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.

“So it is actually the nudity, not child protection issues which you are complaining about. I thought so.”
Errr what?? Why on earth are you separating the issues of nudity and child protection. Now forgive me if I’m wrong but I always thought paedophiles liked to see naked children!? And how dare you imply that anyone who is not a naturist brings up their children to be “prudes who are ashamed of their own bodies” - how bizarre. You are obviously getting annoyed by posts on here saying that ALL adult naturists are paedophiles...where is said post, I must’ve missed it...

I was brought up naturist, and decided it wasn't for me when I was about 10. I think that naturism needs to be done carefully, but it is up to the parents and experts, not us, to make sure that happens.

I'm aware that this will probably make some people not read the rest of my post, which is a shame, because I'd like to try and get to the bottom of some things we can all agree on.

Firstly, naturism IS a safeguarding issue. It's a family activity, like camping, and family campsites also need to do far more to prevent abuse in my opinion. It's also a very small community, and that means coverups would be much easier, and a sole charismatic figure could easily have too much sway. That said, since reading through this thread, I have found that the NSPCC have oversight of naturist safeguarding, which is good and should prevent this from happening.

Secondly, having groups of men outside naturist events shouting at the people going in is totally unacceptable. They will be terrifying the children they are supposedly there to protect. It also puts naturists on the defensive, when we need them to be open, working with the police, publicly showing their safeguarding policy. I've seen people saying "why were the men covering their faces as they went in!?" as though that shows they're guilty. I'd cover my face if you shouted at me and filmed me in public! The whole protesting thing promotes secrecy and fear when we need openness.

Finally, on parenting, I've read stories including here where naturism has been part of someone's abuse, and stories where naturism has been good for someone. In all those cases, the key factor is the parent or parents. If you think your child fears you, or could not openly say to you "I don't like this", then you shouldn't do naturism, end of. I did feel confident to say that to my parents, and as a result even though naturism was not for me I did not get harmed by it. Some people are saying a child may not like it but not feel able to say so, and I think we can all agree that is a recipe for disaster.

How can we tell which parents are abusive and which aren't? I don't know. I don't think we can. If parents ARE abusive though, then I don't think banning naturism will help. They'll just find another way to abuse their child, and you take away something which non-abusive parents could be bonding with their children over.

So that the children can be turned into prudes who are ashamed of their own bodies - that's what your 'erosion of boundaries' means.

No. It. Doesn't.

A person who doesn't want to be naked in front of anyone else, especially someone they don't know, is not a prude. What an awful thing yo teach your child.

Well said JenDeac74. It is rare on here to read a balanced and sensible post on here. Too often it is the shrill who drown out the voices of common sense!

Prudery is a form of child abuse

^ This is from a report by the British naturist society.

They see no issues with what they subject children to though..

JenDeac74 just wanted to say I think your post is articulate, intelligent and non-bias. You have highlighted the real issue here of child consent. The act of compliance towards adults is so strong in children and should never be taken advantage of - I’m glad your parents respected your wishes. In my line of work, safeguarding and wellbeing policies include promoting body confidence and recognising that certain parts of their bodies are private - not something to be ashamed of. In the context of this thread that probably makes me bias, as some people on here would say that no part of their body is private.

"So it is actually the nudity, not child protection issues which you are complaining about. I thought so. "

No, it's about the enhanced risk. Rather obviously and as is demonstrated in the enhanced safeguarding. I have no issues with nudity at all.

"So that the children can be turned into prudes who are ashamed of their own bodies - that's what your 'erosion of boundaries' means"
that's not what it means at all. :(

You say vigilante, I don't think that means what you think it means. It's a totally separate issue from naturists and it's not for this thread.

"Child abuse is rarely carried out by strangers."
Yes, quite. And that's one of the points. That it could make it easier for uncle Bob to take advantage of the eroded boundaries, such as suggesting it's only skin, don't be a prude child etc etc

"What an awful thing yo teach your child."

And possibly quite a sinister thing too. Whether intentional or not :(

Good post jeandeac, however I will say, and again this isn't for this thread, but recently the nspcc haven't really filled me with confidence that they genuinely have children's best interests at heart and tend to lean towards the rights of adults when it comes to certain topics. Just imo of course.

And I think that's another of my concerns too, that children might not feel confident to say "no". You say if a parent knows their child doesn't feel confident to challenge them on this then they shouldn't do it. But if the child doesn't want to say, how will they know they don't have that relationship?

I totally disagree with the crowds outside the venue's. Theres no need for that at all and must be upsetting for everyone around not just the naturists attending.

Also IIRC a lot of naturist groups have a ‘get an erection get kicked out the event’ rule too. Try hiding that without clothes!

I’m not a naturist, never have been, hate my own body and hate being naked. However I believe as long as it’s not hurting anyone explicitly live and let live.

Try hiding that without clothes

Pretty easy in a swimming pool.

My friends little boy hates wearing clothes, esp shoes so he has to be dragged into them and carried into nursery. Should she let him go naked?

My dad is a paedophile and took me to a naturist camping site. It's one of my most traumatic abuse memories. I remember being in the swimming pool, I remember creepy other men, I remember being encouraged to do all manner of ghastly things which I now realise was for their pleasure - even at the time I think I felt uncomfortable with it, even in my innocence but that could be my adult self projecting.

The thought that it was a place that my sicko father and other sickos could watch children naked without judgement is vomit inducing and makes me shake with anger.

Children should not be subjected to naturism. There is just no need. Adults can make their own fully informed choices, but don't force this on innocent children.

I would like to put this into perspective.

Firstly - all children at naturist events are supervised by a parent or guardian. Unaccompanied minors are no admitted.
Secondly - all British Naturism events subscribe to the BN child protection policy developed in conjunction with NSPCC and reviewed regularly.
Thirdly - unaccompanied minors are more likely to be targeted at public swimming pools where there are no restrictions on admission and unaccompanied minors are common. I was so targeted and so were some of my friends and we laughed it off as "dirty old men." Their technique is to use childish curiosity about things by allowing them to discreetly see their genitals and develop things from there. That will not be effective in a naturist environment.

Lastly, I would like to draw your attention to the existence of statistical data which shows a strong correlation between societies where public nudity is more common and a later age of first sexual experience and lower teen pregnancy rates.

So sorry you were put in that impossible position. If you could see how important this was to your dad, if he spoke of it being family time etc, I'm not at all surprised you couldn't say anything as you didn't want to disappoint him. None of that was your fault, it was the position you were deliberately put in. A position that I suspect many children are being silently put in.

Exactly whatonearth99

whatonearth99 just horrific this happened to you
As another post said - it’s the enhanced risk that comes with naturism not actual naturism, although I wont EVER agree to the mindset that allows children to go to these events.
It has become obvious on this thread that nobody has attacked naturism as a concept but that some (not all) naturists have attacked others with the accusation of discrimination towards them - “bigots, prudes, shrill, ignorant” etc. Gaslighting springs to mind.

John (another newbie, welcome to mn!), Can you link that data you refer to? Admittedly I've never actually read it so it would possibly be educational for me.

Sorry to hear your story whatonearth99. However, it is the paedophiles who should be rooted out and punished, not the children. By banning children from accompanying their parents to naturist swims, you would be depriving children and their parents from enjoying leisure time together. Your father would have been a paedophile and whatever your activities he would have been on the prowl. To a true naturist nudity does not mean sex. It is the weirdos who think like that, and we all want rid of them.

Bobaboutwhat. What do you think is the 'enhanced risk' of naturism? That the whole body is exposed does not increase the risk of child abuse. If someone gets a kick out of looking, it may seem a bit sick, but so long as they do nothing about it, there is no harm done and it is not illegal. The child protection measures at naturist events are rigorous and ensure that nothing happens. And nothing does happen. Or where is your evidence?

it’s the enhanced risk that comes with naturism not actual naturism

But then, the statistics show that there is an enhanced risk that goes with going to church. And from members of a child's own family. Should we declare churchgoing and family visiting safeguarding risks that must be stopped?

The child protection measures at naturist events are rigorous and ensure that nothing happens

Rigorous? I’d need more checks to work as a dinner lady than join BN!

"By banning children from accompanying their parents to naturist swims, you would be depriving children and their parents from enjoying leisure time together."

What? There's plenty of things to do as a family that aren't naturist activities, how weird

"To a true naturist nudity does not mean sex"

And nudity doesn't mean sex to me either, or most on this thread. How odd to connect concerns regarding safeguarding children, and sex.

To be fair a lot of people who were raised Catholic themselves no longer want anything to do with the church, and certainly don't want their own kids going near it, including myself.