Author Topic: Beach etiquette (UK)  (Read 13381 times)

naked pedro

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #15 on: October 01, 2017, 12:23:26 AM »
Yup, far as I'm concerned, any beach is a "naturist" beach.
The excuse "what about the children?" is pathetic! 
It's all what about the parents! (or other apologists!) Children couldn't give a monkey's until they start taking notice of their parent's insecurities at about puberty!
every garden should have a place where one may sit in the nude, drinking gin 8D

Greenbare Woods

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2017, 01:44:57 AM »
Yup, far as I'm concerned, any beach is a "naturist" beach.
The excuse "what about the children?" is pathetic! 
It's all what about the parents! (or other apologists!) Children couldn't give a monkey's until they start taking notice of their parent's insecurities at about puberty!


What Naked Pedro said.

Silly people should be allowed to wear clothes to swim almost everywhere.




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BlueTrain

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2018, 03:43:19 PM »
Sometimes children are so uninhibited that they ask their parents silly questions like, "Why is that man naked?" I am reminded of the emperor's new clothes. You probably wouldn't want to know what the kids are thinking.

Regarding the law, however, I think there is reason not to question what the law is, speaking of the States here. Some people keep saying there is no law against nudity on public land, usually referring to national parks and national forests. By the way, those two different types of places are under different departments and have totally separate missions or objectives and quite probably different mentalities. There are also national seashores, national trails and so on.  There are state parks and state forests, too, and most of this applies to them, too. I have no idea what the equivalents are in Europe or the U.K.

Generally speaking, there are national regulations and then there are also local regulations promulgated at park level. They didn't used to even mention public nudity, although the regulations for a couple of places in California did say that public nudity was prohibited beyond a certain point, implying that it was legal up to that point. Naturally, it is only public nudity that is in question.

A few people years ago on another lost forum had mentioned inquiring of a local park director to determine of public nudity, here meaning for something like nude hiking, swimming or sunbathing, was legal. I now don't recall how those may have played out but these days, there is more mention of nudity, along with a host of other forbidden activities, than there used to be. My point is, that if you actually asked an official (and not just a ranger) if nudity were legal, the answer might be "No, but it soon will be." 

Another case in point is from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The family used to own a cottage there and we made a few trips down there every year. Further down the coast from where the cottage was located, was the so-called National Seashore. I liked going down there so as to be able to be nude on the beach. Parking was a problem, though. More recently, signs appeared at the parking lots stating that nudity was illegal. Don't know why but perhaps someone was being indiscreet when the beach patrol came along. I'd have to say that local customs and attitudes trump the law. In some places, including along the Outer Banks, you're lucky to have beach access in the first place.

Incidentally, in the last ten years it has become legal to carry a gun in National Parks--provided local laws are observed--but no nudity!

nudewalker

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2018, 06:03:56 PM »
For a number of reasons, which are too long and complicated to explain, we have tended to visit the same parks and recreation areas  over and over again. For the most part we have developed a friendship with the staff including the park rangers. With the budget cuts and the issues they deal with I've been told nudity itself is a low priority unless it's in a public place such as the campground or the beach. In fact, they consider a report of nudity out of the usual places as a low priority as their main concern lately has been vandalism. However they do caution that if someone calls 911 then a sheriff's officer will be dispatched who will not be happy having to hike in the woods.

From what I understand there is no law against nudity on federal lands but the people in charge usually go with the local laws and ordinances. Again, it all depends what mood the ranger or the local law enforcement if a complaint comes to dispatch.  Sometime they just do a drive by in the area and report that nothing has been found. So if your far enough away from the beaten path there is relative safety.
"Always do what you are afraid to do"-Emerson

Peter S

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #19 on: March 29, 2018, 11:40:59 AM »
 BlueTrain, you mentioned signs appearing in the parking lots saying nudity was illegal - were these official signs, quoting statute and signed by someone official? We all tend to obey signs without question, assuming they’re for real. So what’s to stop us putting up our own signs declaring such-and-such  beach or woodland is clothes optional, or clothes free? “It says so on the sign, it must be true”!

Peter
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BlueTrain

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #20 on: March 29, 2018, 12:34:43 PM »
They did not quote any particular law, no more than stop signs do. But I do wonder how it was that they came to be put up. Undoubtedly, there were people who complained about naked people on the beach, some of whom may not have been behaving properly in public. I understand that is a problem, if you see it as a problem, with some Mediterranean beaches. But they were clearly official signs. On the other hand, around here, many ignore stop signs and traffic lights, probably thinking they're an example of government tyranny or something like that. In reality, it's more likely a case of "I'm too busy and important to stop; let everyone else get out of my way."

There were a few places on that beach that were mentioned as places for nude swimming in various guides published over the last 40 years. But none were legal and the more people who were "running around naked," the more likely that law enforcement officials would do something. There is no safety in numbers, in other words. On the other hand, it is (supposedly) legal for a woman to be topless there.

Davie

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #21 on: March 29, 2018, 02:21:29 PM »
More prudishness

At the optician this morning the receptionist remarked that her daughter was a triathlon athlete. She had been told with others that nudity was not permitted on the beach between the different parts of the competition. She (the mother) couldn't understand it. At that point I was called through for my eye examination.

Davie  8)

Greenbare Woods

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #22 on: March 29, 2018, 04:43:03 PM »

Another case in point is from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The family used to own a cottage there and we made a few trips down there every year. Further down the coast from where the cottage was located, was the so-called National Seashore. I liked going down there so as to be able to be nude on the beach. Parking was a problem, though. More recently, signs appeared at the parking lots stating that nudity was illegal.

Yes, the government sometimes gets a wild hair and tries to stop freedom. 

I hiked naked for years in New Mexico, often to the hot springs in the Santa Fe National Forest.  The several hot springs on government land were always "traditionally" clothing optional.   There was one local Deputy Sheriff who had an anti-nudist burr under his saddle, and he would occasionally hike to the hot springs and harass naked swimmers but that was rare.  One year he got signs put up at the Hot Springs banning nudity, but the people soon tore them down.

Then one year the Forest Service got a lump of money to rebuild the parking lot.  The original wide open undeveloped parking area held 100 cars, but they reduced it to paved and landscaped area with only room for about 8 cars. The trail was groomed and a well built foot bridge replaced the log which had crossed the river for years.  Big signs at the parking lot cited NM law against nudity.  It really ruined the place.   I moved out of state about the same year so I'm not sure what's there now. 

Bob


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BlueTrain

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #23 on: March 29, 2018, 08:59:28 PM »
I'd say it wasn't "government," it was your friendly neighbors who didn't want to see naked men when they went to the beach or out in the desert. And where I live, my friendly neighbors probably have something to do with the "government."

jbeegoode

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #24 on: March 29, 2018, 09:12:43 PM »
A sign goes a lot further when it looks official, even "Attention, Beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers."

If a sign isn't there, nothing can be enforced. Such signs need to be removed under a smuggler's moon.

Jbee

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eyesup

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #25 on: March 29, 2018, 10:42:20 PM »
Bob, that happened to a place where I once went to hike and climb.
They, ‘Improved’ it so much I no longer go there. Too crowded.

Duane

eyesup

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #26 on: March 29, 2018, 10:43:23 PM »
Yeah. Modern print technology allows people to create official looking signs. And even then they could quote from current muni-codes. If you see that you could check with the officials to verify.

A good solution, Jbee, if you can verify it isn’t official. Even ok if it is!

Duane

BlueTrain

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #27 on: March 30, 2018, 01:10:35 AM »
A sign goes a lot further when it looks official, even "Attention, Beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers."

If a sign isn't there, nothing can be enforced. Such signs need to be removed under a smuggler's moon.

Jbee

I've always felt that beneath that sign about nude sunbathers, there should be another one about voyeurs. You're not suggesting breaking the law, are you? Tell the police that you didn't know something was against the law next time they stop you.

JOhnGw

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #28 on: March 30, 2018, 09:16:43 AM »
More prudishness

At the optician this morning the receptionist remarked that her daughter was a triathlon athlete. She had been told with others that nudity was not permitted on the beach between the different parts of the competition. She (the mother) couldn't understand it. At that point I was called through for my eye examination.

Davie  8)
As has been said in another forum, this introduces a "speed towel dance" discipline into the event making it a tetrathon.
JOhn

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries

Greenbare Woods

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Re: Beach etiquette (UK)
« Reply #29 on: March 30, 2018, 03:58:31 PM »
Yeah. Modern print technology allows people to create official looking signs. And even then they could quote from current muni-codes. If you see that you could check with the officials to verify.

A good solution, Jbee, if you can verify it isn’t official. Even ok if it is!
Duane


A couple years ago I printed some "OFFICIAL" looking signs and posted them on the "rails to trails" trail that I often walk naked.  They said something like "Clothing Optional hiking area.  Nude hikers may be encountered."   I copied the official State Parks logo onto my signs.  I posted them on the sign boards at the official trail head parking lots, and on gates where the trail crossed a road. 

The State Park sends someone to patrol the trail about once per week I think. I saw someone driving along the trail once on a Wednesday about noon.  These signs didn't last a whole week, so maybe the state park patrol guy took them down.   Sad.  They looked so official too. 







Human bodies are natural, comfortable, and green.
To see more of Bob you can view his personal photo page
http://www.photos.bradkemp.com/greenbare.html