(Fox23)
Yesterday, a coffee shop called The DoubleShot in Tulsa, OK sent out a tweet announcing that breastfeeding was now banned on the premises: “Notice: No breastfeeding at the DoubleShot. Thank you.” (The tweet has since been removed, but a tipster saved it for us.) This set off a torrent of angry reactions on Twitter, partly because everyone loves to fight about breastfeeding and partly because it’s World Breastfeeding Week.
Before the day was out, the owner recanted and tweeted a follow up: “Ok ok, breastfeeding allowed again at the DoubleShot. Hey! Breastfeeding all around. 
” He also sent this email to local news station Fox23 News:
Some of the people angry about this were concerned for their individual rights and the right of their baby to eat. It is as if I had tried to pass a law banning the practice of breastfeeding universally. The fact is, these people aren’t concerned with individual rights. They are concerned with THEIR rights. They would not fight for my right to ban breastfeeding in my establishment if I chose to do so. I don’t mind if people breastfeed in the DoubleShot, but it’s funny to me that people don’t consider the rights of others; only their own. If one really believes in the American dream of individual rights, they must believe in the rights of others to do or think or say things they don’t agree with. My capitalist ideals tell me that business owners should be able to make their own rules and individuals should then decide if they want to support that business or not. As it is, the over-regulation of our government seems to step in and tell us everything that we can and can’t do. I agree with the rights of people to boycott businesses they dislike, though in this case, people are mislead. We allow breastfeeding and women do breastfeed when they want.
You can watch the Fox23 news story below:
“Anti-Breastfeeding Tweet In Tulsa” [Fox23]
Oklahoma Breastfeeding Laws [www.ok.gov]
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I know Brian and I’ve been a customer of the DoubleShot for a long time. This was just a joke, and his email to the news was simply venting his frustrations towards the backlash. Everyone needs to put down their pitchforks– both the Consumerist story and the Fox 23 story were a bit premature, especially given that both Brian and the original woman involved have both come out to say that it was a joke. Neither of these stories sought insight from anyone involved before publishing.
Brian’s got some controversial ideas about his interaction with customers, but if you look back at his fight against Starbucks, I think you’d find his Consumerist karma swinging in the other direction. Also– he roasts some of the best coffees out there, and it’s sad to see some mob mentality make some bad press for him.
His response is utterly clueless and off-base (he goes on and on about “rights” and doesn’t know that in his state, there is a right to breastfeed in his store).
For that reason, I have a hard time believing it was a joke. I have an easier time believing that he’s an utter moron.
When will people grow up? WHAT DO YOU THINK BREASTS ARE FOR!?!?! They’re for FEEDING CHILDREN!!! If you see them as anything but a feeding tool, that’s your problem.
I don’t know how boobies can make so many people so upset when they make me so happy!
Who doesn’t want to see more boobs in public? How about some fresh cream?
Uh oh… it’s time for the Smo0 response.
Right so… I could imagine if I were breastfeeding a child of my own – I would be disgusted by it….
(not comparing this by the content just by the act if something coming out of a human body)
I am not disgusted by myself while in the bathroom….
but I will wretch if I see someone else going to the bathroom – just as I will wretch at a woman breast feeding because I dry heave at the thoughts and visuals of someone drinking something that is coming out of a body….
Think about this – would you be disgusted if someone had their mouth to a cow’s udder?
I WOULD! I totally would… maybe it’s just me – but I don’t want to see it.
I’m a woman too… I don’t have children. I cannot help what makes me sick to my stomach to see… I just can’t.
Is it too much to ask that a woman cover herself at least?
I can’t stand watching people inject themselves with insulin – BUT PEOPLE NEED IT OR THEY WILL DIE… most of them go into the restroom or an isolated place to do so… and I think the reprocussions of being in a dirty area and injecting yourself with something is more dangerous than injesting something that, generally, your body has a better defense of.
I agree with this man. If you all want capitalism – then you need to be FOR IT 100%… this is capitalism, a man making his own rules at HIS establishment. There’s no imminent danger – the government should not be involved.
Right so… I could imagine if I were breastfeeding a child of my own – I would be disgusted by it….
WOULDN’T* lawl sorry.
no, i’ll inject my insulin wherever i am, it’s not safe to do that in a bathroom according my diabetes educator and my doctor. and common sense says keep the sterile medical equipment away from fecal coliform.
but i will try to make sure no one else has to see if they don’t want to. although, a lot of people i work with are in nursing school and they do want to watch. actually, before i was on an insulin pump and injecting ten times a day, i had to learn how to fill the syringe and give myself the shot while barely looking at it out of the corner of my eye – looking at needles makes me throw up too.
but you’re right, we do it to stay alive.
oh wait, what happens if you don’t feed babies?
Let’s just okay changing diapers out in the open too! Jk. I don’t see why its a big deal, one would think men would ogle women breastfeeding and the women would be upset.
Tell the breast feeders to take it outside if they want to feed. The outdoors are for all of us and not a private business. If this was a store that this person owned and operated, then it should be his right to not allow breast feeding. It’s not like he is saying that he doesn’t want to serve minorities, it’s more like the NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE rule.
Breastfeeding is already in a tenuous state with the prudish sensibilities of today’s victorianesque social norms. Breastfeeding is a health issue. The more breastfeeding is encouraged, the better our society. Breast feeding saves lives: breast fed babies are less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome; and, according to recent studies, breastfeeding could save the US billions of dollars (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6342ZG20100405). Women who are inhibited when it comes to breast feeding in public are more likely to wean early and women who are inexperienced with breast feeding are more likely to give it up if they feel like their society does not support them. I can remember breastfeeding at two malls in Oklahoma and both times I felt like I was being judged even though I wasn’t, considering I used a cover and there were very few people around. I am about to have another baby and because of my experience as a veteran mom and with a successful career behind me I feel much more confident about going out into the world and feeding my child. Have you ever wondered about those young mothers who continue shopping at the store even though their child is screaming bloody murder? Perhaps they are breast feeders who don’t know what to do. Breast feed right there in the aisle to quiet their hungry baby and risk the wrath of disapproving meanies? Or drop everything and go out to the car or how about the bathroom stall? Or even the dressing room (something I have done). The most practical choice is to feed your baby on demand and not let it interfere with your own agenda because it simply isn’t necessary to stop what you are doing in order to find some isolated place to breastfeed.
Why isn’t breastfeeding celebrated by all? It is free, it helps our economy, and it generally creates healthier babies. The answer can only be that some people are offended by it when it is done in public. If you are one of those people perhaps you can ask yourself what it is about breastfeeding that you find offensive? Do you see a link between breastfeeding and sexuality? If so then you are perverting an innocent and natural act. Are there other areas in your life that you find offensive and that you relate to sexuality? Perhaps you should think about this issue because there is evidence that you suffer from a psychological sexual dysfunction. And it is no fun to suffer sexual dysfunction or sexual repression. It will make you very unhappy and cause you to say and do things that might make others not want to drink coffee (decaf or not) from your locally owned coffee shop.
I always wondered how you feed a breast. Pour coffee all over it?
I’m a woman. I’m a woman who hopes to have children some day. I have NO INTENTION of breastfeeding in public. Ever. Why would you feel comfortable lifting/opening/etc. your shirt and have your baby eat WHILE FULLY VISIBLE TO EVERYONE. Perhaps I’m more modest, but I don’t feel that is appropriate. Pump and bottle feed in public if your child is OMG STARVING (highly unlikely).
when you have children you will see that your comment isn’t practical.
There’s a national breasfeeding week? is there an acne week as well? perhaps a bunion week?
God damn am I sick of the breastfeeding folks
I’m really tired of posting the same dang thing here every single time this debate comes up, so I finally just put it all in a blog post: http://sleepless-in-suburbia.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-breastfeeding-post-at.html
This dude thinks he has the right to ban breastfeeding? I don’t know about OK, but it’s actually the law in several states that breastfeeding is a right in any facility of public accommodation (longhand for restaurants etc.). What’s next for him, a ban on mouth breathing? (“They can always go elsewhere.”) Men and pop culture have brainwashed Western society to see breasts as merely objects intended for men’s enjoyment, and any other use of these essential organs (glands to be accurate) is not to be allowed to compete. Pathetic when this jealousy is taken to the limit.