teacher Under Pressure for Topless Photos

[.Shane.]

I think you guys who are making this (breast feeding) a liberal/conservative issue are reaching. Depending on the time/place/culture those who are offended by this are all over the board.

Personally, I'm all for it w/ discretion. Do you have to be covered by a burhka? No. But, a simple small blanket or towel, is perfect.

 

[warpus]

If I was female I'd whip out my boobs in public just to offend prudes.

 

[MobBoss]

If I was female I'd whip out my boobs in public just to offend prudes.

And if you were in the USA when you did it, I would have you arrested.

Enjoy your stay in your cell.

 

[MobBoss]

Right, a popular version of "common curtesy" is not enough reason to pass a law about something though. Should a man be arrested for not removing his hat in church?

And no one is being arrested for breast feeding in public. We are talking about curtesy.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

If I was female I'd whip out my boobs in public just to offend prudes.

It does sort of annoy me when people do things like that. If you are offending people just for the sake of offending them, you are being a jerk and they will generally not become any more sympathetic to your position. Just saying is all.

 

[ironduck]

I think you guys who are making this (breast feeding) a liberal/conservative issue are reaching. Depending on the time/place/culture those who are offended by this are all over the board.

Since I figure this includes me - with conservatives I mean social conservatives, regardless of what they're called in various countries. People who are prudish and feel that the human body should be hidden away. These are the very same people who usually want to limit people's other liberties. It's difficult to miss the observation that the more people are asked to cover themselves the less freedom they have. And yes, burkas are the epitome of that - no freedom whatsoever.

 

[MobBoss]

I find it really interesting that a breastfeeding mom is banned from public places by people who usually are really heavy on family values.

Uhm...hold it a minute. Where did I say ban them from public places? My point is that a little bit of discretion goes a long way, and you lefties make it out like I am banning it and having people arrested.

No one is saying ban. No one is being arrested. Just cover it up while you do it for goodness sake.

 

[Masquerouge]

Uhm...hold it a minute. Where did I say ban them from public places? My point is that a little bit of discretion goes a long way, and you lefties make it out like I am banning it and having people arrested.

No one is saying ban. No one is being arrested. Just cover it up while you do it for goodness sake.

Yeah, that's so much better. Hide that symbol of motherhood behind a blanket! Now let's go celebrate some family values.

 

[ironduck]

It does sort of annoy me when people do things like that. If you are offending people just for the sake of offending them, you are being a jerk and they will generally not become any more sympathetic to your position. Just saying is all.

I agree with that.

I still don't understand why you feel nudity in public is wrong though. Is it immoral? Who is hurt? With hurt I'm not talking about people's little sensibilities getting ooh-ed and aah-ed. That's similar to feeling hurt about someone wearing ugly clothes, an example I gave earlier in the thread. I think it's pretty lame that there's a fashion where the trousers are hanging well below the ass, but that's just me. Someone else may feel a woman showing her breasts is lame.

That doesn't make it immoral.

 

[CurtSibling]

I didn't realize UK folks used calibre as a measurement for airguns.

A rare morsel of wit from you, IglooDud!

 

[CurtSibling]

And no one is being arrested for breast feeding in public.

The mass-arrests begin in five minutes!

We are talking about curtesy.

Curtesy Siblingesy?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I am not saying it's immoral, as such. I think it is a little bit more awkward for others, so in most cases the polite thing to do would be to show discretion if possible. I think it bothers more people than does ugly clothing, and it bothers enough people that it is not necessarily a huge request. It is not automatically impolite not to cover up, but it can be polite to do so.

As far as nudity for the sake of nudity, that is a little different. It is generally polite to conform to the norms of the society you are in, so it is less rude to go topless on the streets of Rio than Chicago.

 

[MobBoss]

Yeah, that's so much better. Hide that symbol of motherhood behind a blanket! Now let's go celebrate some family values.

Cough. Family values doesnt necessary include popping a boob out in public so a kid can suck on it. I would say family values is also consideration of ones fellow man. I dont think putting a cover over a feeding baby is an undue burden upon a mother and is in fact a very acceptable compromise for everyone.

And yes, covering up is a lot better than being arrested for it or it being banned.

 

[.Shane.]

Yeah, that's so much better. Hide that symbol of motherhood behind a blanket! Now let's go celebrate some family values.

And the vagina is a "symbol" of womanhood. This may be surprising to you, but I don't want to see one when I'm ordering Taco Bell.

Look, I agree that many people are intolerant of BF... (wow, that's a BAD acronym) breast feeding. But, I also think that in public places, with appropriate exceptions (the beach, the pool), its reasonable to expect people to cover up those few remaining parts we non-hippies generally keep clothed.

 

[ironduck]

A rare morsel of wit from you, Ironquack!

That wasn't from me so I guess you'll have to wait another 8 months and 14 days before I'm doing my annual funny

 

[ironduck]

I am not saying it's immoral, as such. I think it is a little bit more awkward for others, so in most cases the polite thing to do would be to show discretion if possible. I think it bothers more people than does ugly clothing, and it bothers enough people that it is not necessarily a huge request. It is not automatically impolite not to cover up, but it can be polite to do so.

As far as nudity for the sake of nudity, that is a little different. It is generally polite to conform to the norms of the society you are in, so it is less rude to go topless on the streets of Rio than Chicago.

So you're not really opposed to it at all, it's just a matter of following the customs of a given time and place?

Btw, do you think that public nudity should be illegal? I can see a case can be made if it somehow caused riots or something, but I somehow doubt that would happen in a relaxed society.. doesn't happen here anyway.

 

[.Shane.]

Since I figure this includes me - with conservatives I mean social conservatives, regardless of what they're called in various countries. People who are prudish and feel that the human body should be hidden away. These are the very same people who usually want to limit people's other liberties. It's difficult to miss the observation that the more people are asked to cover themselves the less freedom they have. And yes, burkas are the epitome of that - no freedom whatsoever.

You're confusing 2 things: Opposition to breastfeeding and the simple act of breastfeeding in public.

In the US for much of the Post WWII era breastfounding was looked down upon as uncouth and even "not as" healthy. By "not as healthy" I mean that there was a period where anything scientific was thought to better. This misguided viewpoint is more linked to the liberal (small 'l') idea of progress, of furthering the improvement of man.

Now, if we're simply talking about covering up, yes, its more an issue of social conservatism (note the small 'c').

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

So you're not really opposed to it at all, it's just a matter of following the customs of a given time and place?

Btw, do you think that public nudity should be illegal? I can see a case can be made if it somehow caused riots or something, but I somehow doubt that would happen in a relaxed society.. doesn't happen here anyway.

I would prefer that people not be nude in public - I think it can be at times distasteful. This is more true in societies that are not used to it. But my libertarian tendencies lead me to say that, no, it shouldn't be illegal. Wearing clothes is such an ingrained social habit that even if there were no penalty, few people would go around naked anyways.

 

[CurtSibling]

That wasn't from me so I guess you'll have to wait another 8 months and 14 days before I'm doing my annual funny

Holy crap!
What more evidence do you need of my senility...!!!



You have my humblest apologies for that slip up!

I was scanning the posts too quickly it seems...I miss a turn..!

PS
But I do reserve Ironquack for any future humorous exchanges!

 

[ironduck]

You're confusing 2 things: Opposition to breastfeeding and the simple act of breastfeeding in public.

In the US for much of the Post WWII era breastfounding was looked down upon as uncouth and even "not as" healthy. By "not as healthy" I mean that there was a period where anything scientific was thought to better. This misguided viewpoint is almost more liked to the liberal idea of progress, of furthering the improvement of man.

Now, if we're simply talking about covering up, yes, its more an issue of social conservatism (note the small 'c').

You may be right, but it is my impression that the abandonment of breastfeeding was very much welcomed by social conservatives who were puritans and viewed the human body as shameful. By making the process of feeding the infant clinical this 'shame' could be avoided. I have certainly heard of such opposition ('breastfeeding - eew, yuck' said by adults).