https://www.reddit.com/r/culture/comments/1j2tcm8/how_different_are_nudists_and_swingers/
created by Think_fast_Act_slow on 03/03/2025 at 21:02 UTC
0 upvotes, 1 top-level comments (showing 1)
the Nudist gatekeepers are too defensive to even allow a simple debate on the concept of Nudism and how different people may interpret it differently so my Article got deleted.
I see Nudism or Swinging in modern times as a contemporary culture in the Western society that might have had similar forms in the past in other societies but I am keeping the scope in Contemporary West as a Lifestyle and cultural statement among their respective practitioners.
Nudists claim that **looks don’t matter** and that one should embrace nudity in its most natural form. But can we really confirm, challenge, or debate this belief? Is there an unspoken element of exhibitionism and voyeurism in nudism?
Consider this: the **involuntary dilation of pupils** when seeing an attractive naked body—something that happens naturally to anyone with normal human instincts. If nudism is truly about body acceptance and desexualization, why is there such **strict etiquette against acknowledging physical beauty**?
It’s a known rule in nudist settings that **commenting on someone’s appearance is off-limits**—even a polite compliment is often frowned upon. But isn’t this suppression of natural attraction similar to how **strict religious or conservative cultures enforce dress codes** to keep desire at bay?
Are lifelong nudists genuinely immune to **noticing physical beauty**? Have they **trained themselves** to override a natural human instinct, or is there **a level of denial or self-deception** at play?
Now, what about **swingers**? Are looks the ultimate **deal-maker or deal-breaker** when it comes to hookups?
Unlike nudists, swingers aren’t burdened by the **self-imposed commandments** of ignoring physical beauty. In fact, they often **embrace attraction openly** and flirt freely. Some swingers are upfront—perhaps even crude, depending on the environment—but at least they’re **honest** about what they find physically appealing.
That said, I’ve come across literature and documentaries featuring **old-school swingers** who reject the modern emphasis on "perfect" bodies. Many insist that **real swinging isn’t about beauty standards**—it’s about inclusivity. In their view, the essence of swinging is that **people of all shapes, sizes, and ages** should be free to engage in consensual physical enjoyment **without exclusivity based on attractiveness**.
Yet, in today’s era, it’s hard to ignore that some **exclusive clubs prioritize looks, youth, and body type**, which raises an interesting contradiction: is swinging supposed to be about **uninhibited pleasure for all**, or has it evolved into a **beauty-driven marketplace** where only the physically elite thrive?
Then we have the **fakes, voyeurs, and posers**—people who **profit off both nudism and swinging**. These individuals **show off their idealized, perfect bodies in provocative settings**, often engaging in suggestive poses and actions while maintaining **a façade of purity**.
They attract **gawkers and spectators**, who shower them with praise for supposedly being "true" to the nudist or swinger lifestyle, while in reality, they exist **to be admired and objectified**.
So, where do you fall in this discussion? please don't take above post as an attack on your beliefs I am inviting you to share what you have to say.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Comment by Stewmungous at 03/03/2025 at 23:29 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
TLDR: They are definitely distinct cultures. But it is true there is overlap in who participates. This overlap may be greater because of personality traits detailed below. It may also seem greater because nudist have a culture of greater disclosure and may be disclosing participation in alternate lifestyles at greater rates that your coworkers, friends, family and non-nudist associates ever would.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE NUDISM BY ONLINE REPRESENTATION. Online nudist labels are often marketing for sex. IRL nudist spaces have very little of this.
My full response from you post in the nudist sub earlier in case anybody cares to hear a defense/explication here. This being a general interest culture sub, not sure how many members may be informed on either subculture you ask about
Copied/Pasted: I will defend part of your premise more than I think most will in this sub. You are not wholey wrong as some comments are dismissing you out of hand. But I think the motivations you cite and causilities your posit are off base. There is such a thing a true nudism, meaning the desire to socialize naked with others without sexual motives. I think you are too skeptical of this existing.
BUT I will say my involvement in a nudist community has exposed me more to "alternative" sex life's than I ever was exposed to in the textile world. For people to act as if there is no overlap is people being willfully blind to a reality.
The reasons for overlap do not impugn the purity or existence of "true" nudism. Some portion of polyamorous, more open sex life overlap with the nudist community is probably people who did enter nudism with sexual motives. But these people can also behave themselves and not make all nudist spaces sexual. The same way you can enter a bar hoping to meet someone for a hook up but also enjoy yourself if it doesn't happen and not harass anyone while you search. (And some people enter nudist spaces and can't behave while they search for sex the same way some can't enter a textile bar and behave. Nudists spaces will excuse those quicker than a bar bouncer would.) But still there are other reasons for an overlap.
Nudist have already proved themselves to be non-conformist and open minded. They have also proved themselves to be proactive. It's not that easy to be part of a socially nude community. You don't stumble into it, you make it happen consciously. There are likely a great portion of "textiles" who have sexual desires equal to what you describe. But they are closeted and unfulfilled. You have preselected for a group of people who have proven they can make their desires manifest, desires sexual and non-sexual
And the last reason I think alternative sex life's are more visible in the nudist community is everything is more visible about people in the nudist community. Social nudity is all about opened, vulnerability and sharing genuinely. You likely have people you meet in textile social circles who having every sexual desire a nudist has, but you never know it because they would never dream of disclosing it. Social nudist disclose a lot about themselves. That's what makes it rewarding and unique. You know you won't be judged. It starts with not being judged for your physical body but experienced nudist then will quickly find the acceptance of self is far beyond the physical. Nudist will more freely tell you everything about their thoughts and lifestyle than a textile ever would.