Let me jump in here and divert some of the anger from you to me. <g>
My wife did breastfeed, in private if she could as she is a very private person, but sometime of necessity in public. But few people knew when it was happening.
I think what's missing is that for most people in restaurants, dining isn't just about eating, it's a social experience. It's an attempt to have a pleasant, relaxed time with someone you want to share time with. It's why somebody will pay $75.00 for food that costs about $5.00. There are many things which would be perfectly appropriate in other places which detract from that. For example, most health codes allow men to wear bathing suits and thongs, and it's certainly more natural than wearing a suit and tie, but if a man showed up sitting at a table in the Rainbow Room or Four Seasons dining room dressed that way it would detract from the experience for the other diners. A restaurant has a right, if not an obligation (if it wants to stay in busienss) to provide an environment which makes patrons want to return. The restaurant isn't in the business of legislating morals, but of making wise business decisions.
If (note carefully the if, not a conclusion but a hypothesis) public breastfeeding detracts from the dining experience, and damages the business by causing customers not to return because they didn't enjoy their stay, is this okay?
Maybe we should educate everybody to accept breastfeeding (and bare male chests and legs) as natural things they should be quite comfortable sharing their dining experiences with. But I don't think everybody is there yet. And just because something is natural and normal and healthy doesn't mean it is appropriate everyplace.
Well, I trust I have diverted some of the anger from yourself to me. We St. Johnnies have to stick together! <g> |
