Does a nursing baby offend you?

[balamw]

On the other hand, in most jurisdictions (in the US, anyway), there are indecent exposure laws that make it illegal for a woman to expose her breasts (usually, this means that the nipple is exposed to the air). So, the question is, do said laws make an exception for when a woman is breast-feeding?

If said woman's nipple is exposed while breast feeding, she (or the baby) ain't doing it right. Think of the kid as a large pastie.

B

 

[skunk]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but there is no law against eating meat.

On the other hand, in most jurisdictions (in the US, anyway), there are indecent exposure laws that make it illegal for a woman to expose her breasts (usually, this means that the nipple is exposed to the air). So, the question is, do said laws make an exception for when a woman is breast-feeding?

By definition, if a woman is breast-feeding, her nipple is not exposed, so that's a pretty weak argument.

Personally, I have nothing against women breast-feeding their children

That's good to hear...

but there are places where I would not consider it appropriate (in church, for example)...

Why not in church? Should the sermon be missed because an infant wants a feed?

and they should all realize that some people may stare. It's human nature.

It's poor manners, at the very least, if not prurience.

 

[marymac]

I don't see the big deal with this being on the cover of a magazine, its not graphic in any sort of way, just natural occurrence. However, I don't like it when people do this in public, something like the rest room, or some more private area is a more appropriate place.

I thought it was beautiful. Our own mind is the judge of what offends and what does not. External objects have some affect - but we choose how we feel.

 

[QuantumLo0p]

It's rude to expell gases, liquids and solids from your body while in public.

The common lame excuse I hear from the pro-public-baby-tit-sucking lobby is that "It's completely natural so I have every right."

No. You don't.

Taking a big, stinky dump is a natural function too but I can't (won't) do it in public.
So is picking your nose.
So is taking a piss.
So is carressing your rhoids.
So is popping zits.
So is lancing tumors.
So is changing the dressing on an open, festering wound.
So is changing a tampon.
So is sex.
So is shaving, haircuting and bikini waxing.
So is trying new shoes without wearing socks.
So on, and so on, and so on...

The next time I see a mother nursing her baby in public, I'm going to stand about arm's length away, break the seal and unleash the biggest, juiciest, nastiest, stinky, unnatural fart I can manage to expell from my arse just because I feel "It's natural", because I feel "It's a beautiful thing" and because "It's my right". It's all up to the beholder, right? Yeah, right buddy.

Changing a baby diaper is completely natural yet there is now baby changing tables in the majority of every restroom in the country.

I suppose common sense eludes some people.

Nuff said.

 

[Lau]

It's rude to expell gases, liquids and solids from your body while in public.

Maybe you should stop breathing then.

 

[emw]

The common lame excuse I hear from the pro-public-baby-tit-sucking lobby is that "It's completely natural so I have every right."

No. You don't.

Actually, in many states you do have the right to breast-feed in public.

And about you "unleashing" something in your pants whilst being next to a breast feeding woman - feel free. Being the father of 2 children, I will guarantee it will be far from the worst thing she smells during the day, and it will provide her with a source of amusement as she ridicules you with her friends.

Your attitude that breast-feeding is as disgusting as taking a **** is amazing. I'd be willing to bet that you wouldn't be protesting some lovely young lady walking around with her breasts exposed - as long as she isn't breast-feeding.

 

[skunk]

It's rude to expell gases, liquids and solids from your body while in public.

And I suppose you never do. Anyway, we are talking about ingesting, not expelling, so I fail to see the relevance.

The common lame excuse I hear from the pro-public-baby-tit-sucking lobby is that "It's completely natural so I have every right."

"pro-public-baby-tit-sucking"? What a confusion of prejudices that charming phrase betrays!

Taking a big, stinky dump is a natural function too but I can't (won't) do it in public.

Comparing discreet breast-feeding with taking a dump, now? You have much to learn about bodily functions.

The next time I see a young mother nursing her baby in public, I'm going to stand about arm's length away, break the seal and unleash the biggest, juiciest, nastiest, stinky, unnatural fart I can manage to expell from my arse just because I feel "It's natural", because I feel "It's a beautiful thing" and because "It's my right".

Both insensitive and aggressive. You should perhaps learn to manage your anger.

Nuff said.

 

[skunk]

Maybe you should stop breathing then.

I like your thinking.

 

[nbs2]

The next time I see a young mother nursing her baby in public, I'm going to stand about arm's length away, break the seal and unleash the biggest, juiciest, nastiest, stinky, unnatural fart I can manage to expell from my arse just because I feel "It's natural", because I feel "It's a beautiful thing" and because "It's my right".

And she has no right to make you stop. The offense she takes doesn't impede on your right to pass gas. That being said, depending on your location at the moment, she (or her husband) may be able to pull off a self-defense argument for beating on you if she (or he) can pull off a claim that they thought you were going to touch her.

 

[balamw]

And about you "unleashing" something in your pants whilst being next to a breast feeding woman - feel free. Being the father of 2 children, I will guarantee it will be far from the worst thing she smells during the day, and it will provide her with a source of amusement as she ridicules you with her friends.

LOL. Not to mention that the comment about "breaking the seal" gives me the impression he's (I have to assume QuantumLo0p is a he) never really paid attention to anyone breastfeeding. It would take an act of God for either of my kids to unlatch if their intent was to eat.

Getting between an infant and their food source is just asking for a beating (from the kid that is).

B

 

[skunk]

LOL. Not to mention that the comment about "breaking the seal" gives me the impression he's (I have to assume QuantumLo0p is a he) never really paid attention to anyone breastfeeding. It would take an act of God for either of my kids to unlatch if their intent was to eat.

Getting between an infant and their food source is just asking for a beating (from the kid that is).

FWIW, which isn't much, I think he was talking figuratively of uncorking his butt. He has a way with words.

 

[Lau]

FWIW, which isn't much, I think he was talking figuratively of uncorking his butt. He has a way with words.

I worry more about his obvious digestive problems.

Oh no, hang on, I don't.

 

[clayj]

By definition, if a woman is breast-feeding, her nipple is not exposed, so that's a pretty weak argument.

The nipple is exposed to the air momentarily, between unhitching her bra and placing the infant in the feeding position, isn't it?

But here's a better question: If it's OK for a woman to breast-feed her child while in public, what if the feeder is not a child, but an adult? Would it be legal for a man to service his wife's breasts orally while in public? Or does the law make that distinction?

 

[aquajet]

The common lame excuse I hear from the pro-public-baby-tit-sucking lobby is that "It's completely natural so I have every right."

No. You don't.

I see you, too, conveniently disregard my previous point.

Taking a big, stinky dump is a natural function too but I can't (won't) do it in public.
So is picking your nose.
So is taking a piss.
So is carressing your rhoids.
So is popping zits.
So is lancing tumors.
So is changing the dressing on an open, festering wound.
So is changing a tampon.
So is sex.
So is shaving, haircuting and bikini waxing.
So is trying new shoes without wearing socks.
So on, and so on, and so on...

These are all red herrings and you know it.

The next time I see a mother nursing her baby in public, I'm going to stand about arm's length away, break the seal and unleash the biggest, juiciest, nastiest, stinky, unnatural fart I can manage to expell from my arse just because I feel "It's natural", because I feel "It's a beautiful thing" and because "It's my right". It's all up to the beholder, right? Yeah, right buddy.

Delightful.

I suppose common sense eludes some people.

Nuff said.

Indeed.

 

[skunk]

The nipple is exposed to the air momentarily, between unhitching her bra and placing the infant in the feeding position, isn't it?

Just how closely do you have to be watching to spot it?

But here's a better question: If it's OK for a woman to breast-feed her child while in public, what if the feeder is not a child, but an adult? Would it be legal for a man to service his wife's breasts orally while in public? Or does the law make that distinction?

Now, that wouldn't really qualify as feeding, would it? Don't be a silly Devil's Advocate.

 

[Lau]

The nipple is exposed to the air momentarily, between unhitching her bra and placing the infant in the feeding position, isn't it?

Not only is it brief, but most women have special feeding bras and/or tops that offer a lot of coverage, unless someone's really looking for it.

But here's a better question: If it's OK for a woman to breast-feed her child while in public, what if the feeder is not a child, but an adult? Would it be legal for a man to service his wife's breasts orally while in public? Or does the law make that distinction?

Well, in that the kid's feeding in a non-sexual way, and the guys sucking his wife's breasts in an entirely sexual way, I think there's a distinction, law or not...


Edit: Okay, looks like skunk said the same thing, only faster.

 

[skunk]

Indeed.

A lot of late editing going on...

 

[clayj]

Now, that wouldn't really qualify as feeding, would it? Don't be a silly Devil's Advocate.

If the woman is lactating, it would.

So, I pose the question: Is it OK for a full-grown man (i.e., not a child) to breast-feed from a lactating woman (his wife, or any other woman) in public? If not, why not?

 

[jsw]

Of course it's not OK. Nor is it OK for some ten year old to do it. Neither the ten year old or the man is dependent upon the milk, and that dependency is a large part of why it's acceptable to nurse infants.

On a somewhat related note, to no poster in particular, it always amuses me that the crowd who tends to not like public breast feeding is also the crowd who tends to protest the availability of sex ed, birth control, and the day after pill for youth.

 

[thedude110]

If the woman is lactating, it would.

So, I pose the question: Is it OK for a full-grown man (i.e., not a child) to breast-feed from a lactating woman (his wife, or any other woman) in public? If not, why not?

I think this would be considered a fetish. Or a ridiculous analogy. I'm not sure which.

asphalt-proof gives a very good answer earlier in the thread:

i am offended by women who wear next to nothing, breasts hanging out and others wouldnt think of saying, "could you put those away. Do you have to do that here?" why does a child have to starve or a mother hide in order to feed a baby? sexual is ok but nutritional is porn? weird.

 

[Lau]

If the woman is lactating, it would.

So, I pose the question: Is it OK for a full-grown man (i.e., not a child) to breast-feed from a lactating woman (his wife, or any other woman) in public? If not, why not?

Well, the kid's getting nutrition from feeding, and the adult's just doing it for the kicks. I doubt any grown men need to survive off breast milk. Comparing what a one year old does in to public to an adult is ridiculous.

I have a feeling that a few people can't get over the fact that women's breasts aren't just used for sex...

 

[aquajet]

A lot of late editing going on...

It's been a long day. I must have missed something. Or many things...

 

[kretzy]

I have a feeling that a few people can't get over the fact that women's breasts aren't just used for sex...

That must be the underlying problem because it is completely beyond my comprehension how someone could find breast-feeding offensive. I just don't get it.

 

[clayj]

Well, the kid's getting nutrition from feeding, and the adult's just doing it for the kicks. I doubt any grown men need to survive off breast milk. Comparing what a one year old does in to public to an adult is ridiculous.

I have a feeling that a few people can't get over the fact that women's breasts aren't just used for sex...

The reason I asked the question I did is because the wording of laws often contains loopholes that allow behavior to occur that was not intended.

For example, say you start with an indecent exposure law:

"It is illegal for a woman to expose one or both breasts (defined as nipples out or being directly touched by another person) while in a 'public' place."

And then someone says, Well, what about breast-feeding? Some debate, then amended wording:

"It is illegal... etc., etc., UNLESS she is breast-feeding."

Then someone else asks: Well, how old is the feeder allowed to be? We don't want adults breast-feeding adults in public. Some more debate, then:

"It is illegal... etc., etc., UNLESS she is breast-feeding a child under the age of 4."

OK... what if it's not her child? What if her child has some medical condition that necessitates breast-feeding beyond that age? And so on, and so on. These sorts of questions can get really tricky.

Like I said, it doesn't offend me. But I can see where some people might object to it, and where other people (myself included) would appreciate a certain level of discretion when it comes to appropriateness of time and place to do it.

 

[QuantumLo0p]

I suppose I can't expect rational thinking from you all when situational ethics provide anyone with the ability to do whatever they please without negative reaction. Really not much different than other flawed ideologies such as affirmative action and hate crimes.

If you disagree, and you feel qualified, then maybe you should publish a reference guide on the sublject and how Emily Post "doesn't get it".

Don't get upset because I have a different view. It's my right and yours. However, it usually seems that a certain group of people always preach open mindedness and tolerance when, in reality, they are closed minded and intolerant. They say they respect other views but only when it is in sync with their own.

I can't help but think that you don't have children yourselves. That you're idealistic and inexperienced. If you are older and have children I find it troubling that you think the way you do, without regard for absolutes. Fresh out of school perhaps? Red diaper doper baby, maybe? Maybe you should check out the Digg forums. You sound as if you you would fit right in with the "Digg Thought Police". Mac Rumors appears to be just another site where the users, instead of the news, is paramount. Disappointing, indeed.

"learning is what happens after you gradute from school and experience life"