Houellie,

"But breastfeeding is not some irreplaceable mystical activity unless you desire to make it so..."

Precisely!

I's a very ordinary activity which "apparently" according to some people requires advising nursing mothers to "be classy and discreet" - even though most already are.

If a woman has trouble breastfeeding and decides to bottle-feed - or who just decides in favour of bottle-feeding per se - no problem. I'm not going to wave about the "breast is best" motto in her face. I respect her position.

She, however, is not going to feel that she has to hide the bottle-feeding regime from the public. The question is never going to enter her mind...and the only difference there is the receptacles from which the milk is delivered.

Would a bottle-feeding mum ever be considered to be acting in an "unclassy" manner when she feeds her infant in public?

Regarding budgie smugglers - so what is the big deal about a bloke wearing those?...I mean for someone who has outgrown pre-teen smirks, and considers themselves a grown-up, what is the problem with a man wearing a brief costume for swimming - at this particular juncture in Western social history?

Honestly, why the kicker? Do you snigger at what the girls wear too? Come to a surf comp. These cossies have been on Aussie beaches for years. Iconic. Beached whales might complain, but hey...

onthebeach,

Whom are you addressing with your last post?

"I mean for someone who has outgrown pre-teen smirks etc"

Honestly Poirot, just whose experience are you drawing on? Kids and surf Nippers wear Speedos and similar. Boys and girls (girls' Speedos).

The view from your keyboard is just not good enough. Go to a surf carnival. Look at men and women competitors. No-one smirks at the cossies, they are functional. Ever seen the pants on women athletes? "Pre-teen smirks"? It is all in your imagination and in Labor spin directed at Abbott.

onthebeach,

Oh good...that's straightened out...you were addressing Poirot.

Let's have a look at the crux of the comment to which you were replying.

"Regarding budgie smugglers - so what is the big deal about blokes wearing those?...what is the problem with a man wearing a brief costume for swimming - at this particular juncture in Western social history?"

I was addressing RObert's comment which went thus:

"There is a lot of effort put into trying to make men....feel that wearing a pair of budgie smugglers is something they should not do because of the comfort of others."

My comment above was showing solidarity with men on the issue of Speedo type swimming attire. My view is anyone with maturity would see them as reasonable swimming attire in this day and age - as you say they've been around for yonks, especially in the surf lifesaving sphere and competitive swimming - and there is no big deal about them.

Good old onthebeach however, comes roaring back, all guns blazing, attempting to insinuate that I somehow criticised Speedo-type attire.

But good old onthebeach as is his wont, is still trying to stir up an argument where none exists.

(Better luck next time)

Poirot, <Let's have a look at the crux of the comment to which you were replying.

"Regarding budgie smugglers - so what is the big deal about blokes wearing those?...what is the problem with a man wearing a brief costume for swimming - at this particular juncture in Western social history?">

No, you have deliberately censored your own words. Why?

This is what you wrote originally,
<Regarding budgie smugglers - so what is the big deal about a bloke wearing those?...I mean for someone who has outgrown pre-teen smirks, and considers themselves a grown-up, what is the problem with a man wearing a brief costume for swimming - at this particular juncture in Western social history?>

Now go back to my responses in reply and try again. I reckon you just can't help yourself. It is seemingly impossible for you to avoid some 'off' implication directed towards men. Yours was what is commonly referred to as a backhanded compliment - towards men who wear Speedos. Superficially you appear to support them but there is always that little kicker the backhander, to follow. In this case in your view the wearing of said Speedos warrants rising above pre-teen smirks, which obviously makes you snigger as well or else you wouldn't say it.

Speedos are just normal work wear for the thousands who volunteer in the surf lifesaving. That applies to men and women, although thankfully (but no surprise) the women do not attract your sniggers of superiority.

You are now on the defensive. Otherwise why did you censor your own quote?