AIBU or is this a MAJOR safeguarding issue?

[Whatthefudgeisthis]

NC for this,

I’ve been absolutely stunned at the ignorance shown by the organisers with this one! A naturist night at the water park 😱 this place is designed for kids entertainment, it’s basically loads of water slides a wave pool and play area etc
Who in their right mind would take a child to such an event. Obviously I’m not shooting down naturists, each to their own, but this is an event that ANYONE can attend. Known paedophiles have attended these events, with one saying that he can’t even swim. What the actual fuck is going on? Who thought this one up?
If adults want to swim naked that’s their call, but why open the event to children too?

I’m pretty sure I’m not the one missing the blindingly obvious here, but I’m so amazed at the stupidity I had to share and maybe raise some awareness.

www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/family-nude-swimming-session-coming-2589946

These events are being held across the country, so there’s possibly one near you.

I thought knife crime, pedophilia, and muggings were a problem.

But no, apparently it's the little community of naturists who have been doing their thing, assisted by the police, for decades.

Geez louise

Emily, I can't speak for others, but I know for me, I can be concerned about multiple things at once. I can even comment on them too and not just think about them. It's a pretty neat life skill!

I am not assuming the naturist community doesn't have long term paedophiles - it hasn't' been discussed yet! And you're right - there might likely be

Likely be? There already has been. That paedophile I posted about earlier was the head of public relations for NaturistUK and was chairman of a naturist swim club.
He had over 1,200 images of children.

But I have to ask again, if it's so safe, non threatening and just like any other boring family activity, why the need to pre-register and bring id?

"Likely be? There already has been. That paedophile I posted about earlier was the head of public relations for NaturistUK and was chairman of a naturist swim club.
He had over 1,200 images of children."

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs! I'm stunned. If only he had to pre register and had people keeping an eye out for the likes of him....

@fissionchip5 Yes, you're right, there already has been. No community, society, school, church, club etc. is immune unfortunately.

I can be concerned about multiple things at once.

If you're getting this hysterical over something as unimportant as naturism then I can well believed that. I doubt you experience any emotion other than concern.

Two years ago, a group of hysterical people became convinced that a pizza restaurant was a front for child abuse, and someone even went into the restaurant with a gun to try and save the kids.

Some of you are getting close to doing exactly that all over again. Naturism has been going on for ages all across Europe, and the police are well aware. There's no secret abuse ring going on. It's just people with a different lifestyle to the rest of us.

Calm your knees. If they keep jerking like this you'll do your hip in!

Two years ago, a group of hysterical people became convinced that a pizza restaurant was a front for child abuse, and someone even went into the restaurant with a gun to try and save the kids

JFC. Yes, concern about children being in the company of many naked adults is just like Pizzagate.

^ Sarcasm, in case that was unclear.

If you think paedophiles won’t be attracted to a nudist swimming session for children- you’re either naive or stupid

If you think that there's a load of pedophilia going on in the naturist community, when you have no evidence for that, and they are clearly working closely with the police and NSPCC, then yes, you are doing pizzagate 2.0.

Enjoy your prison time when your hysterical delusions ends up with you going to this innocent group's events and physically assaulting them.

If you have any evidence at all that abuse happens at these events, then go to the police and present it. If you have any issue with their safeguarding policy (which we both know you didn't bother reading), then go to the NSPCC and explain it.

But you don't. You're just emboldened by ignorance and hysteria and are sure you know all about something because you read a local news article. Give me strength!

It isn't open to non members. The article says 'the entire venue is rented out by the group, who take charge of the organising.'

I don't see a problem with this, surely it's the same as nudist beaches or nudist camping sites.

Emily the only one behaving hysterically here is you.

I won’t be going to protest anything. At no point have I said that paedophilia will be occurring at the event - I have posted multiple times about the normalisation of being around naked adults and how someone who plans to groom a child would benefit from this.

You are being absolutely ridiculous.

@sinkgirl "I have posted multiple times about the normalisation of being around naked adults and how someone who plans to groom a child would benefit from this"

The naked body is normal... Why would a child who is comfortable with nudity and being around naked adults be more susceptible to grooming?

There is no evidence for this. You could argue the opposite - that nudity without the added sexual connotations added by society gives a child a healthy relationship with nudity and their own body. They would most likely pick up on any suggestion of nudity that was more than the relaxed, comfortable way they have been brought up.

You could argue the opposite - that nudity without the added sexual connotations added by society gives a child a healthy relationship with nudity and their own body. They would most likely pick up on any suggestion of nudity that was more than the relaxed, comfortable way they have been brought up You could argue that if you wanted and take them along at 8pm on a Friday night ... but the risk of negative impact isn't a risk I'd take with my child.

*Emily the only one behaving hysterically here is you.

I won’t be going to protest anything. At no point have I said that paedophilia will be occurring at the event - I have posted multiple times about the normalisation of being around naked adults and how someone who plans to groom a child would benefit from this.*

Normalising nakedness can work the other way though too. A child brought up in a naturist family would be much more aware of what is unacceptable behavior when naked, than one brought up clothed, because to a clothed child all naked behavior is unacceptable.

I posted a link to a safeguarding document earlier which features this information, from a large scale study into child abuse (Van Dam, 2001).

Those who groom children may encourage nudity as a way to erode boundaries. It’s clear to see how this normalisation could be exploited.

Children do not need to be around large numbers of naked adults to be comfortable naked and comfortable with their own body.

Don't we often hear on Mumsnet that children who refer to their own bodies using the correct terms are less likely to be abused? Wouldn't it also be likely that children who grow up in households where nudity isn't rude or shameful would have similar decrease in risk? Allowing them to own their own bodies and teaching them about respect for themselves and others ought to have positive outcomes.

I've been to naturist events before we had children. We are very relaxed about nakedness at home. I don't think that poses any risk to my children, who are perfectly able to discern from context whether something is appropriate or not.

"You could argue that if you wanted and take them along at 8pm on a Friday night ... but the risk of negative impact isn't a risk I'd take with my child"

And that's absolutely your call as a parent :)

Normalising nakedness can work the other way though too. A child brought up in a naturist family would be much more aware of what is unacceptable behavior when naked, than one brought up clothed, because to a clothed child all naked behavior is unacceptable.

And that last part isn’t ideal because...?

Good, I hope my kids do grow up thinking that unclothed behaviour is unacceptable until they’re old enough to consent.

You could argue that if you wanted and take them along at 8pm on a Friday night ... but the risk of negative impact isn't a risk I'd take with my child.

And you are well within your right to do that, but it doesn't mean any parent that takes their child is lesser than you. Both have weighed up the rewards and risks and acted accordingly.

I don't think that poses any risk to my children, who are perfectly able to discern from context whether something is appropriate or not

If children had that ability, they wouldn’t ever be groomed or abused - gradually making unacceptable things seem acceptable is literally what grooming does and is supposed to do.

@ SinkGirl

I think we can just agree that we have different views on this :)