Poll: Circumcision - What is your opinion?

[burningdragoon]

I've never been circumcised, and I don't plan on ever having it done. I can't stand the idea of the pain... But everyone I know is circumcised, and it makes it weird. I'm considered a freak...

They're projecting their shame onto you. They know they cannot have it undone. If anything there the people with the body modifications are freaks.

Disagree.

Uncircumcised cock is pretty gross imho.

Circumcised cock is pretty gross imho.

I think you both are right.

OT: I...er... I think everyone should just agree that none of know what we are talking about. And we should at least agree that bringing up female circumcision is pretty silly.

 

[Panda Mania]

I've never really understood it. Not being male, I can't judge, but from what I've heard the hygiene and health benefits are really minimal. As for lasting longer during sex, that seems like a horrible phrase to disguise that fact that an area responsible for a lot of sexual pleasure has just been removed for no real reason.

The difference between male and female circumcision doesn't really have much to do with gender equality, it has more to do with the procedure itself. I'm not really in a position to judge whether having your clitoris removed if female has the same negative effect on sexual pleasure as having your foreskin removed as a male, but the clitoris is the female equivalent of the head of the penis. I don't think anyone would be too keen about removing that. Notwithstanding the clitoris/foreskin comparison, a lot of female circumcision practiced goes beyond just removing the clitoris but also removes much or all of the labia. In some cultures, female genital mutilation goes so far as to sew the vagina shut so that the girl, who is often seven or eight at the time of the procedure, has literally no choice but to remain a virgin as far as vaginal sex is concerned until marriage. Which is probably why people make a bit more of a fuss about female circumcision.

There might well be equally horrific 'circumcision' rituals carried out on young boys in the world somewhere, if that's how you like your 'gender equality'.

Well said, regarding female circumcision. There are crucial differences between the two practices--not so much a matter of equality as it is biology.

 

[Dimitriov]

Uncircumcised penises look gross.

Circumcised penises work just fine, and I sincerely doubt that there is any loss in pleasure if it is done as a child. If it is done as an adult then that would seem much more likely.

There are health benefits to circumcision and none for remaining uncircumcised. And for what would seem some very obvious reasons the best time to do a circumcision would be in infancy.

The way it is now is fine, if anything the law should be changed so all men are circumcised. In fact I think there should be a poll option.

 

[smaug85]

oh and i should add, there is no substantial evidence stating that there is more sexual pleasure for uncircumcised men. And recently a study has shown it CAN be reversed, such as skin and nerve can be regenerated when harmed, this is done with medicine or certain machines, sometimes surgery but that isn't necessarily regenerating the nerves and what not.

 

[crisissuit3]

I can't believe my first post is going to be here :\

But anyway I'm circumcised and got it way back then. I personally think its completely fine for a parent to make that choice. I mean its the parents job to make choices for their kids when they're young, its what they do. No terrible damage is being done, I mean they can still enjoy sex (and come on, sex is sex), go on for a little longer, and saves a few minutes in the shower.

Also some (probably a terrible argument) it all equals out, right? whats the difference between 1 hour of full pleasure compared to 2 hours of half pleasure? (again a terrible argument but I'm very tired atm).

also the whole "Its like cutting off a bit of your pinky" I'm completely missing an index finger and my toe was cut off to be used as a thumb. if cutting off a bit of skin off your junk makes someone a freak then I must be frankenstein.

There are 2 underlining arguments (I see, at least). 1. Can parents control every little detail of their childs life, and, how important is pleasure when it comes to sex.

also if my dick was any more sensitive, It would be impossible for me to even put on pants...

 

[Comrade_Beric]

Parents are not allowed to brand their children with a hot iron to mark them as part of their religion or to make them "look better." Adults may do anything they wish to themselves, but they do not own their children, whatever custody rights they may have, and should not be allowed to cut pieces of them off for the same reason they are not allowed to hot-iron brand them.

 

[OtherSideofSky]

Having been circumcised at birth, I always find these discussions incredibly depressing.
And I was having such a nice day, too...

 

[Kurokami]

Well, time for another dilemma, folks! How do you feel about circumcision? Is it good? Bad? Should it be legal? No? Yes?

Personally, i think i´ll weigh the pros and cons against eachother.

PROS:

Easier to clean.
Lasts longer (during sex)
Reduces risks of some diseases.

CONS:

Loss of about 40-50% pleasure during sex.
More prone to certain diseases.

Now i don´t know about you, but i think we can call this a 50/50 descision, right? It all comes down to what matters the most for you.

But the thing is, that PARENTS can make the descision in many countries, which i think is abhorrent and simply put, wrong, since the practice is irreversible. And if you say "Oh but it can be restored" no, it can´t, not entirely. It can be HEALED, but not restored.

Circumcision is only valid for ONE reason before one hits maturity, and that is a medical condition where the foreskin is to tight around the penis and must be loosened up.

So, my opinion is: If you´re an adult and want to, then fine, good for you. If you´re an adult and you´re about to circumcise a kid, screw you.

What about you?

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?)

It's often a religious/cultural practice, I don't see what's wrong with it. As for the enjoying sex 40-50% less, that seems like a completely random number, what studies have you got to show for it? Personally I'm certain I enjoy it more because god knows I care about sex a damn lot more than everyone else I know, if I had that additional 50% you're talking about people would be worried.

I don't see why the decision shouldn't be the parents', especially since it hurts like fuck to do when you're able to make the decision. I think it's fantastic that I'm circumcised and if I wasn't I could care less, it was my family's decision and it was the right one because it was what they wanted, it's not that big of a deal and you seem to go out of your way to call it immoral. Your female circumcision argument is also moronic (though I think that was the point?), you do bring up a point though. Men and Women are different, so they can't really be treated the same without making them the same. Equality however refers to not treating them as lower than you, just different.

 

[dashiz94]

Holy shit I had not realized circumcision was such a big deal.

I'm fine with the way it's practiced now, and I don't see any real reason to bother changing anything. Being Jewish, I was circumcised at infancy for the religious reason, but I learned there are medical benefits to it.

Personally, I don't care. And this discussion on "The kid should be able to choose" is just fucking stupid. It's the parent's decision to decide what is best for the kid, so there.

 

[archaicmalevolence]

Ehh it's a tough argument against some people for or against circumcision. I'd say don't do it to a child etc against their will. It comes down to them growing up etc other ideas.
Just let them grow to maturity and let them decide wether they want to do it or not. If they're under the legal age it shouldn't matter too much either way.

 

[Banvillin]

That seems like a totally fair and reasoned way to go about the matter. Better than how my parents acted.

 

[Ciler]

Well, time for another dilemma, folks! How do you feel about circumcision? Is it good? Bad? Should it be legal? No? Yes?

Personally, i think i´ll weigh the pros and cons against eachother.

I find your list of Pros and Cons to be based on a lot of myths.

PROS:

Easier to clean.
- FALSE: They're equally easy to clean for the most part; you just need water and possibly some soap. It's really not rocket science.

Lasts longer (during sex)
- FALSE: Having foreskin does not have any impact on how long one can last during sex. It's possible to be intact and still take a very long time to climax (or even be unable to).

Reduces risks of some diseases.
- This is debatable. The best prevention from disease is practicing safe sex, since circumcision does not make one immune to anything the risk is still there.

CONS:

Loss of about 40-50% pleasure during sex.
- Debatable, and the percentage is spurious. Perhaps a better wording could be "reduced sensitivity". I think your point is that generally foreskin provides pleasure, and removing it prevents someone from experiencing that pleasure.

More prone to certain diseases.
- Debatable again, same as above.

Really, there are no valid "Pros" for routine child circumcision. There are serious ethical concerns however, which leads to an important point:

*A parent does not actually OWN their child's genitals.*

Without a valid medical reason, any forced body modification is extremely unethical, especially since any amputation has a great risk for complications. Any arguments for aesthetics (as some other posters are making) are moot, since it doesn't matter what YOU think looks better, it's up to the owner of the penis to decide what HE prefers.

PROS:
- None

CONS:
- Amputating a person's body parts for no medical reason, and without their consent, is unethical.
- Amputation of any body part may lead to serious complications, including death.
- Foreskin typically provides pleasure, and removing it denies a person that pleasure.

 

[Dimitriov]

On the note of ethics: What about my right to be circumcised at the time of life when it is safest and easiest to do so?

If being circumcised as an adult and as a child were the same thing then yeah maybe it should be left for them to decide, but it is much easier to have it done as baby.

 

[Zing]

I haven't read through the whole thread but:

CONS:

Loss of about 40-50% pleasure during sex.

Bull. Shit.

 

[InnerRebellion]

I think I am... I'm not sure. I wouldn't even know, since half the time nothing is going on down there. I have a very weird arousal threshold. My friends always complain about constant raging hard ons, yet I never deal with that problem, and it actually makes me feel inadequate.


I don't really care if someone has it done.

 

[Requx]

There is a kopius amount of bias up in this forum... I don't know why we even debate it for adults though I doubt if Circumsision won this debate anybody would go get circumsised because of it. I remember a while ago talking to an actual sexologist, about the issue and they just tell you "If you have one then your not missing out on anything", "If you don't have one then don't get one unless you need it". And while studies show that having it uncircumsised will give you increased risk of some disease, it's your parents decisison. Getting one as an adult if you don't need it is utterly retarded. Were gonna have the same argument about choosing your kids genetic make up 20 years from now and nothing will be accomplished because its just bias and false facts but there is one fact: All the beginning facts are wrong.

 

[Dwarfman]

I am circumsized. I was circumsized when I was a baby. I have no problems with any of my parts and neither are they mutilated. I am neither pychologically scarred or feel abused in any way. And to be very frank many of the comments in this thread towards the circumcized and their parents is just damn insulting.

Comparing male circumcision to female circumcision is also insulting. The former was done originally for health reasons and only involves the tiniest removal of the forskin - the rest is pulled back. Female circumcision involves removing all parts of the female genitalia that involves having an orgasm. It is a barbaric way of keeping women 'in their place'.

I have no problems with circumcision and should I be blessed with male children they too would be circumsized. The list of benifets outways the list of cons - many of which are untrue.

 

[dystopiaINC]

My point was that with this being such a personal (and charged) issue, lots of responses will end up being emotional rather than factual.

You're right, of course. It's a tough issue... particularly so for circumcised men. I mean, the clear consensus now is that there's no medically compelling reason to perform the operation, but that can be kind of hard to accept if you had it performed on you. Presumably, you really want to think it happened for good reason.

oh sure, but to be honest, i don't care, i would be worried bout my kid possibly having to do it when he's older. hears my position, you will have no memory if it ever. it may hurt but you'll never be able to remember that far back, but if you have to wait til your six because of a UTI or just chose to do it when your 20? that would be almost insane amounts of pain. but growing up with it done doesn't really do anything to you, your not missing anything. so it's either then or never from a parents point of view. mutilation? maybe, but you'll never miss it if you never had it.

 

[AgDr_ODST]

I think its absolutely horrible if parents decide to have the procedure done to thier kids.(I'd know mine did it to me and know sort of resent them for it)