Circumcision- For or Against?

If they plan on living in the States for the rest of their lives, I'd cut the kid. It's considered a barbaric practice by everyone but us and the Jews, but think of the kid. Puberty is hard enough without having girls call you turtleneck and elephant trunk. Plus, I've heard that *looks around* the uncut foreign units reek.

Scopitone's right. If you show up in, say, Toronto without a foreskin we'll cut the whole thing off and feed it to the polar bears.

You don't want to even hear what would happen in Moosejaw.

I say don't do it. It's an irreversable mutilation...if they want to have it done later in life, fine, but that's kind of a big choice for oneself that they'd be stealing from their child...and its becoming increasingly less popular to circumsize at birth. There has been a big surge of people bad-mouthing their parents for having them curcumsized.

Send them here:

http://www.cirp.org/

It's an unbiased source designed to help parents make an informed decision. It gives all the pros and cons, and relies greatly on the medical research that has been done over the years. That should give them all the information they need to make a decision.

After reading it myself, I'd have to say no. The risks are numerous and, though appear to be rare, can be life threatening. The benefits are few, and seem to be preventative measures against rare, non-life threatening conditions.

Besides, the child can decide for himself if he wants to be circumcised later in life.

For the record, I'm circumcised (no bias in my opinion).

I like being circumsized. Wouldn't want it otherwise.

My friends 16 year old son just had himself circumcised. I think the main reason he decided to have it done were the locker room teasings. Personally, I don't think it really matters. I don't remember when they took mine and I can't say I've really missed it. I do remember hearing a story of a man who had his replaced. I don't know what they used, but seems pretty silly to me.

I had no choice in the matter. When I was in college, my mom apologized profusely for having it done after watching a TV show examining the practice (complete with blood and screaming baby). Agreeing with Vanuslux, leave it up to him. Unless he's going to be a loser with hygiene problems, there really isn't any need for it today. It can be taken care of with the daily showers. And it will be easier to tell him "we left it on so you could decide when you were older" rather than "we had it removed and there's nothing you can do about it now."

I'd say no. I'm uncut myself and have had few problems. Overall, I'm glad my foreskin is intact. The girls I’ve been with have never said anything negative about it. A few actually liked it. All those things aside, I think it wrong to go cutting up your kid like that for some thing that is basically a matte of convenience. I mean it just takes like 30 extra seconds to clean in the shower. Oh, and that whole thing about it smelling: Well that comes from unhygienic behavior and is not an inherent trait of the uncut penis.

As an added bonus you get:

Increased sensitivity. (There’s alot of nerve endings in there.)
Better longevity in coitus.

When it comes down to it. I just don't see the point of useless practice like that. Besides, I don't think its right to make that decision for the kid. He's gonna have a whole life of people deciding things for him. At least give him that.

This whole arguement is dead, in my opinion, because (in most cases) the person actually being circumsized has no choice in the matter. I think the real question should be "What is the morality behind making decisions about a person's body for them and when is it or is it not acceptable?"

I have a friend who had it done when he was 21 and he says it was one of the best decisions he had ever made.

Then again, anyone who gets circumcised at the age of 21 is obviously insanse.

I had surgery several times without my consent, and am very grateful as it means I'm not deaf now as an adult. Parents make decisions for their minor children, that's just how things work. Maybe it's a good decision, maybe a bad one, but there's nothing inherently wrong with the fact that someone else has to make it for you.

There were some health benefits for getting circumsized but i cant remember what they were right now. All i know is its not for cosmetic purposes.

against, i'm not circumzied and i think there should be more. It doesn't serve a real purpose now, hygiene is no longer an issue. It is now a ancient custome with no real reason for it. I'd say don't and he feels the need let him.

"i've always felt a boys penis should look like his fathers."*


*josh brolin "Flirting with Disaster"

That's all well and good, apesamongus, but I've never heard of anyone going deaf from not having their penis circumscized. I don't particularly care that I'm circumsized, but the idea of cutting the flesh off of someone's genitals for no significant health benefit doesn't seem comparable to the kind of surgery you're talking about.

I, myself, would never circumsize my son. I see absolutely no need for it. I'll keep the foreskin area very clean until he's old enough to bathe himself, and then I'll be damn sure his father or I teach him to keep it clean.

I've been with uncut guys, and it isn't gross or weird or nasty. It's a bit different, but not so much that it affects how I do things or how sex feels. It just looks different.

If my son wanted to get circumsized when he was older (say, in his teens), then I would sign the consent forms. At that point, it's his decision, much like getting his ears pierced or choosing a religion, and I respect that.

If you're already circumcised, how do you know you wouldn't like being uncircumcised better?

The health benefits are mostly preventative measures for conditions that are rare to begin with. Those benefits were radically overplayed in the past. Most clean, non-diabetic men will never have to worry about any of them.

I've heard that its cleaner, and easier to clean if its cut...

I am cut...I have no problems cleaning it It never smells either :-D

Right, so in that case it would be an acceptable and appropriate time for the parent or guardian to make the decision. I'm talking about evaluation on a case by case basis. Circumcision? It's not necessary by any means. It therefor falls under a preference, in which case, should it be left up to the individual in question? Or should it be left up to the parent or guardian?

I'm neither for or against it, by the way.

Nothing wrong with a bit of skin as far as I can see.

I thought the main reasons for cutting were for hygiene, ie to prevent knobcheese and infection. Lets face it, it doesn't take much to wash properly. I'm certainly not going to go near anyone who has knob cheese!

I remember not being so thrilled when I was a kid at the day of operation (i was like 4 years old) but I got a room full of presents and all the toys I wanted so i said "what the hell chop it off!"

damn parents bribe you into these things

"it" you wouldn't want your penis if it wasn't circumsized? that seems a bit radical and over the top. But each to his own.

Um .. I'd have to agree that it's the child's choice... there are some men on the previous circumsision thread (that I noticed somone already gave you the link for) that said they had theirs removed later in life and it was fine.

I don't see the difference. The reason they cut em off way back when was for hygine but most people can keep themselves clean nowadays.

Good luck to the parents.. sigh.