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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Nude Family swim at Stoke Waterworld

664 replies

VortexofBloggery · 24/09/2020 12:03

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.

OP posts:
022828MAN · 26/09/2020 07:54

This is shocking! I can't believe so many people are condoning it.
Over 18s - fine, crack on.
Why do children need to be in attendance?!
Why do people think there wouldn't be pedophiles in the nudist community?!
Are people really that naive???

RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:36

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RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:36

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RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:38

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SterFran00 · 26/09/2020 08:40

What I’m finding interesting is the level of direct and indirect verbal abuse towards me.

I have never once been disrespected in a naturist environment.

So many presumptuous comments about men who are naturists, yet women on here feel ok with speaking in derogatory ways to fellow a female...
Interesting...

RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:42

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RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:44

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022828MAN · 26/09/2020 08:47

SterFran00

What exactly are you getting from these events? Is it just a cheap thrill for you? Another example of identity politics? What exactly?! And why do your children need to be involved? How do you promote safeguarding to your children when you allow naked men around them some of the time? How confusing for them!

RandomUser3049 · 26/09/2020 08:48

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022828MAN · 26/09/2020 08:51

handsoff absolutely crazy to me! I've already taught DD 3yrs that genitals are private and no one (other than me and her dad) should see hers and she shouldn't see anyone else's. I can't comprehend that parents will then take their children around a load of naked people and not expect that to impact their boundaries and be confusing.

MandosHatHair · 26/09/2020 08:53

SterFran00

It's not abuse to point out that you are putting your DCs at risk of harm by taking them to events like this.

Pelleas · 26/09/2020 08:56

lords links about paedophilia in this community.

There are many communities which, if you google with the word 'paedophile' will bring up hundreds of news stories.

I've just tried some -

Football - does that mean no one's child should play football?

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/paedophiles-in-football-co-operated-as-a-network-j65bcgk7s

'Church of England' - no one should take their child to church?

www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/19/church-of-england-reveals-50-rise-in-abuse-claims-and-concerns

Unfortunately paedophiles will infiltrate any community where they see opportunities to mix with children. It's unfair to single out naturism.

SterFran00 · 26/09/2020 08:58

@022828MAN

SterFran00

What exactly are you getting from these events? Is it just a cheap thrill for you? Another example of identity politics? What exactly?! And why do your children need to be involved? How do you promote safeguarding to your children when you allow naked men around them some of the time? How confusing for them!

I would invite you to read this whole thread as I have offered many responses to these exact questions and given an oversight to my personal experience of our journey with family naturism. I’m not here to convert anyone, just simply to offer my experience in the context of a news article that was released a couple of days ago.
Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 26/09/2020 09:04

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Deliriumoftheendless · 26/09/2020 09:06

How does this square with the Pantosaurus guidance from NSPCC. How do you teach children private’s are private if they’re not?

I can’t understand how you do that safely ( because I’m not a naturist) so I’d be interested in a response.

For what it’s worth, when I was growing up my parents had a very loose relationship with clothes. My mum still does. But it was only ever in the house, never with visitors and I wasn’t involved. So I can understand the idea of going naked in the privacy of your own home (I’ve done it myself in the past but find in the UK you need the heating whacked up full blast and an extra jumper just makes more sense) but I don’t think you need to be in a special nude club to feel positive about your body.

Kettlingur · 26/09/2020 09:19

I can understand going naked at home, in the sauna, on a beach - hello I'm Scandinavian, we're a-ok with naked bathing but we usually do keep it in the family - but I don't understand naked camping or naked dining or what have you. The former is not wearing clothes because they're inconvenient in the situation, the latter is ... focusing your life activities on being nekkid? It's just strange.

SterFran00 · 26/09/2020 09:29

Hey everyone, just wanted to say I’m going to leave it there on this discussion now. It’s getting a bit circular and repetitive.

My responses throughout this thread have given a lot of overview into naturism and our experience of it if anyone wants to read back through, which is why I jumped into it.

If you want to know more, head to British Naturism’s website and download the guide to naturism. It gives lots more info about lots of questions and themes on this thread...

SerenityNowwwww · 26/09/2020 09:31

I assumed naturism was all about - getting back to nature? An overheated, chlorinated Indoor pool isn’t exactly swimming naked in the sea. (Yes I have done this - in much warmer climes - with noone around and it was very nice).

MandosHatHair · 26/09/2020 09:32

Pelleas

That has already been discussed up thread. Sadly there will always be perverts and nothing is 100% risk free, however our DCs cannot stay locked up in thier homes until they aren't children anymore. Football lessons have so many benefits, eg exercise, teaching discipline etc which outweigh the risk. Swimming has similar benefits but what are there any additional benefits in swimming nude? I don't see that the benefits of nude swimming outweigh the increased risks to children. We can't seem to get a decent answer out of the nudist parents on this thread apart from some rubbish about bikini straps and being told that swimming nude is compatible to sex without a condom and naturism isn't sexual thing, oh no

PeterPomegranate · 26/09/2020 09:49

I am not a naturist but having read some of this thread I think it’s unfair SterFran was made the conduit for concerns about paedophilia and implications she isn’t protecting her children.

Like at at least one person who commented previously, I lived in Germany for a while (in Bavaria which is pretty conservative both socially and politically). The local pool had ‘free culture’ swimming sessions. I didn’t go (too prudish and British) but they weren’t some pervs paradise. The Germans were aghast that in the U.K. people wear swimming costumes in the sauna and thought it was disgustingly unhygienic. Saunas didn’t allow swimming costumes.

Yes children need protecting from paedophiles but I agree with others comments that we can’t control the thoughts in other people’s heads. I have a 5 year old. It’s possible that when I take him to the pool (wearing his swimsuit) some adults are looking at him in the wrong way but I take care of him and keep him safe. That’s my job. It would be the same if he wasn’t wearing a costume. Where does it end - maybe his shorts are too skimpy and he should be wearing long shorts and a top? Maybe that’s too skimpy and he should wear something more baggy?

I also agree with some previous commenters that not all nudity is sexual. And the more we are aghast at nudity the more we sexualise it. It is possible (as per Germany) to be nude and it not be such a big deal.

Also the comments about children not being able to consent, well that’s parenting isn’t it. We make decisions for our children about all sorts of things until they’re old enough to make decisions for themselves. Of course we shouldn’t harm our children, but there is plenty of grey area where a decision I make for my child isn’t the decision someone else would make, and vice versa. I would honestly put a family nude swimming event in that category.

Clymene · 26/09/2020 09:55

When I was a teenager, my best friend was forced to attend naked holidays and events with her parents (let's not use the euphemism 'naturism' - it's about getting naked). She was leered at and saw men with visible erections staring at her body. She hated going but was told by her parents that she was a prude for objecting. She was also told she was a prude for objecting to her parents having sex with other people in their home which her younger siblings in particular found very distressing.

So no, I don't buy the freedom argument , nor do I buy that children have no issue with it. Those children did not consent. But their parents didn't care and did it anyway.

SerenityNowwwww · 26/09/2020 09:56

We aren’t in Germany though - living there you will see the difference between drinking culture there and here. If there is a tradition of being clothes in a sauna, they why change it? Same if there is a tradition of. It being clothed, why change it?

Clymene · 26/09/2020 09:58

I hope you read my comment @SterFran00 and @Bonkersblond's experience also gives you pause. You are very naive.

nosswith · 26/09/2020 10:22

I have been to clothes free spas and saunas in Germany (went to local council sauna in Munich last week whilst there), and to some in the UK.

There is a difference between the British (possibly American too) and German/Dutch/Scandinavian attitude to nudity in spas. Go to a spa in Germany or the Netherlands and there will be usually about 60% women (as women will go more as groups of friends, men usually as half of a couple), and there will be no behaviour that would make anyone uncomfortable (the only objections will be talking in a sauna).

Go to almost any event in the UK and unless it is couples only, it will be dominated by men. Whilst I don't doubt the intentions of the organisers, my opinion is that it should be either adults only, or only adults with children.

Deliriumoftheendless · 26/09/2020 10:35

@SterFran00

Hey everyone, just wanted to say I’m going to leave it there on this discussion now. It’s getting a bit circular and repetitive.

My responses throughout this thread have given a lot of overview into naturism and our experience of it if anyone wants to read back through, which is why I jumped into it.

If you want to know more, head to British Naturism’s website and download the guide to naturism. It gives lots more info about lots of questions and themes on this thread...

Sure I’ll read it if it addresses my NSPCC advice question as you certainly haven’t (even though I assume you discuss stuff like that with your kids).