-
Modest Nudist,
I have a quick question for you. As I told you in my earlier comment on your blog, I've been writing on another nudist forum about the problem of photography on nude beaches, and very unfortunately, no where is that problem more evident than at Gunnison. That being the case, and considering the fact that you and your wife apparently do NOT want people to know that you that you are interested in this lifestyle, does this issue not concern you? How do you deal with it?
First of all, I know that I certainly don't have the body that anyone is looking to photograph. I'm sure that it is a little different for my wife, but I've never noticed anyone with cameras out at Gunnison.
If someone was there from the media, I would certainly avoid being a part of that at all costs, which is why I am glad I never went to the World Record Skinny-Dip (although that would have been awesome to be a part of). However, 99% of the time, it is for some "nudist" website. If someone really captured a snapshot of us and someone we knew viewed it, it would obviously be someone that could not condemn our lifestyle.
Here's the big issue with me. My secrecy stems from the fact that I don't see my lifestyle being accepted by others. If I could tell everyone that I am a nudist, that I hang out naked at home, and that I go to nude beaches, I would love to. However, I don't see them accepting it. If they choose to look at nudist websites or even the porn sites that label themselves as nudists, then they have nothing by which to "condemn" me. Even if they wanted to, my first response would be to ask why they were looking at such a site to begin with.
Now, I certainly don't go around looking for someone to take my picture. I'd rather that no one took my picture to begin with, and I haven't seen any picture-takers at Gunnison to watch out for. However, if, by the rare chance, someone does snap a pic, I know how I'd respond.
Modest Nudist,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks for the kind words about my question, and I certainly have no problem with you making it its own entry. Quite frankly, I think this discussion SHOULD be its own entry, as it's one of the most critical (and I think threatening) issues facing the nudist movement today.
I'd like to make a few points, if I may, and I hope that they don't discourage you from continuing to go to Gunnison, but I need to tell it like it is. First of all, NO legitimate nudist site is going to post pictures of people on nude beaches without their permission -- that's not what they're about. If someone's taking pictures there for the purpose of putting them online (especially the up-close and high-definition pictures I'm talking about), I can assure you that the site it's going to is a porn site. Second, I can also assure you that there ARE people with cameras at Gunnison -- very recently, I even witnessed an altercation over it (yes, I do go there myself, and have for a few years now). Furthermore, contributing them to an online porn site is exactly why they're there. There's one website in particular (and I'm certainly not going to give them any free advertising here) that specializes in this kind of thing, and Gunnison is its favorite target. How do I know? That leads me to my third and last point. You say that you would respond to anyone bringing it up by asking them why they were on such a site to begin with. There's one huge problem with that:
THE INTERNET IS BY ITS VERY NATURE VIRAL!!!
That is, person A sees it, downloads the image, e-mails it to person B, who e-mails it to person C, who e-mails it to someone you really do NOT want finding out about this. In which case, the person you're dealing with may know about the picture without ever having even previously heard of the website, never mind visiting it. In which case unfortunately that argument falls apart pretty quickly. And that's why I think this is so serious.
Thanks for the warning, KM. They must usually come on the weekends, because I haven't ever seen any yet. I haven't even seen anything at all suspicious on our few trips there, but I'll definitely have to keep my eye out.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't have a body that would sell pictures. My lovely wife, though beautiful to me, probably wouldn't be in those pics either. Maybe I'm wrong, and I will certainly be more cautious.
Here's the thing with the people I know professionally and personally - none of them would be forwarding pictures of me to someone else. Yes, you could argue that I may not know my friends as well as I think I do, but I know that even if one friend forwarded it, the second would more so question the friendship of the first person than they would my nakedness.
I don't mean to trivialize the situation, because it seems to be a big issue. I'm fairly certain, though, that I could remain discreet about nudism until the time that I choose to be public about it.
Okay, I'm glad you're as relaxed about it as you are! But you're also right that it can't be trivialized. I think this is an especially serious issue for younger people, which you seem to be as well. Young people are the ones who are a), the biggest targets, and b), the ones with the most to lose by getting caught by the wrong person. I don't really think too many young people are willing to potentially put their careers on the line to go to a nude beach! And, of course, not many things can survive without the continued infusion of young people. So that's why I think this is such a major issue in terms of the future of these beaches.
ReplyDeleteSo I happened upon one of these sites today. It took some searching, but it certainly wasn't hard. It's really freaky to know that cameras are watching you.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, for one of those people to view such a site to know who I am, the odds are probably small. The odds are much smaller that they would forward a picture of us to someone else without first being convicted of what they've done.
I will have to be more careful in the future.
Does the website happen to begin with a "C"? If so, you've found the worst. Yes, it most certainly is freaky. Also, what do you mean by "first being convinced of what they've done?"
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, yes, you should be careful in the future. At least until the laws are changed/clarified.
I mean that the person viewing the picture will realize that the fact they are looking at a picture on a fake "nudist" website, such as "C", is wrong, and much worse than someone simply enjoying a day at a nude beach. Any friend of mine would realize that right away.
ReplyDelete