The Cantankerous Naturist

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Forging ahead for the naturist cause!

There have been some positive developments in the saga of The Meandering Naturist over the past week, not the least of which have been messages from a couple important institutional administrators who have assured me that my right to privacy is absolute and that what I do on my own time is my own business. Period.

That’s was not the initial response, but in the end, a breath of relief.

What remains in question is the messaging that goes forth to my students, and who actually has the ability to manage that narrative. The obvious answer to that question should be… ME! It’s my narrative! While that sounds simple enough, I don’t think I need to convince anyone – progressive or conservative, religious or agnostic – that social media can be utilized as a weapon of mass destruction for anyone who has a bone to pick about the most inconsequential issues and events. Advocating for the truth when the halls are resonating with rumors is an uphill battle.

What’s most affirming in recent days has been the many, many messages I have received from readers who have not only offered sympathy (and empathy) for the recent turn of events, but have shared innumerable kind words related to the content of the original blog, itself. That has provided the shot in the arm I was needing to go ahead and renew the contract on The Meandering Naturist website, even though I’m not yet ready to take the full blog back online as of yet. I have a few more matters to be sorted on the ground yet before deciding whether that’s in my best interest. Should that involve combing 222 blog posts for potentially offensive images of my unclad buttocks, that’ll will require a significant chunk of energy and time I simply don’t have right now. I’m hoping, in the end, that will not be necessary. Time will tell.

A CAUTIONARY TALE

When I arrive at those moments of relative calm when I’m not absolutely fuming about this entire situation, it occurs to me this has become something of a case study for a much larger issue that is plaguing society here and abroad in 2022. For those of us associated with the Academy (aka: university research and teaching,) the juried process is absolutely paramount to the validation and dissemination of information, the corresponding research, or the review and/or reaction to such. But today, just about anyone can capture the megaphone to indoctrinate the masses, filling the streets with misinformation and distortions before the experts and genuine advocates have a rat’s chance at telling the whole (and holistic) story. Ironically, I first began posting on the internet in an effort to contribute a rational and educated voice on all things related to social nudity – but even the best intentions for creating rational discourse can be misinterpreted at best, weaponized at worst.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

In the best case, there will be two positive outcomes going forward. First and foremost, I remain hopeful that I will be in the position to flip the switch back on for the original blog, having fully owned up to my role in that project even amidst those who wish to demonize simple naturism as a less than wholesome endeavor. (Teachers want to teach, and this is most certainly a teachable moment.)

Secondly, having started this second blog (on a simpler platform with fewer associated expenses,) I may well retain the voice of the cantankerous naturist, acknowledging that while the unrelenting enthusiasm and optimism of some of my naturist colleagues provides the much-needed shot of adrenaline that is so very much needed to keep the dreamers dreaming and the naturist curious inspired, perhaps I can use these pages to address some of the less glamourous elements of the naturist cause. Issues such as the lack of diversity, or establishments that market themselves under the banner of altruistic social nudity but subversively market to those seeking “something more.” That’s to say nothing of the fact that we live in an era where so many are preaching tolerance from every corner and rooftop, but as it turns out, that almost always turns out to be a very selective flavor of tolerance. e.g. “I want you to be tolerant of me!

In short, perhaps I’ll be able to keep meandering on the original page, while facing up to some of the real obstacles to the naturist cause on this one. If aging has even a single inherent perk, that would be the acknowledgement – if not an expectation – that being cantankerous is a virtue.

In short… Don’t give up on us yet.

And again… with most of my social media channels currently disabled, or flat out deleted, I hope you will take a moment to share this post, if only in an effort to let my former followers know that we have yet to put down our bayonets and surrender. As every chess player knows, it’s the strategy for the long game that matters, even when it seems impossible to predict the moves of the opponent more than two or three moves out. Be it chess, or predicting human nature, I’m simply not that clever!