Naturism

Naturism, or Nudism, is the lifestyle of social activity without clothing. In its modern sense, it developed in Germany about 100 years ago, and was closely linked to commune with nature, exercise, and the benefits of exposure to sunlight. Exposure to sunlight helps in the body's production of Vitamin D, although we know now, as early exponents of naturism maybe didn't, that too much exposure can damage and age the skin and lead to melanomas.

In Europe, the practice is often referred to as FKK, an acronym for 'Frei Korper Kultur' (or 'Free Body Culture') and even in non-German speaking countries, you will find signs referring to the 'FFK Plage' or 'FKK Playa' or 'FKK Beach'.

There are numerous naturist locations in SL. Some embrace a more realistic approach to the lifestyle, while others mistakenly or deliberately exist merely as sex beaches. As someone who has been to a nudist beach in RL, I find the confusion or misunderstanding about what they actually entail extremely frustrating in their SL guise. Naturism is about being nude, enjoying the sun, the thrill of swimming without a costume and simply being social, having picnics on the beach and so on. There is nothing 'sexual' about it. I'm not saying that 'sex' doesn't exist, but I imagine that 'sex' is no more on the agenda for nudists than it is for clothed people (or 'textiles' as nudists refer to swimsuit wearing people).

Again, the sexuality often comes from the guy or girl wearing skimpy figure-hugging costumes, and displays of what's underneath (and sometimes barely underneath, given the size of some tangas and thongs) being implied. That is sexual display. Divested of the costumes, the real us is revealed and laid bare, literally, for all to see, and on a RL naturist beach it is alarming how quickly one ceases to see people as being 'naked'. Seen one hundred naked bodies, seen 'em all!

I've asked, while hanging out at naturist sims, if people are RL naturists. Some are, most aren't. I find this interesting, and have pointed out that in SL, as in RL, you eventually begin to become blind to the nudity. You're talking to a person laid bare, not trying to undress them with your eyes. And while people using the naturist sims in SL are contentedly naked in public, it appears that there's still no paradigm shift in their thinking. Most (at least of those I've spoken to) still cling to the notion that they could never, ever, ever in a million years be naked in public in front of others. What's the problem, people? Feel free to use the comments box to give your interpretations as to why SL's naturist beaches are so popular with people still apparently having body issues in RL.

Later today I'm going to explore a couple of SL's naturist sims, take some photographs and report back to you. I shall also be attempting, a couple of days into this blog, to create SLURLs in order for you to TP directly from this blog to the SL locations referred to, so it's possible there'll be fewer blogs this evening as I master this technique, lol.