# Breast-feeding and Homesexuality. Grow Up! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648 "2003-11-22T08:00:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/61 "2003-11-24T01:03:56Z")
Huh, social change that I think would be great but which I’m arguing against? 😕 I’m not arguing against social change to make public breast-feeding more acceptable, I’m just saying that **right now** it isn’t, and so I hope that breast-feeding mothers will keep this in mind, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/62 "2003-11-24T01:05:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TeaElle \* > \*\ ***Joel** , do you like eating with a blanket, towel or shirt over your head? > > What? You don’t? Really? > > So why should my baby? > > :rolleyes: \*\* Would you like to go around everywhere in a diaper? What? You wouldn’t? Really? So why should your baby? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/63 "2003-11-24T01:33:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup\_du\_jour \* > \*\*Exactly. I completely agree with you. > > All I’m saying is that, given the option of offending fuckheads or not offending fuckheads, all else being equal, one should take the non-offensive route. > > If you offend people without a good reason, you are a jerk. Plain and simple. \*\* The nurturing and well-being of a baby is vastly more important than catering to the irrational sensibilities of cretins. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/64 "2003-11-24T01:36:03Z")
Why is somebody who is bothered by seeing a woman breast-feeding her baby a cretin? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/65 "2003-11-24T01:36:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*The only thing I want to know is if “homesexuality” is the opposite of that damn “metrosexuality” thing. \*\* It’s actually very similar to home-schooling, only many times hotter. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/66 "2003-11-24T02:06:11Z")
I thought it was a perverse affection for [Homestar Runner](http://www.homestarrunner.com). ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/67 "2003-11-24T03:01:37Z")
When I breast feed in public, most often it is in a fast food restaurant. I don’t usually take Loren out to eat, and I have avoided nicer restaurants with her for a variety of reasons. Until just this month, she was not able to sit well in a high chair, and so either she had to stay in her car seat, or someone had to hold her. If I go out to a nice restaurant, I want to enjoy my meal, the ambience, and pleasant conversation, not desparately try to entertain someone too young to appreciate any of those things. But a fast food restaurant? Have any of you complaining about a flash of breast in a fast food restaurant been to one lately? The patrons are often noisier than a screaming baby, and often expose many bits of flesh in either repulsive or alluring ways. They often engage in horseplay and loud jocular conversations that don’t bear repeating. In doing all these things, they do not seem to be trying to be rude and their behavior does not seem to offend many there. I have noticed that when children are around, the language of the adults and near adults is cleaner, so there is indication that these people are not intentionally rude, but really general behavior in these places is not up to any reasonable standard that includes breastfeeding as a disruptive exhibition. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/68 "2003-11-24T03:21:01Z")
Wow, the first time a thread’s ever been hijacked (well, semi-hijacked) _away_ from homosexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/69 "2003-11-24T03:21:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*Why is somebody who is bothered by seeing a woman breast-feeding her baby a cretin? \*\* Res ipsa loquitor. ---
**Author:** ![CairaJade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@CairaJade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairaJade)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/70 "2003-11-24T04:01:05Z")
> [@](#): > > And as for the argument “Wouldn’t you be offended if someone asked you to eat in the bathroom”, OK, yes breast milk is food, however, a lot of us see a big difference between putting your breast in a baby’s mouth in a bathroom, and taking processed food and drink items into a bathroom. Yes, both are forms of eating, but they’re completely different forms of eating. Breast-feeding and putting a burger or some fries in your mouth are not the same thing. The delivery method is different, but they are both food. Whether it’s eaten from a fork or a nipple, neither belong in the bathroom. I agree that a breastfeeding woman should be as discrete as possible and the mother should be sensitive to those around her who may feel uncomfortable. Personally, I’d rather use a nursing room (my former company had nursing rooms in their new building, just a private room with a bench and I believe a phone) or some other alternative. But feeding in a bathroom is disgusting. One other note on feeding in the bathroom. Where the heck do you think the mom is going to sit to feed the baby? Most public restrooms don’t come with a couch, so that pretty much leaves sitting on the toliet. Public toliets have no lids. So, sit clothed on an open toilet? That’s disgusting and really quite uncomfortable. My apologies to **DeaganTheWolf**. Not all who are squimish about breastfeeding in public are repressed fuckheads. Just intolerant ones who go shooting of their mouths like the OP. Sorry again, I let myself get carried away because, after all, this is the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/71 "2003-11-24T04:13:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CairaJade \* > \*\*Personally, I’d rather use a nursing room (my former company had nursing rooms in their new building, just a private room with a bench and I believe a phone) or some other alternative. \*\* Well, thanks for pointing out the funniest stereotype about silly women I have ever seen. Not only do they HAVE to breastfeed, they NEED to talk on the phone whilst doing so. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/72 "2003-11-24T04:30:32Z")
Didn’t have time to read the whole OP or any of the thread but I agree that Breast-feeders and Homosexuals should just get along. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/73 "2003-11-24T04:33:06Z")
Here’s your club, milroyj, the cave is that way -----\> ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/74 "2003-11-24T05:50:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Res ipsa loquitor. \*\* So, now you’re calling me a cretin in Latin? Wow, your debating skills and level of maturity are truly something to behold. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/75 "2003-11-24T06:10:02Z")
If you can’t understand why an attitude is cretinous then I can’t explain it to you. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/76 "2003-11-24T08:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by \*\*CairaJade \*\* > … The delivery method is different, but they are both food. Whether it’s eaten from a fork or a nipple, neither belong in the bathroom. … if that’s the case then BK has the right to ask the mother to take it elsewhere since it would be considered ‘outside food’ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![L11CFR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@L11CFR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/L11CFR)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/77 "2003-11-24T10:43:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tinkertoy \* > \*\*It’s very bad manners to start a pit rant right before you leave for the weekend. \*\* Of all the accusations levelled aginst me in this thread - the one that hurts the most is that I was rude. I do apologise sincerely to all members of the SMDB for starting a rant before leaving for the weekend. I didn’t know ☹ Humbly I must admit that Joel has said what I wanted to say in a much more eloquant and obviously less inflammatory way. Thank you. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Equipoise \* > \*\*But that’s their problem, they have to work that out, not the women who want to feed their children in public. > \*\* Nice positive attitude there Equipoise. I’m pretty sure I had an image of you when I posted initially. Someone who is not prepared to come halfway and help society as a whole move forward. Just sit in your legally enshrined trench of righteousness and eventually it’ll happen without you. Which it will I think. I hope. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to, as **Soup\_du\_jour** succintly put it : … take courses of action that minimize the uncomfortableness of others Even if it means **not** doing something that you **legally can.** So for some - that would mean me shutting the heck up 😉 Thanks for the toasty welcome. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/78 "2003-11-24T12:25:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not arguing against social change to make public breast-feeding more acceptable, Oh, but you _are_. There is one thing and only one thing that will normalize breastfeeding again…public and otherwise. Simply put: more women will have to be willing to suffer the assholes and just do it. ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/79 "2003-11-24T13:36:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*Why is somebody who is bothered by seeing a woman breast-feeding her baby a cretin? \*\* Because babies are the cutest thing ever, and breasts are pretty damn cute too, and because I can’t understand any other kind of reaction to seeing someone breastfeeding other than “Aww. That’s sweet.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648/80 "2003-11-24T13:46:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*The nurturing and well-being of a baby is vastly more important than catering to the irrational sensibilities of cretins. \*\* Like I said, I agree with you. I am _not_ saying that the woman should stop feeding her baby because of the hang-ups of various patrons of a Burger King. If the woman knew that some folks would take offense to what she was doing, and she had an alternative that _wouldn’t cause her any inconvenience,_ she should have done differently. If, on the other hand, she didn’t know that her actions would be interpereted as uncouth, or if the alternative caused her inconvenience, than she’s well within her bounds to breastfeed as she did. But if the question is between two equally meritous options, one of them involving catering to cretins and the other not catering to cretins, it would simply be foolish to choose the latter. Pissing people off for no good reason, even pissing off idiots for no good reason, is not something to be lauded. Notice I said “for no good reason.” Feeding a baby is a bloody good reason. Oh, and **Joel**. “Res ipsa loquitor” means “The thing speaks for itself,” meaning that the explaination seems self-evident. For instance… A: “Joe punched my grandmother in the stomach today for no good reason. What a jerk!” B: “Why does that make him a jerk?” A: “Res ipsa loquitor.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-feeding-and-homesexuality-grow-up/214648.md?page=5)