We all know that social media can be used to bully. Celebrities and regular folk alike receive death threats on Twitter. People are bullied via Facebook. You'd LIKE to think the people doing this kind of bullying are young kids who don't know any better. But, sadly, many times those doing the bullying are adults. And we're not just talking adults sending death threats and other horrible comments to comedians or famous people who said something they disagree with. I'm talking adults bullying mothers for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding! Something that, you know, babies might need to survive?
Last year, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, saw a woman -- gasp!!! -- breastfeeding in a store and Tweeted:
Just walking through supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn’t ... I don’t feel like shopping anymore or eating ... one boob put away and one boob hanging. #nasty
After he was called out for being an "asshole" (in the words of one woman), he issued an apology.
Then Miami Marlins player Logan Morrison decided that breastfeeding SO wasn't for him that he snapped a picture of a woman feeding her baby in Nordstrom and posted it to his feed with the message:
Hey @Nordstrom nothing makes me want to spend $$ like seeing women breastfeeding in your store...
He too was then called out for being a jerk by many on Twitter, and was shut down by Nordstrom, which Tweeted back, "We welcome breastfeeding mothers in our store."
Beyond the question of why adult men would find women breastfeeding in public to be so nasty and offensive -- when surely they wouldn't find a Playboy model wandering butt naked around a store nasty and offensive -- you have to shake your head how they also take it to the next level by bullying them online. My guess is that these men -- famous athletes not accustomed to being slapped down -- never thought for a moment that's what would happen.
So let's hear it for Twitter. It can be a raucous, immature beast at times -- but can also act as a moral compass for those who surely need it. Like these two emotionally-stunted dudes. Because if they'd said these comments in the locker room, they just would have gotten guffaws, even from teammates who would have privately disagreed with them.
At least these guys were so shamed by Twitter replies that they both issued apologies. And maybe, just maybe, they thought about their actions (and their Tweets!) a little.
Have you ever spoken back to someone online?
Image via sdminor81/Flickr
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Comments 15
I feel people are entitled to their opinions and luckily we live in America where we can speak our minds. Sure, some opinions in the eyes of others may seem childish, petty, immature, whatever....but what it boils down to, if you are secure with who you are, it wont matter what haters say. There will always be people who are negative, and I will NEVER understand how the opinion of a stranger can ruin someone's day. No need to give haters what they want by blowing things out of proportion (Hello nurse ins). If you dont like what someone has to say online, block them and move on. If you dont like what they say in real life, dont be freinds with them...or be open minded and allow yourself to accept the fact no one will agree 100% of the time....its a fact of life.
There"s nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public if you have a cover. But off topic why oh why do people need to express every single thought on Twitter, FB, etc.
BusyMom7789, there's nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, period, cover or not.
And to answer your question, I think it's mostly a combination of immaturity, hubris and lack of forethought that inspire most of the shenanigans.
If you are breastfeeding and the breast the baby is not feeding on is exposed yes there is a problem. That's why you bring a cover or have a shirt that will help cover that side up. So yes it is a problem having your breasts exposed. Period.
Why do you writers keep repeating the last word of sentences then follow it with an exclamation? AN EXCLAMATION! Wtf.
In real life, sure, you don't like someone, just ignore them & move on. But when someone like a celeb who has THOUSANDS of followers on twitter says something like that, they should accept the backlash they get from it.
Btw, its pussyfied to say something, and only issue an apology because too many people got pissed. Stick to your guns, even if you look like an asshole. If you felt free enough to take someones picture & put it online to bitch about their actions, be man enough to say "look, its my opinion, like it or don't, but I'm not changing my mind"
What a couple of sissyfied assholes.