Proper Prudes vs Natural Nudes
We who spend a good part of our lives clothes-free enjoy the company of other nudists, get to appreciate the "scenery" of seeing others who're fully naked as if clothes didn't even exist. Let's face it--bodies can be attractive regardless of gender, male or female. Appreciating another man's body is something that's fully natural too, whether we do it consciously or unconsciously. In our world of nakedness it's fine to compliment a fellow nudist on his handsome looks, gorgeous physique or even his penis size! Among us that's really no big deal--just being able to express ourselves freely among friends. Now imagine a similar situation in the Textile world? A man openly commenting on another guy's looks or--God forbid--his BODY!!! A hissy-powered super HOMOPHOBIC TAIL SPIN would be sure to occur, it could be the end of a friendship (or business relationship), sneers and snickers, or all of the above!
In starting this group I'm hoping to create a forum for us nudist males to do just that--enjoy one-another's nakedness from photos or in person. We all enjoy being seen, so let's openly express that.
They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder , so it is often others' opinions that matter as to what is appealing and each ones concept of that is different. In my younger days I always thought of myself as skinny and in no way attractive although I might have harboured a secret desire of being a model! :) However with some of my early nude pictures on view on this site I have received so many compliments that i wish I was bolder and braver then to display myself in all my natural splendour , on the pages of some nude magazine! :)
In the US at least we tend to think of two ends of the spectrum: homophobic or homosexual. I propose that homosocial is the best: men being men around other men and enjoying it for the good energy you describe. Of course the word sounds like a combination of gay and socialist, so the best "term of art" these days is male bonding. And if it's without clothes, all the better.
Around 1980 is when the pendulum started swinging other way. Before 1980 seems like men and boys had no problems doing the group showers in the locker room. Now everyone wants their safe space. The popular culture didn't help much. 1968 was when SEX became the in thing. Now we're over saturated with sex and porn to the point its become mainstream. Nudity has become equal with Sex. Didn't always used to be that way.
Around 1980 is when the pendulum started swinging other way. Before 1980 seems like men and boys had no problems doing the group showers in the locker room. Now everyone wants their safe space. The popular culture didn't help much. 1968 was when SEX became the in thing. Now we're over saturated with sex and porn to the point its become mainstream. Nudity has become equal with Sex. Didn't always used to be that way.
I grew up in the sixties and seventies. I have fond memories of swimming at the Y then showering in a gang shower with my father and brother. Or camping with the Boy Scouts and sleeping in my tent in the nude. Outdoor showers at Boy Scout camp? All normal. Even had gang showers in jr and sr high school. Sad the way things have changed. The freedom is gone and I see young men reduced to the towel dance when putting on underwear in the locker room now. We all have the same parts, just come in different packaging. Thats what makes it a great world. Nudity, the great equalizer. Trust it.
I grew up in the seventies and eighties and I saw and felt the change in attitude quite jarringly. I remember when I was a little boy (under ten) things like showering in communal showers at the community pool with a genuine openness and "it's all good" attitude. Just as I was getting used to and greatly enjoying this wonderful openness and acceptance of the nude male form, (my worldview starting to come into a very comfortable focus), the eighties hit and everything suddenly changed and everyone became very prudish and uncomfortable with the body and nudity and, yes, the whole gay/straight fear of men being together and straight men having the extreme, ultimate fear of and thinking that men being together with men meant that you were automatically, (brought on because of AIDS, of course a very, very sad chapter in itself), one of those horrible, depraved, disease riddled things: a gay or a homosexual. A very sad, shameful change of attitudes.
As times and attitudes have/are changing, about sexuality and gender, this attitude is, albeit sometimes very slowly, changing and men have started bonding over issues they all actually face, be it medical, relationships/sex, etc. Men being naked together is just a further extension of the realization that "hey, we're all men here" and we all actually share many of the same basic issues. Coming at the issue of men being, bonding together from the perspective of what we as men all have to deal with, ultimately maybe a stronger perspective, rather than a freewheeling, free love, hippie type perspective. This may be how we all become comfortable with each other. The latter may be preferable, but maybe not entirely possible for humanity.) Nakedness really IS the great equalizer, because, as men we all have to deal with the same basic issues in different ways and being naked just means we can see we are all different and yet the same, learning how to become calmer, less fearful, and more accepting of each other, regardless of, (in todays speak), who you love. It is really a beautiful thing when it does actually happen; the act of naked men coming together and bonding with each other in quiet, calm, fearless understanding of each other. Beautiful.
Men being naked together is just a further extension of the realization that "hey, we're all men here" and we all actually share many of the same basic issues. Nakedness really IS the great equalizer, because, as men we all have to deal with the same basic issues in different ways and being naked just means we can see we are all different and yet the same, learning how to become calmer, less fearful, and more accepting of each other, regardless of, (in todays speak), who you love. It is really a beautiful thing when it does actually happen; the act of naked men coming together and bonding with each other in quiet, calm, fearless understanding of each other. Beautiful.
Calm and fearless understanding. Hurrah! Isn't that what ultimately we are called to be as men? Well said. That is indeed what makes us beautiful. And if it's all enabled by being naked let our penises hang in pride together, for we are all men here.