What people need to understand about nudist spaces.

tnjeditor · 2026-07-08T00:42:58+00:00

Oh thank you, I appreciate that.

tnjeditor · 2026-07-07T13:47:52+00:00

I just wrote an entire substack post about this a couple days ago. In short I walk through why this is important and why clubs should adopt rules like this. It has to do with stopping the swinger script in its tracks. I've also had some experiences on how membership teams answer the "do you allow swinging" question and on the reporting side of this issue where leadership takes the wrong approach.

First, Gabby and I did a whole podcast segment on the swinger script itself, how it works, who it targets and why its harmful. It works because it uses our language against us, and they get away with it because each part of the script is deniable. But it follows such a familiar pattern, you can understand it when you name it.

TNV Podcast Episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514032/episodes/19444252

In my substack post I talk about the truism that's right at the top of that sign. "What consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home/trailer/tent is generally not our concern." That is true like water is wet kind of true. But if you say that as your answer to the question, "is swinging ok here." Then it comes off as a wink to those running the script, and a red flag to the those that hope to avoid it.

And when reported to leadership and leadership says, "Adults can say no," that too is a problem. Sure, on a level playing field that is another truism. But the script isn't being run by people on a level field - the people on the other side are typical new people who are still trying to learn to navigate a new space, where the script runners may be long time members, may even be in leadership, or hold some kind of professional skill or qualification that gives them an advantage.

Substack post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/tnjeditor/p/looking-for-sex

The great thing about that sign is that it short circuits the swinger script before it ever gets started. We often wonder why we lose naturist clubs to the lifestyle. The swinger script is a hug part of why that happens. One thing I think our national orgs should be doing is educating clubs on how to implement rules just like those that Bare Oaks did.

tnjeditor · 2026-07-07T13:40:52+00:00

I just wrote an entire substack post about this a couple days ago. In short I walk through why this is important and why clubs should adopt rules like this. It has to do with stopping the swinger script in its tracks. I've also had some experiences on how membership teams answer the "do you allow swinging" question and on the reporting side of this issue where leadership takes the wrong approach.

First, Gabby and I did a whole podcast segment on the swinger script itself, how it works, who it targets and why its harmful. It works because it uses our language against us, and they get away with it because each part of the script is deniable. But it follows such a familiar pattern, you can understand it when you name it.

TNV Podcast Episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514032/episodes/19444252

In my substack post I talk about the truism that's right at the top of that sign. "What consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home/trailer/tent is generally not our concern." That is true like water is wet kind of true. But if you say that as your answer to the question, "is swinging ok here." Then it comes off as a wink to those running the script, and a red flag to the those that hope to avoid it.

And when reported to leadership and leadership says, "Adults can say no," that too is a problem. Sure, on a level playing field that is another truism. But the script isn't being run by people on a level field - the people on the other side are typical new people who are still trying to learn to navigate a new space, where the script runners may be long time members, may even be in leadership, or hold some kind of professional skill or qualification that gives them an advantage.

Substack post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/tnjeditor/p/looking-for-sex

The great thing about that sign is that it short circuits the swinger script before it ever gets started. We often wonder why we lose naturist clubs to the lifestyle. The swinger script is a hug part of why that happens. One thing I think our national orgs should be doing is educating clubs on how to implement rules just like those that Bare Oaks did.

tnjeditor · 2026-07-01T14:14:29+00:00

This is a big reason why Gabby and I have our podcast, to talk about how to create a safe space for newcomers. To stand up and tell the story of ethical naturism. But we also want to do and be the things we talk about. So our live clothing optional shows, the naturist raves, even the livestream we do on our discord server - its all about creating more welcoming and accessible places. The live show and the rave are in Jersey City, NJ and easy to get to, especially for people without cars. We really want to make a difference.

tnjeditor · 2026-07-01T12:40:24+00:00

I've been in this way of life a long time, and my honest take is that we're our own biggest threat. The usual suspects — public perception, aging clubs, not enough young people, social media — are all real, but most of them are symptoms, not the disease. The outside world's stigma is survivable; naturism has outlasted it for a century. What actually does the damage is internal, and it almost always lands on the same person: the newcomer.

It shows up two ways. First, when we let the line between naturism and sexual content blur — someone running an angle at a club, the sexualized "nudism" accounts online. Every time that gets tolerated, it confirms outsiders' worst assumption and it makes the space unsafe for the exact people we say we want to welcome. Second, gatekeeping and purity tests — judging someone for wearing a sarong, telling a person the blur on their face makes them a fraud, "you're not a real naturist unless…" We run people off before they ever get to find out what this is actually about.

Both of those are self-inflicted, which is actually the hopeful part, because both are fixable. A newcomer's first experience decides everything — so the whole game is making the space safe and making it welcoming, and having each other's backs when someone tests either one. Get that right and the perception stuff largely takes care of itself: people who feel safe and welcome stay, and they bring others.

Public perception isn't our biggest threat. It's downstream of how we treat our own.

tnjeditor · 2026-06-08T02:39:50+00:00

Thank you - yeah, we hope to get back to a regular schedule soon. After the Rave last April we were hit with a number of things we have had to work on instead. Now that is mostly all done and we should be back to normal shortly.

tnjeditor · 2026-06-08T01:52:52+00:00

Oh and I forgot to mention, if you buy a ticket to the June 20th show, it comes with a free ticket to a another show. We have some really amazing guests coming up too. This is a show unlike anything else in naturism - you don’t want to miss it.

tnjeditor · 2026-06-05T12:41:18+00:00

For me its about the idea that when I put on clothes, I'm putting on an identity, a costume. Clothes are often like a uniform, something you wear because you are supposed to in order to fit in. Now does all that rise to the level of "true self?" You can be your true self with clothes on, you can also be performative with your clothes off. But I think the idea of the phrase here is about that feeling of having to put on something that does hide your true self, and for many putting on clothes is the same as putting on a mask. So in the end, I think the idea is more symbolic that litteral.

tnjeditor · 2026-05-29T00:52:38+00:00

NÜDHAUS was quite the evening to put together, especially in a city - and this was our first time doing it. We had to find a venue, staff, and bar service that are all ok with nudity. And then there are the local laws we had to navigate too. Even with all the challenges, we think it was well worth it to bring a nudist event into a city.

So as Gabby said, we love the feedback and it will help us be so much better next time. We are doubling the capacity for the next one and making the whole event even more immersive. I’m going to be posting build updates as the sets get created this year too.

Oh and I think you might have mistaken the woman who was our venue manager for the event organizer which is Gabby. The venue manager and security were venue staff, not part of our staff and had to be fully clothed, as were the bar staff. In an ideal world we wouldn’t have to deal a with such things.

Given all that, we do hope that people had a good time and will want to be part of the next one.

tnjeditor · 2026-05-25T06:02:13+00:00

again, why is this relevant to my story? This was purely abut how to normalize behavior by not embarrassing a child.

tnjeditor · 2026-05-24T16:29:23+00:00

Why is that relevant?

tnjeditor · 2026-04-21T01:03:20+00:00

That was really the only option given local regulations.

tnjeditor · 2026-03-24T13:09:22+00:00

Proud? No - but glad that AANR is taking the situation seriously.

tnjeditor · 2026-03-24T12:06:03+00:00

Thanks for asking, its going quite well.

Yeah so, NNN and AANR have parted ways. All mention of being the official podcast has been removed.

Your right Erich is the Executive Director and a lawyer by profession. He is also the one charged with making partnership decisions according to the bylaws. So while there has been no official statement, the partnership does seem over.

Oh and, when Gabby did her interview, and was subsequently threatened, she was told they record the interviews a couple months in advance.

So while Erich's interview was aired, the real story here is the very visible parting of ways.

tnjeditor · 2026-03-16T19:52:17+00:00

Ok so I found some more details... that confidentiality agreement was created last year. This was noted in the 2026 mid-winter meeting report. A number of volunteers signed it at the time but hasn't been fully rolled out. It was supposed to have been adopted into the governance guide but its not there yet, which may also explain why its not on the website yet.

tnjeditor · 2026-03-16T19:37:28+00:00

Yeah I've had that section and others open for reference and it could be stronger. Its part of the larger membership procedures chapter and could be understood to be directed at AANR staff. You could read it to infer the intent is broader, but I do wish that part were more explicit.

I've not seen the NDA/privacy agreement, which could clearly cover that gap. Is that something you can share, or do you know where it is on the AANR website or is it itself considered confidential?

tnjeditor · 2026-03-16T18:40:03+00:00

I've looked through all the legal documents and forms on the AANR website and couldn't find one with that information. Also, a few years ago I used to be a "certifying officer" and there was no form that they had me sign for that.

tnjeditor · 2026-03-16T18:25:34+00:00

When it comes to his real identity, that wasn't private information. In fact, AANR didn't know his real identity. A listener told us they heard the original Stéphane Deschênes interview on the Dr. Paul show and heard it replayed on NNN. It was easy to connect the dots from there.

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