[description: video demonstrating playing DDR naked, from various angles]
Have you ever played DDR naked? There's nothing quite like the feeling! I gave myself the gift this Christmas of revisiting an old and beloved pastime - with two new dance pads! I was first introduced to DDR by some friends in high school. My initial reaction to it was to avoid it out of embarrassment - me not being the sort of person who likes to get up in front of people and dance (although I've learned that this is actually a good way to do it, since the arrows give you a sort of script to follow - it's like dancing on training wheels).
I went out on a limb and tried it again in college, mainly because it gave me an excuse to interact with a girl I fancied within the context of a social environment (i.e., it gave me the illusion of having a life). I discovered at this time that DDR was actually quite a lot of fun, and subsequently got hooked on it, dragging my best friend into my obsession. We bought dance pads and hooked them up to a projection screen, and danced with anyone who happened along and wished to join us. At the height of our obsession, we swapped out Dance Dance Revolution with StepMania, a DDR-based computer application with hundreds of songs.
Following the inevitable scattering of friends post-graduation, my dance time dwindled, as the dance pads I had in my possession gradually wore out. There were periods when I would run DDR tracks purely for the exercise, even without a controller connected (not a bad idea, if you don't care about the grades). Such an experience even made it into my Daily Nude Videos project [broken link] from eight years ago. Since then, though, I've let my DDR Max discs collect dust on the shelf, and have resigned myself to the very infrequent occasion of happening upon a DDR machine "in the wild", so to speak - at an arcade.
Until now, that is. DDR lives again!
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Shopping Season
[description: a man stands in a public restroom, wearing boots and nothing else under a winter coat]
I've always preferred warm weather - where you can go out without even putting on a jacket. But if there's an advantage to the sort of cold, winter weather that requires a heavy coat, it's that you can put just the coat on, and nothing else! The strange thing is that you feel more exposed, even though you're actually covered in a thicker layer than you would be on a summer day in a light, airy dress and sandals (especially if you've opted out of wearing panties). Clearly, it's a psychological thing. Just make sure you don't get overheated in that coat, or forget what you're [not] wearing underneath, because you can't just unbutton it to let the breeze in, or take it off and hang it over your chair. :-x
I've always preferred warm weather - where you can go out without even putting on a jacket. But if there's an advantage to the sort of cold, winter weather that requires a heavy coat, it's that you can put just the coat on, and nothing else! The strange thing is that you feel more exposed, even though you're actually covered in a thicker layer than you would be on a summer day in a light, airy dress and sandals (especially if you've opted out of wearing panties). Clearly, it's a psychological thing. Just make sure you don't get overheated in that coat, or forget what you're [not] wearing underneath, because you can't just unbutton it to let the breeze in, or take it off and hang it over your chair. :-x
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Clearing Up A Misconception
One of the most common criticisms levied against nudism by the uninitiated textile world is this idea that "nudists are never the people you want to see naked." What's obvious to us nudists is how much this criticism misses the point. Nudists aren't judgmental about people's bodies the way textile culture is, and the benefit of this approach is a much healthier attitude towards our own and each other's bodies. But listen, that doesn't mean I want to see saggy, wrinkly bodies in the nude - or that I enjoy hairy old men's assholes winking at me from the sand court during a game of volleyball - any more than anyone else in the textile world. I'm not that much different from you. I've just cultivated a more mature approach towards it - an ability to behave civilly and simply not focus my gaze on anything I don't need a vivid mental picture of, and not let my petty feelings get in the way of others' freedom to disrobe, knowing as I do the physical and psychological benefits of doing so. It's just that it's a balancing act. And not all bodies you encounter in nudism are going to be unappealing - the few gems you get to see in a way that textile culture would never allow more than makes it worth it, in my opinion.
There's this idea that, in contrast to nudism which allows all body types, textile culture - "pornified" as it is - already has a more "reasonable" approach towards exposure: attractive people are allowed to show off - indeed, their bodies are plastered all over the media and advertising and pornography we're bombarded with every day. But I don't think it's that simple. Sure, you're more likely to see attractive people (although not exclusively) in short shorts and miniskirts and skimpy bikinis at the beach. But they're not naked. And though they do tend to be naked in porn, as much as our culture is obsessed with sex, it's relegated to the corners of our society. These corners may be crowded, but they're still fenced off from everything else, with the letters N, S, F, and W plastered large on billboards blocking the view. And textile culture is so pornified, you can't appreciate nudity without making it into a sexual thing. (Call me weird, but I like to watch beautiful naked people doing things other than having sex). Hop the fence into pornland, and everybody is so myopically focused on sex, there's no time for subtleties like artistic composition, or softcore eroticism.
If you're attractive, you still don't get a free pass to walk your dog around the block without clothes on (well, your dog can be naked, it's just you that can't). You might get away with it, if the people who catch you don't mind, and like what they see, but that's not the same thing - and clearly it doesn't make this phenomenon exactly common. There's nowhere you can go to watch a sports match performed by naked athletes - because watching the amazing feats the human body is capable of is a wonderful thing - even though said athletes are presumably more physically fit than the majority of the population. (And I've been called a freak and a pervert for even suggesting that gymnastics should be performed...well, gymnastically - that is, nude, in the original Greek sense of the word). Even model-caliber beauties aren't issued licenses for public nudity, protecting them from indecent exposure charges (including when public exposure is part of their vocation - e.g., for a photoshoot). And silver screen-ready actresses, though always pressured to do steamier roles, rarely revel in those opportunities to expose themselves unselfconsciously to the world (without, say, a body double, or coy lighting - or, these days, having a team of fx artists to photoshop out their undergarments).
So, no, textile culture doesn't permit us to enjoy attractive naked bodies to a sufficient extent. Our sexual obsession, amazingly, doesn't obliterate but rather intensifies the nudity taboo. Only nudism provides an alternative and a solution to it. And if it takes a general attitude of "nudity isn't inherently sexual", and "all bodies are welcome" (meaning ugly bodies are as free to bare all as the beautiful ones) to get there, then so be it. I'm down with the program.
Good Naked vs. Bad Naked
As an aesthetic artist, my goal is to portray my model in a flattering light. I don't really take pictures of "matter-of-fact" nudity - which is why I am concerned about the ability of my art to accurately reflect the nudist ethos and lifestyle. Even picture-perfect models can look downright unappealing if photographed in certain poses, and from certain angles. (Jerry Seinfeld discovered the difference between "good naked" and so-called "bad naked" on that episode where he dated a nudist - although I'm inclined to agree with George, that Jerry was acting like a "spoiled, spoiled man"). There is an artifice to art of this sort - I make no illusions about this fact. I don't pretend that I have a perfect body, and that, to whatever extent I am attractive, it isn't still a challenge to consistently portray myself in pictures in the best possible light.
There are certainly uses for art that depicts people's bodies from a more realistic perspective - I fully acknowledge that. I'm just not that interested in that subject as an artist (at least at this time). I agree with the nudist philosophy - that appearance only goes so far. But I won't pretend that it has no value. (Maybe I'm being idealistic, but I don't think that rewarding physical attractiveness necessarily goes hand in hand with punishing its lack thereof, other than the inevitable envy of those that lack it. I want things other people have that I don't have, but I don't disparage them for having it. I certainly wouldn't argue that a world-class guitarist shouldn't be praised for his proficiency at guitar just because I don't possess the same level of skill).
I worship beauty, and art is one way that I can honor that. Perhaps that constitutes an obstruction to communication of the pure nudist ideal (which seeks to draw attention away from the perceived importance of physical beauty), but the truth is that nudism is another way I pursue beauty. Not because nudism is about beauty (it's not, really), but because nudism lifts a veil that textile culture clings to (i.e., that naked bodies are taboo), which prevents one from fully appreciating that beauty outside of nudism. It would seem that, through nudism, the ability to appreciate that beauty requires one to humble oneself about the limits of beauty's virtue - because you can't go very far in nudism while clinging to a superficial mindset.
But if, like me, you can simultaneously acknowledge the transcendental power of naked beauty (albeit of a privileged subset of the population) to ravish the soul, and the seemingly contradictory fact that beauty truly is only skin deep (a beautiful person isn't automatically also smart, or strong, or kind, or even happy), then there is much that can be gained from the practice of a nudist lifestyle, that may very well be impossible to acquire elsewhere. As such, I vehemently deny the statement that "beauty isn't everything, it's the only thing", and replace it instead with "beauty isn't everything, but it is something," as well as its corollary (which is important to keep in mind, lest one's priorities fall out of proportion), "beauty is something, but it isn't everything."
There's this idea that, in contrast to nudism which allows all body types, textile culture - "pornified" as it is - already has a more "reasonable" approach towards exposure: attractive people are allowed to show off - indeed, their bodies are plastered all over the media and advertising and pornography we're bombarded with every day. But I don't think it's that simple. Sure, you're more likely to see attractive people (although not exclusively) in short shorts and miniskirts and skimpy bikinis at the beach. But they're not naked. And though they do tend to be naked in porn, as much as our culture is obsessed with sex, it's relegated to the corners of our society. These corners may be crowded, but they're still fenced off from everything else, with the letters N, S, F, and W plastered large on billboards blocking the view. And textile culture is so pornified, you can't appreciate nudity without making it into a sexual thing. (Call me weird, but I like to watch beautiful naked people doing things other than having sex). Hop the fence into pornland, and everybody is so myopically focused on sex, there's no time for subtleties like artistic composition, or softcore eroticism.
[description: a nude figure greets a clothed person at the door]
"You're a nudist? Isn't that, like, a sex thing?"
"Is sex the only thing you textiles do while naked?
(It's no wonder you bathe alone!)"
"You're a nudist? Isn't that, like, a sex thing?"
"Is sex the only thing you textiles do while naked?
(It's no wonder you bathe alone!)"
If you're attractive, you still don't get a free pass to walk your dog around the block without clothes on (well, your dog can be naked, it's just you that can't). You might get away with it, if the people who catch you don't mind, and like what they see, but that's not the same thing - and clearly it doesn't make this phenomenon exactly common. There's nowhere you can go to watch a sports match performed by naked athletes - because watching the amazing feats the human body is capable of is a wonderful thing - even though said athletes are presumably more physically fit than the majority of the population. (And I've been called a freak and a pervert for even suggesting that gymnastics should be performed...well, gymnastically - that is, nude, in the original Greek sense of the word). Even model-caliber beauties aren't issued licenses for public nudity, protecting them from indecent exposure charges (including when public exposure is part of their vocation - e.g., for a photoshoot). And silver screen-ready actresses, though always pressured to do steamier roles, rarely revel in those opportunities to expose themselves unselfconsciously to the world (without, say, a body double, or coy lighting - or, these days, having a team of fx artists to photoshop out their undergarments).
So, no, textile culture doesn't permit us to enjoy attractive naked bodies to a sufficient extent. Our sexual obsession, amazingly, doesn't obliterate but rather intensifies the nudity taboo. Only nudism provides an alternative and a solution to it. And if it takes a general attitude of "nudity isn't inherently sexual", and "all bodies are welcome" (meaning ugly bodies are as free to bare all as the beautiful ones) to get there, then so be it. I'm down with the program.
Good Naked vs. Bad Naked
As an aesthetic artist, my goal is to portray my model in a flattering light. I don't really take pictures of "matter-of-fact" nudity - which is why I am concerned about the ability of my art to accurately reflect the nudist ethos and lifestyle. Even picture-perfect models can look downright unappealing if photographed in certain poses, and from certain angles. (Jerry Seinfeld discovered the difference between "good naked" and so-called "bad naked" on that episode where he dated a nudist - although I'm inclined to agree with George, that Jerry was acting like a "spoiled, spoiled man"). There is an artifice to art of this sort - I make no illusions about this fact. I don't pretend that I have a perfect body, and that, to whatever extent I am attractive, it isn't still a challenge to consistently portray myself in pictures in the best possible light.
[description: a nude man sits hunched over in a chair]
Matter-of-Fact Nudity
Matter-of-Fact Nudity
There are certainly uses for art that depicts people's bodies from a more realistic perspective - I fully acknowledge that. I'm just not that interested in that subject as an artist (at least at this time). I agree with the nudist philosophy - that appearance only goes so far. But I won't pretend that it has no value. (Maybe I'm being idealistic, but I don't think that rewarding physical attractiveness necessarily goes hand in hand with punishing its lack thereof, other than the inevitable envy of those that lack it. I want things other people have that I don't have, but I don't disparage them for having it. I certainly wouldn't argue that a world-class guitarist shouldn't be praised for his proficiency at guitar just because I don't possess the same level of skill).
I worship beauty, and art is one way that I can honor that. Perhaps that constitutes an obstruction to communication of the pure nudist ideal (which seeks to draw attention away from the perceived importance of physical beauty), but the truth is that nudism is another way I pursue beauty. Not because nudism is about beauty (it's not, really), but because nudism lifts a veil that textile culture clings to (i.e., that naked bodies are taboo), which prevents one from fully appreciating that beauty outside of nudism. It would seem that, through nudism, the ability to appreciate that beauty requires one to humble oneself about the limits of beauty's virtue - because you can't go very far in nudism while clinging to a superficial mindset.
But if, like me, you can simultaneously acknowledge the transcendental power of naked beauty (albeit of a privileged subset of the population) to ravish the soul, and the seemingly contradictory fact that beauty truly is only skin deep (a beautiful person isn't automatically also smart, or strong, or kind, or even happy), then there is much that can be gained from the practice of a nudist lifestyle, that may very well be impossible to acquire elsewhere. As such, I vehemently deny the statement that "beauty isn't everything, it's the only thing", and replace it instead with "beauty isn't everything, but it is something," as well as its corollary (which is important to keep in mind, lest one's priorities fall out of proportion), "beauty is something, but it isn't everything."
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Antitoxin
Some people might say that feminism's attack on male sexuality is unjustified. But even giving feminists the benefit of the doubt, and assuming that male sexuality is problematic (e.g., characterized by an instinctively rapacious impulse), any solution we come to has to first understand this sexuality, and be sensitive to those who are "afflicted" by it. This isn't a softened way of saying we should give leniency to rapists, but we must understand what is driving the male sexual impulse, what it means - the value that it has - to the individual male, why it is manifesting in ways that are problematic for society or womankind, and what alternatives are available that enables the male to achieve full sexual satisfaction, and not what essentially amounts to figurative castration.
Saying that "men's sexual urges are wrong and must be curtailed" is nothing less than a declaration of war, and it's not going to inspire anything other than full-scale retaliation (hence: men's rights activism). You'd have to be daft to expect any other outcome. There's plenty of talk out there about how "male sexuality is problematic". I want to hear more understanding of the significance of the sexual drive to a male, and discussion of ways that it can be fulfilled, to a satisfying extent, that are acceptable to society. In other words, you can't just stand there and tell men what they can't do with their penises. You must acknowledge the joy their penises bring them, and then suggest ways they can acquire that joy that we all can be happy with.
For example: don't tell men, "enough with the dick pics already!" Tell them, "yes, penises are fascinating organs. But most people aren't going to want you to stick yours in their face without warning. Be courteous. There are lots of websites on the internet where you can share pictures of your dick with people who will appreciate them. An exciting world of consensual exhibitionism awaits you!" See? Not condemnation. But redirection - into appropriate outlets. It's about learning the contexts in which certain behaviors are or are not appropriate. Not labeling an activity as bad, identifying the male sex drive as the motivating factor, and then tarring and feathering it, demonizing it wholesale, throwing the baby of sexual ecstasy out with the bathwater of inappropriate sexual misconduct.
[description: a man undresses, exposing his erection to a secretary at the office]
I don't want to sound conceited harping on about how dumb the human race is (but if that's what it sounds like, then so be it - I'm not going to hold my tongue for the sake of image) - I know people have accomplished some amazingly intelligent feats, and I'm not half as smart as I wish I could be. But I swear, when I look at society, I see a whole lot of dumbing things down to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I mean, it's just statistics, right? But black-and-white thinking is for people who don't possess the processing power to render a hundred different shades of grey. And it's very frustrating living as a greyscale being in a black-or-white world.
Saying that "men's sexual urges are wrong and must be curtailed" is nothing less than a declaration of war, and it's not going to inspire anything other than full-scale retaliation (hence: men's rights activism). You'd have to be daft to expect any other outcome. There's plenty of talk out there about how "male sexuality is problematic". I want to hear more understanding of the significance of the sexual drive to a male, and discussion of ways that it can be fulfilled, to a satisfying extent, that are acceptable to society. In other words, you can't just stand there and tell men what they can't do with their penises. You must acknowledge the joy their penises bring them, and then suggest ways they can acquire that joy that we all can be happy with.
For example: don't tell men, "enough with the dick pics already!" Tell them, "yes, penises are fascinating organs. But most people aren't going to want you to stick yours in their face without warning. Be courteous. There are lots of websites on the internet where you can share pictures of your dick with people who will appreciate them. An exciting world of consensual exhibitionism awaits you!" See? Not condemnation. But redirection - into appropriate outlets. It's about learning the contexts in which certain behaviors are or are not appropriate. Not labeling an activity as bad, identifying the male sex drive as the motivating factor, and then tarring and feathering it, demonizing it wholesale, throwing the baby of sexual ecstasy out with the bathwater of inappropriate sexual misconduct.
[description: a man undresses, exposing his erection to a secretary at the office]
I don't want to sound conceited harping on about how dumb the human race is (but if that's what it sounds like, then so be it - I'm not going to hold my tongue for the sake of image) - I know people have accomplished some amazingly intelligent feats, and I'm not half as smart as I wish I could be. But I swear, when I look at society, I see a whole lot of dumbing things down to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I mean, it's just statistics, right? But black-and-white thinking is for people who don't possess the processing power to render a hundred different shades of grey. And it's very frustrating living as a greyscale being in a black-or-white world.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Layers
Playing around (again) with the transition between being nude and being dressed.
[description: lineup of photos comparing different stages of dress, from fully clothed to nude]
I threw the erection in just for fun, and because it really punctuates the erotic element of getting undressed. I know it's probably not kosher to the nudist mindset, but sometimes just taking off your clothes can be exciting. Maybe I really am that weird, but I don't understand why sexual arousal has to always be accompanied, in people's minds, with initiation of sexual activity. Can't somebody just get turned on, enjoy the sensation, and leave it at that?* Without running to hide (or finish himself off)? Like a lot of people probably do while dressed? (I wonder what it must be like for female exhibitionists engaging in nudism, since their arousal is somewhat less conspicuous than a man's). And if this isn't possible for some people, why can't those people refrain from letting themselves get turned on in public, instead of insisting that those of us who can control ourselves not be allowed to either?
*I was thinking just last night, as I lay in bed, that most people probably view attraction as a means to an end - a tool to facilitate pair-bonding and family-building, which in other words is the biological mandate to procreate. Of course beauty is a virtue - everybody (pretty much) envies those who have it, and are capable of recognizing it in others (subjectively speaking). But self-conscious about their appearance they may be, I feel like they must understand deep down what nudists often preach. You don't have to be beautiful to live. You don't even have to be beautiful to be happy. You can find a mate, raise a family, and make a life for yourself, even if you don't look like a supermodel.
It's me that's different. Beauty isn't just a virtue, it's a lifestyle. It's not a means to an end, it's the end itself. Attraction isn't a form of sexual foreplay, it's the climax. I revel in the buildup. I'm not even particularly concerned with intercourse, I just like the arousal. And I want to fill my life with it. I want to be surrounded by beauty on all sides, at all times. Art, modeling, fashion, people-watching. I suppose it's a superficial way to live, but I'm not a shallow person. The assumption is that if you care about physical beauty, then nothing else matters, but that's not true. I guess I just value it more than the average person, because it fills me with joy.
I tell you, it's gotta be tough being a lunatic - being utterly convinced that it's not you, but the world around you that's crazy. I just want to know if I'm alone in having these so-called "crazy" thoughts. Am I? Do you think people should be judged for their state of arousal, or should they be judged for how they conduct themselves while aroused? Is it enough to condemn a man for having an erection, or should we consider what he does with it?
[description: lineup of photos comparing different stages of dress, from fully clothed to nude]
I threw the erection in just for fun, and because it really punctuates the erotic element of getting undressed. I know it's probably not kosher to the nudist mindset, but sometimes just taking off your clothes can be exciting. Maybe I really am that weird, but I don't understand why sexual arousal has to always be accompanied, in people's minds, with initiation of sexual activity. Can't somebody just get turned on, enjoy the sensation, and leave it at that?* Without running to hide (or finish himself off)? Like a lot of people probably do while dressed? (I wonder what it must be like for female exhibitionists engaging in nudism, since their arousal is somewhat less conspicuous than a man's). And if this isn't possible for some people, why can't those people refrain from letting themselves get turned on in public, instead of insisting that those of us who can control ourselves not be allowed to either?
*I was thinking just last night, as I lay in bed, that most people probably view attraction as a means to an end - a tool to facilitate pair-bonding and family-building, which in other words is the biological mandate to procreate. Of course beauty is a virtue - everybody (pretty much) envies those who have it, and are capable of recognizing it in others (subjectively speaking). But self-conscious about their appearance they may be, I feel like they must understand deep down what nudists often preach. You don't have to be beautiful to live. You don't even have to be beautiful to be happy. You can find a mate, raise a family, and make a life for yourself, even if you don't look like a supermodel.
It's me that's different. Beauty isn't just a virtue, it's a lifestyle. It's not a means to an end, it's the end itself. Attraction isn't a form of sexual foreplay, it's the climax. I revel in the buildup. I'm not even particularly concerned with intercourse, I just like the arousal. And I want to fill my life with it. I want to be surrounded by beauty on all sides, at all times. Art, modeling, fashion, people-watching. I suppose it's a superficial way to live, but I'm not a shallow person. The assumption is that if you care about physical beauty, then nothing else matters, but that's not true. I guess I just value it more than the average person, because it fills me with joy.
I tell you, it's gotta be tough being a lunatic - being utterly convinced that it's not you, but the world around you that's crazy. I just want to know if I'm alone in having these so-called "crazy" thoughts. Am I? Do you think people should be judged for their state of arousal, or should they be judged for how they conduct themselves while aroused? Is it enough to condemn a man for having an erection, or should we consider what he does with it?
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Rise of the Semi
I've lamented recently my concern over bringing the issues of exhibitionism and nudism so frequently together - since, when combined, they seem to form a rather volatile concoction. Yet, as both a nudist and an exhibitionist, it's a confluence of topics that - like one of the Marquis de Sade's fictional character's pricks - keeps coming up over and over again.
I could certainly stand to make a greater effort to keep these subjects separate, but in consideration of my dedication to posting daily blogs this year, in conjunction with the fact that I've amassed quite a backlog, when a photoshoot with solid nudist intentions evolves (as they sometimes do, in a liberated atmosphere - I've said more about this here) into something rather more erotic, I feel compelled to keep it undivided.
This, however, can have the effect of muddying what I'd like to be a nudist statement, when it's paired with something considerably non-nudist in nature, often leading me to long, anxious deliberations about whether or not to tag a post with the 'nudism' label (for partial relevance), at the risk of drawing unfavorable associations to the lifestyle.
Sometimes the contrast is more egregious (for example, pairing Sunning in November with the fourth installment of The Naughty Cot - although it seemed a natural progression at the time), and other times I end up sporting a semi in what I wanted to be a nudist-kosher image. The latter is what I'd like to explore further today.
The deviantART Influence
In the days of Flickr, which has a fairly liberal policy on the posting of pornography (provided everything is properly filtered) - or at least it did when I posted there, several years ago - I could post nude pictures with a flaccid penis, or erotic pictures with a raging hard-on. It didn't matter. And I explored both extremes.
As for the in-between, there was no sense in showing up half-cocked, as it were. But when I came to deviantART [NSFW], I had to adopt a different approach, because that site doesn't allow "pornographic" images. I, of course, still took those images, I just couldn't share them there. But given the highly variable nature of the male genitalia, it didn't take me long to start experimenting with the line between flaccid and erect.
You could argue that I've been pushing the boundaries, trying to fly erections "under the radar" - although in truth, this is not what I've been doing. It is a fact that the rules make a binary distinction between flaccid and erect, and it is similarly a fact of biology that the line between these states is vague and fluid. I am merely exploring that realm, as any good artist would - trying to pin down just how erect a penis has to be in order to be considered "erect" (asking the important questions).
As such, I quickly found that I could produce erotic portraits that do not explicitly depict erections, yet present a rather more...impressive stature than your perfectly sterile fine art nudes. Once again this brings up the issue of where the line between art and porn - and also between the aesthetic and erotic appreciation of physical beauty - should be drawn, which is a central and recurring theme in my art.
The result is that I suppose I have trained myself, to some degree, to blur the line between "pure" nudes and erotic (but not strictly pornographic) nudes - "what male nude image couldn't be improved", in essence, "with a more prominent, eye-catching penis?" - which may come to be a problem, especially insofar as I try to depict nudism through my photography.
In my mind, it's all different aspects of a cohesive whole, which combine to form my artistic vision - the pursuit of ideal, aesthetic/erotic (does it matter?) beauty. I struggle to compartmentalize my work - fine art nudes, erotic portraits, artistic pornography. That's why, I suppose, my gender experimentations are suffused with eroticism (and why so much of my experiences with trying on clothes includes taking all of them off).
That's also why, however, you can see all of these things here in one place - my experiences with nudism, my pursuit of erotic beauty, and my experiments with gender. Why should they have to be separated? Except that in our culture, anything to do with sex carries a shame and a stigma. But I believe that's an error that ought to be corrected. Which is why I feel glorified by "eroticizing" (sexualizing, if you will) anything and everything - even something like nudism, provided I take the time to explain that something being sex-y is quite different than something being sex-ual.
I'm not saying we should all be having sex out in the streets (although that sounds exciting as a fantasy). I'm just saying that if it turns you on to walk around town naked, then more power to you. Because that shouldn't hurt anyone. And if it does, or if we don't live in a world where the rest of the population can behave themselves under those conditions, then why the fuck not? Something - or maybe someone(s) - needs to change.
I could certainly stand to make a greater effort to keep these subjects separate, but in consideration of my dedication to posting daily blogs this year, in conjunction with the fact that I've amassed quite a backlog, when a photoshoot with solid nudist intentions evolves (as they sometimes do, in a liberated atmosphere - I've said more about this here) into something rather more erotic, I feel compelled to keep it undivided.
This, however, can have the effect of muddying what I'd like to be a nudist statement, when it's paired with something considerably non-nudist in nature, often leading me to long, anxious deliberations about whether or not to tag a post with the 'nudism' label (for partial relevance), at the risk of drawing unfavorable associations to the lifestyle.
Sometimes the contrast is more egregious (for example, pairing Sunning in November with the fourth installment of The Naughty Cot - although it seemed a natural progression at the time), and other times I end up sporting a semi in what I wanted to be a nudist-kosher image. The latter is what I'd like to explore further today.
The deviantART Influence
In the days of Flickr, which has a fairly liberal policy on the posting of pornography (provided everything is properly filtered) - or at least it did when I posted there, several years ago - I could post nude pictures with a flaccid penis, or erotic pictures with a raging hard-on. It didn't matter. And I explored both extremes.
[description: portrait of a nude male torso, penis flaccid]
Two states - flaccid and erect
[description: portrait of a nude male torso, penis erect]
Two states - flaccid and erect
[description: portrait of a nude male torso, penis erect]
As for the in-between, there was no sense in showing up half-cocked, as it were. But when I came to deviantART [NSFW], I had to adopt a different approach, because that site doesn't allow "pornographic" images. I, of course, still took those images, I just couldn't share them there. But given the highly variable nature of the male genitalia, it didn't take me long to start experimenting with the line between flaccid and erect.
You could argue that I've been pushing the boundaries, trying to fly erections "under the radar" - although in truth, this is not what I've been doing. It is a fact that the rules make a binary distinction between flaccid and erect, and it is similarly a fact of biology that the line between these states is vague and fluid. I am merely exploring that realm, as any good artist would - trying to pin down just how erect a penis has to be in order to be considered "erect" (asking the important questions).
As such, I quickly found that I could produce erotic portraits that do not explicitly depict erections, yet present a rather more...impressive stature than your perfectly sterile fine art nudes. Once again this brings up the issue of where the line between art and porn - and also between the aesthetic and erotic appreciation of physical beauty - should be drawn, which is a central and recurring theme in my art.
[description: portrait of a nude male torso, penis engorged, but hanging limply]
At which point does it cease to be flaccid,
and proceed to be considered erect?
At which point does it cease to be flaccid,
and proceed to be considered erect?
The result is that I suppose I have trained myself, to some degree, to blur the line between "pure" nudes and erotic (but not strictly pornographic) nudes - "what male nude image couldn't be improved", in essence, "with a more prominent, eye-catching penis?" - which may come to be a problem, especially insofar as I try to depict nudism through my photography.
In my mind, it's all different aspects of a cohesive whole, which combine to form my artistic vision - the pursuit of ideal, aesthetic/erotic (does it matter?) beauty. I struggle to compartmentalize my work - fine art nudes, erotic portraits, artistic pornography. That's why, I suppose, my gender experimentations are suffused with eroticism (and why so much of my experiences with trying on clothes includes taking all of them off).
That's also why, however, you can see all of these things here in one place - my experiences with nudism, my pursuit of erotic beauty, and my experiments with gender. Why should they have to be separated? Except that in our culture, anything to do with sex carries a shame and a stigma. But I believe that's an error that ought to be corrected. Which is why I feel glorified by "eroticizing" (sexualizing, if you will) anything and everything - even something like nudism, provided I take the time to explain that something being sex-y is quite different than something being sex-ual.
I'm not saying we should all be having sex out in the streets (although that sounds exciting as a fantasy). I'm just saying that if it turns you on to walk around town naked, then more power to you. Because that shouldn't hurt anyone. And if it does, or if we don't live in a world where the rest of the population can behave themselves under those conditions, then why the fuck not? Something - or maybe someone(s) - needs to change.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Sexy Superpowers
Sometimes, Reddit is just an unproductive time sink. But occasionally, you'll come across stimulating content, like this question posed to AskReddit: "What is the furthest you've been from clothing?" (challenge accepted!). A more common question you'll encounter is something along the lines of, "if you could have any superpower, what would it be?" More interestingly, I saw a variation of this question on AskRedditAfterDark (for all your naughtier questions), that ran along the lines of, "if you could have three superpowers designed to facilitate three of your biggest sexual fetishes, what would they be?" I had a field day with this one.
1. Observer Mode (a.k.a. Ghosting)
- to facilitate voyeurism
Though often interpreted as the ability to sneak into people's homes and watch them undress, this ability has a much broader application. The thing is, I enjoy looking at attractive people. I like talking to them and interacting with them, too, but that isn't my strong suit, and moreover, I don't want to be a nuisance. I don't need to interject myself into the days or the lives of every attractive stranger I come across. I'd just love to be able to get more of an eyeful than I feel is permitted by the standard rules of social decorum. If I were invisible, I could walk right up to a person and get a good, solid look at them. Maybe watch them for a while. Until I'm satisfied. Then I would move on. That would make me very happy on an almost daily basis.
But I don't want to do this at the expense of making others uncomfortable, or drawing negative attention to myself (the last thing I'd want is a reputation as a creepy stalker). It's not as though I don't understand how that feels - I have social anxiety, so I'm constantly worried about the attention and perceived judgment of others. I like watching dancers and musicians and other performers because it's an invitation to stare. I like photography because you can study a picture for hours if desired, without affecting the subject in any way. I model because I want people to admire my body, but I know it would make me uncomfortable if they did it in person. But it is better if the person is right in front of you. You get a wider variety of views, plus it satisfies something primal - hence the bragging rights of seeing something "with your own eyes". I don't need these people to interact with me, and I don't want them to become self-conscious. I'd just as soon be a ghost or a fly on the wall - an invisible observer.
Now, if that means I can sneak into people's homes and watch them undress - well then, that's a bonus! It sounds terrible in this climate to imply that you want to invade people's privacy for the purpose of sexual gratification (national security, on the other hand, is perfectly kosher), but invasion of privacy is really not the point. I think most people, offered the opportunity to watch someone they're attracted to undress, with their consent, would happily take the offer. The peeping tom's transgression, then, is taking that opportunity without attaining the necessary consent (and often engaging in other illicit behaviors such as trespassing, and maybe even breaking and entering, to do so). I derive no pleasure from the thought of violating anyone's consent. But opportunities to attain this sort of consent, in the buttoned-up society we live in - but most especially as someone who is not naturally very social - are few and far between.
That doesn't mean an invasion of privacy is justified - that's the selfish mistake of an antisocial deviant. But you can't disparage me my fantasies. I'd even be willing to place considerable limits on this superpower, to prevent it from being abused. I don't just want to be invisible and able to pass through walls. I'm willing to be unable to affect the scene before me in any way, or even to carry any kind of information I might acquire while "ghosting" beyond the scene (the one exception being memory recall for the sole purpose of sexual fantasy) - I have no interest in blackmail, or naming-and-shaming in any form. This power could have an amazing application to candid photography, but that's a step beyond what I'm proposing. I just want more eye candy in my life, of a more satisfying variety than what you can find on the web, and with more diversity than simply the pool of those individuals with a low barrier to exhibitionism in the first place.
Which brings me to my next sexy superpower:
2. Blindspot (a.k.a. The Emperor's New Clothes)
- to facilitate exhibitionism
For my next superpower, I'm thinking of something that would enable me to go out in public naked, or even engage in sexual activities, without the usual fanfare that would cause. I don't think ghosting would cut it, because I would want to actually have a corporeal body - something that can be seen and touched - and be able to interact with my environment, including the people around me (in normal, everyday ways). Basically, I want to be able to go about my life without clothes on, occasionally engaging in illicit public trysts (and also photoshoots), but I want everybody to treat it like it's the most natural thing in the world, hardly even worth commenting on.
This would require a kind of highly specialized mind control - something of a psychological blindspot. People either simply wouldn't notice me (which wouldn't work if I wanted to, say, check out at the grocery store), or would simply overlook the fact that I'm naked, or stroking my cock in full view of public. It's like that information either wouldn't make it to their brain, or their brain state would be manipulated to consider it normal. Think of it as wearing the Emperor's New Clothes. I'd be naked (or acting indecently), but people would treat me just like I was fully dressed (or perfectly decent).
I would be satisfied with this because my interest in exhibitionism has little or nothing to do with how people react. I like to be admired, yes, but my interest in public acts isn't dependent on audience participation - I don't understand how shocking and offending people is supposed to get me off. I just like the idea of being naked and/or engaged in erotic activities outdoors and in public places - where these sorts of things don't usually happen. Maybe some of the novelty would wear off as the taboo erodes, and in absence of even the suggestion of being noticed, but I can tell you that even in that case I would still enjoy the feeling of being naked and/or engaged in sexual activities outdoors or in other locations outside the home. Bedroom and marketplace being equal, that's still two different options where there used to be one.
And speaking of options...
3. Metamorphosis (a.k.a. Shapeshifting)
- to facilitate gender experimentation
My first two superpowers were easy to come up with - as voyeurism and exhibitionism (or getting naked, and seeing other attractive people naked) are at the top of my list of fetishes, as a visual erotic artist. But if I had a third superpower, it would have to be something to do with gender. And what better power could I have than an ability to change the shape of my body at will? Not only would this serve as a painless, instantaneous, and flawless form of sexual reassignment surgery, but I could still keep my penis and use it at will! After all, I'm still attracted to the female sex, and I enjoy the sensations of heteronormative coupling. But it would be fun to learn what sex feels like from the other side of the equation, too; and I'd never have to deal with the frustration of not being able to wear something because of my anatomy ever again!
Of course, there are a lot of other potential uses for this power, like maintaining a youthful appearance indefinitely, growing two penises for double penetration, or satisfying any number of someone else's hard-to-scratch fetishes (bestiality, anyone?). You could even transform yourself into the perfect vision of a mate for that person that you wish would look in your direction. How easy it would be to spice things up in the bedroom! And can you imagine what it would do for my clone photography, being able to change my appearance so easily? But mainly, I'd use it to be the girl I always wanted to be, with a retractable penis to facilitate sexual coupling when I'm in the mood to be the penetrator and not the penetrated.
1. Observer Mode (a.k.a. Ghosting)
- to facilitate voyeurism
Though often interpreted as the ability to sneak into people's homes and watch them undress, this ability has a much broader application. The thing is, I enjoy looking at attractive people. I like talking to them and interacting with them, too, but that isn't my strong suit, and moreover, I don't want to be a nuisance. I don't need to interject myself into the days or the lives of every attractive stranger I come across. I'd just love to be able to get more of an eyeful than I feel is permitted by the standard rules of social decorum. If I were invisible, I could walk right up to a person and get a good, solid look at them. Maybe watch them for a while. Until I'm satisfied. Then I would move on. That would make me very happy on an almost daily basis.
But I don't want to do this at the expense of making others uncomfortable, or drawing negative attention to myself (the last thing I'd want is a reputation as a creepy stalker). It's not as though I don't understand how that feels - I have social anxiety, so I'm constantly worried about the attention and perceived judgment of others. I like watching dancers and musicians and other performers because it's an invitation to stare. I like photography because you can study a picture for hours if desired, without affecting the subject in any way. I model because I want people to admire my body, but I know it would make me uncomfortable if they did it in person. But it is better if the person is right in front of you. You get a wider variety of views, plus it satisfies something primal - hence the bragging rights of seeing something "with your own eyes". I don't need these people to interact with me, and I don't want them to become self-conscious. I'd just as soon be a ghost or a fly on the wall - an invisible observer.
Now, if that means I can sneak into people's homes and watch them undress - well then, that's a bonus! It sounds terrible in this climate to imply that you want to invade people's privacy for the purpose of sexual gratification (national security, on the other hand, is perfectly kosher), but invasion of privacy is really not the point. I think most people, offered the opportunity to watch someone they're attracted to undress, with their consent, would happily take the offer. The peeping tom's transgression, then, is taking that opportunity without attaining the necessary consent (and often engaging in other illicit behaviors such as trespassing, and maybe even breaking and entering, to do so). I derive no pleasure from the thought of violating anyone's consent. But opportunities to attain this sort of consent, in the buttoned-up society we live in - but most especially as someone who is not naturally very social - are few and far between.
That doesn't mean an invasion of privacy is justified - that's the selfish mistake of an antisocial deviant. But you can't disparage me my fantasies. I'd even be willing to place considerable limits on this superpower, to prevent it from being abused. I don't just want to be invisible and able to pass through walls. I'm willing to be unable to affect the scene before me in any way, or even to carry any kind of information I might acquire while "ghosting" beyond the scene (the one exception being memory recall for the sole purpose of sexual fantasy) - I have no interest in blackmail, or naming-and-shaming in any form. This power could have an amazing application to candid photography, but that's a step beyond what I'm proposing. I just want more eye candy in my life, of a more satisfying variety than what you can find on the web, and with more diversity than simply the pool of those individuals with a low barrier to exhibitionism in the first place.
Which brings me to my next sexy superpower:
2. Blindspot (a.k.a. The Emperor's New Clothes)
- to facilitate exhibitionism
For my next superpower, I'm thinking of something that would enable me to go out in public naked, or even engage in sexual activities, without the usual fanfare that would cause. I don't think ghosting would cut it, because I would want to actually have a corporeal body - something that can be seen and touched - and be able to interact with my environment, including the people around me (in normal, everyday ways). Basically, I want to be able to go about my life without clothes on, occasionally engaging in illicit public trysts (and also photoshoots), but I want everybody to treat it like it's the most natural thing in the world, hardly even worth commenting on.
This would require a kind of highly specialized mind control - something of a psychological blindspot. People either simply wouldn't notice me (which wouldn't work if I wanted to, say, check out at the grocery store), or would simply overlook the fact that I'm naked, or stroking my cock in full view of public. It's like that information either wouldn't make it to their brain, or their brain state would be manipulated to consider it normal. Think of it as wearing the Emperor's New Clothes. I'd be naked (or acting indecently), but people would treat me just like I was fully dressed (or perfectly decent).
I would be satisfied with this because my interest in exhibitionism has little or nothing to do with how people react. I like to be admired, yes, but my interest in public acts isn't dependent on audience participation - I don't understand how shocking and offending people is supposed to get me off. I just like the idea of being naked and/or engaged in erotic activities outdoors and in public places - where these sorts of things don't usually happen. Maybe some of the novelty would wear off as the taboo erodes, and in absence of even the suggestion of being noticed, but I can tell you that even in that case I would still enjoy the feeling of being naked and/or engaged in sexual activities outdoors or in other locations outside the home. Bedroom and marketplace being equal, that's still two different options where there used to be one.
And speaking of options...
3. Metamorphosis (a.k.a. Shapeshifting)
- to facilitate gender experimentation
My first two superpowers were easy to come up with - as voyeurism and exhibitionism (or getting naked, and seeing other attractive people naked) are at the top of my list of fetishes, as a visual erotic artist. But if I had a third superpower, it would have to be something to do with gender. And what better power could I have than an ability to change the shape of my body at will? Not only would this serve as a painless, instantaneous, and flawless form of sexual reassignment surgery, but I could still keep my penis and use it at will! After all, I'm still attracted to the female sex, and I enjoy the sensations of heteronormative coupling. But it would be fun to learn what sex feels like from the other side of the equation, too; and I'd never have to deal with the frustration of not being able to wear something because of my anatomy ever again!
Of course, there are a lot of other potential uses for this power, like maintaining a youthful appearance indefinitely, growing two penises for double penetration, or satisfying any number of someone else's hard-to-scratch fetishes (bestiality, anyone?). You could even transform yourself into the perfect vision of a mate for that person that you wish would look in your direction. How easy it would be to spice things up in the bedroom! And can you imagine what it would do for my clone photography, being able to change my appearance so easily? But mainly, I'd use it to be the girl I always wanted to be, with a retractable penis to facilitate sexual coupling when I'm in the mood to be the penetrator and not the penetrated.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Naked Erection
[description: a nude man stands proudly next to a newly-constructed bookcase]
A.k.a. constructing a shelf, while nude. I could have used the word "construction", but this is more fun, isn't it? After all, the shelf is designed to stand up straight and tall when it's finished. ;-) Although I'm probably just pissing everybody off - half the people will be mad that there isn't really an erection, and the other half will be annoyed by the "gratuitous" sexual innuendo. Feel free to add in your own references to "screwing" and "hammering", as well as being "nailed". (It's almost like our sexual slang was invented by carpenters!).
[description: series of nude selfies at various stages throughout the process of construction]
I must apologize for the colors. This room was doing something weird with the white balance. I think the blue light from the window was mixing with the yellow light from the fixture, producing a sickly green pallor against the walls, or something. And I can't for the life of me seem to fix it. Lesson learned the hard way.
[description: series of nude videos documenting the construction of the bookcase]
A.k.a. constructing a shelf, while nude. I could have used the word "construction", but this is more fun, isn't it? After all, the shelf is designed to stand up straight and tall when it's finished. ;-) Although I'm probably just pissing everybody off - half the people will be mad that there isn't really an erection, and the other half will be annoyed by the "gratuitous" sexual innuendo. Feel free to add in your own references to "screwing" and "hammering", as well as being "nailed". (It's almost like our sexual slang was invented by carpenters!).
[description: series of nude selfies at various stages throughout the process of construction]
I must apologize for the colors. This room was doing something weird with the white balance. I think the blue light from the window was mixing with the yellow light from the fixture, producing a sickly green pallor against the walls, or something. And I can't for the life of me seem to fix it. Lesson learned the hard way.
[description: series of nude videos documenting the construction of the bookcase]
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Sunning in November
Who would have thought? Although the shorter days, and lower-angled sunlight, does present a challenge to maintaining that fading summer's glow.
[description: a nude figure lays out in faded, evening sunlight]
I realized something. And this is something you've probably already figured out, but...I've been worrying over the fact that I still have so many outdoor/nice weather shoots to post, even though the summer ended months ago. And yet, here I am, on a dry, seventy degree day in November - a bit cooler than those ninety degree days we had in October, but certainly warm enough to do yard work in the nude - enjoying the weather outdoors, and taking pictures of myself while doing so.
Because, you see, the truth is, when I'm cold and bundled up indoors, I'm less inspired to get up and create nude art. But when I have a chance to get outdoors naked, I feel like documenting it in some way. It's not like I don't think indoor nudes are interesting, but something about getting naked outside really gets me going. Maybe it's because I've spent so much time inside naked, and the outside thing is still novel to me.
After all, it's only been in the last year that I've had a regular (sort of) opportunity to go outside naked. And though I've spent a lot of time doing that at nudist resorts over the last eight years or so, that's a context in which I'm not allowed to pull out my camera. So maybe that's it. In any case, I predict I'll continue posting outdoor nudes - just maybe less of them, as the weather gets progressively colder - through the winter, even when it starts snowing.
[description: animated gif image of a man raking leaves in the nude]
I took this photo for comparison. I don't want to say there isn't a reason for it - protection from the elements, which is maybe more important the older and frailer you get, or an old-world mentality where baring skin is still considered scandalous (although, on the other hand, I do know some pretty old people who are deeply entrenched in the nudist lifestyle) - but I have to admit the contrast is striking, when my rather older neighbors come out to do yard work bundled up in their jackets and long pants, on a mild day that I think is perfect to enjoy some out-of-season nudism. Then again, I recall seeing them in long sleeves throughout the summer, too. I guess it just goes to show that it's all a matter of preference.
[description: series of selfies laying out nude on a cot as the sunlight wanes]
It's a testament to how much my life has changed in the last ten years, since I did my original Daily Nudes project. Then I was hiding in the shadows, sneaking around the house late at night. Now I'm basking in full daylight. My life's not perfect, and there are still things that could be improved, but I've come to believe that what Mick Jagger once sang is true - you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find...you get what you need. Of course, it probably helps that with age comes wisdom and opportunity - getting to know yourself well enough to know what you want, and having the confidence (and authority - which is doubly hard to come by when you're a minor, and you're living under somebody else's roof) to take it, without needing the approval of others first.
"I'm not searching for a reason to enjoy myself.
Seems it's better done than argued with somebody else."
- The Yardbirds
[description: a nude figure lays out in faded, evening sunlight]
I realized something. And this is something you've probably already figured out, but...I've been worrying over the fact that I still have so many outdoor/nice weather shoots to post, even though the summer ended months ago. And yet, here I am, on a dry, seventy degree day in November - a bit cooler than those ninety degree days we had in October, but certainly warm enough to do yard work in the nude - enjoying the weather outdoors, and taking pictures of myself while doing so.
Because, you see, the truth is, when I'm cold and bundled up indoors, I'm less inspired to get up and create nude art. But when I have a chance to get outdoors naked, I feel like documenting it in some way. It's not like I don't think indoor nudes are interesting, but something about getting naked outside really gets me going. Maybe it's because I've spent so much time inside naked, and the outside thing is still novel to me.
After all, it's only been in the last year that I've had a regular (sort of) opportunity to go outside naked. And though I've spent a lot of time doing that at nudist resorts over the last eight years or so, that's a context in which I'm not allowed to pull out my camera. So maybe that's it. In any case, I predict I'll continue posting outdoor nudes - just maybe less of them, as the weather gets progressively colder - through the winter, even when it starts snowing.
[description: animated gif image of a man raking leaves in the nude]
I took this photo for comparison. I don't want to say there isn't a reason for it - protection from the elements, which is maybe more important the older and frailer you get, or an old-world mentality where baring skin is still considered scandalous (although, on the other hand, I do know some pretty old people who are deeply entrenched in the nudist lifestyle) - but I have to admit the contrast is striking, when my rather older neighbors come out to do yard work bundled up in their jackets and long pants, on a mild day that I think is perfect to enjoy some out-of-season nudism. Then again, I recall seeing them in long sleeves throughout the summer, too. I guess it just goes to show that it's all a matter of preference.
[description: series of selfies laying out nude on a cot as the sunlight wanes]
It's a testament to how much my life has changed in the last ten years, since I did my original Daily Nudes project. Then I was hiding in the shadows, sneaking around the house late at night. Now I'm basking in full daylight. My life's not perfect, and there are still things that could be improved, but I've come to believe that what Mick Jagger once sang is true - you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find...you get what you need. Of course, it probably helps that with age comes wisdom and opportunity - getting to know yourself well enough to know what you want, and having the confidence (and authority - which is doubly hard to come by when you're a minor, and you're living under somebody else's roof) to take it, without needing the approval of others first.
"I'm not searching for a reason to enjoy myself.
Seems it's better done than argued with somebody else."
- The Yardbirds
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Penis Measurement
[description: a man holds a ruler against an erection that exceeds the 7" line]
Not the most honest angle, I must admit...
Not the most honest angle, I must admit...
There's a lot of misinformation about penis size out there. Frankly, I don't think it's nearly as much of a big deal as some people make it out to be, although I'd have to concede that because it's not a big deal to me, doesn't mean that it can't be a big deal to someone else. After all, I might feel differently if I had a different penis.
Now, I don't have the biggest penis in the world - not by a long shot. It's not going to break any records. But I'd have to say it strikes an impressive profile, and it seems to be well-suited to the task it was designed for. I certainly have no complaints whatsoever in that respect. However, I am a "grower", so it's considerably smaller when not aroused (although never small enough, it seems, when I'm trying to squeeze into a bikini or a tight dress).
I feel like this should go without saying, but then my perspective (as a person who possesses one of these organs that behaves in this way) could be biased. You cannot judge a man's true size in its flaccid state. That's like underestimating a tiny snake in the grass, when what you're actually looking at is merely the tail of a great serpent.
I must admit I find it very humorous that I've been described as both "tiny" and "huge" in different contexts. Perhaps that's why, to me, anyone's judgment of a penis' size seems insignificant, because it is my experience that the penis is a transformative, and often times deceptive, organ. That may also, incidentally, contribute to the misinformation that's out there (of course, ego is another significant motivator).
As a small step towards rectifying that misinformation (and just because it's fun, and gives me an excuse to take some pornographic pictures), I've decided to measure my penis for you here, so you can put a number to the images you've seen in the past, and perhaps get a somewhat more realistic idea of what a satisfactory penis measurement is.
[description: a flaccid penis is measured against a ruler]
About four inches flaccid, although resting size can actually vary depending on any number of unknown factors - this isn't the smallest I've ever been. Plus, you tend to stretch it out in order to measure it - it could be sitting all curled up and appear even smaller. Sometimes it behaves kind of like an accordion. Or, if there's been some stimulation - whether deliberate or incidental (even getting stuck between my thighs when I cross my legs could be enough to set it off) - it may rest temporarily at a larger size. You just can't ever be too sure.
[description: an erection is measured, both length-wise, and around its girth]
I'm gonna say about six and a half inches erect, from base to tip, with an approximately five inch diameter. I don't know how that compares to the average - it would be interesting to do a population-wide study, and have every owner of a penis come in and get measured in a standardized way (because the way you measure a penis can drastically affect the results), both flaccid and erect. Imagine if you could pick your nurse (male or female) from a lineup? Hell, we might as well measure shooting distance while we're at it! Wouldn't that be fun? It sure beats giving blood...
Monday, November 26, 2018
Teaching Girls To Sext
[description: naked bathroom selfie with hands covering naughty bits]
I came across another article on sexting, and it struck me as approaching the issue very much from an abstinence-only sort of perspective. Like, "sexting is risky: don't do it." And this is from an otherwise liberal publication, all about female empowerment. Am I wrong in sensing an ideological contradiction here? Feminists say, "teach men not to rape", not "teach women how not to be raped" (e.g., don't wear this, don't say that, don't go there after dark). Why, then, is it "teach girls not to sext"? Shouldn't it be "teach boys (and girls) not to slut-shame"? We should be holding bullies accountable for their harassment - not teaching their victims to refrain from expressing themselves, in order to avoid the attention.
And why is confidence always considered telling boys no, but never having pride in one's appearance and wanting to show it off? ("Just say no" is an anti-consent platform). Sexual repression is not a requisite for the empowerment of women. Why is every girl who sexts a helpless victim (as opposed to an independent agent), and every boy who asks for sexts a deceptive manipulator (as opposed to, say, a doting admirer of the female form)? Is there no context in which the sharing of these sorts of pictures could be considered a positive and healthy expression of eroticism (as I've said before, one that carries zero risk of unplanned pregnancy or transmission of diseases)? When confidences are broken (as they often are) why aren't boys held responsible for their disrespectful behavior toward girls who do them the kindness of indulging their desires and fantasies? I swear I'll never understand the Madonna-whore mentality of boys liking to see girls naked, but then hurting the girls who show them their naked bodies. Isn't it the responsibility of a progressive platform (and just a decent, moral agent besides) to punish the mob throwing rocks - not join in the stoning of their victim? Didn't Christ himself say as much?
Yet why do even girls and their "protectors" contribute to this shaming culture, as if they're being paid off by some conservative lobby who wants less nude images circling around, instead of more respect shown towards each other and their bodies? It's like they see people misbehaving around a sexual trigger, and use it as evidence to support their theory that sex is corrupt and must be avoided, instead of trying to fix the problem and teach young people how to approach sex more maturely (I mean, how are we supposed to expect them to pick this up if we don't teach them?). If you can't encounter a nude woman on the street and not assault her, then #sorrynotsorry, but you need to be culled from the human race, so the rest of us can get on with things. And if you can't treat a girl who sexts with respect, then you seriously need to take a class in human decency, before it's too late and your behavior escalates from teasing a girl until she kills herself, to going out and killing "the little whore" yourself - like a 21st century Jack the Ripper.
[description: naked bathroom selfie with everything exposed]
There's nothing wrong with appreciating the erotic appeal of a nude photo. And there's nothing wrong with letting other people see your naked body. It doesn't diminish your value as a human being. You should know the risks, but it's worth talking about the benefits, too - the reasons people do these things in the first place. Not because they're dumb and impulsive (most adults' proposed "solution" to the problem of sexting is indistinguishable from the immature bullying victims receive from their peers - sometimes leading to suicide), but because it's the driving force in life, that has the power to bring us pleasure.
As both a nudist and an erotic model myself, I want to live in a world - a happier, less sexually-repressed world, where people are held accountable for their treatment of others - where people can do these things and still be respected as human beings, not one where they are shamed in order to stamp out this behavior and fulfill a sexually conservative agenda. If you feel the same way, the best thing you can do in protest is show a naked image of yourself to the world, and give the middle finger to anyone who talks down about you for it.
[description: naked bathroom selfie with two middle fingers]
Tell them, "I am a human being. I have agency. I choose to share my naked body with the world because I am proud of it, and I have the confidence to show it off. And if you don't like it, well you can just fuck off, because you don't get to tell me what I can or cannot do with my body." And all of us who engage in these behaviors need to rally together and support one another. Spread love, not hate.
I came across another article on sexting, and it struck me as approaching the issue very much from an abstinence-only sort of perspective. Like, "sexting is risky: don't do it." And this is from an otherwise liberal publication, all about female empowerment. Am I wrong in sensing an ideological contradiction here? Feminists say, "teach men not to rape", not "teach women how not to be raped" (e.g., don't wear this, don't say that, don't go there after dark). Why, then, is it "teach girls not to sext"? Shouldn't it be "teach boys (and girls) not to slut-shame"? We should be holding bullies accountable for their harassment - not teaching their victims to refrain from expressing themselves, in order to avoid the attention.
And why is confidence always considered telling boys no, but never having pride in one's appearance and wanting to show it off? ("Just say no" is an anti-consent platform). Sexual repression is not a requisite for the empowerment of women. Why is every girl who sexts a helpless victim (as opposed to an independent agent), and every boy who asks for sexts a deceptive manipulator (as opposed to, say, a doting admirer of the female form)? Is there no context in which the sharing of these sorts of pictures could be considered a positive and healthy expression of eroticism (as I've said before, one that carries zero risk of unplanned pregnancy or transmission of diseases)? When confidences are broken (as they often are) why aren't boys held responsible for their disrespectful behavior toward girls who do them the kindness of indulging their desires and fantasies? I swear I'll never understand the Madonna-whore mentality of boys liking to see girls naked, but then hurting the girls who show them their naked bodies. Isn't it the responsibility of a progressive platform (and just a decent, moral agent besides) to punish the mob throwing rocks - not join in the stoning of their victim? Didn't Christ himself say as much?
Yet why do even girls and their "protectors" contribute to this shaming culture, as if they're being paid off by some conservative lobby who wants less nude images circling around, instead of more respect shown towards each other and their bodies? It's like they see people misbehaving around a sexual trigger, and use it as evidence to support their theory that sex is corrupt and must be avoided, instead of trying to fix the problem and teach young people how to approach sex more maturely (I mean, how are we supposed to expect them to pick this up if we don't teach them?). If you can't encounter a nude woman on the street and not assault her, then #sorrynotsorry, but you need to be culled from the human race, so the rest of us can get on with things. And if you can't treat a girl who sexts with respect, then you seriously need to take a class in human decency, before it's too late and your behavior escalates from teasing a girl until she kills herself, to going out and killing "the little whore" yourself - like a 21st century Jack the Ripper.
[description: naked bathroom selfie with everything exposed]
There's nothing wrong with appreciating the erotic appeal of a nude photo. And there's nothing wrong with letting other people see your naked body. It doesn't diminish your value as a human being. You should know the risks, but it's worth talking about the benefits, too - the reasons people do these things in the first place. Not because they're dumb and impulsive (most adults' proposed "solution" to the problem of sexting is indistinguishable from the immature bullying victims receive from their peers - sometimes leading to suicide), but because it's the driving force in life, that has the power to bring us pleasure.
As both a nudist and an erotic model myself, I want to live in a world - a happier, less sexually-repressed world, where people are held accountable for their treatment of others - where people can do these things and still be respected as human beings, not one where they are shamed in order to stamp out this behavior and fulfill a sexually conservative agenda. If you feel the same way, the best thing you can do in protest is show a naked image of yourself to the world, and give the middle finger to anyone who talks down about you for it.
[description: naked bathroom selfie with two middle fingers]
Tell them, "I am a human being. I have agency. I choose to share my naked body with the world because I am proud of it, and I have the confidence to show it off. And if you don't like it, well you can just fuck off, because you don't get to tell me what I can or cannot do with my body." And all of us who engage in these behaviors need to rally together and support one another. Spread love, not hate.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Boutiquing
[description: two fitting room selfies contrast casual clothes with a formal dress]
I tend to like to get a shot of the street clothes I wore into the store, to contrast with whatever I try on. In this case, it was nothing but dresses, and in the cooler months, I tend to be bundled up in more "conservative" clothes. So I think it makes an interesting contrast here. I loved the cut of the skirt on that blue dress, but the top was dangerously restrictive on me - you can see it pressing into my chest.
[description: three more fitting room selfies in different dresses]
I seemed to be picking out all blues and purples this time for some reason. That first dress was really pretty, and fit me decently. But I was just trying things on for fun. Do I really need more dresses for my closet?
[description: naked fitting room selfies from back and front]
Honestly, I think I'm becoming disillusioned with fitting room selfies. The amount of effort required to wrangle a usable result, compared with the frequent mediocrity of that result (few of these images truly do justice to the clothes they depict), compounded by the atmosphere of the fitting room - in which cramped quarters, poor lighting, and a sense of urgency often exacerbated by the presence of others milling about outside (or rapidly approaching closing times -_-;), impairs one's ability to construct a decent shot - makes me think they're hardly worth it. Still, I like trying on new and different things (also, having an excuse to get undressed outside the home), and I enjoy sharing those experiences, so... I guess I'm stuck.
I tend to like to get a shot of the street clothes I wore into the store, to contrast with whatever I try on. In this case, it was nothing but dresses, and in the cooler months, I tend to be bundled up in more "conservative" clothes. So I think it makes an interesting contrast here. I loved the cut of the skirt on that blue dress, but the top was dangerously restrictive on me - you can see it pressing into my chest.
[description: three more fitting room selfies in different dresses]
I seemed to be picking out all blues and purples this time for some reason. That first dress was really pretty, and fit me decently. But I was just trying things on for fun. Do I really need more dresses for my closet?
[description: naked fitting room selfies from back and front]
Honestly, I think I'm becoming disillusioned with fitting room selfies. The amount of effort required to wrangle a usable result, compared with the frequent mediocrity of that result (few of these images truly do justice to the clothes they depict), compounded by the atmosphere of the fitting room - in which cramped quarters, poor lighting, and a sense of urgency often exacerbated by the presence of others milling about outside (or rapidly approaching closing times -_-;), impairs one's ability to construct a decent shot - makes me think they're hardly worth it. Still, I like trying on new and different things (also, having an excuse to get undressed outside the home), and I enjoy sharing those experiences, so... I guess I'm stuck.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Nudist Cube
[description: a naked torso sits in a chair, holding a scrambled Rubik's cube]
This year, for the first time in my life, I learned how to solve a Rubik's cube. And I've discovered that there are a couple of common misconceptions that are undoubtedly preventing the majority of the population from solving this puzzle. Firstly, that it's a puzzle you solve, rather than a puzzle you learn. This is perhaps the largest obstacle to looking up the solution - I know it was for me. I had this idea in my mind that looking up the solution was cheating. But the reality is, it took even Erno Rubik himself a month to solve the puzzle the first time. I don't know that anyone could sit down and work out the puzzle in any kind of reasonable time frame, the way Will Smith's character does in The Pursuit of Happyness, without studying, learning, practicing, and memorizing the algorithms needed to solve the puzzle. So unless you're some kind of supergenius (in which case you don't need my advice), I suggest you swallow your pride. Looking up the solution isn't the last recourse of a frustrated incompetent - it's just the beginning of the fun you can have with this toy.
The other common misconception about the Rubik's cube is that you solve it face by face, rather than layer by layer. Most people are able to solve one face of the cube without too much difficulty. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, they get to work on a second face, only to find that it's not so easy to put together without messing up the face they've already solved. The truth is, you can't solve the puzzle one face at a time, you have to solve it in such a way that each of the pieces gradually falls into place - layer by layer. So your second landmark shouldn't be two whole faces solved, but one face, with each of the pieces in its proper place - by matching up with the colors of each of the sides. In other words, you should have the first layer solved. After that, you can get to work on the middle layer (this is where things get progressively more complicated), then put the opposing face together, and make sure its pieces are all in the right place (solving the final layer). Like so:
I had to split the video into two parts due to Blogger's file size limits. I considered editing the video down, but I thought it would be more effective if you got to watch the solution from start to finish with no cuts. I was able to get my solving time down to under four minutes, which I feel is pretty good (although the world record is measured in seconds). I should probably be able to do the first part faster, but I enjoy it the most because I can solve it intuitively - by looking and seeing where each piece needs to go. After this, more and more complicated algorithms (series of twists) are required to move the pieces around without messing up the ones you've already solved. Short of committing those sequences to memory, you'll probably need to reference them as I do.
This video may be a textbook definition of "gratuitous nudity", but I thought it would be neat to record a video of me solving a Rubik's cube from the perspective of being a nudist. (Certainly, there's nothing remarkable about the way - or the time - in which I'm solving the cube). Alternatively, I suppose this could be considered a form of sapiosexual porn. :-p
This year, for the first time in my life, I learned how to solve a Rubik's cube. And I've discovered that there are a couple of common misconceptions that are undoubtedly preventing the majority of the population from solving this puzzle. Firstly, that it's a puzzle you solve, rather than a puzzle you learn. This is perhaps the largest obstacle to looking up the solution - I know it was for me. I had this idea in my mind that looking up the solution was cheating. But the reality is, it took even Erno Rubik himself a month to solve the puzzle the first time. I don't know that anyone could sit down and work out the puzzle in any kind of reasonable time frame, the way Will Smith's character does in The Pursuit of Happyness, without studying, learning, practicing, and memorizing the algorithms needed to solve the puzzle. So unless you're some kind of supergenius (in which case you don't need my advice), I suggest you swallow your pride. Looking up the solution isn't the last recourse of a frustrated incompetent - it's just the beginning of the fun you can have with this toy.
The other common misconception about the Rubik's cube is that you solve it face by face, rather than layer by layer. Most people are able to solve one face of the cube without too much difficulty. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, they get to work on a second face, only to find that it's not so easy to put together without messing up the face they've already solved. The truth is, you can't solve the puzzle one face at a time, you have to solve it in such a way that each of the pieces gradually falls into place - layer by layer. So your second landmark shouldn't be two whole faces solved, but one face, with each of the pieces in its proper place - by matching up with the colors of each of the sides. In other words, you should have the first layer solved. After that, you can get to work on the middle layer (this is where things get progressively more complicated), then put the opposing face together, and make sure its pieces are all in the right place (solving the final layer). Like so:
[description: video demonstration of a naked man solving a Rubik's cube]
Part 1 - solving the first layer
Part 1 - solving the first layer
I had to split the video into two parts due to Blogger's file size limits. I considered editing the video down, but I thought it would be more effective if you got to watch the solution from start to finish with no cuts. I was able to get my solving time down to under four minutes, which I feel is pretty good (although the world record is measured in seconds). I should probably be able to do the first part faster, but I enjoy it the most because I can solve it intuitively - by looking and seeing where each piece needs to go. After this, more and more complicated algorithms (series of twists) are required to move the pieces around without messing up the ones you've already solved. Short of committing those sequences to memory, you'll probably need to reference them as I do.
[description: video demonstration of a naked man solving a Rubik's cube]
Part 2 - this is where the magic happens
Part 2 - this is where the magic happens
This video may be a textbook definition of "gratuitous nudity", but I thought it would be neat to record a video of me solving a Rubik's cube from the perspective of being a nudist. (Certainly, there's nothing remarkable about the way - or the time - in which I'm solving the cube). Alternatively, I suppose this could be considered a form of sapiosexual porn. :-p
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Stuffed
Happy Thanksgiving! In the spirit of the holiday, I've decided to stuff my turkey. (If that's not a valid euphemism, well...it should be).
[description: back-end naked mirror selfie on all fours demonstrating the use of a butt plug]
It all started with me coming across (though not literally :-p) an image on Reddit. I would have loved to have shared it with you, but I went back to look for it a week later, and I couldn't find it. (You know, every time someone says "nothing ever vanishes from the internet", I want to come back with a "yeah, but can you actually find it?"). It showed a girl either naked or wearing a short skirt, bending over to reveal a jeweled butt plug in her ass. I thought it was cute, and also extremely perverted. My mind started to wander, and I decided to try one myself. It could be fun, and think of the pictures I could take!
Now, I'm not an anal pro (contrary to your fantasies, I'm sure :-p), so it was a little uncomfortable getting it in (with lots of lube, of course). And it felt weird at first, but after a few minutes, I guess I got used to it. I could walk around with it in - in fact, I was surprised by how well it was hidden within the folds of my butt cheeks when not, you know, bent over with my legs spread.
[description: back-side comparison selfies standing up, and bent over with legs spread]
I guess the advantage to using a butt plug is the continuous anal stimulation, although there's also the psychological element of naughtiness - "hehe, I've got something in my butt!" Both of these were effective for me.
[description: kneeling selfie with legs spread, butt plug visible, with throbbing erection]
I wanted to try having intercourse while plugged - something that has never been entirely practical using dildos that aren't designed to stay put. Lucky for me, I had a willing and enthusiastic partner on hand. -_^
[description: naked mirror selfies engaged in intercourse while plugged]
I was pretty excited - the whole experience felt great; I hate to judge anything by a single data point (especially when it's colored by "first time" feelings) - because sometimes orgasms are just more or less intense, depending on unknown factors - but I feel like it was even more pleasurable than usual. Although one downside to that - and I'm sure my partner would agree - is that maybe I came a little too fast. Pulling the butt plug out afterwards was again slightly uncomfortable, but less so compared to putting it in.
I would love to play around with this toy some more. I have to admit the thought of wearing it out of the house - especially, for example, while wearing a skirt and no underwear - excites me. I just want to be careful, because we're dealing with delicate, internal anatomy here.
[description: photo of a butt plug, focused on the bright pink jewel affixed to the end]
I really like how photogenic this butt plug is (I've also seen it referred to as a "princess plug" - it's a magical world where people's assholes look like glittering jewels!), but I've since read that it's not 100% safe - there have been cases where it's gotten lost up inside, due to an insufficiently flared base. Maybe this is rare (I would hope), but even if it's one in a hundred cases - or even ten thousand - I really don't want to be one of those exceptions that ends up in the emergency room due to a sex toy mishap. That's not the kind of risk I want to take with my body. So maybe I'll have to look for one that has a wider base, even if it's less photogenic.
[description: back-end naked mirror selfie on all fours demonstrating the use of a butt plug]
It all started with me coming across (though not literally :-p) an image on Reddit. I would have loved to have shared it with you, but I went back to look for it a week later, and I couldn't find it. (You know, every time someone says "nothing ever vanishes from the internet", I want to come back with a "yeah, but can you actually find it?"). It showed a girl either naked or wearing a short skirt, bending over to reveal a jeweled butt plug in her ass. I thought it was cute, and also extremely perverted. My mind started to wander, and I decided to try one myself. It could be fun, and think of the pictures I could take!
[description: naked selfie reflected in the mirrored surface of a butt plug sitting outdoors]
My very first butt plug
My very first butt plug
Now, I'm not an anal pro (contrary to your fantasies, I'm sure :-p), so it was a little uncomfortable getting it in (with lots of lube, of course). And it felt weird at first, but after a few minutes, I guess I got used to it. I could walk around with it in - in fact, I was surprised by how well it was hidden within the folds of my butt cheeks when not, you know, bent over with my legs spread.
[description: back-side comparison selfies standing up, and bent over with legs spread]
I guess the advantage to using a butt plug is the continuous anal stimulation, although there's also the psychological element of naughtiness - "hehe, I've got something in my butt!" Both of these were effective for me.
[description: kneeling selfie with legs spread, butt plug visible, with throbbing erection]
I wanted to try having intercourse while plugged - something that has never been entirely practical using dildos that aren't designed to stay put. Lucky for me, I had a willing and enthusiastic partner on hand. -_^
[description: naked mirror selfies engaged in intercourse while plugged]
I was pretty excited - the whole experience felt great; I hate to judge anything by a single data point (especially when it's colored by "first time" feelings) - because sometimes orgasms are just more or less intense, depending on unknown factors - but I feel like it was even more pleasurable than usual. Although one downside to that - and I'm sure my partner would agree - is that maybe I came a little too fast. Pulling the butt plug out afterwards was again slightly uncomfortable, but less so compared to putting it in.
[description: video demonstration of climax during intercourse while plugged]
I like how the jewel twinkles at the end.
I like how the jewel twinkles at the end.
I would love to play around with this toy some more. I have to admit the thought of wearing it out of the house - especially, for example, while wearing a skirt and no underwear - excites me. I just want to be careful, because we're dealing with delicate, internal anatomy here.
[description: photo of a butt plug, focused on the bright pink jewel affixed to the end]
I really like how photogenic this butt plug is (I've also seen it referred to as a "princess plug" - it's a magical world where people's assholes look like glittering jewels!), but I've since read that it's not 100% safe - there have been cases where it's gotten lost up inside, due to an insufficiently flared base. Maybe this is rare (I would hope), but even if it's one in a hundred cases - or even ten thousand - I really don't want to be one of those exceptions that ends up in the emergency room due to a sex toy mishap. That's not the kind of risk I want to take with my body. So maybe I'll have to look for one that has a wider base, even if it's less photogenic.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Newdity
I have no shortage of creative inspiration as an artist, evidenced by the fact that I could realistically take a break from shooting self-portraits for [at least] a full month, and have enough material just from my backlog to keep posting content daily on my blog, and yet I still insist on taking more pictures (and videos) day after day after day.
Of course, that's not something I'm going to beat myself up about. But I was thinking about something. Nudity is a regular fixture in my life. I'm nude pretty much whenever I can get away with it, except when it's cold (and then, I prefer to wear loose-fitting robes). Which means I'm nude mostly at home. But I think it's safe to say that I'm nude every single day (especially if you consider showers and sleeping), and for a considerable portion of most days.
After all these years, I still enjoy nudity, and I'm still attracted to it. But you do have a tendency to start taking it for granted. From an artistic perspective, I find the naked human body endlessly inspiring - as an object of aesthetic beauty, I'm constantly striving to capture in my photographs (and, lately, videos) what about it I find appealing.
But beyond the artistic element, I was thinking lately about what I can do to recapture that excitement - the erotic element - that nudity entails (that is, besides the explicit approach of spreading my legs or adding an erection). I found myself wandering through the yard with a camera in my hands, compelled to document something naked and exciting, trying to put myself into the mindset of someone for whom being naked is novel and remarkable, and not the default state.
It's true that, to the chagrin of establishment nudists, nudity itself carries the potential for erotic interpretation in the minds of viewers, all depending on context and the viewer's frame of mind. But for me, as the artist who's constantly nude, sometimes I have to step back and think about what actually makes nudity exciting, as opposed to my mundane everyday reality. Because it's more fun that way.
And though I like the idea of a naked paradise, where everyone is unselfconsciously nude, I think that by contrasting nudity with most textiles' mundane everyday reality of being dressed, I can enhance that feeling. That's something I can do with clones, but as a single model, I can also focus on the transitional stage where one moves from the state of being dressed, to one where he becomes undressed - and play with the situations (appropriate or, especially, otherwise) where this might occur.
In this vein, I also like to think back to what it's like when you first discover the taboo appeal of being naked, when you're still a bit shy, just dipping your toes and testing the water. Certainly there's a different kind of appeal to an all-out balls-to-the-wall (not literally - well, okay, maybe sometimes) holding-nothing-back sort of approach, which I've kind of been edging towards all these years.
But I think it's fun - and a good idea besides, especially as an artist - to keep a hold in your mind of what it was like back in that early stage, and what it's like for those who might still be in that stage - to keep yourself young, in a sense. There's no reason you can't enjoy both approaches. Anyway, that's what I've been thinking lately. Maybe it'll show in some of my photography moving forward.
Of course, that's not something I'm going to beat myself up about. But I was thinking about something. Nudity is a regular fixture in my life. I'm nude pretty much whenever I can get away with it, except when it's cold (and then, I prefer to wear loose-fitting robes). Which means I'm nude mostly at home. But I think it's safe to say that I'm nude every single day (especially if you consider showers and sleeping), and for a considerable portion of most days.
After all these years, I still enjoy nudity, and I'm still attracted to it. But you do have a tendency to start taking it for granted. From an artistic perspective, I find the naked human body endlessly inspiring - as an object of aesthetic beauty, I'm constantly striving to capture in my photographs (and, lately, videos) what about it I find appealing.
But beyond the artistic element, I was thinking lately about what I can do to recapture that excitement - the erotic element - that nudity entails (that is, besides the explicit approach of spreading my legs or adding an erection). I found myself wandering through the yard with a camera in my hands, compelled to document something naked and exciting, trying to put myself into the mindset of someone for whom being naked is novel and remarkable, and not the default state.
It's true that, to the chagrin of establishment nudists, nudity itself carries the potential for erotic interpretation in the minds of viewers, all depending on context and the viewer's frame of mind. But for me, as the artist who's constantly nude, sometimes I have to step back and think about what actually makes nudity exciting, as opposed to my mundane everyday reality. Because it's more fun that way.
And though I like the idea of a naked paradise, where everyone is unselfconsciously nude, I think that by contrasting nudity with most textiles' mundane everyday reality of being dressed, I can enhance that feeling. That's something I can do with clones, but as a single model, I can also focus on the transitional stage where one moves from the state of being dressed, to one where he becomes undressed - and play with the situations (appropriate or, especially, otherwise) where this might occur.
In this vein, I also like to think back to what it's like when you first discover the taboo appeal of being naked, when you're still a bit shy, just dipping your toes and testing the water. Certainly there's a different kind of appeal to an all-out balls-to-the-wall (not literally - well, okay, maybe sometimes) holding-nothing-back sort of approach, which I've kind of been edging towards all these years.
But I think it's fun - and a good idea besides, especially as an artist - to keep a hold in your mind of what it was like back in that early stage, and what it's like for those who might still be in that stage - to keep yourself young, in a sense. There's no reason you can't enjoy both approaches. Anyway, that's what I've been thinking lately. Maybe it'll show in some of my photography moving forward.
Monday, November 5, 2018
The Visual Appreciation of Nudity
This is one of those contradictions about nudism - like not being shy about being naked in front of strangers, but being extremely paranoid that somebody will take a picture of them, or advocating for public nudity and then erecting tall fences to keep their nude recreation private. I'm not saying there aren't good reasons for these contradictions, but you have to admit it makes for a confusing public image. In that same vein, nudists love to advertise their lifestyle using images (the iconic "naked paradise" resort photo - picture a family walking hand-in-hand on the beach), yet at the same time they love to complain about the "legitimacy" and "motivations" of anyone appreciating those images. Is everyone that looks at a nudist image an "innocent" nudist? Of course not. Does it matter? Not really.
This is something I tend to take for granted, because it's practically my every day reality (especially this year, with the daily photography project I'm doing). But it occurs to me that it may not be obvious for some. So let's assume for a moment that I'm a normal, average person. And I find out that you like to do yard work in the buff. Because you're a nudist, and it's more comfortable. You think the sunshine is healthy for you, or you don't want any tan lines, or whatever. Fine. I guess I can understand that. I may not want to do it myself, but it's fine if that's what you like. What's that? You like to take pictures of yourself doing naked yard work? And then share those pictures with strangers on the internet? Okay, but how could that not involve a sexual motivation? It's a fetish, right? Exhibitionism?
Here's the thing (I'm back to being me now): yeah, there could be an erotic element involved. Absolutely. It could be intended on my part, or it could be incidentally interpreted that way by others - you can't help that. But it's not just a matter of, "oh, I'm turned on by other people seeing me naked." I'm not saying that's not a part of it, necessarily, but it's not all there is. I'm not just anybody. I'm a model. I try to keep myself fit and trim and well-groomed. I don't know how to say this without sounding conceited (that's just inevitable when you're playing both the roles of scout and talent), but I'm at least moderately attractive. And I have a fascination for the human body - its form as well as its function (that is, not just what it does, but what it looks like while doing those things).
That may include an erotic element, and it may not. I don't necessarily want to watch just anybody mowing the lawn naked - I'm no different from you on that count. But an attractive person doing it? Hell yes! I appreciate that sort of thing. Whether it's for erotic reasons, or aesthetic reasons (erotic or otherwise, beauty is beauty, and it demands to be noticed). Whether you consider it thinly veiled porn or art. (The important thing is that it can be both, which means that even if you think it's the former, that doesn't mean it's not also the latter).
"For I must tell you that we artists cannot tread the path of Beauty without Eros keeping company with us and appointing himself as our guide."
- Thomas Mann
That's all I'm saying. Partly as a nudist, and partly as a sex-positive activist. The human body is an amazing machine, and a beautiful work of art. And I like to appreciate attractive bodies in the buff. I don't understand the leaps of moral guilt necessary to deny this basic human truth. It's not just an obscure fetish. I've gone out of my way to deny the excuse that there is no erotic element involved, but once again it's also a legitimate, artistic interest (these two things can be simultaneously true). And there's nothing abnormal or shameful about it. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to understand that, but I guess they see sin and corruption in anything beautiful that exists in the world, the way the Puritans taught us to.
It's not up to me to determine whether the possibility for erotic interpretation of the aesthetic appreciation of the unclothed human body renders it on the level of pornography. (Although that sounds an awful lot like thoughtcrime to me). What I'm saying is, it can be erotic, but still not porn. And if it's not porn, there's no reason to treat it as porn - to censor it and censure it without mercy. A little bit of eroticism in life is not harmful - in fact, it's healthy. And we shouldn't be scared of it. Saying it's okay to be inundated with sexually suggestive stimuli in our culture - that it's a natural, and normal, and healthy part of what is at its most fundamental level a sexual existence - is not equivalent to tearing down the barrier that prevents orgies from developing in the streets.
We can have the one without the other. It just requires a little bit of civility. Excising the sexual impulse from life is not what makes us civilized beings - a villain without temptation will have no reason to offend. It's being able to conduct ourselves civilly in the presence of those temptations - and learning to indulge our pleasures in ways that are neither self-destructive, nor soul-deadeningly self-limiting - that makes us evolved agents. Neither extreme (total abandon versus total abstention) is superior to or more sophisticated than the other. Contrary to what any shriveled-up monk or hypocritical priest might tell you - based on their ironically egotistical, holier-than-thou religious philosophies. Perfection, I declare, lies in the happy medium.
This is something I tend to take for granted, because it's practically my every day reality (especially this year, with the daily photography project I'm doing). But it occurs to me that it may not be obvious for some. So let's assume for a moment that I'm a normal, average person. And I find out that you like to do yard work in the buff. Because you're a nudist, and it's more comfortable. You think the sunshine is healthy for you, or you don't want any tan lines, or whatever. Fine. I guess I can understand that. I may not want to do it myself, but it's fine if that's what you like. What's that? You like to take pictures of yourself doing naked yard work? And then share those pictures with strangers on the internet? Okay, but how could that not involve a sexual motivation? It's a fetish, right? Exhibitionism?
Here's the thing (I'm back to being me now): yeah, there could be an erotic element involved. Absolutely. It could be intended on my part, or it could be incidentally interpreted that way by others - you can't help that. But it's not just a matter of, "oh, I'm turned on by other people seeing me naked." I'm not saying that's not a part of it, necessarily, but it's not all there is. I'm not just anybody. I'm a model. I try to keep myself fit and trim and well-groomed. I don't know how to say this without sounding conceited (that's just inevitable when you're playing both the roles of scout and talent), but I'm at least moderately attractive. And I have a fascination for the human body - its form as well as its function (that is, not just what it does, but what it looks like while doing those things).
That may include an erotic element, and it may not. I don't necessarily want to watch just anybody mowing the lawn naked - I'm no different from you on that count. But an attractive person doing it? Hell yes! I appreciate that sort of thing. Whether it's for erotic reasons, or aesthetic reasons (erotic or otherwise, beauty is beauty, and it demands to be noticed). Whether you consider it thinly veiled porn or art. (The important thing is that it can be both, which means that even if you think it's the former, that doesn't mean it's not also the latter).
"For I must tell you that we artists cannot tread the path of Beauty without Eros keeping company with us and appointing himself as our guide."
- Thomas Mann
It's not up to me to determine whether the possibility for erotic interpretation of the aesthetic appreciation of the unclothed human body renders it on the level of pornography. (Although that sounds an awful lot like thoughtcrime to me). What I'm saying is, it can be erotic, but still not porn. And if it's not porn, there's no reason to treat it as porn - to censor it and censure it without mercy. A little bit of eroticism in life is not harmful - in fact, it's healthy. And we shouldn't be scared of it. Saying it's okay to be inundated with sexually suggestive stimuli in our culture - that it's a natural, and normal, and healthy part of what is at its most fundamental level a sexual existence - is not equivalent to tearing down the barrier that prevents orgies from developing in the streets.
We can have the one without the other. It just requires a little bit of civility. Excising the sexual impulse from life is not what makes us civilized beings - a villain without temptation will have no reason to offend. It's being able to conduct ourselves civilly in the presence of those temptations - and learning to indulge our pleasures in ways that are neither self-destructive, nor soul-deadeningly self-limiting - that makes us evolved agents. Neither extreme (total abandon versus total abstention) is superior to or more sophisticated than the other. Contrary to what any shriveled-up monk or hypocritical priest might tell you - based on their ironically egotistical, holier-than-thou religious philosophies. Perfection, I declare, lies in the happy medium.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Pizza Delivery
I feel self-conscious about the fact that I'm always bringing the subjects of nudism and exhibitionism together, when nudism is trying so hard to distance itself from exhibitionism, for the sake of its acceptance in society. It's not that there's anything intrinsically exhibitionist about nudism - I assure you it's not all a big ruse. It's just that the line distinguishing the two is not always so obvious (otherwise, this wouldn't be such an important talking point for nudists - you don't have to correct mistakes that nobody makes), and sometimes it has more to do with interpretation - what's going on under the surface (that is, in people's heads) - than what you can actually see with your eyes. Moreover, I enjoy both nudism and exhibitionism, and so where a nudist would disavow any possible exhibitionist interpretation of a nudist image (or story), in my case, I have no desire to limit my audience (or, in the interest of free speech, tell someone they're not allowed to interpret my art in a certain way).
[description: a naked man answers the door to a pizza delivery]
Case in point, I can't (not just won't, but can't) actually tell you whether this image depicts a nudist scene, or an exhibitionist one. All I know is that it makes for an interesting image, either way. And that's enough for me. Certainly, by textile standards, answering the door while nude would fall under the category of exhibitionism - exposing yourself unexpectedly to [presumably] non-consenting strangers. But, provided some context, this could genuinely be a nudist exchange. Sometimes, local textile restaurants will deliver regularly to nudist resorts, and thereby develop an ongoing business relationship. Knowing full well what to expect, it's entirely possible that a dressed delivery person will encounter nude people, including, perhaps, the person the food is being delivered to. I've seen it happen. Then there is the fact that even in nudist resorts, most food prep stations require that food preparers are dressed (for safety/hygienic reasons), so you have the same juxtaposition. How this image is interpreted, then, is entirely up to you.
This image, on the other hand, can be safely relegated to the exhibitionist category, since the presence of the erection - a taboo in nudist circles - excludes it from a purely nudist interpretation. Plus, the pizza delivery girl has been unambiguously "sexualized" by her choice of dress. But only insofar as her clothes emphasize her body, which is that of a fundamentally sexual organism. Rather than having been "sexualized", it would be more accurate to say that the artificial obfuscation of her sexual nature has been (partly) removed. To wit, "sexualization" is putting tits on a hot dog. It takes something that is nonsexual (barring a perverted interpretation, which can turn anything sexual - precisely the reason that "sexualization" is a thing), and makes it sexual. Putting a woman in short shorts is not sexualization. In the default state, uncovered by clothing, woman (and, indeed, also man) is a sexual organism. Modest dress just obscures this fact to some (although not total) degree. Removing that obstruction does not make the woman any more sexual than she was before, it just reveals a truth that had previously been hidden. It draws your attention to it, perhaps, but the sexuality is in your mind more than it is on the person.
It occurs to me in all of this that, while I'd prefer to think of it as a fun prank, in today's hypersensitive social climate, receiving a pizza delivery naked could potentially be construed as a form of sexual harassment. The thorny question is this: does this evolution represent progress? Certainly, it's good to be sensitive to people's comfort levels, and honor their consent in all things (not just sex). I'm not going to deny that. But are we actually better off being so vulnerable as to be able to be shaken up by something so mundane as the naked human body? I wouldn't argue that we should ignore people's sensitivities, but isn't it true that we'd be stronger (and happier) if we didn't have them?
Take me as a test case. Now, I'm not the poster child for strength and confidence - as a matter of fact I have anxiety, and consider myself a highly sensitive person. But on the subject of low-risk, sexy fun, I'm very open-minded. The fact is, I'm somebody who enjoys innuendo more than is offended by it. I would be delighted to deliver a pizza to a naked person, as long as that's all that is involved. And I realize this person is probably not going to be someone I'm attracted to, but I'm willing to take that gamble. How does it hurt me, anyway? I think the threshold for a "violation of consent" should be much higher when we're dealing with just seeing things, as opposed to anything that involves physical contact.
But the bottom line is that I don't want to violate anybody's consent. As an exhibitionist, I don't want to open the door naked to somebody who's going to have a negative reaction. What I want is the person on the other side of the door to be someone who will appreciate it. The trouble is that you just can't know. I mean, you can arrange something with someone ahead of time, but there is definitely a difference between answering the door to somebody you know, who has seen you naked lots of times, and a complete stranger. I'd like to stress that it has nothing to do with offending the stranger, but the element of surprise (in a good sense, and not a bad one - whether it's a realistic outcome or not, I think that most exhibitionists probably fantasize about people responding favorably to their exhibitionism in some form, and not unfavorably), and the delight of getting to see new and different bodies every now and then.
It'd just be nice if we lived in a world that allowed for this type of activity, instead of choosing safety over liberty - if part of a population will like it, and another part will not, then the part that doesn't gets to dictate how everybody behaves. If I were a pizza delivery person, I'd be more than happy to check a box on my application stating that I consent to deliver pizzas to people who want to answer the door naked or, hell, even engaged in sexual activity (as long as I'm not physically involved - at least not without further consent being attained). And those who'd like to do so could make a point to ask for me to be the one to deliver their pizza. Logistically, this wouldn't work, as there probably aren't enough people spread out to cater to this demographic (and capitalism rejects anything that's not financially profitable). But it's a nice fantasy.
Aside: And to the politicians who would be antsy to draft a law making this sort of service illegal on grounds of moral considerations - fuck off. Actually, this is a good example of the difference I like to make between ethics and morality (in my own humble opinion, one of the best things I've ever written), which most people conflate in an oversimplified manner. Ethics is criminalizing the act of exposing yourself to the pizza delivery person because it can be reasonably assumed (in our social climate) that the pizza delivery person has not and would not consent to such exposure, and may be "harmed" by it in some way. It's protecting the rights of an innocent.
Morality, on the other hand, is criminalizing the act of consenting to deliver a pizza to an exhibitionist, not because anyone involved doesn't want to do it or is actually harmed in any way, but because the act itself, even when performed consensually, is viewed by a third party as being indecent, indicative of "corruption" or "perversion", and inappropriate for a moral (as opposed to a just) society to tolerate. It's dictating other people's behaviors and choices (in effect, criminalizing consent - sometimes even eliminating the idea that an individual could consent "to such a thing") according to an arbitrary mandate (but usually backed up by all the illusory authority of a fictional character called "God").
P.S. I added a feminism label to this post, because the discussion of sexual harassment is a key topic in the feminist discourse these days - or so it seems to me. But I realize now that I haven't made any indication anywhere about sex. I'm not talking about men harassing women, but the hypothetical possibility of a person harassing a different person (in internet discussions, little distinction is often made between a man and a woman being the one to answer the door naked - indeed, it seems more often to be a woman). Should my choice in this matter be construed as a positive because it indicates a belief that feminism caters to issues that cross the sexual divide, or as a negative because I've come to associate any form of sex-negativity with feminism? I know what I think, but I'll leave that conclusion up to you.
[description: a naked man answers the door to a pizza delivery]
Case in point, I can't (not just won't, but can't) actually tell you whether this image depicts a nudist scene, or an exhibitionist one. All I know is that it makes for an interesting image, either way. And that's enough for me. Certainly, by textile standards, answering the door while nude would fall under the category of exhibitionism - exposing yourself unexpectedly to [presumably] non-consenting strangers. But, provided some context, this could genuinely be a nudist exchange. Sometimes, local textile restaurants will deliver regularly to nudist resorts, and thereby develop an ongoing business relationship. Knowing full well what to expect, it's entirely possible that a dressed delivery person will encounter nude people, including, perhaps, the person the food is being delivered to. I've seen it happen. Then there is the fact that even in nudist resorts, most food prep stations require that food preparers are dressed (for safety/hygienic reasons), so you have the same juxtaposition. How this image is interpreted, then, is entirely up to you.
[description: a naked man with an erection confronts a pizza delivery girl]
"Give me a blowjob and I'll double your tip."
"Give me a blowjob and I'll double your tip."
This image, on the other hand, can be safely relegated to the exhibitionist category, since the presence of the erection - a taboo in nudist circles - excludes it from a purely nudist interpretation. Plus, the pizza delivery girl has been unambiguously "sexualized" by her choice of dress. But only insofar as her clothes emphasize her body, which is that of a fundamentally sexual organism. Rather than having been "sexualized", it would be more accurate to say that the artificial obfuscation of her sexual nature has been (partly) removed. To wit, "sexualization" is putting tits on a hot dog. It takes something that is nonsexual (barring a perverted interpretation, which can turn anything sexual - precisely the reason that "sexualization" is a thing), and makes it sexual. Putting a woman in short shorts is not sexualization. In the default state, uncovered by clothing, woman (and, indeed, also man) is a sexual organism. Modest dress just obscures this fact to some (although not total) degree. Removing that obstruction does not make the woman any more sexual than she was before, it just reveals a truth that had previously been hidden. It draws your attention to it, perhaps, but the sexuality is in your mind more than it is on the person.
It occurs to me in all of this that, while I'd prefer to think of it as a fun prank, in today's hypersensitive social climate, receiving a pizza delivery naked could potentially be construed as a form of sexual harassment. The thorny question is this: does this evolution represent progress? Certainly, it's good to be sensitive to people's comfort levels, and honor their consent in all things (not just sex). I'm not going to deny that. But are we actually better off being so vulnerable as to be able to be shaken up by something so mundane as the naked human body? I wouldn't argue that we should ignore people's sensitivities, but isn't it true that we'd be stronger (and happier) if we didn't have them?
Take me as a test case. Now, I'm not the poster child for strength and confidence - as a matter of fact I have anxiety, and consider myself a highly sensitive person. But on the subject of low-risk, sexy fun, I'm very open-minded. The fact is, I'm somebody who enjoys innuendo more than is offended by it. I would be delighted to deliver a pizza to a naked person, as long as that's all that is involved. And I realize this person is probably not going to be someone I'm attracted to, but I'm willing to take that gamble. How does it hurt me, anyway? I think the threshold for a "violation of consent" should be much higher when we're dealing with just seeing things, as opposed to anything that involves physical contact.
But the bottom line is that I don't want to violate anybody's consent. As an exhibitionist, I don't want to open the door naked to somebody who's going to have a negative reaction. What I want is the person on the other side of the door to be someone who will appreciate it. The trouble is that you just can't know. I mean, you can arrange something with someone ahead of time, but there is definitely a difference between answering the door to somebody you know, who has seen you naked lots of times, and a complete stranger. I'd like to stress that it has nothing to do with offending the stranger, but the element of surprise (in a good sense, and not a bad one - whether it's a realistic outcome or not, I think that most exhibitionists probably fantasize about people responding favorably to their exhibitionism in some form, and not unfavorably), and the delight of getting to see new and different bodies every now and then.
It'd just be nice if we lived in a world that allowed for this type of activity, instead of choosing safety over liberty - if part of a population will like it, and another part will not, then the part that doesn't gets to dictate how everybody behaves. If I were a pizza delivery person, I'd be more than happy to check a box on my application stating that I consent to deliver pizzas to people who want to answer the door naked or, hell, even engaged in sexual activity (as long as I'm not physically involved - at least not without further consent being attained). And those who'd like to do so could make a point to ask for me to be the one to deliver their pizza. Logistically, this wouldn't work, as there probably aren't enough people spread out to cater to this demographic (and capitalism rejects anything that's not financially profitable). But it's a nice fantasy.
Aside: And to the politicians who would be antsy to draft a law making this sort of service illegal on grounds of moral considerations - fuck off. Actually, this is a good example of the difference I like to make between ethics and morality (in my own humble opinion, one of the best things I've ever written), which most people conflate in an oversimplified manner. Ethics is criminalizing the act of exposing yourself to the pizza delivery person because it can be reasonably assumed (in our social climate) that the pizza delivery person has not and would not consent to such exposure, and may be "harmed" by it in some way. It's protecting the rights of an innocent.
Morality, on the other hand, is criminalizing the act of consenting to deliver a pizza to an exhibitionist, not because anyone involved doesn't want to do it or is actually harmed in any way, but because the act itself, even when performed consensually, is viewed by a third party as being indecent, indicative of "corruption" or "perversion", and inappropriate for a moral (as opposed to a just) society to tolerate. It's dictating other people's behaviors and choices (in effect, criminalizing consent - sometimes even eliminating the idea that an individual could consent "to such a thing") according to an arbitrary mandate (but usually backed up by all the illusory authority of a fictional character called "God").
P.S. I added a feminism label to this post, because the discussion of sexual harassment is a key topic in the feminist discourse these days - or so it seems to me. But I realize now that I haven't made any indication anywhere about sex. I'm not talking about men harassing women, but the hypothetical possibility of a person harassing a different person (in internet discussions, little distinction is often made between a man and a woman being the one to answer the door naked - indeed, it seems more often to be a woman). Should my choice in this matter be construed as a positive because it indicates a belief that feminism caters to issues that cross the sexual divide, or as a negative because I've come to associate any form of sex-negativity with feminism? I know what I think, but I'll leave that conclusion up to you.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Hurricane Outfit
Crop tops are sexy. In truth, anything that bares skin is sexy (in my opinion) - especially skin that frequently gets covered up. There's nothing criminally indecent about the stomach, but most clothes cover it up (excepting underclothes and things like swimsuits/workout gear which are notably skimpier than everyday clothes), so to see a girl more or less fully dressed but with her midriff bare is rather exciting.
Obviously, not everybody has what I would consider an attractive tummy (tight and flat is what I like - also hairless, but that's rarely a problem for the sex I am attracted to), but when those that do deign to show it off to the world, why, that's one of those little things I consider makes life worth living.
[description: fashion selfie in a midriff-baring crop top and short shorts]
As you can see, I'm very reluctant to give up the summer. Although, in my defense, we've had ninety degree temperatures through October, so I was just following the weather. Instead of gradual seasonal changes, we get drastic thirty-degree swings in temperature from one day to the next.
This was my "hurricane" outfit - hot enough for the summer (I was doing yard work in the sunshine in my army shorts that morning), but with a swimsuit underneath in anticipation of the storms predicted for the afternoon (just in case I got caught in a torrential downpour). Too bad all the pools had closed over a month ago...
Obviously, not everybody has what I would consider an attractive tummy (tight and flat is what I like - also hairless, but that's rarely a problem for the sex I am attracted to), but when those that do deign to show it off to the world, why, that's one of those little things I consider makes life worth living.
[description: fashion selfie in a midriff-baring crop top and short shorts]
As you can see, I'm very reluctant to give up the summer. Although, in my defense, we've had ninety degree temperatures through October, so I was just following the weather. Instead of gradual seasonal changes, we get drastic thirty-degree swings in temperature from one day to the next.
This was my "hurricane" outfit - hot enough for the summer (I was doing yard work in the sunshine in my army shorts that morning), but with a swimsuit underneath in anticipation of the storms predicted for the afternoon (just in case I got caught in a torrential downpour). Too bad all the pools had closed over a month ago...
Friday, November 2, 2018
Window Washer
Imagine a window washing service that hires models to wash your windows while naked. Talk about motivation for clean windows - the cleaner the window, the better the view gets! I can just imagine them on scaffolds working outside the windows of high rise office buildings, with professional business meetings going on inside...
Thursday, November 1, 2018
School Dress Code
Welcome to class, students. Please take your seats. Now, as there've been some recent controversies about students' choice of dress, I thought it would be prudent to take a few minutes to review the school dress code. As you know, the school board has elected not to instigate a uniform policy, as they believe it is important for you to express yourselves individually through your choice of dress. However, we do have a certain standard that needs to be met, in order to uphold the reputation of this school. As such, there are a few rules that need to be followed. I have asked one of our students to come up in front of the class and talk us through these rules.
[description: series of portraits of a schoolgirl giving a presentation in front of class]
Okay. Here is our school dress code. Firstly, it is important to note that all of these rules apply equally to both sexes. That means both boys and girls.
Rule number one. The midriff rule. Tops and bottoms may not overlap. As you can see, my shirt and my skirt are not overlapping. There is lots of space between them.
Rule number two. The fingertip rule. Skirts and shorts may not extend past the fingertips. So, if you stand up straight, with your arms by your sides, your fingertips must extend past the end of your skirt or your shorts.
Rule number three. The heel rule. All shoes must have heels at least three inches long. If you take a ruler and measure the heels on my shoes, you'll see that they are just about three inches long.
Rule number four. This one's kind of embarrassing. Skirts may not be worn with underwear. As you can see, I am not wearing anything underneath my skirt.
Finally, uniform inspections will be conducted daily. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action. Please be aware that this school does use corporal punishment.
Thank you!
[description: two portraits of a schoolgirl standing in front of class with an erection]
Have you ever caught yourself worrying about being called up to the front of the class while sporting a raging boner? And how embarrassing that would be? Well, just be thankful you weren't wearing a skirt with no underwear!
[description: two portraits of a schoolgirl standing naked in front of the class]
Or what about one of those dreams where you find yourself giving a presentation in front of an audience, and you're not wearing pants? Or you're naked? Have you ever had one of those?
[description: a nude figure stares at a blank board with the heading "school dress code"]
"Whew! That's a relief. What a lucky day to forget my clothes!"
"As you can see, the school dress code clearly implies that we are to come to school naked!"
"Alright, that's enough. I hope you enjoy being a smartass, because when I'm done with you, your ass is really going to be smarting. And since you don't appear to be very shy, we can do it right in front of the class. Assume the position."
[description: a nude figure bends over with a ruler in hand, at the front of the class]
Behind The Scenes - The Making of a Schoolgirl
In spite of that ambitious-sounding title, here are just a few selfies I snapped during the process of fixing my hair and putting on my school uniform before the photoshoot.
[description: series of mirror selfies in various stages of dress]
Postscript: Certainly, if you're an understanding pervert like me, you can skip this last diatribe and just enjoy the sexy pictures, as I do have a habit of overthinking things.
I think a dress code like this one sounds exciting. Why? Because I would really enjoy dressing this way. And although there's not necessarily any laws against it (outside of contexts that do have dress codes), there's a lot of societal pressure bearing down on you to conform, which makes it very hard to express your individual personality sometimes. A dress code like this would not only permit me to dress this way - without any hassle - but indeed, it would expect me to. (This is one of the reasons I love dressing up at conventions so much - there's an expectation that people are going to wear outrageous things, and I don't feel so out of place). My expression of individuality would now become the norm.
Of course, this isn't the point of freedom, but this is exactly the mistake that most people who are in the majority tend to make. They take for granted their majoritarian privilege, and then treat minorities unfairly. I wouldn't really want to live in a world that forces everybody to be like me, I just think that if we're forcing people to be some way, it'd be nice if that way were the way I already am - that it would be better than a world where everybody else forces me to be like them. All I want is a little taste of how comforting that must feel, to be part of the majority - such a massive and influential group. It's a reassuring fantasy. Ideally, of course, we would live in a world with freedom of choice, where everybody recognizes the value of letting people express themselves, even if it's differently from the majority.
Now, I also like the idea of this dress code because I can imagine seeing other people that I am attracted to dressed this way. Obviously, I don't have any stirring desire to see just anyone dressed like this - there are probably quite a few I'd prefer not to. Sadly, this argument is always used to restrict people's freedoms - all people. But I wouldn't take away anyone's freedom to choose to dress this way, regardless of what I thought about how they looked. But I certainly wouldn't demand they dress this way, either. On the other hand, a strict dress code would ensure that when an attractive person does come along, they will be dressed in a way that appeals to me. Again, I recognize that this is not a fair demand, but in this world, we do have dress codes, and more often than not, they restrict people from dressing like this. So I thought it would be fun to have a dress code with an inverted set of priorities for a change.
Ideally, everyone should just have true freedom of choice. Even to choose not to dress if they so desire. We can certainly have reasonable rules in society for purposes of hygiene and safety and things like that (and there should be an open discussion of what those rules should look like). But I just can't stand it when, just because one group of people with influence and authority (e.g., the Christian church) doesn't like something - because it's "immoral" or whatever, which is really just saying that it doesn't live up to their arbitray set of standards, which could be completely different from another person's set of standards. I, for example, think it's immoral to cover your nakedness when surrounded by nature, provided the weather's not too inclement to do so comfortably. And it really rankles me that for some reason these people think their standards are better than anyone else's standards (which violates the fundamental principles of society).
But that's not even the worst part. They're perfectly justified in going through life thinking they're superior to everyone else - that's just human nature. But when it comes to determining the rule of law, it's not right to use force - compelling the police and justice system to go out and enforce collective community standards - to make other people live by someone else's arbitrary standards for behavior. Just because your standards "represent the majority". It's called tyranny of the majority, and this pattern is so odious, and so obviously odious to me, that I can't believe in this modern, allegedly progressive society we still let it happen!
Except that, statistically speaking, most people are average, and because we live in a democracy, the mob rules, and most people are mostly fine with things the way they are (not because it's right, but because it's comfortable), and aren't particularly motivated to change it. That's why any disenfranchised minority - Jews, blacks, women, gays - have had to fight tooth and nail for the rights they should be entitled to at birth. They have to pry justice out of the greedy hands of the collective. And you still think we live in some kind of political utopia? We're just marching along by the skin of our teeth, making shit up as we go along.
Some people say the fact that we live in a country where the disenfranchised can fight for justice is precisely why we're so progressive - in other places, you could be executed for speaking out. Of course, this is entirely true. But everything is relative, and think about where your standard is being set. Do you really have such a limited imagination, that you can't conceive of a better world, where perfectly decent people whose only perceived "flaw" is an arbitrary, sometimes even superficial quality (like the color of their skin) don't have to fight for justice, but are granted it as a matter of fact? I can. And that's my standard. Which is why I'm so disappointed with what we've got. I'm forward-thinking, not backward-looking, but you have to be to be one of those who helps to drive progress forward.
tl;dr - I don't actually want to force you to wear crop tops, high heels, and short skirts without underwear. I just like to imagine an alternate reality where I could do so without getting shit for it. But what I can't imagine is a good argument for why your not liking these items should have any bearing whatsoever on my choice of dress any more than my liking them does (let alone what little bearing my liking them has on your choice of dress). It's logically inconsistent. Why can't I choose what you have to wear, if you get to choose what I can't? What gives your opinion the authority to supercede my own? Except that yours is backed up by the full force of the establishment - historical tradition, and mob authority. That might sound fine to you, because you're lucky enough to be part of that mob. But to me, it sounds an awful lot like fascism. Democratic fascism - authoritarianism by majority rule.
[description: series of portraits of a schoolgirl giving a presentation in front of class]
Okay. Here is our school dress code. Firstly, it is important to note that all of these rules apply equally to both sexes. That means both boys and girls.
Rule number one. The midriff rule. Tops and bottoms may not overlap. As you can see, my shirt and my skirt are not overlapping. There is lots of space between them.
Rule number two. The fingertip rule. Skirts and shorts may not extend past the fingertips. So, if you stand up straight, with your arms by your sides, your fingertips must extend past the end of your skirt or your shorts.
Rule number three. The heel rule. All shoes must have heels at least three inches long. If you take a ruler and measure the heels on my shoes, you'll see that they are just about three inches long.
Rule number four. This one's kind of embarrassing. Skirts may not be worn with underwear. As you can see, I am not wearing anything underneath my skirt.
Finally, uniform inspections will be conducted daily. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action. Please be aware that this school does use corporal punishment.
Thank you!
[description: two portraits of a schoolgirl standing in front of class with an erection]
Have you ever caught yourself worrying about being called up to the front of the class while sporting a raging boner? And how embarrassing that would be? Well, just be thankful you weren't wearing a skirt with no underwear!
[description: two portraits of a schoolgirl standing naked in front of the class]
Or what about one of those dreams where you find yourself giving a presentation in front of an audience, and you're not wearing pants? Or you're naked? Have you ever had one of those?
[description: a nude figure stares at a blank board with the heading "school dress code"]
"Whew! That's a relief. What a lucky day to forget my clothes!"
"As you can see, the school dress code clearly implies that we are to come to school naked!"
"Alright, that's enough. I hope you enjoy being a smartass, because when I'm done with you, your ass is really going to be smarting. And since you don't appear to be very shy, we can do it right in front of the class. Assume the position."
[description: a nude figure bends over with a ruler in hand, at the front of the class]
Behind The Scenes - The Making of a Schoolgirl
In spite of that ambitious-sounding title, here are just a few selfies I snapped during the process of fixing my hair and putting on my school uniform before the photoshoot.
[description: series of mirror selfies in various stages of dress]
Postscript: Certainly, if you're an understanding pervert like me, you can skip this last diatribe and just enjoy the sexy pictures, as I do have a habit of overthinking things.
I think a dress code like this one sounds exciting. Why? Because I would really enjoy dressing this way. And although there's not necessarily any laws against it (outside of contexts that do have dress codes), there's a lot of societal pressure bearing down on you to conform, which makes it very hard to express your individual personality sometimes. A dress code like this would not only permit me to dress this way - without any hassle - but indeed, it would expect me to. (This is one of the reasons I love dressing up at conventions so much - there's an expectation that people are going to wear outrageous things, and I don't feel so out of place). My expression of individuality would now become the norm.
Of course, this isn't the point of freedom, but this is exactly the mistake that most people who are in the majority tend to make. They take for granted their majoritarian privilege, and then treat minorities unfairly. I wouldn't really want to live in a world that forces everybody to be like me, I just think that if we're forcing people to be some way, it'd be nice if that way were the way I already am - that it would be better than a world where everybody else forces me to be like them. All I want is a little taste of how comforting that must feel, to be part of the majority - such a massive and influential group. It's a reassuring fantasy. Ideally, of course, we would live in a world with freedom of choice, where everybody recognizes the value of letting people express themselves, even if it's differently from the majority.
Now, I also like the idea of this dress code because I can imagine seeing other people that I am attracted to dressed this way. Obviously, I don't have any stirring desire to see just anyone dressed like this - there are probably quite a few I'd prefer not to. Sadly, this argument is always used to restrict people's freedoms - all people. But I wouldn't take away anyone's freedom to choose to dress this way, regardless of what I thought about how they looked. But I certainly wouldn't demand they dress this way, either. On the other hand, a strict dress code would ensure that when an attractive person does come along, they will be dressed in a way that appeals to me. Again, I recognize that this is not a fair demand, but in this world, we do have dress codes, and more often than not, they restrict people from dressing like this. So I thought it would be fun to have a dress code with an inverted set of priorities for a change.
Ideally, everyone should just have true freedom of choice. Even to choose not to dress if they so desire. We can certainly have reasonable rules in society for purposes of hygiene and safety and things like that (and there should be an open discussion of what those rules should look like). But I just can't stand it when, just because one group of people with influence and authority (e.g., the Christian church) doesn't like something - because it's "immoral" or whatever, which is really just saying that it doesn't live up to their arbitray set of standards, which could be completely different from another person's set of standards. I, for example, think it's immoral to cover your nakedness when surrounded by nature, provided the weather's not too inclement to do so comfortably. And it really rankles me that for some reason these people think their standards are better than anyone else's standards (which violates the fundamental principles of society).
But that's not even the worst part. They're perfectly justified in going through life thinking they're superior to everyone else - that's just human nature. But when it comes to determining the rule of law, it's not right to use force - compelling the police and justice system to go out and enforce collective community standards - to make other people live by someone else's arbitrary standards for behavior. Just because your standards "represent the majority". It's called tyranny of the majority, and this pattern is so odious, and so obviously odious to me, that I can't believe in this modern, allegedly progressive society we still let it happen!
Except that, statistically speaking, most people are average, and because we live in a democracy, the mob rules, and most people are mostly fine with things the way they are (not because it's right, but because it's comfortable), and aren't particularly motivated to change it. That's why any disenfranchised minority - Jews, blacks, women, gays - have had to fight tooth and nail for the rights they should be entitled to at birth. They have to pry justice out of the greedy hands of the collective. And you still think we live in some kind of political utopia? We're just marching along by the skin of our teeth, making shit up as we go along.
Some people say the fact that we live in a country where the disenfranchised can fight for justice is precisely why we're so progressive - in other places, you could be executed for speaking out. Of course, this is entirely true. But everything is relative, and think about where your standard is being set. Do you really have such a limited imagination, that you can't conceive of a better world, where perfectly decent people whose only perceived "flaw" is an arbitrary, sometimes even superficial quality (like the color of their skin) don't have to fight for justice, but are granted it as a matter of fact? I can. And that's my standard. Which is why I'm so disappointed with what we've got. I'm forward-thinking, not backward-looking, but you have to be to be one of those who helps to drive progress forward.
tl;dr - I don't actually want to force you to wear crop tops, high heels, and short skirts without underwear. I just like to imagine an alternate reality where I could do so without getting shit for it. But what I can't imagine is a good argument for why your not liking these items should have any bearing whatsoever on my choice of dress any more than my liking them does (let alone what little bearing my liking them has on your choice of dress). It's logically inconsistent. Why can't I choose what you have to wear, if you get to choose what I can't? What gives your opinion the authority to supercede my own? Except that yours is backed up by the full force of the establishment - historical tradition, and mob authority. That might sound fine to you, because you're lucky enough to be part of that mob. But to me, it sounds an awful lot like fascism. Democratic fascism - authoritarianism by majority rule.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
The Ghosts of Halloween
(Past, Present, and Future)
I like to recycle Halloween costumes that I really like, and wear them for two or three years to get the most enjoyment out of them. These three costumes have carried me through the last eight years or so:
[description: series of portraits dressed for Halloween from 2011 through 2016]
I think I decided to go as Alice in Wonderland at the last minute because it was really cold and I thought the thigh-high socks would give me a little extra warmth while trick 'r' treating. Excessively cold Halloweens are always a bummer. Who wants to go to all the trouble of stripping down and dressing like a slut, only to have to put on a heavy winter jacket and cover up?
So I'm thinking that next year I might try out something new. What do you think I should be? I've been looking at some Poison Ivy costumes. She's a sexy character - although that's true of all the female Batman supervillains. Harley Quinn is a little overdone right now (not that I'm complaining), but it might be fun to go as Catwoman and dress myself in head to toe black leather... Still, I'd prefer to keep my costumes thematically appropriate - more scary than geeky. Not that there's anything wrong with dressing up like a superhero or a cartoon or comic book character (not at all), just that there are better times for that - this is Halloween, not a comic convention.
I've always wanted to do a Freddy Krueger costume - they have a cute version for women where the sweater is converted into a dress. I'd just need to find a good quality glove to go with it - the ones they sell in stores are cheap, plastic, and comically oversized. I guess I'm spoiled because I saw a replica Freddy Krueger glove at a toy show once that was really well made. It had real metal blades (presumably unsharpened), and a weight to it - it felt good on my hand. At the time, I thought the price tag of $50 was a little steep, but in hindsight, I regret not buying it. I actually came back the next day and it was already gone. It may seem trivial to shell out good money for what amounts to a prop, but as you can see, I paid over a hundred dollars to get a decent quality lightsaber for my Jedi Warrior Princess costume. It makes a difference. Both in appearance - for the sake of pictures - and just for the fun of the costume. Now I wish I could get a more accurate and well-made version of that slave outfit. The cheap, costume version is overly modest, compared to movie canon...
[description: three clones pose outdoors in different Halloween costumes]
Sexy Witch, Prom Scream Queen, Jedi Warrior Princess
Sexy Witch, Prom Scream Queen, Jedi Warrior Princess
I like to recycle Halloween costumes that I really like, and wear them for two or three years to get the most enjoyment out of them. These three costumes have carried me through the last eight years or so:
[description: series of portraits dressed for Halloween from 2011 through 2016]
I think I decided to go as Alice in Wonderland at the last minute because it was really cold and I thought the thigh-high socks would give me a little extra warmth while trick 'r' treating. Excessively cold Halloweens are always a bummer. Who wants to go to all the trouble of stripping down and dressing like a slut, only to have to put on a heavy winter jacket and cover up?
[description: two portraits dressed as a Jedi Warrior Princess]
Halloweens 2017 and 2018
Halloweens 2017 and 2018
So I'm thinking that next year I might try out something new. What do you think I should be? I've been looking at some Poison Ivy costumes. She's a sexy character - although that's true of all the female Batman supervillains. Harley Quinn is a little overdone right now (not that I'm complaining), but it might be fun to go as Catwoman and dress myself in head to toe black leather... Still, I'd prefer to keep my costumes thematically appropriate - more scary than geeky. Not that there's anything wrong with dressing up like a superhero or a cartoon or comic book character (not at all), just that there are better times for that - this is Halloween, not a comic convention.
I've always wanted to do a Freddy Krueger costume - they have a cute version for women where the sweater is converted into a dress. I'd just need to find a good quality glove to go with it - the ones they sell in stores are cheap, plastic, and comically oversized. I guess I'm spoiled because I saw a replica Freddy Krueger glove at a toy show once that was really well made. It had real metal blades (presumably unsharpened), and a weight to it - it felt good on my hand. At the time, I thought the price tag of $50 was a little steep, but in hindsight, I regret not buying it. I actually came back the next day and it was already gone. It may seem trivial to shell out good money for what amounts to a prop, but as you can see, I paid over a hundred dollars to get a decent quality lightsaber for my Jedi Warrior Princess costume. It makes a difference. Both in appearance - for the sake of pictures - and just for the fun of the costume. Now I wish I could get a more accurate and well-made version of that slave outfit. The cheap, costume version is overly modest, compared to movie canon...
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Costume Lineup
I get very excited about the idea of trying on Halloween costumes, but I always end up underwhelmed by the experience. The costumes are often cheaply made (especially given their cost), photographed with lots of unincluded accessories (honestly, I think 95% of the "sexualization" of Halloween costumes comes from the fishnet tights and high heels used in the product photography, which aren't even part of the costumes!), and the fitting booths (always makeshift, with cardboard walls, not like real fitting rooms) leave much to be desired, with dark lighting (it's impossible to take a good picture of a black costume against black walls and curtains - and black is a popular Halloween color!), ill-positioned mirrors, and never any stools or even hooks to hang your clothes on.
And then there's the costumes themselves, which give you the sense that the manufacturers are playing "how many different patterns can we put on a cheap, spandex unitard?" It's a racket, I tell you. Plus, they're designed in very general sizes - often the dreaded "one size fits most". I like a good sexy Halloween costume, but if you compare the adult and children's versions of a particular costume, the adult version inevitably features ample room for the bust. Now I have nothing against great, heaving bosoms, but I simply can't fill them out, and I wish that "small chest" wasn't associated with modesty (the inverse of the idea that big breasts = oozing sexuality). I just can't seem to win! But, even so, there's no denying the thrill of putting on a costume and playing dress-up for an evening. I guess that's how they get you...
[description: series of fitting room photos in various Halloween costumes]
And then there's the costumes themselves, which give you the sense that the manufacturers are playing "how many different patterns can we put on a cheap, spandex unitard?" It's a racket, I tell you. Plus, they're designed in very general sizes - often the dreaded "one size fits most". I like a good sexy Halloween costume, but if you compare the adult and children's versions of a particular costume, the adult version inevitably features ample room for the bust. Now I have nothing against great, heaving bosoms, but I simply can't fill them out, and I wish that "small chest" wasn't associated with modesty (the inverse of the idea that big breasts = oozing sexuality). I just can't seem to win! But, even so, there's no denying the thrill of putting on a costume and playing dress-up for an evening. I guess that's how they get you...
[description: series of fitting room photos in various Halloween costumes]
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Restaurant Flash
I recently got this awesome dress - I'll have to take more pictures of it. It has a deep slit directly in the front, where two panels overlap. It's a lot of fun to wear without panties - you can flash in one quick motion, or even just as easily as kneeling down to the floor - but kinda dangerous, too. Just walking across the parking lot caused my skirt to blow apart a little too much! And I felt quite naked walking around the store, not knowing how high up the slit was parting with every step. It's definitely made for exhibitionists. I wish I could catch all these spontaneous moments on camera, but I at least got this one shot of the view underneath the table, while sitting at a restaurant:
[description: upskirt view of a penis under the table in a restaurant]
[description: upskirt view of a penis under the table in a restaurant]
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Fashion Dump
I was browsing through some old photos from last year, and I came across some that I never posted. I guess when you're not doing a daily project and mining your catalog for every usable photo, some of them tend to fall by the wayside. Especially fitting room photos.
As much fun as it is to share the clothes I try on, sifting through those photos is a pain in the neck. I try to take a lot, just to increase the chances of getting a good one, but even then, it's hit or miss. And if I'm shopping like two or three days in a week, it adds up fast. Plus, when I've just tried on the clothes and taken the pictures, I tend to focus on the little imperfections that mar a given shot. Or sometimes I just don't like the lighting in a fitting room, or the mirror is in an awkward spot, or there's not enough room to get a good shot.
Months later, though, looking back, it can be a joy to see me wearing something interesting that I only ever tried on once (assuming I ended up not buying it - which is, inevitably, the fate of most things I try on). And, sometimes, you come across something that has since made its way into your closet, and get to see it again as it was the first time you ever tried it on!
[description: series of fitting room selfies in (and out of) a variety of dresses]
As much fun as it is to share the clothes I try on, sifting through those photos is a pain in the neck. I try to take a lot, just to increase the chances of getting a good one, but even then, it's hit or miss. And if I'm shopping like two or three days in a week, it adds up fast. Plus, when I've just tried on the clothes and taken the pictures, I tend to focus on the little imperfections that mar a given shot. Or sometimes I just don't like the lighting in a fitting room, or the mirror is in an awkward spot, or there's not enough room to get a good shot.
Months later, though, looking back, it can be a joy to see me wearing something interesting that I only ever tried on once (assuming I ended up not buying it - which is, inevitably, the fate of most things I try on). And, sometimes, you come across something that has since made its way into your closet, and get to see it again as it was the first time you ever tried it on!
[description: series of fitting room selfies in (and out of) a variety of dresses]
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Validation
Not to inflate my own ego - I don't consider myself any kind of talented fashion expert. I just know what I like, and what I think is cute or sexy, and what I would like to see on an attractive girl. And I'm also not afraid to express those tastes - even if it means wearing a pretty dress and high heels just to go grocery shopping. It's not like I go to a lot of fancy dinner parties or what have you, and have lots of chances to dress up. But I have to say it pleases me that I frequently get complimented on my outfits by the employees of my favorite local overstock fashion retailer.
It makes me feel validated to get that kind of approval from genetic females - like I've been accepted and am part of the club. Not that you have to pass any kind of test to validate your gender; after all, most people are born into it without even trying, and I have no doubt that I'm more feminine than a not insignificant percentage of the female half of the population (which doesn't, necessarily, make them any less female).
But given that I wasn't born into the female gender, I do feel kinda like I have to prove myself, and situations like this (also being the one to draw the attention of males while in a group of females - though to be fair, I have a really firm grasp of what boys are attracted to) help me feel like I deserve to call myself the gender I identify with. I can almost hear the chorus of voices chanting "one of us, one of us" into my ear. ;-p
It makes me feel validated to get that kind of approval from genetic females - like I've been accepted and am part of the club. Not that you have to pass any kind of test to validate your gender; after all, most people are born into it without even trying, and I have no doubt that I'm more feminine than a not insignificant percentage of the female half of the population (which doesn't, necessarily, make them any less female).
But given that I wasn't born into the female gender, I do feel kinda like I have to prove myself, and situations like this (also being the one to draw the attention of males while in a group of females - though to be fair, I have a really firm grasp of what boys are attracted to) help me feel like I deserve to call myself the gender I identify with. I can almost hear the chorus of voices chanting "one of us, one of us" into my ear. ;-p
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Interstate Rest Stop
[description: restroom mirror selfie in a dress with skirt lifted to reveal a penis]
I love this full-body mirror, even if it's a little bit warped. It came in handy on this day. I wasn't wearing any underwear because it's always hard re-adapting to textile culture after you've been camping at a nudist resort. So I opted to wear something that covers (minimally), but doesn't bind. I think, more than anything else, the swinging of your genitals is an indicator of the feeling of freedom that nudity brings. Unfortunately, that's also the thing that can get a man in a skirt into trouble if he's not careful. (Especially if he's enjoying it a little too much...).
I love this full-body mirror, even if it's a little bit warped. It came in handy on this day. I wasn't wearing any underwear because it's always hard re-adapting to textile culture after you've been camping at a nudist resort. So I opted to wear something that covers (minimally), but doesn't bind. I think, more than anything else, the swinging of your genitals is an indicator of the feeling of freedom that nudity brings. Unfortunately, that's also the thing that can get a man in a skirt into trouble if he's not careful. (Especially if he's enjoying it a little too much...).
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Try This On For Size (Girly Version)
So, this time, I was shopping in the children's department for a change. Most of the clothes won't fit me, of course, but every once in awhile I'll find something in a larger size that I can manage, and be pleasantly surprised. I don't care if anyone thinks it's weird; I like the ultra-girly aesthetic - sparkles and unicorns and mermaids (and other clichés). I resent the fact that women are expected to grow out of these things as they mature. I never had a proper girlhood phase because when I was growing up, I was under the mistaken impression that I was a boy (having a penis can do that to you). Sure, I enjoyed my Jurassic Park clothes and whatnot (girls can like dinosaurs, too), but now if I want to dress up in a sequined butterfly dress, I'm faced with the difficulty of finding one in a size that will fit an adult, much less a male (since, even at full size, women are statistically smaller than men) - and don't get me started on shoes...
[description: fitting room selfies in short shorts and a tied-off volleyball t-shirt]
This is what I wore to the store. (It was damn hot that day). It is itself a shirt I bought at Justice at the mall - the silver volleyball shimmers in sunlight. I was actually hoping to find some belly shirts (as you can see, I had to tie this one off at the back). All the ones I've had have gotten worn out (surprisingly fast). They're so sexy, though, and now that I'm trim enough to show off my midriff with confidence, I owe it to myself (and the world) to wear them more often.
[description: fitting room selfie in a teal tank top]
I was thinking that I could use some more tank tops (especially fashionable ones, as opposed to plain white), although I worry sometimes, because of the way they frame my chest and arms, about giving off a more masculine sort of vibe (e.g., bodybuilder, surfer dude). I agree with the sentiment, though - life is definitely better in flip flops!
[description: fitting room selfie in a white shirt with pink butterflies on it]
Requisite butterflies. Wish I'd gotten a better picture of the front of this shirt - it has a cute bow on it. I don't know why some people think adorability is demeaning. I mean, besides the fact that little girls and baby animals have the reputation for being sweet and helpless. If looking at something (or someone) makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside (the "d'awww" effect), that's a good thing, right? Some people like skulls because they're dark and brooding. Other people like butterflies because they're light and playful. Both tastes are legitimate. Anyway, as Madonna once explained, if you dislike something primarily because of its association with girliness, that belies an underlying lack of appreciation for girls and everything they stand for. I like girls (girls are awesome!), so to me "girliness" is a positive quality.
[description: fitting room selfies in a black, off-the-shoulder, ruffled top]
This off-the-shoulder look is so cute. It makes me think of dance.
[description: fitting room selfie in a long-sleeved, hot pink shrug]
Forgive me, but every time I see a "shrug", I can't help wondering what it would be like wearing it all by itself. So I had to try it out. It seems perfectly shaped to cover my nipples (although not very securely, as an overhead stretch would likely leave me completely exposed). It's definitely a different sort of look - though not a bad one, I think.
[description: fitting room selfies in a sporty, light pink dress]
I thought this dress was very cute. The top almost looks sporty. It's even worse at hiding my nipples than that shrug was, though. :-x
[description: fitting room selfies in a checkered cami and flower-print shorts]
I asked a friend whom I consider to be an amateur fashion consultant to pick an outfit for me from the racks (just for fun), and this is what she came up with. It looked very cute on me, although the shorts were a bit tight. It was also more expensive than the other pieces I tried on. But it was a lot of fun! I hope to do it again sometime.
[description: fitting room selfies in short shorts and a tied-off volleyball t-shirt]
This is what I wore to the store. (It was damn hot that day). It is itself a shirt I bought at Justice at the mall - the silver volleyball shimmers in sunlight. I was actually hoping to find some belly shirts (as you can see, I had to tie this one off at the back). All the ones I've had have gotten worn out (surprisingly fast). They're so sexy, though, and now that I'm trim enough to show off my midriff with confidence, I owe it to myself (and the world) to wear them more often.
[description: fitting room selfie in a teal tank top]
I was thinking that I could use some more tank tops (especially fashionable ones, as opposed to plain white), although I worry sometimes, because of the way they frame my chest and arms, about giving off a more masculine sort of vibe (e.g., bodybuilder, surfer dude). I agree with the sentiment, though - life is definitely better in flip flops!
[description: fitting room selfie in a white shirt with pink butterflies on it]
Requisite butterflies. Wish I'd gotten a better picture of the front of this shirt - it has a cute bow on it. I don't know why some people think adorability is demeaning. I mean, besides the fact that little girls and baby animals have the reputation for being sweet and helpless. If looking at something (or someone) makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside (the "d'awww" effect), that's a good thing, right? Some people like skulls because they're dark and brooding. Other people like butterflies because they're light and playful. Both tastes are legitimate. Anyway, as Madonna once explained, if you dislike something primarily because of its association with girliness, that belies an underlying lack of appreciation for girls and everything they stand for. I like girls (girls are awesome!), so to me "girliness" is a positive quality.
[description: fitting room selfies in a black, off-the-shoulder, ruffled top]
This off-the-shoulder look is so cute. It makes me think of dance.
[description: fitting room selfie in a long-sleeved, hot pink shrug]
Forgive me, but every time I see a "shrug", I can't help wondering what it would be like wearing it all by itself. So I had to try it out. It seems perfectly shaped to cover my nipples (although not very securely, as an overhead stretch would likely leave me completely exposed). It's definitely a different sort of look - though not a bad one, I think.
[description: fitting room selfies in a sporty, light pink dress]
I thought this dress was very cute. The top almost looks sporty. It's even worse at hiding my nipples than that shrug was, though. :-x
[description: fitting room selfies in a checkered cami and flower-print shorts]
I asked a friend whom I consider to be an amateur fashion consultant to pick an outfit for me from the racks (just for fun), and this is what she came up with. It looked very cute on me, although the shorts were a bit tight. It was also more expensive than the other pieces I tried on. But it was a lot of fun! I hope to do it again sometime.
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