[Benjamin]

When Lindsay Jaynes tweeted Delta Airlines's customer service account last Friday asking about its policy regarding breastfeeding her infant on an upcoming flight, the response sparked a social media firestorm.

"Lindsay unfortunately you are not able to breast feed if you don't have a cover up," the airline representative tweeted. "I'm sorry."

Parenting blogs picked up on the story, noting that 45 states have laws allowing women to breastfeed in public. After hours of uproar, Delta tweeted a generic apology: "Delta welcomes breastfeeding mothers and babies on our flights. We sincerely apologize for the misinformation."

Despite the clarification from Delta, many breastfeeding advocates are still angry, calling for the airline to publish its official policy on breastfeeding and improve training of customer relations staff.

"Delta is currently trying to backpedal its way out of this public relations nightmare, but moms observe, listen and remember when one of their own is discriminated against," writes Monica Beyer on the blog She Knows Parenting.

Jessica Martin-Weber on her blog, the Leaky Boob, recalls a 2006 incident when a woman on a Delta commuter flight in Vermont was forced off her flight because she refused to cover herself with a blanket while breastfeeding. She sued the airline and received an out-of court settlement.

"This is why breastfeeding needs to be normalized, as silly as that may sound," Martin-Weber writes. "It is also why discrimination against mothers, regardless of how they feed their children, needs to stop."

Kelly Kautz, on her blog One Woman Marketing, noticed an earlier Delta promotional tweet about the often-debauched Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans that in hindsight seems particularly tin-eared given its recent misstep:

"Flash us your … smile & book now to celebrate #MardiGras in #NOLA," read the tweet. "Save us some beads!"

"So... it's fine to flash your boobs in public, as long as you're not feeding your child," Kautz writes. "I shouldn't be surprised. Society has been sending this mixed message to mothers for generations. But to have it so demonstrated so clearly, on the social media feed of a major airline, is mind-blowing."

US culture, from Girls Gone Wild exploits to flesh-laden advertising, glorifies breasts as sex objects. It's an association that pro-breastfeeding groups are fighting against.

"Breastfeeding is NOT a sexual act," breastfeeding advocate Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Farrah Fowler on the TV show The Big Bang Theory, recently told Huffington Post.

There is no doubt that breastfeeding makes some people uncomfortable. The result is that, by becoming the public face of public breastfeeding, Lindsay Jaynes's Twitter feed has exploded with opponents blaming her for the row with Delta.

"When you're comfortable with men flopping their winkies at you, then you can flop your boobs around," tweeted Florida-based talk radio host Ray Junior.

Others called her "quite disrespectful" and said she was baiting Delta to "create a firestorm" and needed to "grow up".

Funny, feeding a baby seems like a pretty grown-up thing to do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-26361270

I have to agree, I have no issue with women breast feeding but surely having a cover up is not a bad thing, not all of us want to be seeing that happen.

[Kizzy]

Seeing what happen?... you travel extensively ben what do you do when women are topless on the beach,walk around with your eyes closed?

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Seeing what happen?... you travel extensively ben what do you do when women are topless on the beach,walk around with your eyes closed?

I don't make a habit of looking at women's breasts on the beach, nor do I often frequent beaches that have topless women.


I didn't give birth to the child, why should I have to watch it be breast fed? I don't see the issue with a cover up being used or there being a private area on planes for mothers to be able to feed their child in peace.

[Kizzy]

What makes you think you'll be forced to watch?

[Benjamin]

Well if the lady next to me on the plane starts breast feeding (not that I am going to watch, never said forced to watch) but it would make me feel uncomfortable and then I would have to constantly divert my gaze the other way. Why should I or others be made to feel like that?

I really don't see an issue with a cover up or a private area for mothers to feed their children. Do you disagree?

[Me. I Am Salman]

Just cover up you annoying ****s, it's the airline policy and it isn't a big deal. There are more important problems in the world

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-26361270

I have to agree, I have no issue with women breast feeding but surely having a cover up is not a bad thing, not all of us want to be seeing that happen.

Look away, then.

Babies having to eat > you feeling uncomfortable. When did everybody get so entitled?

[Kizzy]

I do disagree with them being ushered away like it's unnatural yes. Having a baby crying as it's starving is preferable to you then?

[arista]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Look away, then.

Babies having to eat > you feeling uncomfortable. When did everybody get so entitled?

Yes Shaun
a better Man you are

[Jessica.]

I wouldn't really have a problem with it tbh. Although if it was me I would definitely cover up anyway.

[Jack_]

People should be able to get their tits out if they want wherever anyway so I don't even care, let her breastfeed

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Jack_

People should be able to get their tits out if they want wherever anyway so I don't even care, let her breastfeed

Yeah it's not a big deal and neither is being asked to cover up

[Jack_]

I don't see why the sight of a tit would offend anyone, but then I think people should be able to walk down the street naked if they wanted so perhaps I'm not the best person to ask for an opinion on this

I agree with what Shaun said though

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Salman!

Just cover up you annoying ****s, it's the airline policy and it isn't a big deal. There are more important problems in the world

You're calling breast feeding mothers ****s?

[Toy Soldier]

Options: sit on a plane where a baby is being breastfed, or sit on a plane with a crying baby. I know which option I would go for. Breast feeding is generally fairly discreet, the nipple area is covered by the babys head, you wouldn't see any more than with a low-cut top! On top of that... why would you be looking, anyway? Baby or no baby - why would you be staring at a stranger's chest? Just don't watch??

[Vanessa]

It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, to be honest. But i would just look the other way.

[Z]

Not a big deal to me, women should be able to breast feed in public

[Livia]

I don't see the problem asking her to cover up. Breast feeding is a natural function. So is having sex. I don't want to watch people do either in public.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Livia

I don't see the problem asking her to cover up. Breast feeding is a natural function. So is having sex. I don't want to watch people do either in public.

just a quick look

[AnnieK]

Unless you actually stare at a breast feeding mother 9 times out of 10 you wouldn't know if she's feeding or just holding her baby...I'm sure most women on a plane would use scarf or something I would imagine

[GypsyGoth]

I don't have an issue with moms feeding their babies.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

I don't see the problem asking her to cover up. Breast feeding is a natural function. So is having sex. I don't want to watch people do either in public.

They are nothing alike ... nothing.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Livia

I don't see the problem asking her to cover up. Breast feeding is a natural function. So is having sex. I don't want to watch people do either in public.

So is breathing. There are lots of people that I don't want to see breathing in public, private, or anywhere else... but those pesky buggers just keep doing it. And I look the other way, so as not to be repulsed.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

So is breathing. There are lots of people that I don't want to see breathing in public, private, or anywhere else... but those pesky buggers just keep doing it. And I look the other way, so as not to be repulsed.

That's rather a stretched analogy.

How about conceiving a baby in public? That's another natural thing...

Women are entitled to feed their babies when they need to but I just don't understand what the problem is with being a little discreet about it.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Livia

That's rather a stretched analogy.

How about conceiving a baby in public? That's another natural thing...

Women are entitled to feed their babies when they need to but I just don't understand what the problem is with being a little discreet about it.

It's no more a stretched analogy than comparing breastfeeding to sexual intercourse, is it? I suppose the most accurate comparison would be eating. After all, breastfeeding is just a baby eating. It is in no way sexual. If someone can't separate breasts from sex, that is THEIR issue.

And to further the comparison: I often find people eating in public to be an issue for me. Like when people have a sandwich and take a bite, and you can see their drool all over the bitten bit, and the bread is all moist and sometimes there's a string of dribble to their mouth. yuck! I find it utterly repulsive.

You know what I don't do? Expect them to put a napkin over their head while they eat. It would certainly make things more "comfortable" for me, but it would also be... Well... a ****ing ridiculous request borne purely of my own personal distaste. I'd fully expect to be told to piss off. I wouldn't then call that person "inconsiderate" for not complying with my petty and ultimately pointless demands.