Anna
2011-05-04 00:45:24 UTC
And who can blame him. His comments are totally correct. I posted a
response on his blog and welcome others to do so there as well has
here.
By the way, I have been checking his blog to see if there's any update
to the Lupin Lodge situation, and seeing none I am afraid that it
looks like the sexual BDSM event is still on.
http://nudiarist.blogspot.com/2011/05/naturist-society-head-likens-nudist.html
http://tinyurl.com/6yxuaay
Naturist Society Head Likens Nudist Resorts to "Calcified Retirement
Homes"
Nudists/naturists are notoriously inept at public relations.
In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Nicky Hoffman Lee,
co-owner of The Naturist Society, made the following comments about
the state of organized nudism today:
"The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a
younger crowd," said Nicky Hoffman, head of the Naturist Society, one
of the two big organizations of U.S. nudists. "The problem is, most of
these resorts aren't geared to young people. They've become like
retirement homes; they've sort of calcified."
Nicky, Nicky, what on earth were you thinking? Your ill-advised
comments are now the centerpiece of an article which skewers nudists
and naturists, painting them as basically dirty old men that are best
to be avoided.
John Whitehead, 22, visited the Sunsport Gardens resort for the
first time last year. He enjoyed being naked until he spotted a man
his father's age he knew from work, then spent the day avoiding
him."It's not that I have anything against old people," Mr. Whitehead
said. "I just don't really want to hang out with them at the pool."
The article is a disaster, outlining the history of nudism as a series
of arrests and beatings, and defining nude recreation as "undressing
in front of strangers". Even worse, the Spring Break Bash at Sunsport
Gardens organized by Florida Young Naturists is painted as a
segregated event to avoid turning the younger people into "eye candy"
for older people.
This story has gone viral and has appeared on many prominent blogs and
does real damage to the image of naturists and nudists everywhere.
From Jezebel:
If people of all ages can't come together to enjoy the freedom of
standing around and feeling cold and slightly awkward, perhaps it's
time to accept that the younger generation's interest in public nudity
is mostly limited to occasional bouts of drunken toplessness.
The Village Voice even proclaims that "people should just wear
clothes."
The Miami New Times reports:
That Spring Break Bash, held at a resort on the edge of the
Everglades, only attracted 55 people, and the group's Facebook page
keeps getting shut down because it's tricky to run a group with both
"young" and "nude" in the title.
But if you really want to lose your lunch, read the comments section
of the Wall Street Journal article, where Robbe White of the Florida
Young Naturists adds his two cents:
Great article. Thank You WSJ and Doug Belkin for shedding some
light on the nudist/naturist community. Check out our website:
http://www.FYNude.org
Great article? Really? Just because you got your name in print?
John Whitehead claims that his comments were twisted out of context,
which is not a surprise considering the state of journalism today.
I am the John Whitehead mentioned in the article of all the things
I said, they mention me seeing a guy from my work who I avoided the
first time because he knows my dad. They seemed to leave out that I
talked with him about it later on and then he said "Don't worry I
won't say anything". Not only that but my second quote was explaining
why I never went prior to the FYN event and I was saying I was glad
about FYN because I could be around people my own age. I think they
made me sound like kind of a jerk...I talked to the journalist for
around 30 minutes. I said all kinds of things. Why of all things
things that I said would you mention that I saw a guy from work. I
casually mentioned that. I mostly talked about how great the event was
and how I met a bunch or friendly and interesting people. Why couldn't
you mention that WSJ?
The comments are filled with loathing for nudists in general, and
Susan Weaver, President of The American Association for Nude
Recreation, is smart enough to realize the negativity of the article.
It is unfortunate that this article makes a generalized statement
about nudist clubs, campgrounds and resorts. Among the 267 that are
affiliated with AANR, there is tremendous diversity. I have found them
to be enormously relaxing and fun, and there has never been any
criticism of my own body jewelry. The people I have met at AANR clubs
are interesting people, much traveled, with fascinating hobbies and
histories. The aanr.com website is much visited by people of all ages
looking to discover where there is a club nearby to visit.
AANR has worked for 80 years to promote and protect nude
recreation, and will continue to advocate for the rights of nudists
for as many years as it takes to assure public awareness and
acceptance of social family nude recreation as a joyful life
experience.
Thank you, Susan, for showing some class in the middle of a disaster.
There's not too much to salvage from this train wreck of epic
proportions.
response on his blog and welcome others to do so there as well has
here.
By the way, I have been checking his blog to see if there's any update
to the Lupin Lodge situation, and seeing none I am afraid that it
looks like the sexual BDSM event is still on.
http://nudiarist.blogspot.com/2011/05/naturist-society-head-likens-nudist.html
http://tinyurl.com/6yxuaay
Naturist Society Head Likens Nudist Resorts to "Calcified Retirement
Homes"
Nudists/naturists are notoriously inept at public relations.
In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Nicky Hoffman Lee,
co-owner of The Naturist Society, made the following comments about
the state of organized nudism today:
"The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a
younger crowd," said Nicky Hoffman, head of the Naturist Society, one
of the two big organizations of U.S. nudists. "The problem is, most of
these resorts aren't geared to young people. They've become like
retirement homes; they've sort of calcified."
Nicky, Nicky, what on earth were you thinking? Your ill-advised
comments are now the centerpiece of an article which skewers nudists
and naturists, painting them as basically dirty old men that are best
to be avoided.
John Whitehead, 22, visited the Sunsport Gardens resort for the
first time last year. He enjoyed being naked until he spotted a man
his father's age he knew from work, then spent the day avoiding
him."It's not that I have anything against old people," Mr. Whitehead
said. "I just don't really want to hang out with them at the pool."
The article is a disaster, outlining the history of nudism as a series
of arrests and beatings, and defining nude recreation as "undressing
in front of strangers". Even worse, the Spring Break Bash at Sunsport
Gardens organized by Florida Young Naturists is painted as a
segregated event to avoid turning the younger people into "eye candy"
for older people.
This story has gone viral and has appeared on many prominent blogs and
does real damage to the image of naturists and nudists everywhere.
From Jezebel:
If people of all ages can't come together to enjoy the freedom of
standing around and feeling cold and slightly awkward, perhaps it's
time to accept that the younger generation's interest in public nudity
is mostly limited to occasional bouts of drunken toplessness.
The Village Voice even proclaims that "people should just wear
clothes."
The Miami New Times reports:
That Spring Break Bash, held at a resort on the edge of the
Everglades, only attracted 55 people, and the group's Facebook page
keeps getting shut down because it's tricky to run a group with both
"young" and "nude" in the title.
But if you really want to lose your lunch, read the comments section
of the Wall Street Journal article, where Robbe White of the Florida
Young Naturists adds his two cents:
Great article. Thank You WSJ and Doug Belkin for shedding some
light on the nudist/naturist community. Check out our website:
http://www.FYNude.org
Great article? Really? Just because you got your name in print?
John Whitehead claims that his comments were twisted out of context,
which is not a surprise considering the state of journalism today.
I am the John Whitehead mentioned in the article of all the things
I said, they mention me seeing a guy from my work who I avoided the
first time because he knows my dad. They seemed to leave out that I
talked with him about it later on and then he said "Don't worry I
won't say anything". Not only that but my second quote was explaining
why I never went prior to the FYN event and I was saying I was glad
about FYN because I could be around people my own age. I think they
made me sound like kind of a jerk...I talked to the journalist for
around 30 minutes. I said all kinds of things. Why of all things
things that I said would you mention that I saw a guy from work. I
casually mentioned that. I mostly talked about how great the event was
and how I met a bunch or friendly and interesting people. Why couldn't
you mention that WSJ?
The comments are filled with loathing for nudists in general, and
Susan Weaver, President of The American Association for Nude
Recreation, is smart enough to realize the negativity of the article.
It is unfortunate that this article makes a generalized statement
about nudist clubs, campgrounds and resorts. Among the 267 that are
affiliated with AANR, there is tremendous diversity. I have found them
to be enormously relaxing and fun, and there has never been any
criticism of my own body jewelry. The people I have met at AANR clubs
are interesting people, much traveled, with fascinating hobbies and
histories. The aanr.com website is much visited by people of all ages
looking to discover where there is a club nearby to visit.
AANR has worked for 80 years to promote and protect nude
recreation, and will continue to advocate for the rights of nudists
for as many years as it takes to assure public awareness and
acceptance of social family nude recreation as a joyful life
experience.
Thank you, Susan, for showing some class in the middle of a disaster.
There's not too much to salvage from this train wreck of epic
proportions.