There's Something To Be Said For Mystery...

i am going to a textile beach today. i will go a mile or so past where all the lifeguards are. when i am in no sight of anyone i will enjoy the beach nude. it isnt about being seen or mystery. being a nudist is about feeling free in the water and sand (for me at the beach at least) there are others that do the same thing so its like a small community (small in the number of people at least) i actually would rather see nobody. but if i happen to see a fellow nudist they usually have some great stories of their adventures with the local authorities that occasionally sweep the beach.

 

I hate the word "textile". It smacks of them and us, "nudist" v "textile". After all I'm guessing 99.9% of the world's beaches are probably "textile". The word is only used in this way by nudists, so to me sounds cliquey.

However I understand why it is used, and have probably done so myself, as we know what we mean. Can anyone think of a better term for "non-nudist", ie the majority of the population? (In my utopian dream world all beaches would be "clothing optional", there again that's another phrase I hate!).

 

are you looking for a name for nudists to call it or everyone? because for 99.9% it is just the beach, but my story could have lost its meaning if i just said the beach.

 

textile just sounds dumb

 

I suppose in the world you envision, there wouldn't be a word for either and nudity would be a non-issue. We don't have a word for people belonging to the group of tattooed people or one belonging to the group of non-tattooed people, for example. It's seen as a matter of preference and really not controversial. We could come up with awkward euphemisms like "persons of modesty" and "persons of innocence," but that still has the dichotomy you don't like.

There are really three different environments: those that don't allow nudity, those who mandate it, and the middle ground that's often called "clothing optional." Formal or Informal would be the closest I could come.

 

That's right, Mike. I suppose I was just thinking aloud really, as the expression "textile" always jars. And point taken, penguinsfan, no slight against yourself intended. At least we all know what we mean.