It’s a Tuesday morning, the infinite blue sky of Byron Bay has opened up and the six naturists – four men, two women – have stripped down to their birthday suits for a quick dip in the buff.
This section of beach – an 800-metre stretch along the vast coastline – forms the only legal clothing-optional beach in the shire. Among those taking advantage of the opportunity to be out in the open is Duncan James, vice-president of Northern Rivers Naturists, who is something of an evangelist for “embracing the beach as Mother Nature intended.”
“Many of the beach users have described the clothing-optional beach as their happy place, a place where they can disconnect from modern day stresses, a place they can feel at one with nature,” he says.
There is, however, a metaphorical cloud on the horizon. On Sunday, Tyagarah is set to be stripped of its status as an official clothing-optional beach.
“I guess these values aren’t shared by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS], who are hell-bent on closing one of Byron’s last alternative community hubs and experiences,” James says.
This just reads so… Strange. Nobody is advocating telling young kids about sex.
There is nothing inherently sexual about a naked human body. It’s only weird if you’re making it weird and, well, you are.
Even if they were, I don’t think I would take issue with it. Sex is a natural part of life and society. I think prudish/taboo attitudes towards sex create more problems than they solve.
Fully agree though as a broad rule but there’s an age of innocence that needs respecting IMO. I got told by an older boy I knew when I was just 8 and honestly that was not great. My own barometer is that if you still believe in Santa we’ll have the talk later.
Funny story - Our eldest had some broad strokes when we sat him down but thought from the playground stories that you used a condom if you wanted to get pregnant. I was very glad to clear that little misconception up.
Nobody may be advocating for it, but it happens due to lazy parenting. I heard one 10 year old on the bus a few months ago tell another about his age “Suck my dick!”.
When I was his age I’d never heard such phrases. I wouldn’t even know TO say that. They hear it from whatever media, whether its tv, or youtube, or movies. Nobody is saying anyone is doing this in person, but lazy parenting leads to it happening.
I’m honestly not sure if you’re trolling or not at this point. We’re discussing nude beaches here. Lazy parenting and kids using bad language is nothing to do with nude beaches.
Like… Nothing at all.
Because a nude beach is supposed to be sexual. And a kid is the wrong element for that. They’re supposed to not even know about nudity or sex at that age.
Right. Now we’re getting to the crux of it and I understand where your thinking is coming from but…
This is absolutely incorrect. Like totally wrong. There is nothing sexual about a nude beach.
EVERYTHING nude is sexual…but especially beaches. I mean, only two types of people go to beaches. People looking to fuck in the lake while people watch, and the other, seperate part of the beach where families take their kids in the summer to swim.
Now you’re removing the part where you have to sneak around at the beach, and make it nude to start with. How is that NOT sexual? Except …now theres kids. At the part of the beach where you fuck.
I’m gonna break something to you here that might blow your mind… Europeans (and the people in the article) do not go to a nude beach to fuck. They’re going there to feel more natural in nature.
Naked bodies are not sexual unless you sexualise them, which you are doing. The statue of David is a fine example here.
I honestly have never heard of a sexual nude beach in my life before. Maybe they exist where you live.
Edit:
If this is your world view I don’t think we’ll ever agree. That’s kinda messed up IMO.
That’s Europe though. They do a lot of things differently. Here in America, even the non-nude beaches are beaches for fucking in secret.
I’m starting to think that maybe you’re trolling again. You see I’ve spent lots of time in America, very fond of the place, and a lot of it on the beach.
I spent 4 straight months in San Diego and lived near the beach while I was there. I know that the beach is not a place for fucking in secret. Sure maybe it happens as little or as often as it does in the rest of the world but that doesn’t make it the default function.
Anyway I’m trying to get back to sleep having woken in the middle of the night so I’m out. o/
I would gently suggest trying not to view naked as being sexual for a bit. It’ll probably ease some worry in your mind that you don’t need to have.