FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

[Danee]

Honestly, all people talk about is "going green" and "being natural" yet they refuse to go to the most natural state in the world, the naked human body. They say it is immodest, improper, explicit. Honestly, it's as natural as it gets, no amount of "green" or "natural" or "organic" products can take you to what's truly natural in life.
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It's all about respect. Respecting yourself (!!) and others. It's about harmony. About receiving and giving. It might sound so cliché but when I listen to the stories of the people online everything is so good and so real. It literally feels like sunlight on your skin. When you feel the Vitamin D being injected in your system. It's a great feeling, that's why I love naturism. And I love sharing it with people. And that's why I, and others,  built this place".

-Martijn, (MERRD on the forum) after returning after a few months absence

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur
So what is this forum all about?

This forum was set up by youth, for youth and please see the RULES section for our definition of that. We want a safe, secure and fun place for everyone to discuss things close to their heart. Specifically, but by no means limited to Naturism. As the more eagle-eyed of you will have seen, we have many sections on here, including sports, music and of course off topic. Go explore, and enjoy!

Do I HAVE to fill out my profile?

The simple answer is, yes. For issues of security we require that everyone fills in their profile, it's also nice to know a little bit about everyone so we're all familiar here. If you haven't already, head over to the Introductions board and post and introduction about yourself to the forum, as we also have a mandatory introduction thread policy.

Are there galleries?

Yes, there are, but until you've posted a significant amount they won't open up to you. This is obviously for security, so if you've just come here for nude photos, you're in the wrong place.

Why can I not reply to a private message?

For security reasons, given our age groups here, we want a chance to get to know you first. We want to be sure you are here for the right reasons.  Therefore, if you are here only to chat or do the private message thing, best to move on as its not for you here.  We want active members and it takes a little time. However, if you are from another forum or organization and known to a staff member, we can change this immediately. Contact us.

Are there private areas, I cannot see?

Yes, there are.  One is the Girls Only section and the other is the Teens Area.  They are off limits until trust is built and verified with a moderator.  Again, for security reasons.

I had gallery access, and now, I do not. Why is that?

Our community has standards and security settings in place.  It is an interactive community of ideas and thoughts.  We want and need someone to contribute.  If you had access to the galleries -- of which there are several -- and no longer have them, it is an automatic response from our system that simply says, 'they are online but never post but do go to the galleries so they are here for one reason only"  And then, the system takes that access away for a period of time. 

Logic!






What exactly IS FKK?

FKK FREE BODY CULTURE
Mission Statement of FKK Free Body Culture:
To internationally end the public nudity taboo and the promotion of
nudism in sports, recreation, home life and leisure.           
To create an international clothing optional dress code.
To promote mental and physical health, fitness, and the wearing of
comfortable clothing

FKK = Freikorperkultur = Free Body Culture
FKK is a century old European social, cultural, political movement
only surpressed during periods of German militarism during World
War I and the National Socialist (Nazi) periods.   
FKK is a mainstream movement in Scandinavia, Germany, France, the
Netherlands, Spain and other sections of Europe.
In the United States, nudism has a long history and in today's
America, nude recreation has more participants than golf, though less thought
is generally given to the root of it, when compared to the European Naturist organisations who
do generally speaking, remember those roots.

The FKK Free Body Culture is an activist political action
association. 

For those that wish to learn more about FKK, we suggest strongly taking the time to read on it. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturism and,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FKK


French Naturist Club



Is there a place to chat?

Whilst we do encourage members to be active posters in the forum, we understand that a chat function is fun at times. Currently we recommend that you pm a person you would like to chat with requesting permission to add them. If they agree then go ahead, add them and ask them a good time to chat. If they decline, please respect their decision. Please don't randomly add members as it is impolite and can make them less likely to enjoy their time here. Remember to be polite, courteous and respect their privacy and feelings. If you are offended by anyone in chat, let them know. If they persist, please let the administrators or moderators know. We are here to help.










Naturism FAQ -- General, often asked questions regarding the lifestyle

What is the naturist etiquette I should know when I go to a nude beach or resort?

It's the same as if you were at any public beach or resort. The only difference is that most people including yourself may be nude.
-Well there are the obvious things such as don't stare at, stalk or follow people. Don't crowd peoples personal space. Don't take photographs of people without their consent, even if they are just in the background of your shot. Don't harass or continually try to engage in conversations or activities with people who are clearly not interested. Do not make any sexual gestures or comments.
-Always have a towel or cloth you can sit on.
-Keep your litter and only dispose of it in bins. If there are no bins available, take your rubbish with you and put it in the bin when you get home.

Introducing a friend to Naturism. How to go about it.  (this is from Dan, one of our residents here)

Many nudists need to be reminded that most non-nudists aren't against nudity, they just never stopped to think about it and just go with the flow and the "default" answer. This is why you should never go all out "defending" nudism against imaginary attacks because that sounds suspicious.

What you need to do is plant a seed, not change your friend's beliefs on the spot. Don't be too aggressive, let your friend think it through on his or her own. People are much more receptive to their own ideas than having ideas pushed on them.

If you have to debate about the merits of nudism, pay attention to the "preaching to the choir feel good arguments" that aren't in the least convincing. Things like "It's natural!" or "It will cut your laundry" and do not ever, ever offer the "it's not sexual!" argument if no opposing claim was made.

The best argument for nudism is that there's no good reason not to try it. You should invite the other party to join and work only on the objections that are actually made. Don't try to figure out what the other person will object to, you'll guess wrong.

And the most effective debate method of all is called the Socratic Method. It consists of only asking question. For instance if the other person makes the cliché (but unlikely) claim that nudity is lewd, don't offer a counter, simply ask why he or she believes that. When you get answer, keep prodding. Any claim that's not consistent or is ill-thought can be utterly destroyed by this method.

But remember not to debate unless you have to.

Just offer "Come try it, it's fun!"

Do I have to be nude when I go to a public nude place?

Generally people don't mind if you are shy at first and allow you to be clothed for a time before you decide if you are comfortable joining in. However if you leave it too long, some may think you are there for the wrong reasons and get suspicious of you. If you are in a group and some decide to go nude and some don't , then that's usually o.k. too.




What should I do if I have a question that isn't answered here?

We have a great multi-cultural team of moderators and administrators who between them have a huge knowledge base. If you have a question that isn't answered here, just drop them a PM in the appropriate language and you'll get a speedy reply!




Making friends in naturism



Some individuals have more trouble than others getting people to accept them. While that is true in our society as a whole, it can become even more pronounced in a naturist environment. This is likely because traditional barriers are dropped and the individual is foremost. Additionally, people who are new to naturism can feel self-conscious and clumsy as they battle emotions of awkwardness for breaching traditional societal taboos.


For single men in particular, intentions can easily be misinterpreted. It is normal for a single man to want to find a partner. But it is a fine line between showing interest and being creepy. Not all single women come to a Naturist/Nudist club looking to meet someone. Women appreciate naturism because it allows them to escape society’s pressure to reach an impossible ideal of physical beauty. In naturism, they feel accepted for who they are. But too much attention from a single man, as friendly as it might be, can remind them of mainstream society’s oppressive focus on their body. It can feel like harassment.


In general, making friends in naturism is not that different from the rest of the world. Introducing yourself, being friendly without being overbearing, finding people with common interests, participating in activities, listening to people, and being trustworthy & reliable are always good ways to make friends anywhere.


Naturism is founded on respect for self and others. Being respectful (not just acting respectful) is the fundamental basis of good interpersonal relationships. So here are a few pointers to help people make friends.


Look but don’t stare

It is okay and normal to look. Out of curiosity you may initially look longer at others' genitals and breasts when you are new to naturism. Just don't stare. In time, you'll be less curious about these areas and concentrate again on the face and eyes.


Look at people in the eyes

Yes, bodies are interesting to look at. And there’s nothing wrong with looking briefly. But when speaking to someone, it is important to look at them in the eyes. People can tell when you don’t. When you are indoors, take off your sunglasses. Keeping them on suggests that you are hiding behind them.


Be aware of your intent

It is hard to hide your intentions. People can sense them in a variety of ways. It is in your eyes, your body language, your tone, your facial expressions, and some research even suggests that you communicate with scent. So if you are feeling particularly lustful, it is probably best not to initiate any conversations until your feelings have settled down.


Don’t be too attentive

It’s good to be friendly but too much attention can be irritating or, worse, intimidating. Well-intentioned encouragement towards a new member or visitor can actually make them uncomfortable. A solitary member or visitor may be looking for seclusion. Please be mindful of this possibility when approaching them.


Speak respectfully

Avoid using pet names like ‘honey’, ‘sweetie’ or ‘dear’. You may just be trying to be friendly. But if the other person doesn’t know you well, it might be interpreted as patronizing. Similarly, using a ‘cute’ voice or tone can seem condescending.


Respect people’s space

The amount of space that makes a person feel comfortable depends on cultural background, gender and how well they know the other individual. If you don’t know the person, give them more space. Watch for their body language and reaction. If they move back, give them more space.


Be careful commenting on people’s appearance

While some compliments are appreciated, they can also be seen as harassment. When you compliment somebody on their body, you are really pointing out that you are taking particular notice of their body. You might then be seen as judging people’s bodies and that is totally inconsistent with naturist principles. Be particularly careful if you don’t know the person very well because there’s a fine line between compliments and sexual harassment.


Avoid physical contact

Hugging and kissing are very cultural. They can make people feel very uncomfortable. If the person is not sure of your motives, they might interpret your actions as a way to get a “cheap thrill”. That could lead to a sexual harassment complaint. So unless you know the person very well, don’t do it! If you know them well and you are not sure, ask first.


Don’t make sexual comment or sexual jokes

Just because everyone is nude in naturism doesn’t mean they want to hear about your sex life. Remember that naturism is always fighting to prove that nudity is not directly connected to sexuality. So when you talk a lot about sex, people might think you don’t get it. If you make many comments/jokes about sexuality or like to boast about your sexual exploits, people might think you are obsessed or, worse, deviant.


Watch your personal hygiene

Being free of clothes and accepting of our bodies doesn’t mean we give up caring for ourselves. Body odors or dirty hair can cause people to react repulsively. Wearing clothing can actually make that worse. When you sweat while wearing clothes, it doesn’t evaporate naturally. The moist environment under your clothing causes bacteria to grow, which can lead to body odors.


Don’t Gossip

The telling of information about another person that hurts their reputation will only lead others to wonder what you say about them behind their back. Be careful that you do not spread rumours as if they are facts. Make sure you don’t change conjecture into reality. If your tales turn out to be false, it will hurt your reputation.