On People of All Ages Eating in Public [View all]

[MineralMan]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I almost never watch anyone eat in public. I've also not noticed anyone watching me when I eat in public. Frankly, watching someone put food in their mouth isn't all that interesting, really.

So, I'm always at a loss when someone complains about an infant eating in public. And yet, that subject always seems to stir up controversy among some people. I can't imagine why.

Normally, eating is not something that stimulates sexual arousal, the eating scene in the movie, Tom Jones, notwithstanding. We all eat food. If we did not, we would not survive long. Most of us eat in public from time to time. We enjoy each others' company at the table.

The bottom line is that human beings are mammals, and are ideally equipped to feed infants naturally, as all mammals do. Whether one believes that humans were somehow created or that they evolved, the fact of the matter is that we are, indeed, mammalian animals. Both men and women have breast tissue and nipples because of that. Women who bear infants have hormones that kick in to provide the ideal food for recently-born human mammals, shortly after birth. Wise women take advantage of that to give their infants a great start on a long, healthy life.

Feeding babies is an essential thing to do. Feeding them when they are hungry is the best practice. If that occurs when a woman is in a public place, why should she not feed her infant? Why would that be of any real interest to anyone else in the area? Just as most people don't watch adults eating in public, most adults don't watch women who are feeding their infants in the natural way mammals feed their young.

In fact, having an interest in peering, or even leering, at a woman engaged in that activity is more than a little disturbing. Men who would do such a thing probably should not be trusted around women and children, in my opinion. While one might notice that a woman is feeding a baby, that should only be a matter of passing interest. It's nothing unusual. It's not any more interesting than watching someone devour a steak in a restaurant. Why would someone take more than a momentary notice of it?

My advice to those who are discombobulated about breast-feeding: Just let the baby eat and go on about your business. If you're offended by the sight of a baby eating, then look in some other direction. In fact, look in some other direction even if you aren't offended. Let the baby eat in peace and move on to some other activity. If you're staring and getting aroused somehow by that natural way of feeding infants, I suggest that you go and consult some sort of professional to find out what's wrong with your head.

And that's my opinion on a Sunday morning. Now, I need to go mow my lawn. If anyone thinks I need to be stared at while doing that, I will gleefully put the handle of the mower in your hands, so you can experience that entertaining activity for yourself.