Nude & Natural Magazine Naturism is the Way. |
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Nude & Natural Magazine Naturism is the Way. |
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What is NIFOC?
NIFOC is a new column to the pages of N. In it we plan to explore Internet trends and developments that affect naturism. NIFOC will present tidbits, reviews, and in-depth discussions in this ever changing electronic world around us. Feel free to "point and click" as you scan down the pages. -- Dennis Kirkpatrick
CHILD SAFETY on the Internet is the hot topic in the mainstream and naturist media these days. Naturists already have learned some of the problems the new Children's Internet Protection Act will create for Website developers who communicate with the public about our issue (see related Naturist Action Committee article in this N). But with government at every level attacking the free nature of the Internet, naturists may find themselves at risk in an increasing number of ways.
The fact that lawmakers and law enforcement agencies want to protect young users of the Web from predators and harmful material is laudable; naturists should support the idea. That doesn't mean naturists should support the methods by which such efforts are being carried out -- particularly if naturists are targeted as threats to children simply because of our participation in nude recreation.
Consider law enforcement's newest tool in the online safety wars: "cyber cops," undercover officers who hunt for would-be child predators and porn mongers on Web sites, Internet message boards, and live chat rooms. Some fear that these cyber cops may trip up innocent naturists who respond to their e-mail traps.
When the Internet was new, a naturist individual or club operator might have been very willing to respond to almost any question by e-mail. Indeed, easy access to all sorts of naturist information on the Internet has been responsible for substantial growth in the naturist lifestyle.
These days, though, there may be a risk in responding to certain e-mail information requests. How does a naturist individual or club leader really know, for example, if an inquiring e-mail comes from an adult or a minor? And what danger is there under the law in discussing naturism with a minor over the Internet?
As a naturist club operator, I occasionally receive e-mail asking about naturism in which the writer goes out of his or her way to tell me he or she a youngster. My gut reaction usually is to want to respond, "Good afternoon, officer," whenever I receive such an inquiry. Sometimes these e-mails include a request that the child (usually a teenager) be allowed to visit a club, or be accompanied by a naturist to a local naturist club or nude beach. Of course, this is all without the parents' knowledge or consent (as the writer usually is careful to point out).
It strikes me that when I was an adolescent sneaking out behind the garage with my buddies to look at Playboy, secrecy was of paramount importance. If we did try to subscribe somehow, we never, ever, stated we were kids! I can't help but think that these inquiries I'm receiving are not coming from a sincere kid, but more likely from some cyber cop looking for a bust.
Should law enforcement know better than to equate naturism with deviant or predatory behavior? Certainly. But the fact remains that police are not always educated enough about naturism to make the distinction. Plus, it's inevitable that their own personal or religious biases will color their judgment in anything they do.
Should naturists care? Certainly. Many naturists are willing to share information about the benefits of their lifestyle with just about anyone who asks. If there is nothing to be ashamed of, why shouldn't we talk about it? On the other hand, the potential is there for some unsuspecting naturist to be caught up in a web of controversy.
The solution is caution and common sense. If you receive an e-mail message from someone who claims to be a young person asking for information about naturism, ask yourself, "Does this sound like a normal kid? Why is this person going out of his/her way to make me fully aware that he/she is a minor?"
The best response is not to take chances and assume that such requests are bogus. Rather, recommend that since naturism is for the whole family, minors should discuss their interest with their parents, who can then do the appropriate research and determine when, how and whether to participate as a family in naturist activities. It's also worth mentioning that most naturist clubs and organizations will only admit visitors under age 18 when accompanied by a parent (or perhaps a grandparent or other adult family member).
Another caveat: Never send nude images in response to such inquiries, no matter how many times you are asked to do so. While simple nudity in the photographic medium is legal, you risk violating local law associated with the corruption of a minor or worse, depending on the jurisdiction.
If you do recommend that the writer visit naturist Web pages (as you probably do routinely for your home club or one of the national organizations), you may want to suggest that minors view such pages with their parents' knowledge and guidance. Some naturist sites will be blocked by parental control filters anyway; nevertheless, you don't want to be seen as trying to circumvent parental wishes by promoting naturism to their kids.
There's no doubt that the Internet has been beneficial to naturists in helping to spread the word about our favorite lifestyle. But as with any public forum, particularly one that can directly and practically anonymously connect millions of strangers in an instant, naturists need to be aware of who might be out there and what their ulterior motives might be.
The idea of law enforcement secretly patrolling the Internet brings out mixed emotions in this author; but until parents take the time to understand the Internet and take responsibility for the way children use it, there may few alternatives. It would be better if law enforcement made an effort to understand naturism and to avoid bothering decent naturists in the online medium, but the fact remains that many do not understand us, and many more simply do not want to try.
The Naturist Society launches all-new Web site
IN MARCH, The Naturist Society went through a death and rebirth on the Internet with a total rewrite of its Web pages.
The sections devoted to the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) and Naturist Education Foundation (NEF) were completely revised in 2000.
The combined series of pages is now a very well-focused interactive Web site that naturists should bookmark as one of their main online resources.
The TNS pages now can be searched through a built in search engine that allows you to access affiliated clubs by type, state, or name, so even if you only have some information, the search engine will offer many results to choose from.
Similarly, NAC's site offers access to the most recent alerts and advisories that may impact the naturist lifestyle and even has a section dedicated to laws on nudity in all 50 states.
You can access all of this at one convenient and easy-to-remember URL address of http://www.naturistsociety.com; don't forget to add it to your list of bookmarks.
For additional resources see the "Internet in the Nude" page of the Naturist Network at the back of this N. This section provides some interesting stepping off points to choose from when searching for naturist news and information on the Internet. It is by no means a complete list, but we think it's a good place to start.
Dennis and NIFOC can be reached at sunclad@sunclad.com.
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