HITNRUNXX wrote:
I think it shows how pathetic our society really is when we can't separate the sexual nature of breasts from the functional use. I *PREFER* they do it discreetly enough to put a blanket over them or something, but that it is what I have seen about every time.1 I don't think I have ever seen a woman just whipe one out and keep it exposed the whole time she is breastfeeding. If I am uncomfortable with it, I can walk away, or not look, or any number of things... Same goes for Target shoppers.2
Breastfeeding shouldn't be put into the same category as a sex crime. There is nothing sexual about it. Just because there are perverts in the world doesn't make it wrong. Some people get off on little kids, but you aren't going to ban them from being in public "lest some shopper get a chubby."3
Finally, so what if it offends someone? That is THEIR issue.4 Like jord said... Are you going to ban 2 men kissing in public? That is offensive to some people. What about blowing your nose in public? I think that is much more offensive than breastfeeding. How about farting? Sneezing? Going out in public when you are sick? The entire "People of Walmart" collection... 5
Now, on the flip side of the argument... You may photograph anything you can see from where you are standing, as long as you are standing there legally, and not making an effort to circumvent a reasonable expectation of privacy (I.E. Crawling around on the ground to take pictures up women's skirts, or taking pictures in a public bathroom, etc). With that being said, if a woman is willing to be seen breastfeeding in public, and you were offended by it, then you could take her picture. I doubt she would be happy about that... But you have that right. If she doesn't want to be photographed, then she should be doing it in private... Target has security cameras, afterall...
1Pretty much what most everyone says.
2I think "cannot unsee" applies here.
3See 1.
4See 2.
5See 1.
I think pretty much all women who end up on the news like this do it just to cause problems. I didn't read enough into it to know if this particular case was discrete breastfeeding or not, but if it wasn't, there's no logical reason she should get special treatment while women who flash boobs for the sake of flashing them do not.
There's nothing sexual about a man taking a piss on the side of the road either, but that doesn't exempt him from the law.