I have had people tell me they are not interested in nudism because without clothes they would feel undefined. Clothes are a very expressive thing. They state a sense of style, belonging to a group, and how you want others to see you. When naked, all you are left with is your body as is. This is something I really like about nudism, but I think this concept is really intimidating for a lot of young people.I have noticed the crowd at camps and resorts is almost exclusively older, but the crowd at public and natural places can be more diverse in age range. There are probably many reasons, from lower cost, fewer rules, and no need to identify yourself as a nudist. Many people who like to be naked may not be comfortable identifying themselves as a nudist. That word to them has a lot of baggage and odd history. They simply just want to do what they enjoy, and is being naked is something they enjoy, they don't need to make it into something that defines them. Nudist resorts came into being to provide safe spaces for social nudity in a world that is otherwise not accepting of it. There are only so many public nude places, but at least here in the northeast us, we are lucky to have quite a few, even if our season is short. So the need for such safe spaces may not be as strong if you can just go to a beach, which does not make you deal with membership, quotas, and reminders about rules. In a way nudists resorts have become a bit like naked country clubs, insular communities of mostly older and more financially secure folks that try and protect themselves from the "riff raff". So no wonder younger people might feel a little intimidated and out of place. Even when these issues don't happen, not having anyone in your peer group you can relate to can really make things feel a bit lonely, and so we have a catch 22.Anyhow, I think public nude places are the key to bringing in new nudists. The private places could do more to reach out of the community of people who frequent those places. They may want to say spend a few days in the nude, or participate in more organized activities, which is something only a camp or resort can provide. Whatever can be done to protect and even establish nude public places will go a long way to keeping this lifestyle alive.
There are other options in addition to nudist resorts. There are nudist parks and nonlanded clubs. Advertising in local weekly newspapers as well as College media doesn't get many responses in the Columbia, SC area. Any suggestions?
I think on the level of memberships and resorts cost is a factor more than a desire not to go. There are so many free options out there anymore a membership somewhere isn't really required, and even places that do offer memberships are not "members only" anymore so you can easily go in and if you do have the money spend it and go and enjoy even if it costs you 35.00 to someone else' 20.00 to get in. I know when I went to the local nude resort I wouldn't have gone if a membership had been required, I almost didn't go anyway. The resort was saying things like I had to be part of AANR and that I had to pay more as a single male, and I waas actively turned off to it. When I was allowed to go no AANR status i was better, and just pretended that the single male pricing didn't bother me. Beyond that not everyone feels comfortable inside gates. There's a freedom of it, but at the same time you have to adhere to additional rules determined by the owner of the space. At a beach or something the rules are simply the local governing laws... and if you aren't having a good time all you've lost is the trip there, not a membership or entry fee.
I think on the level of memberships and resorts cost is a factor more than a desire not to go.
I've been an advocate of free with military or college ID for some time.
Unfortunately, very few of my peers seem interested.
Good idea ? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, trying wouldn't hurt.
Many clubs offer those between the ages of 18 & 25 reduced memberships. AANR even has a student membership of either 10 or $12.50 (I can't remember which right now). Nonlanded clubs are a LOT less expensive than nudist parks and resorts. I think a $25/year dues structure for someone of that age is pretty fair especially when to go to a movie costs $10.
Hello
As a 24yr old nudist ive not always been welcomed into the nudist lifestyle! The first nudist beach i went to was Studland bay and was asked by a grumpy old man if i was old enough to be out walking nude on a nude beach, and if my mother new i was out. He advised me i would be safer on the flat part of the beach as apposed to the sand dunes.I assured him i was fine and without doubt safe where i was and he if wanted to continue his walk and move away from mei would be alot happier. Maybe its attitudes like this putting younger people off. Ive since been to another nudist beach Holkham in Norfolk and had a lovely time and spent a good hour talking to some other nudists. Just a though!!
Alright alright, lemme throw my 2 cents into this discussion.
I hate thinking this way, but, while the naturist community as a whole may be attempting to the younger generations, I'm sure there are older nudists who couldn't care less about the future of nudism as a whole. It has become their own lil social gathering, where they can mingle with people their own age, and don't have to worry about the young ruining ther good times. The generation gap creates fricton between the older ones and the younger ones; older nudsts don't let the younger ones feel included, and thus the younger leaves for being an outcast.
IMO, one of the reasons I think a lot of young people don't engage in nudity because they have learned that clothes show off their individuality. Fashions, colors, brands, accessories, these all help show off who they are to the public eye. Heck, this is also the number one reason why student would resist uniforms at school. Funny thing is, those who conformed to uniforms, managed to click and make friends to people they would've never befriended before due to their differences in styles, thus their message to the public eye. You can say nudism is a step above uniforms, we all still overall look the same in our birthday suits. While nudism takes strips away our clothing, it allows for your true personality to shine, without prejudice made from your clothing. On the contrary, a lot of young people believe the more alike we look, the less individualized we are (kinda like robots or clones or something lol), and many many people don't want to give up that.
Did you ever get one of those offers from companies advertising discounted rates for new customers, but you don't qualify because you're an existing loyal customer? The company, would rather reward a bargain hunting unknown, more than the people that sustain it's profit margins year after year. Those adds are insulting to loyal clients whose only consolation is next month's full rate bill.
An organization really has two fronts to watch; new prospects, and it's existing base. Just as important as getting new clients is keeping the ones you have, for what good is new clientele if attrition robs your base? It's not unlike bailing water out of a boat with holes in it.
I see a recurring theme; nudism offers all sorts of lofty ideas, and freedom from the status quo, but that's only if you qualify for status of couple, orfemale. Everyone else will be treated differently. It seems to me that if your product has value, then it doesn't need to be prorated. Otherwise the same widget that you're trying to sell me for twice the price you're selling it to my neighbor for, just went down in value. Unless you're trying to say that I'm not welcome...
On the other hand, the market will determine if your price structure works or not. But if it's a business pursuit, then wouldn't it make sense to gain as much market share as possible? How long can you beat a dead horse? Sure it would be great to have a perfectly balanced co-ed utopia of nudists, but is that possible without extreme prejudice? If there are disproportionately more men interested in nudism, then as a business, that's your target audience.
For me, the current attitude toward males fails the social, and economic litmus.
Alright alright, lemme throw my 2 cents into this discussion.I hate thinking this way, but, while the naturist community as a whole may be attempting to the younger generations, I'm sure there are older nudists who couldn't care less about the future of nudism as a whole. It has become their own lil social gathering, where they can mingle with people their own age, and don't have to worry about the young ruining ther good times. The generation gap creates fricton between the older ones and the younger ones; older nudsts don't let the younger ones feel included, and thus the younger leaves for being an outcast.IMO, one of the reasons I think a lot of young people don't engage in nudity because they have learned that clothes show off their individuality. Fashions, colors, brands, accessories, these all help show off who they are to the public eye. Heck, this is also the number one reason why student would resist uniforms at school. Funny thing is, those who conformed to uniforms, managed to click and make friends to people they would've never befriended before due to their differences in styles, thus their message to the public eye. You can say nudism is a step above uniforms, we all still overall look the same in our birthday suits. While nudism takes strips away our clothing, it allows for your true personality to shine, without prejudice made from your clothing. On the contrary, a lot of young people believe the more alike we look, the less individualized we are (kinda like robots or clones or something lol), and many many people don't want to give up that.
That's a great point. I think it's also fair to point out that there are some antiquated ideas in some places still about tattoos and piercings, which more and more people are starting to have. Hell even my dad is getting a tattoo soon. It's also possible that people don't like the vulnerability of being nude. There's an armor to clothes, I'll find an example...
That's one of the cast members of glee, but it works. You look at someone like this and you kind of get a feel of the attitude and the persona she at least wants people to see. People like self-expression, and as much as it draws like-minded people to you, it keeps people who aren't like you away. Is it a sign of... insecurity? Maybe, but you also can't force someone out of their shell... actually that's a fairly literal statement there since you're asking them to shed the shell of "this is how I express myself". Older people don't care as much, they start to realize at the end of the day it doesn't much matter what people think of you... except maybe professionally.
^Since when could we imbed pictures? And I think she would qualify as a hipster.
But seriously. I'm not defined by my clothes. Hell, you can't even classify me by appearances. I'm bust a bearded guy with glasses. But I guess a lot of people in my age group are overly hung up on appearances.
If I had to get rid of my beard and classes, I would have to resort to clothing to express who I am and try to stand out. But since I'm always that "bearded guy with the glasses", I have never really cared much for clothing. As long as I look 'decent', then it didn't matter what I wore. But in a nudist environment, I'd still be the bearded guy with the glasses instead of the guy in the Wal-Mart shirt. And Wal-Mart does have some cool shirts. I know that because I have to wear clothes.
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