If you became invisible when you removed your clothes...

[brandon]

Would naturism still have the same appeal?

A few of you may remember my suggested caption, "Dude, these ski goggles make us invisible, I promise," for this picture in the caption contest we had a long time ago:



While the fallacy implicit in my caption was based on the concept of egocentrism, we could approximate invisibility, or at least mask nudity, quite easily with image processing.

The rule would be that you can be nude, so you'd feel the sun and breeze on your skin, but you, and everyone at a particular location, such as a beach, would be required to wear video goggles that filter out nude bodies. You would be able to adjust the filtering to display a blurred, pixelated image in place of a nude body, or an outline of a body with an interpolated background image replacing the body. (The outline would be required so you don't bump into people.)

If you mutually "friended" another person, such as someone you came with or met, that person's nude body would not be filtered by your goggles and vice versa.

You would not be allowed to sneak up and dump water on people, steal things, take pictures, grope people, etc.

I have two questions to consider in this thought experiment:

1. Aside from the weird tanlines you might get around your eyes, would this detract from or enhance the naturist experience? For better or worse, it removes the "see and be seen" aspect of naturism. Do you see that as a positive, negative, or neutral change? You wouldn't have to worry about gawkers. (People, clothed or nude, would be required to wear the goggles, and the goggles would be physically non-removable without a key at the entrance gate.)

2. Do you think a lot of people would try naturism who otherwise would not remove their clothes on a public beach?

[hjmartin]

For me, the wonderful thing about being nude, particularly with other people, is that I don't feel like I'm in disguise.  My clothes feel like a disguise to me.  

This situation you've constructed would, I believe, feel the same to me as if I were wearing clothes.  I'd feel as though I were being concealed.  Hidden away.  Censored.

[Stuart]

I could shoplift naked. However, I could only steal small things, as I could only conceal them inside my body, in my mouth, under my armpits, etc...

[brandon]

I could shoplift naked. However, I could only steal small things, as I could only conceal them inside my body, in my mouth, under my armpits, etc...

I guess you missed:

You would not be allowed to sneak up and dump water on people, steal things, take pictures, grope people, etc.

If you try, the goggles will inflict a splitting headache. :P

[Stuart]

I could shoplift naked. However, I could only steal small things, as I could only conceal them inside my body, in my mouth, under my armpits, etc...

I guess you missed:

You would not be allowed to sneak up and dump water on people, steal things, take pictures, grope people, etc.

If you try, the goggles will inflict a splitting headache. :P

I'll steal headache tablets

[brandon]

I voted:

Q1 answer: This would detract from the naturist experience for me.

because the "natural" thing is what I like about naturism.


Q2 answer: I think this would encourage many non-naturists to go nude.

because many non-naturists' problem with going nude is that others will see them, so this might offer a "safe" way to experiment with naturism.


Thinking about this has given me a low tech idea for a fun event at a naturist resort or camp: a Blindfold Day or Night. (I'd prefer to skip Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or use tape instead of pins.)

A variation on this is that just the guys have to be blindfolded, and the girls get to lead them around.

[Danee]

No, it would detract. 

[peteR]

I think it would be quite strange at first, but I wouldn't really mind. There are surely people who would be encouraged to go nude when they could be sure nobody saw their "naughty bits".

[little_man]

For me, it would detract as if I'm nude in public, it's for social reasons (ie- a nude beach).

With regard to question 2, I think it would encourage people to try it more. There is such a fear of being seen, especially in people my age. Even in places where it is socially acceptable to be nude, like a lockerroom, there are many who still try to remain as covered as possible. I just don't understand why you would drive 15 minutes home, sweaty, gross, and nasty after a workout instead of showering. Or if you do shower, what's the point of wearing your shorts and only opening them up (not even pulling them down) to soap and rinse? You're in a shower! People are looking at you because they are trying to figure out how you clean yourself when half of your body barely gets wet! (sorry for my rant)

[Requiax]

it would detract from the social aspect of naturism if you couldn't see people at all, or be seen by them. difficult to make friends and have a conversation.  the social side has become increasingly important to me - i like hanging out nude with like-minded friends. so for me it would have very little appeal, as i think it would feel more like you were in your own little world.

plus i think it might make activities like sport difficult to do, if you could only barely see your opponent.

i could see it would have some advantages in other scenarios - like, say i need to pop out to the shops and buy milk... it involves going out of my apartment for about 10 minutes - much easier just to snap on the goggles than put all my clothes on.

although for that to work the goggles would have to be widely recognised so that the floating milk bottle/money wouldn't be surprising to people!

[brandon]

plus i think it might make activities like sport difficult to do, if you could only barely see your opponent.

It might make the game more fun! Blind people are able to play certain sports with balls that emit a sound. Not being able to see much of your fellow team members or opponents would make the game more interesting!

But if everyone agreed, you could "friend" all your fellow players so you could all see the other people playing:

If you mutually "friended" another person, such as someone you came with or met, that person's nude body would not be filtered by your goggles and vice versa.

There would probably be a button on the side of the goggles to friend someone. (You and the other person would have to press your buttons at the same time while standing within 1m.)

[Ace001]

I think it would detract. The whole point of naturism is to accept what is natural, in this case the bodies/bits and pieces we are all born with. Now if you could be invisible, it's somewhat similar to wearing clothes. Clothes make you 'invisible' by making you blend into the general populace/ hiding your body. If you're invisible there really is no difference. You're still hiding yourself/your parts from other people. Regardless of how something is hidden, the fact remains is that it is hidden. The hidden part seems to go against what naturism is going for IMO.

[brandon]

I think it would detract. The whole point of naturism is to accept what is natural, in this case the bodies/bits and pieces we are all born with.

That's the "official" naturist philosophy. There are people in the world who perhaps do not consider themselves naturists, who are not especially interested in nude social interaction, but enjoy the feeling of the sand, sun, wind and water on their naked skin.

While I also think techno-goggles would detract from the experience, the naturist community sometimes strikes me as a bit dogmatic or agenda-driven.

[Dave]

I think this question illustrates a divide of sorts in naturism between those who feel that the comfort of nudism is more important than the social aspects of it, and those that feel the reverse.  I was originally in the first group but have since moved to the second, and I wouldn't be surprised if many people have followed the same route.  While this would bring in many people who would previously be afraid or uncomfortable being nude in public, it would detract on a subconscious level from those who enjoy the social aspects of naturism (and yes, I realize about the "friending" option, but I suspect very few people not doing sports or with people they already know would use it).  The beach would also attract those who are well known (celebrities, politicians, etc.), as it would give them a modicum of privacy they might not be able to find elsewhere.

Personally, if that was the only nudist venture I could attend, I would go there in a heartbeat, since I currently can't get to any nudist venture at all.  However, if I had a choice between going there and going to a regular beach, I would probably go to a regular beach.  It wouldn't ruin the experience, but I think that, at least for me, it would detract.

[Toddo]

Interesting question. I think it would only work if everyone had them on, and I'm guessing the local shops would not see anyone wearing them so popping out to get some milk wouldn't work.