Babble Talk: Subway Riders Love Babies; Hate Pregnant Women

Ada — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:18:00 GMT

We saw a hugely pregnant woman standing near us on the L train this morning and tried to get the attention of some people who were sitting so that they could let her sit down. But they ignored us, much as they ignored us when we were nine months pregnant last August and standing over them. And yet, these same people play peekaboo with my baby and yell, "Make way for the stroller!" In her hilarious Babble essay on this phenomenon, "Notes from Underground," new mom Lynn Harris writes, "When the train arrived, I — facing, mind you, a long ride to or from Brooklyn — would enter, ever hopeful . . . to a sea of blank stares, bald spots, Post headlines. Headlines held up to hide faces. Headlines reading, CHIVALRY DEAD. That's right: no one budged. Time and again. No. One. Budged." Well, a few people budged, but who stepped up might surprise you. Check out the feedback from all over the country (and Japan!) to see how universal this phenomenon is. Portland Parents calls it a "must-read." And see the Glamour blog post our friend at Jezebel just sent us that draws similar conclusions.

Slate Slashes "Notes from the Underbelly" and the Hipster Babblers It Represents

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:23:00 GMT

Slate is joining the Notes from the Underbelly pile-on that began a few days ago here at Babble. As predicted by Babble's Lynn Harris, reviewers of the new married! with! children! television show won't be able to pass up yet another hipster parenting bashing opportunity, particularly not those "curmudgeonly newspaper columnists looking for yet another reason to complain about affluent, angsty, thirty-something parents." Slate curmudgeonly? Oh yes. Younger and prettier than David Brooks, but stodgy nonetheless. Watch out, folks, there's a brand-new alphabet in town Did you hear?

"A is for Alterndad. B is for Babble."

Yup that's right. Babble is part of the world represented by "Notes." Nevermind that we skewered the show several days ago.

Apparently, Slate concurs with James Poniewozik's analysis that most Gen X parents (especially those who write about their experiences) are narcissists.

Snark aside, Babble and Slate both find the show ultimately unable to deliver anything but trite, superficial commentaries on the wealthy and privileged few. As if everyone has the ability to choose whether or not to work once their baby is born, or whether to buy a Bugaboo or MacLaren stroller, or bigger car. As if that is what parenting boils down to these days.

Strollerderby : Lynn Harris

Babble Talk: Subway Riders Love Babies; Hate Pregnant Women

Slate Slashes "Notes from the Underbelly" and the Hipster Babblers It Represents