How do you feel about circumcision?

I think that it is mutilation. Nowadays there is no reason for it other than to serve some religious reason. Back in olden times when folks didn’t bath regularly circumcision may have stopped infections.

I think it’s pretty shameful how much misinformation is shoved down new parents’ throats to get the to agree to it. A lot of recent research has shown that the slight be of easier care to keep it clean is far outweighed by the risk of infection. Plus, it supposedly makes sex less pleasurable (as much as I’m sure you don’t want to think of that aspect for your sons).

I’m glad my mom got it done for me. In the United States at least, that’s a big deal aesthetically.

I kind of feel like it’s probably there for a reason like 99% of our body parts. I’m going to talk to my oldest son about it and let him know that if he wants to get it done that it’s totally up to him at this point. I wouldn’t want him to feel anymore self conscience when it comes time for him to be active than he’s going to be already. Hell who knows he might think all penises look like his.

I’m uncircumcised and I’m glad I’m not. My parents did not have it done to me because they didn’t believing in removing a part of my body without my consent. I say the same thing every time the discussion about circumcision comes up: The routine infant circumcision craze a uniquely American phenomenon. Look at Europe and other places around the world where routine infant circumcision is not done. Are all those people just swimming in penile disease? I really don’t think so.

My main concern with the whole issue is that most people have it done because “it’s just what’s done” without really putting much thought into it. I also don’t consider “it looks pretty” a valid reason to do it, but that’s just me and I’m not asking anyone to agree with my opinion.

I don’t agree with making unneccesary cosmetic surgical decisions for others without their consent….if a person perfers to have a circumsision for cosmetic or religious reasons they have the right to choose to do so for themselves…infants don’t have that choice and removing a piece of my kids body isn’t a choice I would be willing to make without their consent

@Blackberry So do you think if you hadn’t been circumcised at birth (I’m assuming) You would get it done as an adult?

http://www.circumstitions.com/Famous-map.html your son may be interested in seeing how many men women can’t get enough of are intact! :) um hello? Leonardo dicaprio? What woman doesn’t love him! Lol

Im also really turned off by the whole “well his father is circumsized” argument…seriously?! Who remebers what their fathers penis looked like?

@deliasdancemom Good point! And thank you for the link, it’s very interesting.

It’s very rarely done in the UK, and pretty much unheard-of outside of the Jewish and Muslim population. It seems like an un-neccessary mutilation.

I remember my father telling me a story. In WW2, men were serving (I, shamefully, can not now remember if he was among them.) in hot regions and their chance to shower or bath was very limited. Urinary infections were rampant. So much so, that orders came down from the top brass to set up tents and send doctors to perform circumcisions where the men were camped. The men weren’t force to have it done, but were encouraged to, and many availed themselves of the ‘service’. After hearing this story, I began to understand the Jewish tradition… and the whole… ‘Walking in the desert for years’ and the practicalities it required.

We don’t live in such an area, or are deprived of hygiene facilities. I saw absolutely no reason to have my son’s penis altered. If there ever becomes a real ‘medical’ reason to have it or any other surgery done, that will be the time to discuss and contemplate it. With our family history, he’s more likely to have gall bladder problems when he gets older, should I have his gall bladder removed now as a preventative? I don’t think so.

@cazzie lots of Jewish traditions originate with the historical lifestyle and the lack of modern hygeine. The ban on pork and shellfish, or on not mixing milk and meat, is because these are most prone to bacteria if food is not properly refrigerated. It al makes sense in the context of the day and time, but isn’t necessary any more.

I’m wondering when it became taboo (or at least a matter worth debating) to circumcise one’s baby. Of the guys I’ve “been with” (born 1975–1983) only one was uncircumcised. Huh.

I don’t think it’s necessary to circumcise; as long as he’s taught proper hygiene it won’t be an issue.

@Seelix @downtide @cazzie , while feel it’s totally unnecessary, I also feel it is his choice at this point. Thank you everyone for your feed back.

@JustJessica – Of course. If your sons decide that they want to have the procedure done, after having considered all the pros and cons, by all means they should. What are you thinking should be an “appropriate” age? Some 12-year-olds wouldn’t be ready for such a decision.

@Seelix My eldest is 16 I think he’s at a good age to decide, and weigh out the pros and cons. But 12 is much too young, I’ll wait to have the convo with him.

@JustJessica – I was thinking the same thing. Good luck with whatever they decide :)

@Seelix Thank you very much.

It’s done without the consent of the baby.

@JustJessica It would depend on the reaction I got from women lol. I know it is safe (being uncircumcised), but I’ve ran into too many women that think it’s ‘gross’. I don’t care if they’re uneducated about the subject, but most guys care about how a woman feels about their package.

With the number of parents deciding against circumcision in the US now, I think it will be less of an issue for boys who aren’t circumsized as girls will be used to seeing both…among my female friends with boy babies I know its a fairly even split between those who have done the circs and those who have not

@mattbrowne this is the part that disturbs me the most about it. The baby can’t choose – it’s his parents’ decision. I wonder how many men would choose to be curcumcised if the choice was given during adulthood?

OK I am not for or against circumcision. But let me just say one thing here. Any medical procedure that is done for any child at a young age is done without there consent. The indications for a medical procedure are a different question. Just as a devil’s advocate sort of question, should a kid with ears that stick out have a plastic surgery procedure to correct it? (I don’t need anyone to answer that question it is rhetorical) On one side you have the well “they might get made fun of ” argument. On the other side you have the “does the kid really want it argument”. To me the question of what body part is not the crux of this question.

I have to admit to finding a circumcised penis far more attractive than one that isn’t. However, I am not sure whether I agree with it for anything other than medical reasons.

@downtide – Good question. In Europe it’s very uncommon. Here’s a world map

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Map_of_Male_Circumcision_Prevalence_at_Country_Level.png

Geez look at the difference between US and canada!

@mattbrowne Thanks for the link.

Edited – I realized I had made a mistake.

@downtide ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!?? Not necessary??? I am Jewish, circumcised, and completely offended by such an ignorant remark. The Jewish people have been circumcising their infant boys for over 5000 years. That would be like me saying baptisms are not necessary for the same reason, I am actually well aware what the baptism symbolizes It still involves cleanliness whether it is the body (circumcision) or the soul from the “original sin” (baptism). But, I would never say in a public forum, that a religious practice is not necessary whether I agree with it or not. Modern sanitation or not, there is still a considerable risk of bacteria festering between the foreskin and glans of the penis. In my opinion, it is not clean. Furthermore, I have had girlfriends of both the jewish and roman catholic faiths, ALL of which prefered the circumcised package. Circumcisions are performed by Moels pronounced: moy-elles in the Jewish faith. These are licensed pediatricians who are also rabbis, and this being all they do. Hope I helped to shed some light on this subject.

@echotech10 Um, guess what? Your beliefs are not special. A lot of us do believe that it is unnecessary and won’t have it done to our sons for just that reason.

@DominicX You are entitled to your opinion, but I never said my beliefs are special, they are merely my beliefs, and you are not obligated to agree with me. Most people do it because it is healthier for the child, and as a parent it is my responsibility to do what is best for my infant child. It is neither right nor wrong, the choice is very personal, and very often based on beliefs.

@echotech10 If you don’t like people speaking their mind about religious practices on a “public forum” I would recommend avoiding any thread on Fluther that could cause anyone to bring up religion as we tend to be quite honest about our feelings towards religious practices (regardless of how old they are).

@echotech10 I’m aware that people of the Jewish faith and the Islamic faith (and some of the Christian faith too) still practise circumcision for religious reasons, and I still hold the opinion that it is voluntary and not necessary.

My point about being no longer necessary was about hygeine. Think back to Palestine of 4000 years ago. There’s no soap, water is not plentiful, so it’s going to be difficult to keep an uncircumcised penis clean, healthy and hygenic. The ideal solution for that place and time would indeed be removal of the foreskin.

Now, in the western world, we have hot running water, indoor showers, more body-cleansing products than you can even count, so it’s easy to keep clean and hygenic down there. Nowadays, uncircumcised boys do not die and they do not get nasty diseases as a result of non-circumcision. So, where it may at one time have been healthier for a child, nowadays, the alternative (regular cleaning with soap and water) is equally healthy.

If that wasn’t the case, there would be a noticeable difference in penile health between Europe (where circumcision is rare) and the USA – there clearly isn’t any such difference.

@Leanne1986 I never had a problem with people speaking their minds…I believe the remarks could have been phrased differently, as to not be potentially construed as 1)offensive and/or 2) an attack on one’s religious practices. It is all in perception. @downtide I never once said that uncircumcised boys die or get nasty diseases, All I said is that it is merely cleaner and healthier for the baby,(even with the existence of bathing). Even nowadays, it is healthier to be circumcised. I for one if I had a son only have one child, my beautiful daughter he would have gone through his Jewish birthright, and be the guest of honor at his Bris (which is hebrew for “covenant”), after the ceremony a big party would ensue. I as the parent, have the right and responsibility to decide what is best for my child, We are all entitled to our beliefs. I still feel that an infant boy should be circumcised. No one is obligated to agree with me. Finally, the women I have been with ALL preferred a circumcised penis vs the non-circumcised penis. I have had girlfriends that were both Jewish and Gentiles alike.

” Even nowadays, it is healthier to be circumcised.”

Wrong. It’s equally healthy either way, because we now have adequate means of keeping it clean.

The personal preferences of women I can’t argue with, but that’s all it is. Personal preference of women and parents. The boy’s personal preferences are never taken into account.