Nudes in the news

[jbeegoode]

Three of us have made comments on LBJ. I think that they are all correct. He was a very complex guy, good/bad, sincere/manipulative, he embraced his power and abused it with varying intentions, both for himself and others. It does make any accurate speculation about what he was doing at the white House pool difficult. 
Jbee

[Peter S]

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/11/17/the-waxing-and-waning-of-nudism-in-america.html

A new history book

peter

[eyesup]

An interesting article, Peter. One that generated, for me, more questions.

His comment about teens and texting nude photos reminded me of this article.

I read it in the local paper by this NY Times reporter: Eric Eckholm
Nudity is becoming a more everyday event. Is that good? Depends on the context. Concerning pedophilia, absolutely not.

If it's just kids goofing around, the courts have more important things to spend their limited resources on.

It illustrates how the laws intended to catch pedophiles are also snagging the young and foolish. After reading it I was wondering if kids would start getting arrested for playing spin the bottle or other such titillating games designed by kids of days past to push the boundaries of social regulation. If they post pictures of playing such games, they might run afoul of the law. If they only take photos and share them without the benefit of the internet, not likely. It's just more teenage hijinks.

Kids are going to push to see how far they can go.

As Justice Potter Stewart observed in his concurrance with the majority in "Jacobellis v. Ohio" in 1964, that the Constitution protected all obscenity except "hard-core pornography." Stewart wrote, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that."

If we were to get arrested for being stupid, the jails and prisons would have more people in them than out. Kids being kids should not be prosecuted. Allowing parents and, to some degree, local jurisdictions, to impress on teenagers that some actions result in drastic consequences is the best idea.

The article also makes the point that "nudist camps or colonies" have begun to be gentrified. They are now exclusive to cruises and/or "resorts" that focus on pampering. Man, it gives you the heebie jeebies. It's kind of sad that organized nudity is being appropriated by the wealthy.

As Bob frequently says, seeing a nude person isn't going to harm any one. More lenient laws on casual nudity would be more useful than draconian measures intended to lump everyone into a single group that is dealt with by the courts with a sledgehammer to silence any and all disagreement.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

The answer to the last question sounds like a good thing, but I question what he is basing his statements on. How does he know this, or is it just some light speculation. It may be more prevalent, but just how wide spread? Is it a fad?

I don’t see nude recreation as going upscale, pricing out people. The same places are there, but there is this new aspect also. There are new high end places like Mira Vista, here that get the notice and advertise. The image that mom and pop are putting out there talks about high end amenities to attract that market and inflate the same places. Just how many nude spots did the writer visit to draw these conclusions? There are still plenty of trailers out there. Perhaps fewer campers.
Jbee

[John P]

I didn't find "nudist camps or colonies" mentioned in the New York Times article.

But as for sexting, I wish we didn't take any interest in it. It is undoubtedly pornographic--material produced to create sexual thrills, and distributed with the same intention. As long as we're clear that nothing naturists do involves pornography, we ought to let society handle these cases however it works out. Whether the kids are sent to the galleys, or each given a bunch of flowers and a big kiss, it's no business of ours. You might as well discuss it with the people who restore antique cars or who grow orchids.

But having said that, there might be a way naturists could say, "All this foolishness results from nudity being made a taboo issue. If naked people were a familiar sight, there wouldn't be this temptation to use nudity sexually."

[JOhnGw]

Duane's comment about nude recreation going up-market, whether true or not, resonated with my perception that Steven Gough would not have been persecuted by the authorities if he has been a millionaire.

[reubenT]

It'd be kind of like imprisoning Willy Nelson for grass,    they did,  but not for long.    Everybody knows he smokes it,   and it's gradually becoming legal,  one state at a time.   I don't condone it's use,  but I do understand it gets used a lot more just because it's illegal.  Therefore I'm in favor of legalizing it.    Having money or popularity makes one at least partially immune to prosecution for marginal "crimes" 

[nudewalker]

My days in the educational system had their moments. However, I was lucky to have some exceptional instructors. When the subject of the "Prohibition" came up in discussions I remember his statement that "you can't legislate morality". And that has stuck with me for almost fifty years as attempts to stop drinking alcohol, smoking weed and looking at porn have failed. America's obsession with the human body goes way back (think of the Comstock laws) and reached a head when our troops returned home from France after World War One and exposure to their culture.

As for nudity going up market; I can't say one way or another. I did se where the Terra Cotta Inn was sold and going textile soon. And there are the rumors of another place closer to me going into a state of disrepair. As I have only visited one my comments border on the line of hearsay. Maybe nudity is becoming more mainstream therefore the demise of some places or as has been noted before since wages have been stagnant for quite awhile the money that would be spent at such venues is no longer there.

Going back to sexting; a lot has to do with peer pressure I'm sure. The wanting to fit in with the rest of the crowd. The fact is the use of and the growth of digital devices has out paced the laws put in place which means children are being charged with adult crimes. Once again I don't have a horse in this race so any thoughts on my part would be speculation. I only would have hoped that my parenting skills would have been good enough to steer our children the right way.

[eyesup]

Maybe what is happening to the CO business is that the resorts that cater to the well to do are the ones surviving, while the 'mom-n-pop' shops are barely squeaking by or closing. It may be only a perception of upscaling. Businesses have to adapt or die.

I only would have hoped that my parenting skills would have been good enough to steer our children the right way.

From conversations with our kids we have come to the conclusion that, so far, we did a pretty good job. When we find out that they have engaged in exuberant behaviors, they have remembered to take precautions against any drastic consequences.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Most of the "resorts" have been improving their facilities with big nice club houses, better pools and jaccuzzis, etc. It is more professional, less mom and pop. After that, there are the same old lots with trailers, mobile homes and a camping area as always surrounding them.

There are few places like Mira Vista, an upscale resort hotel and former Dude ranch of the rich and famous and, with condos, no trailers, no camping. There are those old motels in Palm springs that have gone nude. There are the cruises. That is newer trends. We nudes are of all flavors and I believe the businesses will just accommodate all of us, if the market is there. I don't see any trend of change. Some do and some don't. Some are free range. DF and I will be naturists in nature. Even if they are limited to a boat, the stories of nude cruises make a bigger splash in the media and show the textiles that there are lots of us and we do the same things as all of them, just without the clothing. It makes us slowly more a part of the mainstream.

Clothing is becoming more revealing, smaller. A couple of jumps like say topfreedom and they will begin to catch up with us. And catch up with Europe before that.

We're waxing.
Jbee

 

[jbeegoode]

Anyone heard from Bob? A friend of mine told me of her friends, just outside of Spokane, that had been out of electricity for three days because of 120 mile winds. It performed like a micro-blast, but covered a huge area. His last post was the 19th, I'm pretty sure.
Jbee

[nudewalker]

Now that you mention it, since I check in with my phone often during the day haven't noticed him as being on site. Knew they were getting bad weather but nothing about the winds.

[Greenbare Woods]

Hi guys.   We got our electricity back last night after 6 nights and days of being off grid.   There are still some 20,000 people in the dark and cold but not us any more.  We had hurricane force winds a week ago Tuesday night and it took down practically the whole grid near Spokane, WA and northern Idaho.  Thousand of big trees in people's yards ended up crashing through roof tops and in the street after dragging down power lines.   Our land didn't suffer any damage despite the wind.  But one of our neighbors had a tree that knocked down the wires.  Power linemen crews from all over the west have been putting it back up. 

We have a small portable generator for emergencies so we managed to keep the heat on long enough each day so we didn't freeze.  We cheered last night when our power came back.

Its too f'ing cold to go out naked though.  20F (-5C) last night.  High today right around 0-C

Bob

[eyesup]

Must be the same storm that hit Colorado. A friend is visiting some of her family near Greeley and reported 16 in. of snow.

1st big storm of the season, I guess.
Good to hear the power is back on and you were able to stay warm, Bob.

Duane

[Greenbare Woods]

I think the storm that hit us last week moved eastward and dumped on Colorado, Illinois, etc. 

Today we are having another storm, colder this time.  Snow here.  Some of the line crews are still out sorting the power grid. 

Bob