They say their policies are to protect children who use the site…Children have nipples too! You think a 13 year old has never seen a nipple?

Get over it censors.

I had photos and videos of our female Bichon nursing her pups blocked by FB. As soon as I would upload a video, it was deleted due to “content restrictions”.

how retarded and pointless

The main issue is why are mothers posting breast feeding pictures to begin with? These self-absorbed people in this “look at me” culture should just start their own website. Freedom of association. I guess together with their self-absorption comes the sense of entitlement as well.

Only in the US of A will you see such uproar over the slightest of nudity…It’s just uterly ridiculous. It almost seems as if they’d rather feed us violent images, than the beauty of the human body. To be honest I’d rather my children see a sex scene, or picture over violent images any day.

I think this is so stupid. I for one don’t want to see pictures of women breast feeding on a social networking site. I agree with Facebook. Take down the photos. If a woman has to post pictures of her breastfeeding, I think she should put them on a pregnancy website or something. And seriously, what is this world coming to? Do women REALLY have to post these types of pics for the world to see? This is a private thing that should be shared between a woman and her baby….What woman in their right mind WANTS to post this to facebook for everyone and their mother to see? Is this the next “cool” thing to do? These social networking sites are a freaking joke. As a woman I would never post those type of pictures on the internet and I would never breast feed in public. I think it should be something private, much like sex or kissing. I don’t like those people who show public affection either. Certain things are meant to be done behind closed doors.

While I’m an advocate of bfeeding and did so with both of my children, I have to agree with Facebook’s stance. As they said, pictures of babies breastfeeding are not a problem. The problem comes when an entire nipple is exposed. If they are made to stop deleting the exposed nipple of a breastfeeding mother, where does it stop? I have a niece who posts on Facebook, along with many of her friends. I’d like it to remain a safe environment for her. Allowing full exposure of bfeeding nipples could be just the tip of the iceberg as to what people will then try to post.

What does Facebook think 13-year olds were doing 12-13 years ago?

While I’m a firm believer in the 1st Amendment, and do not want the Nipple-Nazis knocking on my door, I understand Facebook policy, or at least the intent. I would not like to see Facebook turn into sometype of YOUTUBE or PORNTUBE type forum. As always, there will continue to be those who challenge limits of “rules” made up by others. Facebook management has every right to run the site as they see fit. If others don’t like it…… why go ahead, raise the money, attract sponsors and start up your own E-site. THAT”S one of the greatest thngs about America – Freedom to “give-it-a-try’!

They said “lactivist.” That is hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.

So I guess a profile pic of a stripper with full covering pasties is alright, but a new mom breastfeeded is obscene.

Well done Facebook.

Bob– We were posting pictures of our nipples on the internet. Now if you’d said 20 years ago they’d be doing something else.

Its pretty sad that with all the legitimate causes out there–such as Hunger, Homelessness, War in the Middle East, Political Corruption and Environmental Destruction–these knuckle heads put their antiestablishment energy into protesting Facebook’s nipple policy.

Sad.

I still can’t figure out what all the fuss is about. Ever since the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” people have been up in arms over nipples and their “decency”. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but every single person on this planet HAS NIPPLES. Get over it! We’ve all seen them, we’ve all got them, who gives a rat’s a$$ if they are shown? Honestly, are we such a nation of religious prudes that we can’t look at the human body without getting a case of the vapors? Lame, USA, lame.

Baring it all, with 2 sets of cheeks to powder
No longer ankle fetish, Porn has become less exciting
Moral values are declining; with the raising of the Hem lines

Forget bailing out lost cause Detroit, CO2 belching, SUV producers
Porn industry jobs are being lost, exported to China
Immediate, urgent action needed by Obama
Shovel the inflationary dollars, to the greenest industry — Porn

I am glad they are watching what’s put on the site. I don’t want to see women breastfeed and I am a woman who has breastfeed in the past.

Bob what is your point? The breastfeeding should be in private quarters and not out in the open.

I don’t understand the need of mothers to post videos of themselves breadfeeding. There is no logical reason for it.

Even male nipples? What if I post a pic of me lounging on the beach? Will they remove it like they did the artists face made of his own nipples? There’s no consistancy here!

OK ! OK ! Let’s get rid of all the news photos of Obama topless in his swimming trunks ! Such a disgusting display of indecency !

Facebook has every right to censor these photos. I have nothing against breast feeding, and the argument that breast-feeding is natural is a good one, yet let us remember that intercourse and the naked human body are also natural. Should these be permitted as well? Plus, facebook is a privately owned cite. If you want people to see you breastfeeding just take some pictures and email it to all your friends.

This is ridiculous, not that Facebook is taking the pics down but that people went to such great lengths to show how distraught they were by Facebooks actions. To think, instead of spending all that time constantly changing their pics or status’ or participating in that “nurse in,” they could have simply not posted those pics. Ironically, making love in supposed to be a natural and beautiful thing, but how many of those mothers want to post pics of the actions it took to achieve/create that little bundle of joy?

Bob Facebook does not care if you do or did breast feed, they just believe that it should be in private. Majority of the population breast fed as babies, but does not mean they want it to be shown in the open. There are many young kids that are not allowed to see that.

I am with facebook…why are taking pictures of you breastfeeding your child. I do not want to see that.

I have no problem with pictures of breast feeding, but why are people posting breast feeding pictures? If you’re posting pictures of yourself breast feedning, isn’t that in bad taste? If you’re posting pictures of other people breast feeding, doesn’t that make you kind of a wierdo or pervert?

Does this need a protest?

Just cause you can post a picture doesn’t mean you should.

Breastfeeding photos are safe and appropriate for children of any age. They do not need to be protected from images of mothers feeding their young.

In nearly all states, the law specifically provides that the exposure of the breast, nipple or areola incidental to breastfeeding is not considered obscene.

It’s not obscene. It’s normal.

I am a member of Facebook and do agree with Facebook on their policy. As stated by Facebook they only took off photos that exposed the breast. I actually have a greater respect for them knowing that they are trying to keep the sight clean. So many websites are not monitored and lead to much more. I believe making love is a beautiful thing but you do not post it online. There have been complaints by other users which mean that some of the photos must have been posted publicly, as I can’t imagine that private postings would have been complained about by other users, hence it would have been for only approved friends to see. Out of over a million users only 145,000 users have a problem. I think we should keep certain things private. The majority do not want to see it. Just be continent with yourself and leave the photos between you and friends. You do not need to post breasts online for everyone to see, regardless of the reason for it.

While I understand the defense of breastfeeding and it’s photographs , it’s rather irritating that someone would post pictures of themselves breastfeeding on Facebook in the first place. The site was started as a social networking site for college students… not the type that would post photograph of a nursing child to share with their friends they met in psych 101. The uproar is laughable.

This is actually pretty funny considering there is hard core pornography of all types shown on profile pictures all over Facebook. But if someone shows a breastfeeding mother…OMG!

It’s their site, they can do whatever they want. If you don’t like it, leave.

How terrified we are of our own biology.

Why would anyone want to post pictures of breastfeeding anyways? I agree it’s not obscene and yeah it’s natural. But who really gives a hoot, just don’t post pictures of your baby sucking on your nipple… I don’t understand why these “protestors” find something better to do with their time. Facebook is its own company it can lay down any rule at any time… WHO CARES

Facebook is about networking with your web pals, not someplace to test other people’s interest or tolerance for nudity. If you want to post yourself naked, there are other websites for that. And mothers…please, I am not interested in looking at pictures of you breast feeding your baby (or anyone or thing, either). Don’t forget, alot of freaks get off on that, is it that you secretly want to expose yourself? I mean, what is the point? As far as “it’s a beautiful thing and perfectly natural…”. That is a matter of opinion.

Do you breastfeed at the dinner table with your family? Do you stop the party in order to have people gather around for your next feeding session? Yeah…probably not. Nobody is interested in seeing this private matter, and the people who are have very different intentions than what you’d think.

really, who cares, this guy took a lot of time for what? exactly. who the hell cares about this. Its their company they can do what they damn well please!

So, a man’s nipples are obscene now too? I guess every man that goes swimming needs to wear a halter top or t-shirt now. This is censorship at it’s best.

Do paintings and other forms of media also fall under the no nipple rule? Or is a painting of a bare breast still considered ART?

Why doesn’t Facebook just put a disclaimer on their site that no one under 18 is allowed to enter nipple-rific areas? Or at least have the more explicit or erotic “Baby feeding pictures” blocked if you are under 18 years of age when you log in. Sorry, I’ve never gone to Facebook and had no reason to until now… But blast, it’s blocked at work so I can’t see the protest.

So much for living in America, where your rights for freedom of speech and expression are only as good as long as you don’t offend anyone.

I agree with Facebook if you allow the breast feeding photos exposing the whole breast then you have to allow that for everyone breast feeding or not. personally i don’t want to see it those should be shared privately.

If you don’t like it, you don’t have to look.

So people can post wet t-shirt contest pictures, and any other
manner of stupidity, but breast feeding is somehow obscene?
What a world we live in… It makes you shake your head.

I breastfed all of my children & think it’s the best way to nourish an infant…”the breast is the best!” But I was always discrete & didn’t “push” it in public like some moms do. Of course breastfeeding is natural but Facebook isn’t the place to show it being done!!

As one can control who sees the pictures one posts on Facebook, it’s not like the general, random public is going to be stumbling across these pictures.
I have a friend with a picture of herself as she is being handed her newborn baby. One nipple is visible, as she was in the birthing process. How is that obscene? It’s not. Neither is breastfeeding. Either one is a natural human function. Why is a female’s nipple more obscene than a male’s nipple? Only because antiquated societal rules and laws say so. Really.

nipples on face book is isnt a bad thing. if people dont like it dont look. i love nipples

This is ridiculous. Why in the HECK do you feel the need to put a picture up of you breastfeeding? Would you walk in to a restaurant, pop out your boob, and shove your child’s face in to it in front of all those people you don’t know. It’s pretty much the same thing. I don’t care how “natural” or “beautiful” it is, no one wants to see you breastfeeding, picture or not!

starrzzguitar and everyone else all overwrought about breastfeeding babies…you’re kidding right? If you don’t want to see pictures of mothers breastfeeding their babies, then don’t look at the pictures and don’t have them as friends online.

So, does this only pertain to human female breasts? Or are males and other species involved too? Just curious…

I don’t get WHY people would want to show themselves breastfeeding their child?

Ditto Starzzguitar!!! I have come to find the 35+ crowd likes Facebook because of it not being sleazy like other sites (unnamed). WTG Facebook in keeping it clean!!

Uh Starzzguitar – why would you be searching around Facebook looking for Breast feeding pictures? Its a networking site for people who know each other or allow people to see their pictures. The only ones you should encounter of those of your friends and family and if you are so disgusted you can take it up with them outside of Facebook.

it amazes me that with so much going on in the world that people have nothing better to do with their time than complain that they can’t post pictures of themselves breastfeeding! Pathetic. Find a more productive, meaningful way to spend your time.

It would be wonderful to channel all the time and energy spent pursuing these kinds of battles into activities that actually improve the condition of mankind. As a nurse and mother who breast fed her three babies I’m an enthusiastic supporter of breastfeeding. But hey, find some needy person in your neighborhood who could benefit from your time and care and invest yourself there rather than fighting Facebook for your right to breastfeed online. Really! Get a life!

What if you are a man and you have a feeding picture?

You’re right starzzguitar: it’s definitely “a matter of opinion” whether breastfeeding is natural or not. I think it’s a recent invention by liberal exhibitionists to corrupt the morals of teenage web surfers.

As a mother, I understand the that breastfeeding is about as far from sexual as it gets, however, what I do not understand is the desire to broadcast such an intimate act through the internet. There is such a thing as modesty, and it’s underrated in our society. Just because breastfeeding is natural, and non-sexual, does not mean that everyone wants, or needs to see it.

I completely agree with starzzguitar. Having a bowel movement is natural too, but I don’t want to see somebody do it. I have no interest in seeing another woman’s boobs, and it makes me queasy to see someone breastfeeding. It’s no different than changing a diaper, which I’d rather not be witness to, either. You want me to video my cat in her litter pan???

Do it in the bathroom or at home. And for god’s sake don’t have it on the front page of Facebook where I might have it shoved in my face as well. Photos are not always private on there or Myspace either.

These mothers act like it’s something to brag about. I think they just want to show off.

Going to the bathroom is natural too, but I don’t really wantto see that either!

Personally I think that it is very creative and a great idea; however, I am a mother and yes I breastfed my son for 1 1/2 months, and I do not think that breastfeeding your child should be shared online, I believe that brestfeeding is best for a mother and her child and should not viewed by everyone. For what reason they were breastfeeding online is still beyond me, I also was told that it was for demonstration purposes, but they have guides and manuals to help you and show you the best way to breastfeed, before you leave the hospital a specialist will come and talk with you if you are considering the idea of breast feeding.

By registering to use Facebook’s site, you are agreeing to abide by their rules. If you disagree with those rules, then you should find yourself another social networking site (and there are many).

My kids were breastfed, my wife was always very discreet about doing this in private, or public. It is the natural way of things, you dont see animals feeding thier young human milk, do you? To all of you people who feel its obscene, its been the way to do things for feeding the little people for 1000’s of years, and still is in many countries. You all need to get over it and move on to things that really do matter in the course of a day or life.

I have to agree with Starzzguitar…there’s a time and a place for everything. I think it’s pretty inappropriate for women to shove breastfeeding into the faces of people on a social networking site. Do that via La Leche League or somewhere pertinent, it’s pretty selfish and irrelevant to associate that with Facebook. What a turn off.

I breastfed my three children for 2 years each and strongly advocate it…but I don’t see the purpose of posting pictures of myself breastfeeding on Irrelevant Sites on the Internet. The only thing that does is TURN PEOPLE OFF. I also have other opinions, but i save those for RELAVANT TIMES AND PLACES, and these breastfeeding mothers should do the same.

Also knowing there are some weirdos and creepy crawlers out there who do get off on breastfeeding, why would mothers want to potentially attract that?

If you want to post photos of yourself breastfeeding your offspring, why not do so on your private website, on the LaLeche League site or on a Mothers’ site….but not on a Social Networking site, that is WRONG.

who cares? no one wants to see you breast feed your kid in real life let alone on facebook. What weirdo wants to take pictures of themselves doing that then showing it to a bunch of random people anyway? If you want to share pictures like that with your family then do it the old fashioned way..email, home movies and printing them out.

I breast feed for 18 month and yes it is a beautiful and pertectly natural occurance. But, I never saw or had the desire to flash my boob in public. But, I guess they have their rights just like I have a right to tell them they are idiots.

I agree with starzzguitar, I am not interested in seeing a picture of a mother breast feeding her child. Even though the nipple or majority of the breast is not showing, what is the purpose of putting a picture of it online. I think breast feeding is something that should be kept rather personal and private. To be painfully honest, if you take a picture at just the right angle while a woman is giving a man a blowjob, none of the man’s penis or area around penis will be showing. Still no one wants to see it and it shouldnt be posted online.

why is this news anways? are you telling me that nothing else is going on in the world and this is the best crap cnn can report? who really cares about facebook taking down pictures of nipples, it’s a site for people of all ages so if they think a 12-14 or 16 year old shouldnt be able to access nipple pictures then let it be. what is big damn deal anyways, besides a pervert or pedophile who really wants to look at nipple pictures or girls breastfeeding? if you want to breastfeed then do it on your own time and not make it for the whole public to see, and stop complainging when someone thinks that its a little weird. and if you just like flashing off your nipples or making a collage from your nipple pictures then either get a new hobby or crawl out of your parents basement and get a lite. this facebook and myspace crap is ridiculous and annoying, and so are all the babies whining about this. there are way more important things going on in the world that this notorious nipple scandal.

It is amazing that anyone could get upset about breast feeding. This borders on the stupidity of the Janet Jackson incident. It seems to me that almost every man, woman, and child has a pair of nipples. Not only that, but if I recall correctly, your mother’s nipple was among the very first things that each of us saw the day that we were born. Lets get past the idiocy nipple hypocrisy and try solve a few of the countries real problems,

That’s a whole lot of people taking a stand on something so insignificant. I’m all for breast feeding pictures on facebook if thats what a mother would like to do…BUT…and I’m sorry your friends can’t be as brutally honest…we talk about you behind your back when you do stuff like that. In all honesty, nobody wants to see that…nobody cares but you. For the vast majority of us…it’s gross. Sorry.

Why would you post a picture of yourself breast feeding on the Internet in the first place. Does any of your family or friends really want to see that. As starzzguitar stated, do it somewhere else, don’t complain. There is no point. Just because you are crying about it Facebook isn’t going to change their policy.

I don’t care for facebook, myspace or any of those sites anyway. While its probably very stupid that they take the time to block breast feeing pictures, the bottom line is it is their site and they can do what they want. Don”t like it go some place else. I love when folks gripe and complain about something thats free.

Would you stand in the middle of a shopping mall and bare your breast to feed your baby? No, I don’t think so. So why would you do it here?

Starzzguitar 1:09pm : What is the point? Apparently many mothers are proud to be breastfeading, and want to share this with the world. Nothing new here.

And as far as “it ’s a beautiful thing and perfectly natural” being a “matter of opinion”: Of course, the “perfectly natural” part is not a matter of opinion. It simply is perfectly natural……(?)

Whether or not it is beautiful is indeed a matter of opinion. So? Wait….there are people with different opinions? Let’s boycot them!

This is NOT just mothers breastfeeding we are talking about. I have seen many of the banned photos where it’s not just an exposed nipple, but two fully exposed breasts, and it’s often not even an infant, but a two or three year old kid nursing.

We can listen to breastfeeding extremists talk about how natural this is, and how the WHO says you should breastfeed till kids are 2 or longer if you want, but the fact is, few Americans practice this sort of breastfeeding. And when they do, it’s in private. The women posting these photos are breastfeeding activists with an agenda. And Facebook is not the appropriate place for them to post their photos.

An objective viewer would have a hard time with some of the photos differentiating between harmless breastfeeding photo and child porn– while it may be perfectly ok to breastfeed your three year old while they gaze at you in estacy, I would argue that taking a photo of that, and posting it online, is not appropriate.

Likewise, it’s perfectly natural to carefully clean your baby daughter when she has a messy accident in her diapers, and that may involve carefully wiping her clean. But only an idiot or a pervert would photograph that and share it. I think the same is true with these breastfeeding photos.

Sure, it might not be pornographic to post a breast feeding picture, but, really, do most of the people who would see the picture have any interest in seeing it?

I certainly don’t want a nanny state (or site) to tell me what’s decent. At the same time, I think people should have a sense for themselves about what’s appropriate in a public page. If you really want to show yourself breast feeding, why not email the pics to people who might care to see them.

I never “exposed myself” while breastfeeding in public. The reason I took pictures of my children nursing is the same reason I took pictures of them eating peas, or brushing their hair, or crying over a boo-boo. These are their life experiences. Many “freaks get off on” feet. Should I stop wearing sandals or going barefoot?

Although controversial, breastfeeding in public certainly could be something that we who are “adults” may not have any issue with at all. However, our hormone level/effect is very different when compared to a 13-year-old and even older men/women who indulge in pornography.

We “adults” have matured–at least physically. In a moment of solidarity, a 13-year-old young boy may have a hormone rush and despite internet blocks on pornographic sites, he may have easy access to “safe” sites such as Facebook. Accessing breastfeeding pictures, the young man likely does not have the thought of how beautiful and wonderful the creation is. In contrast, he may very well use those pictures to fulfill his hormonal desires. Such actions far too often lead to addiction and poor behavior–paradigms we need to keep in check in our nation.

Please keep in mind the contrast between “adults” and teenagers. I applaud Facebook for removing those pictures while at the same time applauding those mothers and others who promote breastfeeding.

If its ok for women to expose their breast while feeding then why not all the time, they are natural right?

I, for one, support a woman’s right to breast feed. I support her right to advocate for it. I do not, however, support her right to publish it on an Internet site or to do it next to me. It’s uncomfortable. I think that women who insist on publishing pictures with their breasts in their infants’ mouths should respect the feelings of others and try to get their message across another way.

these are supposed to be private pages. so how is everyone seeing the
nursing photos to begin with. are they searching for them on purpose?
i know many nursing mothers (was one myself) – it’s a fine and wonderful thing. if they want to post nursing pic then they should be able to.
those that take issue with it – move away from the page and don’t return.
if we are going to censure nipples then an eye for an eye – i don’t want to see mens and i certainly don’t want to see the underwear of those who
can’t seem to buy properly fitting clothing…

Seriously ?!

The issue is over breastfeeding pics? Pics in photo albums, which are in profiles that are 95% private?

Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure anyone who would come across a photo of their friend breastfeeding wouldn’t be offended.

But I am glad that Facebook lets kids who are under 21 post pics of them drinking. Blatant illegal acts are far less serious.

why are humans so afraid of our bodies?

So they have a ban on male nipples, too? Why the heck was there any problem with Phil Hansen posting a picture created from pictures of his own MAN nips? doesn’t make any sense.

I have not seen many woman breast feeding their infants. An occasional woman at an airport and that’s about it. Most of them are rather discreet, letting a corner of the blanket over the babe’s face and her breast. My instinct is to look away.

As for posting pictures of yourself breastfeeding, why would anyone care? There are lots of pictures I don’t want to look at, and I don’t look at them. This includes pictures of anyone breastfeeding.

There are plenty of pictures I enjoy looking at, so I look at those instead of pictures of women breastfeeding.

I’m not sure why anyone particularly wants to post a picture of herself breastfeeding, but I don’t know why people wear tight shoes either.

My question to Facebook then becomes, if nipples and areolas are the deciding factor, in the interest of equality shouldn’t all topless male photos also be banned?

Why do people feel the need to post pictures of themselves breastfeeding their baby? Unbelievable! Facebook has millions of members. They have to make rules regarding what can and cannot be seen in picutres that apply to EVERYONE. I do not blame facebook one bit for removing these picutes. Instead of wasting your time posting pictures of yourself on facebook, try spending more time with your kids. People who are members of groups like “Hey Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene” are exactly what is wrong with this country today. Nothing but a bunch of whiny brats who have always got what they wanted without question. If you want to post breastfeeding pics, create your own website you lazy morons!

This article is boring.

what a bunch of morons you all are .Who cares and who gives a …….

The comment about ONLY taking down photos that show the “areola and nipples” is an outright lie. My album (not even my profile pic) had one of me and my daughter. IT showed nothing more than a cleavage happy shirt some hollywood starlett would wear. And it was “offensive.” And starzzguitar, facebook is also a place to display your interests and show your friends who you are. There are just as many “freaks” who get off seeing girls dressed sexy (there are photos of that) or off of children. SO they shouldnt post photos either? IF you don’t want to see the breast feeding photos, do one thing. Don’t look at them, and pass on by.

If you won’t let me pee in the grass with out harassment, then I don’t wanna see your baby suckle your nipples either. If I can find a bathroom, you can find a discreet place to suckle your baby. As for the internet the porn is overwhelming who cares about nipples.

starzzguitar, perhaps you (or someone who agrees with you) can explain what IS natural if breastfeeding is not. I’d love to hear that one. Beauty is obviously an opinion, but there’s no ambiguity when it comes to calling breastfeeding natural. It simply is.

starzzguitar – what part of breastfeeding being natural and beautiful is “a matter of opinion?” for goodness sake, lose the puritan values. sorry if you weren’t breastfed as a child… sucking on formula your mom bought at safeway…yeah, THAT’s natural….

Why does baring your breast while breastfeeding signify that you care about breastfeeding your babies more than mom’s who choose to cover up while doing so. News flash: it doesn’t. How hard is it to use a blanket? People who sign up for facebook have to agree to the terms. You know what you are getting into before you start, the terms are very clear. Go back to myspace if you can’t follow the rules. That is one thing that differentiates the two social networks and is a reason that many people choose to use facebook…because it’s clean. If you want to throw a fit, do it somewhere else so the rest of us can enjoy facebook the way we are meant to. Also, the guy with the nipple picture has a little too much free time on his hands…

hey, if u don’t like it, don’t look @it, there are alot of other websites out ther to go on besides facebook, stop ur whining and suck it up, what do u do if theres a tv show on u don’t like to see, or a song on the radio that u don’t like ? is’s not rocket science, move on.

Interesting discussion. I had a picture of my then 3 month old son sitting in the bath tub on Myspace and they yanked it saying I violated their decency rules. It is a scary time when a smiling picture of a baby is yanked simply because you can see his bottom.

All of these sites have a Terms of Service agreement that you are supposed to read and AGREE to. People who forgo reading it before agreeing and then later have a ‘Liberal Enlightenment’ are just plain ignorant.

There was a similar fiasco on Livejournal where it was brought to the attention of the staff that a lot of underage porn, and a lot of incestual photos, were being drawn (or manipulated) and distributed through Harry Potter and/or Supernatural communities (among others). These violated not only the TOS, but also the LAWS of this country and people jumped up to protest. They protested THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.

While I applaud any woman who chooses to breastfeed their child (there are far too many women deciding against it for vanity’s sake), if I have to choose between having to look at photos of a man’s face made of nipples thrown in for the “Lulz!” in between ACTUAL photographs of women breastfeeding, I’d choose against having the photos altogether.

“By now, you’ve probably heard about the latest controversy on Facebook”

Actually, I’ve heard TOO much about it, but the ONLY place I’ve heard about it is CNN.com! Tempest in a teapot.

If you feel so strongly compelled that you MUST show a photo of your fully exposed breast while nursing, there are plenty of other outlets to exercise your freedom of expression.

It doesn’t even matter whether you think it’s a reasonable policy or not (I think it is), because the point is those are the terms and you have other options.

I just don’t understand why its perfectly find to have man nipple all over, but breastfeeding is banned. Thats just crazy….

Going to the bathroom is also natural.. But I sure don’t want to see pictures of it!!!
By the way, why you post pictures of that? Hey mom look the baby is s@&#/@ing on my T##.. Some things are better left unseen…

THANK YOU STARZZGUITAR at least I’m not alone. I think this whole thing is super-ridiculous. Not everybody wants to see that, and it’s not because we’re prudes, it’s because the act of breastfeeding is personal, and does not need to be broadcast. Have some consideration….or go work at a strip club if you so desperately need to be ogled.

Breastfeeding is a natural and normal activity. It is no different than bottle feeding in my mind. Would it bother you if I posted a picture of me botlefeeding my twins? Then why should it bother you if I posted a pic of me tandem feeding them?

My pictures are viewable by my friends, not by the facebook community. If someone doesn’t like the picture, they can choose not to look at it. I am not naked, nor am I “testing others tolerance for nudity.” The amount of breast shown in most fo these pictures is equivelant to what shows in a bikini top or tank top.

Starzz… it is natural, that can’t be argued. Frankly, the mothers who post the pictures aren’t posting them for people like you, or anyone they don’t know for that matter. Most people use networking sites for their FRIENDS, who many times do care… especially when these women have female friends on there who want to know all about the baby and see pictures and everything. That’s why they have privacy settings, so you cannot simply say that they are trying to “test other people’s interest or tolerance for nudity.” I’m sure if you use facebook you have pictures of yourself with things or doing things you care about (drinking? sitting with a friend? pictures of a guitar?), well that’s what these mothers care about. Different interests for people with different lives.

My question is — it speaks about a woman’s breasts, but then removes a picture of male nipples? There are tons of shirtless guy photos on Facebook… IMHO women shouldn’t have to be set to different standards.

I am a strong advocate for breastfeeding and have breastfed both of my daughters past the “acceptable age” – one was for 22 months (until I was 3 mths pregnant with my 2nd) and the 2nd for 21 mths. Both were breastfed until they no longer want to – they were never forced. However, while initially I was in support of the protest, I have since seen the pictures that were removed. Tasteful, normal breastfeeding pictures of babies are not obscene however, pictures of women breastfeeding 2 babies while completely naked, pictures of completely exposed breasts – with no baby attached, pictures of the baby’s face “next” to the breast with the breast completely exposed should not be shared to the entire world. They are pictures that if you want at home for your collection fine…but once you make them public in that sense you are opening them up to offense. Be reasonable people…the majority of the ones fighting this are, in my opinion, those militant types that are doing this to prove a point. I support breastfeeding rights however within a sense of modesty. I have breastfed in public – in stores, in the movies, at church, in the mall any place my child was hungry – however I did not expose myself to the whole world in defense of breastfeeding.

starzzguitar, that breast feeding is natural is not a matter of opinion – it is a simple fact. It being beautiful is perhaps debatable, but if you don’t find it beautiful, no one requires you to look at it.

What if the “web pals” one wants to network with are other nursing mothers, or family and friends who share mom’s joy at her baby? Should your nipple aversion dictate their behavior? Why?

If you find an image of a breast feeding mother to be offensive, then I suggest that you’ve got no business being on the internet at all, as there are far more extreme things readily found all over the net.

I wonder if they would allow a pictiure of me milking my cows teet. Would that be considered obsene?

I think breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, but I have no idea why a woman would feel the need to post such a picture on Facebook. starzzguitar is correct….this is a fetish to a LOT of people. I knew of a woman who created a website and charged guys to watch….and she made money!

I’m a woman, a mother and i breast fed my children but i’m with starzzguitar. Supporters of Breastfeeding claim that it is both a beautiful and natural thing. Breastfeeding is a very personal and intimate moment between mother and baby, as well as an opportunity for mom to bond with the baby. These aspects of breastfeeding do not support the argument to have the right to do it publicly nor the desire to make a breastfeeding spectacle of yourself. The beauty in it — is reserved for those most intimately involved. The public on the other hand sways from one extreme of repulsion to the other extreme of eroticism. This is just another form of corruption of a womans sexuality and has no place in a public social network.

I’m a mom who breatfed my kids. No, I will not be posting breastfeeding shots. Yes, nuturing a baby is beautiful, but it’s not something to share with the whole world. It should be a personal moment.

Besides, women who have kids know by now how much boys and men like boobs. Posting breastfeeding shots with nipples on the internet is porn. I don’t care if there is a baby in it. The baby is just a pathetic excuse to justify it.

Ladies, what is with the need to show off the nipples? Psych 101 says you’re looking for attention. Yes, your breasts have changed after giving birth, and I’m sure you’ve heard all the horror stories about how they’ll never go back to being “a nice rack”, and you are trying to make yourselves feel beautiful again. And yeah, husbands and boyfriends can really suck in this area when it comes to making you feel beautiful. But don’t put pics of your boobs on the internet and try to disguise the “voyish” need for attention as “breastfeeding”.

There is help for your boobs. It’s called exercises. Yes, they do work. I’m a DD, and it works. Granted, it took longer than someone who is an A or B, but the exercises do work. So please, no more baring of the boobs. I have lived through Gloria Steinhem, ERA, and countless battles of sexual harrassment in the workplace – on both sides. Don’t knock us back to being simple sex objects. That’s what the prostitutes and porn workers are for.

I do believe facebook is free and I think they can make any rules they want. I don’t understand how people can even protest this, its not like they are paying for this service or that its some government given right to use facebook.

I nursed all three of my boys and was very proud and passionate about it. I guess the difference between me and some other moms is that I was discreet about it and never made anyone feel uncomfortable. I would shield myself with a blanket or whatever. The bottom line is that breasts although they are doing a very natural act are still “private parts” and wouldn’t normally be exposed. I am so tired of women trying to push the nudity factor down everyones throat. My husband and I were at a get together a while back and one of the Mom’s-while sitting across from my husband at a kitchen table was nursing her 18 month old. This is fine except for the fact that her entire breast was pulled out and exposed. My husband was uncomfortable and so was I. There are ways to do this and make people comfortable. Again I know it’s a natural thing and a baby has to eat, but come on! Please be respectful of other people. I have a picture of me nursing my oldest son when he was a newborn and although it is a cherished picture it was for my own precious memory and I have never felt the need to flash it around. What is the point of posting pictures on Facebook? Was it to show proper postions? There are lots of other references on that. This is just my opinion and something that has always bothered me.

I use facebook because they take keeping it clean, freindly, and safe to use very serous. I stopped using the others because they dont. There is no need to broadcast pictures of breastfeeding to the world. That should be something private and personal to ones family. Facebook has policies for a reason. If someone dont like it, then you dont have to use it, its a right you have. But you should consider other peoples feelings that may find that to be an unnessasry picture for there small child to see, and caution you against what the wierdos will do with it. Seems that the ones that put all this time in protesting and such, obvously has nothing better to do.

Simple solution – if you want to post a picture of your baby on facebook then take a picture after you’re done feeding them. It’s not a hard concept to understand. If you don’t agree with their standards then leave… there are plenty of other social networking sites to go too.

Why don’t we limit Facebook to 18+/College Students like it used to be and then this wouldn’t be an issue.

Is that beautiful or natural?

@starzzguitar — That is a totally closed-minded comment. Sure, you don’t want to see breast-feeding women and babies, but it’s not up to you now, is it? It’s up to society. The world was not created to revolve around you and make sure nothing gets in your bubble. Sometimes you’re going to have to deal with things that you don’t like and just suck it up like an adult. Learn to deal with things rather than make other people change.

That being said, I think this whole “nipple war” is out of hand and they should just let breastfeeding photos appear on the site. They won’t win this PR war and personally, I think it’s stupid that society even has an issue with public breastfeeding.

starzzguitar is right

follow the rules or don’t go on

I knew when Facebook posted their reasoning it would make sense and I knew it had nothing to do against breastfeeding they are just trying to stick to their original rule

Post your baby pics on a website for mothers or babies……

If your friends email you on facebook you can just email them to your friends I don’t even know why you would want the breast pics up on your profile page and I’m sure some people look at them and are like “whut the…”

Why do people try and push the rules all the time and try to make it a negative thing?

so unnatural… Did you have mammary glands surgically put in??

After reading Facebook’s logical sounding response to CNN, this appears to be another kneejerk reaction by a group that didn’t get all the information first. A nursing baby is beautiful, but not eveyone can deal with seeing it in public as easily as one might wish. Beyond that, a picture of a nursing child is WAY different than a picture of a baby laying next to an exposed breast.

is breastfeeding obscene? no. is breastfeeding a private action between mother and child? yes. do i want to see it anywhere, ever? no. is there a rational or logical explanation for anybody wanting to post something like this on a social networking site? absolutely not.

With all the REALLY IMPORTANT stuff there is going on out there,
THIS is what we are talking about?

Human beings have been nursing children by breast since the
proverbial “Adam and Eve”. There is nothing about this that would
be offensive anyone. This is obviously a cave in to the prudish
“religious” minority out there in the hinterland.

Get real America…..and Face Book.

Peeing is a beautiful thing and perfectly natural. It is not obscene! I demand to have my peeing profile image left intact!

If breast feeding pictures are allowed, I don’t see why the picture of me defecating in my lawn shouldn’t be allowed. Its a wonderful act of nature and I should be allowed to share that with everyone.

Why do people want to post pictures of themselves breastfeeding anyway? I find that weird and creepy.

The true mistake these mothers are making is that they assume that others have an interest in their lives. Get over yourselves, no one cares that you have a baby.

Wouldn’t you rather have Facebook err on the side of caution to protect people from internet predators?
C’mon people! lets use some commone sense.
The story should really be why people want to share personal, intimate photos of themselves and their families on a publicly accesible system.
Dont get me wrong, I have no issues with breast feeding but, if you want to share these photos do so personally.

I don’t see what the big fuss is about. Facebook is a free service and as such reserves the right to enforce whatever regulations are in their best interest. If you want to post pictures of your nipples, do it on your own website.

Stupidity factor just went up a notch… people in general suck, be somebody, don’t be another idiot face in the crowd.

I can understand the fight for women to have the right to breastfeed in public. Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy activity for a baby, and babies can become hungry at any time of the day. It’s not practical to force women to go and find some place to hide in order to breastfeed. I am completely in agreement with that notion.

This issue on Facebook is not the same fight. Now we’re not talking about the right of a woman to do her natural thing when it needs to happen. Now we’re just talking about wanting to show pictures of the act on a website. Denying those pictures on the site does not deny the mother the ability to breastfeed her child. There are no rights violated.

There is not a 1-to-1 correspondence between Facebook and real life. After all, a 12 year old child is allowed to exist in the US, but they aren’t allowed on Facebook. Neo-Nazis are barred from Facebook, but they have a right to exist in the US. Do we want to bring all of that into Facebook?

starzzguitar – I can see where you would say that the statement “breastfeeding is a beautiful thing” is a matter of opinion. However, “perfectly natural” is not opinion. It is, in point of fact, how nature intended mammals to feed their babies. Human happen to be mammals.

It’s fine if you don’t want to see it, don’t like it, are offended by it – whatever. But don’t act like it’s not a natural act because it most certainly is.

starzzguitar how about you not look at those pictures and let people do what they want and what about the picutres of 13 year old girls showing their behinds. My friends daughters had some pictures posted that i thought were not appropriate but so what not any of my business. And keep you mind out of the gutter

whats the big deal? if somebody wants to post a pic of them breastfeeding thier kid, then go ahead. why should i care. If i dont want to see it, then i just wont look at it. pretty simple.

I think the whole thing is retarded. Is not about exposing yourself. What about those mothers who want to share pictures with family and friends? what if that family and those friends are abroad? Isn’t being a global network one of Facebook’s goals?

To me, porn and outright nudity is wrong. But, breastfeeding?

I’m a photographer. I don’t post nude photos even though I have a lot of those in my book but I’ve seen some colleagues having their pictures removed when is about artistic nudity. My friends need to resort to flickr and other sites where such strict policies don’t exist.

Remove what is inappropriate or pictures with high sexual content. Everything else is art or natural. As far as I can remember, we all came nude to this world and now it seems is something outrageous.

It’s ridiculous

C’mon, why would anyone feel the need to post video or pictures of themselves breastfeeding on the interwebs? Just stupid.

Facebook is a free service. It’s not like it is paid for with tax dollars. The management can enforce whatever standards they see fit. If you have a problem with it, go somewhere else or start your own social networking site. Whatever you do, don’t try to force your standars and tastes on those who run Facebook.

Being a free society doesn’t mean you can force everyone to accept or even tolerate the same things you do.

Oh, and by the way, while breastfeeding is indeed natural, that doesn’t mean it is beautiful. I can think of several totally natural biological functions that I hope I never have to see another person doing…ever.

Facebook, as a company, has a right to ban canned peas if it so chooses.

The bottom line is that it is Facebook’s site. Therefore they make the rules. Don’t like the rules, get off Facebook. End of story.

P.S. No one wants to see your breastfeeding pictures.

Thank you facebook! I am glad I am no longer subjected to seeing a mother breast feeding her baby! Arent there bigger problems in this world? To everyone who has time to protest nipples I suggest finding a hobby!

In the same way that breast-feeding might be considered “natural and beautiful” let’s also consider human reproduction (the prerequisite to breast-feeding) to also be natural and beautiful. If we’re going to consider or debate the act of exposing breasts in photographs for it’s “natural and beautiful” value, let’s also allow photographs of “natural and beautiful” conception and reproduction then shall we? I write this as a woman that’s just looking for “fair is fair”.

come on, no matter how “beautiful” breast feeing might be to a new mother, we really don’t want to see it. FB is networking, not starting some silly conterversy that no one really cares about. Why don’t they use their efforts for a better cause, peharps, starving children in the US?

Why does anyone bother with Facebook?

As a woman, I support breast feeding. However, as a person, I don’t want to see it. Why do these women even want their nipples / breasts showing??? They’re the same women who would picket facebook to remove photos of topless women ’so their child wouldn’t see them’. If they want to share photos of themselves breast feeding, they should do it on their own website. Facebook is following protocol & public opinion – which is that no one wants to see someone’s boob hanging out with a baby attached.

How hard is it to drape a baby blanket over yourself?? Be quiet, cover up, and stop whining about how ‘beautiful’ it is

This is crazy, I feel bad for Facebook. What are they supposed to do? If they show these pics, they’ll come under fire for permitting obscenity by intolerant Christian America. I’m sure If they remove them, they get hit by the libertarians.

PEOPLE WHO USE FACEBOOK AGREED TO THEIR TERMS OF USE IN ADVANCE. ABIDE BY THEM OR DON’T USE FACEBOOK.

It’s that simple.

Facebook’s statement says it all — breastfeeding is great, but displaying breasts publicly is not appropriate. Their action makes perfect sense, and I’m embarrassed for the protesters who think that removing such photos is somehow a condemnation of breastfeeding.

The big deal is that this country is so screwed up when it comes to nipples. We have nipple phoebia and hang ups on sex!

It’s ok to see half naked women pimping hot dogs, cars, and alcohol but a photo of a baby eating the way we humans were intended to is considered obscene–this is just wrong. Please. Women still have to fight for equal rights in all areas of our life. Breastfeeding is natural and the best food for a child. A woman should have the right to nurse without having to hide her breasts. And Facebook is crazy for pulling these photos down when they let 12 year olds go half naked on the screen posing licking bottles etc. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Right on, Steve. I’ve seen pictures posted of naked newborns on there, too, which I find a violation of the baby’s privacy–I do NOT want to see your newborn’s penis!!!! If people want to post breastfeeding photos so badly, get a flickr account.

OH MY GOD WHO CARES?????????????????????????

To remove photos of nursing mothers from Facebook is to further the pathetically puritanical perception that the act of nursing is something that should be hidden. By making breastfeeding something that should happen behind closed doors, hidden away from public view, pushes women to stop breastfeeding too early out of embarrassment. This is a public health disaster. You people need to get over your fear of BOOBS. They’re BOOBS. They have a JOB. That job is NOT to get men off, their job is to FEED BABIES. If you men are so scared of the image of a nursing woman that you have to continue to make it taboo is ‘proper circles’. . . UGH! Pathetic.

Ah, America. God forbid children should see breasts. They might ask what they are for! Where is our shame? We should be ashamed of our dirty, filthy bodies!

RE: Breast-feeding being natural. Of course it is. So is using the toilet. But I don’t need to see pics of either on facebook.

If you look through the groups on Facebook, specifically ones about nipple piercing you will see photos of bare chested men displaying their nipples, these haven’t been pulled. Nor have pictures that clearly show erect female nipples, albeit through a t-shirt, been pulled. Nor has the picture for the group Gold Nipple Productions been pulled, a female torso painted gold.

I fail to understand why this guy’s profile picture was pulled when some bare chested men’s pics haven’t. I also fail to understand why the female breast is considered obscene in the first place and why the male breast isn’t, except in this one case where it was made into a self portrait.

Facebook is not as open as MySpace: meaning to look at someone’s photos, you have to either be allowed to do so by the person posting, or the person posting photos has to set up their account so that people in their respective area (think county) can view them. The argument against does not hold much weight in any direction I have heard thus far.
As far as my personal opinion, the act of breastfeeding is about as arousing as watching a gyno work.

First of all, Facebook asks you to obey their rules when you create an account. So if they want to forbid pictures of breastfeeding, or pictures of dachshunds, that’s their prerogative, and if you don’t like it, go back to MySpace.

Secondly, who in the flying *%$& are these people that want to post pictures of themselves breastfeeding a baby? And why do they think anyone else wants to see them? And really, if there are people in your circle of friends that WANT to see pics of your boob in a baby’s mouth, do you really want to know about that?

Yes, breastfeeding if a very natural thing. So is taking a dump, and I think we can agree that those pictures aren’t necessary here either. “iReporter” Phil Hansen has made a slash by protesting this whole thing in the form of a profile pic of himself made up of tiny pics of his nipple. Congratulations Phil, you’re an iTool. Keep your fetish to yourself.

Its about the 3 monkeys. Hear No Evil, Say No Evil, See No Evil. I only see most sights completely protecting the last one. Our society sux in this respect. Our puritan leanings are keeping us from advancing as a society. We spend way too much time on stuff like this.
We can talk about nipples but we can’t show them. Whats this about using words and pictures based on context? Give me a break either we are prudes or we are free.
About some sicko getting off on these pics, I say so what, people find many strange things exciting are we all members of the thought police now?

I am a nursing mother and I also love Facebook. However, I don’t have a burning desire to post pictures of my nursing baby for all to see. As much as I support breastfeeding mothers, I don’t know why it has to be so “in your face(book)”. Really, what are you trying to prove to the world? I have heard about men who think breastfeeding is a very sexy thing to watch and they admit it turns them on. Why would you want to invite that person to oggle your very beautiful and private act of feeding your baby?

Keep on nursing your babies wherever you need to, in the mall, the car, wherever the baby gets hungry. I am not against that! Just be careful about those lurking about, especially in FB!

who cares

How are nipples unsafe?

Sorry, I gotta agree with Facebook on this one. If there was a way to restrict access to certain photo’s to only authorized friends, then I’d side with the users. If this was Europe, this wouldn’t even be an issue… but this is the US, where conservative republicans want to squash any ideas of sex from the public, while secretly propositioning men in airport bathrooms.

I’m sorry I’m a woman and there are some things I don’t want to see. Yes it’s natural and all, but taking a squat in public isn’t allowed either. If they cover with a blanket I’m Ok with it, but some mothers don’t care and whip it out for all to see. And after the baby is done with it it is not appetizing to the older crowd at all.

I agree. I am a mom and nursed and personally, I don’t want to see other women nursing. I support other nursing moms, but there is a big difference in nursing because you need to (your child is screaming and hungry) and taking pictures of yourself nusing. I think these sit in nursers are exhibitionists. Your child is not going to be warped if you cover his/her head while nursing to provide decency and comfort to those around you.
Additionally, using the bathroom is also a natural thing. We’d die if we didn’t, yet most would agree that they don’t just want people pulling down their pants and using the bathroom in public – unsanitary and exposing body parts that are best covered in public. So, what’s the big deal.
Breasts are not asexual body parts in our culture. So, if you’re gonna post pics of yourself anywhere, keep the goods stashed, please.

Let’s see what facebook does about the “uneccessary” pictures of (young) girls sprawled across their beds posing practically naked, the ones in their bathtubs touching themselves, or even the ones where the young girls shirts are wide open (of course hiding their nipples) and the shorts are shorter than I don’t know what! This isn’t a modeling agency or a place to find a model or a porn star. I think that is more inappropriate than a mother breastfeeding her baby in public or posting her pictures. Facebook, REMOVE these pictures instead!

While I think breastfeeding is beautifully natural (I nursed both of my children), I can’t imagine ever wanting to post a picture of myself nursing my child for the world to see…am I the only one that thinks that’s kinda weird

WAY TO GO FACEBOOK!
The topic is not breastfeeding the topic is “Where do you draw the line?”
Breastfeeding might be natural but so are other bodily functions. Why can’t I post myself taking a wizz? It’s certainly natural and I guarantee that someone somewhere thinks it’s beuatiful also.
Why can’t mother’s understand that no one cares to see their “beautiful” moments with their baby? It’s only imprtant to you!
Go somewhere else … I’m sure the Guggenheim will jump at the chance to post your pics!!! sheesh

I love how all the comments are from men. If you don’t want to look at a pic of someone breastfeeding don’t. We have to censor ourselves now cause some psycho might get off on a picture. PULEEZE If some guy can post a pic of his face made out of nipples I hardley think a pic of some mome feeding their kid would be offensive. What year is this that breastfeeding is still used in the same sentence as the word obscene?

I nursed all 3 of my beautiful children, but I still don’t want to see someones nipples (male or female for that matter). I don’t understand what these women are fighting for. Nipple viewing or nursing? It seems to me that it has become a fight for the right to show your nipples. There are websites that do allow that, go there.

Do women really feel the need to post pictures of themselves breastfeeding to thousands of people? We get it–you are proud to be a mom. You are doing a great thing by breastfeeding your baby. But really?!? If you want to send extremely personal pictures to family and friends–go right ahead. But honestly–is Facebook really the place?

I think it is ridiculous that a mother would post a picture of herself breastfeeding. I am a mother and I would never do anything like that. Breastfeeding is an intimate time between you and your child. It is not a time for the entire world to see something like that. I think all of you who agree with showing such a picture to the world should get over it.

The world is going to hell in a hand basket and you clowns are talking about whether you can show nipples??? Get real here NO ONE CARES. And if you do GET A MEANINGFUL JOB, speaking of which I need to get BACK TO MINE.

Again, let’s not forget that they only took breastfeeding photos off that actually exposed the nipple. It may sound insignificant but at what point do they stop nudity on the internet. I agree with Steve. Facebook has the right to monitor the site. If you don’t like the terms and agreement that you HAD to agree to when signing on, then use a different website. I chose Facebook for the sole purpose of their monitoring standards. You would be angry if someone came into your home and told you that you had to put certain pictures on your wall.

Thank you Facebook! You had a very clear and classy response to these breastfeeding photos.

I feel this is a total waste of time for all parties involved (including mine!!) First, I totally agree with facebook. Everyone should feel lucky to have the use of facebook considering it started out as a university only program to keep students and teachers connected. Second, why would you even think or want to post a picture of you or anyone else breast feeding? Yes, I know it is a natural thing, but I dont really need to see it….

Starzzgitar, you have got to be kidding me. Should we also take down pictures of our children because there are perverts out there that get off by looking at children playing? Should we also remove national geographic magazines from the library because they may have naked people in them? Maybe we should burn anything that offends anyone. Darn…..that pesky first amendment…..

BTW,
It is a FACT that breastfeeding is natural….bottles are man made devices that only came about over the past couple of centuries to fill in for mothers that are too busy (or other reasons) to provide NATURAL feedings. Still to this day, there is no formula that can provide all the antibodies and nutrition that comes from a mothers milk.

You may find breasts offensive, but I find ignorance offensive….I guess we will both just have to deal with it.

Facebook has every right to manage what they allow on the site. If you feel compelled to display yourself breastfeeding, then create your own site.

Do these protestors have nothing better to do? Take care of your children and stop wasting your time on facebook!

I don’t think the fact that breastfeeding is natural is really a “matter of opinion”. Just look at just about any mammal anywhere on the planet. Just a little food for thought.

I don’t get it… Censorship on pictures of a breast but not on the daily load of misery and horror in Gaza. Oh well, it looks like the US (and hence US companies) are getting more conservative by the minute.

Isn’t there a war going on in the Middle East? An upcoming president dealing with spiraling out of control economy? A 22 year old who molests young boys? A flood that has robbed families of homes and their own belongings? Why are we bothering ourselves with such small petty issues as showing pictures of breast feeding. If anything 13 year olds SHOULD see that so they stay away from the consequences. Facebook is allowed to make their own rules and follow through on them however they want but they also have to realize that people are choosing to post those pictures which unveil their own privacy… so let them.

Man, this story’s being milked for all it’s worth ;o)

Oh, yea. It is not a public website. You agree to conditions when you sign up. Take your pics somewhere else that you HAVE control over. Plus there are weird people that probably get off on those types of pics. Are you comfortable with that? It’s partly to protect the moms too. To an actual mom, yes they are boobs, boobs are marketed sexually! How many people with bigger boobs have to fight to get men to see thier face and not their chest? How many get implants to boost their self esteem? Until it’s acceptable for women to go bare chested regularly in society I don’t see why it’s banned as indecent. Especially slobbery boobs.

I’m sorry, but breastfeeding is no more natural or non-sexual than urination or defecation. If you’re going to allow someone to perform one of these acts in public then logically you have to allow all of them. Otherwise, people will just have to use the facilities that already exist for these natural, necessary, and non-sexual acts. They’re called restrooms. In this current “protect the children at all costs even if it infringes on everyone else’s rights” and litigation-happy society, I don’t even want to think about the trouble Facebook would be in if they allowed teenage mothers to post pictures of themselves breastfeeding, regardless of how natural and innocent the act may be.

That said, Facebook is a private online service. You agree to their terms of service when you open an account. If you don’t like it you can avoid signing up, cancel your account, start your own competing service, or raise a big fuss about it.

The site of breastfeeding makes me want to hurl.

Yes, breatfeeding is natural, and beautiful. But it’s beautiful because of the feeling you have with your child, not because of showing it off. Sex is natural, and can be beautiful. Should we start posting videos on that?

I have nothing against breastfeeding, and in fact, I encourage it. But it’s between you and your baby, no one else. Get a blanket or go in another other room. No need for everyone to see, especially if some people are uncomfortable with it.

On the other hand, I don’t understand why nipples are so taboo. Ok, they make people feel uneasy, but they’re not scary. It should be up to the individual if they want to show them or not. However, it’s a policy of facebook to not display them. If you don’t like the policy, don’t join. Would you go into a Chinese retaurant demanding Italian food?

What about cats? I hate it when I look up someone’s picture and instead they have an image of their stupid cat. I am offended, and demand that all pet images be removed immediately.

Breasts are totally unnatural and should be shunned by society.

This is a senseless debate.

To those offended, as the late great George Carlin would say about radio or tv shows you find offensive, turn the channel.

To those religious folks, are we not made in God’s image? So God is offensive as well.

To those looking for a sexual thrill – Jeesh Louise, look some place else (although the porn industry is what really fueled the Internet in its infancy).

This isn’t about Facebook hating breastfeeding. Being headquartered in California, most of the people there are probably very libertine with their attitudes. Breastfeeding is natural and they know it.

HOWEVER, since the meaning of “porn” is so subjective, they have to take a very clear-cut stance on what can and can’t be shown in order to be fair and avoid controversy. To keep Facebook clean and avoid becoming MySpace, they simply say no nipples. Breastfeeding or otherwise.

Short, smart, safe definition. Good business decision.

What a twisted society we live in. People prudishly denounce photos of nursing mothers and babies, but have no problem with Hooters billboards. Breastfeeding is equated to bowel movements, while the most popular tv shows are filled with gore and serial killers. Ooookay, then. Freud would have a field day with this. It is so very screwed up.

While some of the photos on the “Hey, Facebook..” group are simply gorgeous, breathtaking, sublime and natural – the increased traffic is not always from well-meaning champions of the cause. Some viewers may be deriving vicarious pleasure without paying for them (that they usually do on the ‘other’ commercial sites they frequent). For the safety on these women and their beautiful bodies, it is better to exercise restraint and not exhibit everything for a great ’cause’.

I couldn’t disagree more with the people upset with Facebook. Breastfeeding pictures are obscene and offensive with no difference than any other exposure of the body there is. They should be under an “adults only” protection as well as any other form of nudity or enforce no pictures of nudity be permitted at all, period.

Yes, I agree! All cat pictures should be further banned. What are these people trying to hide anyway by showing a picture of their pussy?

It is child pron grow up. Honestly people do not like looking at your pictures of breastfeeding in the work place. ffs. Would you like it if I started hanging obscene calenders off my desk? No you wouldn’t.. ******* hypocrits. Please look at this in more than one perspective.

I’m lol at the people who snottily decry breastfeeding pictures as an attention-getting device.

Doesn’t every photo on Facebook fall under that category?

I mean, people post photos to share them–and many of those photos are far less appropriate than breastfeeding photos, such as the ubiquitous “hey, look how drunk I was!” party photos.

And it’s not like people accidentally come across Facebook pictures–they don’t pop up on your Internet browser while you’re reading CNN.

so now we can post pics of our poops too? that’s natural also. how about pics of women giving birth? that’s also natural.

Gee…don’t like facebook taking down your pics? Last I knew, FB was privately owned and didn’t charge their users a penny. I can find no law that says you have to frequent FB either. Seems to me they can do as they please.

But: you could always buy yourself some bandwidth and start your own site. Whiners.

Facebook can set whatever restrictions they want. Don’t like them-go elsewhere. As for the need to show oneself breastfeeding- why? To show you add some sort of value to the world? These same women are the ones who go nuts if someone cannot or chooses not to breastfeed naturally. No issues with breastfeeding-just with the woman who think it is so important they must post it.

I think those who want to share pics of there bonding time with there sweet babies should be able now i think a better course of action from facebook would be to make these pictures none public, rather only aloud by family, So now i think time for facebook to section off the friends list so friends can see public photo’s and family can see total photo’s. Friends would never have to see it, but family on the other end of the world who do not see an issue with a mom feeding there child can see it….
It is accept by all restaurants, stores, malls and any other public building for mom’s to breatfeed safely in public, as well as parks, churches, and where else. La lech has fought for this for breast feeding moms. So if its ok all over the world in public then why not on a social network? makes no sence,,.. But i do think its time for facebook to look into deep photosharing on the site, again having a family and friend photo list. Its a pain as it is to go threw every single picture and list if its made public to all, just friends or private. so allow us to section off good close friends and friends and family.
Be a way better course of action then outright banning a photo of a kids head and a partial mound of skin. And i think if facebook banned breastfeeding they should band any and all photo’s of men topless and pics of woman with nipples showing. That would be the only fair thing to do, unless you are against breastfeeding which i suspect they are, from what i know facebook is mad up of mainly young teens and very young adults. Prove your not anti-breastfeeding by removing any and all topless men pics and provoctive pics of woman nipples threw there braless shirts, OR section off friends list easier for pic sharing!!!

Listen People…

People should have every right to post what they want on their own profiles. It’s THEIR profile!!! You don’t have to look at it, its not like they are pornographic images. Get real, I have seen plenty of inappropriate images on Facebook, worse that a women breast feeding. Pictures of people peeing in bushes, grabbing their genitals, and SKINNY DIPPING!! If Facebook is policing every single persons profile, then Facebook is violating its own privacy laws.
And in response to “starzzguitar” who said
“Don’t forget, alot of freaks get off on that, is it that you secretly want to expose yourself?”
Yeah well some people out there get off, on just images of little children, what are people not supposed to post those now to, cause it would be provoking all the pedophiles out there??

I agree, Mark, this is NOT the same fight. And like another poster said, these people agreed to the T’s and C’s when they created their FB accounts. If you don’t like the Terms or the Conditions, leave FB, create your own page.

I’m a new mother that breastfed so its not that I’m against breastfeeding. I’m just tired of all the craziness surrounding THIS issue. Its simple, follow the rules or get out of the house!

Mark January 9th, 2009 2:09 pm ET

I can understand the fight for women to have the right to breastfeed in public. Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy activity for a baby, and babies can become hungry at any time of the day. It’s not practical to force women to go and find some place to hide in order to breastfeed. I am completely in agreement with that notion.

This issue on Facebook is not the same fight. Now we’re not talking about the right of a woman to do her natural thing when it needs to happen. Now we’re just talking about wanting to show pictures of the act on a website. Denying those pictures on the site does not deny the mother the ability to breastfeed her child. There are no rights violated.

Facebook should just be shut down permanently. They have had a lot of problems, and obviously a lot of people cannot be adult about certain pictures.

I was in a mall couple of weeks ago and i saw a woman breasfeeding her baby in public. I walked by her and did not both me at all as man. I think it is natural and every human being was breastfed in way or another. We have to respect the nature. thanks for all mothers out there.

Brad (and all),
Actually I do breastfeed at the dinner table . . . because it’s easy and efficient, and no one present would rather listen to the baby scream instead. In fact, that’s the reason I breastfeed in public, too.

Whether you think it’s right or wrong, some breastfeeding moms want to show pictures because they are proud of what they do. Other breastfeeding Moms generally enjoy those pictures because it evokes some of the pride, sweetness, closeness, and whatever else they felt during their own time nursing. It’s a natural thing, not a sickness. Further, Facebook isn’t my space . . . and generally the people seeing the pictures are already friends and family (especially with use of the privacy settings).

Clearly breasts are evil. I think that has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Nipples are evil and corrupt young minds. Why should a parent have to explain to their children what a breast is and what its function is? It’s not like children will ever grow up and have breasts or even have to be exposed to them.

Guess what, the whole nudity taboo is absurd. So is the breastfeeding taboo. But facebook has chosen to censor both and its their decision. It’s no more or less absurd.

I don’t think this has anything to do with breast feeding from a FB standpoint..It has to do with nudity and they have a strict policy against it. which I’m sure was in place when all these protesters signed up. The protesters are twisting things around to gather public support and to force face book to cave in..

I’m all for nipples, but come on, why is it necessary to have a breast-feeding pic on Facebook? I don’t think it is explicit or anything like that, but is it really necessary to show yourself breastfeeding? It’s a natural thing yes, but that opens the door to show some urination pics for example if you want to be technical.

Udderly ridiculous!!

People are offended by things that natural now?

Breast feeding should be done in private and if you have to go out in public bring a bottle of your breast milk. I also had children but I fed them at home and I don’t want to see you pulling out your breast while I am grocery shopping, out at the mall, in a restaurant or surfing the net. It is TOTALLY UNNCESSARY. You are inviting perverts, child molesters etc. especially showing them on the internet. You people have to be sick. Before you know it, people will be having sex in public because it’s their time to ovulate, it’s downright disgusting. There is a time and place for everything and breast feeding is NOT one that should be displayed in public. GROW UP and stop using the times as an excuse to do that. And FACEBOOK, you’re RIGHT, it’s INDECENT – don’t give in to these immature idiots. KEEP THEM OFF THE NET!!!

Somewhere along the lines America has gotten confused about the Bill of Rights, specifically freedom of speech.

You have the freedom to speak your mind, or if you so choose, expose any part of your body in a photograph on a website in America. No problem, there are plenty of websites that will allow you to do that.

Now, and here’s where it gets a bit complicated, Facebook also enjoys the same rights that you do…… please let that sink in for a minute.

Facebook can speak their mind and control what content they want to display on their website. It belongs to them, not you, and they have ‘freedom of speech’. Your bill of rights does not provide you with the ability to force someone else to say what you want them to say.

If Facebook chooses not to display elbows on their website, that’s their right. And by the way, you can complain about it all you want to, that’s your right. Isn’t it great?

And by the way, nowhere in the Bill of Rights does it say you have the right ‘not to be offended’.

Bluevanilla…………you are right on. Breastfeeding is natural but quite different than bowl movements as I was appalled to read it was being compared to. My god some of you men are so dramatic. People network with friends. You don’t go out and search for ‘breastfeeding moms’ HOnestly, when both of my boys were first born they were given to me to nurse right away. We took of a picture and nothing could be seen, but it was a miracle to have my baby in my arms and to be able to provide nourishment to them right away. I mean really, think about the context of these pictures. I highly doubt it is of women sitting on a parkbench, at noon, sans-shirt, feeding a four year old. Just think about things before you start going overboard criticizing such a stupid issue!

This is a matter of controling mature content on a mostly student based free community network. Facebook, as a free online service, has every right to generate rules to avoid any possibility of un-savory, un-wanted, or lude images from appearing on their website. If you go lax on the rules, how long untill there is a discrepency of say a picture of a 6 year old breast feeding from his mom, there are cases where children older than 1 or 2 still breast feed. What then, so stop the flow now and don’t bring about the possibilty of further inappropriate items.

Carolyn, i breastfed my child in a mall, I wasn’t kicked out i wasn’t asked to do anything, hey left me be. There is a group called La lech they have fought for woman rights to breastfeed in public all over the world and won!!! Incase you didn’t know, No public place can ask a feeding mother to leave. But they now have to have a room for mom who aren’t so bold to do it like me in the open. most malls now have room with a comfy couch and secure for moms. but there is no law saying we have to use the rooms. I think before people make comments they should educate them selfs about breastfeeding.

Animal imagrey has always offended me.
Who can I talk to to get all animal pictures removed from facebook?
Our society shouldn’t have to look at things covered in fur or with scales on them.

How absurd will this pointless company get?
FB as a “social site” is run more of a “fascist site”.

Why aren’t men forced to cover up? I’m reporting every single male with his shirt off on FB… nipples are apparently just too obscene to be left out in the open by anyone.

American’s are far too uptight and lead very sheltered lives.

Look, this is the internet. Despite what you think, there are rules set by the person who owns the site you are using. If you do not wish to follow the rules, then leave.
Also, it IS the internet. Everybody can see what you have posted. Do you want your employers looking you up online and being greeted with a healthy dose of your nipples being sucked on? Do you think that would be a good thing to put forward?

Also the argument that it is “perfectly natural” is so overused and asinine now a day. How about this: It is built into men’s nature to want to spread their seed, so cheating is perfectly fine and beautiful. Is that ok? Would it be ok for us to post pictures of the perfectly natural act of mating on facebook? It IS perfectly natural…

You know what else is perfectly natural? Bathing. But you don’t see many people running buck naked through a car wash screaming out, “Bathing is perfectly natural and I should be able to bathe where I want”. This is very similar to your breast feeding where you want online on a site that you used but do not own.

Get over yourselves and follow the rules. The END.

“udderly” ridiculous

Geeze, get a life people. If this is the biggest issue you have to concern you then america is in a dismal state indeed.

are you guys crazy? My child uses facebook and i am glad that they block these photos (and several other kinds) and not because i am against breastfeeding, it is the exact opposite. I breastfed and believe that others should as well, but not everyone needs to see your body parts. If you want to post pictures of that then get a My Space, they dont moniter anything!

The argument isn’t whether or not people should be able to post breastfeeding pictures The argument is if facebook is going to enforce that rule towards breastfeeding moms, they needs to enforce that rule to EVERYONE. I don’t want to see anyone’s ass or breast during a drunken night! And for those who think breastfeeding is a sexual thing, grow up!

There is a world of different from a totaly naked person and a portion of a mound of skin visable.

Breastfeeding is in no way close to bathings.

Mating is again completle different everyone a man has mention sis completely naked woman, WE DON”T FEED NAKE people…

The petition has been signed by 154,000. Wow. Out of the 70 million users on Facebook. Get over it. Facebook can set whatever policies it wants to. And users have every right to close their account with a company they do not agree with.

The problem with the Facebook policy is that it is narrow and strict, without much consideration for context.

Going by the policy, and ignoring a broader context, both female and male nipple photos should be deleted. To do otherwise is to institute a policy that discriminates against women.

On the other hand, if the policy is aimed to restrict the posting of sexually explicit photos and these often include female nipples, in context and sexualized, that’s a different story. A policy should be flexible and sensitive to the meaning of content, not stupidly fixated around nipples.

Prohibiting sexualized photos that may include nipples is fine, but it clearly does not exclude photos of breastfeeding mothers. And if your argument is that breastfeeding mothers should post “look at me photos” elsewhere, then I can counter with the same argument about just about any interest group on Facebook –and goodbye goes the entire purpose of the site.

Chis, did you just seriously compare breastfeeding to peeing and pooping?!

America’s reputation and economy are getting worse by the second, and it is still as uptight as ever. Open your eyes and start focusing and things that actually might help this country and not destroy it further!

Alli exactly,,

The best course of action is to section off friends list. so photo’s can be allowed by certain people. Alot ieaser then the pic by pic it is now.

Family total access to family pics,

Pics of friends visible to friends.

Misc pics seen by all

So people who have these pics can place them in with family and friends wont see them.

Not to play the devil’s advocate, but I am a 22 yr old girl with several peers who have been pregnant and given birth and I would really appreciate it if they stopped putting up pictures of themselves nursing.. I REALLY don’t need to see that! I can choose to not look at their profiles but thier pictures appear if they are recently updated so it can’t be avoided. I’m siding w/ FB on this one. I know its “natural” but so are a lot of other bodily functions I would prefer not to witness pictures of!

Policies are Policies. Why are people always protesting something because they refuse to follow rules?

So don’t use the site then. It’s a private site and the owners/creators are entitled to make whatever rules they want. People don’t have the right to use it, it’s a privelege…there is no right to post breastfeeding pictures, regardless of how strongly one feels on the matter.

There are lots of natural functions people don’t need to see pictures of.

This is not even a 1st Ammendment issue. The 1st Ammendment has to do with the government not restricting freedom of speech. The founding fathers were worried about government restricting speech because we only have one government. We have lots of private companies. Private companies can have all the speech restricting rules they like. If you don’t like it, you can find another one that will allow you to post your pictures or you can start your own website.

And yes, it may seem stupid that people are allowed to post suggestive pictures on FB as long as their nipples are not exposed while the naturalistic nudity of breastfeeding pictures are not allowed, but FB has to draw the line somewhere. They simply cannot consider every last picture on a case-by-case basis.

GET OVER IT!!

I find it funny that the act of nursing is a controversy and can be debated as to whether it’s an natural act. Hopefully all the righteous yuppies will just keep feeding their babies, Synthetic Baby Formula, full of Petroleum based compounds like Melanin, then you can move them on to mood stabilizers and psychotropics, by age six, courtesy of Big Pharma and the friendly psychologists , which are at best profiteering, from keeping us dumb, and sickly. Never a lack of symptoms and conditions to pile on, your precious little lab rat.
Let me get this straight?
Photos of lactating mammals = Obscene
Funny, as FaceBook does’t have any problem showcasing Military weaponry, or allowing open recruitment, and propa…err… public relations tools. Breast feeding gypsies= socially intolerable, but glorified videos of mechanized warfare leveling all opposition to smoking ruin, and men running around with machine guns, is pure as driven snow. I sense a real disconnect in our reality. But now I’m being Unpatriotic, can’t have that. I guess I my mother shouldn’t have breast fed me, I’m taking food from my comrades mouths at the baby bottle factory.

I breastfed my child and agree it is not something for the whole world to see. It is nothing to be ashamed of and I did it in public WITH A BLANKET!!! The blanket not only provided privacy for my child and I but also protected the public from seeing something they normally wouldn’t want to. I could sit at a restaurant while we were both eating and the next table would be none the wiser. I like to think that I saved some parents the problem of explaining something to their own children earlier than they wanted to.

I find it funny that the act of nursing is a controversy and can be debated as to whether it’s an natural act. Hopefully all the righteous yuppies will just keep feeding their babies, Synthetic Baby Formula, full of Petroleum based compounds like Melanin, then you can move them on to mood stabilizers and psychotropics, by age six, courtesy of Big Pharma and the friendly psychologists , which are at best profiteering, from keeping us dumb, and sickly. Never a lack of symptoms and conditions to pile on, your precious little lab rat.
Let me get this straight?
Photos of lactating mammals = Obscene
Funny, as FaceBook does’t have any problem, showcasing Military weaponry, or allowing open recruitment, and propa…err… public relations tools. Breast feeding gypsies= socially intolerable, but glorified videos of mechanized warfare leveling all opposition to smoking ruin, and men running around with machine guns, is pure as driven snow. I sense a real disconnect in our reality. But now I’m being Unpatriotic, can’t have that. I guess I my mother shouldn’t have breast fed me, I’m taking food from my comrades mouths at the baby bottle factory.

So it is ok to show a man’s nipple (witness the millions of photos of topless men, including our own President Elect) but not a woman’s? Why?

To all making comments about why the woman posted the picture in the first place, if you had read the original story, you would have known that she is a part of group advocating a return to natural nursing, a group similar to La Leche, a now-nationally known organization. There was nothing obscene about the picture at all, and as a matter of fact, most of her auriole WAS covered.

What I find most amazing is that graphic violence can be posted on Facebook — I’ve seen it — but not something as innocuous as a nursing mom. This is our old Puritan roots showing, roots that should be dug up and tossed on the compost heap. You won’t see this type of issue anywhere else but in fundamentalist Muslim countries where the women are totally covered. So we are made to look ridiculous yet again in our “rooting out of obscenity” by censors who obviously have more time than sense. Another point made was that a woman’s breast (but not a man’s) is considered a sex organ. Obviously, this was determined by a MAN!

remember when facebook was just for college students? If the site wasn’t so concerned about making money through advertisements they wuoldn’t have to deal with this kind of nonsense. Who wants to watch a women breastfeed anyway? Honestly?

Facebook should implement an agreement “explicit content” field so that users who have risky photos may continue to express freedom of speech. Meanwhile those who wish not to see such content (and those under the age of 17/18) are automatically excluded from seeing these photos/content. But of course, this is too logical.

Personally if people took a look at the site they’d see that they can make albums private for a selected few to look at. How do I know? I have various albums set for certain groups of people. Plain and simple. You can group friends in certain lists, and give permissions to those lists for certain albums, posts, videos etc. Nipple policy averted! They are not public that way.

*spoiler for the vid*

A photo of a guy shaving… you can see his nips. *sigh*

I am currently breastfeeding my child. I don’t do it in my public and I don’t do it with any family and friends other than my husband. I don’t have to see it on facebook and I agree that there are much more worthy causes to support. Grow up people.

FACEBOOK BEWARE, NIPPLES TRAVEL IN PAIRS! IF ONE DOESN’T GET YOU, THE OTHER WILL!

How about men at the beach or pool? Do their nipple pics get deleted? Just curious.

I don’t care whether or not nursing baby pics are up on Facebook, but I do think that women should have a little more modesty that to have a picture of their *exposed* nipple showing, even with a baby’s face next to it. For the record, I’m a mother who nursed both children. I nurse in public too, but not by whipping out and shoving it in my kid’s face. Get a blanket or a nursing cover, or at least turn to not be exposed while your baby is latching on. Have some modesty.

Where do you draw the line? How about keeping with the one that is already established: no nipples or areolas.

Well, that just about caps it. In many states, if not all, your allowed to breast feed in public. You can breast feed on a plane. Bugger, you can breast feed at a pro foot ball game, but you cannot post pics of breast feeding women. If the entire issue of nipples is to be “Fair” then there can be no pictures of males without their shirts on. Because, (GASP! THE SUPRISE) men have nipples too!

Women will stop breast feeding, taking pics, and sharing them when we can squeeze out formula and bottles along with our progency.

We all just need a life I mean come on there are more pressing matters to discuss and have broadcasted on CNN then a “Nipple Controversy” on facebook….. how absurd I mean really, is this what it has come down to even with the economy the way it is? We should be focusing on ways we can help each other out and find solutions to help fix the more pressing issues at hand.

You all are missing the point…. I serious doubt FB would have a problem with this if it wasn’t for hungry attorneys. They are covering their butt because some idiot will find an attorney that will make a case to sue them. Rid the USA of frivolous lawsuits and solve a WORLD of problems and costs….

Offended by breastfeeding. How about not looking

I think the interesting thing is that the only way you could be “exposed” to such a picture is if it was posted by your “friend” on Facebook, since you can only see friends’ profiles. If you have a problem with one of your “friends” pictures, take it up with them, not Facebook. If they refuse to stop and you are so deeply wounded by such heinous images, remove them as a friend and you will never see it again. Problem solved, no need to censor an individual’s right to free expression.

Where are people’s common sense? Breast feeding is not obscene, but it should be a matter of privacy. People seem to have completely lost a sense of modesty. Not everything we do must be broadcast to millions of people in graphic detail. Instead of trying to impose some hopelessly inadequate external censorship guideline here, why don’t people just recover some sense of modesty?

First of all, yes Mark I agree, just throw in a filter for anybody showing a little skin and make them fill out an extra EULA. But yes too logical.

lets argue whether or not it is natural.

All of you ‘activists’ are stupid in arguing that it is natural and beautiful. That same asinine argument can be made for any natural bodily function. JUST BECAUSE IT IS NATURAL doesnt mean everybody wants to see it. And yes we did just compare one natural function to another because that is all you seem to be harping about and it is easy to do.

But lets go back to my originl post. Do you want your employers seend a picture of your naked breast while they are looking you up prior to offering you a job? Probably not.

Did you make the rules of facebook? No.
Are you following the rules of facebook? No.
Should you follow them or leave? Yes.

I don’t see what the problem is here except that maybe theere are too many people who got what they wanted their entire life until now and really have a mental issue with being denied.

Get over it, you are an adult now, act like one…. and set a good example for your little one attached to your chest.

This to me is much like the howard stern issue. If you don’t like it, click off the site or turn the station. Facebook is not a government agency that has to follow any rules other than their own, and no one is forcing nipplistic or antinipplism attitudes on anyone.

I have nothing wrong with what they allow or don’t allow since I’m not paying a penny to be on their site!!! Sadly they probably have to disallow it because the FCC will find a way to fine them 500K for one moral majority member suing them over their childs PNSD (Post Nipple Stress Disorder).

Why so serious?

If you don’t want to see breast feeding, don’t look at breast feeding pictures. No one is prying your eyes open and making you watch.

And how about all the people that post private photos on websites like flikr when they should upload them to password protected albums like snapfish

The world is losing its mind…

In America things are black or white (not meant as racist of course)…everything has a corporate policy and the line is drawn somewhere…if the picture needs to be removed then it needs to be removed…if not, leave it there…facebook can do whatever the heck they want…the site is theirs and they offer it for FREE…if you don’t like it…buy your own domain site and put whatever the heck you want on it.

Mark –
Isn’t it inherently “self-absorbed” to assume that people care what you have to say on a comment board as well? Give it a thought, and give self-righteousness a rest?

…which is ironic…because it could be argued that I’m being self-righteous to you.

Anyway – my point is let people be. If they want to be on Facebook, why does it make them self-absorbed. Maybe they’re just bored. Maybe they just want to communicate in a different way than on the phone with people they can’t see in person. Maybe they ARE self-absorbed. Then again, maybe you are too.

I have to wonder why women feel a need to post pictures of themselves or anyone else breastfeeding. It’s a beautiful thing but I believe it should be a tender moment between mother and child. Nursing moms should do it privately or at the very least cover up with a little blanket as our moms use to do if they HAD to do it in public, although no self-respecting mom would do it if they had a choice.

I think it is just poor judgement to be “out there” and I have nothing against breastfeeding or breasts in general, after all I’m a woman and I was breasfed myself. I think it just comes down to some women can’t find enough reasons to flaunt their breasts.

why does a policy about facebook make the news? What, did they write a good press release or something? this really is not news.

As a transexual woman, I find the contoversy over breasts and nipples totally ludicris. Men have breasts too, they just have differnt homone treatments. If I continued my life as a man I could expose my breasts anytime. However now that they have grown due to female homones, I can’t expose them with out getting in trouble. there are men with breasts as big or bigger than mine yet I would have probs and they wouldn’t. A stupid double standard that society accepts.

@jamey:

You said: “I believe making love is a beautiful thing but you do not post it online. There have been complaints by other users which mean that some of the photos must have been posted publicly, as I can’t imagine that private postings would have been complained about by other users, hence it would have been for only approved friends to see. Out of over a million users only 145,000 users have a problem. I think we should keep certain things private. The majority do not want to see it. Just be continent with yourself and leave the photos between you and friends. You do not need to post breasts online for everyone to see, regardless of the reason for it.”

First of all, if you think posting pictures of women breastfeeding is like making love, you need to get out more. That’s a horrible comparison. It’s not like this is Girls Gone Wild or anything. The point of Facebook is to share things WITH friends. You stated that at the end of your rant and that’s what this person who started this all did.

Second…where did you learn math? You said: “Out of over a million users only 145,000 users have a problem…The majority do not want to see it.” Do you know what majority means? Only 14% (according to YOUR numbers) have a problem…that’s hardly a majority.

It’s a photo of someone breastfeeding…and this is what gets everyone out of whack. Nothing pornographic, nothing obscene, nothing insulting. It is your belief that this should be kept private. You can’t force it on everyone which is what Facebook is doing. But hey, we all signed up and agreed to the Terms of Service. (does anyone actually read those things?)

Their site, their rules. They can take anything down they want.

Udderly ridiculous, all of it.

Just want to point out that the argument that breastfeeding is natural therefore shouldn’t be considered obscene.
Would you want to see a picture of me in the middle of a nice, natural bowel movement?

It’s natural and we all do it, so why not?

First of all, “it’s a beautiful thing and perfectly natural…” is NOT a matter of opinion; it is a biological fact. If you are “not interested in looking at pictures of you breastfeeding…” DON’T LOOK!!! You have to make a concerted effort to view someone else’s pictures on the website, thus if you are uninterested the problem solves itself.

There is a statutory law that women are allowed to breastfeed ANYWHERE they are legally allowed to be i.e. Target, the mall, a resturant, etc… However, Facebook does reserve the right to limit what photos they deem acceptable on their own website; I only wish they would catch up with the rest of the world. I guess there’s always MySpace, I bet Tom’s pretty liberal on the subject!

OMG – indecency is characterized by an image that is used in an explicit manner – something natural, as nudity is in its base form, is not explicit in any sense of the word. I guess they missed the topless pics of the bathers on my facebook page from my many travels to the many beaches throughout the world. I guess those pictures of fully exposed breasts are not indecent.

There much bigger fish to fry than to fuzz about Facebook’s nipple policy. Are we that bored and that sensitive in this country that this matters. Get a life.

There are more important things in life to worrying about.

….doesn’t anyone remember national geographic???

Breast feeding is natural and beautiful…no argument there. But, So is the act of sex, but it doesn’t mean we should all be allowed to express it publicly no matter how proud we are about it. Peeing and defacating are also natural processes that I would prefer not to view or express in public. A lot of people are under the impression that this is a ‘free’ country, they are wrong…it’s a democracy! And the majority of us have voted against images of indecency in public forums.

Would people please stop comparing breastfeeding to sex or kissing. Breastfeeding is NOT sexual. It is a baby eating it’s breakfast. You’re right, I wouldn’t have sex in public, but I will certainly eat my lunch wherever I damn please, and my baby should be able to as well.

Part of the anger against Facebook is that they are hypocritical: pictures of breastfeeding women are wrong but pro-anorexic sites are allowed. So feeding a baby is wrong but promoting and suporting starving yourself to death is okay. And soft-porn pictures of themselves by teenager girls is also fine.

so I guess is not ok to post a mother breastfeeding her child in FB, but it is ok for Angelina Jolie be on the cover of a magazine breastfeeding her baby, which btw, will be available all over the internet and in every magazine stand! so, why don’t we complain to the magazine that “dared” to post these pic’s? oh, I get it, you have to look like AJ so it is acceptable to be public!

The point is breastfeeding should be encouraged and unfortunately in our culture it is obscene if done in public. Facebook can do what they want, but it just goes to show what is really going on everyday, everywhere. Women feel like they have to feed their babies bottles in public and this is because breastfeeding is not encouraged enough. If we really just “didn’t care” then women would be breastfeeding everywhere that they need to and pictures posted would just be a normal thing. It is very normal to breastfeed babies.

I think facebook is just abiding by their policy. They can do as they wish. If people don’t like it then use a different site. They even said they received complaints about them. They are not saying it’s obscene to breastfeed. However, they are saying it’s obscene to show an exposed breast. Whatever form this may come in.

I can’t help but comment again…some of the above comments crack me up. Saying it is a beautiful thing and should be done in private. Does this mean mothers and babies are expected to be lock up in a house for a year or longer because they need to do this in the privacy of their own home?? Come on. It is feeding a hungry baby. Get with it people!!

For those that don’t know how Facebook works, your profile picture is viewable to anyone/everyone.
If you do a search of people in your city or with a certain first/last name for example, the search results show the profile pictures of the results found. If someone’s in the results profile pic is a big ol’ nipple…. you’re going to see it.
There are other ways profile pictures are used on Facebook as well that can cause you to see anyone’s profile picture whether you want to or not.

Now I’m wondering… the end of a baby bottle has a nipple on it. I wonder if rubber nipples are allowed?

Why the heck are mothers posting photos of themselves breastfeeding on the internet?!

I don’t know who to be more afraid of…the people at facebook who have decided the photos are “obscene”, the people that hide their faces and pretend that breastfeeding doesn’t exist, or the people that are evidently out there cruising facebook looking for rogue nipples to complain about. Who are the Nipple Nazis that are scouring the web screaming NO MILK FOR YOU!

Unclench a little, folks, this is udderly ridiculous.

If you don’t like the rule, then don’t use Facebook. Duh!

I’m sorry, but I have to disagree. Do any of these women really think that anyone else cares to see them breastfeeding??? I think Facebook did the right thing.

i agree! breastfeeding IS natural. so is defecating and urinating, expectorating and masturbating but we’re not allowed to do THAT in public. there is such a category as “personal activities” that all of these things fall under. by most laws, women are not allowed to bare their breasts in public, but if they’re feeding an infant it’s supposed to be alright and we’re all supposed to just say “awww, ain’t it cute”? horsepucky! a breast is a breast regardless of what it’s being used for at the moment. pick one rule and stick to it people! what ever happened to modesty in this world?

I’m curious, having never visited (nor even being tempted to visit) a Facebook site – is the nipple ban applied equally to ALL users? Or are male users allowed to post shirtless photos of themselves?

In my experience, the “nipple-ban” laws only apply to female citizens of this country, an obvious double standard in the application of the law, and a blatant and indefensible example of intentional gender discrimination.

We seem absolutely obsessed with issues of racism in this country, but still believe that sexism is “normal” and acceptable.

yoshi 1:41pm- breast feeding & child porn. really?

Sara – 1:46

“My question to Facebook then becomes, if nipples and areolas are the deciding factor, in the interest of equality shouldn’t all topless male photos also be banned?”

EXACTLY!

Sara 1:46 pm, I agree!

But:

It’s not that nipples and areolas are illegal. It’s OK for men to sport theirs in public and we are ALL forced to look at it.

It’s not the size of the breasts that matter. There are men out there with bigger breasts than many women.

It’s not even the “sexuality” of it all. There are plenty of guys out there who derive a great deal of pleasure from their breasts/nipples – and they often wear jewelry in them!

No, plain and simple, the only thing ILLEGAL about a bare breast is when it is attached to a female human being.

Again, bottom line – these indecency laws are applied unevenly. They only apply to women. And that is a clear-cut case of discrimination.

American women are not allowed to take off their shirts in public for their own comfort or convenience – a privilege all males in this country enjoy unquestioningly. No, women are only allowed to take off their shirts as pornographic entertainment – often for money.

If we all grew up seeing both men AND women shirtless at the beach, no one would think anything of it. People in this country have a pathological and unhealthy obsession with women’s breasts.

One more comment:

Laws should be applied equally to all.

If we are going to allow topless men in public, no matter how big, ugly or pierced their breasts are, then women should be accorded the same right.

If, on the other hand, we are going to insist that women remain covered at all times, then men should be forced to keep their shirts on as well, at the beach, in the parks, in their front yard. I don’t care if you ARE too warm.

It took a while, but we finally realized as a society that it is wrong to enforce laws unequally based on race and ethnicity. It’s also wrong to apply the law unequally based on gender.

The best part about this situation is that the protesters organize themselves via a facebook group. Basically they’re protesting facebook by using facebook more. I’m sure Facebook is terrified (read: thrilled that these protesters are generating more site traffic and luring in new advertisers).

1. Why is it that the most self-conscious are usually the most offended?

2. In a melting pot which is what we used to call ourselves, we aren’t melting we are very divided when divided everything sooner or later becomes offensive. Look what is becoming of the UK and it P.C. Policies we are seeing the same here.

So…

Are they also removing pictures of classic artwork, such as the Statue of David? That’s got nipples…as well as naughtybits.

why on earth would you want to post pictures of yourself breastfeeding in the first place? I don’t get it.

To RE who said she was a breastfeeding mom who didn’t want to watch that. TURN IT OFF or GO TO ANOTHER PLACE. Who the he77 invited you anyway, you prude?

Nobody forced these nipples upon you to watch and you can hardly come upon nipples by accident or without an intentional search. If they offend you, close your ignorant eyes.

Our country wastes way too many resources to be fiddling around censoring out what the ignorant and pious don’t want to see or want others to see because of their feigned beliefs. If we all went topless, I would venture a guess that in very short order, nobody would even care, and that would become the norm and we’d stop flipping out every time we saw more than a belly button. Cripes.

For those who say it is pointless to post a picture of a child breastfeeding. Maybe you need to have a child first. I am a father and have many pictures of my daughter breastfeeding along with bathing and others. I am proud of my daughter and willingly share these photos with my friends. If I had a facebook I would post on there since I would have my friends added to my profile like I do on MySpace. There is nothing wrong with it. Facebook would rather permit 15 year old girls to prance around in skimpy underwear then show a mother and child in a natural act of love. That is what is wrong with America. We have our priorities backwards. Michaelangelo’s David is a beautiful piece of art. But we scorn it because it is nude. Yet, walk by the Victoria’s Secret store in the mall and you will see images of women barely dressed that children much younger then 13 are exposed to. Exposed breasts can be seen in PG-13 movies. Facebook’s comment on that the images are being removed because user’s complained about it. SIMPLE RULE: IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE IT… DON’T LOOK AT IT! We have no right to determine what another person can or cannot see, only what we see. Stop complaining about it and don’t look at it if it offends your fragile sensibilities.

And for those who think no mother should do it in public… get real! The reason babies NEED to be breastfed is because they are protected by the mother’s antibodies for the first 6 months of their life. This helps the baby grow healthy and strong. It is not a choice to breast feed your infant, it is a responsibility to your child to provide the very best care possible and formula does not have the necessary components to ensure proper health in an infant like breast milk does. Therefore, for the health and well-being of the child the mother should do it anywhere, anytime, anyway if the child is hungry. I do not enjoy going to the beach and seeing massively obese women in bikinis but I don’t demand that the parks authority mandate a dress code for obese people. I CHOOSE to look away instead of look at it. We were given FREE WILL by our creator. You have the freedom to make a choice in everything.

For those of you who keep relating breastfeeding to sex or other acts (urinating, defecating), you are sick. Only someone with a truly twisted psyche would associate breastfeeding which is essential to the well-being of the infant with a sexual act. Yes, there are perverse people out there who are aroused by that but there is a reason they are called perverse. So stop perverting common sense and step into the real world. Breast feeding is not only legal in public… it is appropriate, natural, beautiful, essential, and should be encouraged. Too often you hear mothers say they don’t want to breastfeed because they’d have to expose themselves, or their breasts will sag, or some other SELFISH excuse to not properly care for their child.

Infants are our future. Their needs MUST be properly met.

For those of you who keep saying “if you don’t want to see it…don’t look at it” need to consider the fact that you can’t tell that a picture is graphic unless you look at it first! Hello! It is also very possible to use a blanket to cover yourself while breastfeeding in public. Go ahead-breastfeed in public! Just use a blanket. And everyone who hides behind the “it’s natural” excuse to not using a blanket is really just too lazy to cover up.

If they did allow it, it would open up an infinite can of worms in the ‘exposure’ department that they’d never get closed again, and the site would be soon end up as a porn site with many highly unattractive models, both male and female. So I think their decision is wise. If it’s such a massive issue to post pics of your infant sucking a nipple, put up a site for it. They’re pretty cheap.

Samuel – there is no reason to breastfeed in public. You can encourage your wife to do so if you’d like, but we’ve never had an issue. There are ways to do things properly and it has nothing to do with being “ashamed” of a very important act.

I had photos up of my breastfeeding my babies, and they barely showed more than a bikini would. Yes its very natural…and its primarily in the US that such a stupid stigma of “breastfeeding is offensive” exists. Not to mention, men and hollywood and sexualized the breast. Its primary purpose is to feed babies. *gasp* boobs actually have a function, who would have thought it.
And to those who “don’t want to see it” don’t look. Only my friends can view my profile and photos, so obviously I’m not bothering you. Its a shame that some women feel afraid to breastfeed in public, our society has taught us its something shameful. I’m not saying I’m going to plop things out right there in front of you, I”ll cover myself. But if I don’t want to feed my child in a germ ridden bathroom, I sure as hell won’t. Is not only rude, but disgusting for someone to ask me to do that. So please…if you don’t like it, look away and keep going.

I don’t care if women post pictures of themselves breastfeeding their babies. I don’t care if women post picutures of themselves nude. I don’t care if men post pictures of themselves nude. I am an adult. I can look at those pictures or not, as I choose.

It is probably a good thing to post them so that children can learn about breast feeding. We can be sure that boys aged 9-14 will be hunting down those pictures just for the chance to see a breast, and they might learn something at the same time.

Shane, first its Samael not Samuel, and second, if a mother is out shopping all day and the child is hungry then the child should be fed regardless of where the mother is at the time. You would have the child wait to eat until the mother is in a private place? There are reasons that laws have been passed to allow women to breastfeed in public. The same reason shirts and bras are made to facilitate breastfeeding. There is nothing inappropriate about the act or documenting the act. Go to Europe and you will see children exposed to women who are completely naked. There is nothing wrong with the human form nude. What is wrong is criticizing a mother or father for wanting to share their moment with their child with all their friends. We as a society have been told over and over that nudity is wrong when in every other country on Earth they are told the exact opposite. You want to see something offensive why not get on YouTube and look at the girls there 12-17 years old who dance around stripping clothing off as they go. That is offensive. Facebook has a right to remove images that are offensive and inappropriate, but they do not have the right to infringe upon free speech. There is more soft core porn on Facebook then there are images of mother’s feeding their child. I was raised in the Bible belt and firmly believe in the morals and ethics charged upon us by the Bible. A women who behaves in such a way as to encourage lust is wrong (dancing in underwear) but a woman who is feeding their child and wants to share that moment is Godly. Every mammal on earth breast feeds. Only in America do we symbolize a woman’s breasts as an object of sex. Yes I like breasts and i find them appealing. But I do understand the difference between a mother breastfeeding and a woman baring her breasts for the sexual gratification of another.

As for ashamed… yes I believe mothers are ashamed to breastfeed in public because of the response society gives them. Society says its wrong and not to do it. People stare and comment. When we as a society permit images of women wearing barely any clothing to be in lusty positions to be plastered everywhere and say nothing but will criticize a woman for breastfeeding we have lost all sense of civilization. We have become an immoral conglomeration of bumbling morons who are so ashamed of our own bodies that we will not permit another to expose theirs unless they are anorexic, spent more time under a plastic surgeon’s knife then they should, and wearing clothing we either cannot afford or fit in.

Women who bare their breasts in public for the sake of feeding their children are goddesses and should be celebrated. Women who bare their breasts for money or to garner attention from men are nothing but harlots and should be condemned for their actions.

I think I am going to peruse FaceBook and find every image of an underage girl who is scantily clad or dressed inappropriately and will report it. If FaceBook wants to be prudes then they can remove every image that does not conform to the common decency that prudes like to force down the throats of the sensible.

I don’t even understand the problem here. Facebook is a company and they have the right to do whatever they want with the space that is basically rented out to the public. They offer a service, that means they get to determine the terms of that service. If you don’t like the terms, you don’t have to use it.

It seems to me that people these days are beginning to believe that everything in the world is made specifically for them, and if it doesn’t match up with their opinions it’s because someone is trying to oppress them. This isn’t the government holding you down, people. This is simply a business deciding what the rules and regulations of their business are.

If I started a lemonaid stand today it probably wouldn’t be more than a few days before someone began to complain that I wasn’t catering to those people who like cranberry juice, and it would become some huge controversy. If you really want the whole world to see your nipples, start a website of your own and direct everyone there. Don’t complain that your rights are being stomped on because of a private companies’ policies.

Here! Here Trip! I think you have summed it up best!

And, for the record, yes, I was a breast-feeding mom. No, pictures will not ever be posted. My breasts are not for the world to see. When I went out in public, I used pre-pumped breast milk and put it in a bottle for my children. (Yes, they made breast pumps back then for lactating mothers; they still do.)

A bunch of bacteria got together to build the skeleton of advantage
Protrusions, orifices, enhanced for function and advertisement
Bump between your shoulders, why is that ?

I noticed that CNN didn’t show any of the more explicit photos of breast feeding. Every news outlet that reported on this story pixelated any photos of female breasts. What a bunch of hypocrites.

Chris January 9th, 2009 12:49 pm ET wrote:

So I guess a profile pic of a stripper with full covering pasties is alright, but a new mom breastfeeded is obscene.

Well done Facebook.

Dan January 10, 2009 11:14 pm ET wrote:

Well said.

Breast feeding is not obscene, but is private. If a woman is not sensitive to the fact that, as a gentleman, i don’t not want to look at her boobs, then i don’t mind face book stepping in.

My question is why would anyone want to put a picture of someone breastfeeding a kid on Facebook? The only reason for doing so would be to either show off a breast or cause controversy. In ten years, askg the kids how they felt about someone posting an intimate moment with mom for worldwide viewing.

I recommend anyone wishing to post breast-feeding pictures do so on their own site or one that allows it. No one is forcing them to use Facebook.

No one is forced to use FB. If you don’t like their policies then go elsewhere.

who cares…..to breast or not to breast that is the question……the guy with his nipple face ? seems a little freaky

Samael – That was a lot of writing (and reading) to state that Facebook is prudish and restricting your rights to free speech. I’ll explain it in far fewer words. You are not allowed to go to the theater and scream out loud from the audience. The theater is not violating your civil rights when they eject you. Comply with their rules or go somewhere else. If you think Facebook is prudish, you have the right to not use their service. Go start your own.

I strongly disagree with those here who have stated that breastfeeding should be done in private. Why is that the case? If I’m in a mall food court or a restaurant where others (including myself) are eating, why should my child be banished to a toilet stall to eat? Get over your over-sexualization of human breast and realize that there’s nothing wrong with using them for their God-given purpose…feeding babies!

To G funk: Breastfeeding is not, as you may believe, a private moment between mother and child nor something akin to kissing or sex! It is simply a mother providing nutrition to her child. It’s about time breastfeeding to be demystified. It’s just about the farthest thing from anything sexual and your suggestion otherwise is disgusting. You should be no more offended by women breastfeeding than by women bottle feeding their babies. It’s the same damn thing.

well said!! I completely agree. Leaving the issue of decency and whether breastfeeding is a public act out of the issue, facebook is a company and it has the right to make its owns rules and regulations. As i’ve said before, you do not have a constitutional right to expose your nipple. There is however a thing thats called public decency statutes and regulations that govern public decency. Nobody is saying that a woman shouldn’t breast feed. Instead, I am merely saying that such a thing should be treated with a level of modesty. There is a thing called Email, which can be used to send photos to people that you want to see the pictures and it keeps those pictures from people that you don’t want looking at it and that don’t want to look at those pictures themselves.

Facebook is a private Web site. If people don’t like the rules they should not visit the site. They can make ANY rules they deem necessary. There are a ton of disgusting things people do in public I would rather not see. I am not sure why women feel the need to display their boobs regardless of breastfeeding. It just isn’t necessary.

Why are we so uptight in this country regarding the human body? Breastfeeding is a natural way for mothers to feed their children and are we are so puritanical that we need to ban this act from print. What’s next, banning topless men wearing bathing suits at the beach because their nipples are showing? People need to get a life.

I honestly don’t see why it’s so important for people to post pics of themselves breast-feeding on any type of public site. That is private and I for one do not want to see it. Why not post a cute pic of your baby instead? I think people take freedom of speech a bit too far nowadays.

A breast is a breast, and if women shouldn’t be showing theirs, why are men allowed to have shirtless photos?

A woman having a photo of breastfeeding isn’t anywhere near as offensive as young girls in nothing but thongs and itty bitty string tops.

Amazing…simply amazing. The people of my country never cease to amaze me. We can get 154,000 people to protest in the fight for nipples on facebook, and then a whole bunch of people to sit here and argue over weather it’s right or wrong, but never ever to protest against the real injustices going on in this country. Everyone wonders why the big bad politicians, corrupt police, etc. just walk all over people. We don’t see 154,000 people protesting over getting our troops home, or the severe civil liberty violations committed by the current administration. Nooooo, but plenty of people will come on CNN’s blogs to cry and moan about them. But God FORBID anyone should mess with our social networking sites. That’s a line you just don’t cross. Perfect proof that this country cares about our mindless entertainment, reality shows and nipples rather than the issues that concern our freedoms to do such things. I guess that Americans will protest anything…as long as it’s not difficult.

To comment on the issue at hand, I agree with the protestors. But then again, why on earth would you put a picture of you breastfeeding your baby on there? I mean seriously, no one really wants to see that. Sure it’s natural and beautiful and blah blah blah…but I think a picture of you simply holding your little angel is just fine. The vast majority of people aren’t interested in feeding time. Family, friends, or otherwise.

::sigh::

I saw some of the pictures. A woman in her bikini bottoms and no top with a baby hanging off her boob is not “breastfeeding” It’s bottom-feeding and all of this ” breastfeeding is beautiful” protesting is crap. You all know what we are looking at. Mothers nursing do not in general make a pictorial for general publication.

I have to agree with Facebook here. There’s no reason that you need to show off your breastfeeding pictures. You’re not showing them off because they’re “beautiful.” You’re showing them off for attention. Focus your energies on a real issue.

And yes, in society, male nipples are not considered obscene, but female nipples are. That’s why bathing suits cover the bottom for men, and both the chest and bottom for female. Get over it.

If you want your nude body all over the internet, there are plenty of sites that will allow it.

This is utterly stupid. There are massive amounts of full nudity on hundreds of Facebook pages. Most of the nude pictures are used to generate activity in applications such as “Friends for Sale” and “Hotties for sale”. People upload the porn pics, the value gets jacked up, then they delete the pic. But, during the interim, anyone can view and by the time Facebook is prompted, they are deleted.

Ken, my whole point is as thus. FaceBook cries about breastfeeding but I can see more exposed breast on the underage girls on their site then I can on the breastfeeding mothers. I have no objection to FaceBook saying no to the pictures of breastfeeding mothers but they should in turn say no to the other pictures that are soft core kiddie porn.

I want to know what kind of socially stunted loser “reports” an image of a breast.

please remove my email address for this thread. I am tired of receiving email updates daily. I have tried to hit the manage my subscription button, but it says I need some kind of a key. Thanks!

Samael – Facebook is not censoring all photos of women breastfeeding. Only those who are showing nipple. If you are seeing nipples on underage girls on Facebook, then you should report it and I’m sure they will take force removal.

This whole thing is stupid and I agree with the person who brought up the point at after the “wardrobe malfunction”!

We are living in the land of “Conservatopia” since then and I knew it was a downward spiral when I hear one of our find Congressmen declare that the statue of Lady Liberty had to have her bare breast covered to protect the innocent.

What a freaking laughing stock we have become for the rest of the world.

Is Face(book) public or private, behind bolted doors ?
Al Capone’s night clubs, in the era of Prohibition, privated the drinking

Showing Private parts, nipples included, sell a lot of magazines
However, a mother breastfeeding, reminds us that we are still babies

it’s all to protect the ‘mythical 8 yo’ who may stumble across the pics and be scarred for life….

I feel that breast feeding is a natural thing to do for your child. I do not feel it should be displayed throughout the world. It is a very personal dicision for one to make. When the photos are given out by one it should be in good taste. There are some that go way to far with their pictures. This has nothing to do with your body it has to do with the health and nurishment of your child.

It is clear to me that the main issue here is an unreasoning aversion to the female breast.

As it has been pointed out by several astute posters, breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding a baby. There has been no discussion on whether pictures of other feeding is acceptable. What about children eating pizza, or hamburgers, or hotdogs. Since most posters are complaining only about pictures of breastfeeding as being inappropriate – and somehow wrong – I have to conclude the issue is they are hung up about breasts and nipples. But, only female breasts and nipples.

So posters, be honest about your prejudices. You think that it’s wrong for females to display their breasts, but it’s ok for men. How is that equality for women.

As for the posters comparing eating and defecating, well… while they are related in that one is the beginning of the digestive process and the other the end, the analogy is akin to comparing apples to oranges. Eating is openly done in public by the vast majority without comment. Defecating is relegated to private chambers, also by the vast majority. They are not the same function, so you’ll have to try again.