Breaking: breastfeeding woman offended, twitter outraged

FoxEye · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:02

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40843327

A woman took to twitter to express her "puzzlement" at being asked to cover her breasts whilst feeding her infant (~3 yo) in a museum.

What I find slightly amusing here, is that she was offended essentially by being asked to consider the feelings of other members of the public. Her answer amounted to, "People should understand how upset I feel when being asked to cover up." Is this not a little weird? Being offended by being asked to avoid potentially offending others?

woman in question said:
"The staff member was friendly and polite, but obviously asking me to cover up was still intrusive, unpleasant and embarrassing for me, as well as obviously ludicrous."

The woman told the BBC she was "stunned into silence" by the request from a female member of staff.

She then took complained to Twitter, who rabbled sufficiently to make the museum apologise. Apologise for causing offence by asking her to think about reducing possible offence to others

Brilliant.

e: Apparently 1 yo. Reading comprehension fail.

godinman · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:06

Who finds it offensive tho?

FoxEye · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:07

godinman said:
Who finds it offensive tho?

I find babies extremely offensive. Breasts less so.

Uther · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:08

Most natural thing in the world, if people don't like it, they have issues.

Diddums · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:09

godinman · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:14

FoxEye said:
I find babies extremely offensive. Breasts less so.

Seriously, what would your thought process be if you saw a woman breastfeeding? What would the problem be?

Dis86 · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:24

Uther said:
Most natural thing in the world, if people don't like it, they have issues.

So is taking a dump though. Literally every creature excretes waste. Not every creature breast feeds.

I'll also state that taking a dump is a delightful experience, one that I would happily share!

FoxEye · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:25

godinman said:
Seriously, what would your thought process be if you saw a woman breastfeeding? What would the problem be?

Wouldn't it depend what I was wearing? Could be embarrassing.

And what about the 80 year old bloke with a pacemaker? Could be fatal for him.

Destination · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:27

Uther said:
Most natural thing in the world, if people don't like it, they have issues.

Not to a 3 yr old.
Perhaps a 3 month old.
Wife breast fed everywhere until the child was age 1, for her own confidence she just used a little modesty cover.
Not anywhere, plane, restaurant, bus, park, public did anyone bat an eyelid to her breastfeeding.

FurryLemon · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:30

I don't see the issue with it myself. It's just a tit.

Angilion · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:30

FoxEye said:
[..]
What I find slightly amusing here, is that she was offended essentially by being asked to consider the feelings of other members of the public. Her answer amounted to, "People should understand how upset I feel when being asked to cover up." Is this not a little weird? Being offended by being asked to avoid potentially offending others?

It's not weird. It's about status. She has a higher status than them. In a similar vein, while a feudal peasant must avoid offending their lord at all costs a lord need have far less concern about offending a peasant.

FoxEye · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:32

Angilion said:
It's not weird. It's about status. She has a higher status than them. In a similar vein, while a feudal peasant must avoid offending their lord at all costs a lord need have far less concern about offending a peasant.

From what does she derive her elevated status? I wish to understand this better.

Diddums · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:39

Given that breastfeeding is probably one of the most intimate things a mother does with her child, I'd prefer if my wife did it in private too. Obviously this isn't always possible but I'd ensure that there were provisions for her to limit exposure.

That said, I do love a good generalisation and the fact that this kid was 3 years old, together with this photo:

Tells me that this is one of those irritating people who just moan for the sake of moaning. I'll even go so far as to say she's a massive Corbyn supporter, is probably a veggie and uses 100% natural sanitary products*

*Other generalisations are available, please enquire at the front desk.

Malevolence · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:40

The woman told the BBC she was "stunned into silence" by the request from a female member of staff.

I very much doubt that.

adolf hamster · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:43

FoxEye said:
From what does she derive her elevated status? I wish to understand this better.

being a mother, because this instantly transforms you into a superior being....

V F · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:48

Uther said:
Most natural thing in the world, if people don't like it, they have issues.

Angilion · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:49

FoxEye said:
From what does she derive her elevated status? I wish to understand this better.

The usual way - society.

If a person being offended is more important than someone else being offended, that person has higher status. When a person being offended is far more important than any number of other people being offended, that person has a much higher status. Since being offended is wholly subjective, the degree of priority given to it depends wholly on the relative status of the people involved.

VincentHanna · 6 Aug 2017 at 19:57

Diddums said:
Given that breastfeeding is probably one of the most intimate things a mother does with her child, I'd prefer if my wife did it in private too.

Why, nobody will be looking at your wife's ****.

That said, I do love a good generalisation and the fact that this kid was 3 years old, together with this photo:

Article says the kid is 1 year old.

You don't think it's stupid that she was told to cover up in a corridor full of nude statues?

Diddums · 6 Aug 2017 at 20:01

VincentHanna said:
Why, nobody will be looking at your wife's ****.

Article says the kid is 1 year old.

You don't think it's stupid that she was told to cover up in a corridor full of nude statues?

It's not about people looking, it's about us as a family keeping our intimate moments private.

VincentHanna · 6 Aug 2017 at 20:04

I don't think it's that intimate. My friends girlfriends are often breastfeeding their newborns when we are (for instance) at a BBQ or other social events.