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[Owlbread]

There's also the nagging sense at the back of my brain that the whole "breasts shouldn't be out" thing is actually incredibly sexist and an example of patriarchy but I admit this kind of politics is something I have little experience with, so I'm reluctant to make many further statements.

[scriver]

Prudes make me really uncomfortable, you should keep to yourself in some corner somewhere, or not go out at all.

[LordSlowpoke]

Prudes make me really uncomfortable, you should keep to yourself in some corner somewhere, or not go out at all.

do you want an alien posted now or later?

[Owlbread]

Prudes make me really uncomfortable, you should keep to yourself in some corner somewhere, or not go out at all.

They can be dangerous too. Britain's lingering Victorian obsession with prudishness and sexual repression, along with entrenched sexism is partly to blame for the horrors of the 1970s that we're currently working through with Operation Yewtree. It was in the now (thankfully) mostly-lost prudish, white Britain where women did what they were told and men were men who wore sheepskin coats and smoked in pubs etc much admired by UKIPers that guys like Savile were able to abuse countless young girls and LGBT people lived hellish lives in a country where same-sex relations were only legalised in England + Wales in 1967 and Scotland in 1981. I think now we can see that the whole "as long as they do it behind closed doors" mentality only led to abuse and weird shit happening.

But yeah, if Farage wouldn't mind sitting in a corner that'd be great. He makes me feel really uncomfortable.

You know, the other day for academic purposes I had to read a native Welsh-language poem from the 14th century or something written by a landlady from Powys (Gwerful Mechain, if you're interested). It was a panegyric or praise-poem to her genitals, much too graphic for Bay 12 but well written and entertaining, just as one of her Welsh troubadour contemporaries wrote (and evidently sang) of his own genitals in a similar way. What happened? How did we somehow regress?

[TD1]

There's also the nagging sense at the back of my brain that the whole "breasts shouldn't be out" thing is actually incredibly sexist and an example of patriarchy but I admit this kind of politics is something I have little experience with, so I'm reluctant to make many further statements.

So? It's a social construct. Defecating away from prying eyes is a social construct. But it's one that should be honoured, because yes, most people feel uncomfortable when it's done in front of them. Not baring things that have sexual connotations, such as the penis, is well established by now. And I daresay women can be uncomfortable with it too, much as a man can be uncomfortable when a man shows certain areas which aren't sexually attractive to him.

What it comes down to is respecting other people. Sitting on a bench in the mall breast feeding is going to make most people uncomfortable. It makes sense, therefore, to do it in private given it's not that big a deal to do it elsewhere.

[smeeprocket]

I don't think breastfeeding being a public thing is a male fantasy, really and a construct of the patriarchy. A patriarchy is more likely to shame a woman for her sexuality, and breast feeding is like the opposite of sexual unless you are into to that kind of thing (which most people aren't I don't think)

Like, I like breasts too, but when there is a baby attached to one end, the last thing on my minds is "Wooo titties!"

[MonkeyHead]

Sitting on a bench in the mall breast feeding is going to make most people uncomfortable.

Your opinion would be far more valid if this could be shown to be true rather than an assumption, or an extension of your own feelings.

[Ukrainian Ranger]

I thought the thing was that you had more kids when you had less money so that you'd have more people to look after you when you're elderly.

I don't believe that this is true. Most young people do not think about the times when they will be old.

[Owlbread]

I don't believe that this is true. Most young people do not think about the times when they will be old.

That's true nowadays, I suppose. Those that need to survive do though.

[scriver]

You know, the other day I read a native Welsh-language poem from the 14th century or something written by a landlady from Powys (Gwerful Mechain, if you're interested). It was a panegyric or praise-poem to her genitals, much too graphic for Bay 12 but well written and entertaining, just as one of her Welsh troubadour contemporaries wrote (and evidently sang) of his own genitals in a similar way. What happened? How did we somehow regress?

I read somewhere that the prudishness of the Victorian era is at least partly a reaction to the extreme hedonism and vulgarity of the period preceding it. Basically a bunch of teenagers looked at their very loose parents and said "that is, like, so 18th century" and started repressing their sexualities in revolt.

There's also the nagging sense at the back of my brain that the whole "breasts shouldn't be out" thing is actually incredibly sexist and an example of patriarchy but I admit this kind of politics is something I have little experience with, so I'm reluctant to make many further statements.

So? It's a social construct. Defecating away from prying eyes is a social construct. But it's one that should be honoured, because yes, most people feel uncomfortable when it's done in front of them. Not baring things that have sexual connotations, such as the penis, is well established by now. And I daresay women can be uncomfortable with it too, much as a man can be uncomfortable when a man shows certain areas which aren't sexually attractive to him.

What it comes down to is respecting other people. Sitting on a bench in the mall breast feeding is going to make most people uncomfortable. It makes sense, therefore, to do it in private given it's not that big a deal to do it elsewhere.

Baring one's breasts to breastfeed is not comparable to people showing one's penis or vagina. As for politeness, the politeness isn't a one way street. Just as it could be said to be polite of people to not breastfeed in front of people who are uncomfortable with it, the polite thing for you would striving to get over your prudishness and stop being bothered by the potential of catching a glimpse of someone's mammaries doing what they're supposed to do. Really, what would mean the least hassle for everyone involved: learning to accept breasts as a partly asexual part of life, or breastfeeding parents always having to excuse themselves and look up a secluded area every time their infant need to eat?

[MonkeyHead]

That, and there is also some kind of juxtaposition between how western society pushes breastfeeding as best for both baby and mother, then ensures that managing to do so is a challenging process.

[smeeprocket]

look, it's gross, it's stomach turning, it is inappropriate. Maybe because of the patriarchy, maybe not.

But I would say, per societal norms, breast feeding in public would be rude, not -not- wanting people to breastfeed in public.

You can't just whip out a breast and start nursing your kid and everyone ELSE has to get over it.

I would argue that perhaps there should be designated areas for that? We need to accommodate mothers and pregnant women more certainly.

But babies + breasts (or really just babies) is a gross combo.

Screw having a rational reason behind it. Just, ew.

[MonkeyHead]

Screw having a rational reason behind it. Just, ew.

This, more than anything else, is why your point is not going to carry much weight.

[smeeprocket]

Screw having a rational reason behind it. Just, ew.

This, more than anything else, is why your point is not going to carry much weight.

I'm not arguing that my point has any weight at all. It probably doesn't.

I just have an irrational hatred of babies, and find breast feeding disgusting.

Please don't make me live in a society where I have to adjust to seeing that kind of thing.

[TD1]

Baring one's breasts to breastfeed is not comparable to people showing one's penis or vagina

Why isn't it?

the polite thing for you would striving to get over your prudishness and stop being bothered by the potential of catching a glimpse of someone's mammaries doing what they're supposed to do.

As you say, it's a two way street. But the polite thing for me to wouldn't be for me to change how I look at the world, but to tolerate other people and their respective views. And that's the real two-way street.