Damn pervert customers.

[WhiteSeaStar]

Pedophiles have always been around, in every society. There have always been nude beaches, too. I don't see what the problem is as long as parents are supervising (which should happen at any beach, swimsuit-optional or otherwise, really).

[Mark Healey]

I've known some nudist families and both the parents and the kids seemed particularly well adjusted. Not sure I'd advise it for everyone, but overall, nudist areas are considerably less geared towards sex than regular beaches.

That's one of the reasons I don't go to them. They de-eroticize nudity. Think about it. Would pizza, doughnuts and ice cream be so enticing if you could eat them three times a day.

Of course there is the fact that I'm not in good enough shape to even take my shirt off in public.

[chainedbarista]

nude beaches are fairly common in europe; they don't have the 'taboos' that we do here, since they're more open about sexuality, rather than seeing it as dirty or offensive.

i'd expect that families do visit there, just like they would any other beach. can anyone from europe verify/shoot this down for me?

[stormtreader]

nude beaches are fairly common in europe; they don't have the 'taboos' that we do here, since they're more open about sexuality, rather than seeing it as dirty or offensive.

I think this might be Europe as in Sweden/Spain areas.
As we all know, the Queen would keel over at the first suggestion of such things in the UK.
Of course, we have our weather as an anti-nudity front line of defense Not so much sun-drenched as just drenched.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Yes, they exist, although mostly outside the US. As far as I know, in many European countries beaches in general are completely clothing-optional. Views about sex and nudity are far less conservative there.

Actually I could list several beaches, resorts and campgrounds in the US that are nudist friendly. Although the idea of a nudist campground scares me...there are just some places where you don't want to spray Deet on.

[Barefootgirl]

Genuine paedophiles can get their kicks from looking at kids' clothing catalogues. Even if you pulled all the art books featuring children off the shelves, the pervs would STILL be enjoying themselves.

I don't think paedophiles would actually find naturist beaches, even family ones, very attractive places. Being visibly aroused is regarded as rather tasteless in naturist circles, even more so in places where there are children. Naturists KNOW that ebveryone thinks they are weird, so they are really on the alert for shady people. If there was some naked guy on the beach, eying up kids and getting visibly aroused, you can bet sure as anything that he would be ejected from the beach.

Also, many paedophiles tend to go for children who are not likely to report the things they do to adults, often because the adults in their life have shown that they don't want to hear about "dirty" things. Naturist chidren are usually very open about their bodies, because they've been brought up not to regard them as shameful, so those kids are MUCH more likely to tell their parents if someone tried to touch them there, etc. I'm certainly not saying that naturism is a talisman against paedophilia, BTW.

[LostMyMind]

there are just some places where you don't want to spray Deet on.

Really, I wouldn't know. Must be an experience thing

There are quite a bit of nude beaches in Florida, Miami got a few "topless" there are several nude resorts in pinellas county.

Public nudity is a lifestyle choice and I won't prevent them from their choices just because I'm a prune

[Tria]

Public nudity is a lifestyle choice and I won't prevent them from their choices just because I'm a prune

While true, there is such a thing as "visual pollution"....

[Customer Beating Robot]

I don't understand. There are books with pictures of naked children in them? How is that any different from child pornography? (And don't tell me it is art. How do you define art? Is the rape of a child "art" if someone says it is?)

Anyway, I am okay with nude beaches for grownups. Nude beaches for children is sick. Again, it is okay for a child to see genitals at a beach but not the grocery store? What is the difference and will the child understand the difference? You are dealing with children here. Great, so they learn nudity is okay, so when the uncle comes over for a visit, it is no big deal that the uncle walks around naked and even sleeps in the same bed as the child. Naked. Correct?

[COMINATCHA]

I don't understand. There are books with pictures of naked children in them? How is that any different from child pornography? (And don't tell me it is art. How do you define art? Is the rape of a child "art" if someone says it is?)

Anyway, I am okay with nude beaches for grownups. Nude beaches for children is sick. Again, it is okay for a child to see genitals at a beach but not the grocery store? What is the difference and will the child understand the difference? You are dealing with children here. Great, so they learn nudity is okay, so when the uncle comes over for a visit, it is no big deal that the uncle walks around naked and even sleeps in the same bed as the child. Naked. Correct?

That's just how I feel too, I'm on the same wavelength, but you said it really well. Why is a beach different to anywhere else?

[COMINATCHA]

If there was some naked guy on the beach, eying up kids and getting visibly aroused, you can bet sure as anything that he would be ejected from the beach.

Would a pedophile really be that obvious though? They could be hiding and watching the naked kids running around, waiting for that split second when the parents aren't watching the child.

[LostMyMind]

Why is a beach different to anywhere else?

Well, the nudist resort is not just the beach. It includes everything. The gym, restaurant, golf course, everything behind their wall. It's a lifestyle, some people don't see the body as sexual all the time or something to hide.

How do you know that doctor isn't a closet pedophile when you take your child to him or her. You can't control other people thoughts. You can only prevent their actions/access by watching out for them. I'm sure the nudist resort have people looking out for perverts.

Personally, I would never knowingly go to a nudist place. It's not my cup of tea. At the same token, I don't go to strippers joints.

[LostMyMind]

I don't understand. There are books with pictures of naked children in them? How is that any different from child pornography?

For United States, child pornography is a minor photographed in a sexual act.

Every parent has a picture of a naked child. Think about that for a sec or two.

[MadMike]

For United States, child pornography is a minor photographed in a sexual act.

Correct, and there doesn't even have to be any nudity involved. There was a news story awhile back about a guy who got arrested for having a picture of a fully-clothed minor in what they considered a sexually explicit position.

[Customer Beating Robot]

So a naked child eating a bananna or licking a lollipop is okay? (Nothing sexual about eating.)