Breastfeeding in public (Was "Talking durring attractions")

[SirWillow]

Forgive me, but I think that you're so stuck on your opinion at this point that you're completely missing what anyone else is saying. You're so stuck in arguing that breastfeeding in public is indecent exposure, sexual harassment, and so on that you've gone beyond being reasonable, or even attempting to actually understand what anyone else is saying if it even looks like it's slightly disagreeing with you. To bad, because you've made great contributions on other threads. It's just not happening on this one.

Frankly, I'm disappointed that you seemingly don't understand the obvious difference between indecent exposure/ public nudity and breastfeeding. If you can't get that, then what's the point of the discussion?

[Radar]

Lets see how many laws it breaks.

1) could actually sue for 3rd person sexual harassment.
2) indecent exposure
3) public nudity

God help the world. This is why we have 13 year old little brats running all over the palce with no respect, stealing shit, running into people in stores and not excusing themself. WHy we have 10,11,12-18 year old little girls dressing like little sluts. Parents need to teach modisty and respect.

So breastfeeding woman is sexual. Since in some states breastfeeding is protected by law I doubt that you could file a sexual harrassement case against a woman for breastfeeding.

With the second point are you trying to say that a few women exposing themselves when breastfeeding is the root of all evil? I would think maybe some of these problems come from parents not disciplining their kids and blaming it on other people. Or maybe too many young girls having babies and then having a revolving door of boyfriends come through to help raise them. Expecting someone else to raise their kid because they can't. Anymay just the lack of personal responsiblity.

[Radar]

Point well made.

If the other board is so well spoken, then maybe you should chat there. One thing that makes our country great is that the American Revolution made it possible for all people to express an opinion. I think you need to pick your battles, comparing the American Revolution to breastfeeding is a little over the top.

In some ways I agree with you, I would rather see a woman cover up while breastfeeding. But I would not harass her because that is her choice. I myself was very self-conscious and tried my best. I wouldn't walk up to someone and humiliate them and demand they cover up, the same way I couldn't tell somoeone who is overweight to wear different clothes or a man to pull up his pants. It is really none of my business how they conduct my life. It does not harm me. I can turn the other cheek and find something else to focus my energy on if I should see something like this. I don't need to demean others to make myself feel better.

[BirdMom]

One thing that has not been addressed in this discussion is the fact that MOST women manage to cover up their pectoral area whilst breastfeeding. In 11 years of working in first the Disneyland stores, then as a ride operator, I cannot think of any women blatently baring breasts with the baby's head as only cover for the nipple.

For the most part, this is a moot argument. I concede there might be the odd sighting here and there of a less inhibited mother, but since it is a perfectly natural, legitimate function, it is not offensive to most people. Despite this, someone chooses to argue as if this is happening hour after hour everywhere. That's hardly the case. I don't believe anyone has the right to tell anyone else how to feed their baby, and maybe this will make more emotional sense after *cough* someone becomes a real father. In some cases, the woman's body won't co-operate, in some cases, the baby won't co-operate. One cannot reason with a baby and say, o.k. from now on, it's bottles and formula for you. Or bottles and pumped milk. Besides, any mom worth her milk knows that it's healthier in the long run to breast feed for as long as possible. Various studies have pointed out the advantages including higher i.q.'s, higher immunity, and better growth patterns.

And by the way, some of you who are familiar with social history might recall that before the invention of bottles, there was this handy dandy household helper known as the wet nurse who did the breastfeeding of aristocratic children so the poor princess could go about her day. (Totally random now) That can't have been any fun. For reference, try to catch Blackadder II on BBC America (Nursie is good for a few laughs anyway).

This whole argument has verged beyond the ridiculous. I will concede that certain people don't like it, but the word picture painted is far from the reality of the majority of cases. I was holding a hungry baby last week while her mother was trying to get something done and the poor child started rooting around on my (no-longer functioning) chest. I thought it was damn funny, but I'm sure someone somewhere would find a reason to be offended despite the fact that I was covered up and in no way able to give out the required milk. Life's too short to go ballistic over skin.

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

God help the world. This is why we have 13 year old little brats running all over the palce with no respect, stealing shit, running into people in stores and not excusing themself. WHy we have 10,11,12-18 year old little girls dressing like little sluts.

:hysteria: My, my, you are a piece of work.

The reason the world has slutty teenage girls is because of woman failing to cover up their breasts when feeding a child? What a crock of horseshit that is.

Secondly, you simply do not know a thing about human anatomy. It's strongly encouraged to breast feed a child because it does help them grow and develop a lot better than using a baby formula. Where in numerous posts, all you say is "use a bottle."

[BirdMom]

I think that IdiotsAreEverywhere would agree that someone has never taken a critical thinking course and therefore doesn't know squat about logical fallacies, including (but not limited to) slippery slope thinking and sic hoc, ergo propter hoc thinking. 'nuff said. It's so unfair to fight a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

I think that IdiotsAreEverywhere would agree that someone has never taken a critical thinking course and therefore doesn't know squat about logical fallacies, including (but not limited to) slippery slope thinking and sic hoc, ergo propter hoc thinking. 'nuff said. It's so unfair to fight a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.

True, he's making a special trip to my ignore list.

[Radar]

It is really none of my business how they conduct my life. It does not harm me.

Oops, meant to say how they conduct their lives.

BirdMom, you are saying what I am thinking. I wish that I could put it as nicely as you. If a stranger from another country read this thread they would think that this is a huge problem. Thanks for saying what I am thinking.

[BirdMom]

BirdMom, you are saying what I am thinking. I wish that I could put it as nicely as you. If a stranger from another country read this thread they would think that this is a huge problem. Thanks for saying what I am thinking.

LOL - you know that old adage about the squeeky wheel and grease? It's transposed itself to message boards and blogs, and I hope that enough foreign readers will recognize that not everyone here is intolerant and stubborn.

Unfortunately, I feel that there are too many online posters operating on the assumption that if something is repeated like a broken record, then everyone else will be worn down and concede out of fatigue - not out of agreement in a more effective argument. I think they're the same sort of people who put up a fight for hours on end at City Hall about Disney policy and expect to get a refund or free admission on another day despite Disney being in the right...

And you're right Radar, there is NO problem here. N'est ce pas?

[CujoSR]

Hi Head Mouse,

Try reading this before you let your fingers do any more yakking...

Section 43.3 of the Civil Code.

This law provides that a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and child are authorized to be present.

My point is get used to it. Mothers have been breastfeeding for some 100,000 years (less if you live in Kansas) and it will continue long after we all turn to dust. As Birdmom put it...

Life's too short to go ballistic over skin.