Nudity and Exhibitionism
Return to DiscussionsMaybe it's me and my being new to nudism, but aren't all nudists exhibitionists? I mean if we aren't then why do we like being naked in front of others at beaches, resorts, clubs, and even our own backyards, pools and hot tubs? I know of some on this site that refuse to put on clothes even when textiles and workmen come over. So aren't we all exhibitionists at heart? Just a little bit?
Its the most liberating thing you can do .. be naked and free ... its society that says we all have to wear this or that or be dressed in public ... i dont judge people for wearing clothes so why should they judge me for being free and naked
Forgive me if I'm not fully understanding exhibitionism but I think one difference between an exhibitionist and a nudist lies in that the goal of an exhibitionist is to be seen naked by people in a setting where nudity is not typically allowed and be like monopolizing their attention or scandalizing them or whatever, whereas I feel like a nudist feels somewhat the opposite. I have been to my local nudist hot springs and gone to the main area where there was nothing but clothed people and it was intimidating so I left and found a pool off the beaten path where there were other nudists. I feel like an exhibitionist would have just stayed in the main pool and been happy, they would not have sought out an environment shared with other people who enjoy and approve of nudity. Basically I think it kind of boils down to the idea that a nudist wants their nudity to be socially accepted by long standing tradition and socialize with fellow nudists, while an exhibitionist wants to force you to accept their nudity right then whether you want to or not and socialize with non-nudists. For example, an exhibitionist might show up at a textile beach and get nude, whereas a nudist would of course like to be nude but will stay clothed for fear of scandalizing/offending people.
All this said I do acknowledge that these are very polar definitions and that many people probably exhibit shades of both and I think that might be more what you're getting at. However to outright equate nudism and exhibitionism is completely wrong in my opinion and just because one person is a nudist does not make that person also an exhibitionist and vice versa.
I would say definitely not - mostly.
I am a nudist because I love the relaxing and comfortable feeling I get from not being restricted by clothing - end of.
I have been a nudist for over three years and other than my wife I do not believe that anyone has seen me naked, and I'm very happy with that.
This will change at some point as I will be joining a naked swimming group at our local pool once the rest of my life allows time for it. However, I am joining so that I can (a) start swimming again and (b) do it without having to wear trunks which even annoyed me even before I was a nudist.
The fact that I will be socially naked has nothing to do with it. Having said that, as I will be with other nudists, I wouldn't consider it being an exhibitionist
Having said that, nudism and exhibitionism are not exclusive. There are people who are one or the other, and as you'll find on here there are some that are definitely both. Some because they believe they have a "god given right to be naked", others just because they do like being seen
As a nudist I am perfectly happy to be the only one naked in circumstances where nudity is acceptable and also in places where some people would find it unacceptable, provided it can be done without causing offence to those people.
Examples of the latter would be naked walking in the countryside and skinny-dipping when alone in hotel pools.
I also indulge in a bit of exhibitionism from time to time but only where it is totally acceptable to everybody present.
That is the total extent of my overlap between nudism and exhibitionism and I consider it to be the proper limit.
To me day to day nudity isn't an exhibitionist as to be one you have to go out of the way to show of your naked body to people such as hearing someone coming and come out and show them your naked body and stand there saying look at my naked body.