Nude Family swim at Stoke Waterworld

[VortexofBloggery]

Flagged up by Sammy Woodhouse on Twitter.
mobile.twitter.com/sammywoodhouse1/status/1308822025797013509

Supported by who else but NSPCC.

Adults can buy a single ticket.

To Shut it down, Change petition here:
www.change.org/p/water-world-stop-nude-family-swim-session-for-adults-and-children-of-all-ages-at-water-world?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_24863394_en-GB%3A2&recruiter=1151217419&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=tap_basic_share

Attended by convicted paedophile
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4047602.convicted-brierfield-paedophile-member-naturist-club/

Unbelievable.

for those affected by this.

It's fine for adults if that's their cup of tea, but very unfair to put children/teenagers in that position.

This thread is quite bizarre... All the talk about "forcing" children to be naked without their consent... It is quite well-known and widely written about that (most) children, especially toddlers, love to get their kit off! There have been numerous threads about this tendency on this very forum! Indeed, when I was a child, I believe my mum sometimes struggled to get me to keep my clothes ON! My friends were the same. I vaguely remember running around naked in the fountain in the town centre - I was a wild child - as well as being naked in the paddling pool in the garden with my friends (also naked). I have photos of us all, having a whale of a time. I also thought nothing of frequently seeing my mum and grandma naked while growing up.

I think that the ideas about nudity and its significance discussed on this thread have nothing at all to do with the way children experience the world, and the way they might be if left to their own devices. I agree that the way one feels about being naked may change at puberty, but I think at least some of that comes from society.

Handsoff if you find a support group could you let me know? Something tells me I don’t want to go googling right now, having had this on my mind for 24 hours!

McSilkson your post is bizarre.

Several women have written heart-felt accounts of the impact of involuntary naturism on them personally, including reflecting that they will pursue support or counselling and this is your response. Have you actually read the thread because if you have, you are coming across as cold and heartless?

No-one is talking about being naked with their mum or grandma but about strange adults, particularly men and particularly as adolescents.

It is quite well-known and widely written about that (most) children, especially toddlers, love to get their kit off!

Up to the age of about 5 or so I agree with you. Teenagers aren't really known for it though, are they?

I want to phrase this in the most undeletable way There are some, who when others are opening up about trauma, feel the need for whatever reason (I won’t speculate but I’m thinking it loudly) to have what we might describe as a little play with those vulnerable people.

I’m used to it, and giving it the attention it deserves (ie none) as I’m sure all the women on the feminist boards are too.

I am not a naturist, for what it's worth. I have read most of the thread.

I am sorry that any woman has been victimised. But I can't see that as grounds to condemn naturism outright, nor events such as those at issue.

I was actually flashed by an (intoxicated) adult man with "naturist" habits when I was 14, while in the home of him and his wife (family friends). He walked into the living room starkers while I watching TV; his furious wife apprehended him at the door. Luckily, I screwed my eyes shut before I could see anything.

I feel that this illustrates that this sort of thing can and does happen anywhere. To say that children shouldn't be publicly naked because it might, and sometimes does, attract paedophiles is not a way of thinking I can get behind. By that logic, we should abolish school uniforms and particularly school skirts, as they certainly attract pervs/paedos, and schoolgirls are routinely targeted - I'm willing to bet far more often than children at family naturist events. Recent statistic is that over a third have been harassed or assaulted in uniform, and I bet the true figure is much higher; most women seem to have these stories. Then there's the age-old argument that women showing "too much" skin (entirely dependent on the society in question) are "asking for"/attracting the wrong sort of attention... Or is it that some people, mainly men, will target certain demographics, mainly women and children, whatever they do or wear...? The existence of perverts and opportunists and a certain level of risk that can never be eradicated is not a reason to curb the freedoms of women and children, in my view.

I have vague memories of seeing my dad and grandpa naked, though it certainly didn't happen as much as with my female relatives. I was so untraumatised that I barely remember it... :/ I remember seeing my male child friends naked, though, and thinking it was a right old giggle!

I still think that the notion of parents "forcing" children to be naked is back-to-front: if anything, we force them to wear clothes. And to adopt our society's attitudes towards the body. By late childhood, and certainly by the teens, this process of "civilisation" is usually complete. Young children are all but savages, and I must say I admire them for it.

Isn’t it traditional to exchange recipes at this point?

Anyone who hasn’t made Nigella’s sticky toffee pudding is SERIOUSLY missing out

Sage advice handsoffisback

That anyone could even attempt to justify this Waterworld event is beyond me.

There are some, who when others are opening up about trauma, feel the need for whatever reason (I won’t speculate but I’m thinking it loudly) to have what we might describe as a little play with those vulnerable people.

Yes, I agree that happens, and it's best not to engage, IMO

I just want to thank those who have opened up about their experiences. I am so so sorry you were put through any and all of that. It just sickens me to my core that people think its appropriate to take children to these kind off events. And astounding that adult women, PARENTS, can be so naive about what they're doing to their children.
I can only imagine that those like Ster were probably brought up in very sheltered conservative homes and feel this is their 'quirky' / interesting / unique family hobby that really shows how truly liberal and open minded they really are. Sad that their need for validation is at the cost of their children's dignity and safety. Very sad indeed.

@McSilkson

I am not a naturist, for what it's worth. I have read most of the thread.

I am sorry that any woman has been victimised. But I can't see that as grounds to condemn naturism outright, nor events such as those at issue.

I was actually flashed by an (intoxicated) adult man with "naturist" habits when I was 14, while in the home of him and his wife (family friends). He walked into the living room starkers while I watching TV; his furious wife apprehended him at the door. Luckily, I screwed my eyes shut before I could see anything.

I feel that this illustrates that this sort of thing can and does happen anywhere. To say that children shouldn't be publicly naked because it might, and sometimes does, attract paedophiles is not a way of thinking I can get behind. By that logic, we should abolish school uniforms and particularly school skirts, as they certainly attract pervs/paedos, and schoolgirls are routinely targeted - I'm willing to bet far more often than children at family naturist events. Recent statistic is that over a third have been harassed or assaulted in uniform, and I bet the true figure is much higher; most women seem to have these stories. Then there's the age-old argument that women showing "too much" skin (entirely dependent on the society in question) are "asking for"/attracting the wrong sort of attention... Or is it that some people, mainly men, will target certain demographics, mainly women and children, whatever they do or wear...? The existence of perverts and opportunists and a certain level of risk that can never be eradicated is not a reason to curb the freedoms of women and children, in my view.

I have vague memories of seeing my dad and grandpa naked, though it certainly didn't happen as much as with my female relatives. I was so untraumatised that I barely remember it... :/ I remember seeing my male child friends naked, though, and thinking it was a right old giggle!

I still think that the notion of parents "forcing" children to be naked is back-to-front: if anything, we force them to wear clothes. And to adopt our society's attitudes towards the body. By late childhood, and certainly by the teens, this process of "civilisation" is usually complete. Young children are all but savages, and I must say I admire them for it.

Comparing being totally naked as an adolescent in front of strange men, to wearing a school skirt?

Hmm. OK.

Kids reach an age where they don't want to be naked anymore. It's usually some time past the age of 4 or 5.

I find your post completely tone deaf.

I find your post completely tone deaf.

Very generous.

There was a programme on R4 about 4:30 this morning about nudity and naturism (yes I am an insomniac). It didn’t seem to mention any potential negatives, hmmmm, but I heard if a town in Germany (Potsdam?) where you can stroll about naked (and not get arrested).

I have to say, I never thought I'd see the day where a post using racist language from the colonial era would be allowed to stand?

Amazing to compare the differences in what's allowed to stand in the tweets in favour of safeguarding children and women and the ones against, innit.

Yeah, running after a laughing child trying to get their socks on, or having your toddlers dispense with shorts at home, isn't the same as taking a nude 14 year old to an event full of naked men.