Suggestion to separate debate from support (e.g. breastfeeding topic)

[CarmenSanDiego]

It was suggested in this thread that it might be helpful to separate out news and debate from support in the feeding forum.

Some people want to debate research, news, ethics etc. Some people go to the forum to seek support with their own feeding problems. The two are really not compatible - people seeking support don't particularly want to be told about risks for example. But both people end up in the feeding forum.

Is there a way of separating this topic? It's not just feeding. I've seen a similar thing occur in regards to a cosleeping debate and SIDS information, for example but this seems to happen most often with feeding discussions.

As said elsewhere, I second this.

As said elsewhere, I second this.

i kind of agree with the idea... BUT a lot of people appear on threads from active convos. so i don't think it will prevent it.
people post advice/info they think is relevant, regardless of the topic it is itn

plus, i think we have too many topics already. i find it really difficult sometimes knwoing where i ought to post stuff

Yes, I sort of agree, TIY. I don't have a great suggestion for how it could be done. But it should be possible to debate things like obesity, SAHM/WOHM, feeding, sleeping etc. without someone coming onto the thread saying, "I'm in tears over this! How dare you say that X thing will harm my baby/my health."

I realise this was exaggerated in the thread referenced because of the controversial title, but it does apply to any debate on potentially emotive issues. I've been similarly yelled at for talking about SIDS statistics in a debate on cosleeping.

Similarly, if you /are/ feeling upset about something, you should be able to say, "Look, I really need support with xyz" within the context of what you're doing and your philosophy without someone coming on to debate the politics of it.

I don't have a magic answer but I think it's worth talking about this.