Why are people afraid to tell others that they are nudists?
I believe that it is the way society has everyone brainwashed that nudity is a bad thing. Some areas are so closed minded about the subject that it is better to keep it to yourself. Its unfortunate that we still live in a world that thinks nudity is sexual.
I tell everyone if I think they can handle it. There are some who think nudists (especially nudist males) are just perverts or exhibitionists. If they are judgmental and they don't understand, I don't tell them.
A devoted nudist since a young age ... never ashamed of my naked habits ... and not worried about who knows and who doesn't - I still don't feel the urge to tell everybody.
I share my naked lifestyle on a need to know basis. E.g. friends who are traveling with me are likely to encounter me without clothes - so they need to know ...
I am sure my friends have sides to their personalities they don't want to reveal to others. Not because they are ashamed. But because they feel there is no need for everyone to know everything about them.
My friend's decision not to share everything with me has no impact on my respect for them. I am perfectly fine with not knowing what they don't want to share with me.
We, also, do not shy away from it if it comes up but we are not going to advertise it in the middle of the street or from the porch.... we just don't say ... "Hi, how are you doing. By the way, we're nudists!"
Exactly. While there are cultures and societies that despise or sexualize nudity (please guys, there are many worse than US), most of us just don't feel announcing your lifestyle as top priority. There are other important matters in life.
For us we are public business people in the midst of conservative church's on every corner, the need to eat is a motivating factor to keep it on a need to know basis. It is what it is until retirement.
I agree with Rockdad. We both work with the public (she's a teacher). You must be very careful because so many consider nudists to be perverts and exhibitionists. We can't take the chance. Some day we may tell everyone, but not now.