I never encountered tan line prejudices other than peopel beign more cautious around those with tan lines because they are assumed to be "new" and may not understand nudist etiquette or may have false xepectations due to how nudists are often misportrayed in films, media and literature. they may be exspectign somethign wild and crazy, when the reality is it is mostly tame adn sedate

Anyway, that is the only thing I personally sitnessed as far as a tan lien prejudice goes.

persons whose tan lines that demark just two different levels of tan in my opinion should be exempt, but absent clothes to demark a person's status, I supposed some feel they have to do so in other ways. I am currently readign a book by Thorstein Weblin, called "The Theory of the Leisure Class" (1912), which points out the irrational ways in which humans show status. It seems to be culturally universal tha tstatus is gained from conspicuous consumption and a conspicuous waste of resources. Anyway, absent clothes to cue people in to a person's status, I could see then trying to establish new crieria based on tan lines. It is all pretty ridiculous when looked rationally.

@snytiger6 In the UK, certainly, naturism is still struggling in places to get past its 'sun club' origins. We still have clubs where it's almost compulsory (if not actually compulsory) to be clothed after sunset. A rather strange protocol that can only have its roots in the idea that the only point of being nude outdoors is to get an all over tan. If the weather's warm enough, I'll go without clothes 24/7 if permitted. I've gone days at a time where the only things I've worn are shoes to go out around the site, and a sleeping bag to go to bed.

I must admit, I've seen this "real naturists/nudists don't have tan lines" attitude more on the Internet than I've heard it out loud. Certain naturists do love to 'other', and along with piercings, tattoos and shaved public hair, this is one of their favourite 'No True Scotsman' arguments that they use to distinguish themselves (being naked for all the right reasons) from others (presumably being naked for all the wrong ones.) The last time I heard it in person, I overheard one camper discussing others present at a clothing optional campsite. To be fair, she seemed to be a rather loud character, and to have an opinion about pretty much everything.

Other things I've seen ruffle feathers include someone (male, of course) put on a T-Shirt when they started feeling cold, and remaining naked from the waist down. Somehow their exposed genitals were suddenly offensive in this configuration, whereas when the top half was unclothed, there was nothing wrong with them being uncovered. Admittedly, it's a matter of degrees. We've recently had a guy in the UK, claiming to be a naturist, ending up on the wrong side of the law for delivering parcels with a hole cut out of the crotch of his trousers. Yes, at that point, it's very much 'look at my penis.' But this wasn't in a naturist context, and I can't think of anything more redundant than flashing at a naturist club.

I wish naturism/nudism could get away from this witch hunt mentality that assumes every stranger is up to no good, and taking their clothes off for the wrong reasons.

@NicoleCadmium My experiences in nudism is pretty much all on the U.S. West Coast states. (California, Oregon and Washington) I think out differences in experiences may inpart be cultural.

Generally at nudist clubs or places clothign is optional. At nudist clubs, clothign is optional everywhere except in the "wet area" (pool, jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas). This mostly because when yo mix clothed and unclothed persons is those areas, the clothed persons tend to be the ones who "misbehave".

I have seen males or femaisl in the pool areas put hon shirts to avoid getting a sun burn and there has never been an issue (at least not that I have witnessed) of their genials still beign exposed.

Some of the persons who run the nudist clubs were "hippies" in the 9160's, who just never reintegrated back into the mainstream. Although many have been stepping down, due to advance age, they did set the cultural tone for many nudist clubs on the West Coast. Thie might explain the differences in nudist culture between what we have seen and experienced.

Personally, I have a problem with the "swingers" (persons who go to nude beaches or nudist clubs looking for sex), as they tend to color nudism/maturism in a different light, when most of us just want family friendly nude recreation without sexual agendas/overtones.

Yeah... The bible really messes people's minds up as to what they consider to be "normal".