I don’t know much about it yet, but I guess breastfeeding is good for your babies. So, breast milk and babies? A sensible combination.
But babies and Facebook? Not so much.
I don’t care how much Facebook is “expanding” its users. Facebook is really for college students and it should stay that way. Which is why I’m not too offended to find out that it has been removing pictures of females breastfeeding their kids.
The blog posted on USAToday said, “Karen Speed, a 33-year-old Canadian mother who describes herself as a “lactivist,” tells The (Toronto) Star that such photos led Facebook to delete her account and a support group she had established for breastfeeding mothers.”
First of all, what is Karen Speed, a 33-year-old Canadian mother/lactivist doing on Facebook in the first place? What is she possibly getting out of this? Finding out at which side of campus the next tailgate is gonna start? Checking up on her douchebag ex-boyfriend to see if he added any new skanks to his friend list?
Seriously, Karen. Seriously.
I think it’s great that mothers are reaching out to each other for support, but is it really necessary to post, what I think, are such personal and intimate photos on this particular site that is regularly monitored? Here is one of the pics that was removed from the site, and nipple or not – it may not be “obscene” as Facebook would say, but it’s still pretty needless on a college-based networking site.
I guess what I’m trying to say is…send your friends a personal e-mail if you want to show yourself breastfeeding without mysteriously finding your account deleted. Facebook is run by an outside company and by things called “terms” and “conditions.” Of course this would fuel controversy.
In related content, one of the pro-breastfeeding Facebook Groups is called “Booby Babies and Their Mommies.” If the name alone isn’t convincing enough that Facebook should remain a site for college students, check out their alma mater, which is supposed to be sung to the tune of (lame) Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest”:
See our breasts, see our breasts
Everywhere, half-naked chests.
While we nurse, the prudish curse
And wish we’d button up our vests.
Sorry folks, look away,
If we’re too décolleté
But this IS what boobs are made for
Not those Wonderbras you paid for.
We refuse to go feed
Hunched in bathroom stalls, indeed
We’re appalled that you would make such rude requests!
Would you agree to eat
Upon a toilet seat?
See our breasts, see our breasts, free our breasts!
No one on Facebook should regularly wear a vest, which is why, when it comes to Facebook, this is the only way moms should ever fit in.
Lori Branyan says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20074:30 pm
Where on Facebook does it say that it is only for college age users? I am a forty-one year old mother and I am on it. I use it to keep in contact with my former students, former co-workers and my own children. Also, who says college age kids should not be learning about breastfeeding. I personally got married then gave birth and nursed two of my four children while going to college in my twenties.
Angela says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20074:33 pm
Wow, what a shallow childish rant. Apparently you have never been exposed to women of college age that have babies? Most women in college are of child-bearing age and many are students and mothers. Are they not allowed the same support mechanisms that older mothers have but through avenues that are familiar to them -like Facebook.
When you grow up, have children of your own and look back at this article you wrote, I am sure you will feel silly and remember the ignorance you carried around so proudly and then feel slightly ashamed.
Bruce Patterson says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20074:35 pm
Amy : get a life! face book is not for college students, It’s for anyone that wants to share their life experiences, You are obviously so immature that seeing something “ADULT’ offends you , obviously a freshman. probably an arts major.
Guess what? you have the same equipment and 10 years from now you will probably want to do the same. after you grow up and take the stick out of your butt.
Still cant believe that american girls are so upset by naked female breasts
DMA says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20074:36 pm
The photo is beautiful and not at all offensive. What I find offensive is the hypocrisy and twisted mentality that exists in todays society. I know what it is like to nurse hunched over in a bathroom stall. Lets face it… I took the baby in to restroom crying and came out burping him. Two guys I passed on the way in stared at me on the way out. I briefly wondered if they knew what I did but who cares. The voyerism is part curiosity and part nature. If people think this is sexy, they are likely male. Breasts are made for nursing, not stuffing with silicone so that you can attract a mate and then not be able to nurse the very offspring you create with the mate you attracted in the first place. Guys… get a grip. Gals…love yourself enough to resist the status quo and yes that means being strong enough to discard/ignore rude stares when you nurse, in private or public.
Tanya says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20074:43 pm
I understand the Facebook people wanting to edit certain photos, even deleting accounts, however…
Facebook is for EVERYONE! NOT just College students. Granted many college students use it. Many, many, many people use it to find people from their pasts. ie: elementary school friends, long lost relatives, old co-workers. Perhaps some College students aren’t aware of this use yet as they are not yet living out in the real world called life!
I have found old friends and family that I have not seen in a long time, as, some of you College students will learn in time, people grow apart, move on to different parts of the country or the world, have families, jobs, etc. We can use facebook to catch up on each others lives, make dinner plans, share photos and everything else that you use it for. I loved College and found many, many of my old college friends on facebook… and you know what? We can still talk about our partying days just like you do now with your friends.
Oh, just wait until your an old 32 year old like me!
Sara says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20077:51 pm
This article is terrible. I’m a college student, not a mother, don’t think I’ll ever be one, but even I know better. Facebook is a “social networking” website. It exists so people can communicate with ease with the people they have known for a while and find the people they thought they had lost in memory lane. It is NOT just a site for college students, but a place where people can interact and keep in touch with what’s going on in their lives. Seriously, get a life cry baby.
heather says:
Thu, 13th Sep 20078:17 pm
Let’s get a few facts straight:
Facebook, while not my personal favorite social networking site, is not just for “college students.” In fact, according to its terms of use, users may be as young as 13, placing them in middle school, unless they have skipped a grade or two.
Because the site is accessible by children aged thirteen, who in some states are probably just entering a comprehensive sexual education program, I can understand why the administrators would remove breastfeeding photography. I do not agree that the particular example from above is obscene, and as a person who professionally studies obscenity, I do not feel that such photography falls under government obscenity laws. Thus, if the photography is being removed for its “obscene nature,” it is not likely such reasoning will hold up well in legal battles.
Unfortunately, as big a feminist as I am, I do not support the woman’s right to whip it out and breast feed in public places. Public nudity in general is illegal in most places, and even though you are providing nutrients to a child, breast feeding does allow nudity. It is not at the top of my list any day to see the upper half of another woman. Nor is it at the top of my list to attempt to explain to some strangers 5 year old, “What that lady is doing” and “Why.”
If you’re sick of being hunched over in stalls, create a movement asking for benches or couches to be placed in bathrooms. I work in a museum, we provide couches in the bathrooms and honestly, they’re probably a lot more comfortable than sitting on the floor of the gallery breastfeeding. Or, when you’re going to be out for long periods of time, bottle your natural milk.
fran says:
Thu, 13th Sep 200710:27 pm
heather– the fact that you are anxious about having to explain to ’some strangers 5 year old’ what nursing is is the height of irony. If people were more used to public nursing it wouldn’t have to be explained to any child. It isn’t a shameful secret.
And as far as asking for benches and couches in bathrooms, understand, bathrooms STINK, are loaded with germs and are noisy. Do you eat your lunch on those couches in the bathroom of the museum you work at?
My favorite article on this subject said it all: Everyone Wants to See My Breasts Until My Baby is Hungry.
I used to think nursing moms were strange too when I was 21. That was youthful ignorance and arrogance. 10 years later I was nursing a child and amazed at how cool it was. The moms you see nursing in public are going through the same thing. Recently my 9 year old and I were out somewhere where a baby was howling nearby, and my daughter said, ‘what did you do when I was little and cried like that?’ and I thought a minute and told her, “you never cried like that. I could always nurse you and you never cried.” I nursed in public a lot, and never got a mean comment or bad look. Sorry to see 8 years later some people are so hostile to it.
heather says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20071:00 am
It is not up to you or me what parents choose to expose their young children to. If a parent feels that their five year old is too young to be exposed to breastfeeding and the upper half of another woman, that is their decision. Hence, working in an environment that sees over 10 000 people a day, I see people from many walks of life. I see five year olds that are already well aware of what breastfeeding is, why it is occurring, and how the baby got “here.” I also see my fair share of inquisitive five year olds who eventually lead into questions that would appropriately be answered with “the sex talk.” As I am not their parent, it is not appropriate for me to give them the sex talk, and most often their parent is not present because they are there with a school group. So you see, the public breastfeeding issue for me is people having a lack of respect for the lifestyle wishes of others. If the whole world brought up their children in the same manner and everyone had the same beliefs, I could care less about women breastfeeding in public.
As to bathrooms: I am fully aware that bathrooms are full of germs. At my particular establishment though, women will encounter more germs sitting on the floor of a gallery breastfeeding than sitting in the bathroom on the couch. As the museum is a public amusement the bathrooms are cleaned hourly, but because of traffic flow the floors of the galleries are only tended to at the end of the day.
Tim says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20071:36 am
Canada – different country different rules.
Partial nudity is legal in Canada.
People forget that.
It’s funny how when you’re are FIRST BORN – you seeboobs all the time. Then you are magically shielded for 17 years. You turn 18 and now it’s all legal again. Hmmmmm.
I’ve seen fat guys that have more boob than some woemen, and they can go around with no shirt on. How’s that any different? Why are people so afraid of the human body. People need to be comfortable with themselves.
BARBARA says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20072:08 am
Heather: I agree 100% with your comment on breastfeeding in public. That should take place in a private area. If you are going to breastfeed in public then bottle it.
Tiffany says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:49 am
Wow, what a controversy! LOL. Women should NOT have to go into the bathroom to breastfeed their child, if there are other alternatives. First of all, when one wears a breastfeeding bra and shirt, almost NO skin is shown. Secondly, not everyone can pump. I, for instance, could breastfeed but could not pump for some reason. So before getting upset that one did not prepare by bringing bottled milk, may want to examine some of the possible reasons as to why that did not occur. Most five year olds have been to a farm and seen cows being milked, or atleast know that most mammals feed their own young milk. This is natural, folks. Nothing that can’t be EASILY explained.
PLANK says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20074:13 am
Okay…put your hands in the air and, step away from dem “baby feeders!”
Having been on FB for a year myself before transitioning out of school, I eventually came to realize how stupid and wasteful it was to my meaningful life. When I simply decided to quit, cold turkey, my closest friends didn’t complain too much. Rather, it was my other (stalker) acquaintances who did a lot of complaining! LoL!
Months later, after the entire FB addiction wore off, I regained my real life — something many FB users don’t have, owing to the fact that they are slaves to the university system (in the case of students, stuck on campus with homework and papers looming over their heads weekly), or if not a student, then … well… owing to the fact that … they just don’t have lives I guess. Mothers with dem baby feeders (breasts) do have important jobs, but why are you wasting your time online FB of all places?!?!
We all realize the fact that online users of social networks (such as FB and so forth) enjoy “public appeal.” That is, the more that they are able to reach out and “virtually” touch someone, the better the online network is to the user. After all, not everyone can create their own FB web site, and instantly appeal to hordes of online strangers.
So, most online users join and participate to one degree or another in online social networks with this in mind. But the user simultaneously sacrifices her “meaningful” life just to fit into some narrow, social network environment! Remember, these virtual social worlds are created by, and in the image of Caucasian males (entirely nothing new about this century-old phenomenon), but yet users get upset and complain when the creator of that social world suddenly rejects and disables their account.
I say, “Chill out, and just get a life,” dear folks! FB really su*ks anyway!
^^
Rod Dolins says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20075:10 am
I oftenly saw mothers breastfeeding their babies in malls or churches, and I don’t look at it as lusting but admiring the lady breastfeeding the child rather than feeding them with animals milk or powdered milk which, I found as causing asthma to children. After all what you see of the breast are just skin just like in your face. Go on mothers keep on beastfeeding your kids for healthier lives. And don’t feel shame of doing it in public places.
DeadAwake says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20075:51 am
Sounds to me like some people just need to complain about something.
Those who complain probably havetn put themselves in the mothers shoes. I could imagine tending to infants would be one hell of a task.
Lee says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20077:18 am
Not to defend Amy but wasn’t it a couple of years ago that Facebook was ONLY for COLLEGE STUDENTS???
Is it them or Myspace that sold out???
Laurie says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20077:45 am
The next thing we will see is mothers changing their kids pooped pampers on a bench in the mall, after all it’s also natural for todlers to poop on themselves. How about un-toilet-trained older todlers doing their thing on the mall floor. Every human being comes equipped with the tools to fulfill their needs, however as a civilized society we do not go around using those tools to fulfill our needs in public places. Sex is also natural and we don’t go around having sex in public. Animals act like that.
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20077:56 am
ACTUALLY, Facebook IS made for college students. I can’t believe people would comment on such a topic that they’re ignorant about. It was first made for students in Ive Leagues to connect via a communications system online. Then its network was extended to the rest of the COLLEGE world, as well as business world. Up until recently, you needed a COLLEGE (or business) e-mail to make a facebook account.
There’s no problem with breastfeeding, even in public, but why the heck would you post pictures of it, where ANYONE (and trust me, ANYONE can get to your page, even with the translucent “Privacy Settings”) can see them on the Internet?? What are you proving?? You can advocate your pro-breastfeeding choices without posting pictures. Do you want nudists posting naked pictures of themselves on Facebook? Do you want children that are “for” masterbation to post THOSE pictures on the internet??
Personally, this article made me laugh at how some people just don’t think. Whether there’s a baby mouth by your breasts or not, you’re still revealing your chest to everyone on Facebook. I would expect such pictures to be removed from Facebook, and for that person to be removed from it as well.
Obviously, this article pointed fun at Karen, because Amy doesn’t want to create another super-controversial issue, but last time I checked, if it’s in the USA Times… it’s probably something of some importance. This is technically a step in the direction of porn on Facebook, and I’d rather not see middle schoolers showing off THEIR breasts. Thanks.
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20077:58 am
*USA Today*
I apologize for the misprint.
Hyacinth says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20078:06 am
Little Amy needs to grow up, because the real world is waiting for you after college. Breasts were created to feed babies, so get over it. And trust me, you college kids need to learn now that breastfeeding is best for both the babies AND the mothers. The babies are better able to fight illness and the mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight quicker. I think Facebook was a good place to put her breastfeeding group, because college students are turning up pregnant every day. There is absolutely nothing shameful about breastfeeding. Only a pervert would think so. If you don’t want to see it, don’t look. The baby hides most if not all of the breast anyway. Good grief, grow up people!
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20078:15 am
Okay, seriously now. Do you people even read what the article is asking, in comparison to what you are saying? Almost everyone who has posted neglects to understand the article and just wants to rant on “someone who’s ranting”. READ:
Article implies: Are posting pictures of you revealing your body on a public website that millions of people have access to, APPROPRIATE?
Everyone’s Reply: There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding.
Are you serious?? We KNOW there is NOTHING wrong with breastfeeding- in the privacy of your own home OR if you need to do it in public. But don’t take pictures for the world to see!! Next time I go to the bathroom (in my bathroom at home OR at a public bathroom) I’ll make SURE to post pictures of my exposed area on my facebook account. Because urination is as necessary as breastfeeding. By the way, I’m being sarcastic about taking pictures, because they AREN’T for the world to see.
Amy doesn’t have to “grow up” because she never says “breastfeeding is wrong/bad/immoral”. Read her argument: Should it be posted on the internet? Last time I checked, Facebook was alloed to remove PORN from its own site. And I believe naked breasts fall under the category. At least abide by the rules if you want to use Facebook. Apparently Facebook should have never expanded outside of the college network. We college students are apparently a lot easier to deal with than adults.
Me says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20079:20 am
For starters, a 33-year-old mother should not be on Facebook in the first place. It’s so pathetic how many “proud parents” are sitting on social networking sites ALL DAY rather than tending to their children.
And anyone who has a CLUE knows that Facebook IS for younger users. (I’m almost 40 and I know that!) All the kids left MySpace to create Facebook accounts (look it up) because MySpace became loaded down with too many adults, their parents who had too much time on their hands, and other adult relatives, who hijacked the site FROM the kids. Facebook IS a place where the younger folks go to GET AWAY from the older generations and that is FACT. Those that are freaking out about that statement are the ones that know they spend too much time on there already/are ashamed.
SECONDLY, these people are attention-starved and disgusting. NO ONE wants to see you breast-feed your baby. I am a woman and I’m disgusted by these women trying to make a public spectacle out of themselves by whipping out their udders in public. Now for this pathetic woman to also take pictures of same and post them on a public site of any sort, to spend hours upon hours “networking” (providing something for perverts to jack off to) about Fing BREAST FEEDING… Seriously, you have no more a productive use of your time than that? L-O-S-E-R. And the fact that these are the kind of people mass-producing is really sick/depressing.
She’s an attention-craving degenerate. It’s disgusting, and embarassing to women in general.
David says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20079:58 am
Chris, it’s all in your grammer brother. You stated that facebook “is” made for college students and poor Amy stated that Facebook is “really” for college students. WRONG! Facebook “was” for college students.
From the Facebook.com website;
“Facebook isn’t just one big site; it’s made up of lots of separate networks based around things like schools, companies, and regions.
Anyone can sign up for Facebook.”
Oh and Amy, as Sara so eloquently put it, “seriuosly, get a life cry baby”(goes for you too “me”, whoever you are).
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200710:11 am
Well, David, I appreciate you attempting to give me a lesson on past vs. present tenses (though ironically, you spelled “grammar” wrong), but you still didn’t validate any opposing points… or attempt to counter any of mine. I’m sure there exists a few valid points on why one can condone displaying pornographic (and yes, it IS pornographic when breasts are exposed… I didn’t make the definition so don’t get mad at me) images on Facebook… but saying “breastfeeding is good” is not a valid argument at all!! Actually, the majority of comments on this article make no sense. I would appreciate hearing a sensible argument, but thanks David.
adrisen says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200710:14 am
There are more offensive pictures on facebook of which this is not offensive. I have seen explicit sexual pictures on facebook and they are not hard to find. You will also find that there are more people who are ast the college age who are on facebook to keep in touch with others and who have come in contact with old friends from the past. IF they are going to pull that picture I suggest they remove a lot more.
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200710:21 am
I agree with Adrisen on the fact that all reasonably offensive pictures should be removed from Facebook (I use the term “reasonably” because someone could probably find a fault with just about anything these days… but porn, yes), and that non-college people use Facebook… but I also wonder why she posted her comment, seeing as it has nothing to do with supporting/unsupporting the breast-feeding pictures on Facebook.
I really am hoping someone gives a few reasons as to why posting images of breasts on Facebook is okay (let alone legal…) so I may have an intelligent conversation with them. It doesn’t matter if the woman is breast-feeding or not… the fact is that body exposure of that kind is not allowed on the site; if you don’t like it, join a different blogging community.
Christine says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200710:30 am
Rofl.
Rofls some more.
I love some of the comments on here.
Some [like above poster] are so afraid of the human body that it’s rather amusing.
Yes Chris, Facebook was orginally meant for college students. Whoo-dee-freaking-hoo. Who cares what it was meant for originally. Right NOW, anyone can join. As long as they aren’t 12. I hate those damn 12 year olds. Acting all 12 like.
I personally feel that Facebook should really only be for people who are of some intelligence and don’t feel the need to troll in the groups 24/7. In fact, when I heard Facebook was going public, my main concern was…. High school students! GASP! Ironically, I wasn’t worried about the adults. Because at least they are capable of intelligence, whereas some HS students are only capable of typing very 1337.
Anyone who rants that Facebook is for ‘younger people’ and then goes on to say that they’re over 25, this is what I have to say to you: fucking hypocrite. What the hell do you think COLLEGE Candy is?! Seriously. I think my parts of my brain died when I read such hypocrisy. CC is most definitely geared towards young college females. With the exception of the young college gay males. And the college guys who want to know more about sexually pleasing a woman. But I digress.
If you’re honestly ignorant enough to think that people are going to hunt down pictures on Facebook so they can jack off, then I pity you. It’s so much easier to just type in naked woman in google. Not to mention you actually might see something that way.
So, some women have chosen to come together on a public website and share their stories and experiences of breastfeeding. ZOMG, think of the CHILDREN! -_- Let’s try to move forward in acceptance of the human body. Not backward. And no, that does not mean we’re going to have people masturbating in public. There’s a HUGE difference between breastfeeding and masturbating. Let’s be reasonable here.
Now, the original question of the article… Who gives a shit. Honestly, what does it matter if a woman is breastfeeding? You cry ‘that’s inappropriate!’ and yet there are some pretty risque things on Facebook that don’t get deleted right away. Most of the people on Facebook are old enough to realize that if they don’t want to see it, then should not click on it. And that they can be mature enough to not cry wolf every five fucking seconds of the day.
Wow, that is so much more than I originally thought I wanted to say. 0_o
Bonnie says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200710:42 am
First of all, if I can eat somewhere then my child can eat there as well. I don’t know of anyone that sits in a bathroom to eat, whether it’s on a nice padded bench or not! It doesn’t seem to be a problem to anyone when they see breasts on tv, movies, hooters, etc. But for some reason, they have a problem with nursing? Why can’t nursing mothers network on Facebook like everyone else, or are we just supposed to hook up in the bathroom…
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200711:01 am
I apologize to Bonnie for being the one who has to be singled out, out of the many comprehension-impaired commenters but…
What the hell are you talking about?
Apparently, you did not read the article or any of my previous comments.
“Why can’t nursing mothers network on Facebook like everyone else.”
Right. Actually Facebook restricts ALL mothers from having Facebooks. SARCASM.
NO ONE SAID NURSING IS WRONG OR BAD OR NOT ALLOWED. Facebook does not want breasts on their site; simple as that. And movies and television shows have RATING SYSTEMS that are supposed to be acknowledged by their users. Nudity is NOT seen in movies rated G for general audiences, or in PG movies. However, Facebook is not a blog “rated R” and should not have to worry about people posting nudity on them. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BREAST-FEEDING. BUT IT DOES SHOW PARTIAL NUDITY. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BREAST-FEEDING.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BREAST-FEEDING.
willottica says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200711:15 am
Chris, you want someone to take apart your argument? I’ll take apart your argument.
Breastfeeding does not show a naked breast. The woman is wearing a baby over that part of her chest.
First, look at the picture above, the one deemed ‘offensive’.
Now, go to Facebook and look up ‘Thong’. Yes, there’s a group dedicated to lovers of the thong, and has pictures of countless women in thongs.
Look up ‘D Cup’, yup, probably a group about that, too. As long as they don’t show the nipple of a breast or the skin of the genitalia, others have been allowed to post whatever they like. There’s even a group dedicated to ‘morning wood’.
A naked breast, for that matter, is not porn. It is only porn if portrayed in a sexual manner, otherwise, it’s just a breast. You see them in breast-cancer awareness campaigns. You see them in National Geographic. You see almost all of them when women wear bikinis.
For breast-feeding to be effective, the nipple is covered, thus the breast is not naked. If you want to ban pictures of breast-feeding, you should ban all pictures of EATING. Because that’s what it is, a mother feeding her baby. If that is your definition of porn, I’d hate to visit the men’s room after you in a restaurant.
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200711:27 am
While it’s true that cradling a baby in front of one’s shirt-covered chest is not pornographic in any way, the pictures that explicitly show the breasts (and a baby, though many pictures don’t have the baby directly in front of the breast) do show a degree of nudity. I can deal with nudity fine, but the fact is that Facebook doesn’t want it in their boundaries. This is regardless of what National Geographic or breast-awareness campaigns show (freedom of press, etc.). Showing exposed breasts is a breach in agreement. Here’s the simplest analogy in the world; please humor me:
If I go through the trouble of making a Blogging Community (like Facebook or MySpace) called BlueWorld, where it’s very similar to Facebook, except an extra rule in the Terms and Agreemeny Policy (as silly as it may sound) is: EVERYTHING (background, font, pictures, links, etc.) MUST BE BLUE. Varying shades are okay, but clearly no yellow or red or anything. Then if you come along and USING MY SITE (after agreeing to the Policy) make a profile in RED, I automatically can delete your profile, regardless of how you feel, because you didn’t abide by the agreement. I’m not saying Facebook is morally right or wrong… I’m saying that any breach in a written agreement is grounds for the deletion of one’s Facebook profile.
You’re more than welcome to go to a different Blogging Community…
George says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200712:37 pm
I would not normally take the time to post a comment on an article. However, I feel I must put in my 2 cents. I am a proud father of 3 children and my wife has breastfed all of them. As a matter of fact, my youngest son is still breastfeeding. I find it very sad that society en general perceives such a beautiful and natural act as anything other than a mother providing nourishment for her child. If you view such acts as anything other than what it is, then you clearly have issues. Most breastfeeding mothers will not just plop it out in the middle of a public area, but rather find a comfortable place to sit (Not a Bathroom!!) and will reveal very little to no skin. You anti-public breastfeeding people act like these moms walk around the mall exposing themselves. I guarantee that the last thing on the mom’s mind is anything sexual or the desire to flash on lookers. You should just admit that the act itself is what bothers you and not the fact that a skin is showing. People act like they are not familiar with the act. They are so surprised to see a mother nursing; I must say is very sad. Women should be encouraged to nurse their babies. It is a wonderful form of not only providing nutrients for their child but also bonding. I hope that stupid articles such as this one do not discourage women from nursing. I must also agree with other posters that indicate that some men walking around without shirts could really use a bra!! To all of you ant-nursing people GET A LIFE! Focus on the true problems facing the world today! Like for example ignorant people writing stupid articles on the internet.
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200712:47 pm
George, I respectfully agree with you; nursing and breastfeeding an infant is a very natural and normal thing to do. Do you consider Facebook to be anti-nursing because they removed these pictures from their site? While seeing a mother nursing in public should be acceptable, any pictures containing a woman’s exposed breast on Facebook are subject to be removed by the creator due to the Agreement, because they contain nudity. I really don’t think Facebook wanted to be thought of as anti-nursing; I think that they just wanted to be clear about no nudity as a whole, whether it is for a sexual purpose or for a nurturing one.
Amie says:
Fri, 14th Sep 200712:53 pm
I don’t think that men should be allowed to go around without a shirt on anymore. I mean people are upset about a women who is breast feeding her baby, but yet we see men (who by the way are not in the best shape of their lives) going around without a shirt off because they can. Well I think it is time to start making them put their shirt back on for the sake of all around them……eaither that or let us go without our shirts…lol
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20071:03 pm
Amie… you DO realize that females ARE allowed (legally) to walk around without shirts right? Just not topless… you CAN walk around in only a bra, however. Women choose not to because breasts are considered to be a symbol of sexuality and most women are do not want to attract stares from every guy they see.
I do agree that there are way too many men using their right to walk around topless though. Either having both sexes topless or not seems to show true equality… unfortunately, women keep getting screwed out of “perfect” equality.
The boundary between legal and illegal for women seems to be “whether or not you can see the areola” for the majority of the United States.
L. Watts says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20071:06 pm
Wow, I guess the Amy doesn’t realize that women in college can have babies and can breast feet them.
Or does the OP think that a person 35 years of age, with children, cannot possibly be a college student.
So, Amy, Florida State, are you going to stop using face book as soon as you graduate–since Facebook is REALLY for college students? I mean, if you are not enrolled in a college you are not a college student, right? How COULD you consider using a service for college students if you are not a college student!
And Heather, you are not a feminist, nor do you support women’s rights. How can feeding a child be offensive? If you saw it all the time, you would not be offended by it (or insulted, or upset, or have your day tubed by seing a child being fed). This is a negative mental attitude, imprinted by your social upbringing that you need to re-consider. Is “No breastfeeding” in public your opinion or something you THINK is your opinion, pushed onto you by parents, friends, acquaintances and society in general.
Chris: I don’t see a naked breast in the above picture. Get off your high horse. Unless there are other exposed breast-breastfeeding pictures connected to this story that we did not see above.
Yeah, all of you against the breastfeeding picture above can nit-pick all you want, but what you are complaining about is that you think a mother feeding her child is pornographin, NO MATTER HOW it is pictured and you would like to impose your morals upon all fo the rest of us.
This is a control issue and you will feel much better when you give it up. . .
George says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20071:09 pm
Chris.
I fully agree that users of a site such as Facebook should be subject to their regulations and terms of use. However, pictures such as the one featured in the article, do not have any nudidity and yet was still removed. If people are upset about younger viewers accessing the pictures, you could flag accounts and say they contain aduld subject matter. Bottom line, on this day and age kids have access to things that would make Marylin Manson blush. That does not mean it right, but we as parents should monitor our children. As far as the adults that could be offended by the pictures, just do not click on her profile! With so many other places on the internet to be able to socialize and find like-minded people, I think that people should not worry about an overrated web site such as Facebook.
Christy says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20072:55 pm
It astounds me this is such a volitile topic. We are the only country in the world to make such a fuss over nursing our children in public. Whether the pictures are posted on a website or a woman is feeding her baby in public, it should be a non-issue. It’s not porn, for goodness sake!! Equating nursing a baby with sexuality is truly twisted and strange. Like many of you, I was raised in a time and culture when breast-feeding was very discouraged and I grew up thinking it was discusting to see, as did my mom. Then when I had my own child I was brow beaten by every doctor I saw and my husband to nurse my baby. I educated myself and decided to do it and my views changed completly. As a nation, we are so unaccustomed to seeing nursing mothers it is almost shocking to see, and many people still avert their eyes because it is such an unfamiliar, and uncomfortable sight, and if they have not experienced it themselves, their ignorance takes control of their beliefs.
Those who say “bottle it” rather than feed in public have obviously never nursed a child. Not all nursed babies will take a bottle, and as for feeding them in a shroud of privacy, just isn’t realistic either – - especially the tiny babies who need to eat eavery 2 hours. There are nursing mothers everywhere, even in college, contrary to what some ignorant young men may think!! And many of those mothers are hunkering in their homes nursing in private and feeding with bottles when they can to avoid public ridicule and embarassment. Maybe if more people are exposed to seeing nursing mothers, our cutlure will “loosen” up and stop the backward thinking. Public nursing shouldn’t be a taboo in the last frontier!!
Ernest says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:03 pm
While i don’t see anything bad in the picture posted, claiming that breastfeeding is natural is not enough to make it okay for you to post pictures. Sex is very much natural as well.. but we can’t be posting pictures of ourselves for everyone to see, nude or not. I agree, if you feel the need to share your breastfeeding pictures, you can’t go wrong with e-mail. Although i don’t know of many people who’d be thrilled to receive them.
BIOHZRD says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:18 pm
What I found most disturbing about this article was the callousness with which the author wrote. I understand college candy is intended for college audiences. So why is the author writing like a middle-school cheerleader who just saw a roach (ewwww-groooossss). This is obviously is a real issue that has two valid arguements, so why is it not presented this away. Instead, Amy points a finger and laughs at the person, making curt to try to make her point. Your out of high-school now, grow up. The immaturity and contempt of the author comes out in her writing.
Maddy says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:30 pm
While I am a young mother ATTENDING COLLEGE and COMPLETELY PRO BREAST FEEDING, I can’t say that I would personnaly post a pic of me doing so on the internet.
I feel that women should be able to breastfeed when and where they choose and it is a shame that there is even a debate to be had about it. Yet, at the same time you have to consider the world we live in and the is a category of porn out there called pedophilia. Before you post pictures of your children or of you and your children online you need to think about who has access to the material. Do you really want a network of child molestors getting off to a picture of your child or you sharing an intimate moment with them? I certainly don’t but not all feel the way I do obviously. I will continue to breastfeed but I will not be posting any pics of it or my children on the internet for that matter.
Also, this is a tasteful picture. I am not concerned about a womans boob or the partial exposure of it. I am concerned of you putting pictures of your children online.
Amber says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:48 pm
Both of my sons were breastfed until they were almost a year old, and try as I might to supplement them with bottles, they just wouldn’t do it; even if it was filled with breastmilk,they would just scream. If I wanted to get anything done outside of my home, I had to be willing to feed in public. Now that being said, I always covered up with a light blanket, just so I wouldn’t have to deal with stares. And it seems to have been a good compromise since no one ever said anything to me. And though I’m a huge supporter of breastfeeding I never had photos taken of me feeding them. What I find ironic about all of this is that 2 inches from the article are links for, “the 50 most bangable chicks in music” and “celebrity ass-ets” complete with zoomed in photo. So sex-driven photos are ok but not a photo where you know the breast is there, but don’t actually see it?
... says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20073:54 pm
wow chris you need to get over the face that you are wrong
Chris says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20074:04 pm
Wow “…” thank you for posting that insightful comment. What “face” and I’m glad that you have an opinion. However, how am I wrong? It is a FACT that Facebook is able to remove the content based on the agreement; it would be my OPINION whether or not I think it is morally right. However, I am not displaying what I “think” is right. You, “…” are an idiot, and apparently are too much of a coward to even explain your position on this article. Grow up, and get a name.
L. Watts says:
Fri, 14th Sep 20074:58 pm
“…What I find ironic about all of this is that 2 inches from the article are links for, “the 50 most bangable chicks in music” and “celebrity ass-ets” complete with zoomed in photo. So sex-driven photos are ok but not a photo where you know the breast is there, but don’t actually see it?”
Oh, Amber you said it so well. I agree that breast feeding is just NOT in the same league as “ass-ets” and “bangable chicks”.
And I agree that Facebook has the right to take care of whatever content they wish, but it is truly sad that so many people can only equate a breast with pornography, titillation and sleeze.
I think Americans in general have a lot of growing up to do–College age or other age.
sonya says:
Sat, 15th Sep 20072:22 pm
Ok now i understand both sides of this… most of you are fired up about being called too old to be on facebook and then some of you question who should be on it or who shouldnt be. Now Facebook is a descent account to have to share pics and find people. also its not completly safe like all internet sites. You share too much information. Now for the woman getting her page deleted is somewhat understandable. nudity is nudity. the same can be said for the young college girls who get theirs deleted for flashing in a pic. We are having a hard time to seperate emotions to logic. A breast is a breast, and yes a child is attached to the breast, but shouldnt that be private?! i think it should. call it old fashion but thats personal. and once you make yourself a public property you can be treated and dispersed like one. I dont feel bad that she got her page deleted. she agreed to terms and she failed to keep her end of it. Now age wise no there is nothing wrong with being a mom and having a page .. its the age thing that bugs me. now i understand and i am on the parents side who have a page to monitor their children but if you just have a page and you are just surfing and making friends… 90% of the people who are on face book are under 23 years of age. so why are you in facebook again? at 40 years old…
Dixie - Texas Christian University says:
Tue, 29th Jan 20081:54 am
Chris, I absolutely agree with you. There are a lot of irrelevant arguments. I would say its a pretty black and white, logical matter. It isn’t about morals, or modesty, or even free speech. It’s about terms and conditions. If you want to voice something that should MAYBE (but maybe not) be blocked from 13 year olds, find a place that is more appropriate for your subject. Ladies, if you want to breast-feed in public, go for it. This is America. If you don’t like seeing women breast-feed in public, don’t look at them. If you are arguing about facebook or whining about something else that doesn’t matter, get over it.
Karen Speed says:
Mon, 1st Sep 200811:54 pm
Without having read much past the first few comment responses, I will respond to the OP, which I had assumed had been written by a man, until I checked back and saw “Amy”. Sigh. This racist rant was written by a woman.
First of all, it is really not even relevant why or why not I am on facebook. It is a *networking* site, so I use it as such. I am a breastfeeding volunteer, supporter, lactivist, advocate, and I use facebook to start support GROUPS and help other breastfeeding moms. Nuf said.
I will also address Heather.
Number one, I don’t, nor have I EVER, whipped out my boobs in public. I discreetly nurse my babies (and yes, my toddlers, too) when they are hungry.
Number two, none of my four children have ever needed a bottle. Why should they, when they can drink the milk straight from the tap? Why would I want to go to the trouble of buying a bottle, buying a pump, pumping the milk, storing it in a bottle, keeping the bottle cold, taking it to the mall with me, finding somewhere to heat up the bottle, and feeding my baby out of an artificial plastic container, all to make YOU more comfortable.
No thank you.
I breastfeed my baby in public, but feel free to eat YOUR meal in the bathroom.
Carolyn says:
Tue, 2nd Sep 20088:48 am
I find this article interesting, and a SAD example of how the youth today thinks. I’ve worked my ass off to give my kids a good life, and yet I wonder why when you’re showing the mentality of the future leaders of our nations. Sex, sin, and good times will NOT help you in the real world. I hope that life doens’t kick you too hard in the ass when you do eventually grow up. However, I know it will be my tax dollars that will support your EI and welfare when you loose job after job because of your close minded attitudes.
Facebook is a SOCIAL NETWORK. When I signed on, I didn’t see the box that said “you must be a collage student to join.” Someone better tell my entire graduating class onf 1998… Oh, and let the over 4000 members of the Victoria School of Performing and Visual arts school know… they shouldn’t be here, even if they DID graduate 30 years ago. Hmmmm…. there really is an epidemic here. What ever will we do? Guess I’ll just have to go take off my socks, get knocked up and go cook supper. I really thought that we had come farther then this. I supposed I shouldn’t bother voting in the next election either. In fact… maybe I should never leave the house. After all, I’m not in collage anymore.
Luisa says:
Sun, 7th Sep 20082:26 am
As a breastfeeding mother, I can assure you, that the only thing on my mind when my baby is crying is to FEED her! If you do not like it, do not look my way.
The comment about bottling it is ridiculous and obviously made by someone who has never nursed a baby. My baby will not just take a bottle to ease your uncomfortableness. So since my baby does not take a bottle, I should just let her starve so that I am thinking of YOUR comfort level.
Breasts are for feeding babies… really our society needs to get over themselves and applaud every mother for feeding her baby!
We have enough problems in this world, how about supporting a mother who is trying to nurture and feed her baby, instead of shunning her.
Sam Larnre says:
Mon, 3rd Nov 20088:50 am
Whomever feels this mother should not have used a social networking site to provide support for new mums with breastfeeding clearly faked their college entrance exams.
If you want to exclude anyone exclude college students. Get out and meet some real people instead of bigging up your fake friends list. Facebook is for people with enough life experience and world travel to keep in touch with people they live too far away from to see, or are too busy rearing children to get out of the house. Personaly I don’t have a child but have anough brain cells to realise what an asset a social networking site is to those stuck indoors with a baby.
So to all you disapproving children, urm sorry college students, who feel breastfeeding photos are inappropriate get out and party – you clearly need it to get over your damaged social skills cause by being bottle fed.
Sam Larner BSc MBA CMI
Roy says:
Tue, 30th Dec 20084:15 pm
For some reason this old story just showed up in the national news in Norway. Still, 100 million facebook users. How many college students do you think there are? *chuckle*
Heaven says:
Tue, 25th Aug 200912:41 am
First off, I hope you never have kids.
That said, I am 19 and have a 4 month old daughter and though I am not attending college yet I will be as soon as my husband (who recently graduated from Purdue University) has a job and we are settled wherever we are going to move to. My mother, who will soon be 40 graduated from Purdue in May 2008 so just because Karen was 33 does not mean she couldn’t have been a college student. Not to mention that facebook IS NOT just for college students anymore. It is a PUBLIC networking site that does not demand that you be affiliated with any college to be a member. I joined when I was in high school and there was a Jefferson HIGH SCHOOL network. Not to mention the fact that you would be hard pressed to find a college student out there who has not been exposed to breasts, either through having their own, being sexually active, seeing women breastfeeding (either in public or within their families and friends) or sex education classes. If they have been so sheltered as to not have been allowed to attend sex ed classes (and thus not exposed to breasts if they had not seen them in any other way) that is a sad thing indeed and we can only hope that they have received proper education from somewhere.
There are laws protecting a woman’s right to breastfeed in public and even if facebook was meant only for college students there is nothing stopping them from seeing a woman breastfeeding in public. Even young children can see this without the mother having to stop feeding her child. Why should places like facebook be any different? And I will tell you the same thing I will tell ANYONE who says I should not feed my daughter where it can be seen. “Who do you think you are? What gives YOU the right to tell me that I have to hide myself and my child away because she is hungry? Would you have me let her go hungry until we can be somewhere private? Would you yourself go hungry because you were in front of others who may not want to watch you eat? If you do not want to see my daughter eating, or me feeding her then DON’T LOOK! It is a SIMPLE solution. A CHILD could understand that if you don’t want to see something you just don’t look!” NO ONE is holding a gun to you or anyone else’s head saying look at this woman breastfeeding or I’ll shoot. Are you so ignorant that you can not understand something that simple and think women should not breastfeed where others can see, but rather should neglect their child’s most basic needs? Would you tell a woman who bottle feeds that they should let their crying baby go hungry?
There is NOTHING sexual or indecent about it. It is the most natural, healthy thing you can do for both yourself and your child and I hope that if you do have children you can grow up, and mature enough to understand that first. There was nothing wrong with that picture. I could possibly understand if her nipple had been showing but facebook was DEFINITELY in the wrong here and so are you.
No one made anyone look at those pictures and I am PROUD to be breastfeeding my daughter. I know that it is one of the best things I will ever be able to do for her and I do not feel the need to cover myself or my child, or hide away the pictures of me feeding her. I am not sure if I have put any on facebook but if I have not it is not because I was ashamed or embarassed by the thought of someone seeing it.
If we support breastfeeding mothers and do not make them feel like it is something to hide. If we make it more convenient rather than more difficult. If we do not act like it is indecent or embarrassing. Then maybe more mothers will make the right choice for themselves and their babies. As others have said BREASTFEEDING IS WHAT BREASTS WERE MADE FOR! Yes they can be sexual but factor in the baby attached to that breast and most people’s sexual thoughts will go right out the window.
For those of you saying that breastfeeding women should “bottle it” when they are in public:
What about women who cannot pump? The women in my family, including my sister-in-law, who is not blood-related, CANNOT PUMP. It takes me over THREE HOURS to get 2 ounces. My daughter can eat as much as 8 at one feeding when I do give her formula. And women who can produce all the breast milk their baby needs should not HAVE to give their child formula (or pump if they are able)to please insecure, immature strangers.
To all women reading this:
If you can not breast feed or truly do not feel comfortable with it (through no coercion from others)… If you do not feel that it is the right choice for you, then by all means use formula. There is no shame in that either. I myself supplement breast milk with some formula because I can not make enough breast milk to satisfy my daughter’s ever-growing appetite. But DO NOT let others shame you into giving up something that can be so good for you and your child. THEY are the ones who should be embarrassed and ashamed!!
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