Poll: What do you think about circumcision?

[thylasos]

Utterly pointless, except as one of a number of possible solutions to an over-tight foreskin.

At birth, in those few cases where it's obviously medically advisable? Pointless mutilation.

Hygiene? Fuck off. Clean your cock occasionally.

Cosmetic preferences apparently very according to what's prevalent in the area. Hence all the US people saying the natural penis looks intrinsically rubbish.

 

[Radeonx]

I think that having your child circumcised is incredibly wrong, and the religious reasons for it are incredibly nonsensical.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

And there went the maturity of the thread it was a good run.

Don't pretend there was any to begin with.

Have you seen the other threads like this? This is like fucking mass in comparison.

It's still a debate between "EW! Penis mutilation is gross!" and "EW! Foreskins are gross!"

With a few exceptions, this whole discussion isn't about religious freedom, hygiene, or the legality of the act, as much about men looking for a reason to overcompensate, i.e. "well at least my penis isn't __________."

 

[thom_cat_]

The parents should decide, because when one is circumcised, it is usually while the child is a baby, or toddler, and they wouldn't remember it. There are also medical reasons, mostly because it's a hygiene issue. Really, it's not like a circumcision will kill a child, and it really doesn't have any negative effects, since when the child grows up, they won't see any benefit to having a foreskin in the first place.

But the fact is that some men do regret having a circumscision done to them when they were children, indeed some men use various tools and procedure to 'regrow' their foreskins.

Sure its not the majority but how many people have to regret it for people to stop doing it, 1 in 10? 1 in 5?

Just seems like the percieved benefits are not worth the potential risks.

Well, not much can be done about that really, if someone is circumcised, it really doesn't change much. There is kind of an underlying message to be made really, that it'll take away how much control a parent has over their own child, we're already kind of seeing the starting of it, with people being called abusers for spanking their children.

Even this is kind of getting out of hand, circumcision isn't mutilation, it doesn't damage a child permenantly, and most people don't care about it when they get older, and if they do, then they won't circumcise their own child. This is much like any thread on the internet, a small thing most people blow up about, and it's odd how this is about circumcision, and yet people are raising banners to blow this thread up.

We should start branding children.
It doesn't make a difference in the end, it's not mutilation because there is no permanent damage. Sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

And there went the maturity of the thread it was a good run.

Don't pretend there was any to begin with.

Have you seen the other threads like this? This is like fucking mass in comparison.

It's still a debate between "EW! Penis mutilation is gross!" and "EW! Foreskins are gross!"

With a few exceptions, this whole discussion isn't about religious freedom, hygiene, or the legality of the act, as much about men looking for a reason to overcompensate, i.e. "well at least my penis isn't __________."

Not really. If you want the debate to be that then it is or you can actually look at genuine cons and pros about both situations which I have linked to many of them near the top of the page. All circumcision does is make hygiene easier unless it is necessary and creates other problems like more difficult penetration, more difficult masturbation, higher rates of erectile dysfunction, etc.

 

[Continuity]

Okay, how about this though. I'm circumcised, and I don't want to be. It's considered absolutely horrendous to circumcise a female, so why should it be any different to circumcise a male?

Yes, I understand physically, the two operations are very different. But my point is this: you are mutilating a child. Your child very well may not agree with your reasoning for that mutilation when it grows up. So don't cut your kid.

Is having a tooth pulled "mutilation"? have a care with your language as you are betraying your prejudices.

In fact there are a plethora of good medical reasons for virtually all male infants being circumcised as a matter of course.

http://www.circinfo.com/benefits/bmc.html

 

[Woodsey]

Eh, to be honest if you never had a foreskin then you never really care that you never had it. I mean, I don't really see the point except for medical or religious reasons, but it's not really the end of the world.

Irrelevant. Your body, you choose.

This may be because I'm a chick, but I honestly don't really care. The baby doesn't remember it because it's done when they're only a few hours old, it's easier to clean and cuts down on bacteria. Why does this matter?

So you wouldn't care if someone had cut off the ol' lips at birth? Or your clit?

And I see someone else has already given the rape example.

OT: People decide when they're at a suitable age, unless there's a proper medical reason when younger. Just because the parents want it done, or for 'religious reasons' are the worst fucking excuses I've ever heard.

Anyone arguing against people being able to choose what happens to their own freaking body is a fucking idiot as far as I'm concerned.

Hilariously, this whole fad is so big in the States because people wanted a way to stop guys jacking off.

 

[Seives-Sliver]

The parents should decide, because when one is circumcised, it is usually while the child is a baby, or toddler, and they wouldn't remember it. There are also medical reasons, mostly because it's a hygiene issue. Really, it's not like a circumcision will kill a child, and it really doesn't have any negative effects, since when the child grows up, they won't see any benefit to having a foreskin in the first place.

But the fact is that some men do regret having a circumscision done to them when they were children, indeed some men use various tools and procedure to 'regrow' their foreskins.

Sure its not the majority but how many people have to regret it for people to stop doing it, 1 in 10? 1 in 5?

Just seems like the percieved benefits are not worth the potential risks.

Well, not much can be done about that really, if someone is circumcised, it really doesn't change much. There is kind of an underlying message to be made really, that it'll take away how much control a parent has over their own child, we're already kind of seeing the starting of it, with people being called abusers for spanking their children.

Even this is kind of getting out of hand, circumcision isn't mutilation, it doesn't damage a child permenantly, and most people don't care about it when they get older, and if they do, then they won't circumcise their own child. This is much like any thread on the internet, a small thing most people blow up about, and it's odd how this is about circumcision, and yet people are raising banners to blow this thread up.

We should start branding children.
It doesn't make a difference in the end, it's not mutilation because there is no permanent damage. Sounds pretty good to me.

Ah, we hit that end of the spectrum then hm? Well, let's put it like this, there is a line between doing something that benefits a child, and simply doing it to harm a child, while there is not many problems with circumcision, I am circumcised, and would not want to sprout a foreskin any time soon, there is a problem with branding a baby. There are benefits to having the foreskin removed, and no benefits to being branded, unless you're Steve-O, and do it for money, in which he is an adult, and made the decision himself. Branding a child, giving it a permanent tatoo, or even piercing the ears of a child isn't beneficial, and shouldn't be done until the child can make the logical decision at an appropriate age themselves.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Okay, how about this though. I'm circumcised, and I don't want to be. It's considered absolutely horrendous to circumcise a female, so why should it be any different to circumcise a male?

Yes, I understand physically, the two operations are very different. But my point is this: you are mutilating a child. Your child very well may not agree with your reasoning for that mutilation when it grows up. So don't cut your kid.

Is having a tooth pulled "mutilation"? have a care with your language as you are betraying your prejudices.

In fact there are a plethora of good medical reasons for virtually all male infants being circumcised as a matter of course.

http://www.circinfo.com/benefits/bmc.html

A page back I have some studies that say a lot of those are quite the opposite.

 

[BlueMage]

Why is this barbaric genital mutilation practice allowed to continue? No, really?

Now, wrap it up as much as you like - it's mutilation. You are surgically removing a part of the body, without anesthesia to my knowledge, for (frequently) religious reasons or "it's just the done thing."

Bullshit. It's not the done thing. It is a disfigurement. The only, ONLY time it should be permitted is when the opening is too small and presents a clear medical risk to the child. ANY other reason is bullshit.

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

I think the child should decide when he is an adult and old enough to make his own decisions. Then again I see no reason to mutilate anybodys penis.

 

[xXGeckoXx]

Nope, I think it's horrible. Legal child abuse, and whether or not people have religious reasons to do it shouldn't even come into it.

If someone wants to have it done to themselves when they're old enough to decide, fine. If someone wants to forcibly and irreparably mutilate their child, that is not fine, and I don't care what their reasons are.

Oy I am circumcised and I like my mutilation. I think we are forgetting that circumcision is a non invasive procedure that makes very little difference other than cosmetics. it is also one hell of a painful operation. If you leave it till later and then ask a grown person whether or not they want to do it they would say no, why? Because damn would that hurt, no real way to properly anesthetize the penis. I am very happy it was done to me as a baby and I don't remember it because if I grew up and wanted a circumcision it would be near impossible to stomach and now that I have grown up with one I can hardly say it has had any impact on my life.

 

[Woodsey]

The hygiene excuse is just a cop out.

It does help if you're trying to work out which people on The Escapist don't know how to wash properly though.

("Washing it every day? Madness!")

 

[AndyFromMonday]

It's nothing short of child abuse.

 

[dvd_72]

As far as I know, circumsition is extremely painfull, and as an adult you are more.... "aware" of it. I use that term because I can't really think of a more apropriate one right now.

I mean, how much of your baby years do you remember? Compare that to how much of your adult life you remember.

Now, this is only hearsay, but I have been informed that the penis of someone who is circumsised is cleaner than those whos penises are not. Not in any underlying sense. just that stuff gets under the foreskin and would take extra effort to clean, though the difference is minor at best. Nothing life-changing or anything. Again, I may be completely wrong about this, feel free to call me out on it.

The point I've been trying, and probably failing miserebally, to make is that while I'm of the personal opinion that circumcision is for the best, and ontop of that best done while young before the pain of having a piece of your member removed is able to follow you throughout your life, it's really no big deal and is really a non-issue to me.

... I really need to get some sleep. Damned coffie.

 

[Zerazar]

As far as I understand, circumcision is largely unconsequential on males, and as such I don't care that much. I still think it should be the kids choice though, when they grow up to be 16 or something.
I've read or heard that it decreases pleasure during sex for females though, so I'm against doing it to children there, but I don't have good enough sources to cite to really care that much.

Edit: The argument that kids don't give a fuck at the moment and the procedure is cringeworthy at the very best when they get older is a fairly good argument for doing it early though, considering most would probably either be pressured into it or want it anyway when they grow up. Still, if the thing about females is true, I still wouldn't like it.

 

[esperandote]

Only for medical reasons

 

[thom_cat_]

The parents should decide, because when one is circumcised, it is usually while the child is a baby, or toddler, and they wouldn't remember it. There are also medical reasons, mostly because it's a hygiene issue. Really, it's not like a circumcision will kill a child, and it really doesn't have any negative effects, since when the child grows up, they won't see any benefit to having a foreskin in the first place.

But the fact is that some men do regret having a circumscision done to them when they were children, indeed some men use various tools and procedure to 'regrow' their foreskins.

Sure its not the majority but how many people have to regret it for people to stop doing it, 1 in 10? 1 in 5?

Just seems like the percieved benefits are not worth the potential risks.

Well, not much can be done about that really, if someone is circumcised, it really doesn't change much. There is kind of an underlying message to be made really, that it'll take away how much control a parent has over their own child, we're already kind of seeing the starting of it, with people being called abusers for spanking their children.

Even this is kind of getting out of hand, circumcision isn't mutilation, it doesn't damage a child permenantly, and most people don't care about it when they get older, and if they do, then they won't circumcise their own child. This is much like any thread on the internet, a small thing most people blow up about, and it's odd how this is about circumcision, and yet people are raising banners to blow this thread up.

We should start branding children.
It doesn't make a difference in the end, it's not mutilation because there is no permanent damage. Sounds pretty good to me.

Ah, we hit that end of the spectrum then hm? Well, let's put it like this, there is a line between doing something that benefits a child, and simply doing it to harm a child, while there is not many problems with circumcision, I am circumcised, and would not want to sprout a foreskin any time soon, there is a problem with branding a baby. There are benefits to having the foreskin removed, and no benefits to being branded, unless you're Steve-O, and do it for money, in which he is an adult, and made the decision himself. Branding a child, giving it a permanent tatoo, or even piercing the ears of a child isn't beneficial, and shouldn't be done until the child can make the logical decision at an appropriate age themselves.

Oh but there's only very conflicting evidence of benefits. We should cut out children's appendixes, and any little piece of supposedly useless skin because it could be beneficial and doesn't actually harm the child in the long run.

It's purely there because it's embedded in some societies. Here in Australia the numbers of people having it are considerably low.

 

[DEAD34345]

Nope, I think it's horrible. Legal child abuse, and whether or not people have religious reasons to do it shouldn't even come into it.

If someone wants to have it done to themselves when they're old enough to decide, fine. If someone wants to forcibly and irreparably mutilate their child, that is not fine, and I don't care what their reasons are.

Oy I am circumcised and I like my mutilation. I think we are forgetting that circumcision is a non invasive procedure that makes very little difference other than cosmetics. it is also one hell of a painful operation. If you leave it till later and then ask a grown person whether or not they want to do it they would say no, why? Because damn would that hurt, no real way to properly anesthetize the penis. I am very happy it was done to me as a baby and I don't remember it because if I grew up and wanted a circumcision it would be near impossible to stomach and now that I have grown up with one I can hardly say it has had any impact on my life.

Ok, you like your mutilation, and that's good for you. But what if you didn't? You would be stuck with it, and you would never have been able to stop it from happening. I say it is your choice whether you want to be mutilated or not, but parents who circumcise their children make that choice for them, without their consent. Not to mention the fact that this choice has no benefits for the child or anyone else, so it's literally chopping a bit of your child off for no reason. I see no difference between that and any other kind of child abuse.

Also I think your second argument is just dumb. Hurting babies is not OK just because they won't remember the pain when they're older. I mean... seriously, do I have to extrapolate on that? If it would be too horrible for you to consider as an adult, it's even worse to consider doing to a baby.