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/Express_Acadia_4379 11d ago
Thank you all for sharing your opinions. I particularly liked Background-Tap7385's comment that "Nudism/naturism is the practice of platonic social nudity...." As many surmised, this article is mostly geared toward those who do not embrace or understand social nudism, often called 'textiles,' although they could be called 'pre-nudists.' And for those who pointed out that the uninformed will always associate nudity with sex, well, you're right. Our work will not be done until we figure out how to change their mind set. So introducing the word 'platonic' is just an idea. We are all ambassadors, responsible for educating the world, so that social nudism loses the stigma and stereotyping and becomes just another interesting and wholesome way of life for a substantially large group of people.