# Don't touch my baby! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860 "2001-11-12T03:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/101 "2001-11-13T23:19:57Z")
I think Opalcat was being a bit too charitable about IamchildFREE’s username. I understand why calling someone “childless” is annoying and condescending, but “childfree” suggests you consider children to be some sort of noxious disease. Which pretty much explains why anyone should be allowed to paw a stranger’s baby at will. It makes perfect sense if you don’t consider children to be human beings. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/102 "2001-11-13T23:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > \*\*\* pldennison … not sure what you are going on about disprovable._\* That’s because you’re an idiot. > [@](#): > > The earth is overpopulated. No, it really, really isn’t, if by “overpopulated” we’re using the normal definition of “populated beyond the ability to be supported by the environment.” The earth can, in all likelihood, sustain another few billion people just fine. If, on the other hand, you are defining “overpopulated” as “more people than you would like there to be,” then who the fuck cares what you think? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/103 "2001-11-13T23:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > \*\*I too think it is offensive to claim that because you have never given birth to a child you can not possibly understand the love for a child or the desire to protect it. Explain that to the countless adoptive parents around the world. And for what it is worth, I don’t think it is true. I think anyone can see love for what it is and you don’t NEED a child to give you that joy. \*\* No one said “giving birth” they said “having a child” which would include having an adopted child. Who on earth said anything about needinga child to feel joy? Man you are the QUEEN of reading non-comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![ImChildFREE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ImChildFREE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImChildFREE)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/104 "2001-11-13T23:25:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Well, I’m certainly glad YOU don’t plan on breeding. > Gee, you register JUST to flame us and for a bet…I’ll bet you’re just SO proud of yourself. \*\* No I registered because I wanted to post to this topic … no necessarily to flame anyone. The bet if you read came after I had posted a few times … And yes quite frankly I am proud of myself that I have the ability to make people use their minds and think about things … whether or not they agree with me or like me doesn’t matter … Of course no one here has yet to explain to me WHY I can’t KNOW what it is like … they have all admitted that. They can only come up with calling me names and saying things like it is … BECAUSE I SAID SO … ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/105 "2001-11-13T23:26:25Z")
Oh right. I couldn’t imagine it. But I can understand, and I know someday if and when I ever have kids, I hope I’ll experience it too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/106 "2001-11-13T23:45:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > \*\*And yes quite frankly I am proud of myself that I have the ability to make people use their minds and think about things … \*\* …and you did this…where? So far all I’ve seen you have the ability to do is prove yourself to be a bit of a twit. ---
**Author:** ![ImChildFREE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ImChildFREE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImChildFREE)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/107 "2001-11-13T23:50:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > > \*\*And yes quite frankly I am proud of myself that I have the ability to make people use their minds and think about things … \*\* > > …and you did this…where? So far all I’ve seen you have the ability to do is prove yourself to be a bit of a twit. \*\* See how you prove my point … name calling is all you can come up with … People are thinking … at least I sure as hell hope they all … you all can’t be sheep can you??? ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/108 "2001-11-13T23:54:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > > > \*\*And yes quite frankly I am proud of myself that I have the ability to make people use their minds and think about things … \*\* > > > > …and you did this…where? So far all I’ve seen you have the ability to do is prove yourself to be a bit of a twit. \*\* > > See how you prove my point … name calling is all you can come up with … > > People are thinking … at least I sure as hell hope they all … you all can’t be sheep can you???\*\* That’s because name-calling is all you’re _worth_. The only thing I’m thinking about is how badly disillusioned you are regarding children and how it’s upsetting that you absolutely cannot be swayed from your position. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/109 "2001-11-14T00:02:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > What is WRONG with my name? Just as truthful as yours is it not. I am ChildFREE … Just like if someone came on with the user name ImaBlonde … would you be so defensive??? Failed analogy. A better analogy is if someone had the name ImABLONDE. See the difference in capitalization? Note the same difference between, say, ImChildFREE and ImChildFree. The first shouts the “FREE”, whereas the second merely announces it. (I won’t even go into the bizarre “protests-too-much” attitude I see in people who use “childfree” moniker instead of something else.) I can at least comfort myself that people who think like you do are choosing to evolve away. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/110 "2001-11-14T00:06:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > \*\* > People are thinking … at least I sure as hell hope they all … you all can’t be sheep can you??? \*\* People on this site tend to think on a daily basis, completely without your help. Nothing you’ve said so far has been particularly “thought provoking” that I’ve seen. But hey, knock yourself out patting yourself on the back. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ImChildFREE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ImChildFREE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImChildFREE)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/111 "2001-11-14T00:19:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireUnderpantsBoobs \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > > \*\*And yes quite frankly I am proud of myself that I have the ability to make people use their minds and think about things … \*\* > > …and you did this…where? So far all I’ve seen you have the ability to do is prove yourself to be a bit of a twit. \*\* See how you prove my point … name calling is all you can come up with … People are thinking … at least I sure as hell hope they all … you all can’t be sheep can you???\*\* [/QUOTE] That’s because name-calling is all you’re _worth_. The only thing I’m thinking about is how badly disillusioned you are regarding children and how it’s upsetting that you absolutely cannot be swayed from your position. \*\* [/QUOTE] Gee and here I thought you all thought that “TROLLS” weren’t even WORTH the time _grins_ I am making headway I guess. The whole point of my first post was that I think the mother went overboard … the fact that I don’t find children amusing or even mildly entertaining has nothing to do with it … and by the way how can I be disillusioned about my opinion regarding children. Would you say the same about people who don’t like brussel spouts?? I bet you would. ---
**Author:** ![ImChildFREE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ImChildFREE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImChildFREE)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/112 "2001-11-14T00:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by emarkp \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ImChildFREE \* > > What is WRONG with my name? Just as truthful as yours is it not. I am ChildFREE … Just like if someone came on with the user name ImaBlonde … would you be so defensive??? > > Failed analogy. A better analogy is if someone had the name ImABLONDE. See the difference in capitalization? Note the same difference between, say, ImChildFREE and ImChildFree. The first shouts the “FREE”, whereas the second merely announces it. > > (I won’t even go into the bizarre “protests-too-much” attitude I see in people who use “childfree” moniker instead of something else.) > > I can at least comfort myself that people who think like you do are choosing to evolve away. \*\* FYI my usual name was taken (LOUP) so I went with my email user name … the fact that I used ImChildFREE is no different than those who use their interests as there online names … (Momof6 - MdlTrainGuy - DogLvr) etc … You just find mine offensive … but don’t worry you will get over it … ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/113 "2001-11-14T00:27:38Z")
Tell it like it is. You’re ChildLESS, not ChildFREE. FREE would imply that you had children, but escaped from them. You can even go out on a limb and call yourself “ImChildLESSbyCHOICE” if you want, but let’s keep things literal and accurate here. You are still critisizing Bubblegirl for leaving the baby unattended in her stroller. If you re-read Bubblegirl’s posts, you’ll find Bubblegirl’s 11 year old daughter was standing with the baby. The baby was not unattended. And once again, I feel compelled to say that all the germs and disease in the world are irrelevant - you just don’t touch other people’s stuff. You don’t go through Bubblegirl’s shopping trolley, checking to see if her fruit and vegetables are ripe because you don’t touch other people’s stuff. Why would you touch her baby if you know better than to touch her tomatoes? And you don’t touch strangers. If you wouldn’t walk up and touch Bubblegirl, why would you do it to her daughter? Would you grab Emily’s hands if she was 50 years old? So why is it ok to do it when she’s 2 months old? Answer: it’s not. Because _you don’t touch other people’s stuff_. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/114 "2001-11-14T00:27:49Z")
Naw, we’re just killing some time before you’re so obviously beaten with Lynne’s Banning Stick of Death. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/115 "2001-11-14T00:28:26Z")
In the Pit we often consider the milder (inane rather than hostile) trolls to be a source of amusement, sort of like making a dog chase its tail can be amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Screamergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Screamergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screamergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/116 "2001-11-14T00:31:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\*Hey Bubble Girl, you did right. That woman deserved a bitch slap. To those of you that disagree, it ain’t a democracy and don’t even think about touching my infant without permission. > \*\* If you don’t want her touching your baby then you shouldn’t be touching her by bitch slapping her, either. Walk away and let karma sort it out. Screamergirl ---
**Author:** ![ImChildFREE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ImChildFREE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImChildFREE)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/117 "2001-11-14T00:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Naw, we’re just killing some time before you’re so obviously beaten with Lynne’s Banning Stick of Death. \*\* Is that supposed to be some sort of threat or punishment? For the most part I have yet to find someone here who had anything to offer me in a way of changing my way of thinking so I really don’t think it would be much of a loss. And I am quite aware that if I get a banned there will be someone along directly for you to call names so I have no misconceptions there. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/118 "2001-11-14T00:47:31Z")
> [@](#): > > BubbleGirl … I apologize for inferring that you were an idiot for leaving for your child on a changing table if that was not the case, however I don’t apologize for the comment … people who walk away from their child and something happens have no business complaining. Bubble Girl actually wrote that her 11 year old step sister was watching over Emily. She was not left alone. Not even for one second. The only reason the stranger got a chance to touch Emily was because Bubble Girl turned her back for a sec…her sister would have raised a ruckus if she had had time. > [@](#): > > While I am not the type to just coo over children / babies period. I can see where you would be upset … but going on and on just doesn’t seem necessary … seems overkill … tell the woman you were upset by it … wash the childs hands and let it go. Yup. You’re absolutily right. Except that is just what she did, didn’t she? You might want to see about graduating into junior high before you try handling a written discussion. Until you do, you will remain Reading Noncomprehension’s Bitch. > [@](#): > > So I am a troll bfd … you will either get over it or take it with you to the grave and either way I am fine with that … Being a troll on this board is a banable offense. You might want to read that sentence a few dozen more times reeeeealy slowly before you take another bet with your hubby. While I’m at it, here’s a couple more things for you to try and comprehend: Baby was not left alone. Mommy said her piece once, then let it go. Baby was not changed on a public changing table, or on the floor, or in a toilet, or in a bowl of raw pork. Touching another person’s property or children without permission is wrong. Don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Screamergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Screamergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screamergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/119 "2001-11-14T00:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > Bullshit. It’s not “nonsense”. And since you **don’t** have kids, no, you won’t understand. The love for a pet or spouse or other family member…sure, we all feel that. My sister has MS; I feel sorry for her…My mother is showing signs of early-Alzheimer’s; I’m devastated…I’ve held dying dogs in my arms; it was heart-breaking. > But the love for your own child is just different. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s this fiercely protective mother-lion thing. It’s not that I love my kids **more** than other family members, it’s just **different**. \*\* Now I’m calling bullshit. I’ve never bore a child. I do, however, have three step-children that I am fiercely protective of - even moreso than their mother or father is. You don’t have to HAVE one to understand the feeling. Screamergirl ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860/120 "2001-11-14T00:51:49Z")
I’m not sure how to break this to you, but _you’re not the only Doper to disagree with Bubblegirl_ about the OP. I realize that might crush your image of (a) all of us as sheep and (b) yourself as The Great Liberator of Free Thought on the boards. Alas, it can’t be helped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-touch-my-baby/92860.md?page=7)