Naturist or exhibitionist??

[pc121]

Hi All

A bit of a controversial subject but I think that is what this "naturist forum" is for.

Do most naturists have, to a greater or lesser degree, exhibitionist tendencies???.
Is it just the freedom of not wearing clothes, the warmth of the sun to keep us warm, the cool sea carressing our bodies without the drag and discomfort of a clinging, wet swimming costum??

Or is it more?

Do we get a bit of a thrill being amongst others naked? Looking at others and being looked at, deep down does this give us a level of sexual excitement and even arousal on occasion?

Are we a bit disappointed if we are the ONLY ones on the beach?  Hoping to get "caught" naked? Do we prefer when there are a few others to share the beach with to enjoy each others nakedness?

Thoughts on a postcard please

PC121

     

[Magoo]

OK, it's been a while & no one has taken the bait, so I'll have a go

Naturists in general are no more or less likely to be exhibitionists than textile folk. Most naturists stick to 'their' section of the beach although these boundaries are a bit woolly on some parts of Fuerty. However, there are folk on here who would advocate walking buff through Corry on market day to make a point. Saying that, I have seen textiles who seem to go out to shock in ways I have not witnessed among naturists. Personally I enjoy swimming nude & drying off on my sunbed without wet swimming gear.

Do I get a sexual thrill on a nude beach? No. Do I like to people watch? Yes. The most interesting people to watch are the textiles who just 'happen' to wonder by. It is quite amusing, does this make me an exhibitionist?

I do quite like an empty beach, but as I have said, I enjoy swimming. Doing that on an empty beach is not a good idea. Getting 'caught' naked has no real meaning on Fuerty, as you can expect to find someone in the buff anywhere on the beach away from the main hotels

[pc121]

I thought that this topic would have had quite a reaction........and I suppose silence is a reaction of sorts!!!!

Thank you Magoo.......a very considered reply

PC121

[jg]

I suppose there is a little of the exhibtionist in all of us, naturist or textile.

As far as I am concerned I will strip off in any place where I can avoid giving unreasonable offense.
As far as beaches are concerned this means that I am totally openly naked in the El Cotillo lagoons area regardless of whether there are other naturists around while in Corralejo bay I will be reasonably discreet about where I strip off to enter the water.

In the Cotillo lagoons to lighthouse area I am always amused by the textiles , especially women, who pretend that I am not there while checking out the "equipment."

I don't know what this makes me - decide for yourselves.

[SheilaW]

Personally, I was waiting to see the OP answer his (her?) own questions first. We all know how to identify a practicing all-over sunbather (and I'm avoiding using the term "naturist" as IMO the two can be very different), but it isn't easy if they haven't bared all. There are too many people hijacking the naturist forum for exactly that exhibitionism that was spoken about. So, bare all please, pc121.

[suendrob]

I'm not an exhibitionist, I just like the freedom of the naturistbeach. In fact I always carry my sarong when I go for walks, so I don't offend anyone with my huge appendage. I'm happy when we are sitting or laying together on the beach though and if people want to come and look they are welcome. The thrill is getting the sun on the body, not from being seen.

[sunpics]

 8)That is an interesting question. I do have a little exhibitionist in me if I am honest but I would not walk down Corry High Street naked. If people are honest they would admit they were a little bit exhibitionist when naked on the beach. But I am  not in any offensive way .
I just enjoy being naked with the warm breeze on my naked skin , it makes me feel great. I do not get over excited all the time if you know what I mean, but it is so exciting being naked in the sun.
Would I go out of my way to exhibit my naked ness , maybe not but it is exciting being naked outside in the open air it makes you feel alive. Being among others naked people is a bonus but not essential for that great naked feeling. I do people watch as I walk naked along the beach some wonderful people enjoy being naked.
One such German lady was staying in our hotel with her husband they were very well dressed in the hotel.
On the beach they would get naked just the same as my wife and I the husband always stayed in the stone shelters but she loved to walk naked along the beach as do I . Are we both exhibitionist ? I always walk along with my camera taking in the wonderful views and wildlife.
This lady kept walking well in front of me and kept stopping to relax on the stone shelter stone walls. The question was she just an exhibitionist wanting some one to see her or take her picture or was she just enjoying her nakedness?
If  I was walking down the beach and a coach full of Germans piled out on to the beach with their cameras to take pictures of the beach and the nudist.
I would not run away and hide, if they were happy enough to take my picture why should I be bothered. It is their loss have lots of cloths on a sunny day Secretly I think many of the tourist's wish they were brave enough to take off all their cloths and become an exhibitionist like me.
Enjoy your nakedness even if you are not an Exhibitionist Sunpics Ha Ha

[notdeadfred]

Neither (naturist or exhibitionist) in my case. Having just returned from 2 weeks in the sun (and in the buff most of the time), I thought I would try to respond to sunpics question whilst the experience was fresh in my mind.

I don't consider myself a naturist as I don't need to be naked as much as possible, and have never considered joining a naturist group or going to a naturist resort where people go naked to shops and restaurants. But I do enjoy being naked on the beach or at the pool - there is nothing quite like the feel of the sun, wind and water against all of your bare skin. I also think it is a totally natural thing to be nude on the beach and not have to dry out wet swimwear or struggle to change under towels.

As it tends to only happen once or twice a year for me, I think it's a kind of liberating thing, banishing all the domestic responsibilities and awful weather at home, and being able to relax without worrying about what to wear today. It just feels so good. The reduced need for clothes also helps to reduce the weight of your luggage in these days of increasing excess baggage charges by the airlines!

As for the exhibitionist angle, I think as someone else said there may be a little bit of that in a lot of us, but for me it is not the reason I go naked on the beach. I would never actively seek out opportunities to be seen nude, but neither do I run and hide if clothed people are approaching. I often go for long nude walks along the Fuerte beaches in the south, where nudity has been commonplace for decades and never seems to cause offence. Perhaps some might regard that as exhibitionist, but I think that if you do it in a place where it is commonplace not necessarily so. But I wouldn't do it in front of the big resort hotels further north where the mostly British tourists of a certain type seem to a lot more hung up about it - that I think would be exhibitionist.

Finally, a little scenario last week which typifies why I like Fuerte so much. We were lying naked on our sunbeds on Esquinzo beach, in a group of sunbeds most of which were being used by nudists. Along came a family, obviously locals, Mum, Dad and 2 early teenage daughters and parked themselves on the sand directly in front of our sunbeds. Now if they had been there first I would have felt awkward about settling nude in front of them for fear of causing any offence, but obviously it was of total unconcern to them that their 2 young girls were going to spend the afternoon in the company of all these naked folk! If only all beaches could have a similar relaxed attitude to nudity.

[MinRich]

We are the same as notdeadfred .
Can't ever imagine going to the beach in a hot country and not being nude on the beach
Our holiday number one priority is a nude beach and everything else is secondary
Can't imagine why people would want to wander around a supermarket or shops in the nude but then that must be the difference between us and pure naturists ??
Quite like the idea of a Naturist resort as you can gaurantee a nude beach and pool area . La Jenny does appeal in SW France as doe other South France resorts

[jg]

Whether you call yourself an exhibitionist, a nudist or a naturist or neither is immaterial - the significant point is whether you enjoy naked recreation or living to some extent.
Some naturists would visit resort shops and restaurants naked and some wouldn't.
Some visitors to naturist resorts only undress on the beach or for the swimming pool.
Labels don't matter - the important thing is to enjoy.

[SheilaW]

I don't consider myself a naturist as I don't need to be naked as much as possible, and have never considered joining a naturist group or going to a naturist resort where people go naked to shops and restaurants.

A splendid post from someone who's clearly unconcerned about showing and seeing the naked body, but conscious of being only one person in a community of many. I think you are a naturist, notdeadfred. Here's a definition of the word as used in Wikipedia:

The word naturism was used for the first time in 1778 by a French-speaking Belgian, Jean Baptiste Luc Planchon (1734–1781), and was advocated as a means of improving the 'l'hygiène de vie' (natural style of life) and health.[4][5]

According to the international definition adopted by the XIV Congress of the International Naturist Federation (Agde, France, 1974), naturism is:

    "a lifestyle in harmony with nature, expressed through social nudity, and characterised by self-respect of people with different opinions and of the environment."

This can refer to your lifestyle just when on beaches during your holiday, or your lifestyle 24/7. We were members of a club back in the UK, but it simply wasn't necessary when we lived in Holland, where every beach and every park had its naturist areas. In France, we started off using the naturist beaches, but ended up spending each summer in our caravan on a naturist camp-site, i.e. 24/7 naturism for half the year. So, we are perhaps more "committed" naturists, but we share your sentiments entirely.

When I go out in the evening, I choose my clothes carefully, check the mirror, etc., and I'm always trying to make the most of what I've got - not sexy nowadays  but I can at least aim for elegance. Everyone else round me seems to be doing pretty much the same. When I go to the beach, I just take my clothes off, apply some lotion and do whatever I want to do: walk along the beach, go for a swim, read a book...  And all the people around me get on with what they want to do, with or without costumes. It was like that 24/7 at the French campsite. Who cares less?

Holland provided great study material. I know that many non-naturists are perfectly respectful people, respectful of the environment and of others, and it's dangerous to generalise, but I can say that both naturist and textile sections of the beaches were packed on nice days (the Dutch understandably like to make the most of sunny days!) and in the evenings you could actually see where the changeover was just by looking at the sand. The naturist section would be almost completely clean, whereas the textile section would be littered with lolly sticks and wrappers, cigarette ends, empty cans and even glass bottles. And this on a beach where bins were provided and emptied every day.

Finally, a little scenario last week which typifies why I like Fuerte so much. We were lying naked on our sunbeds on Esquinzo beach, in a group of sunbeds most of which were being used by nudists. Along came a family, obviously locals, Mum, Dad and 2 early teenage daughters and parked themselves on the sand directly in front of our sunbeds. Now if they had been there first I would have felt awkward about settling nude in front of them for fear of causing any offence, but obviously it was of total unconcern to them that their 2 young girls were going to spend the afternoon in the company of all these naked folk! If only all beaches could have a similar relaxed attitude to nudity.

That really does sum up the way I feel about the place, too. It was always nice to live just a few hundred metres from a naturist beach in Holland, but it's so much better here where there are no naturist beaches; just beaches, with a mixture of people getting on with their holidays/lives without harming others.

If only people would stop seeing naturism as just that one word "nudity" and could see it instead in terms of the complete definition: "Naturism is a lifestyle in harmony with nature, expressed through social nudity, and characterised by self-respect of people with different opinions and of the environment".

[sunpics]

 8)Well I agree with SheilaW  just do your thing without any labels or hang up's . Being naked is natural and feels great. We love getting dressed up at night in the hotel going for dinner and drinks in the bar are a great part of any holiday for us. Being naked all the time would have its draw backs.  Sunpics

[notdeadfred]

SheilaW,

  "a lifestyle in harmony with nature, expressed through social nudity, and characterised by self-respect of people with different opinions and of the environment."

OK I give in - if that's the official definition then I'm a naturist! Although I do think in many walks of life these days we are too quick to give people labels or put them into categories.  Live and let live I say (within reason).

Don't think we'll be able to get back to Fuerte again this year, but we do have 10 days in our other favourite beach destination Formentera to look forward to, for more of the same - no nudist beaches, just beaches where everyone does their own thing (mostly naked) with due respect for others.

[TripleH]

Notdeadfred  I have always fancied fORMENTERA myself but it seems so expensive. Is it?

[bedouin]

Spent the day naked at Sotavento. Sunshine, blue sky, quiet beach. Just natural. When the temperatures are right, we love being naked at night too - have had great times in Caribbean resorts.

[notdeadfred]

Notdeadfred  I have always fancied fORMENTERA myself but it seems so expensive. Is it?

In July and August when the island is taken over by Italians it can get very expensive for accommodation. Stay outside of these peak months and it's a bit more reasonable. May especially you can get some quite good deals. In Es Pujols, the popular seafront restaurants run by Italians are a bit pricey, but there is still a good range of better value unpretentious eateries run by local families which we use and prefer.

Being in the Med, the season is much shorter than Fuerteventura, and many restaurants, bars and shops will be closed outside of the core summer months Jun - Sept. We usually try to go in September, when the weather is still fine, the sea warmer, and most of the Italians have gone home, making the island more like it's natural self.

On the beaches, mixed textile and nude bathing is normal and accepted on all except the town beach in Es Pujols, although it is possible even here at times.

[capricornukuk]

Well we go naked to sunbathe or swim we don't wander round the beach naked
But on occasions late in the day when people start to leave and we have finished a bottle of wine and in a large pod we have got a bit touchy feely and sometimes noticed the odd person taking a sneaky look and got a bit of a thrill so I suppose we are guilty of being exhibitionist as well as naturists

[Peteandfreddi]

I was once told Naturism, is 50% Exhibitionism & 50% Voyeurism, which about sums it up, but that doesn't account the feeling of total freedom when you can be naked & not have to worry about the need to cover up so as not to offend others. To that end cant wait to get on the Beach at Corralejo from tomorrow evening

[sunpics]

  Well Capricornukuk a little bird told us that some one put a show on the beach last week, let us all know when your going again so we can see what an exhibitionist look like. I can be booked for the holiday pictures but must be on the beach as I am not putting on any cloths for no one.  Cheers Sunpics

[capricornukuk]

What did the little bird look like   and where and when did he see this show

[sunpics]

  You told us all on your " got caught in the act " and he was watching us. 
Cheers Sunpics 

[capricornukuk]

Well next time we are out will let you know so you can get your camera and tripod out you might have trouble finding us though its a big beach with lots if dunes lol

[sunpics]

  No trouble finding you both on the dunes I would look for the troop of Meerkats gathered to watch the exhibitionist. Sounds like fun 
Have fun in the sun on your next trip to Fuerteventura. Cheers Sunpics

[capricornukuk]

Didn't have a troop watching just the odd one two nosey gits lol , might be back in january:)

[Peteandfreddi]

Having returned from our Fun in the sun, I guess we were more exhibitionist than voyeur,  we made a few peoples day I think It was great to be naked & free & no white bits 

[capricornukuk]

What did do to entertain then ?

[Peteandfreddi]

I will leave that for you to work out lets just say we enjoyed ourselves

[jg]

I will leave that for you to work out lets just say we enjoyed ourselves

Otherwise known as a PDA.

[capricornukuk]

Pda ?

[Peteandfreddi]

Pda ?

That one got me 2, Whats a PDA?