Breastfeeding in public

[Loppan Torkel]

All guys will notice a woman in a room breastfeeding and the proper thing to do is to not look, out of respect for the mother. When you see that she's breastfeeding, you'll avert your eyes.

Most women show a proper amount of discretion, so I have no problem with it, but I think it's the decent thing to do also.

It's a sign of mutual respect.

Saying that women have the right to do it everywhere they want and however they want because it's natural and non-sexual, which they do have the right to do, also justifies guys looking where ever they want, which they can. Except for the social guidelines that are present.

Most people voting for the "tolerant" choice would never live by their own open minded standards, because they can't be absolutely 100% sure they don't sneak a peak because it's breasts or that the mother won't believe otherwise.

 

[warpus]

Not "however they want".

I don't think you'll be able to quote anybody in this thread saying anything remotely close to that.

 

[JollyRoger]

I'm still trying to comprehend what Loppan's argument actually is. So what exactly is the reason again that you're against public breastfeeding?

From what I can gather, he is upset that other people might ogle breasts while he can't ogle a penis.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

From what I can gather, he is upset that other people might ogle breasts while he can't ogle a penis.

That's funny, I just thought the discussion couldn't get more infantile... grow up.

 

[JollyRoger]

That's funny, I just thought the discussion couldn't get more infantile... grow up.

You are the one that can't see the difference between feeding a child and flashing one.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

You are the one that can't see the difference between feeding a child and flashing one.

This is becoming annoying. Try to read and try to comprehend what you read.

 

[JollyRoger]

This is becoming annoying. Try to read and try to comprehend what you read.

I have and I have distilled it down to the essential flaw.

 

[dirtyparrot]

^ I think that his argument is that telling people to grow up isn't in of itself an argument. But, unfortunately for him/her it is (just not in every context that he's trying to use it). We ought to expect a certain level of maturity from the people in our society. So, in that vein, just like we tell teens to grow up whenever they giggle when someone says "vagina" or "penis", the same principle applies to people regarding women breastfeeding.

As for trying to compare breastfeeding to exposing oneself to children, masturbation, or doing ones business on the ground, those are another matter (which I quite frankly don't see how someone can make that stretch).

 

[Disgustipated]

It's silly to compare breastfeeding to exposing ones penis. In fact, I find most comparisons silly. It's apples and oranges. The comparison would only be valid if women breastfed with their vaginas. Yes breasts can be sexual, but they aren't on the same level as vaginas. To say they are is just silly. Why even compare them?

There simply is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, and no one can come up with a good argument why women shouldn't be able to do this. Do they think men will go crazy if they see a naked breast and go raping women? Are we animals that cannot handle the sight of a woman's breast without being overcome by desire?

 

[Loppan Torkel]

I have and I have distilled it down to the essential flaw.

You'll have to tell me or I'll assume it's your intellect.

^ I think that his argument is that telling people to grow up isn't in of itself an argument. But, unfortunately for him/her it is (just not in every context that he's trying to use it). We ought to expect a certain level of maturity from the people in our society. So, in that vein, just like we tell teens to grow up whenever they giggle when someone says "vagina" or "penis", the same principle applies to people regarding women breastfeeding.

As for trying to compare breastfeeding to exposing oneself to children, masturbation, or doing ones business on the ground, those are another matter (which I quite frankly don't see how someone can make that stretch).

So, being respectful and discrete is a sign of maturity? Why can't the same be expected from breastfeeding women? Or was it that you were suggesting?

Furthermore, I don't think I have really compared any of those acts to breastfeeding, just compared the reasons used to justify unsubtle breastfeeding with other, less socially or legally acceptable acts.

It's silly to compare breastfeeding to exposing ones penis. In fact, I find most comparisons silly. It's apples and oranges. The comparison would only be valid if women breastfed with their vaginas. Yes breasts can be sexual, but they aren't on the same level as vaginas. To say they are is just silly. Why even compare them?

There simply is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, and no one can come up with a good argument why women shouldn't be able to do this. Do they think men will go crazy if they see a naked breast and go raping women? Are we animals that cannot handle the sight of a woman's breast without being overcome by desire?

Again, read the posts. Has anyone argued against women breastfeeding in public?

 

[Grisu]

Saying that women have the right to do it everywhere they want and however they want because it's natural and non-sexual, which they do have the right to do, also justifies guys looking where ever they want, which they can. Except for the social guidelines that are present.

But nobody's claiming the second part. Nobody's claiming women should be doing it 'however they want'. It's like saying people shouldn't eat in public because some eat like pigs. You seem to take a tiny fraction of the breastfeeding mothers (the kind I've so far only encountered in hypotheticals) and elevate them to the norm. Saying that a blanket is too much hassle doesn't equal saying they should be doing it 'however' they want.

Most people voting for the "tolerant" choice would never live by their own open minded standards, because they can't be absolutely 100% sure they don't sneak a peak because it's breasts or that the mother won't believe otherwise.

You shouldn't assume to know what the people picking the 'tolerant' choice would or would not do.

Again, read the posts. Has anyone argued against women breastfeeding in public?

yes?

 

[JollyRoger]

You are the one that can't see the difference between feeding a child and flashing one.

This is becoming annoying. Try to read and try to comprehend what you read.

I have and I have distilled it down to the essential flaw.

You'll have to tell me or I'll assume it's your intellect.

You are the one that can't see the difference between feeding a child and flashing one.

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, some straw.
The straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, an axe.
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, whet it.
With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what?
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone.
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Then moisten it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then moisten it, dear Henry, dear Henry, moisten it.
With what shall I moisten, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I moisten, dear Liza, with what?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, try water.
From where shall I get it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
From where shall I get it, dear Liza, from where?
From the well, dear Henry,dear Henry, dear Henry,
From the well, dear Henry, dear Henry, the well.
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket.
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Ok, I couldn't agree more. I'll just leave it with that you've assumed wrong at the first instance.

 

[Narz]

So, what are your views on breastfeeding in public?

Adults are allowed to eat in public, babies should have the same rights.

Bonus questions: What are your views on breastfeeding, and how long (if at all) do you think it should continue?

If you have kids you should breastfeed. If you've got some disease where your breasts are broken you either shouldn't have kids or should buy human breastmilk for your baby.

Breastfed kids are far healthier & also smarter than non-breast fed kids.

IIRC, I read somewhere that babies breastfed for 3 months were smarter than those not breastfed at all, those breastfed for 6 months were smarter than the 3-monthers, all the way up to about two years after which point there were diminishing returns.

So I'd say two years (give or take a few months).

 

[civ_king]

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, some straw.
The straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, an axe.
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, whet it.
With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what?
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone.
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Then moisten it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then moisten it, dear Henry, dear Henry, moisten it.
With what shall I moisten, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I moisten, dear Liza, with what?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, try water.
From where shall I get it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
From where shall I get it, dear Liza, from where?
From the well, dear Henry,dear Henry, dear Henry,
From the well, dear Henry, dear Henry, the well.
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket.
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

bookmarked for awesomeness

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Link to video.

I too dream of such a day...

 

[Mise]

 

[Anakha]

My wife breastfed both our kids. I agree with her sentiment, though I don't know who first said it: "My child's right to eat trumps your feelings of discomfort." I don't know why people would feel uncomfortable, anyways. Though I also don't understand why some people think a boob, or god forbid a nipple, is going to scar and damage their psyche.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

My wife breastfed both our kids. I agree with her sentiment, though I don't know who first said it: "My child's right to eat trumps your feelings of discomfort." I don't know why people would feel uncomfortable, anyways. Though I also don't understand why some people think a boob, or god forbid a nipple, is going to scar and damage their psyche.

That sentiment is almost too stupid to comment. I haven't seen anyone arguing that you should let your kid starve just to show some public discretion. When your child shows some signs of wanting to eat, by crying for example, will you -
1. Whip a breast out while you walk to not let your child starve for more than 2 seconds?
2. Refuse to walk more than 20 feet and sit down in wherever to not let your child starve for more than 10 seconds?
3. Walk 50 feet to a somewhat secluded bench or place where you can breastfeed in calm and relative privacy?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

That sentiment is almost too stupid to comment. I haven't seen anyone arguing that you should let your kid starve just to show some public discretion.

The word "sentiment", I do not think it means what you think it means.