I am getting fed up of all those proud-to-finally-be-mothers out there who seem unable to do ANYTHING else except actions somehow related to their newborns. I don't want to breastfeed precisely because I find it disgusting and cow-like and would really appreciate it if women could keep their boobs to themselves and their homes. I don't flaunt my genitals (and have far more reason to do so than any recent mother whose parts are less than aesthetic,at least for a while) so why I should I be forced to tolerate anyone else's?

I was sitting in Baked on Van Brunt down in RH last week during the day, by the window, and a mom sat on the bench in front, and started breastfeeding her baby, with no covering at all. It made me think...I wasn't offended by the breastfeeding at all, but I thought showing your complete boob while doing so on a major street was a tad exhibitionistic. Otherwise, who cares? seriously.

I agree, whats all the fuss about

It's still a stupid argument. Unlike shit or a maggoty carcass -- which stinks and is a threat to your health -- if the sight of a breastfeeding woman offends you, you can, y'know, look away.

I know a few Mom's that are going to Ikea to nurse.

Humans shitting and maggots feeding on a rat's carcass are extremely unsanitary and conducive to serious illnesses to other people. Whereas breastfeeding moms, from what I've heard, are extra careful to ensure their babies are nourished in a clean and safe environment.

So with all due respect, how in hell do you even make that comparison!?

I thought I was careful not to make the comparison. I was simply refuting the earlier remark that suggested that because it's a 'primary function' that it cannot be unpleasant to other people. The rat carcass was an example of something that is disgusting and it was largely contrasted from (not compared to) breastfeeding, if you read what was said more carefully.

Most men prefer to think of breasts as their playthings and only want to see them on sexy ladies when its time to procreate

Yes, but that's not their primary function. Therefore, whether you are grossed out or not is irrelevant.

Your ass's primary function is to shit. Do you see how that might gross out some customers at Ikea or diners at a french bistro? That may be a stronger example (it may be somewhat worse than breast feeding in public) but being disgusted by a natural "primary" function is also very natural. Some places don't want grossed out customers even if what they are grossed out by is much less disgusting than say.. maggots eating a rat carcass.

It's also legal to pick your nose till it bleeds while loudly farting. That doesn't mean it's always pleasant to those around you. Most men prefer to think of breasts as their playthings and only want to see them on sexy ladies when its time to procreate, so breastfeeding in public makes them uncomfortable and is therefore bad for business to allow it in your store (esp. restaurant). Maybe breastfeeding is not the most disgusting thing a woman can do in public, but it's not her right to tell me not to feel grossed out by it.

"Maybe breastfeeding is not the most disgusting thing a woman can do in public, but it's not her right to tell me not to feel grossed out by it."

No, I won't tell you that you cannot be grossed out... but you are not going to tell me I cannot feed my child when the child needs to eat. And I sure as hell am not taking my child to a public toilet to feed him or her. Anyone who has had a child knows that they are not on a breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule like adults. Sometimes you try to plan trips around feedings and baby gets hungry while you're out anyway. Trips take longer than expected. Sure, you can pump ahead. Fine. But the boobs are still going to react when baby is hungry and crying. Mom is going to start shooting milk from her boobs anyway. hungry, crying baby = letdown of milk. and if not... she may be in pain until she gets home. So she might as well pack a little lighter and just nurse her baby when baby is hungry. I agree, the breastfeeding nazis who think they have every right to strip off their tops and feed in the middle of a store to prove a point are annoying. They give normal, breastfeeding moms a bad name. I don't need to prove a point. I just need to feed my child. My guess, on any given day you are probably passing moms who are discreetly breastfeeding their children and you don't even know it.

I've been to Ikea during the week, daytime and evening. The place is dead. This is a case of one, ignorant, uncomfortable, uneducated employee who saw something they didn't know how to react to. Should rudeness and ignorance be called out? Uh, yeah. I'm sure Ikea, the corporation, has no issues with moms breastfeeding.

Oh, and although I've never breastfed a child at a restaurant table, I have no problem with a mom doing so. It's a boob, people. Get over it. You see more boob on some billboards and magazine covers. It's not about the skin, reaction is over the perception of use.

I won't tell you not to feed your child when the thing needs to eat. A little discretion, though, would go a long way in no one getting grossed out or any breastfeeding mom getting harassed. I, too, have no problem with people doing it discretely with a blanket/cover in public places. Overall, I think we agree.

"Bitty"

I think it should be kept to home.

But at the same time it doesn't really bother me, except in a restaurant is pretty gross.

The only thing that bothers me is when I notice it I focus on the boos for a second, because its shocking to see them.

I don't stare...but the mommy in question always shoots me a dirty look as though its my fault for noticing she has a tit out.

I don't really understand why it's gross personally; I find the way many obese people stuff their faces at restaurants way more gross than a mother feeding her baby. If it were the same milk from a bottle, would you care? I hardly see the difference, and it's probably safer and cleaner straight from the source anyway (As opposed to sitting in a potentially-dirty bottle.

I do agree with you about how irritating it is to get dirty looks if you look over. While I'm fine with mothers doing this in public, they have to realize that people are going to stare or double-take.

I guess I find it gross because its a part of the body that is normally covered and I'm a bit of a neat freak. Those parts of the body tend to be dirtier and more prone to bacteria and sweat.

And yes I feel the same about fat people stuffing their faces. Actually that's much worse to me than breast feeding.

Fair enough. At least you can admit the fact that you find it gross (and why). But, just because it's gross to some people, should it be not allowed?

I've seen disgustingly hairy and sweaty dudes in tank tops eating at the food court; I think there's way more sweat and bacteria going on there. Frankly, there are more germs and bacteria on your average subway car, so if you're really a neat freak or germaphobe, NYC may not be the place for you.

Maybe that's why there are so many paranoid schizos in New York? They get overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of germs floating everywhere they go...

I'm not one of the people who eats on subway cars, or food courts.

Strip clubs either for the record.

There are plenty of normal places to sit down and eat without seeing those things.

I agree with someone above a big place like Ikea should have some sort of infant care area.

My mom was a La Leche activist, so I really don't have any issues with breast feeding other than the time my husband and I were trying to enjoy a nice dinner at a reataurant and the woman at the table right next to us wipped out her boobage. Mom didn't offer a whole lot of coverage either ( we got some side boob action and a little bit of nipple that was pretty hard not to noyice, but I'm sure that was the point). I thought that it was pretty rude behavior on her part. Skin at the dinner table is a little much.

I meant restaurant