Is breastfeeding obscene?

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by ElectricFetus, Jun 23, 2009.

?

Is breastfeeding in public obscene?

  1. Yes

    5 vote(s)
    9.3%

  2. No

    49 vote(s)
    90.7%
Page 3 of 20
  1. ElectricFetus

    ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,523
    Then there would not be a breast, it would be a nipple and a budding nothing more, might as well be saying the peacocks tail is for flying! All the fat on the chest is very detrimental in every respect, its damaging to chest tendons, its puts an imbalance in the weight distribution of the body, it impedes running, etc the only reason for putting fat there is to stupidifying men, that it.
     
    ElectricFetus, Jun 24, 2009
    #41

  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. takandjive

    takandjive Killer Queen Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,361
    I don't think I need to add anything to this. Just repeated for truth.
     
    takandjive, Jun 24, 2009
    #42

  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. Repo Man

    Repo Man Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,955
    None of the other primates have them, and they have no problems with breastfeeding. I agree, large breasts in humans primary purpose seems to be to signal to males that a female is of breeding age.

    Breast feeding in public doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I can't imagine why anyone would care.
     
    Repo Man, Jun 24, 2009
    #43

  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. nietzschefan

    nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,721
    Wiki:

    But yeah, breast feeding isn't sexy, actually. So the Apollonian's out there should just chill. The Dionysian mothers out there should show some slight discretion (like don't just hang whole DD tit out in front of the bus stop or whatever) it's not enough to just peak it out the side of a loose short or sweater? You gotta make sure EVERYONE CAN SEE YOU ARE THE LIBERATED BREAST FEEDING AUTHORITAH!!!???
     
    nietzschefan, Jun 24, 2009
    #44
  8. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,285
    Breast feeding in public is perfectly fine. If the tits are nice, then that's a plus. Hell, maybe nudge the kid over and take a bit of a taste myself. Also, this morning I was out of milk for coffee, had there been a nice set of breast feeding tits .. well, that could have been a bit help. If the women has old sagging ones that look like grapefruit stuffed into the bottom of a sock. Yuck. Keep those ones where we can't see them!


    Nothing wrong with pissing in public IF it's in a urinal. There's something to be said for open public urinals.


    That said, I find it hard to take a dump when someone is sitting in the stall next to me. See what society has done to me!?! I can't pinch that loaf... well, I can, but it's agonizingly slow, and I try not to make a noise. Which is impossible.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Yeah, I'm in a mood today. Blaming it on sleep deprivation.
     
    Michael, Jun 24, 2009
    #45
  9. scott3x

    scott3x Banned Banned

    Messages:
    3,785
    You had me laughing at the idea of nudging the kid over for a taste, laugh ;-). Not that I want to encourage you to lose your sleep, but I really liked that post

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    .
     
    scott3x, Jun 24, 2009
    #46
  10. Xylene

    Xylene Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,398
    Crete was the place for that, back in the day--before Thera blew up in ca 1650 BC, the women of Crete used to wander around with their breasts hanging out...

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_civilization
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2009
    Xylene, Jun 24, 2009
    #47
  11. scott3x

    scott3x Banned Banned

    Messages:
    3,785
    I think it depends on both who the observer is as well as who is the observed. The real issue should be, even if a person finds breastfeeding sexy, does it mean that it should only be allowed to be done in private? I certainly don't think so.
     
    scott3x, Jun 24, 2009
    #48
  12. Bells

    Bells Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,270
    Ah the joys of breastfeeding in public.

    1) You're so tired that you are stumbling around, just happy to be out of the house and looking at other adults who aren't pooping in their pants, puking in your hair and drooling, crying, and all the other joyous things that babies do. So there you are, out in public. You've worn your special breastfeeding shirt, have the muslin wrap that you will drape over yourself to shield the child and your breast just in case it decides it wants another feed, even though you just fed it 20 minutes before.. You get to the shopping centre, and scope out the "parents room" and find it doesn't even have a chair for breastfeeding mothers to use. Okay.. You'll have to actually use the drape and try to find somewhere quiet, just in case the child needs a feed. Sure enough, pretty soon, the child is screaming its head off. Off you head to that quiet little corner and drape the cloth over yourself and place the baby to the boob, nothing is showing at all. No one can see anything. And then you look up and see:

    (a) A pervert staring at you with his mouth hanging open and his hands giggling in his pockets. Aka, a bit like Michael and his comments about nudging the baby to the side and having a bit of a drink himself.. pervert sits or stands there staring and thinks as Michael does and if you're really "lucky", his hands will be in his pocket. Otherwise he'll do a Michael, stand there licking his lips and thinking about it.

    (b) A person (male or female) look offended that you are daring to feed the child in a public space and who will come over and tell you to your face that breast is not always best and it is offensive that you are putting that baby on your boobs in public.. again, no one can see anything at all, all that can be seen is the baby held close to the mother and a cloth draped over the shoulder and down to the lap, completely blocking any view of the child feeding.

    (c) People who see that you are breastfeeding and turn away and give you some privacy or carry on as though you are not even there.

    (d) People who think your child is doing something sexual and calls you a pervert.​

    2) Same as for 1. Except that you have taken the safe route and expressed your milk, just so you don't have to breastfeed in public. You know the parents room does not cater to breastfeeding and you've been through (a), (b) and (c) before when you have dared to breastfeed in public, so you decide to avoid any frustration and express and bottle feed the child. Fair enough you may think. And then the following happens:

    (a) Random people come up to you when you take out the bottle of breastmilk to feed the screaming and hungry baby and ask you if you don't know that 'breast is best' and accuse you of being a bad parent because you are depriving your child of the goodness that is breastmilk.

    (b) Some random people take it upon themselves to praise you for doing the right and proper thing instead of 'flashing your boobs to all and sundry which shows a lack of self restraint' and making out as if breastfeeding is sexual.

    (c) People who look at you, give you death stares because you are not breastfeeding and shake their heads at you in disgust.

    (d) People who carry on as if you aren't even there.​

    (3) Same as for 1. Except you go out to your car to breastfeed. There are no adequate parent rooms and the child is screaming for a feed and doing the bad silent, mouth is open cry with no sound and then takes the deep breath and then high pitched blue in the face sound emerges from its little lungs and mouth. So, off you rush to the car to breastfeed it. You want some privacy to avoid the potential perverts and old biddies who abuse you for daring to put a child on your breast in public. You have your special breastfeeding shirt on, to give you more added coverage, even in the car. So there you are, baby happily feeding and you relax, and feel that sense of peace and quiet that you get when you breastfeed.. no crying.. And then you look up to either of the following:

    (a) Pervert has spotted that you are breastfeeding and hangs around near a car nearby in the hope that he can catch a possible glimpse of your boobs. Hands may or may not be in the pockets.

    (b) Random person happens to walk past the car and taps on the windows, asking you if you are alright in there.

    (c) Random person happens to walk past the car, looks in and starts abusing you for doing 'that' in public.. much the same as for 1(b).

    (d) People walk past and see that you are feeding your child and ignores you, turns away and gives you privacy and otherwise carries on as if you are not there.
    ​


    That is the joys of having a small baby and venturing out in public.

    Breastfeeding women rarely have the proper facilities where we can go and sit in private when out of home, to feed a starving and screaming child. If we bottle feed it, we are considered bad parents because breast is best, even if the milk in the bottle is breastmilk. Breastfeeding women often have to contend with condescending and often insulting comments from people, regardless of whether they breastfeed or bottlefeed.

    In short, there are no proper facilities.

    But if you need to pee. There are proper facilities.

    So you're complaining because you can't stand up wherever you are and piss against a wall in public? Tell me, when you are at home, do you use the toilet? Or do you go and stand in the corner of your living room, bedroom, dining room or kitchen and pee against the wall? I would imagine you use the toilet. So why do you think it is somehow acceptable to stand up wherever you are in public and just start wizzing against the wall, when there are proper facilities already in place for you to use. Eg, the toilet?

    I can assure you, if there were proper, clean and comfortable rooms in public areas where women could go and breastfeed, they would be using them so as not to deal with 1) perverts, 2) sticky beaks, 3) people who think they need to lecture you about feeding your child 4) retards.
     
    Bells, Jun 24, 2009
    #49
  13. PieAreSquared

    PieAreSquared Woo is resistant to reason Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,144
    better if they are twins

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
    PieAreSquared, Jun 24, 2009
    #50
  14. shorty_37

    shorty_37 Go! Canada Go! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,140
    It is huh? :bugeye: When was the last time you saw a woman doing that? The boobs that I have seen whipped out to breastfeed
    in public aren't your cup of tea......lol

    There was a woman on the news recently over here. She was told by a guard to stop breastfeeding on a tour of the Parliament buildings.

    I am trying to find that story because it just happened last week.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2009
    shorty_37, Jun 24, 2009
    #51
  15. shorty_37

    shorty_37 Go! Canada Go! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,140
    Some women are VERY discreet when they do it and I have no problem with it whatsoever. There are some women however that are a little too free and it's like they are trying to show the world what they are doing.

    Have none of you ever come across those kind of women? They are those women's lib nutcases

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    and beleive me you don't wanna see that sight, it ain't pretty.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Do you all think that women should be able to do it anywhere, anytime?
    Does it depend on how discreet they are about it? or it doesn't matter if they just whip it out because it's a natural thing to do?

    Like what about at a fancy restaurant?

    Your Teenage Son's Birthday Party?
     
    shorty_37, Jun 24, 2009
    #52
  16. nietzschefan

    nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,721
    AHH ha! I must teach you of the three metamorphosis of the spirit someday, Danielle San.

    Contrary to my behavior in private and on this forum, I am a perfect Gentleman in Public.
     
    nietzschefan, Jun 24, 2009
    #53
  17. codanblad

    codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,397
    if i was the child, i'd fucking hope so.
     
    codanblad, Jun 24, 2009
    #54
  18. swarm

    swarm Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,207
    Breast feeding is boring to watch and those are even tits I get to play with. About as sexy as changing diapers.

    I would definitely not advise overt oogling though or you are likely to come face to face with an irate spouse.

    But what's wrong with being obscene in public?
     
    swarm, Jun 24, 2009
    #55
  19. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,285
    Nay, I find that just pulling the change right out of the pocket and spending the money right there - out in public is much fairer. I mean, you have your tit I have my change

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    We're not all that different after all, me and that baby I mean. We both cry and beg and shit ourselves and finally when that tit comes round, we're happy and giggling

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Either that or post-boob feeding, a bit of polite conversation with the mother about why her hubby hasn't found the time, the inkling nor the appreciation and...

    Haaaaa Haa!
    just kidding!!!

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    M
     
    Michael, Jun 24, 2009
    #56
  20. justwonderingjoe

    justwonderingjoe Gosh,the weather is nice today Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    386
    I personally was never able to fully relax in public enough to allow the milk to "let down" and breastfeed in public.
    When it was completely necessary to breastfeed in a public area with strangers about, I needed to drape a shawl or blanket over my shoulder, baby and breast to give me the feeling of privacy.
    For me, that's just how I am.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2009
    justwonderingjoe, Jun 24, 2009
    #57
  21. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,285
    Speaking of breast feeding.

    I was back home last year, visiting family, after having been away for around 5 years. Of course I naturally looked up some Ex's .... you know, see what they were up to. One girl, who used to be such a tart and a great drinking chick and she was hot, real hot, she said yeah come by.

    So I rock up to her house. She was sitting on the couch, she had a new baby playing on the floor. Which was fine. Although she could have mentioned something on the phone. But, meh.... Well, I swear, I come from a large family, I know when a baby needs a feed. This one didn't. Well, she grabs her kid, (who was happily playing with his toys) and out comes one of her boobs, nipples flaring and all, just flopped it out there and into his mouth. "You were saying Michael....?" I was like. Auuh? Ummm? Hmmm....

    *Feeling a bit embarrassed here*

    We're on a farm. The only sound was this strong suckling noise coming from the kids gullet. I was kind of stopped. Mesmerized. I sort of stared at this kid, maybe I was envious?


    "So? Michael? Michael? Michael! YOU were saying Michael....!?!??"

    Next thing you know her hubby pulls up the farm drive in his truck and muddy boots

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    I was actually a bit worried. I kept thinking, Jesus, put that shit away. But nope, it's like she just WANTED that tit out and her hubby to see me seeing that tit.

    Well, he walked in, looked started, looked at the tit, then turned red, walked straight over and sat down, put his arm around her (probably he hadn't been servicing that engine in awhile - that's my guess). Leaned across to introduce himself.
    *didn't look happy - nope, not happy, definitely not happy*
    I said, hey, well, so, ummm, you know, how about a few family photos and then I do myself and you-all a favor and I get myself the Fraken Frak out of here! (well, I didn't say Frak, I mean, there was a baby there

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    So, WTF was THAT all about?

    In my man-child-mind I think it goes back to servicing that engine. That's realy all I could think. Because, honestly, some women bounce back, some don't. This one probably bounced up about half-way. And fair enough, I mean, carrying a kid and then looking after one AND working. I can only imagine. Shit, this job has taken 5 years off the top for me and I don't have kids or much responsibility outside of work. Sometimes the PS3 gets a bit bitchy..

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    See, this is the difference between the way men and women think about things. You know? I mean, Jesus woman, I'd rather you pull that tit out in public than in private - ALONE WITH ME, as your hubby pulls up.
     
    Michael, Jun 24, 2009
    #58
  22. nietzschefan

    nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,721
    hehe heh...

    This thread reminds me so much of my favorite story of Diogenes (Plato called him a Socrates gone mad). He was the first "Cynic" and the ultimate "bum". He bragged his only possession was a bowl to eat and drink from. After seeing a child drink with his hands, he smashed his bowl.

    He once masturbated in the Agora (that's like ultimate public place in ancient Greece) when rebuked for doing so by some woman, he replied, "If only it was as easy to soothe my hunger by rubbing my belly."
     
    nietzschefan, Jun 24, 2009
    #59
  23. Bells

    Bells Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,270
    It is not a matter of 'should be able to do it anywhere'. If you have a screaming baby and there are no facilities to feed them, you don't really have much of a choice. I have done the whole 'express to go out' thing to death and sometimes, they go through that and want more. And they scream blue murder until they are fed. There's only so much one can express, so you take what you can, feed them just before going out and low and behold, it seems they are going through a growth spurt or approaching or coming off one (which is all the time in the newborn phase) and they finish the bottle and demand more. 90% of the time, the parents room had no facilities to cater properly to breastfeeding women, or they would have just one chair and if someone is already using it.. well.. either make baby wait and have it screaming or you feed it as discreetly as you can in public.

    And I'm sorry, but my child comes first and if he needed to feed, I fed him and did so with the special shirt and drapes and slings. And people still stared or made comments about it. And if I let the child scream, I'd get comments about the baby crying. I've gone to the car many times and had people tapping on the shut windows and abuse me for doing it in public. I have expressed and had people abuse me for bottle feeding and not giving my child the 'best start in life' and they did not know it was breastmilk in the bottles. You just can't win. Either way, you can't win.

    So it is not a matter of whether we think we should be able to do it anywhere or anytime, it is a matter that most times, we just didn't have a choice.

    I didn't go to fancy restaurants when I breastfed. The very few times we did, I would start expressing days in advance and freezing/refigerating the milk, regardless of whether our parents could look after them for those few hours or if we had nowhere to leave our children so we could go out for the meal. I also checked with the restaurant for any facilities and asked to be placed in a quiet and dark corner, just in case I had to breastfeed. If they refused, then I didn't go there. But yeah, when my kids were that little where the feeds were unpredictable, we just didn't go to fancy restaurants but ate at home the greater majority of the time.

    Even now, at their age, we don't go to fancy restaurants with them in tow if we can help it.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    I think if you are still breastfeeding your son when he's a teenager, then you have much bigger issues to deal with than complaints about breastfeeding babies in public.

    That was you?

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
    Bells, Jun 24, 2009
    #60
Page 3 of 20

Share This Page