For gods sake Poirot, be thankful you aren't a mother in PNG. No trouble getting your boobs out there, in fact apart from in the more important towns, they are never put away.

Of course you had better not refuse to give the piglets a suck too. A bit ho human milk gets them away real well.

Those 40 year olds with a couple of razor strop like things hanging down their chest got those scars, feeding the piglets.

Personally with all my time in the islands, I've seen enough boobs to make them a subject of total disinterest. Flop them out or put them away, I probably won't even notice.

I'm from the era when a lady had some mystique, & the ditty, "If skirts get any shorter said the fairy to the gnome, there'll be 2 more cheeks to powder, & a lot more hair to comb", was a joke.

No more! Today the cheeks are permanently out, the hair has been waxed, & teenagers are getting plastic surgery on their vagina to put a smile on them. A boob out at the pool is not much to talk about, but surely women could try to get a bit of their old class back.

If you want respect, it would be an idea to show some to others with different morals, & attitudes.

Ah 'koshy', what is he like.

'actually Poirot its the feminist who think they are the only ones with a right to an opinion that have made a mountain out of a mouldhill.'

I have to agree really. In fact I think this onthebeach guy's media critique is quite accurate on the whole.

'Quelle horreur, a man has commented on women. Out comes the mob of womyn to defend secret womyns business.'

That about sums it up. How dare he! It's political correctness gone mad! Love saying that. It continues the proud feminist tradition of expecting women should be immune from any criticism or judgement. As far as I can see, in any situation, even the caring of your baby, it's not at all unreasonable to have class and manners. The silly thing is 99% of women DO, so why the going son? Because, how dare he even go there! They protest too much.

'breastfeeding is somewhat problematical socially, controversial occasionally, etc.'

In fact Poirot, it can be. Now I would agree 95% of the time, no problem. But, consider you fancy your mates wife, or he fancies yours, sometimes obviously, sometimes not. She begins breast feeding, right in front of you. The primary reason for breasts is for feeding, but they are still sexual in our society. You cant easily turn that off. You can be cool, yes, but there is an atmosphere.

So there is discomfort, and a feeling of 'where do I look.' Look away, and you feel like a prude, or you're just being rude. Look generally around and ignore the exposed breast, attempt to continue a conversation, and your mate is watching exactly where your eyes are looking. The whole scene can be uncomfortable. Granted not so uncomfortable as to be more important than nourishing a baby, but it's worthy of an observational remark without being shot down in a blast of fury.

Apart from that I HAVE seen a friend deliberately flop them both out, and give the whole bus a bloody good show, and I know her gender politics quite well, and I guarantee it's relevant to her actions.

Hear my breasts Roar, for I... AM... THE... EARTH MOTHER!! Take that you Conservative misogynist prudes! Wham!

I called her on it and she just smiled, sparing me the gender studies lecture I was baiting her for.

In short, it does happen. This whole business about 'discreet' is all about these two situations, not really about the whole prudery caper. It's about the conflict in men and their desires and while most of the time an infant spoils the mood, it's still tits man! The radar is hard to turn off, and when it finds its target and sees the non-sexual act, it hears the don't be a pervert warning siren. The radar, that wonderful subconscious near uncontrollable force draws them, and then they feel society's wrath, it's eyes burning into them at the same instant they realize it's different, and they recoil, hoping to hide their lack of composure.

'covertly reinforce the idea that women should perhaps think twice before undertaking nourishment of their babies when they are not isolated from the rest of the community.'

Well, as a feminist, I reckon women are adult enough to do what's best for their babies, and ignore the passing comments of breakfast show hosts. Especially ones called 'koshy'

'If you want respect, it would be an idea to show some to others with different morals, & attitudes.'

Yess. Class and maners. Just being aware of the comfort and feelings of others, like 99% of women are when breastfeeding. When I pick my nose, I can do it 'discretely'.

Maybe you're right, Houellie..."...while most of the time the infant spoils the mood..."

Perhaps the whole patriarchal prudery thing is just payback (to mum and bub)for the infant spoiling the mood.

(I inserted the word "patriarchal" just for you, Houellie:)

And what's a mouldhill anyway?

Lastly, I have no idea why someone like me should become the latest breastfeeding/feminist advocate - I mean, I'm a woman who knows the difference between leg stump and off stump...It's a strange old world.

Cheers boys : )

<Hear my breasts Roar, for I... AM... THE... EARTH MOTHER!! Take that you Conservative misogynist prudes! Wham!>

If only the Earth Goddesses had more in common with statue of Isis nursing Horus, than Venus of Willendorf. But no such luck.

I for one am glad Kosh made those comments. It just proves what an old prude he really is. If I hear any more affectionate 'Koshy' comments from his 'fans', I will scream.

Why these morning shows have to have an old bloke like him at the helm is beyond me anyway.
These TV stations seem to only employ stunning younger women presenters, while also employing very plain looking men...!
Maybe the producers are also older, plain looking blokes too?

Get rid of Kosh.