The fact that most nudists just dismiss this worry saying things like "take a cold shower until the feeling goes away." or whatever, is, in my opinion, one reason many men are afraid to try nudism. They KNOW instinctively this is unrealistic. Until we get better answers to this frequently asked question, I'm afraid we fail in this regard.

So, how about this for an answer when novice males bring up the question?
"Yes, you may get an erection at times and, yes, people may see it when it is not easy to cover up (say, when you are on a long walk down the beach, or playing volleyball in the gym). Mature adults know that, unless someone is playing with themselves (which is obviously NOT acceptable), this is normal and may happen from time to time. People will not stare or even mention it so don't worry about it and continue your activity as if nothing is wrong (unless it is easy to cover up). It will pass and people will think nothing less of you as a result."

On a less gruesome note if I see an erection on a man, I think there is nothing wrong with it. It shows he is probably healthy and (giggle), it is sort of attractive in a way. Anyways, if a man gets an erection in a walk down the beach, I suggest he just forget it and enjoy his walk. It will go away eventually and in the meantime, if anyone is offended, I suugested they just go back to reading their book.

In a way this excessive concern about erections would be a bit like people being concerned about a woman getting erect nipples in public. Sure, she may be sexually stimulated. But more likely she is just cold or, as Francis describes about male penises, it could just be a reaction to the feeling of freedom and fresh air on body parts too long cooped up in clothing.

Anyone else out there have an oppinion on this? Surely in 2001, we are not going to start having erection-free beaches as a further subdivision of clothes-optional beaches. What are we going to do to the poor saps who get an erection when he can't hide it? Cut it off?

I think people need to grow up about normal bodily reactions (but at the same time, not pooh pooh the question - it is a good one and one that should be handled properly in some way other than "roll over until the feeling goes away").

Of course, all this discussion is only theory here. Anyone actually tried out what the various posters suggest?

I think that, with a more relaxed attitude towards getting erections, less men would actually get them at these activities (although, admitedly, not many do now). Have you ever tried to make an erection go away when you didn't want it. Now THAT is hard (er, difficult, might be a better word ;> )).

In the past, I have withdrawn (excuse the pun) from the Volleyball game (or whatever) and thought about death and starvation or something nasty to make it go away.

Frankly, I think we let ourselves be controlled by a core group of very narrow minded people.

I would like to propose we take a quick poll here. Please answer the following:

Question: 1 - If a man gets an erection while at a nudist facility, should he hide it? Yes or No?

2 - If he can't hide his erection, but is not behaving in an otherwise unacceptable fashion (i.e. he is not masterbating, staring at people, or whatever), should he be asked to leave the resort? Yes or No?

Most men get erections at some point in the sleep cycle. From that point of view, should they dress before dozing off while sunbathing?

You won't be surprised to hear my vote on the above two questions: they are: No, he shouldn't bother to hide the erection (unless, it makes him uncomfortable, of course - like women hide the fact that they are having a period, for example) and no, he should not be asked to leave the resort if he gets an erection he can't, or doesn't chose to, hide.

What do you folks think?

Erections also feel good and for many indicate a general well-being.

quote:

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Originally posted by Elaine:
Hi all,

I would like to propose we take a quick poll here. Please answer the following:

Question: 1 - If a man gets an erection while at a nudist facility, should he hide it? Yes or No?

2 - If he can't hide his erection, but is not behaving in an otherwise unacceptable fashion (i.e. he is not masterbating, staring at people, or whatever), should he be asked to leave the resort? Yes or No?

Most men get erections at some point in the sleep cycle. From that point of view, should they dress before dozing off while sunbathing?

You won't be surprised to hear my vote on the above two questions: they are: No, he shouldn't bother to hide the erection (unless, it makes him uncomfortable, of course - like women hide the fact that they are having a period, for example) and no, he should not be asked to leave the resort if he gets an erection he can't, or doesn't chose to, hide.

What do you folks think?

Elaine

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A thought: Perhaps it is the fear of "getting an erection" which is one of the major barriers to ever evolving into a clothes optional society. Since men control much of our law making, removal of this fear could go a long way to having a CO world - Thoughts?

Note: there was no sexual connotation associated with my activities; just an enjoyable natural release from some of the everyday pressures I face on the job, home, etc.

Now lets say my first nudist experience of the year was at a naturist resort or other facility and during the day with people around. Could I have also got an erection when I stated a nude hike? Of course. Yet many of our naturist purists would shun me because, God forbit, my penis had enlarged. So, I would not feel so liberated at a nudist facility when people were around as when I am naked on my own. If my penis started to enlarge due to the stimulations of nature (or, heck, the novelty of being naked outside, etc), I would feel embarrassed and look for a way to cover up. If I was played basketball (which has been the case when I occasionally get an erection at a naturist facility), I would suddenly find something facinating to stop and look at at the edge of the court facing away from everyone (which looks somewhat silly or unfriendly), or simply retire from the game and suddenly cover up. That is the way, men are expected to act when their member becomes enlarged. Not wanting to appear like a pervert, I would naturally comply.

But heck, this is NOT escapism and freedom. Any suggestions?

An erection is always strongly associated with sex in most people's minds and this therefore is offensive to many people in a public area.

And, yes, if the man does not cover up right away, or if he gets erections very often in a way people can see, he should be asked to leave the facility right away. After all, what is children were to see this blantantly sexual display!

My wife and I practice nudism at home and have been wanting to explore the naturist lifestyle. However, it is people like you that make it seem like a perverted thing to be nude. "Oh, he's got an erection so he must be horny." Nudism is not about sex, but about freedom and relaxation. I would never want to join a CO facility if such harsh and unfriendly attitudes are the norm. I am a young healthy male and I am going to have uncontrollable erections at times without thoughts of sex and I refuse to hide it. If this means that I will be ostracized even among the naturalist communities then I don't want to be a member. I was hoping to join one for the freedom to be nude and relaxed, but it sounds like the Nude Gestapo is on patrol.

I sometimes wish we could live like the indians in the rain forests of South America and have a CO society.

Jacob, you have a terrible attitude about what natural is.

Is this the way things really are at these facilities? Somone please let me know. I would really hate to think that there is no real place for me to walk as God intended.

btw, could someone tell me where can I find information about such groups in Texas and are they as rigid and restrictive?

NOW, I personally agree that it is not a big deal. it has happened and probably will again. I will be the first to admit on this board, that not EVERY time was just a blowing breeze etc. Again, it happens. This thing between our legs has a mind of it's own :-) Even though I don't personally worry about it to much, I do always worry about other people thinking of it as a bad thing. I don't see how in this society, some people wouldn't. As I said it happens with guys, I'm sure if some of the women were totally honest, they would admit they had looked at one of the guys at the club in a sexual maner. It's nature, just they don't have an obvious way of showing it. Someone mentioned nipples. My wifes are hard all the time. It's becoming real acceptable in society to see a womens nipples through her clothing. I don't think any guys consider that as a sign that they are turned on. In my younger days, I remeber the guys all making the comment "Man, she looks cold" :-)

I really appreciate this descussion. This is the best I have seen it covered. I'd like to see how many of you will step up to the plate though and admit it's not always the wind. Or to the women, that you never notice the great looking guy. Man, I hope some of you do admit it. I hope I'm not just a pervert :-)

- lets try some sample cases to see where our sources of agreement/disagreement are.

1 - extreme case: Man gets erection while playing with himself - out you go, we would say. Unanimously, I presume. Right?

2 - mild case: Man walking down the beach by himself, occasionally passing others; gets erection and can't easily cover up as he is away form his towel and ocean is windy and cold today. He should just forget it and continue his walk. Unanimously, I presume. Right?

3 - middle case: Man sunbathing around pool, aware of what is going on (i.e. not asleep) but not engaging in any sexual behaviour. Gets erection. He should cover up? I say no, unless he is uncomfortable.

4 - same situation as #3 except that he is asleep. Do we wake him up and ask him to lower the flagpole? I say no; forget it.

5 - another middle case: Man playing volleyball or basketball with friends of both genders. Gets erection but not engaging in any sexual behaviour (maybe someone is a sexy dribbler?). I say he should just forget it and continue with the game. Anyone disagree?

6 - hard to say case: Man meets female and commences conversation. "Hi, my name is Joe. How are you?" Erection starts. Female answers, "I'm fine, my name is Elaine." and conversation continues. Erection continues to grow, but man keeps distance and talks as if nothing was happening. Female notices erection but also notices man is not advancing and seems relaxed. I say she should just ignore it and not expect man to cover up. What do you folks think?

Actually, this might make a great Monty Pithon skit. Scene on volleyball court: attractive woman comes onto the court. Immediately, the other team (all males) fall face down onto the sand so as to hide erections. The serve is made. The men feebly knock the ball back while keeping their groins firmly enbedded in terra firma. The Attractive woman's team spike the ball just out of reach of the prone men, who groan as they try in vain to return the drive without lifting their bodies from the sand. Gold medle once again to the erectionless team. The losing team retreat to a mountain hide away where they receive lessons from a mystic guru about how to avoid erections during olympic volleyball. The winning team recruits more knock-out females and continues their dynasty in the nude volleyball arena.

Need a sense of humor, eh? ;> )

1 - erections are fine (assuming the male'd behaviour is respectful) and can be left uncovered in public as long as there are no children present.

2 - without making a big deal of it (i.e. a brief view of an erection by a child is not significant), the man should cover up in the presence of children over the age of, say, two.

How's that?

Embarassment may be announcing to the entire French beach that you are an American because you are the only one there that is circumsized.

Having a lovely young French woman ask you in halting English "if that little pink tink gets sunburned" is total humiliation.

SPF 50 may be great, but how do you put it on without embarassing yourself?

Many men fear, with some justification, that they may get a aroused if they take off their clothes in public. In most cases, this subsides as men get used to nudism but what if it doesn't (or occurs occasionally, as it does with me) - is the man permently banned from being a nudist?

One of the problems with this attitude is that it is darned hard to make an erection go away. Try as you might, it seems to have a mind of its own and will do anything but what its owner wants - it just gets harder and harder, an obstinate member indeed.

The best solution (besides thinking about nasty things like war and starvation, as a previous poster suggested - that works with me too, but is not a fun way to pass the time) is to simply forget it and go on with your volleyball game, etc. Before you know it, you will be flacid again - sort of like falling asleep - you know how hard it was to fall asleep when your parents would tell you to "go to sleep" as a child? With our kids, we say, "You can stay awake if you want to; just lie down." They are asleep within minutes.

Erections are like this as well - forget it and it will go. Trouble is, to forget it, we have to be comfortable getting one in public and to ignore it when other people do. And this requires a much looser attitude towards erections at nudist resorts.

Comments?

SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT BUILT TO WHERE THEY CAN COVER UP WELL ENOUGH TO PLEASE EVERYONES IDEAL SITUATION. I AND MY WIFE FEEL THAT IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE COMPANY YOU HAVE AT THE TIME.

SOME RESORTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS SOME CATER TO FAMILIES SOME TO COUPLES ETC...

We have talked to alot of parents over the year and if you talk about it as being VERY HUMAN, it is ok.

The day after my son made his very public
mess, our Club's Manager, wife and one of their kids called and told Rick that it was ok what had happend.

I have excused myself in the past to go relieve the situation, which typically keeps the erection from coming back for that day.

I hope that someday the world will grow up.

I hope that someday natural or passionate feelings will be accepted as normal and not have to be hidden.

I hope I live to see the day that the human body is seen as gorgeous in all its glory whether stimulated or relaxed.

Amen.

By 17 that same child was very body concious and was uncomfortable even showering at gym class. Living in Italy for her first year in college she opened back up - still modest but comfortable. Beaches there are all at least partly topless. She didn't start a serious romantic relationship until 20 (when she got back)...

One of the great attractions I have to the naturist/nudism movement is freedom from body image or that my body is bad or wrong in some way. The very few times my wife got involved in anything, it made her feel much more comfortable seeing how women actually look - her breasts got smaller after nursing 3 babies and she became very self concious about it.

Having been sexually abused as a small child I understand problems with fear about agressive males. There is also the (significant) reality of some males being inappropriate. However, we generally agree that a person has to actually do something before action is taken to restrict their activities (which has some issues too). We hold people to be "innocent until proven guilty" and recognize that while "where there's somke, there's fire" is good to live by, it are judged by specific actions.

Anger is a very strong emotional response as is arousal. I teach my children that any genuine feeling is good and natural that accepting one's emotions is required to be healthy and balanced. They do have a significant responsibility in what actions they take no matter what emotion they are going through. As a family we are discussing personal boundaries and how to respect them... What NO means and using someone else for their own gratification no matter what it might be is not a good thing.

I really support being as accepting of others as I can be. The more a difference is made here for the average male it seems the more there is still societal repression - the line has just moved not gone. While I don't want to be the source of anyone's pain, I cannot change how I behave for each person I am around. I tried to live this way for a long time...

There should no more notice of a male's penis being erect than a woman's nipples in my opinion... Being agressive or open sexual activity is a different matter. Public scorn and rejection is a heavy thing - making someone repress they feel or feel badly about it has consquences too!