Recruit younger members! — Young Nudists on True Nudists

NealOriginal Poster

Sep 30, 2008

We've gotta decrease the mean age around here!
Unfortunately, boards like YNAI or ClothesFreeForum don't look kindly to posting links about outside nudist endeavors. I of course understand their policies against spamming, but that shouldn't preclude members from talking about other sites in the naturist world.
So, got any other promotion ideas?

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Replies

ME
Member
Oct 3, 2008
I agree we need to get some younger members in here to keep the site going
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NO
notnowplease
Oct 7, 2008
we are new and young. We're excited to be here I hope this place doesn't flop. Is it new?
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ME
Member
Nov 10, 2008
It's great to talk about the need to recruit younger members but how bout we get to work on the problem. I'd love to hear how you younger folks would suggest making nudism appeal more to younger generations. I'm not all that old but I guess at nearly 35 I've stepped up to the next rung on the census ladder and I'm removed enough to not understand the “kids” anymore. Whatever...so lets here it. How can we improve things to make them more interesting to the younger generation?
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PH
Philfreeeuk
Nov 10, 2008
[quote]It's great to talk about the need to recruit younger members but how bout we get to work on the problem. I'd love to hear how you younger folks would suggest making nudism appeal more to younger generations. I'm not all that old but I guess at nearly 35 I've stepped up to the next rung on the census ladder and I'm removed enough to not understand the “kids” anymore. Whatever...so lets here it. How can we improve things to make them more interesting to the younger generation?[/quote] Do a recruiting campaign on Facebook and don't tell 'em it's NOT about sex till they get here!:)
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DA
daroude
Nov 12, 2008
I'm 27. According to most international naturist federations I'm not young anymore.
Yet I try:)
Cheers
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SW
Swifthawk
Nov 12, 2008
[quote]It's great to talk about the need to recruit younger members but how bout we get to work on the problem. I'd love to hear how you younger folks would suggest making nudism appeal more to younger generations. I'm not all that old but I guess at nearly 35 I've stepped up to the next rung on the census ladder and I'm removed enough to not understand the “kids” anymore. Whatever...so lets here it. How can we improve things to make them more interesting to the younger generation?[/quote] Hehe...I guess these young bucks are all talk and no walk. Now I remember back in my day, we put action to our words and that was after a 3 hour hike through 3' of snow in a blinding blizzard on the way to school. LOL...I'm kidding! It was only 2' of snow. lol...Seriously though, I've been paying attention to this thread and it would be interesting as to what the next generation of nudists thinks.
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ME
Member
Nov 12, 2008
Up hill both ways too....right Swifty?
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ME
Member
Nov 25, 2008
[quote]Up hill both ways too....right Swifty?[/quote] Yeah, definitely up hill, both ways. LOL, "yer all a bunch of young whipper-snappers"! I have tried and tried to recruit from the younger groups. I believe everyone on here has heard me spout at least once that the median age of nudists in the US is mid 50's. So, before all that is left of our nudist clubs and resorts is "cane assisted shuffleboard", I believe that we need to get the younger people involved. The only thing is "how?" My experience has been that it really doesn't appeal to the bulk of the younger generation. If you want to insure total failure in recruiting, start telling them that it's not a sexual activity. That usually seals the deal right there. Sooo, maybe we look at AANR and TNS and see how successful their big money efforts have been. Then maybe take what they have done and try something new with it..... Thanks Jerry
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ME
Member
Nov 29, 2008
[quote]As a 21 yo, I am a member of the younger generation, and I take exception to : "My experience has been that it really doesn't appeal to the bulk of the younger generation. If you want to insure total failure in recruiting, start telling them that it's not a sexual activity. That usually seals the deal right there" To me, much of the limited numbers in say clubs is due to not being appealing to younger folk through providing things that interest them by way of say sports, games, music etc. Too many clubs I think are stuck in their ways and don't show that much desire or initiative to try and capture young folk. That said, with many other interests, there would still probably be limited club appeal. But go particularly to Europe and you will observe plenty young folk enjoying topless or nude sunbathing and swimming, where allowed and where the tolerance and understanding of naturism is much greater than in the UK and from what I understand the US. A Guardian correspondent spent some time at an international young naturist event in Norfolk last year which was very successful and was in fact struck by the total lack of a sexual atmosphere, that their disco almost had a village tea party feel to it, that they were so maybe over aware of not being sexual, which is always the flipside of going into over-deial shared by many naturist. In general, though,ii would say it is nothing whatever really to do with how related it is to anything sexual, and in all honesty many would be totally turned off if they felt there was say any swinger element. I dn't know how serious or tongue-in-cheek the above quoted reamrk was, but basically it's pretty rubbish. And anyone thinking that that's the problem isn't likely to be as helpful as they might in finding solutions. Sara[/quote] Sara, I think they may be a disconnect because you are in UK and were are here in the USA. When I said that quote, it includes the water volleyball tournament, patanque tournaments and many, many other sporting and general activities here in the US. I probably should have prefaced that as in the US, but I forgot. Sorry. However, I believe that it holds true to the US and actually, forgive me, I challenge you to show that it does not hold true in the UK. Thanks Jerry
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ON
oneUnknownHero
Nov 30, 2008
just joined up, I'm 24.
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ME
Member
Nov 30, 2008
Just for giggles, I looked up the percentage on this web site. I searched for 18- 35 year olds which it returned to me 1508 of the 4140 members, which equates to 36.43%. However, of that percentage 1277 were listed as single male accounts, 151 were listed as single female accounts, and 80 were couple accounts. I submit that some of the couple accounts that are supporting the 36% are nudists because of the older partner. Of course this is international. I tried to seperate US from international in the numbers, but it doesn't seem to work, if you put any in the country field when doing a search on the nudists page you get 1509, which would infer that there is only one nudist listed as outside the US and we know that's wrong.

So my point is there are 1277 possible single males on this site versus the 151 single females, and that does not include that there may be fake female accounts. Now nudism has histoically had higher male percentages, however, only 10.96% of the 1378 single male and single female accounts are female.

I just think that such a large population of single males could possibly indicate a more sexual desire as a underlying current in the male population. Males being more visually driven in general sexual response whereas females tend to be more audibly driven.

But, for all my number crunching I could just be on pluto, even though it's no longer a planet.....

Thanks
Jerry
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GR
GreatDeadParrot
Dec 1, 2008
I'm 20, and while I'm kinda new to the whole nudist thing, I find it a lot of fun. But in my experience, folks around my age aren't really afraid oftryingnudism/naturism, but they don't want to be idenditfiedasa nudist/naturist, because there's a whole gammit of (negative) connotations that go with such an identity. I'm not exactly sure how to work with this, but this has been my experience.
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ME
Member
Dec 1, 2008
Jerry, thanks for all the numbers. That's some great research there on your part. Sara raises a really good point in one of her posts above. She mentions that a great deal of the activities at most clubs really are geared to the older generation for the most part. As anyone knows you're only going to stick around so long if you're bored out of your mind. So the question I pose to everyone here is... What activities or facilities would you like to see offered at the ideal club? What would attract you to visit someplace for the first time?
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ME
Member
Dec 1, 2008
[quote]I'm 20, and while I'm kinda new to the whole nudist thing, I find it a lot of fun. But in my experience, folks around my age aren't really afraid oftryingnudism/naturism, but they don't want to be idenditfiedasa nudist/naturist, because there's a whole gammit of (negative) connotations that go with such an identity. I'm not exactly sure how to work with this, but this has been my experience.[/quote] Another great point! That's why we all have to work together to eliminate those negative stereo-types that go along with the “label” of nudist. Also one more reason why us young whipper snappers as Jerry put it need to get together and help show the others the truth. That it's not a “bad” thing and that we aren't all sexual deviants and weirdos. One of those strange little human quirks is that we don't like to be rejected from the group and we are all scared out of our minds of being the odd one out, for the most part anyway. One of the hardest things for us to do is to bring up a subject with our “friends” that might lead us to rejection or ridicule. An interesting thing that I have come to find after facing that ridicule is finding out later that some of those people where actually really interested and only ridiculed me in order to protect themselves from the same ridicule. Odd and unfortunate but true.
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ME
Member
Dec 1, 2008
I just realized that I used the word ridicule more times in one sentence than I think I have in the last year. LOL
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PH
Philfreeeuk
Dec 1, 2008
[quote]I just realized that I used the word ridicule more times in one sentence than I think I have in the last year. LOL[/quote] hehe, I noticed that and I must say, that I think it's ridicule-ous :) Anyway, to put my two PENCE worth in. (we ave real money in the UK! hehe, not that it's worth anything!) Now being a grumpy old hippy, I am probably a bit "out of touch" these days, but as I understand it, historically, even kids that are brought up in a naturist environment, have a tendency to get all shy at the onset of puberty, and often go away from the scene, at least for a few years. To declare yourself a Naturist / Nudist (even in the privacy of a club) requires quite a degree of self esteem and confidence, even if you were a nudist as a child, even more so for those that are completely new to it. So to my mind, it's not surprising that there is a tendency, to not get involved until their mid twenty's, when they are beginning to mature and find that self confidence. How you get past that I don't know, the weather here in the UK doesn't help either. I guess free internet access and a few Wii's laying around on the lawn would be a help, but then I could be wrong again! :(
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ME
Member
Dec 1, 2008
I agree, maybe a few Wii's. Besides, I'd like to try one.

I don't mean to pick on Unigirl, and I hope that I am wrong, the US meadian age keeps creeping towards an expiration date. I just don't see anyone here at the resorts that don't have more grey and more wrinkles than me.....

Thanks
Jerry
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ME
Member
Dec 2, 2008
Sorry about the punctuation and grammar, I was in a hurry and am running out the door now....

Thanks
Jerry
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GR
GreatDeadParrot
Dec 2, 2008
What exactly is this "Stoke World" event you're talking about?
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PH
Philfreeeuk
Dec 2, 2008
divfont face="Arial" size="2"Wow Jerry, if that lot doesn't do it, I just don't know what will :(/font/div
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ME
Member
Dec 2, 2008
HOLY BEGEESUS!!!!! That's a vacation waiting for a place to happen!!!!
Ok, as soon as I can get a job and start saving.....that is one place that I want to be. Sara, if I make it across the pond, will you do me the honors of a local tour? Me and the wife that is. Man I gotta try that. There is nothing that even compares to that in the US.

Wow, anyone want to start planning a trip for like 2010? That's incredible.

thanks
Jerry
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ME
Member
Dec 2, 2008
Steve,

I don't think there is anything to compete with that in north america. That's pretty steep territory. You would have to be a multi millionaire. I don't know of any way to get owners of a waterpark to open for a nudist venue. I am seriously open to suggestions!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks
Jerry
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ME
Member
Dec 3, 2008
Sara,

First and foremost, please understand that any argumentativeness on my part is not directed at you, but rather, just an expression of frustration from years of failure. I think that the religious right does not have the grip on the UK, or even Washington State, that is has on the rest of the US. I would love to see a nude swim and I would love to see it at a nice waterpark. Unfortunately, I failed at getting a bolwing alley, even for a few hours.

So, maybe I just need to sit back and watch the rest of you guys and be satisfied if you are able to to do anything where I was stonewalled. I'll live vicariously. I'd still like to come to the UK for the nudist waterpark even if it's only for a couple of hours, it's still like nothing that has ever been organized here, as far as I know.

Thanks
Jerry
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ME
Member
Dec 4, 2008
Well Crose,

Good post. I can understand that Petanque might be considered an elderly person's sport, though in France everyone plays it. But what about beach Volleyball, Water Volleyball, and Tennis? Certainly these shouldn't be put in the "shuffleboard league".

I know memberships are expensive and I know that a lot of the reason the older generations are more prevalent at clubs is simply economics. However, what about meeting up with people in travel clubs? Those are usually very cheap to join and you get to meet a lot of people. Sometems a travel club can get a group rate at a resort/club and make the visit cost effective?

Also, a lot of travel club members have "nudified" their homes. My home in KY has a 7 foot privacy fence around the backyard, a 3 person jacuzzi (yeah, a real jacuzzi) and in the summer I have a small above ground pool. I have a covered and screened-in back patio, brick bbq with gas burners, and room for volleyball, badmitton, horseshoes, etc. It's definately worth fixin up the back yard. I only had to dress to mow the front!!

In any case, those might be some places to start. Also, make sure you ask for the youth rate on AANR and TNS memberships, if you are in college, make sure that you get the cheaper college rate, always ask if there is a cheaper price for youth, even at resorts/clubs.

Remember, there are a lot of us older people that would love to pass on the torch to some young'uns. As I said before, the median age for nudists in the US is approaching an expiration date.

In any case, glad to make your acquaintance and I hope that maybe someday we can all meet up. I do try to get around and am looking forward to meeting others on this web site...

Happy Trails,
Jerry
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