Wow....First of all you are right in that the people who attend get carried away with posts on the forum, however they are well marked as such and easy to ignore the same way I have to weed through and ignore hundreds of threads I have no interest in...(which celebrity would YOU like to tickle?)
I have never seen anyone who attends call anyone who doesnt weird, nor do they put them down for not going. In fact quite the opposite occurs in my experience here on the forum...
Those who lie to their spouses or family most likely have hidden their fetish from them and would lie about other things as well....It certainly has nothing to do with the gathering itself or the others who attend.....If one wishes not to reveal their fetishes and kinks to a friend so be it.....
Disingenuos? No. Portraying nest as it really is is what those who attend do. we do not twist the truth to justify our attendance,,,,there is no need.
I have been to 7 Nest gatherings now and have met hundreds of folks from this community of ours.....It is a place to go where you can be yourself without having to hide what you feel....it is this atmosphere that opens the door to the formation of personal relationships and friendships that may last a lifetime....
Nest and other gatherings are not for everyone......real life meetings of many different kinds are not for everyone......It is up to the individual to make their own decision.......as it is in any aspect of their lives...
Oh...and I have attended Sci fi conventions....the weird and creepy factor is a lot stronger there....ROFL...