I’m a “lactivist”

Yes, it's true there's nothing better for the baby than breast milk. But why the feeding process in public? The argument we hear is that "it's natural". So is pooping, urinating, and other misc natural acts and we generally agree that those pictures are things we do not wish to see (yeh, I know, except on porn sites).

Breast feeding is a very intimate thing and should stay that way.

best way to protest is to stop using the service, but you can't do that since all your friends are using it aren't the scoble ...

what would facebook have to do for you to want to unsubscribe regardless of all the networking opportunities you would loose?

What a good cause to join. The ban makes no sense to me. And I should know: I am a mother of two.

I think the society focuses its attention on the wrong "Taboos." A woman breastfeeding her child was never a taboo in the ancient world. On the contrary: it was an inspiration for great artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci...

Need I say more? Pieta.

Good for you, my wife is going to breastfeed as well. Why someone would want to post breastfeeding photos is not for me to decide. You won't see any on my site, but that is just out of respect for the privacy of my wife. If someone wants to post a photo of breast feeding then they should have the freedom to do it.

We live in a society where "adult" means dirty, where "woman" means fat, and where men think they should take off their shirts in public but make it a crime when women do. Facebook is run by kids with a few grownups in the background.

Robert did the best thing: blog in on a platform read by LOTS of people. Bring some sanity into this pond in the virtual lake. Even though smaller voices are rarely heard and a bigger voice shouts more loudly, I'm OK with urging a big voice to carry its blog-bound virtual stick.

Just remember that when it's not your problem, it's still someone else's problem, and that's why I'm just a 60s hippie grown up and somewhat better dressed.

Interesting. A search for "breastfeeding" on Facebook turns up 173 groups. Lots of the ones I saw on the list had pictures of breastfeeding babies on the group icon. So apparently Facebook hasn't been very consistant in this regard.

I never expected that much breastfeeding chatter on Facebook BTW. Who knew?

Totally agree with you. I love breastfeeding myself.

Amen brutha. Tiffany only breastfed Sierra for 2 months but with Bryce she is still going and he is almost 5 months. Makes a huge difference in my book.

I would say I'm stunned, but I live in the buckle of the Bible belt. I see this stuff all the time.

Joined that same group (or a similar one, think there are more) last week Robert. I can't believe this is even an issue. What year do we live in for crying out loud? People need to realize that just because women become mothers they still would like to be able to go out in public AND give their kids the most nutritious option available to them. And it's not like they've got both breasts hanging out and are walking around fully exposed. Generally it's so subtle you hardly notice.

Maybe it's just because I live in Europe, but from what I've seen this is hardly an issue here. Of course I live in Norway and you can't go out for a coffee without seeing a woman breastfeeding in the area I live in. Hey, with 10 months full paid leave you can bet mothers aren't going to sit at home all day - and rightfully so! :)

Well, we have no restrictions on breastfeeding pictures at Baby Say Cheese - http://www.babysaycheese.com. :-)
It's not Facebook but given time and money it might become something like it in the future...

By the way, there is a great blogger called The Lactivist at http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/. She was the one who the pork board tried to sue for her t-shirt that said 'the other white milk' and of course they had to back down and apologize due to overwhelming public support for her. She writes great stuff about breastfeeding laws and goings on. She is not pushy about it...if breastfeeding doesn't work for someone she doesn't make them feel bad...she aims to provide support...which is what we all should do.

Hear hear!

Wow, I decided that I've been blogging long enough to start reading Scoble, so I just subscribed to your feed and find you in the throes of new fatherhood and the great nursing flapola.

Congrats on the baby, and hang in there. I nursed my daughter for almost a year and my son for a year and a half while on Navy active duty (it was shore duty at the time, but still.) The first few weeks can be kinda rough, but be pig-headed and stick with it. It's best for the baby and best for Mom, and the convenience can't be beat.

Check out www.motherwear.com for great nursing tops that make the whole process quite discreet and comfortable. The average guy I ran into while nursing my baby in public never had a clue what I was doing; they just thought I was holding a sleeping baby.

This is rediculous, breast feeding is as natural as breathing and it is by far the best thing for babies. Anyone who has had a baby knows this.

vman: the fact that you think breastfeeding is the same as going to the bathroom demonstrates the depth of this problem. Get over it. No one is making you look.

That said, it's fairly easy to be discreet, even in public. A little blanket hides all.

vman said "But why the feeding process in public?"

You answer your own question. It is feeding. Unless of course you are against eating in public. Ironically, you probably judge women as cruel or abusive when they don't feed their hungry & crying babies in public because they're not comfortable breastfeeding in public.

Good on you, Robert. One of the key factors in a woman successfully breastfeeding is a supportive partner.

I will never understand how people can compare public urination to breastfeeding.

Excellent post, and thank you. People who would have breastfeeding mothers cover up or go someplace else probably don't realize the number of times they've passed a mother breastfeeding in public and haven't noticed. Not all babies are willing to be draped with blankets, but a baby in the act of feeding tends to cover anything that might be considered indiscreet. Though why any of it should seem indiscreet is a little puzzling at the heart of it.

Congrats on the child!
I can't believe this is even an issue. People need to get over themselves. Breast is best.

As the father of three wonderful kids all of whom were breastfed for at least 18 months I can say this is "flapola" (great word!) is just ludicrous. The story of the Facebook Boobie Ban hit the papers here (Australia) a week or two ago. In Australia, it is illegal to ban someone from breastfeeding. There was a big stink kicked up when a swanky restaurant threw a nursing mother out. The law was changed and any restaurant that does that now can be fined up to $4000.

Congratualtions on the arrival of Milan. As long as you're as passionate about your family as you are about tech you'll be a great dad.

Cheers
Anthony

At the risk of making a sweeping generalization, one might point out that if men did not see breasts in a way so predominantly sexual in nature, women wouldn't be put in this uncomfortable position of wondering if they *need* to hide their breasts while offering their child this natural function. It's one of the drawbacks of living in what is still a very patriarchal society.

This one is for you! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgbgoP7nzlE&...

perhaps vman should eat in the restroom, away from everyone from now on.

seriously dude, get over it.

There are really two isues being discussed here: one, the real life act of breastfeeding in public and two, posting photos of breastfeeding online. Normally, i would agree that such photos are not necessary, but the photos in question were posted in a group dedicated to promoting breastfeeding.

context is everything... and the photos were hardly sexually explicit, graphic or violent. they don't even fit Facebook's terms of obscenity

There are some very well reasoned comments here. Point taken guys. I was wrong.

vman, even in the anonymity blog comments offers, apologizing and saying you're wrong takes takes guts and humility, and more so to do it without even saying "but...".

Impressive. Well done, mate.

Nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public. And it is generally done discreetly. But, why the need to post pictures of it? Why not also post pictures of breast pumping? Why not post pictures of the whole baby making process? From beginning to end?

agree! facebook should also allow pictures of breast massages for new moms, breast cancer examination, breasts while taking baths, they're all positive things.

I am *totally* with you. Thank god for La Leche (http://www.llli.org/) - they're strong activists in getting this natural and supremely healthy (for baby *and* mommy) nurturing re-accepted into society.

Isn't it strange how we got to this point? I've heard the blame lies to a large part with the pushing of formula in the 50s. The medical model went overboard...

Best of luck with your new addition! Mine is 7 this month, and she's a doll.

They're a bit behind the times aren't they. Livejournal went through this nonsense ages ago.

I am pro breastfeeding. Some of the reasons why breastfeeding is not acepted is as a result of some of the unpleasant remarks.
In addition to some people comparing it with excretment. How could it be compared? It is the natural way that a baby has to get his or her food. Would anyone like to eat in a toilet? ofcourse not then why hide?
When the public see breastfeeding widely publised it would become more of the norm which is needed. Society need to be exposed to more breastfeeding mothers whereby the taboo could be gradually eliminated.
BC

You're so right! We are a family with two small kids. We travel a lot and find the rest of the world light years ahead of us in this area. The USA is not a family friendly country. It's a shame.

The funny thing is that Facebook has no problem with pictures of half-naked women, as long as they're young, hot, and don't have a baby attached to the boob. Apparently breasts are only to be used for play, no work.

Although I don't think they've banned anyone since the first incident.