Breastfeeding in Public

[Joe Steel]

Then it's not the same.

How is it different?

Exposed breasts are exposed breasts no matter what you do with them.

 

[Joe Steel]

Not even close, one is a mom feeding her baby, the other is a pervert whipping out his junk.

In each case the actor is satisfying him or herself at the expense of nearby persons.

 

[Joe Steel]

So you're okay with the open carry of firearms?

No. Why do you ask?

 

[soot]

Those are sexual actions, and aren't appropriate... breast feeding IS NOT sexual... only to a pervert is it sexual

First of all, defecating is not a "sexual action".

Well, maybe for some people it can be, but for the majority of us it's just the means by which the body naturally evacuates solid waste.

Nothing sexual, nothing inappropriate, nothing inherently "dirty".

As you say, only to a pervert is it sexual.

But beyond that, what difference does it make whether we're talking about sex or not?

It's just "basic mammalian functioning", right?

Why are some perfectly normal and natural behaviors, having sex or relieving one's self as examples, "inappropriate" while other equally normal and natural behavior is perfectly appropriate?

 

[Ikari]

It's a public place and the others have the right to be there but you would deny them the right to "use" all of it by forcing them to look-away. What about equal protection under the law? Shouldn't they have the same right as the nursing mother who may look anywhere she pleases?

They can still be there if they like. But if you go outside, there's no guarantee everything and everyone will behave as you will like. That's all there is about that. If you don't like watching mother's nurse....don't watch. You don't have to leave, you don't get denied "use" of public land or any of the other absurd claims. Everyone still gets to use the area. Babies have to eat, this is how humans have done it since before there were humans.

This isn't some horrible breech of civil rights, this is a mother nursing.

 

[ELNOR]

I don't have a problem with it. It certainly doesn't offend me and I agree anyone who is offended then don't watch. But what if you do watch? I'm a guy and you hang a bare boob out I'll look. On a stripper or nursing mom bare boob is bare boob. Will she be offended by an audience?

 

[CanadaJohn]

And now for the old man view of this:

1. Yes, babies have to feed, but that does not mean that babies have to feed in restaurants while other patrons are enjoying a meal they are often paying dearly for. In addition, babies don't feed non-stop, so this woman was quite capable of having someone else pick up her takeout meal while feeding the baby at home or waiting until after the baby's feeding to go pick up her order. But I'm sure that would inconvenience her, so that's a no go. Alternately, order your takeout meals from a place that delivers.

2. Babies and small children in restaurants other than fast food joints where most patrons are in and out in minutes is inconsiderate in my view. Just because you have a "right" doesn't mean that it's appropriate or considerate to exercise it at all times in all locations. The me/now mentality of some in modern society is why you have so much "rage" out in public. One of the "sacrifices" of starting a family is that you give up some of the adult things you used to enjoy until such time as your children can fully participate and enjoy those experiences.

3. I come from an era where people didn't display their bodily functions in public for all to see and "enjoy". I've had the good fortune of sitting in a restaurant and hearing a patron horking away into a napkin for minutes on end rather than excuse themselves to the bathroom to take care of whatever it was. Likewise, enjoying a meal and having someone close by sneezing and coughing as if they were about to expire from some tropical infection, with no consideration for anyone else in the restaurant. For me, if I'm sick or not 100%, I don't inflict my problems on others - I stay home.

4. For me, it has nothing to do with sex or body parts or whatever else prudish someone wants to attribute it to. It has to do with consideration for others you're sharing the planet with and attempting, as best you can, to be respectful of others before you think of your own comfort and convenience. On that note, I never would have intervened with the woman if she's started breastfeeding in a restaurant while waiting to pick up a takeout order. It's not worth my time to get upset and confrontational about the actions of others in that way.

 

[Ikari]

How is it different?

Exposed breasts are exposed breasts no matter what you do with them.

Feeding a child, a human life with right to life unto its own, vs. nothing more than public exposure. Please, this absurdity and false comparison is nothing more than desperate argument.

 

[WillyPete]

This is Where American stigma on the nude body becomes ridiculous... There is NOTHING sexual about it, It is simply a mother giving their baby food, almost all mammals do it. Just because a lot of people have the perverted minds of a 12 year old, doesn't meanyou should withdraw a mothers right to feed their child in public.

Yeah, we had the same discussion when blacks at the lunch counter made people uncomfortable. Those people whose little dinkies wiggle when they see a woman breastfeed her child need to grow up.

So are we all comfortable with the minority of people who DO find this to be sexual stimulating leering openly at the feeding mother?

 

[NonoBadDog]

I would never feed my breasts in public.

 

[Gardener]

What about exposure of human "private parts" other than breasts?

Is aversion the answer?

Ah, yes, the Burqa argument.

Men define parts on women as "private" that they do not define for themselves and then enforce the double standard.

 

[celticwar17]

First of all, defecating is not a "sexual action".

Well, maybe for some people it can be, but for the majority of us it's just the means by which the body naturally evacuates solid waste.

Nothing sexual, nothing inappropriate, nothing inherently "dirty".

As you say, only to a pervert is it sexual.

But beyond that, what difference does it make whether we're talking about sex or not?

It's just "basic mammalian functioning", right?

Why are some perfectly normal and natural behaviors, having sex or relieving one's self as examples, "inappropriate" while other equally normal and natural behavior is perfectly appropriate?

Your misunderstanding the point of saying it's "not sexual" or a "natural human function"... do you think we don't know that some are inappropriate? Your not some genius that is brilliantly coming up with the contradiction... they are simply words to describe why Breast-feeding is different.

The most common reason why breast-feeding in public is considered distasteful is because breasts are uncharacteristically depicted as sexual, even when they are being used in a none-sexual way.

Defecating in public is DIFFERENT, there is a reason we don't defecate is public, we have bathrooms to dispose of the waste, we don't want poop or piss everywhere, and many want their privacy for their own genitalia

Your'e allowed to be nude in public dressing areas, because you are doing a function that requires you to be nude...

... all these things are unique and different to the situation... so I would put a halt to your black and white thinking... Breasts, by themselves, are not-offensive... they're sole function is to give a baby milk... so when they are doing their sole function, IT SHOULDN"T BE A PROBLEM....there are ways to display your breasts inappropriately, if you do it in an intentionally sexual manner. Same with exposing anything, their is NO reason for you to flop your penis out, zero... it's a sexual organ, it's only used for sex and peeing, BOTH are supposed to be private. Breasts ARE NOT!!! They have a function that is NOT sexual...

And if you say breasts attract men and make men think bad things...SO DOES EVERY PART OF THE WOMANS BODY... You are thinking like a hardcore muslim in that way... COVER HER FACE BECAUSE I WANT TO F%^& IT AND I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF...

You can control yourself, and you can realize what is a natural human function AND Not-sexual AND not something to be uncomfortable/shamed by...

 

[Aunt Spiker]

the restaurant manager approached her and asked if she had a blanket she could cover herself with

Olsen told her it was her legal right to breastfeed in public.

the manager acknowledged she was right and walked away. But Olsen was still upset.

She ended the post saying she plans to take legal action.

Really?

I'm actually offended by Olsen (the mother's) refusal to LET IT GO. The manager approached her - asked her POLITELY - and Olsen pointed out the law - and the manager LET IT GO and let her nurse. But now Olsen has turned it into a LAWSUIT?

Why would she do that? So someone can't MAKE A MISTAKE and do something wrong, APOLOGIZE for it, and it be okay these days? What on earth is wrong, here?

Sorry - but in THIS case, Olsen is just being a bitch. Get the hell over. This isn't a rights movement issue worthy of a sit in - this was a MISTAKE that the manager ALREADY RECTIFIED by apologizing and letting OLSEN BE EVEN THOUGH her other customers were probably:

disgusted, ... , embarrassed, ... , no longer hungry...

because she chose to nurse in front of them.


She was given leniency, an apology, but decided to turn this into a ridiculous situation ANYWAY.

 

[Gardener]

So you'd be cool with some idiot dropping his pants in the middle of a restaurant while you're eating lunch and taking a dump in a plastic bag?

Or if the couple in the booth next to you had a little sex while they were waiting for their appetizer?

Or if someone started masturbating while waiting in the to-go line?

Just because something constitutes "basic mammalian functioning" doesn't mean that everywhere and anywhere at any time is the appropriate venue for all such behavior.

I realize that some people would find any or all of these things acceptable.

But I also accept that many people have absolutely no class whatsoever.

.....and today's award for most puerile slippery slope fallacy goes to.........

 

[LagerHead]

Here's an article about a woman who was breastfeeding in a restaurant. The manager asked her to cover-up but she refused, asserting her right under Washington law to breastfeed in public.



Sydney Olsen was right. In Washington, breastfeeding is a civil right and women are free to feed their babies whenever and wherever the choose. Certainly, that makes the nursing women happy but what about all the other citizens who are made uncomfortable by the act. Don't they have any rights?

Nothing teaches a business like going there and spending your money. That'll show 'em.

 

[celticwar17]

So are we all comfortable with the minority of people who DO find this to be sexual stimulating leering openly at the feeding mother?

I would think it is rude and strange...and depending the severity I would call them out on it... But this is just on my grounds, not the laws.

 

[Dragonfly]

For the life of me I'll never understand how a country like the USofA, land of the free, home of the brave, with freedom and liberty, can be sooooooooooo god-damned hung up on female breasts.

Many women are basically only famous because they got big knockers, but holy hell don't you dare take one out in public......

America is one F'd up place.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

For the life of me I'll never understand how a country like the USofA, land of the free, home of the brave, with freedom and liberty, can be sooooooooooo god-damned hung up on female breasts.

Many women are basically only famous because they got big knockers, but holy hell don't you dare take one out in public......

America is one F'd up place.

Viewing the breast as a sexually imbued component dates back to the early days of history - and for us, it trickles down from our European history (because Native Americans didn't take issue with it - etc).

It was seen as a difference between high-class and poor. The high-class didn't do things such as nurse (if at all, but most definitely in public) and the poor did both. So in the US people clung to this high-class viewpoint and over the years it became more of a required decency norm when it didn't used to be. Probably shifting during the Victorian Era, though I'm not too sure.

 

[Winchester]

And now for the old man view of this:


4. For me, it has nothing to do with sex or body parts or whatever else prudish someone wants to attribute it to. It has to do with consideration for others you're sharing the planet with and attempting, as best you can, to be respectful of others before you think of your own comfort and convenience. On that note, I never would have intervened with the woman if she's started breastfeeding in a restaurant while waiting to pick up a takeout order. It's not worth my time to get upset and confrontational about the actions of others in that way.

This I think is the heart of the matter. I could care less where or how mother's breast feed their children, doesn't bother me in the least, but it does bother some people and knowing this, why not just be discreet, it's not hard. Nor is it really that hard to ignore breastfeeding. People need to chill out.

 

[Carjosse]

So are we all comfortable with the minority of people who DO find this to be sexual stimulating leering openly at the feeding mother?

Should we also force people to cover their feet in public because of foot fetishists?

 

[WillyPete]

I would think it is rude and strange...and depending the severity I would call them out on it... But this is just on my grounds, not the laws.

We're on the same page. Some people feel the same way about public breast feeding and depending on the situation might ask the woman to alter their behavior.

For the life of me I'll never understand how a country like the USofA, land of the free, home of the brave, with freedom and liberty, can be sooooooooooo god-damned hung up on female breasts.

Many women are basically only famous because they got big knockers, but holy hell don't you dare take one out in public......

America is one F'd up place.

I won't argue, but it's not the type of thing you can change with nagging or with a single law. It will take generations for these things to become normalized.

 

[Winchester]

Really?

I'm actually offended by Olsen (the mother's) refusal to LET IT GO. The manager approached her - asked her POLITELY - and Olsen pointed out the law - and the manager LET IT GO and let her nurse. But now Olsen has turned it into a LAWSUIT?

Why would she do that? So someone can't MAKE A MISTAKE and do something wrong, APOLOGIZE for it, and it be okay these days? What on earth is wrong, here?

Sorry - but in THIS case, Olsen is just being a bitch. Get the hell over. This isn't a rights movement issue worthy of a sit in - this was a MISTAKE that the manager ALREADY RECTIFIED by apologizing and letting OLSEN BE EVEN THOUGH her other customers were probably:


because she chose to nurse in front of them.


She was given leniency, an apology, but decided to turn this into a ridiculous situation ANYWAY.

Wouldn't surprise me if this is by design, cause a situation and sue.

 

[WillyPete]

Should we also force people to cover their feet in public because of foot fetishists?

As long as we agree that it's OK to gawk at sexy feet (whatever those are) when they are displayed in public, it's not a problem. I'm not suggesting anyone be forced to do anything.

 

[soot]

No. Why do you ask?

Because your argument was that we're talking about the rights of citizens.

Bearing arms is a right.

And you were saying that people who are exercising their rights shouldn't "be inconvenienced in a public place to satisfy the whims of another person".

So by your own logic, if I want to exercise my legal right to carry a firearm in a public place your whims shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I'm able to do so.

So apparently you're not really willing to put your money where your mouth is.

If you think a certain right is acceptable, then we should all just have to accept a public display of that right.

But if you think a certain right is unacceptable then you feel you should get your way in that respect too.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Wouldn't surprise me if this is by design, cause a situation and sue.

I was wondering that - because immediately after she orchestrated a nurse-in . . . I mean, how quick to the punch was she on that?