Intact or Circumcised

[Wuducynn]

As long as no one has any problems with me having my daughter's clitoral hood removed from her clitoris. Its the comparison procedure. Its better for her, cleanliness thing you know.

[Ruthful]

Here's my one link...couldn't resist.

http://www.norm-uk.org/circumcision_...witem&item=119

This site is devoted to the issue. If you ever hope to have a son I urge you to check it out or do your own surfing on the subject..

Thanks, but I know what a foreskin looks like. I'm not planning on having children any time soon, but I suppose this might be an issue if I have a boy.

To me there doesn't seem to be much utility to circumcision. I suppose thousands of years ago, when our ancestors were all wandering around the Near East fornicating with camels, it might have served some practical purpose, but I don't think it's that important today.

All of these epidemiological studies of African men who are circumcised-comparing them with men who aren't-attempting to prove that it cuts down on the transmission of HIV, are underwhelming. First of all, the fact that most of the men who are circumcised in those cases are Moslems is probably a much more significant factor. Correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation. Secondly, even if it can be demonstrated that the ones who are circumcized are non-Moslems, yet still have a lower incidence of STDs, I still don't think it's a valid argument in favor of circumcision. You could say that castration prevents the transmission of HIV even more effectively, but I don't see people arguing on behalf of castration as a means of preventing the spread of STDs.

[The Lady of Shadows]

well, since i'm a woman this really doesn't affect me directly. but since i'm jewish it would matter to me if i could have children. any male child of mine would have to be circumcised, since he would be born jewish and i would raise him jewish. it's a religious (and i believe moral) obligation on my behalf to ensure that ritual is performed so that he would be welcomed into god's embrace.

i understand all the medical and societal arguments for and against, but for me it really is a religious issue and solely a religious issue. and since my male child could not be raised jewish without that rite of passage, it wouldn't even be a question.

i find all of your various views on this topic fascinating though, so i'm going to lurk in here now and then to read your responses.

[ZoNeSeeK]

Matthew: tou-fucking-che.

Thank fuck that myself and my brother are ABSOLUTELY NOT circumcised and that our parents had the decency to leave our bodies intact and not start cutting strips off our genitals because they thought they "looked funny". I am actually so appalled at some of the comments here I'm going to refrain from speaking the full extent of what I would say as I don't think the end result will be constructive.

The practice of docking the tails of some breeds of dog has been banned as its deemed cruel and unnecessary. Why any civilised country would treat their male babies worse than animals is beyond comprehension. I understand that in the US its unfortunately "still the norm" but I strongly advise anyone who has a son to seriously understand the implications of cosmetically altering their manhood - not just to them, but to other males who's parents just copy what everyone else is doing without actually giving it much thought.

I completely respect the Jewish people and their religious rite - it has symbollism and meaning in this context. Anyone else, no excuses. Im furious.

[John_and_Yoko]

Let's not forget about the boy who was raised as a girl--there's an argument against circumcision if anyone ever needed one....

I thought more people would respond to this--maybe everyone already knows about it, and I'm the only one that's relatively out of the loop....

No biggie, just a little surprised....

[ZoNeSeeK]

J&Y: Yes - and that wouldn't be the only botched job thats occured either. Bet their parents think twice about circumcision now, considering the, you know, condemnation of their son to a life of depression, shame and sexual dysfunction. Way to go mum and dad.

[John_and_Yoko]

You know, I was unsure before, but I'm honestly leaning towards being against it now--not in my case, since it's too late, but for future cases.... At least referring to my own sons....

Unless I convert to Judaism, which is looking less likely....

[ZoNeSeeK]

I can assure you all that cleaning an intact penis is just as easy as cleaning a cut one and cutting, despite what we've been led to believe, does not help a man stay any cleaner.

Don't you have to pull back the foreskin to clean under it? I remember my textbook in Health class saying something about that. So that would make it a little less easy... right?

Oh, its incredibly complicated. You need to obtain a degree in Penis Management before you're even ready to give it a shot, thats how hard it is.

For you circumcised fellas: don't you need some form of lube every time you have a wank?

[Jean]

I can't vote, because I don't see an option that would suit me. I am for circumcision that makes integral part of one's religious or cultural tradition, but against it when it's just fashionable or made on the ground of dubious medical advice.

[ZoNeSeeK]

Im assuming the poll is focused on cosmetic circumcision Jean

[Darkthoughts]

The practice of docking the tails of some breeds of dog has been banned as its deemed cruel and unnecessary. Why any civilised country would treat their male babies worse than animals is beyond comprehension.

You summed up everything I was going to say right there.

[mia/susannah]

I can assure you all that cleaning an intact penis is just as easy as cleaning a cut one and cutting, despite what we've been led to believe, does not help a man stay any cleaner.

Don't you have to pull back the foreskin to clean under it? I remember my textbook in Health class saying something about that. So that would make it a little less easy... right?

Oh, its incredibly complicated. You need to obtain a degree in Penis Management before you're even ready to give it a shot, thats how hard it is.

For you circumcised fellas: don't you need some form of lube every time you have a wank?

To answer your question, no they don't need any form of lube.
I am not particularly for circumcision. I have not had to make that decision because I had 4 girls. I don't see where it is medically necessary so I most likely would not have it done. But I have never been faced with it.

[lophophoras]

I am cut and have dealt with both cut and uncut. Either way they all still serve the same purpose. I think cut looks better, but just imagine having that extra skin and all that extra sensitivity. Maybe those of us that are cut, got cheated?

[cozener]

I can assure you all that cleaning an intact penis is just as easy as cleaning a cut one and cutting, despite what we've been led to believe, does not help a man stay any cleaner.

Don't you have to pull back the foreskin to clean under it? I remember my textbook in Health class saying something about that. So that would make it a little less easy... right?

Sure, but its not like it takes a crane and a forklift. It takes a millisecond longer to clean my penis. Considering what a man loses when his foreskin is removed...I'd say its a good trade.

[John Blaze]

I can assure you all that cleaning an intact penis is just as easy as cleaning a cut one and cutting, despite what we've been led to believe, does not help a man stay any cleaner.

Don't you have to pull back the foreskin to clean under it? I remember my textbook in Health class saying something about that. So that would make it a little less easy... right?

Oh, its incredibly complicated. You need to obtain a degree in Penis Management before you're even ready to give it a shot, thats how hard it is.

For you circumcised fellas: don't you need some form of lube every time you have a wank?

Maybe I'm missing something here (haha) but what the fuck is the big deal? So you have foreskin and I don't, what's that got to do with manliness? I still enjoy sex, you still enjoy sex, right? I still pee standing up, and so do you. The only "issue" (if you can call it that, to me it's a non-issue") I've ever had is chicks that I've known who say "turtlenecks" look funny. It's nothing to me. I don't need lotion to jack off, so i don't get what you guys are so pissed off about.

[cozener]

Who's pissed off?

[ManOfWesternesse]

...so i don't get what you guys are so pissed off about.

pun intended?

Honestly JohnB, I didn't see anyone get pissed off at all in this thread?

Cannot abide even the thought of circumcision myself *shudders*, but to each his own.

[Brice]

Well, it's not like anyone chooses for themselves, right? You don't reach adulthood uncircumcised and suddenly think "I'm gonna' go get my dick cut".

[Tiffany]

I did have a friend who decided to get snipped when he was 21. This was an earthy, hippie, save-the-environment guy who didn't wear deodorant and thought that being all natural was the way to go.

I don't really care one way or another. I'm sure when my husband and I talk about starting a family it'll come up.

[cozener]

There are some intances...rare instances...where men do have to do it for medical reasons. God that would suck.

But honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that most insurance companies covered the procedure it wouldn't be done nearly as often as it is. When people have to start paying for this they'll do the research and find out for themselves just how unnecessary (and detrimental) it is before they shell out hundreds of their own ducets.

[Brice]

I did have a friend who decided to get snipped when he was 21. This was an earthy, hippie, save-the-environment guy who didn't wear deodorant and thought that being all natural was the way to go.

OWwwwwwwwww!

I'd be curious as to how getting cut fit in with the all natural thing... but to each their own.

[Tiffany]

I don't remember why he wanted to get his dink cut but I'm almost positive it wasn't a medical thing. I'd ask him if I knew how to get in touch with him.

[Brice]

It just strikes me as a particularly odd decsion to make. Not to mention painful.

[Tiffany]

Oh, I'm not saying that's a decision that every uncircumcised guy makes at 21...just sayin' it happens.

[CPU]

I can still remember watching Roots when I was about 10 or 11: there's a scene where Kunta has just gone through his tribes ascension to manhood ritual and all the boys are before the chief (or shaman, can't remember what he was really). The man running the ceremony asked for the boys, now men, to hold out their "phalluses" (this was TV and 1975? remember), he had a weird looking knife and he went boy to boy circumcising them. I remember asking my mom what a phallus was; she told me to look it up - that told me right away what it was!

Anyway, the point is that the tribe circumcised them when they reached "manhood", not as babies. It must have hurt like a mother-....