the idea (once again) out for discussion.  I don't want to
>get people upset if they are really "in love" with the name "rec.nude".
>I'm simply trying to gauge the pulse of the net and see if people are as
>disinterested in these "alt.sex" leftovers as I am!

I think the sexual content is relevant because it bears on the issue of nudity-
acceptability of it, how to handle it, what problems might arise, how people
feel.
I haven't seen any solicitation going on here.

If all rec.nude was, was postings on where to go and what the places are like,
this would be a *very* stale place.
You should know that this group is doing some very important work around very
serious issues - I got flamed a lot for things I said about two weeks ago,
and now those ideas have crawled out of the woodwork. Theye *even* look as
if they might get *settled*!! With understanding and enlightenment for all
who consume it. 

So there's plenty of room for location & experience postings; that's going
on fine. All we need to do is keep consistent thread titles (sorry, I
haven't changed the titles in my postings - didn't want people to get
confused.)

Would you believe that soc.bi is more hung up about sex than rec.nude is?

Sorry - my mind is a holistic thing.

Too bad, some themes in

alt.feminism
soc.feminism
soc.bi
(soc.gay - I suppose)
soc.men
soc.women
rec.nude

all tend to be related. There are philosophical issues raised here, that I
think are being dealt with here much more clearly than in any of those other
groups. It's nice to be in the vanguard.

I am *not* in favor of limiting the discussion, except to suggest that
actual sexual techniques and solicitations for sex should seek more
appropriate places. But that sort of stuff is not getting in here, is it?

Let's choose some consistent thread names, stick to them, so that those
who aren't interested in "abstract nudist philosophy in the context of
human sexuality and society's attitudes" can kill them if they like.

I propose "Sexuality and Social Attitudes" as a thread name.

Thanks.
-ecsd