Fines for not allowing to Breast Feed?

[punky]

Originally Posted by Paul M

So let me get this straight - a business will be fined for not allowing a woman to show her breasts in public.

Well, technically, that is still a public order offence... If someone did that, and someone else made an official complaint she could be arrested regardless wether she was feeding or not.

This is all about women feeding their children under their blouse, I should imagine. Somehow, people know whats going on and that offends them... the thought rather than the imagery of it. I don't think most women would want to bare their brests in public anyway. Especially as they don't tend to feel that sexy in that part of their lives and that their areolas are the size of beer coasters, which make women feel even less attractive.

All this talk about men lactating though reminds me of Family Guy when Peter becomes a feminist and tries to brest-feed Stewy.... Soooo funny

[kronas]

Originally Posted by Paul M

So let me get this straight - a business will be fined for not allowing a woman to show her breasts in public.

no.........for not allowing breastfeeding.....it does NOT mean that the breast itself is naked, i have seen instances where discretness has been used.

i see absolutely no problem with breastfeeding in public, i wonder what it was like back in the old days ?

[Flubflow]

Originally Posted by Paul M

So let me get this straight - a business will be fined for not allowing a woman to show her breasts in public.

Well, that is A way of looking at it.

They want to fine businesses for not allowing breast feeding which may or may not involve, as you say, "showing" in public.

Whether the lady has a strong desire to display overtly to as many people as she can, and do a pole dance while she's at it, is an entirely different matter.
__________________

Originally Posted by punky

This is all about women feeding their children under their blouse, I should imagine. Somehow, people know whats going on and that offends them... the thought rather than the imagery of it. I don't think most women would want to bare their brests in public anyway. Especially as they don't tend to feel that sexy in that part of their lives and that their areolas are the size of beer coasters, which make women feel even less attractive.

Friend of mine breastfed 3 babies. She didn't have the wagon wheels but mind you, she permanently had nips like fighter pilots thumbs. She didn't care though. The instinctual urge to shut the hungry squawking baby up overrides any embarrassment potential.

[Janusian]

Originally Posted by punky

If someone objects, can't the lady use the toilet?

Would eat your dinner in a toilet? Of course not, because Toilets have germs in them. It would not be advisable to eat anything in the toilet!

My take on it is that as long as people are allowed to sit next to me and poison my lungs, and make my clothes smell, my food lose it's taste and my eyes water by smoking in a restaurant legally, breast feeding is the least offensive thing that goes on, as it doesn't affect anyone around you. I think babies should have a legal right to feed where they like. I do.

[Ramrod]

I think that women should be allowed to breastfeed their babies wherever they want to. I can't see why a woman breastfeeding is offensive or disgusting in any way. If the threat of a fine is what it takes to allow women to do this unhindered then I am all for it

[punky]

Originally Posted by Janusian

Would eat your dinner in a toilet? Of course not, because Toilets have germs in them. It would not be advisable to eat anything in the toilet!

My take on it is that as long as people are allowed to sit next to me and poison my lungs, and make my clothes smell, my food lose it's taste and my eyes water by smoking in a restaurant legally, breast feeding is the least offensive thing that goes on, as it doesn't affect anyone around you. I think babies should have a legal right to feed where they like. I do.

Well, yes it isn't the most sanitary of places, but they would take the kid in there to change their nappy... and breastfeeding in a stall, means at least the kid won't have to touch anything (apart from the mother.)

I don't think mothers should be forced to go to the loo to do it, but whether I, or anyone else likes it, there will people that will be offended by it. If you force places to allow public breastfeeding, when it upsets the clients, all you are doing is making one group happy (mothers) at the expense of another. Bit of the wrong ethos to tackle the problem.

Hmmmm!

I was having this sort of discussion 20 years ago..Seems on the surface that nothing has changed.

However back then it was women defending a mothers right to breast feed her child in public...Now it is men....Interesting!

Speaking as a former breastfeeder I fed my children as when I wanted (or rather they wanted)even when out.It's amazing what you can hide under a poncho or shawl....I NEVER,EVER fed them in the toilet.Any establishment that asked me to stop or leave LOST my custom PERMANTLY!

Originally Posted by punky

If someone objects, can't the lady use the toilet?

Great idea! In fact if anyone's kids are being a nuisance in a restaurant etc, why not tell their parents to make them eat their food in the toilet!

Mmm! Lovely and hygenic...!!

[punky]

Originally Posted by Graham

Great idea! In fact if anyone's kids are being a nuisance in a restaurant etc, why not tell their parents to make them eat their food in the toilet!

Mmm! Lovely and hygenic...!!

Now you wouldn't be insinuating that I personally am trying to force all breast-feeding women into bathrooms because somehow I am greatly disgusted by it... That would be taking my quote out of context wouldn't it...

I CLEARLY said in my first post, that I am not offended by it, nor can I understand why anyone would be, but they just are. In my perfect world, it wouldn't be an issue, but we live in a world with plenty of other people and they all have differing views and beliefs. Unlike you, I am trying to impress on people a bit of consideration for someone else. Something that is practically non-existant nowadays. We all have to share this world, and all have to get along. It is unfair to force all breast-feeding women into the toilets, and it is unfair to force people who are genuinely offended by it (i.e. NOT ME) to have to suffer it, or leave. Like with smoking, and everything else, it is give and take. People from both sides, should consider each other, and find some happy medium in the middle. If not a toilet, then a lobby, car park, or maybe just a few feet in some other direction. Yes it is an inconvience, but mothers aren't the only people in the world.

Just because you don't agree with what someone finds offensive, that doesn't mean you should enfore what you consider to be offensive, or unoffensive anyway.

I am not picking on you specifically (except for the unity bit), as it seems by the quotes, other people have misconstrued what I was truely trying to say. If anyone else thinks I am trying to make it seem like I personally want to force all breast-feeding women into toilets, then at least now, everyone should see that is not the case and I couldn't have made my true point any clearer. I don't want to force anyone to do anything, except consider everyone else. And that goes for everyone, not just breast-feeding mothers.

[ian@huth]

Maybe restaurants should be forced to have a set of screens that they can put around any narrow minded people that want to complain about the rights of a family to all eat together in a civilized environment.

[punky]

Originally Posted by ian@huth

Maybe restaurants should be forced to have a set of screens that they can put around any narrow minded people that want to complain about the rights of a family to all eat together in a civilized environment.

Narrow minded they might be, but this: "Someone doesn't like it? F**k 'em" attitude, is not the way to deal with it IMO.

Originally Posted by punky

Narrow minded they might be, but this: "Someone doesn't like it? F**k 'em" attitude, is not the way to deal with it IMO.

I dont think anyone feels that we should foist their views and feeling on others without regard. But at the same time, if 70% plus of people see nothing immoral, or inapproprate, then how far are the rest of to *put ourselves out* for a minority. Society cannot afford to be run on the fear of pressure from a minority of people upset by something so iniquitous as breast feeding.At the same time, we also need to not alienate a minority. I suppose from my own point of view I just cant understand how *anyone* can find this offensive. If it make you uncomfortable, turn away and dont look, its really not that hard.

[punky]

I see this whole "consideration for someone else" seems to be a bit less existant that I originally thought.

I can't breast-feed kids, but an example from my life anyway. I am 25 stone+. That is considerably into the obese category, and as you can guess, my stomach isn't very easy on the eyes. Some consider me topless to be be grossly offensive. I don't agree with it, but I won't hide in bunkers for life, but I will wear a t-shirt in swimming pools anyway. Maybe I should just take the attitude, "why should I have to consider someone else? F**k 'em" attitude. Make them feel sick looking at me, why should I care?

I am against the nanny state setting down rules regardless forcing people to do, or not do anything. I really feel for breast-feeding mothers in this, I really do, but i'd rather people just try and find some compromise somewhere that makes everyone happy rather than upsetting someone people to protect another. Is that honestly, such a bad opinion to have? I do know this seems a bit idealistic, but I can still dream can't I?

Originally Posted by punky

I see this whole "consideration for someone else" seems to be a bit less existant that I originally thought.

I can't breast-feed kids, but an example from my life anyway. I am 25 stone+. That is considerably into the obese category, and as you can guess, my stomach isn't very easy on the eyes. Some consider me topless to be be grossly offensive. I don't agree with it, but I won't hide in bunkers for life, but I will wear a t-shirt in swimming pools anyway. Maybe I should just take the attitude, "why should I have to consider someone else? F**k 'em" attitude. Make them feel sick looking at me, why should I care?

I am against the nanny state setting down rules regardless forcing people to do, or not do anything. I really feel for breast-feeding mothers in this, I really do, but i'd rather people just try and find some compromise somewhere that makes everyone happy rather than upsetting someone people to protect another. Is that honestly, such a bad opinion to have? I do know this seems a bit idealistic, but I can still dream can't I?

So what would you consider a compromise?

Also I say unto you why the hell should you have to cover up in the swimming pool if you don't want to.Last time I checked it wasn't illegal to be overweight so yes f*ck them in that case....

Some people in this world need to grow up..... .

I still can't see why men can expose their nipples when they feel like it but I can't..merely because I'm a female.

In some parts of the world they don't give a woman's bare tit a second glance because to them it's not an erogenous part of the body.

[ian@huth]

There are two sides to this. On one side there is someone who wants to breast feed their baby and sees nothing wrong with doing so and who would be upset if forced to hide away in some toilet to do it.

On the other side is someone who finds breast feeding offensive and is upset if forced to watch it.

So, whatever is done, someone is going to be upset.

Now in my eyes the nursing mother has much more reason to be upset. She may have started her meal when the baby wanted feeding. If she were to go to the toilet to feed it her food would probably be cold when she returned or if she was on her own it was cleared away by some waiter who thought it was finished with. If she had remained at the table she could have been feeding the baby and herself at the same time.

The person who objected could have easily moved their position slightly or just taken the decision to concentrate on eating rather than trying to sneak a glance at what was going on.