Thoughts on facebook

[BaBaBa]

It seems to me lately that this facebook breast feeding controversy is everywhere and I'm beginning to wonder if it is indeed a good thing to advance and promote breast feeding.
So much positive energy is being directed at demonstrating that breast feeding is not obscene but how does this help real women and babies in real, daily situations?
For example: Breastfeeding support and education for low income mamas, creating nursing/pumping friendly workplaces, freedom from harassment when nursing in public.
I'm certain that facebook loves the controversy for the media attention it brings them.
Why isn't boycotting facebook a protest option like it is for Nestle? I've read some scary things about the 3 board members, (scary enough to make me unsubscribe) and it seems entirely consistent that they would not want to support breast feeding, ever.
Well, I guess that was my rant. Anyone want to hop on board?

[rparker]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

Why isn't boycotting facebook a protest option like it is for Nestle? I've read some scary things about the 3 board members, (scary enough to make me unsubscribe) and it seems entirely consistent that they would not want to support breast feeding, ever.

Scary how? Links? I'm curious...

[BaBaBa]

Originally Posted by rparker

Scary how? Links? I'm curious...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...an/14/facebook

[limabean]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...an/14/facebook

I dunno, the author of that article sounds a little hysterical -- it's reminiscent of how people reacted to "zomg teh interwebz!!!1!11!" when internet usage in general started to become more common. Oh noes, we're all going to be isolated in little cubes awash in the green glow from our computer screens rather than interacting face-to-face!!

I don't know about you, but I don't see my IRL friends any less often after the advent of e-mail, chat rooms, and Facebook than I did before.

[BaBaBa]

...trying to steer back on the subject here...

It's just that face book is entirely consumer driven. That's why they're worth 15 BILLION and breastfeeding is .... free. You don't need to buy anything to do it.

And Peter Thiel's vision of a world where nature is conquered? Again, so contrary to everything breast feeding represents.

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

It seems to me lately that this facebook breast feeding controversy is everywhere and I'm beginning to wonder if it is indeed a good thing to advance and promote breast feeding.
So much positive energy is being directed at demonstrating that breast feeding is not obscene but how does this help real women and babies in real, daily situations?
For example: Breastfeeding support and education for low income mamas, creating nursing/pumping friendly workplaces, freedom from harassment when nursing in public.
I'm certain that facebook loves the controversy for the media attention it brings them.
Why isn't boycotting facebook a protest option like it is for Nestle? I've read some scary things about the 3 board members, (scary enough to make me unsubscribe) and it seems entirely consistent that they would not want to support breast feeding, ever.
Well, I guess that was my rant. Anyone want to hop on board?

I've been thinking some of the same things. But I disagree on others.

I do think its an effective lactivist strategy; the "demonstration", because, although it may help Facebook a little, I think the press has come out on OUR side of it, and LOTS of people are seeing that. And I think the stigma is a HUGE reason that women aren't excited about it. I think getting rid of the stigma is our best route to results.

However, I do think a boycott is now in order. We don't have to close our facebook accounts (though I would). We can just stop using them until Facebook apologizes and changes their policy but that means we need a method OTHER THAN facebook for communicating once the Boycott is in place.

I hope someone organizes a boycott.