[chance33_98]

I think you're catching up to me in the number of posts :) I have been slacking of late!

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[weegee]

Foley, of West Palm Beach, has hit the national TV and radio talk-show circuit in recent weeks to bash a Tampa-area summer camp not unlike most camps -- except that the boys and girls, ages 11-18, are naked.

If I recall correctly, the camp boasted a ratio of 1.5 counselors to every kid. Do clothed camps usually offer this much observation of the minors by young adults?

If these kids went over to a nude sleepover at a friends house, do you think that most of America might send up some red flags? (I do recall that Dear Abbey fell for this as a hoax one time but was all for it, she even reran the letter a couple of years later, there is an FR thread on it somewhere).

The lack of parental presence is one danger sign about this type of camp. The NY Times article even included the comment that some kids are shy and self-conscious about their nudity their first time at the camp. Doesn't sound like it is fully their decision to be there. Why not let the kids go clothing optional (undressing only as much or if they want to)?

Someone mentioned Hippie Hollow (in Austin) in the other thread but that park in Texas has an age of 18 years minimum.

If parents want to bring their kids up a nudists, I don't think that it qualifies outright as child abuse. However, where does indecent exposure in front of a minor begin? Obviously at the camp there are strangers present and add to that the parents of the kids are not present (some are sent in from out of state).

[weegee]

Are there many Republican nudist votes to go after? Don't they usually support the Green Party or at least the DNC?

[honeygrl]

To be totally honest, judging from the articles I've read on this camp, I don't see anything immoral or dangerous about it. So far, everything I've read about it sounds like the people who run the camp are being very responsible in ensuring the childrens safety and quotes from the children that I've read sound like they don't associate nudity with sex. Their lifestyle is taking the curiosity out of nudity that most children that age have and they likely won't be as tempted by to fool around as they get older just out of curiosity because they know what is underneath the clothing and it's nothing new to them. I really think that if the man complaining so loudly about it isn't willing to visit the camp and learn first hand how it is run and how the children behave then he has no right to condemn the place because he's ignorant on the whole matter. He is the one who has the perverted ideas on it, not the children or parents apparently. If anyone has an immoral attitude about it, it's him and his perverted thoughts. I'd be willing to bet the boys there aren't hiding playboys under their beds and the girls are probably less promiscuous that the average kids their age. I'd love to see some statistics on teen pregnancy and sexual activity comparing children of naturists verses other children who's parents are not. It would be interesting to see how the percentages compare.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Foley vs. wrinkled tan gherkins *ping*

[Impy]

Put some clothes on!!