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!)

• “Naturism is the practice of recreational social nudity in a natural environment, such as at a beach, lake, or in a forest or other wilderness area.”

And naturists are not single sex, men only. It is entire families. Women, men, children.
*

As you say, social nudity, and not single sex. Not lone blokes in places where other users of that space definitely don't expect to see naked people.

The previous 'very fascist' post seems to have just about got the thread to Godwin's Law.

Does naturism preclude mask-wearing?

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/french-naturist-camp-hit-by-very-worrying-covid-outbreak

I understand why people find a naked man disturbing or traumatic when they are so rare, which means that almost all our references are to do with flashing or il intent.

But that's precisely the point. Yes, it may well be sad that our culture is so uptight about nudity. However, it is what it is, and furthermore, all of us who grew up here know this. Therefore choosing to transgress those boundaries in the knowledge that you are likely to disturb people by doing so is an odd choice.

At best it's a form of selfishness: "my liberated continental viewpoint is morally better than your uptight British standpoint, so sod off, you prudes" (which we've seen several times on this thread). At worst it's definitely about getting a sexual kick from other people's unwilling participation in your naked display.

I find it interesting that we've had differing viewpoints from naturists on this thread, one who thinks it should be confined to clearly designated areas and another who thinks it's okay to make use of any bit of the countryside, but concedes that most of the male naturists she knows would cover themselves if they realised they were about to encounter other people, so as not to upset those other people.

The first time I encountered the Ilkley naturist (in a thick fog in winter!), I did immediately think "mental health issues" and in fact sent my male companion to check he was okay.

I was horrified that the naked rambler was imprisoned. It didn’t seem reasonable or proportionate. I would prefer prisons to be filled with those who assault and attack. I don’t however want to meet a naked male walker. I do think a naked man walking towards me in the wilds (I do walk alone perfectly happily) has already shown a lack of regard for my feelings and has broken a conventional social contract which helps me not question his motives. If no man ever had got his kicks from forcing sexual contact and flashing it would be a non issue but the vision of frolicking naked adults as some innocent prelapsarian ideal doesn’t fit with real world experience of sexual violence.

Spanielmadness your brusque dismissal of how others feel seems crass and entitled, I suppose that’s what we fear for a male naked rambler too but some wonder where that entitlement will end.

At best it's a form of selfishness: "my liberated continental viewpoint is morally better than your uptight British standpoint, so sod off, you prudes"

Even worse, when you consider the location of the Peak District and the concerns that our National Parks are 'too white'. Personally, in an ideal world I'd be on the liberated continental side of the moral argument but in the real world, the naked runner has the effect of infringing other people's liberty. It's antisocial behaviour.

The whole "pearl clutching bigots assuming naturists are perverts" argument is from the same textbook as "pearl clutching bigots assuming trans women are perverts"

Christ, some posters on here really are determined to break down women’s boundaries, aren’t they? It doesn’t matter what the majority of female posters want, or in this case don’t want, they must submit to the demands of those who want to be naked in their presence.

Yes, it doesn't take long for the insults to start when women state that they want to have boundaries.

Yes, it doesn't take long for the insults to start when women state that they want to have boundaries

Absolutely. My own personal boundary is that I would like to consent in some way to being in the presence of a naked person. Whether that's through participating in naturism, being intimate with a person, as part of a job or caring role, whatever it might be, I'd like to consent to it for myself. I don't think that's too much to ask, and it in no way makes me a prude or not appreciate the beauty and wonder of the human body.

Couldn’t agree more. Except I’m not a naturist, but I am tolerant of naturists and don’t assume they’re out to harm me like the fainting flowers on this thread.

Fainting flowers How spiteful.

Plenty of women have good reason to be afraid. How are we meant to know someone's intentions? Just because he's naked doesn't mean he's obviously a naturist, there could be other reasons.

I have PTSD because of sexual abuse I suffered when I was a child, and coming across a naked stranger, especially when out on my own would trigger it.

If that makes me a fainting flower, then whatever. I'm pleased that you personally don't have a reason to be afraid. Good for you. It wouldn't kill you to be more considerate of people who do, by not mocking them.

@Pertella

The whole "pearl clutching bigots assuming naturists are perverts" argument is from the same textbook as "pearl clutching bigots assuming trans women are perverts"

Exactly. Spanielmadness makes me want to go full prude, and proudly so.

Our naturist neighbours in Germany never once made any of the other neighbours feel they were the weird ones for not wanting to be naturists too. In fact, they never once discussed it with any of us -- and I knew them for over 30 years. Though I'm pretty sure that if any us were interested in joining them they'd be happy to include us. That's the way to do is: discreet, and friendly, and non-judgmental.

You can turn your head or even just avert your eyes if you feel the need.

Really? This goes against every single things I have been taught for safety as a single women walking alone. Maybe you have had such a great life unfettered by worries of safety. I have lives in some of the dodgiest suburbs and maintaining visual is key. If your advice to women is to look the other way, maybe you should revisit that.

I don't think it is legal. That naked rambler was always getting arrested for public indecency. On a nudist beach, even one of the known but unofficial ones I wouldn't care.

Out walking on a public footpath I would care. I came across 3 naked men in Sherwood Forest recently. I was on a bike so personally didn't feel threatened, but if I'd been on foot then yes I would have. Apparently they're often there. It's a popular area, they were slightly off the beaten track. I talked to someone later that day who said they walk right round the very popular bits of the forest and are often upsetting people, especially those with small kids but they keep doing it.

I know several people who are naturists. They don't go places where they are going to surprise people with their nudity.
People who go naked in public places are exhibitionists not naturists. They have no right to include me or anyone else in their fetishism. Call me a prude and a bigot as much as you like.

I guess being able to be a naked walker is every flashers dream.

Why risk being labelled a flasher when all you have to do is take your clothes off for longer, "flash" for longer and claim to be a naturist? You can still get your sexual kicks. Plus the added bonus of being able to mansplain and argue with any woman you upset. Win, win!

@Beamur

I know several people who are naturists. They don't go places where they are going to surprise people with their nudity. People who go naked in public places are exhibitionists not naturists. They have no right to include me or anyone else in their fetishism. Call me a prude and a bigot as much as you like.

Exactly.

There was a naturist camp in the village I grew up on. On private land, well away from any footpaths. People can go and hang out naked at such places all they want. Doing it on public footpaths is 100% about getting a sexual kick.

Nudist beaches or areas are there for a good reason so that no one should be uncomfortable. People should have warning that they should expect to see naturists as they enter an area. It is just about socially acceptable behaviour, it is also very much about safety for every single person who is there.

Do they issue stick on badges then? I am not a rapist? A sexual fetishist who has included you without consent in my fetish?

Fascists? Yeeessss! Let’s bring out the bingo cards.

You can turn your head or even just avert your eyes if you feel the need.

Do you have the same thought process if a man next to you on a train got his penis out? Or even started masturbating? Because you can just avert your eyes can't you?

Should I have just averted my eyes when a man got into the jacuzzi with me at the gym and started masturbating?

I talked to someone later that day who said they walk right round the very popular bits of the forest and are often upsetting people, especially those with small kids but they keep doing it.

Perverts often recognise others of their type and develop connections with each other, so the fact that they are targeting areas with those who find them offensive, screams pervert to me.

I think the fact they're doing it in an area they know they're going to come across a load of kids screams pervert to me.

Fainting flowers.

Jeez what a cheek

I don’t want to out for a walk and see a naked man.

It’s that simple

Nudist beaches or areas are there for a good reason so that no one should be uncomfortable.

They are as much for the protection of the naturists as they are for the "pearl-clutching fainting flowers". As I said earlier, naturist clubs know how to recognise and deal with voyeurs and exhibitionist.

If anyone was wandering the hills naked, particularly as the weather has been, I'd suspect mental health issues so would be worried for the man and also my own personal safety.

My cousin had a breakdown and turned up at the train station in his pyjamas and then stripped off. He was scared and aggressive and had to be forcibly restrained before being sectioned. He's normally as harmless as a lamb and there was certainly no ill intent but that wouldn't have helped any female bystanders if he'd suddenly tackled them rather than one of the male passengers.

It's legal, leave them alone. Don't look if you don't want to.
Put your mask over your eyes. See it has a dual purpose.

@Devlesko

It's legal, leave them alone. Don't look if you don't want to. Put your mask over your eyes. See it has a dual purpose.

It isn't legal. Public nudity I'm fairly sure is illegal hence why the naked rambler got arrested so much?