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.

  • khannie@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Right. Now we’re getting to the crux of it and I understand where your thinking is coming from but…

    Because a nude beach is supposed to be sexual.

    This is absolutely incorrect. Like totally wrong. There is nothing sexual about a nude beach.

    • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      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.

      • khannie@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        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:

        EVERYTHING nude is sexual

        If this is your world view I don’t think we’ll ever agree. That’s kinda messed up IMO.

        • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          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.

          • khannie@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            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.