Meeting naturists when hill walking - would you be worried?

[JGACC]

Hi all, I'm interested to gather women's thoughts on this. I read a Facebook post by Macclesfield police this morning asking people to report if they see a male naturist in the Peak District (screenshot attached) as there has been a lot of reports over the last few weeks. I was really surprised that the vast majority of the comments are saying it's legal (which yes it is) and to leave him alone. As a young female who often walks in the Peaks on my own my first thought was...I'd be worried and extremely uncomfortable if I came across him and would probably hide behind a tree or rock and try to call someone. Am I paranoid or is this actually fine and something I should take as lightly as the majority of the (mostly, but not all male) commenting public seem to?

I'll admit I was surprised to learn that it is entirely legal to wander round anywhere nude. It does seem a lot of naturists have no sexual intent and are more interested in being at one with nature. The man in question doesn't seem to have been reported as carrying out threatening behaviour and is probably harmless but it still makes me worried and I don't know if I'm ridiculous or not. (I would rather be ridiculous than not in this case!)

Exhibitionism in itself is a paraphilia. There doesn't have to be any "attacking" they get off on the reaction.

It wouldn't bother me, as you often read about a naturist walking in the woods etc. I once came across two such men in the woods years ago.They were together, and were both quite oldish men, They were both quite skinny, tanned, and wrinkly, and were sitting by a stream drinking tea from a flask. They both said hello to me when I walked past with my dog..

I walk a lot on my own and I dont worry about it. As others have said anyone with malicious intentions would have to wait a long time. I walked 6 hours and met three people in total, all men on their own.

I'd be more concerned if I met a naked man but it would be other behaviour like blocking the path, standing to ensure I saw their full nakedness etc that would make me worried more than just lack of clothes

Sorry, there is a yesterday missing from my post.

To the people who don't see what the problem is, a question:

Do you think it is an unreasonable request (from some people) to not want/have to see some chap's penis in a public place?

Slight tangent - back in the seventies partner and I were in Portsmouth (I think) and stumbled across a bit of the coastline that just had naked men on it. I think it was signposted as a Male* only bathing area. We were cool with that but had to leave (obvs as it was men only) but I mention it here because it seems to me there are plenty of places to get your todger out without spoiling it for the rest of us. Nudist paces and that.

(Does anyone know if that was in Portsmouth or is my memory shit? Maybe it's Plymouth...is it still there?)

*that's the first time autoshag has capitalised male. Bastard! I knew it was a thing but I thought mine was immune.

Total bold fuck up.

@StuntPond

Regarding naturalist beaches do any attract old fashioned naturalists these days?

'Naturist' beaches and 'naturists' -- 'naturalists' are interested in animals, plants etc. Virtually always heavily clothed.

Thanks for pointing out my mix up with two similar words. I noticed I got deleted anyway so apologies to anyone I offended.

It's definitely a statement of some sort and anti-social at best. How in a clothed society is a woman supposed to tell the difference between a lone naturist and a power-tripping flasher? Answer: she can't.

Also, if it's genuinely about being at one with nature, they oughtn't to have shoes on.

The only time a female friend and I took a walk along what turned out to be a designated naturist beach, there was a naked man wanking in the bushes as we passed by. This has inevitably coloured my opinion about men's claims around naturism.

Why can't I get back to the first page?

I'm usually eye rolling at peoples reluctance to walk through a situation and imagine how it will play out or how it might feel, especially from other peoples POV.

The reality of hiking is that you are usually walking on a well defined path, so yes this would worry me. My experience would be walking on a narrow path with a naked man walking towards me and having to gauge his intent.
If he had ill intent then I'm likely to be blamed; ''why did you continue to approach him when you could see he was naked?''

so Im afraid you have failed to pull that 'well, women do it too and just as bad' rabbit out of the hat.

Good then that it was not my intent. It was more along the lines of the naked bike ride in London comment. The being dragged into someone else’s political and social statement that involves being barely or not dressed. And naturists are not a one man show. We have dozens of naturist camps all over France with thousands of attendees every year.

someone presenting themselves nude to unconsenting strangers out of these socially acceptable situations is an act of boundary breaking and dominance, no matter what their motivations. I am also certain that there is a recognized offender pattern in some men of flashing, (often beginning in the teenage years) then escalating to contact sexual offenses and rape.

And your prejudice is showing madam. Naturists are harmless. Naked doesn’t equal sexual predator. You really need to do a bit of research, perhaps even talk to a naturist or two before calling them sex offenders.

Maybe naturists are harmless, but the chances are that a lone naked bloke isn't a genuine naturist - and there's certainly no way for anyone else to tell.

@ErrolTheDragon

Maybe naturists are harmless, but the chances are that a lone naked bloke isn't a genuine naturist - and there's certainly no way for anyone else to tell.

Sorry, but do you have any statistics to back up your statement that blokes who say they are naturists are usually lying? Thought not.

I suppose it also depends what you are used to. I holiday in germany, Netherlands and Austria. Both men and womens boys are often seen on display. In cologne there is a cable car over a spa baths where clothing is not allowed. Perhaps if were less bothered about naked bodies they would hold less power over us

@SocialMedea

To the people who don't see what the problem is, a question:

Do you think it is an unreasonable request (from some people) to not want/have to see some chap's penis in a public place?

Slight tangent - back in the seventies partner and I were in Portsmouth (I think) and stumbled across a bit of the coastline that just had naked men on it. I think it was signposted as a Male* only bathing area. We were cool with that but had to leave (obvs as it was men only) but I mention it here because it seems to me there are plenty of places to get your todger out without spoiling it for the rest of us. Nudist paces and that.

(Does anyone know if that was in Portsmouth or is my memory shit? Maybe it's Plymouth...is it still there?)

*that's the first time autoshag has capitalised male. Bastard! I knew it was a thing but I thought mine was immune.

I guess what I wonder is, is it really seeing the penis that's the issue?

My sense is that it's not really, for the most part people don't care about seeing a penis in some other settings, even somewhat unexpectedly. It's not like you usually see one that's somehow surprising in its configuration.

Similarly, I don't care about people in bathing suits at the beach, but I don't really think that I believe shirtless men or women in bikinis are appropriate downtown. If I went into a mixed sex public bath I wouldn't care about male nudity, at my local YMCA I'd be annoyed.

Ad while some people have reasons to be particularly bothered, even in those cases often social norms are a strong element. It's when things appear where they aren't supposed to be.

I'm struggling to find the right word to describe this sense, but in any case, I am wondering about the line between social norm and challenges to that. If someone believes nudity is healthier and so is making a protest by walking the paths naked, is that different? Or when groups of women chose to push laws against women's toplessness, obviously many people thought that was not socially acceptable and many men ma have felt really awkward about it.

I have to say I’d be pretty jealous if I came across a naked rambler. I wish I had the balls to go out for a naked walk!

PlanDeRaccordement - would you agree that most genuine naturists are generally law-abiding citizens? If so do you not think that it is likely that most genuine naturists would stay in areas where naturism is allowed and expected?

Rather than take the risk of upsetting non-naturists in areas where there may be women and families who are not expecting to see a naked man.

I don't want to see naked men when I'm out walking in nature. It's disrespectful, even if legal.

I wouldn't be happy to come across a naked man when out walking. I can understand people going to designated nudist beaches or facilities with like-minded people (even though I'd never want to do it myself) because everyone is in agreement. But a single individual wandering around naked feels very different, like forcing other random people to indulge him. It might not be sexual but it's certainly a power trip.

This is how it's done in Germany and Austria. There are specific stretches of beached or lakes designated FKK, which are set aside for naturists. And also lakes and rivers, where you can swim or sunbathe naked if you want, or clothed if you want. The thing is, you know there will be naked people there and if you don't want to see them, you don't go. Same with saunas etc.

My neighbours in Germany were an older couple who had been naturists all their lives. We often went over to their place for dinner, barbecues in the garden, etc and they were always clothed. It's a matter of politeness towards others who don't share your philosophy. Everyone knows that public nakedness is not appreciated by everyone. Everyone knows that a naked man can be up to no good, and there's no way to identify them. And even if he's innocent, still there should be respect for those who don't want to see a penis dangling in public.

@AlbusSirius

PlanDeRaccordement - would you agree that most genuine naturists are generally law-abiding citizens? If so do you not think that it is likely that most genuine naturists would stay in areas where naturism is allowed and expected?

Rather than take the risk of upsetting non-naturists in areas where there may be women and families who are not expecting to see a naked man.

It might depend on the law?

It's legal in some places to be naked. Some people might take that to indicate it should be ok.

Sorry, but do you have any statistics to back up your statement that blokes who say they are naturists are usually lying? Thought not.

My understanding is that naturism focuses on 'communal nudity' (hence the naturist camps, beaches etc, which I have no issue with whatever). So, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that there's a good chance that a lone naked bloke in some random place isn't really a naturist.

@AlbusSirius

PlanDeRaccordement - would you agree that most genuine naturists are generally law-abiding citizens? If so do you not think that it is likely that most genuine naturists would stay in areas where naturism is allowed and expected?

Rather than take the risk of upsetting non-naturists in areas where there may be women and families who are not expecting to see a naked man.

Thats exactly what genuine naturists do - stick to designated areas. They know how to deal with voyeurs and exhibitionists.

I'm not sure if that is true. I know some naturists like to be nude when home alone, so it's not just about the communal aspects.

I think most naturist groups are pretty cognisant of not pissing people off, though.

In my experience genuine naturists take great care to not upset anyone else. As referred to up thread, naturists tend to advertise where they will have activities so as to give others warning; they don't force themselves on the unsuspecting general public.

It may not actually be illegal to climb a mountain naked, but it's unusual enough to make the newspapers when it happens, and so if the person involved was a member of a naturist groups I suspect the organisers would suggest it's not a great idea

Rather than take the risk of upsetting non-naturists in areas where there may be women and families who are not expecting to see a naked man

You know men are capable of finding this problematic too.