Definitions

[jbeegoode]

Well, this has certainly come up before through the years, but I was having some fun and thought take it to a whole new level.

I settled into identifying as a "naturist." The nature component fits me to a T. I love naked out in nature and it is my more natural state. I can be a nudist, and fit in to that one, too. I am naked most of the time and that includes naktivist activities, so I'm okay there, too. I do see a difference between nude and naked. Naked is without something and nude is what it is, not requiring clothing or lack thereof, standing alone.


I suppose that I can take on any other label, including nakedist, nakedest, and fit, too. Nakedist requires a context of "being without" in a "with" society, and there is no escaping that...for now. Being a nakedist, to me, is similar to nekkid. A nekkidist can be a nakedist, but a nakedist isn't necessarily a nekkidist.

Somehow, it is possible to be the "nakedest" that I have ever been.

My preferred is a free range naturist, that is living with the intended future of my species. Nakedism is a defying absence of cultural norms, a non-conformist, rejecting something. I prefer an implication of individuality, kinda, "I've got it right, the others got it wrong," but I'm cocky that way.

NOW, there is an issue that is creating for the spell checker. "Nakedism" and "nakedest" is wreaking havoc with the powers that persuade. Nakedism is more tactful than coining a term "clothlessness" "clothlessest" or "clothlessist" or "clothlessism." Could I be a "skin enthusiast?"

Too bad "naturalist" has been taken already. Likewise gymnast has been hijacked, BUT could we steal away with "I'm a gymnist?"A gymnosist? Am I being too gymnible, gymnarian, gymnoic, gymnical, gymnish, gymnosish, gymnocant, or gymnory? Gymnosism, or gymnosist?

Are we getting into gymnomania? (that's actually a word)

Nude is a Latin thing, but we could use "nacod" an Old English term. A "nacodist." Sounds fishy to me.

Nuduke (also a contraction), do you have a further take on this search for meaning? This quest for self-definition?

Zao-gymnos?

Gumnos means to be bare, naked, even in a vulnerable sense, like ill-equipped warriors.

Nuder? That's a word a la Merriam-Webster's.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Gymnic, or gymnik?

gymnoenthusiast?

Yup, I have some time to kill.

gymnocant?

gymnasiast? ( The definition is graduate of a gymnasium)

barenist?

nudaphile?

gymnophile?...gymnophile: having enthusiasm for nudity!
Jbee

[nuduke]

Reading your first post I was going to bounce straight back with Gymnophile but you did it yourself in the 2nd post
What's the problem anyway?  Nudist and Naturist are well accepted and fairly universally understood.
John

[rrfalcon]

I've posted this before, but it fits this thread too well not to repeat!
Naked - unclothed and possibly a bit vulnerable
Nude - unclothed and confident
Nekkid - unclothed and up to something! :-)

On a more serious note, I generally use naked and nude interchangeably, depending on which seems to fit more smoothly into the sentence I'm using it in.

[jbeegoode]

Yup, if a paragraph is filled with one word, variety helps the delivery.
Jbee

[reubenT]

since the world in general has sort of adopted naturism as a term for runnin round naked,  I guess it's OK to identify with it.

I try to keep things as simple as possible and maintain accuracy. 

Of the two I prefer naturist over nudist because it gives impression of more nature oriented.  While nudist  has no defining slant,   a sex obsessed criminal could be a nudist,  but he's definitely not a naturist,  because he's not operating in harmony with nature, (which includes living in harmony with those around us) 

And while many other definitions may fit,   language is for communication and if someone I talk to does not understand what I'm talking about,  i might as well shut up. 

Like saying I drank some Di-hydrogen Oxide today. Such a chemical concoction has caused the death of many,  but I can't live without it.     Or I just had some ghoughphtheightteeaus for supper.    Huh?    poughteighteaus perhaps?   

[nuduke]

Naked - unclothed and possibly a bit vulnerable
Nude - unclothed and confident

I remember years ago we had this conversation on TSNS.  I plumped for a similar definition to rrfalcon's.  I have always felt 'naked' has a negative connotation, being associated with vulnerability and being exposed (the naked truth, naked aggression etc.) and that nude seemed somewhat softer and more as if it had been chosen as a term by itself for itself.  But the majority preferred naked and so I have been less bothered by which of those words I use ever since.  Come to think of it, I used to use 'skyclad' a lot, which I have stopped doing.  I like that best as a term for naked/nude.  'Clad in sky' conjures up far more positive connotations for me.  I shall be skyclad more in future.
John

[jbeegoode]

I love skyclad, but there is a pagan religious connotation to it that seems more exclusive to my sense of it.

Wow! Dark stormy skies floating by my window and suddenly, a dash of sunlight. Saguaros awaken from green to a brighter lighter tone with hints of gold instantly. Stunning. Golden green with a black background. How I love this place.
Jbee

[Natureboy1776]

I saw this one on another forum a long time ago but it usually fits. (no offense intended)-

A Nudist is someone who likes to be nude.
A Naturist is someone who likes to be nude and make speeches.

[BlueTrain]

I'm retired and I have time on my hands now. For how much longer, I don't know.

Anyway, I think naturist is broader than nudist. A fellow who spends a few days hiking and camping in the woods is surely a naturist. But how could a man who limits his naked time to a club, lounging around the pool with favorite beverage (as they say) and spending the nights in his mobile home more or less permanently parked at the club be called a naturist? Besides, it sounds like a euphemism.

Likewise, naked and nude are pretty much the same to me. No one should be confused if either word is used. There is also bare, which is usually used in a different contest, like barefoot and bareheaded. Bald seems to be used to mean a lack of hair on your head and maybe other places, as in bald face.

However, there are still issues. When I go tramping through the piney woods, wearing something on my feet and something on my head (which is not bald) but nothing else, am I nude? Clearly, from any standpoint except the angels on the head of a pin point of view (technically and extremely so), I am nude, both legally and in practice. But not "practically." If I added a very brief pair of briefs, or slip, as they're called in some exotic places, then I would be practically naked, but, hopefully, not legally naked. Or nude.

I am male but I guess this would all be true for women, except maybe top-wise. Is a bare-breasted female naked? Does the size of the breasts make a difference? Does any of this matter?

[nuduke]

However, there are still issues. When I go tramping through the piney woods, wearing something on my feet and something on my head (which is not bald) but nothing else, am I nude? Clearly, from any standpoint except the angels on the head of a pin point of view (technically and extremely so), I am nude, both legally and in practice. But not "practically." 

Yes, Blue Train, this often irks me.  I can't go hiking naked without some sort of attire - often just walking shoes only, maybe with socks (and my spectacles!) and perhaps a watch and mostly a back pack.  I don't consider myself properly nude/naked in those circumstances.  Usually in the middle of my time in nature, I will pause and take everything off, move somewhat away from my chattels and just be totally naked for a short while before resuming my journey.  I just can't get so close to nature with a pair of shoes or a backpack attached to me.  Even on the occasions when I have been to a nudist club you still have to carry something round with you if only a locker key.  Thus it is with the naked swim I attend sometimes.  I can be totally naked....except for the locker key on a plastic wrist strap!  Just spoils it a bit
John

[BlueTrain]

Oh, little details like that don't bother me. If I'm wearing nothing but something on my feet, I feel plenty naked. Even wearing only a sweatshirt (when it's cold), I still feel naked. But if I were on the beach wearing a Speedo, then you'd all call me a "textile," wouldn't you?

Likewise, I don't even think about "getting close to nature." I'm part of nature already. Can't get any closer. True, I frequently go to the woods for short walks of about two miles every day or two but not to get close to nature. I go for a number of reasons, chiefly, I suppose, just to see what was different from the last time I went. Hopefully, I might see interesting animals or birds, mainly deer, foxes, geese and a few other creatures. But I can also see deer and foxes from my kitchen window, too. The exercise doesn't hurt, either, but it will later. My wife actually walks more than I do but she sticks to the sidewalks. She sees as many deer and foxes as I do, too.

To do any nude hiking--or walking--I have to go much further afield and I don't do that more than two or three times a year. Such is life.

[jbeegoode]

Hmm, If I can get arrested, I must be naked, nude. That is one definition. That is also someone-else imposing a label, context and it is unjust.

I just can't go barefoot all the time here. There are prickers hidden everywhere, and the heat and concrete are like skillets at times. With my minimal shoes, feel nude, but without, I feel extra nude. I feel more nude/bare wearing my huaraches than I do my toe shoes, or flip flops. I feel more naked, out of place and sometimes more vulnerable and with certain others about.

Walking with a speedo in the cold winter could be considered naked, but not nude. Yes, good point, there lies a difference in definition. Nude makes sense, naked is risky for various reasons.
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

Vulnerable is a whole 'nother discussion.