Inspired by certain responses in threads like this: see you naked, I feel moved to ask: How many dopers are comfortable with casual nudity with others in certain circumstances?
I’m talking about non-sexual nudity (and yes there is such a thing) whether it’s with friends while hottubbing or visiting their home, with perfect strangers at a nude resort or beach, or on a massage table.
And I’ll start with the fact the the Mrs. and I are fine with it, with certain friends in the hot tub and at certain resorts where clothes are the exception rather than the rule. We’ve not headed off to family nudist camp vacations with kids in tow, but in warmer climates we see no need to be clothed if the kids aren’t around, the local mores don’t require it, and if others are not bothering to cover up.
So, SDMB’ers, do you ever let it all hang out where others who are not your lover can see? :eek:
I haven’t really been in a situation where it has come up, but I have no problem with it. My sister and I walk around the apartment naked all the time and we go to RenFaire where that sort of thing wouldn’t be very remarkable (I haven’t seen it, but I wouldn’t be surprised)
My best friend and most of my other friends are dudes. I have no problem taking off my shirt and being with them in my bra. I probably would not be comfortable with them viewing my uh…snatch…but if I had the occasion I would be fine with being naked in a hot tub with them.
I’ve also been to a nude swim with a nudist group and it was ok, but the nudists themselves were kind of skeevy (not what I’d expected, really).
It was very common back home in Korea, where the public bath culture is a part of life. So I’ve grown used to it. I think my American friends tend to be less comfortable with it, though.
Oh, right. I don’t really need to post here, do I?
Yep, crazy “nudist” hippie chick. Not only seen but hugged most of my friends naked and prob’ly cooked for them naked over a campfire as well (let’s not speak of the bacon incident, mmm’kay?) Although, in all honesty, about 50 pounds and 5 years ago was when I started wearing clothes even during most clothing optional opportunities, although I’ll still wear filmy translucent stuff sometimes. I’ve gotten too self-conscious to want to go naked, or even topless, although I did do a huge group body-painting thing in '06. I can admire the beauty of other obese women, but I haven’t yet accepted it in myself.
I live with three roommates, and every once in a while (mainly during the summer), it’ll end up being naked night at the apartment. Our girl friends tend to be less interested in ‘letting it all hang out,’ but we enjoy our freedom now and again.
We’ll also all (girl friends and other friends as well) go skinny dipping during the summer.
I’ve never been particularly self-conscious about my body, and in the warm weather clothes can just end up being uncomfortable. WhyNot, perhaps each of us needs to experience cooking bacon in the nude once before we learn to never never do it again.
I’ve been to lots of clothing optional events, most of a religious nature. (Skyclad)
It helps to develop a spirit of ‘perfect love and trust’. An irrealistic expectation, but a noble goal. And, like WhyNot admitted , some involved body painting.
ETA: You know you’re not homophobic when you can hug a same sex friend while you’re both naked and think nothing of it.
I been doing naked vacations every year since 2001. A couple of those years, friends (who were also my wife’s coworkers) have accompanied us. We were all comfortable with it.
These trips have been to resorts in Jamaica and the fact that it was a vacation resort does make it a little less public and a little less random.
We’ve gone about the same time most years and have had the good fortune of making friends with several other couples and seen them on several trips.
I’ll share some observations (for the 0.02 that they’re worth):
The average age tends around 35-50. Part of that is due to income level, but part of it is that older people tend to be less concerned with the opinions of others about their bodies.
Naked people are friendly people. There’s some self-selecting going on here because, generally, a person is going to be open-minded and accepting of others if they’re okay walking around naked. You tend to loose your judgemental attitude when you loose your clothes.
Naked women are beautiful. All shapes, colors, ages and sizes. Again, there’s some filtering going on here. There is something about the self-assuredness of a woman that will walk around outdoors, naked and un-self-concious that’s hard for me to find unattractive. I realize that I’m in the minority of the male poplulation with this opinion, but that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
Whynot, some of the coolest naked ladies I’ve met would make you look slender. One lady was in her 70s and she had survived the Battle of Britain as a child. It was a treat to sit with her and listen to her stories in the delightful British accent.
Being naked outdoors is fun. It makes me feel like a kid again to go skinny-dipping in the ocean.
Nope. The only time I’m naked in the presence of others is when I’m changing at the gym or around someone I’m being intimate with. I don’t even take off my shirt to swim.
Never - it has never come up with any of my friends/aquaintances and I’m very glad. I would be very uncomfortable to be naked or to see naked people (that I am not intimate with). I had no idea it was so common!
Same here. My friends worked at Shibuki Gardens, the hot tub place (She Blew Me Gardens, heh heh) in Isla Vista back in the day, plus we used to hang out at the local nude beach More Mesa. Sure was great having young good looking uninhibited female friends. Ah, the memories.
Nope. I have body issues. Even when I was thin. I would need to lose 10 lbs to be able to stand seeing MYSELF naked, let alone other people. It really sucks. Age certainly isn’t helping any.
, some involved body painting.