Bare/Dare Series, 2025! #3

Identical siblings!

An Examination and Exploration of Our Community and Our Culture of Same Gender Loving Nakedness! #3

Identical Twins: Double the Nakedness, Double the Fun!

Preliminary:

As promised at the beginning of this series, this final offering for this publication was guaranteed prior to the end of the summer season as my personal perspective. Just a reminder that this post entry also includes that of my own identical twin brother, Alex. Sometimes, the sharing of our ideas, inspirations, memories, reactions, recollections, thoughts, etc., become blurred and riddled with questions. However, the experiences are shared and together as they involve us both – guilty and innocence – together!

We, Alex (Twin) and I, are identical; our births barely two hours apart. Therefore, we share our personal experiences in nakedness – the comfort, joy, and preference for living, as much as possible, our lives without the burden, duty and/or obligation of clothing/concealment!

Footnote: For this series, I use pictures of identical twins from online. Our brothers prefer I not use any from our childhood.

Identical and Serious: together!

Introduction:

Our family name is Poladopoulos and we are identical twin brothers born almost two hours apart. Alex – the “first-born” – is also Deaf, same gender loving (SGL) or gay and frequently confused with me, Roger, the author of this blog and the “second-born” of this twin team!

Our parents were born in the Kingdom of Greece during the time of the German invasion and occupation during World War II. They married and began their family there before immigrating to this country in the early 1950s. Neither of them became citizens here and they returned to Greece in the 1990s. We (Twin and I) have three (3) older brothers and three (3) younger brothers. That makes the both of us the exact “middle-child” in our family.

Our family household being predominantly male has caused many to assume our nakedness wasn’t a major issue.

A very false and unreal assumption!

Our infancy and early childhood progressed along the same pattern as that of our older siblings with the exception of our diagnosis of being Deaf. Otherwise, we were “normal” until our parents and older siblings decided to teach us to properly adorn (wear clothes) ourselves. Our “moment” to establish our true identity! Our joint (shared) “declaration of independence” was upon us!

Bottoms-up! to yardwork!

Reality:

Our initial opportunity to proclaim our self-determination (identity) happened when the decision was made to instruct us on the process of how to dress – put on clothes. At last, a chance to demonstrate (show) precisely who we really are! Twin and I are unable to exactly recall the experience, so this episode is best described by our surviving parent (mother) and older siblings.

The miraculous fascination that Twin (our familiar reference name for ourselves) and I had for learning how to decorate our bodies with clothes was that it also gave us the knowledge of how easy and simple it now became for us to remove (discard) our clothing!

The proverbial adage, “practice makes perfect” was the result of this lesson. Easy to put on, easy to take off! Our parents were amazed at the both of us getting dressed in garments and then removing them immediately! The essence and introduction into our world of “guys without boxers!” No underwear equals no clothes!

Needless to elaborate, but this basic logistic created an enormous amount of frustration within our family household. Our desire for freedom from clothes soon reached epic proportions that continued throughout our childhood. This conflict in nudity versus textile (clothes wearing) was compounded by a communication issue: our being Deaf against the fact that everyone else was verbal (hearing). At the time, the tensions in our family, along with the births of our younger brothers, made happiness and tranquility seem impossible!

Luckily, Twin and I shared a bedroom. Perhaps “identical” is synonymous with “shared!” Soon, our parents conceived of a compromise: we could be naked inside our bedroom if we agreed to wear clothes while elsewhere in our home. Our older siblings joined in this project, and while some awkward occurrences happened, tranquility returned to the Poladopoulos residence.

Footnote: Now, today, as a family, we all laugh when remembering this drama in our lives!

Calm and peaceful!

As we matured, our late Father eventually acknowledged to us all that the “bedroom nudity compromise” was initially considered only a temporary adjustment. Both parents believed we would grow away from this behaviour and the nude insistence was a developmental “phase” of our lives that would eventually disappear.

Our oldest sibling, Nick, (who “came out” as gay while at university), readily admitted to our family that at his young age, he briefly thought Twin and I were “double trouble!” At the time of this incident, he viewed our being Deaf as synonymous with our penchant for nakedness!

Sometimes, a “temporary” compromise affords a very rewarding and significant solution!

A doorway of twins!

As to the communication concern: our family all learned to manually share (sign language) – both in English and Greek! A process that remains underway still today with the addition of in-laws (sibling marriages), nieces and nephews!

Summary:

Life experiences provided Twin and I with an opportunity to explore, firsthand, the world of nakedness. It afforded us a chance to examine and explore our perspectives, reactions and involvement! These same life experiences reinforced, both internally and in reality, our identical appreciation and commitment to nakedness that we both share!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 22, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Autumn Adaptability!”

Too Much?

Anniversary extension!

The announced and planned post entry for this past Monday, 18 August, 2025, never occurred and my spouse, Aaron, and I both share the blame for that mishap! We’re just too much in love and we’ll only have one 10th anniversary. A very “last minute” (spontaneous) decision on our part for an extended anniversary celebration: a bromantic (he and me) extended weekend away from our routine to a Florida clothing optional resort that we’ve never visited before.

Our weekend ended yesterday: Thursday, 21August. I did mention an “extended” weekend, correct? We added four days and a renewal of ourselves!

Together!

This impulsive adventure was totally unplanned. We had discussed an excursion of this nature in the past but never actually realized that it didn’t really require that much attention to detail. After all, we’re usually “clothing optional” around our condominium/home anyway. So we had minimal need for any “official” wardrobe. Just the two of us being our natural selves.

Passion!

We do apologize to anyone if our spontaneity created any inconvenience for you. It was unintentional although irresponsible from the both of us. Please know that we both regret the error and can assure all of you that we’ll do our best to avoid any similarity in the future.

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry for this site is planned for Monday, August 25, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “August Antics!”

Post-Publication Update: added 10:30a.m. 22 August: Monday’s scheduled posting is “August Antics!”

Bare*Ability!

Same gender bromance!

Bare Practitioner: same gender loving and embracing nakedness as both community and culture. An enthusiastic advocate of the right to love and of body and clothes freedom.

Body and clothes freedom!

Naked is defined as without clothing on the body. Without addition, concealment, disguise or embellishment. Nude.

Nude is defined as without clothing or naked. The condition of being unclothed.

Introduction:

Mutual body and clothes freedom!

Bare! Body! Clothes free! Naked! Natural! Naturist! Nude! Nudity! Nudist! All of these terms/words refer to the fact that we are uncovered (without clothing)! We are completely visible without even a single thread concealing any part of our natural body. Identical to the state of our birth. Not a single one of us were born wearing anything! Hallelujah!

Yours truly at a local park in Arlington, Virginia, USA!

My name is Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos. As many of you already know, I am the co-author and the creator of this site: ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! I am a same gender loving (SGL) man – gay – Deaf and of direct Greek heritage (both of my parents were born in the Kingdom of Greece).

Aaron, my spouse!

This is Aaron M. Peterson-Poladopoulos, my spouse. He is also the co-author and photographer of this site. Obviously, he is also SGL and is of African-Canadian descent. Aaron’s family is of the Yoruba ethnic tribe from the city of Ibadan, located in western Nigeria. Both Canada and Nigeria are Commonwealth entities. We have been legally married since 2015, a year after marriage equality was officially adopted here in the USA, our country of residence.

The both of us are confidently and proudly bare practitioners (SGL and naturist/nudist). We wear clothes when necessary but both of us prefer being without any garment whatsoever! As enthusiastic bare practitioner advocates, we are equally responsible for the theme of today’s post entry here.

Honest and simple advice!

We sincerely encourage all of you here today to join with us in nakedness and pride whenever possible!

*************************

Bare Practitioners:

Bare practitioners!

As an integral component grouping of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ community and culture, bare practitioners often encounter awkward and discomforting situations not only because of our SGL status, but also due to our textile (clothing) – or our lack thereof. We are neither forcing nor intimidating anyone into our body and clothes freedom world, instead we are celebrating the enablement to just be ourselves: SGL and nakedness!

Progress Pride Flag body painted on himself!

Our man in the above photograph is very confident and proud of his bare practitioner identity. He has our SGL Progress Pride rainbow flag body painted on his nakedness while he’s participating in the London, UK, World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)! His smile demonstrates his comfort and joy in being honest and open about his body freedom and his sexuality! Both Aaron and I salute his brotherhood, reality and sincerity! Take care and stay bare, our friend!

*************************

Our Confidence Is Evident:

Bare under the bridge!

Our man in this series of pictures here is not only proud of his sexuality, he’s also assured and bold in sharing publicly his bare practitioner affiliation!

Submerged bare practitioner pride!

He combines his SGL nature and his body and clothes freedom preference and skinny dips (swims naked) without a care in the world!

His rainbow pride colours raised high!

He confidently flaunts both his bare body and his sexuality while posing and promoting his message: “I am my own man without guilt and/or shame!”

Bottoms-up! near the underwater bottom!

A philosophy that many of us who are bare practitioners endorse and proclaim wholeheartedly!

*************************

Confidence and Pride!

Compatibility!

Being a bare practitioner isn’t an obligation to publicly reveal one’s personal character and identity. Each person determines their own comfort level in presenting themselves to others. The majority of us, bare practitioners or otherwise, are more amenable to others who we perceive as most like us and similar to ourselves. This is a human instinct that most of us believe, feel, nurture and share among ourselves.

Our bare practitioner affinity and appreciation aren’t based on or defined solely by our willingness to allow others to interpret or judge our nakedness and/or our sexuality. Our being what and who we are is determined completely by our private discretion, personal emotional capacity, and self-acceptance. If we need to confide in another, it is our choice, and we need to engage in the dialogue when we are comfortable. Otherwise, we await on our respective decision to proceed.

For everyone!

*************************

Poetic Justice:

An important message inked on his genital area!

Reign is the stage name of our bare practitioner brother welcoming us here. Just above his pubic hairline, he has “unashamed” tattooed on his skin. His meaning is obviously visible for all. There is no embarrassment, guilt or shame associated with either his nakedness and/or his sexuality!

He prefers nakedness over clothing and has no issue in publicly endorsing both body and clothes freedom and his exclusive same gender loving sexuality. Reign is a very honest and open man who lives his life being himself and “unashamed!”

My Naked Life

by Roger Poladopoulos

I am naked and I am me.

I am the man the man I want to be.

When I am naked, I am nude,

Living life with a positive attitude.

I am naked and I am me.

I am the man I want to be.

When I am nude, I am also proud,

Whether alone or among a crowd.

I am naked and I am me.

I am the man I want to be.

When I am nude, I am living free,

I know that clothes are not for me.

I am naked and I am me.

I am the man I want to be.

When I am nude, I clear my mind,

Gone are the clothes that hide and bind.

I am naked and I am me.

I am the man I want to be.

The End. Composed on 5 July, 2011 at a clothes free beach.

*************************

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, June 9, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Swinging It All: Bat and Buttocks!”

Canada and USA: Mother’s Day!

A floral appreciation!

In both Canada and the USA, Sunday, 11 May is the observance of the day to pay tribute to our mothers and/or the women who provided us care, guidance and love!

This gracious salute is commemorated on the second Sunday in May, annually!

With child!

Thank you for all that you do (or have done)!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, May 12, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Play!”

Armenia: Genocide Remembrance Day

Flag of Armenia!

24 April, annually, is the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

This date is recognized as the first modern genocide of the 20th Century.

Genocide is the crime of intentionally destroying part or all of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group by killing people. It is understood by most people to be the gravest crime against humanity.

Prologue:

The presence of the Armenian peoples in Anatolia, the region in modern Turkey that borders Iran and the Caucus) has been documented since the sixth century BCE – about 1,500years prior to the arrival of the Turkmens (first Turkish immigrants) under the Seljuk dynasty. The independent Kingdom of Armenia adopted Christianity as its national religion early in the fourth century CE.

The Genocide:

Photograph by U.S. Ambassador Morganthau of Armenian corpses left roadside.

Before the Great War (World War I; 1914 – 1918), there were limited exterminations of Armenian inhabitants of Turkey during the 1890s and in 1909. During World War I, The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) allied itself with Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Germany. This led to the power transfer to the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) by the civilian authorities.

On 24 April, 1915, the CUP ordered the deportation and expulsion of Armenian residents in the Ottoman capital, Constantinople. Soon, this order was extended throughout all the Ottoman Empire and massive crowds were forced to march into the Syrian Desert, without food and water. They were raped, robbed and brutally beaten.

Soon, the extermination of the Armenian residents throughout the Ottoman Empire was endorsed and enforced. The massive deportations and deaths became real and prevalent. The involvement in the Great War and the political instability which followed prevented the Western powers from monitoring the conditions within the former Ottoman state.

The overthrow of the monarchy and the division of the lands formerly occupied by the CUP allowed atrocities against the Armenians and other religious minorities until almost midway through the 1920s. By that time, an estimated 1.6 million Armenians had been exterminated. The emerging Turkish country had reduced the population of Armenians from almost 2.5 million to less than 400,000.

The Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, capital city of Armenia

Tsitsernakaberd: Armenian Genocide Memorial

The Genocide Memorial was built in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd, just outside the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia. The Genocide Memorial Museum-Institute was added later and officially opened in 1995.

Every year, on 24 April, the complex hosts the national Remembrance Day Ceremony, where hundreds of thousands line for hours to place floral and prayer tributes to the victims.

Remembering those murdered.
A profile of prayer

Personal Connection:

My maternal grandfather was half-Armenian. His mother was a resident of the Ottoman Empire. He remembered the Turkish soldiers congregating the Armenian population – including all of his family – inside their village church prior to setting the entire structure on fire. He and several friends were being absent from school that day and they climbed trees when they witnessed the soldiers assaulting the village.

A Turkish family helped them escape to safety.

My mother doesn’t remember his discussing the incident when she and her siblings were growing up. It was only when his grandchildren were born that he felt the need to share his past.

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, April 28, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Charge!”

Great and Holy Easter, 2025!

Lighting candles!

The Feasts of Great and Holy Easter in the Orthodox Churches and Western Easter in the Protestant Churches are observed simultaneously on Sunday, 20 April, 2025.

Kala Pascha!

Happy Easter!

The joint celebration of the Easter Holy Day is not a regular event as the churches all follow different calendars. Easter is a moveable feast day – always celebrated on Sunday however, it changes dates annually. There is no designated date for the observance of the Easter feast.

Aaron, my spouse, is Roman Catholic. I am Greek Orthodox. Our Easter celebrations are usually on different dates. Unfortunately, this year, we have only one single Easter observance. A reduction by half of all our Easter treats!

The Epitaphios: the tomb of Jesus in the Greek Orthodox Church!

Throughout Greece, in the larger cities and ports, the Army, Navy and Air Corps provide the bearers of the Epitaphios to churches. The state church is legally allowed to demand this duty from local military personnel. The only time such a request may be denied is during time of war. I imagine the military attendance is representative of the Roman guards lining the route of Jesus as he carried himself and his cross to the scene of the Crucifixion.

The Easter Ikons!

The ikon is a representation (mural, mosaic or a painting on wood) depicting sacred events or a sacred individual (Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary or a saint). It is used as an object of veneration and prayer or as a visible tool of instruction. In western churches, statues are used. Ikons are found predominately in Orthodox Churches. For the Orthodox people, ikons remind us of our duties and obligations.

The ikon of the Crucifixion of Jesus!

At the noon hour on Great Friday (Good Friday in the Western Church) – which happens to be today, – the ikon of the Crucifixion is placed inside the Epitaphios (Tomb) and carried around the church a total of three (3) times. The Ikon rests inside the Epitaphios until the hour of midnight on Great Saturday. It is then replaced with the Ikon of the Resurrection of Jesus and then encircles the Church three times for the jubilation and veneration of the peoples. Easter is the Feast of the Resurrection!

The Ikon of the Resurrection!

For the Eastern Orthodox faithful (Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, Roumanian, Armenian, Syrian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Palestinian, Serbian, etc.), Easter is the paramount feast of the liturgical (church) year. My paternal papou (grandfather) always noted that in Greece, even the communists were in church on Easter Sunday!

Flowers and “Happy Easter” (Greek)!

Easter Eggs!

In Greece and throughout much of the Eastern Orthodox Church world, egg dying is very popular and involved. In our culture, all eggs are dyed red – the colour that represents both rebirth and renewal. Red is also symbolic for the blood of Christ which was shed during the Crucifixion. The elaborate decorations of eggs used in Russia and the Ukraine are not popular with the remainder of the Orthodox communities.

There are many contests and games utilized with the red eggs and related to the Easter holy day. The four weeks prior to the arrival of Easter is known as the Great Lent, a period of fasting and prayer, during which the consumption of eggs is restricted. It is customary to eat all of the festive eggs prior to the arrival of Easter Monday.

There are numerous ways of dying eggs for Easter. The majority of dying is done within the individual homes and households. Commercially, for large groups, dyed eggs can be purchased in advance. There are dyes available for families to shop. My mother recalls using a very traditional method of dying. They would peel the skins off of red onions and boil the skins mixed with some olive oil and vinegar. We dyed eggs this way growing up, the colour was not as bright as the manufactured dyes but a hard-boiled egg tastes the same, regardless of how it is dyed!

Commercially dyed Easter eggs!

Bare Practitioners!

For those of us who are committed and devoted bare practitioners, our observance of the Easter holiday includes the colourful decorating of our bodies in addition to eggs. Using various varieties of body paint, we are not restricted to simply using the red option.

Body painted adornment!

In celebrating the holiday, many decide to have their buttocks painted to resemble the eggs decorated for the occasion. This process also involves the cooperation of friends and talented (artistic) acquaintances in creating festive images. The most popular anatomical “canvas” (object painted) of course are the buttocks! For many, they do resemble an egg!

Detailed expression!

Some of the hand painted eggs are very awesome and intricate in the creativity and design employed. We can only wonder what is awarded to the first place winners and their artists! Imagine the crowds in line if the buttocks were displayed live in a museum!

*************************

Tsoureki!

“Tsoureki” – Easter bread!

The Easter Bread – a sweetened and renowned baked treat that is a significant tradition of Greek Easter – is baked in the home according to family recipes, passed from generation-to-generation. I have my paternal yiayia (grandmother) recipe. My culinary skills are practically nonexistent so in our home, Aaron prepares our bread, and it is praised by all who eat it. My copy of the recipe was made in my own handwriting when I spent Easter with yiayia and step-by-step we made a total of nine loaves.

Yiayia’s recipe was her very own version of the one given to her by her mother. These recipes are guarded as family treasures and as a rule not shared with others. Frequently, each family has a slight variation in the traditional recipe due to the individual cooks.

The preparation of the bread takes between 18-24 hours and yiayia never used an alarm to remind her of the time. The preparation, after adding all the ingredients, involves allowing the dough to sit for eight hours to rise before punching down, then repeating the same process again before the final rise of six hours, another punch down time and then baking. She loved making this treat and everyone loved devouring her finished product! Aaron enjoys mixing and baking the tsoureki just as much as yiayia did!

Although Aaron never met her, his following her recipe brings back many special memories!

Happy Easter to all!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, April 21, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “April Environment!”

April Arrives!

Hands in a heart-shape!

Before anyone types a nasty note for me, his hands are arced into a shape of the human heart. Clearly a representation of affection and love! Why focus on affection and love in April and not February which is when we have Valentine’s Day? The reason is simple: I love April! I love Spring! I love Aaron, my spouse! And he loves me! As a footnote, both Aaron and I were born during the month of April – different dates and different years!

As a reminder, we’re both advocates and enthusiasts of nakedness! Bare practitioners from head to toe – bare, commando or clothed! If you haven’t already, we cordially invite you to join us in our body and clothes freedom endeavour!

A “new” pictoral representation of Aaron and myself: an interracial couple!

When Aaron saw this photo, he immediately approached me with the idea of using this to represent the both of us here on ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! I felt the same except I would prefer more of the palm fronds (leaves) visible!

Me bare in a public park in early April!

April is also the first full month of the Spring season here in the Northern Hemisphere. We’re also heat and sunshine addicts – another reason to appreciate the commencement of this month! At last, the bleak, boring, drab winter landscape is now dissipating and our natural surroundings are now slowly reappearing with the brightness and colours of the fresh season!

Yours truly at the LBJ Memorial, GW Parkway!

The beginning of Spring often provides chill, cool mornings that are not the best time for posing bare. This monument is covered by shade for most of the morning hours and I remember how cold it is until the early afternoon! As our outdoor weather temperatures begin to rise, we bare practitioners increase our “natural-in-nature” outings! More fun for everyone!

Flexing together!

The month of April is compatible with our bare practitioner identity – especially our cherishing of our nakedness, both privately and socially. Optimum skin, minimum covering! Bold and proud!

Not warm enough – yet!

We observe the arrival of April simultaneously with the beginning of Spring. It is early in both the new month and the new season. The external water temperature may not invite our indulgence now, but we’re prepared to enjoy it in the foreseeable future!

Happy days are here, once again! Welcome April! Welcome Spring!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, April 4, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “April = ReNew + ReNude!”

Commando? None For Me!

Commando! = No underwear!

A Guy Without Boxers!

Background:

Today’s post entry here on ReNude Pride serves two important purposes. First and foremost, as a parody (nonjudgmental ridicule) of the commando (no underwear) lifestyle. It is intended for fun rather than factual information.

The second purpose is of a personal experience. Shared with my identical twin brother, Alex, when we began our first year at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB), a residential school operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia for students who are Deaf from level 4 (primary) through secondary school.

The .gif image introducing the Personal Experience segment here depicts a man ripping (tearing) off his boxer style underwear rather than trimming (cutting) off the waistband. The use of “artistic literary license” here! Naked hugs!

The Chain of Command Demands No Underwear!

Now, in the interests of reality, the “chain of command” demanding a no underwear policy is a very bold new move that offers one essential truth: there will now be quite a number of young men – who modelled underwear – now wandering about completely naked! Their nakedness, being involuntary and sudden, has created a bare, confused and clueless crowd of men parading and running around with their hands covering their genitalia and totally unsure of exactly where they are supposed to go!

Our man (above) give us a clear image of excessive modesty when caught unaware of the chain of command demand! No underwear = exposed penis = mindless alternative = modesty = human suffering. No! Wait! Look at the picture (below) of the twins, the Shoneye pair! Look at the muscle tone of their carefully maintained bodies. The only human suffering depicted here are the overworked hands allowing us a full view of their male anatomy!

The Shoneye Twins!

The relaxed Shoneye twins in truth are proud public bare practitioners! They’re Nigerians living in London (King Charles III and the Commonwealth) they’re both same gender loving and they’re both committed naturists/nudists! They could care less who looks at their identical genitalia! The result? The chain of command demand has minimal impact on either one of them! Eliminate the Poladopoulos twins from that consideration, too! Alex and I are also bare practitioners so identical twins are immune to the chain of command demand on the broad encompassing underwear issue.

Obviously, those persons who normally do wear undergarments are affected by the CoCD (chain of command demand) but a problem remains to be solved. If everyone is wearing pants or shorts, how can we determine if they’re following orders? If all of us are compelled to wear no underwear, then obeying the demand makes all of us body and clothes free! How can the disobedient be identified and punished?

If the failure to adhere to the law (no underwear) is the actual wearing of underwear, then how do we enforce the law? Force people to wear underwear? Isn’t that how they got into trouble initially? Ignoring the no underwear restriction? So what becomes the appropriate justifiable punishment? This can easily become and endless and repetitive cycle of events!

Commando profile: Buttocks-to-Buttocks!

Every culture has at least one “origin of underwear” legend/myth//story/tale that offers the reason for the need for underwear. Most cultures have multiple explanations as to the absolute necessity for what we now know as undergarments. Legends and myths merge with historic reality that provide us with the cause of this fashion tradition.

In all fairness, not everyone recognized the actual need for underwear. For example, in ancient Rome, no one wore boxers or briefs under their togas! That alone would have made the wearing of a toga ridiculous! In Scotland, even to this day, undergarments (no matter what style) is not permitted to be worn under a kilt! Otherwise, men would abandon the kilt altogether and cover themselves with long pants!

Kilted duo!

Therefore, in gratitude to togas and kilts and all other forms of men’s fashion that are not underwear compatible, the commando custom/habit/tradition evolved into being. The preference for the wearing of a male garment (pants, shorts, shirt, etc.) without underwear appeared – or, the the case of underwear itself – disappeared!

The wearing of underwear became optional. It was no longer considered an essential item of clothing for the “best dressed!” Now, the choice was individual by nature and could be arbitrary – underwear during the day, none during the night or vice versa.

Becoming commando!

A Personal Experience:

Alex, my identical twin brother, is 74 minutes older than me. When we reached Level 4 in primary school, we were sent to the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB) in Staunton, Virginia, as residential students (dormitory living). It was during our second semester there (Spring) that we both learned on commando (underwear free) living. Twin (shrewd Alex) devised a way to observe the lifestyle and avoid discovery. He took scissors and cut of all of his boxer shorts below the waistband!

Every morning, while donning our required uniform, he dutifully wore the waistband only. Instant boxer freedom!

Miraculously commando! Now, when our teacher required us to line-up for “underwear inspection,” all he had to do was show his waistband! Excellent opportunity for several weeks until one of our classmates confessed to our teacher. From that moment on, we all had to unleash our belts and pull our pants down to our knees!

A foiled fowl play!

Dominic Santos (left) demonstrates a commando benefit!

Educational Demonstration: Adorning Jeans: Commando Style:

Align jeans top with legs!
Step into jeans, one at a time!
Mount jeans up to waist!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, March 31, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! March, 2025!”

Slumbering Bare!

Dreamland!

The importance of sleep (slumbering) in our daily lives is taught to all of us since we were very little and very young. The holidays are full of family, friends and fun but often without very few moments of sleep. Many of us resort to mentally reviewing our lengthy list of “things-to-do” so that our holiday plans continue to proceed.

This creates an absence of sleep that afflicts many of us, particularly during this crazed, frantic and hectic season of the year. Too many thoughts dealing with too many tasks that still need to be dealt with in a short amount of time!

Lack of sleep causes a loss of direction and absent mindedness. At a time of year when needed most, focus and orientation frequently suffers.

Holiday sleeping!

My spouse, Aaron, has no problem sleeping. His co-workers and professional superiors often refer, in a joking manner, of his unique ability to “sleep-on-the-job!”

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! New Year’s Eve!”

Autumn Twist!

The Twister game being played in a park!

Background:

Before I create any confusion and/or misunderstanding, this post entry for ReNude Pride is most definitely not a cocktail (mixed drink) recipe. The “twist” in the title above is involved in a popular social game – actual title “Twister” – so there is no twist of a citrus fruit necessary to be added to alcohol!

The Game:

Twister is not a convenient board game that is undertaken while seated at a table. It is an active challenge requiring minimal equipment: a chart that is unfolded on the floor or ground and a spin device that denotes particular colours (either red, blue, green or yellow). A spin of the device indicates the colour that the players must physically connect with using either their hands and/or feet.

Originally geared primarily for children, the activity soon became popular with young adults. As the number of clothes free enthusiasts grew, so did the “fun-to-play-naked” fans. The close proximity of the audience and the curious and sometimes compromising positions the players endured added to the excitement of involvement in the game of Twister! Among the bare and same gender loving population, the Twister engagement was astronomical!

As the game progresses, bodies – while nude – often become entangled which provides interesting and unusual encounters with the bodies of others, either a close friend, a casual acquaintance or a complete stranger! A very roundabout way to “break-the-ice” (introduce) oneself to others in a fun and non-threatening (uncomfortable) manner! The results can create lasting friendships or episodes of awkward familiarity!

The fun entailed with Twister is best experienced rather than explained! There are indeed some things that words just are unable to describe! Fortunately, the activity is suitable for play both inside a dwelling or outside in nature as a bare practitioner or clothed.

A pair of identical twins!

If and when a pair of identical twins are entered into the Twister situation, the contortions as well as the game itself can occasionally create unexpected consequences! For two devious minds, in particular, my spouse, Aaron, and my identical sibling, Alex, the opportunity is simply too rich to ignore!

The Devious Duo: Aaron and Alex

The situation that I am referencing took place back in 2010, the year that Aaron and I initiated our relationship. We had met one another that Spring and by that Autumn we were introducing ourselves to acquaintances, family and friends – a somewhat lengthy and involved process that is, at times, very time consuming!

Aaron’s oldest brother, Paul, was undergoing the “coming out” stage of his life and uncertain as to his status, whether he was a bisexual man or a gay man. Aaron and Alex had the idea that the four of us spend a weekend together, especially as I had never before met Paul. The details were arranged by the “devious duo” (Aaron and Alex), the date arrived – early October – and the weekend was underway!

Paul, aware of his attraction to men, remained in limbo (confused) as to whether he is a gay man (male attraction only) or if he is a bisexual man (attracted to both men and women). Aaron and Alex adopted the idea of a weekend “exploratory” gathering in order to provide Paul the chance to determine his status in the SGL world. I thought this a nice gesture and was honestly surprised that they conceived of this idea! Neither one of them were quite that perceptive!

Confused!

Aaron had invited me to his family over the winter holidays – our first together – so I was eager to meet Paul. We had exchanged emails, and I believed that as this was a crucial time in his life, I could offer advice and help in any way possible. I imagined it would allow us to build a bonding together.

I also knew that Aaron and Alex were conspiring some sort of “initiation” for Paul into the “world of twins!” They were both insisting on my collaboration, but I was adamantly refusing to be a co-conspirator in this episode. Aaron had already let Twin and I know that Paul’s American Sign Language (ASL) skills were not as advanced as his plus his confusion over his sexual identity and if that wasn’t enough, he was spending a weekend with identical twins! Give the man some breathing room! No type of “initiation” required!

The “devious duo” despicable plan was to create confusion for Paul involving Alex and I and our identical buttocks! They thought it would be funny, innocent and engage Paul through humour! I appreciated the humourous aspect but remained firmly opposed to any complicity in their conspiracy! My intention was to meet and assist Paul, not to embarrass him! I knew for a fact that Twin (Alex) could manage that reality solo!

Identical twin buttocks!

Just prior to our weekend gathering, Paul sent to me a confidential email and asking my help. Before this planned gathering, we’d exchanged emails but never met. He had overheard two of his sisters gossiping about our approaching weekend. They had shared that Aaron (their brother), and my Twin were planning a surprise episode and that I had declined to be involved. This prompted his request for my assistance.

My response to his message was a negative. I had refused to cooperate with our brothers in their plot to embarrass him (Paul), therefore, I couldn’t, in clear conscious, collaborate in his scheme. I did assure him that I had not violated Aaron and Twin’s trust in me and that I would respect his need for confidentiality.

Realizing that I now had two conspiring forces vying for my attention, I knew that I needed to proceed with care and caution. The planned weekend arrived. Aaron and I had readied our apartment for our guests, my brother Alex and his brother, Paul.

Twister game competition!

Being aware of the probability of some sort of competitive contest between Paul and Aaron and Alex, I reached a decision to try to avoid any resentment and/or conflict. I knew that we planned our meals out in local restaurants which limited our time together to basically Saturday afternoon/early evening and then again early Sunday afternoon. Not too much “free” time but enough for a possible problem to occur.

If there’s one lesson that I remember from my undergraduate education, it is to plan ahead to keep the students busy and involved. No matter what age or level of education, this lesson is applicable to almost everyone. To ease my self-appointed role as “peace-maker,” I had a Twister game available so that we would have an introductory game and then had a secondary activity, body painting, in place so that we could engage either separately or combine them both together. If we needed a third, I figured we could use charades. A last resort was our selection of dvds.

If we needed the dvd option, then I concluded that the entire weekend was a failure and let everyone fend for themselves! We were all supposed to be adults!

The weekend was fun and successful! Twister was a dynamic twist for all! Body painting was postponed until Halloween!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, November 18, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Through the Eyes of Another!”