Answers I liked

[Emiliana]

One wonders if public breastfeeding being commonplace could be a relevant factor.

YES. Breasts are so sexualized in our culture that they can't even perform their actual function without incredible inconvenience.

[Cindy]

My boss was a teenager in World War II. He says that before the war, breastfeeding in public was fairly common in the rural Utah town where he grew up. When the war ended, there were apparently some public service ads (on buses, for instance) saying that the men coming home from the war had been exposed to things overseas that might make them react differently than they used to, so women should be more careful about breastfeeding in public and stuff like that.

[Emiliana]

Interesting! What sorts of things supposedly changed their minds about breasts? I know the French have been historically more open about sexuality and nudity than Americans... (In fact, I just finished reading Ulysses and the narrator sometimes refers to "French postcards" ... basically softcore porn....)

Also, out of curiosity, how did you end up talking to your boss about this? lol.

[Cindy]

He didn't clarify what he meant by that, and he's kind of an unstoppable force when he starts telling a story. So, I don't know what exactly he meant.

I think this subject came up because he was telling us his views on some of the effects World War II had on culture, particularly in rural towns like the one he grew up in. It was quite interesting.

[Portia]

Hmmmm, wish I had read this before I went out with a lawyer. But seriously.

[Whistler]

I know the French have been historically more open about sexuality and nudity than Americans...

I read a book, Bringing Up Bebe, about childraising in France. Apparently, hardly any women breastfeed there, since it takes away from the feminine mystique, or something.

[mic0]

Art stolen in WWII. This was a really fascinating read, thanks Sheebs!

[mic0]

I loved all the Egyptian Q&A's yesterday from Inquisitive Isis. It was just fun going through the day's posts and then, "Sorry about ANOTHER Egyptian question!" So funny. And interesting questions to boot. (And Concorde - "Actually Egyptian stuff is my cup of tea." )

[Tally M.]

I loved all the Egyptian Q&A's yesterday from Inquisitive Isis. It was just fun going through the day's posts and then, "Sorry about ANOTHER Egyptian question!" So funny. And interesting questions to boot. (And Concorde - "Actually Egyptian stuff is my cup of tea." )

There's yet another one in the inbox. It's kind of ridiculous.

[mic0]

Hahaha! Oh man. That's great, I can't wait. Ridiculous in the best way, right?!

[Katya]

My boss was a teenager in World War II. He says that before the war, breastfeeding in public was fairly common in the rural Utah town where he grew up. When the war ended, there were apparently some public service ads (on buses, for instance) saying that the men coming home from the war had been exposed to things overseas that might make them react differently than they used to, so women should be more careful about breastfeeding in public and stuff like that.

This makes no sense to me. Furthermore, a decline in breastfeeding (public or otherwise) would never have been possible without concurrent advances in formula, so I suspect that had a much greater impact on the practice.

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/78747/

Concorde nailed it. (God forbid a 15-year-old should be friendly!)

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/78720/

Fascinating!

[Whistler]

[...] a decline in breastfeeding (public or otherwise) would never have been possible without concurrent advances in formula, so I suspect that had a much greater impact on the practice.

Related: my grandmother fed her first few children cow's milk. Also, one of my baby books had a recipe for "formula" based on condensed milk. I know it's not good to feed babies cow's milk... but apparently it can sustain them. So I guess I'm wondering if the popularity of formula actually made for a decline in breastfeeding or not.

[Whistler]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/78720/

Fascinating!

I was so happy after I got a dog to find out that fleas are relatively unheard of in Utah.

[Portia]

Congrats, Stego!!! I love your awkward first date story. Thanks for your fun answers, Utah-native perspective, and just being all-around cool.

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/78750/

Lots of good answers on this one, but I especially liked a couple of observations by "a writer":

Matt Walsh said suicide is a choice. While that is technically correct, signing a two-year contact with the Cavaliers is also a choice. It is a decision that one makes but there is so much that goes into it before that. It's not a simple "I'll wear this t-shirt today" decision.

I find it interesting that we say someone "lost a battle with cancer" but we never say someone "lost a battle with depression." They are both illnesses that can kill you.

The latter quote is also interesting from an ethics perspective, where we distinguish between letting something bad happen and causing something bad to happen. I.e., if someone was depressed and contracted a curable form of cancer, but decided not to have it treated, would we view that as a suicide in the same way that we view other types of suicide? What if the cancer was treatable but probably not curable and someone decided not to pursue treatment options?

[Marduk]

Your question sparks tons of interesting debates about our medical system. In short, we have a really tough time allowing people to die.

[Shrinky Dink]

I'm just glad that I learned about What is Matt Walsh Wrong About Today. (http://whatismattwalshwrongabouttoday.com/) I just wish there was a reply to why he won't teach his kids about safe sex because "there is no such thing".

I also really liked The Soulful Ginger's response:

I find it to be very callous to use a recent death to promote your own personal views and ideas.

[Portia]

Wow that article on sex was something else. His message of shame and high-horse holier-than-thou morality is not new or revolutionary but dates back millennia.