Male circumcision: A poll.

[Father Heathen]

If mutilating the genitals of healthy newborns for no legitimate medical reason doesn't count as barbaric, folks, what does?

How melodramatic. You need not shed a tear for my penis, for I assure you that it's perfect the way it is.

 

[kai]

I wouldn't call it an American "norm" at this point, since the rate of circumcision is now about 35% here. But it's still far too common here as far as I'm concerned.

just wondered whats it all about really? I have two boys and as far as i remember the subject never came up.

 

[Revoltingest]

How melodramatic. You need not shed a tear for my penis, for I assure you that it's perfect the way it is.

Still no pix, eh?
You keep bragging, I keep nagging.

But there is an odd similarity with FGM in one respect. Many of the women who had it done to them are so OK with it that they have it done to their daughters.
So I argue that there is more to it than "If I like it, then I can do it to others without their consent.". Barbaric though? That seems an excessive epithet.

 

[E. Nato Difficile]

How melodramatic. You need not shed a tear for my penis, for I assure you that it's perfect the way it is.

Would you be so condescending if you were one of the infants whose circumcision didn't result in such a perfect penis? What if you'd contracted sepsis, or worse?

-Nato

 

[Father Heathen]

Still no pix, eh?
You keep bragging, I keep nagging.

But there is an odd similarity with FGM in one respect. Many of the women who had it done to them are so OK with it that they have it done to their daughters.
So I argue that there is more to it than "If I like it, then I can do it to others without their consent.". Barbaric though? That seems an excessive epithet.

That's due to religious indoctrination, though. They suffer from a lack of libido and sexual pleasure. That's an obvious negative consequence.

 

[Father Heathen]

Would you be so condescending if you were one of the infants whose circumcision didn't result in such a perfect penis? What if you'd contracted sepsis, or worse?

-Nato

What if I had contracted some infection or disease from not having it done?

 

[E. Nato Difficile]

What if I had contracted some infection or disease from not having it done?

Now it's you who's being melodramatic. People don't contract diseases from not being circumcised. Certain men who contract penile cancer or diabetes may require circumcision later in life, but that seems to be an extremely limited amount of men. It's certainly a lot less than the several million men routinely circumcised as newborns, and according to certain accounts may even be less than the amount of healthy babies who contract diseases or die because of botched circumcisions.

-Nato

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How melodramatic. You need not shed a tear for my penis, for I assure you that it's perfect the way it is.

And you speak for uncircumcized men now? About a third of the circumcized respondents have said that they not only disagree with circumcision but that they consider it to be wrong.

If you would've chosen circumcision, fine... when you're old enough to choose. If circumcision was delayed until the boy or man's preference was known, then we'd have a win-win: all the people who want it could ger it while all those who don't want it wouldn't have it forced upon them. You could still have your "perfect penis" while all the guys who want to be uncut can stay that way. What would be wrong with that?

 

[Sunstone]

I definitely question the authenticity of their outrage.

So you've become a psychic now? Reading minds to check for the "authenticity of their outrage"? That's quite an interesting development, Paul.

The point is, you strike me as in no position to judge the "authenticity of their outrage", as you so dramatically dismiss it.

 

[Skwim]

Still no pix, eh?
You keep bragging, I keep nagging.

Put your mind at rest. While I don''t have a pix of F.H.'s manhood, I did find an appraisal of it on line. . . .

 

[beenie]

Still no pix, eh?
You keep bragging, I keep nagging.

But there is an odd similarity with FGM in one respect. Many of the women who had it done to them are so OK with it that they have it done to their daughters.
So I argue that there is more to it than "If I like it, then I can do it to others without their consent.". Barbaric though? That seems an excessive epithet.

I'd argue that women are not necessarily "ok" with having the procedure done on their daughters. Rather, they are bullied into it by a cultural belief that having this done will curb their daughters' sex drive, hence keeping them "pure". They'll do about anything to keep the stigma of having a "loose" daughter at bay. If they believe this procedure will help, of course they'll do it.

FGM is the equivalent of having the entire penis cut off...does it now sound barbaric enough to you?

 

[YmirGF]

So you've become a psychic now? Reading minds to check for the "authenticity of their outrage"? That's quite an interesting development, Paul.

The point is, you strike me as in no position to judge the "authenticity of their outrage", as you so dramatically dismiss it.

Nice try, Phil. What I am saying is that, from my perspective, this indignation, this outrage, whatever you wish to call it, is a fabrication. Likewise, Phil, you are in no position to claim that this outrage IS authentic.

 

[Sunstone]

Nice try, Phil. What I am saying is that, from my perspective, this indignation, this outrage, whatever you wish to call it, is a fabrication. Likewise, Phil, you are in no position to claim that this outrage IS authentic.

Paul, I'll take it on good faith that people who claim to regret having been circumcised genuinely regret having been circumcised -- since I have no reason to believe they are liars. However, if you wish to take their words in bad faith, that's your business.

 

[YmirGF]

Paul, I'll take it on good faith that people who claim to regret having been circumcised genuinely regret having been circumcised -- since I have no reason to believe they are liars. However, if you wish to take their words in bad faith, that's your business.

All is well then. Me? I generally don't take people's words at face value. Sue me.

 

[Revoltingest]

FGM is the equivalent of having the entire penis cut off...does it now sound barbaric enough to you?

I've always thought that circumcision is a minor thing (not barbaric), but FGM is at least an
order of magnitude worse (definitely barbaric). But what they have in common is worth discussing.
I probably wasn't clear about that in my earlier post. Cursed communication skills of the engineer!

 

[ankarali]

Interesting, in islam the circumcision is recommended but it is not an obligation althought 99,9 % of muslims do it.

 

[Father Heathen]

What Skwim meant to say was that's how close of a look he got of it.

 

[Kathryn]

FH, I didn't realize that you and Ms. Rice had become so close. You should write an expose'!

 

[dust1n]

Because they don't know how it would feel if they had foreskins....

But.. .but... butt... wouldn't people with foreskins not know what it is like to not have a foreskin?

 

[dust1n]

FGM is the equivalent of having the entire penis cut off...does it now sound barbaric enough to you?

I don't know about all that now, but there probably isn't a safe equalivent when one speaks of genital mutilation.