Encounters...what to do?

[jbeegoode]

Sailrich asked what one might do during encounters with textiles or authorities.

It depends on the location and circumstance. In California, you have no state laws in concern of nudity upon my last look (check out the statutes online), no Federal laws, but local laws and authority jurisdictions tend to bleed into these areas. If I’m off in the booneys, what would one say? I usually cover my genitals and politely say something like, “Oh, I didn’t expect to see anyone out here,” when encountering anybody. Or I duck out and hide until they pass. The cover covers most of these silly law’s requirements. There is that “reasonable person would” type of law that sometimes applies. I’ve know forest service people who have hiked nude. But, a few years back in northern California, there were helicopters and teams after some guy who had been reported repeatedly in one area by women freaking out over his nudity. I figure that the message needing to be conveyed is, I’m hiking nude minding my own business, nude is okay. I’ll cover to be polite, because I don’t know about your reaction. No apology needed.

Staying away from encounters does work, can be stealth fun, or a hassle when you just want to enjoy nature.

Another thing is, are you male, female, or more than one, encountering one or more of which sex. Nude women have less potential to alarm. A majority tends to create a norm. Lone women encountered by nude males can get very imaginative.

What has been your strategy?
Jbeegoode

[Greenbare Woods]

Over several decades I have encountered many people while hiking naked.   My first thing is to have a plan before I see someone.  My years of childhood training still causes me to panic unless I have a plan to do something else.

The situation is important.  Law enforcement is lazy and normally won't get out of its patrol car.  I have never encountered law enforcement on a hiking trail on government land.  I have encountered many other hikers.  My usual plan is to act like my selection of non-clothes is a normal option by a  normal person.  I have found that if you try to "cover," apologize,  or otherwise act guilty, then the other person assumes that you are guilty.   If you act normal, then you are accepted as normal.  The important thing is to remain calm and ordinary.  I just "howdy" them like I would if I was wearing the same as they are wearing.  Most often they howdy me back. Sometimes they will comment on how they wish they had the courage to dress like me.  Teens will occasionally snicker. 

Out on my own land I have been seen by all my neighbors, and by many cars driving by on the country road.  Nobody has ever complained. 

Carpe Diem
Bob

[Greenbare Woods]

A sports analogy occurred to me while reading the introduction from a Scottish member.   Scotland doesn't have specific anti-nude laws, but the plods respond to complaints about nudity.  It reminds me of my local football team, the Seattle Seahawks.   They have perhaps the best defensive backfield of any American football team. 

The Seahawk backfield plays tough aggressive defense and makes a lot of contact with the other players.  Early in the season the referees penalized them several times for overly aggressive defensive play.  Their coach told them, "Keep doing it.  The referees will soon get tired of penalizing you."   That strategy worked well.  Now the referees penalize them once or twice in a game and then give up.  In the whole league now the referees have become much less interested in limiting aggressive defense by penalties.   

That works for naked ramblers too.  If we keep going naked the referees, the police, will soon get tired of coming out to look for a naked rambler. Its a lot of work for them and doesn't really make anyone more safe.  Up-tight people will soon get tired of phoning the police when they see a naked rambler, even if the police respond, and a lot sooner if the police have given up.  We naked ramblers need to keep doing it.  The other hikers will soon get tired of complaining and just accept us as normal. The police will quit responding to complaints, even in up-tight places like Scotland.   Carpe Diem!

Bob

[Georgew1959]

I'm not sure if that analogy would work with the Scottish police Bob, but I do think that being prepared to cover up on request is adequate protection from being arrested. All the reports I've seen and heard about the Naked Rambler's encounters with police in Scotland say that it's his refusal to cover up when challenged that gets him into bother with them. For my part, I haven't yet encountered another person when out walking naked in Scotland (although I have heard people coming though the woods a few times and taken a diversion to avoid them). We have so much space here and so few people that it's not hard to find quiet places.

[eyesup]

I have been seen, I think 3 times.  Two I am not certain and could have not been.  One was full on face to face on the trail.  To this day I still do not know how I was so unaware that someone was approaching that I was unable to do anything.  By the time I saw him we were maybe 100 ft. apart.  By then it was pointless to do anything, so I didn't even attempt to cover up.

He made a comment about trying to get an allover tan and I mumbled something.  It was the 1st time I had been seen naked out on one of my hikes.  I continued on and so did he.  It was kind of a relief.  I got seen and nothing happened.

I agree with Bob.  Behave as though you are dressed and all is normal and people will not think you are up to something and feel uneasy.

[eyesup]

One point about this subject. I prefer to not intentionally put myself in a confrontational situation. As a result I no longer naked hike in the place where I bumped into that guy on the trail. It is a popular and a favorite place for locals and tourists alike and can be very crowded.

For this reason I stopped my naked hikes there and have spent most of my naked time out of town about 30 miles at a place not so easy to hike to. I have seen people there at the trail head but not on the trail. My wife and I once spotted a couple on horses that were outbound with pack animals in tow, but they were at least a half mile off and headed away from us.

It is remote and quiet.  Two aspects I value.

Duane

[Greenbare Woods]

One point about this subject. I prefer to not intentionally put myself in a confrontational situation. As a result I no longer naked hike in the place where I bumped into that guy on the trail. It is a popular and a favorite place for locals and tourists alike and can be very crowded.

I don't get intentionally confrontational either, but I don't assume that being seen naked is confrontational.  I act normal while dressing natural and expect others to act normal too.  That almost always works for me.  Once every 100 encounters or so someone will make a negative comment, not a problem.  I get a lot more positive comments.  "You look comfortable."  or "I wish I could do that."  I've never actually been confronted while hiking naked. 

One time the owner of an RV camping place, or Caravan camping place for you Brits, did ask me to put on some pants when someone complained that I was sitting at the table naked reading a book.  I noted that the other campers did not become confrontational.  That's about as confrontational as its been for me over several decades of encountering people.

For this reason I stopped my naked hikes there and have spent most of my naked time out of town about 30 miles at a place not so easy to hike to. I have seen people there at the trail head but not on the trail. My wife and I once spotted a couple on horses that were outbound with pack animals in tow, but they were at least a half mile off and headed away from us.

It is remote and quiet.  Two aspects I value.
Duane

I live out of town so my normal range is more quiet than city people.   I don't think it hurts city people to see nakeds either though.  On some other forums I see posts from people who go naked in cities without getting into trouble.  Your mileage may vary.

Bob

[Karla]

Our friend Richard in Bavaria (he runs http://naktiv.net/index.html/, a social network for naturists) does a lot of free range naturism. We were regularly walking naked past lots of Germans in the Alps when we were out with him. Acting normal and being friendly is the main thing. Although he can speak much better German than us, I wouldn't want to rely on my command of a foreign language to show that I mean no harm!

Another thing he told us is that having a dog makes a big difference. Not an aggressive dog but a pet dog or companion.

[Georgew1959]

I remember reading long ago in a book about places to get naked in the UK, that proximity to water legitimised being naked. That seems to have proven itself over the years since. It seems more acceptable to be naked near a lake, a river or on a beach and I've never had so much as an adverse comment, let alone a confrontation, when I've been skinny dipping or sitting near the water. On the few occasions I've seen other people when out walking I've mostly had no problems, but on a couple of occasions people have objected. Not really a big sample size, but that old rule has seemed to hold true.

Of course, on those couple of occasions, covering up quickly too the heat out of the situation.

[eyesup]

I ran across this post on a website. A lady, whom I get the impression is a newcomer to the naked community, wrote the following:

There's the inevitable experience of having someone we know recognize us on the beach. It will happen sooner or later. It can be scary when that happens walking hand-in-hand down the beach nowhere near our clothes with nowhere to hide and nothing to cover up. Do we turn around quickly and hope the people we recognize didn't see us, or do we face our fears? And what if the people jump up, greet us, and thank us for coming? No way to avoid it then. And how do we handle the situation on Monday when we talk with someone at work or school who we've known for a long time, and who we just saw totally nude a day or two earlier?

What she writes has to do with adjusting to being outside naked. I went through  that at first, but that was merely getting past breaking old taboos. If I were seen by a stranger or even approach by one I am certain I would be fine. I have even been seen once or twice and nothing bad happened.

What I haven't had happen is what she descibes here. Meeting someone I know while I'm naked. I don't think I would have a problem meeting someone I know if I were at a nude beach or other nude venue, or even if we were both nude out on a trail. They would be naked also and that would present a new aspect to an acquiantence or friendship. Hopefully a good thing.

What this made me think of was bumping into someone I know while I am naked and they, not only aren't naked, but do not engage in naked activities. I never felt awkward being in a large group shower at my old health club. We were in a "naked is normal" setting. You can't take a shower with your clothes on. The setting made it ok, and of course I would not have met a woman, naked or otherwise, in that setting.

Being where nudity is not normal and in mixed company would be the only differences. Nudity is normal in context but not out of context. Allowing the public or an acquaintance see a part of you that is private is at issue. For instance, some people who paint, do so only in their quarters, they don't want any one to see in case it doesn't meet a standard. Others you see painting on the street or in the park. If they are comfortable with their gift, talent or passion and strangers see their those efforts, they don't worry. They are at ease.

When it comes to allowing a close friend or associate see what we truly look like or to let them know we enjoy "nudity", we (I) hesitate. We would be the same people, ideas and beliefs, just in a different setting.

Can you imagine this happening with someone you work with? The next day at work, or even more awkward, church, you smile and plow ahead as though there is nothing different. Or maybe you have a new conversation.

Duane

[reubenT]

it shouldn't matter,  but it does to our minds because of the anti naked conditioning of our society,  that's been programmed into our minds.  I recognize it in my mind, it wants to panic at risk of being seen, completely void of reason.  I want to live by reason and common sense,   but deleting and reprogramming those old files that were put there so long ago is difficult. 

[jbeegoode]

Back when I was teaching, I had to consider this possibility out on the local popular trails. Imaging the G-rated reaction from a school system, when a junior high kid pops out his cell phone and distributes your image. You're out of a job. I had to stay out of certain areas, lessen my nudist club participation, and keep myself anonymous.

Most jobs wouldn't be affected by this "morals" problem. Craig Smith, the guy who wrote "Growing Up w/out Shame" told me that he was a 5th grade teacher for like 25 years. He published the book and attended landed clubs during that time.

I was driving a school bus for a while when single parenting my young son, again working in a school district. I belonged to that non-landed club I just mentioned participation in. As I sat naked in a jaccuzzi at a nude house party function, who should sit down on the edge but a co-worker. I had to caution her to not tell anyone, as rumor used to fly in the yard. We got naked together, co-conspirators. The three secret nudists.

Karla and Stuart, I just read The Naktive section of "Naked at Lunch" this afternoon. He wrote that several of the twenty had concerns about discovery by employers. What kind of employment were these people in?
Jbee

[eyesup]

Yes, but you both were at nude facility and both naked. You had the goods on each other. As you said, co-conspirators.

In a place where you are naked and you meet someone you know but they aren't naked and aren't interested in naked activities. There in lies the rub.

I imagine it would force me to do something to clarify my situation. Good or bad may come. In general I don't like being forced to do things. I am a planner or analyser. I prefer to think things through before doing. Spur of the moment isn't my strong suit.

Duane

[nudewalker]

I don't want to piecemeal Duane's post but there is a little story to tell. During my college years we frequented a place known for skinny dipping. One day a ffrat brother plus his girlfriend and another girl wanted to go swimming at a local park lake. Part of a twelve pack later instead of going to the lake we detoured to what was known as Bare Ass Beach. As we tapped into another 12 pack the other couple headed for a more private area leaving the other girl behind. Since we had little in common we just drank, sunned and swam. A few years later that girl began to date a friend of mine and she pulled me aside to implore me not to say anything of our beach day. I did assure her my lips were sealed but I imagine she didn't want her boyfriend to know I had seen her naked.

There was a teacher on another forum that was found out. What would posses a parent to do so much detective work is beyond me but part of her "punishment" was to drop participation on the forum. She did eventually leave that position to start elsewhere but the "morals" clause in many contracts is usually enforced to the max. That way parents don't make a fuss at school board meetings.

[jbeegoode]

That's why I'm Jbee and I don't paste pics with our faces to claim anonymity. Trouble from a morals clause is unlikely for us, now, but one never can be completely sure, so hedge the bet. I always resented the school situation. I resent being stuffed in a closet, having my free speech and free expression suppressed, living a lie and having my personal time imposed on. I understand employer image concerns, but there is a limit that should always err to the personal freedom end and some pigs just can't understand boundaries, like they think that they own people because they pay them money. I refuse to work with those conditions, or attitudes.

Otherwise, I just don't care if someone else sees my nude body. Why should I?
Jbee