"If You Don't Like It, Don't Look!"

[punch]

not the same. you're comparing apples to oranges.

Are you sure? We are all animals with natural needs.

i'm sure! read back.

 

[jake337]

not the same. you're comparing apples to oranges.

we've already been through comparing it to defication. we've compared it to sex.

the arguments don't hold weight.

end point is simply that those of you that would be offended, male, female or otherwise, need to to just push your little lips together as hard as you can and bite your tongue, because it's unlawful to do anything else.

I didn't read that comparison and you missed my point. It's about perception. I would have no issue with breast feeding anywhere and I would have issues seeing two people getting it on in front of me in line.

The key is trying to understand others perceptions.

 

[shortpants]

Funny I instantly knew this thread was about breastfeeding in public and I've hardly read a thing on this site in months, so no keeping up with any drama. Exposed boobs, the horror!

 

[jake337]

not the same. you're comparing apples to oranges.

we've already been through comparing it to defication. we've compared it to sex.

the arguments don't hold weight.

end point is simply that those of you that would be offended, male, female or otherwise, need to to just push your little lips together as hard as you can and bite your tongue, because it's unlawful to do anything else.

It's not unlawful for someone to have their own opinion. Where do you live? North Korea?

 

[jake337]

not the same. you're comparing apples to oranges.

Are you sure? We are all animals with natural needs.

i'm sure! read back.

So what some people jotted down on a thread holds weight? where? Only opinions....

 

[punch]

not the same. you're comparing apples to oranges.

we've already been through comparing it to defication. we've compared it to sex.

the arguments don't hold weight.

end point is simply that those of you that would be offended, male, female or otherwise, need to to just push your little lips together as hard as you can and bite your tongue, because it's unlawful to do anything else.

I didn't read that comparison and you missed my point. It's about perception. I would have no issue with breast feeding anywhere and I would have issues seeing two people getting it on in front of me in line.

The key is trying to understand others perceptions.

i agree with you on that... fully. that's why it's so important to me that the negative perceptions about breastfeeding wane.

i've nursed a baby in a bathroom... until i thought you know what, I'D NEVER EAT IN THIS BATHROOM. i was only in there for other people's comfort and that led to mine and my baby's discomfort.

i'd never hope or plan for someone to see me exposed. most good citizens would plan to avoid trying to see it. only an asshat would go out of their way to stare and only the biggest of asshats would ever say anything.

perception IS key. i hope people start to perceive breastfeeding as no big deal.

in my province, the government issued posters to do just that... normalize the image of a woman nursing.

thank the heavenly lord above i don't live in the states anymore. i like a progressive mentality.

and to add, i don't see any point in regulating people's opinions, and you're so hilarious with your north korea joke! ahahahaha. :| regardless, your opinions have to be just that... opinions. and if someone with an opinion against nursing in public ever voiced it and asked for them to stop, they're commiting an offense.

 

[MTVision]

It's not unlawful for someone to have their own opinion. Where do you live? North Korea?

It's no unlawful to have an opinion. It can be unlawful to voice/act on that opinion - depending on other factors. In Vermont you can't ask a handicapped person in a wheelchair to leave because they are taking up too much space just like you can't ask a breastfeeding women to cover up. They are both protected classes and there are anti-discrimination laws.

Everybody has an opinion which is fine. You can dislike whatever you want but sometimes you can't do anything about it. And yes people should be considerate of others but they don't have to. Would it be nice if everybody was considerate of everyone else? Yeah but it'll never happen. And it goes both ways - some think women breastfeeding in public should be considerate of others but maybe they think others should be considerate of the fact that they need to feed their infants and they feel they made the best decision for their child and should not be restricted.

It's an argument that can't be won. Nobody will ever agree on this topic which is fine. Nobody has to agree it on it because until, and if, the laws ever change women will breastfeed how and where they choose.

 

[Compaq]

Why the heck should I be offended by women breastfeeding openly in public? I'm not!

HOWEVER, I don't think ALL PUBLIC PLACES are "suitable" for breastfeeding. Restaurants, for example. Breastfeeding makes sounds, and you can't "unhear" stuff - not really. The public is a big place, and I'm not saying that I don't think breastfeeding should be practiced anywhere in public. Just, use common sense. Would you think many people found it "uncomfortable" or "disgusting" that you're letting a small being suck things out of your body?

Please, don't romanticise the process of breastfeeding. Yes, breasts are natural and necessary for survival. That is the penis as well. The penis isn't a beautiful organ. Sperm formation in scrotum isn't beautiful. Shooting it inside someone isn't beautiful. Yes, a necessity for survival, but not beautiful. Of course, you're of another gender than me, and you may actually find that process beautiful. You may want to do it everywhere. One thing this thread should teach you, is that not all men think it's "nice" for someone to breastfeed their baby ANYWHERE. Use your common sense, and see if it would be socially acceptable to do it.

I've been slightly annoyed by certain ladies' responses in this thread, and so my own opinions may be shaded by that. I apologize. To sum up my feelings on the matter:

- by all means, breastfeed publicly
- please be aware that some don't really "like" it
- don't whip it out with the attitude of "haters gonna hate". As crazy as it may seem to you, some people don't like it. You should try to take those into consideration.

The thing about the society is: The majority decides, but takes the minority into consideration.

 

[punch]

it didn't used to be socially acceptable for a black man to use a white mens washroom.

THAT'S ARCHAIC. so is saying that nursing in a restaurant isn't socially acceptable. your 8 year old is likely smacking the crap out of his chicken fingers and i get to hear that too. you live on a planet with other humans. trust me, i know it sucks. but i don't have a private island, and i'm guessing you don't either.

 

[Derrel]

A bit over 25 years ago when I was working in camera sales, a man and woman with a child and a baby came in. The husband stayed with me, the wife and kids split off and went to the "other camera store" nearby. He told me they were going to Europe for the summer, and wanted to have a "complete outfit" and they needed it "TODAY!". I started pitching a complete system for him. I pitched the then-new Nikon N8008s, the 24-85 AF Nikkor as I recall, and a 70-200 zoom, and a flash, bag, polarizer,etc. I could tell by his and her clothes they had ample funds. The hubby was sold within 10 minutes!

Then he says, "Well, my wife needs to come back and report on what they have at the other store. We're headed to the airport today,as soon as we get the camera stuff. I'd love to buy this outfit right now, but I gotta wait for her on this."

So, very soon afterwards, she comes back with the small child beside her, and the baby in her arms. The husband tells me to, "Tell her all the cool stuff you just told me about this new autofocusing camera!", and so I launch into a quick summary, and about 30 second in, she asks me if I have a chair she can sit down in. I tell her, honestly, "Sorry ma'am but no, we don't have any chairs, the boss doesn't want us sitting down, ever, so we don't even have a stool in the break room."

So, she sighs, then unbuttons her blouse, and pops out an engorged, bulbous, milky-white breast and the baby latches on. She is standing RIGHT across the glass counter, about three feet from me. Not making ANY attempt to cover the breast or baby, in any way,shape, or form....I mean, she's got the whole dang thing hanging out, and it's Dolly-Parton-like...

Yeah...weird...uncomfortable...and if you ask me, inappropriate as hell. Inappropriate because she was at MY place of work, and was extremely close to MY work area....and in a busy store, with her huge boob 80% exposed, for like 10 minutes, as we were trying to conduct business. At **that time**, almost 25 years ago, breast feeding in public, bare- and exposed-breasted, and with no cover over the baby, was considered rather,well...unacceptable. Much,much more so than today, after the big furor about public breastfeeding came to the fore some years after this incident. The best thing though was they bought the 8008s complete setup, and a bag, and I made a hefty commission off the entire setup. AND...I got a cool story to tell...

 

[punch]

you know, derrel... i would NEVER have thought to do that, if only to not get oogled.

having said that, it's funny how when you're used to nursing every 2 hours for weeks upon weeks, your sensitivity to it being a boob and being out does go down.

each time i nursed, i started off very conservative and secretive, and as time went on, i became more lax. it becomes SO unsexualized, and SO routine that you do lose some of that concern.

i still wouldn't have let you see my nipple, however.

 

[MTVision]

Why the heck should I be offended by women breastfeeding openly in public? I'm not!

HOWEVER, I don't think ALL PUBLIC PLACES are "suitable" for breastfeeding. Restaurants, for example. Breastfeeding makes sounds, and you can't "unhear" stuff - not really. The public is a big place, and I'm not saying that I don't think breastfeeding should be practiced anywhere in public. Just, use common sense. Would you think many people found it "uncomfortable" or "disgusting" that you're letting a small being suck things out of your body?

Please, don't romanticise the process of breastfeeding. Yes, breasts are natural and necessary for survival. That is the penis as well. The penis isn't a beautiful organ. Sperm formation in scrotum isn't beautiful. Shooting it inside someone isn't beautiful. Yes, a necessity for survival, but not beautiful. Of course, you're of another gender than me, and you may actually find that process beautiful. You may want to do it everywhere. One thing this thread should teach you, is that not all men think it's "nice" for someone to breastfeed their baby ANYWHERE. Use your common sense, and see if it would be socially acceptable to do it.

I've been slightly annoyed by certain ladies' responses in this thread, and so my own opinions may be shaded by that. I apologize. To sum up my feelings on the matter:

- by all means, breastfeed publicly
- please be aware that some don't really "like" it
- don't whip it out with the attitude of "haters gonna hate". As crazy as it may seem to you, some people don't like it. You should try to take those into consideration.

The thing about the society is: The majority decides, but takes the minority into consideration.

You must eat in extremely quiet restaurants if you hear a baby eating. It's not any louder or different sounding then a bottle. You go to a restaurant to eat - babies can't eat while there? They make less sounds then an adult eating. And you can't make restrictions like that. Women can breastfeed where they are allowed to be. If its public they can do as they wish.

See the difference with boobs and penis is this - we are mammals and we are meant to nourish our young with our mammary glands. Breasts were made to feed babies - penises are for procreation not for nourishment.

Yes and we all know people don't like it. Do they take into consideration that sometimes babies need to be fed then and there. Every 2 hours or more to be exact when they are young and breastfeeding. And actually no people don't have to be considerate of others. Should they - that depends. Do you get dressed in the morning making sure you are considerate of others? Everything you say - do you always make sure to be considerate of others. Maybe people should be more considerate of others in every aspect of their lives - but it's not going to happen and you have to deal with. Just like everyone who wants breastfeeding mothers to be considerate of others - never gonna happen until its banned which I doubt it will ever happen.

So until then we can try to make you see our side and vice versa and you can wish that we would be considerate of others but it won't happen. Just like most mothers would agree - I will do what's best for my child IMO before I ever think of being considerate of others. And this is from someone who rarely ever breastfeeds in public. Breastfeeding has so many benefits and it's sad that a lot of mothers won't do it because of the stigma attached

 

[Dominantly]

How about we come to some sort of agreement on what is generally acceptable?


1. I'd say that a woman who has a reasonable amount of class, would (should) feed in such a way that does not draw attention to the act. If you do whip out a feeding device in a line, and go bare chest, then you're "that girl" (brother of "that guy"), and not at all dignified.
2. If you're good looking, then all standards are relaxed. De-blousing might just be the best method in this situation.

 

[Compaq]

Yes, I am considerate to others. If I bump into someone, I apologize. If someone tells me I've crossed some sort of line they have, I take that into consideration and stop my actions. I try my best to not be in the way, in any way.

Please remember I'm not talking about every public place. A park is public. I wouldn't look twice if someone breastfed there. A bench in a supermarket is public, and I wouldn't look twice there. But I think that using a cover (it's not that hard) helps a lot, and would make less people uncomfortable in lots of places. And if you were used to use a cover, you wouldn't place it in the bottom of the bag, would you?

Is it too much to ask that if you're going to breastfeed in a public space with lots of people around you, that you cover up?? Seriously? I can see how routine plays a part, and that you're getting very used to it. But please answer my concrete question.

 

[punch]

a cover is a fabulous idea.

wouldn't you know it though, you can't get a good latch if you can't see where you put their face, which is when your nipple is actually exposed (not exposed DURING nursing, really). and surprisingly enough, a lot of babies don't like blankets over their faces while they nurse, either. often, it causes them to pull off and try to latch again which causes you to expose yourself even more, AND get sore nipples.

these logistics are all very easy for someone who hasn't ever nursed to work out, eh?

perhaps our motivation isn't to throw it in your faces... but rather, to nurse our babies without you looking like you want a turn. you, being the hypothetical you.