Comments for Political Friends Blog

Comment on TIME Magazine Cover Crosses a Line by Gerrit

Gerrit — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:34:56 +0000

Oh, and for sure breastfeeding until age 4 is not the norm. I wasn’t even aware it was possible to do so. I do think norms are not always a good thing and that individuality is important rather than putting a stigma to anything outside of the norm. However, this can be done in a tasteful way, which the magazine clearly does NOT.

Comment on TIME Magazine Cover Crosses a Line by Gerrit

Gerrit — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

i don’t think the picture itself is that shocking. You don’t see any bare breast, and as said: I think bare breasts are very normal these days. To me it’s the intention what makes it disturbing. It is clearly not about propaganding breastfeeding, it’s about cheap sensation and selling magazines. The picture itself is disturbing for that fact, but I would not call it that revealing (or at least, the breasta are not revealed ; the act of breastfeeding is very explicitly revealed and indeed I would agree that this is not appropriate — unlike a bare breast in itself such as a woman topless on a beach, I don’t think this should be taboo atmosphere anymore. If you refer to the breastfeeding act being portrayed too explicitly, then for sure I do agree)

Comment on TIME Magazine Cover Crosses a Line by Andy D

Andy D — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:50:00 +0000

Gerrit, I think Andy was saying that breastfeeding a 4 year old is not the norm. That is simple statistics. There are very few women who breast feed that long, therefore making this women “outside the norm”.

I do think TIME was simply trying to shock people with the hopes of selling a few magazines. However, I don’t think they expected such a negative reaction to this cover.

Gerrit, I also don’t think the simply act of breastfeeding is what is shocking in this cover. I think it has much more to do with how it is portrayed than the simple act itself. I really hope our nation never reaches a point where a cover like this fails to shock us.

Comment on TIME Magazine Cover Crosses a Line by Gerrit

Gerrit — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:53:30 +0000

PS: I never knew you could still breastfeed a child of that age. I thought the body only allowed it during the first year after birth or so. But then I have no family and have no intention to ever be a parent. So my knowledge on that subject is quite minimal. But I never heard it was biologically possible to still produce milk several years after giving birth. Anyway, slightly offtopic. My first reaction when seeing the –agreed, not very tasteful–picture was “this is biologically impossible”. If it is not, I stand corrected.

Anyways, this doesn’t change my opinion. I don’t think a bare breast should be a taboo subject in this 21st century we live in. I however do think this cover is a very cheap attempt on selling copies of the magazine.

Comment on TIME Magazine Cover Crosses a Line by Gerrit

Gerrit — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:47:02 +0000

I think the above comment has two issues. The word “norm” and the idea that a bare breast is wrong. First, who decides what the norm should be? Secondly, who says everyone has to agree with that norm? I personally oppose most norms because it’s a society-decided unwritten rule standing in the way of progression overall and self-development. Who decides about a norm that we should all follow?

Also, while I agree the cover is a bit cheap sensation seeking, a bare breast should no longer be any shock value. In most cultures around the world, bare breasts are normal. In cinema it is widely accepted, on beaches women go topless. If there is still a taboo about a bare breast, a body part as any other, the maybe it’s time a tiny bit of controversy removes that taboo.

That said, I don’t like the cover neither. I doubt the magazine has intentions to break any taboo, it just wants to sell. That indeed makes the cover of very low ethical value. More because of the intention than because of anything else. It’s clear they chose this picture just for the sake of selling.