(no subject)

[ocelot]

The other day, I received an anonymous comment very eloquently stating:

no one wants to see your tit, period.
even if you are feeding your child with it.

Now, experience leads me to believe that such a broad statement may not be entirely accurate. So, in interest of scientific inquiry, I have created a poll.

[Poll #735958]

Notes
* Creating this poll in no way implies that I will show you my tit(s), either online or in person. However, if you are around me and a small child who I am breastfeeding, it's likely to happen. Consider yourself warned.
* If you don't want to see my tit(s), don't respond. I won't be offended. I probably don't have a particular interest in seeing your tit(s) either, though I wouldn't be the least bit offended if I did see it/them because you were breastfeeding.

To update on the controversy - LJ/SixApart ruled that breastfeeding default icons are ok, as long as they do not show any nipple or areola. The cynical part of me sees this as a CYA move to avoid having to deal with all the non-breastfeeding icons out there that show the slightest hint of boob.

As of this morning, they are actively seeking out and warning/suspending users with default icons that show the slightest bit of areola, including paid users who have done nothing but contribute positively to the community (I don't know whether "they" is LJ Abuse, or independent users who are reporting the icons).

Frankly, in the beginning I was a little amused by the drama. As things continue, I'm getting more and more disgusted with LJ/SixApart's handling of the situation.

ETA: If LJ/SixApart's policy and/or actions bother you, please write to them and let them know! It would be great to get more complaints from people who can't just be blown off as Crazy Hormonal Militant Breastfeeding Wackos.

ETA2: I'm not in the least bit offended by the anonymous commenter or looking for validation or anything like that. I'm just amused. As far as I know, I know 2 people who live in FL (where the comment originated). One would presumably have stated their opinion much more eloquently (and I can't imagine it would match the opinion of the commenter), the other has every right to be a jerk to me, as I spent a lot of time being a jerk to him out of my own insecurities. But I seriously doubt it's anyone I actually know, and therefore their opinion is simply amusing.

Comments

[bongo3045.livejournal.com]

I don't understand how the wacko fringe in politics make it anywhere in life. This is a natural thing, and if people are uncomfortable by it, they can look away and get over it. It's not like people are flaunting their "womanhood" if you call it that, and flashing their brests everywhere, they are just feeding their baby.

[koyote.livejournal.com]

livejournal is pissing me off. I do hope someone is going to actively do something about it, and that you will participate :)

[sagefemme11.livejournal.com]

Lordy, all this because some vindictive man went on his own anti boob-nazi campaign. Bet he has a dick the size of his toenail.

PS I'd really LOVE to see your tits!!!

[funjon.livejournal.com]

Clearly the anonymous commenter has no idea the quality of the tit in question.

Seriously, this is a bullshit policy, and it saddens me. A lot.

[arazia.livejournal.com]

Not to fan any flames or anything but...

I have no problem with people breastfeeding. I have no problem with icons that show it. I prefer not having to watch it, though, and for that reason... if someone is say, breastfeeding a baby on the train I'm taking home, I get up and move to another car. I don't see what the big deal is. If you don't want to watch something, go somewhere else. If you don't like something on TV, you don't sit there, stare at it, and then bitch about it. Oh wait, some people do. x.x

[essara-lemuroid.livejournal.com]

Your tits are lovely, dear! =)
This whole thing is really bugging me. Boobs do not equal porn in my book and it really pisses me off that the people in this country can't just grow up and deal with anatomy already. I mean the whole areola thing with LJ is just beyond dumb.
Like your new icon, btw!

[nedia782.livejournal.com]

Well whoever left that comment sounds like one well educated individual (man I hope I sp all that right, lol) ... I really hope that anyone with a piad account would switch to a free account. This is just stupid, flat out stupid. Women who choose to BF have enough to deal with without MORONS getting offended and throwing hissy fits. >blahh

[mayna.livejournal.com]

You know, they should realize that they CAN'T police all the default userpics. It would be better just to not display userpics for searches.

[dempcat.livejournal.com]

Their comment and your response made me laugh out loud (:

I signed the petition and I'm not Militant or Breastfeeding, though I am a little Crazy Hormonal Wacko.

I think we should all start reporting pictures of men's exposed chests too, okay? But only if it shows the areola.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Oh, they've already said that bare man-chests are just fine.

[dempcat.livejournal.com]

What if they're fat men with man breasts?

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Even then.

[dempcat.livejournal.com]

How about if they're breastfeeding? :P

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's enough pictures of that out there to test it :) The only one I know of is this one, and I can't quite tell if that shows the areola or not.

[dempcat.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, ahhh, creepy!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

You've given me an idea, actually, when I have more time online.

[dempcat.livejournal.com]

Ooh?

OT

[yndy.livejournal.com]

I just spend the minutes reading your icon then laughing my butt off... thanks for the smile!

[yndy.livejournal.com]

I'd say you've got random bored trolls going around the mommy and BF communities and reporting individual icons... but it's easy enough to check - look in the LJAbuse queues
:(

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sure it's random users reporting. LJAbuse (hmm, I accidently typed that as Absurd) still has discretion over what they choose to enforce. As far as I can gather (had little time online the past few days), the breastfeeders want LJA to stop warning/suspending users over breastfeeding icons until a final decision has been made on the issue (which isn't the case yet) and to revert the TOS to the original wording, which disallowed default icons with sexual or violent content.

[theducks.livejournal.com]

With regards to your poll, perhaps a more objective way of putting it would be "would you mind if you saw" ;)

That one I would happily answer no to.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not looking for an objective poll over who doesn't object to breastfeeding. I'm looking to dispute the assertation that no one wants to see my tit, period :) *Everyone* doesn't have to actively want to see it in order to prove that theory wrong. Just one person.

[mythiewinters.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not going to answer this poll, because I can't claim that I habor an active desire.. ;-) This did make me laugh.

I have nothing against breastfeeding, and while most people I know who do it make strategic use of light blankets or jackets so there's little chance of seeing anything anyway.. either way I don't find it offensive.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Blankets are tough - it can be hard to manage for people who are just starting to breastfeed, and many older babies won't tolerate it. But really, there isn't really that much chance of seeing anything if someone is attempting to be discreet about it, blanket or no.

[preemie-rn.livejournal.com]

I don't even see any tit. Dammit!

[tawny-vixen.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I came to your journal by clicking through shanasuer's and I couldn't resist this poll. :)

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

:) I've gotten responses from several people I don't know. (I kind of expected that would happen, since I know I'd click yes if I randomly stumbled across it somewhere)