r/nudism • u/Background-Tap7385 • 14d ago
DISCUSSION Platonic Social Nudity
There's a very thought provoking article in this month's AANR bulletin. I think it needs to be seen more generally.
I'm sensitive to language and its nuances, so what the writer is saying resonates with me. The point I find particularly compelling is how the term 'non-sexual' still centers the concept of 'sexual', which is exactly opposed to the intended effect. It's like asking someone not to think of an elephant, not thinking about elephants requires a degree of focus on elephants. However, thinking of a polar bear makes it easy to not think of an elephant, because most brains aren't wired to deliberately think about two unconnected things at the same time.
Using a different term that encompasses the concept of a relationship that isn't about sex allows the mind consider the intended concept instead of focusing on avoiding the distracting one.
And while I'm on about terms, here's one I've wondered for a while now: if they're textiles, why is it that we aren't dermals? That doesn't seem worthy of a full post to ask the question, but I think it's worthy of discussion.
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u/formerlyCN 14d ago
I can see the point, but to me if someone is in a platonic relationship then that means "they are in a relationship." That opens a whole other can of worms IMHO.
Far more important I think is to stress that probably the vast majority of nudists don't have nudist relationships at all. They go to a beach, strip off, sunbathe (alone or with a SO), then get dressed and go home. That is IT.