Poll: Circumcision - What is your opinion?

[Ultrajoe]

That old argument? Why is it comedy when a man's genitals are brutally wracked with a blunt object (aka nutshot) but do likewise to a woman's genitalia and it's vicious and unspeakably evil? Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side, but the genders, regardless of what women say, are imbalanced in their favor. Can a man ultimately decide abortion? Does a man have the final say on when couples have sex? Are men as protected from female sexual predators as women are from male sexual predators? Simply; no, no, and no.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_privilege
http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2007/03/11/faq-what-is-male-privilege/

Read.

 

[Varya]

Two words: Penile cancer.

The risk is about double if you're uncircumcised. Uncircumcised men are also much more prone to urinary tract infections and multiple STD's.

I also have to disagree with the 'cons' list above. Loss of 50% of sexual pleasure? Where does that come from? I'm unaware of any reliable source that claims male circumcision makes sex less pleasurable. I'm also unaware of any studies showing an increased risk of ANY disease after circumcision. This is why the comparison between male and female circumcision makes no sense to me. There are real, serious, provable costs to female circumcision. There are none that I know of for men. Circumcision has real advantages (how important they are may be debatable, but they're there) and I don't see any costs.

Bottom line, a foreskin doesn't do you any good, a clitoris does.

Ok. I know I'm gonna sound rude and all now but I believe strongly in this so perhaps you'll forgive me. What you just wrote is dead wrong and it's important that at least we get facts straight. An uncircumcised penis does NOT have an increased risk of penile cancer. An unhygienic penis, yes, but hygiene is DECREASED by circumcision, because you cut away the protective foreskin. The only medical reason valid enough is if you HAVE a condition, it's not recommended as a preventative measure. There IS a risk of complications, if very, very small, but since the procedure is utterly, I repeat UTTERLY needless, it's not a risk worth taking.

It is a mutilation, and if you wan't if for "the look of it" you do it when you are old enough to decide, and keep those scissors away from any child.

 

[maninahat]

BONUS DISCUSSION: I find it quite amusing how many people there is that say: "Male circumcision is fine, but Female circumcision is EVUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLL!" I want to ask them a question. Do you believe in equality towards both genders? If yes, shouldn´t male/Female circumcision be just as bad/good as the other?

(For the record, i am aware that female circumcision has MUCH more severe consequences, and i believe it is just as wrong as male circumcision, but this just bugs me. Why scream out for equality when you don´t want it?)

Does female circumcision provide the increased hygiene of male circumscision? Is there a medical issue about tightness? Equality doesn't apply to physiological differences that cannot be worked around. It would be like men campaigning for the right to have babies [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBOQzSk14c] (equal treatment and all). Equal treatment is limited in that respect. But I don't think that is a problem.

 

[skeliton112]

I think it should be legal for medical reasons so i voted other, but im against unnecessary surgery.

 

[drbarno]

Circumcision?

Not on my penis that's for sure.

 

[Malo_Tux]

A circumsized penis is a good looking penis

 

[AngloDoom]

Circumcision is something that can't be undone and is highly personal. No-one should tell you how your genitals should be, so making the decision on behalf of a child is just wrong in my opinion - the exception being medical reasons of course.

Female circumcision however...is just downright evil.

I'm 32 years old, married, non-religious, and live in Canada. I was circumsized at birth and have no complaints in the area. I enjoy sex, thoroughly, and couldn't imagine it being any more sensitive. Esthetically and hygenically I've always preferred it.

This is why, when the time comes, I'll be having my newborn son circumsized. My wife is in complete angreement with me. There isn't the slightest amount of hesitation on my part.

Don't mean to pick you out from the crowd, but you were not too far away from my reply:

What if your potential future-child dislikes the idea of a circumcised penis later in life? I know the idea will be familiar to your young possible-lad from birth, but what if later on they would have liked the decision?

I've nothing against circumcision since it is such a personal matter, but I don't believe on making unnecessary permanent changes to any person before they get to make that decision themselves.

Again, personal opinion: I just want your view.

 

[JanatUrlich]

I've heard that most guys in America are circumcised. Is this true? That fucking sucks haha. I've never had sex with an uncircumcised guy and I'm not sure I'd know what to do. Plus who wants to lose that much sensation?!? I don't understand why any guy would have it done unless it was for religious reasons. Crazy shit.

 

[Davey Woo]

I'm not circumsized, and I don't really have an opinion on it. I didn't even know women could get circumsized.
If you choose to do it yourself, that's fair enough, but I guess I think it's a bit unfair for parents to decide for their children, but then I'm really against anyone being able to decide things like that for anyone else.

 

[maninahat]

...hygiene is DECREASED by circumcision, because you cut away the protective foreskin.

That doesn't make much sense to me. Does that mean my skin in general is less hygienic because it lacks a loose layer of skin on top? The "increased hygiene" of circumcision refers to the lack of a need to clean beneath the foreskin, where dirt can get trapped. It isn't something which can't be helped by just taking the time to wash down there though (unless you have the forementioned problem of tightness...like I once had).

On another note, why does circumcision always erupt into massive debates online? Why is it such an attractive topic? Are people just predisposed to argue about dicks for dozens of pages?

 

[Uncreation]

Oh look, this thread again. Personally i'm not circumsized and i don't wish to be. I think it's pointless except in a small number of cases where it's needed for medical reasons (i can't remember the name of the condition now). I voted the second option. And if i'll ever have a son i sure as shit won't circumsize him.

 

[Icehearted]

That old argument? Why is it comedy when a man's genitals are brutally wracked with a blunt object (aka nutshot) but do likewise to a woman's genitalia and it's vicious and unspeakably evil? Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side, but the genders, regardless of what women say, are imbalanced in their favor. Can a man ultimately decide abortion? Does a man have the final say on when couples have sex? Are men as protected from female sexual predators as women are from male sexual predators? Simply; no, no, and no.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_privilege
http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2007/03/11/faq-what-is-male-privilege/

Read.

No sure what to take from that. Seemed that unlike the examples I offered, certain important aspects of the practice of marriage, including the expectation of maintaining tradition for tradition's sake, or even the letter of the law, were omitted sheerly to provide an example that seems by it's nature to favor one perspective (female) over the other (male). I feel my examples are much more base and free of contextual biases.

Example: They injure a man in his reproductive organs in a movie and it's a comedy, the do likewise damage to female reproductive organs (and not just an outward strike, since male sexual organs are external and female internal, so an external blow would not be nearly the same thing) and you're making a horror/thriller/drama.

We are not societally perceived as equals. If that was the point I agree, but the slant still favors women by a broad majority.

 

[maninahat]

Circumcision is something that can't be undone and is highly personal. No-one should tell you how your genitals should be, so making the decision on behalf of a child is just wrong in my opinion - the exception being medical reasons of course.

That's an interesting view, because of its applicability to many other areas. Parents will always presume to know what is right for their child, and will make decisions on its behalf, even when the child adamantly doesn't want it. If my kid really didn't want me investing in premium bonds for him (instead wanting me to buy him more toys), should I do what the kid says? He doen't know what is best for himself to make the right decision. But perhaps I feel it is necessary to do that on his behalf (by the time he is old enough to understand what premium bonds are, I might have already blown the cash I would have spent on them buying myself a pool table).

 

[DesiPrinceX09]

I have no problem with it, many girls have told me that the penis looks better when circumcised (which makes me glad I am). I don't see the problem with doing it on a baby, sure you may be hacking something off but the little guy won't remember a damn thing (I had no idea till I was 10 or 11)

 

[CATS FTW]

...hygiene is DECREASED by circumcision, because you cut away the protective foreskin.

That doesn't make much sense to me. Does that mean my skin in general is less hygienic because it lacks a loose layer of skin on top? The "increased hygiene" of circumcision refers to the lack of a need to clean beneath the foreskin, where dirt can get trapped. It isn't something which can't be helped by just taking the time to wash down there though (unless you have the forementioned problem of tightness...like I once had).

On another note, why does circumcision always erupt into massive debates online? Why is it such an attractive topic? Are people just predisposed to argue about dicks for dozens of pages?

No, really, it IS unhygenic, the only reason that being uncut could ever be less hygenic is if you didn't know how to wash your willy, (which some people don't), it also does reduces pleasure because it leaves scar tissue there which has fucked up, if not, no nerves.

 

[Kadoodle]

Unless there is a medical reason for it, I find the whole practice rather disturbing.

There is. It keeps the penis clean, makes it easier to clean, and studies have shown that circumcised men are less likely to gain an STD than those who are uncut.


OT: 40-50%? Sucks for me to have had jewish parents...

 

[maninahat]

Two words: Penile cancer.

How come you never see commericals on tv for dick cancer, anyway? You get bowel, prostate, cervical and breast cancer ads all the time, but what about butt cancer or dick cancer? I bet millions are killed each year because no one has raised awareness about the dangers of cock cancer.

 

[nothinghere]

I think it's wrong. My dick is barely sensitive at all. I probably cum during sex 1/5 times before my gf is done and I gotta wank it - and that's without a condom. I've cum inside a condom once during sex that I can think of. Seriously, it's bullshit. I wish it was more sensitive. But no, I had the tip of my penis cut when I was born because my family is Catholic.

I can tell you I'm not circumsizing my children. Teach them to clean it out and it's all good.

you can restore the foreskin and game some sensitivity back, you make want to look into it, theirs surgical and natural ways to gain foreskin back

 

[Ultrajoe]

...hygiene is DECREASED by circumcision, because you cut away the protective foreskin.

That doesn't make much sense to me. Does that mean my skin in general is less hygienic because it lacks a loose layer of skin on top? The "increased hygiene" of circumcision refers to the lack of a need to clean beneath the foreskin, where dirt can get trapped. It isn't something which can't be helped by just taking the time to wash down there though (unless you have the forementioned problem of tightness...like I once had).

On another note, why does circumcision always erupt into massive debates online? Why is it such an attractive topic? Are people just predisposed to argue about dicks for dozens of pages?

1) The discussion of 'hygiene' in relation to circumcision is largely silly, because modern society is fairly clean on the whole. A foreskin keeps the vulnerable skin of your glans away from free-floating nasties. Chop it off, and you lose that in exchange for less particle retention in that area. Don't stir puddles with your cock and I don't think you'll notice the difference.

2) The reason it creates debates is because it's an old cultural holdout that a lot of people have. It's not strictly relevant, but it's common and us males hate the idea that our dick could be somehow inferior (We love our dicks). It is, simply, chopping bits off people without their consent. That makes it bad to some, but to those who have it done and don't feel victimized, being told 'You have been wronged by your loved ones!' rubs the wrong way.

Basically, it's the perfect storm of fact, feeling and a lack of research.