Nude Photos and Masturbating Online: Rambling Thoughts

Never thought I'd really have any formulated opinions on such matters, but here goes... After sort of hanging around on this site for a bit and having quite a number of conversations, here... Some of which have been good and others... weird. What does it mean to interact this way online -- where the idea, the concept, the goal is to talk openly about sex and sexuality, and maybe even to hook-up? What are my own motivations for even being here? I really don't even know, to be perfectly honest. I seemed kinda interesting in a silly sort of way, something that might be right up my ally, or maybe adjacent to my ally. I like sex and sexual openness. I like casual nudity. But I'm not a "swinger" and I'm not a "nudist." Both those labels are too confining for me. I don't want to take all the stuff about myself that's "sexual" and put that into a box labeled "swinger" (or whatever) and then keep a tight lid on that box at all times, especially when I am enjoying time as a "nudist." Nah. Not for me. Neither sex nor nudity are lifestyles for me, they are recreational pursuits that I do because I like to bring as much joy as possible into my life. But I digress. Interacting online can be fun. I have and still use dating apps. It's handy. I like fun and interesting discussions about sexuality, erotic energy, nudity, sharing fun experiences. That's cool. It feels good when you click with someone in such a discussion. And I've got nothing against people wanting to enjoy themselves in these sorts of interactions. Harmless fun, and why the heck not? Life's short. And, yeah, by "enjoy themselves," let's just be on-the-nose with it and say that for some people it can feel really good to have the attention of someone in a chat while they masturbate. I get it. There shouldn't be any shame in this, or guilt, or weirdness, or awkwardness. It's fine. There really IS something about how refreshingly nice it feels to be open and to have the company of someone else when we are vulnerable. That feels great. I have some friends with whom I like to masturbate. It's not a super common thing, but -- sure -- on a nice warm Summer day, outside, everyone is feeling amazing, there's a fun vibe and a nice chemistry going, you're feeling delicious and sensuous... ...I mean... ...absolutely! Find a nice spot and release -- it feels great. For my part, doing that online hasn't so far really and truly grabbed my own personal interest. My libido and arousal are sort of an "always present" thing, but I can't ever just call-up a way to translate that into a direct line toward wanting to try to get off in a particular place in time. For me that's got to arrive more naturally, and it's all about the context which carries the day, for me. That warm feeling of the sun on my body, real life interaction with people who are present with me -- all that. I won't deny that's fun to mess around online -- flirt, talk about sexual topics, etc. And... ...yeah, I'm not made of stone, I do rather love the thought of guys masturbating to me. And... alright, full disclosure... when I get to watch them doing it. It's hot. But I like that in person. Oh who am I kidding: oh man, I LOVE it in person. It turns me on. It's one of my favorite things, sexually. I don't think there's such a thing as a woman who actually and honestly DOESN'T like it. And I say that knowing that everyone has their various boundaries and predilections, and everyone has agency to say what they do and don't like and not be questioned in it. So I'm not trying to hold the truth of everyone, here, just giving an opinion that -- yeah -- it's hot. It feels great to know you're turning someone on and they are deeply enjoying you -- that your presence alone, or the sight of you inspires them to embody their arousal for you. All that. Sure. Yes! Harmless fun. It can get weird, though. Especially online where there are fewer filters and people seem to go to these places where they forget it's another human being they are interacting with, not some bot. So... rarely does it work. People get pushy and demanding, and seem to think they are in some sort of bubble where normal rules of decorum and respect don't apply. It doesn't feel good. Let me see you naked. Let me show you my cam. What do you look like? Do you like it up the ass? Do you shave your pussy? Can I show you some pics of my cousin and me naked? Oof. Wow. Please... really? Stop. Alright? Man, just slow down, chill. If you want to have a great orgasm, slow and steady wins the race. Look: I'm not a prude; I'm not hung up. I do not begrudge anyone their fun nor inquiring after permission for things they like or want to know about. It's cool. I'm just sayin'... It's SO much better if you interact with someone online the same way you might in person. That's what I want, personally, anyway. Not saying that has to be right for everyone, just a suggestion. I once had a whole interaction with someone on a dating site where all we did is masturbate online. He was too far away for an actual date, but apparently liked my profile well enough to reach out: 'hey I know we're too far to date but just wanted to say I think you're cool and totally hot and I wanted to ask if you'd mind if I masturbate to your profile photos...' Something about it struck me the right way. I smiled. Didn't hurt that he was incredibly hot. I wrote back: 'only if I can watch...' We had fun. It was satisfying. He got to see more than my profile photos. That sort of thing is rare, at least for me. Chemistry is a difficult thing. You can't force it, and timing counts. If I had been in a different mood I might have ignored the message. It's not an exact science. Point being: you can't be off-put by someone not responding to you in just the way you want them to. You gotta be willing to commit to the process in a giving way, where you really and genuinely want to give something rather than expect something in return. On the whole photos thing. Man. Never posted here for a lot of reasons. I don't have much of an online presence at all -- don't do the engagement with social media. People ask me about having this or that kind of account and I'm, like, "what?" Sorry to be so totally clueless, but I am. Old school. I don't get it. I'm a millennial who acts like a boomer. Or maybe I'm tail-end gen-x. I don't even know. Anyway, this past Summer I was on a backpacking trip. With some dudes, yeah, the only girl if you like that set-up. Backpacking trips include skinny dipping. It's just what you do. I'd been to a couple things before where one of the dudes, we'd seen each other naked already. The other two, no. We got to an amazing lake at high elevation, tucked into a beautifully isolated spot between two ridges. So cool. Was like 'welp, I don't know about you all, but I'm gettin' nekkid and don't feel the need to avert your eyes and feel free to join me...' I just like to get it out of the way in actual words, in these situations. Just remove the question marks and make it normal. We all got naked, of course. Swam, sunbathed. Lots of fun, feels so great. Totally normal, no big. Felt frisky, handed my phone to the guy who was my friend and was like 'hey would you take a couple pics of me?' He was, like, 'oh... really? Naked?' Yeah, naked, you know? Maybe I want a couple pics to prove I was hot, before it fades and no one wants to fuck me anymore, LOL. Humor me, dude. So I have those. Given all the circumstances... they're not bad. I look pretty fucking hot for a middle aged gal fighting gravity. Had fun with my photographer -- 'you, uh... ...wanna.... ...do a little.... something something...?' Trail sex is pretty good. Can be, anyway, but the logistics and circumstance can be challenging. You're tired, it's either too hot or too cold, you're hungry, you're thirsty, there's bugs, there's dirt, YOU'RE dirty and smelly, you feel gross, etc. But still, you're a week in and haven't fucked in a while and the outdoors make certain energies start…