Should infants be circumcised?
 

Definition: Circumcision is normally confined to males. It involves the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

What are your views on this age old tradition?

Erm, I really, really don't see the point. I mean, 'Hey! I know! If you're religious, let's cut off yer peepee! omg lol'. It seems utterly pointless.

I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but it is futile. So I'm not voting.

The only reason for it that I can think of is that there are diseases/deformities involving the foreskin which can quite mess up the area... but those are fairly rare, I believe, so I'm going to answer this poll with a resounding... maybe. I really don't care if parents choose to alter their children's penises or not.

I don't like your poll. There's no "I don't know"-ish choice, so I'm not voting.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. There's arguments for each side. Personally, I like the look of circumcisedness. However, I don't think there's enough health-related reasons for it. Like Raisin said, the problems that could arise are fairly rare.

I believe some tribes in Africa remove the clitoris for the same reasons--both religious tradition and beliefs about health. I certainly see that as "mutilation of the genitalia" but I'm still nonetheless uncertain of how I feel towards circumcision of males.

I hope to God I don't have a son so I never have to make a decision about it.

Just leave it to the child to decide. Hey, if he wishes to mutilate his dick later on in life, I say let him do it! :D

The problem with that is, if he did wish for it to be done, an adult to going through the procedure is much more traumatic. I've never heard of a guy being able to remember going though it, fortunately. And I would imagine there being numerous more complications with the circumcision of a mature wang.

Yes, I can see the, erm, pain involved in a circumcision later in life. I sure as hell wouldn't do it. Lucky I'm not religious...

Which brings up another topic- if the circumcised male cannot remember the experience, would it have actually hurt? Never have I been to see someone circumcised, but do the babies appear to protest in any way?

It's a meaningless choice, I'm more interested in those who have an opinion on the matter.

Actually, it is twice as painful for infants, they are much more sensitive to pain and may go into shock during the procedure.

You leave my pee pee alone! *covers groin area with hands*

It's small enough! :(

According to Chef, it makes it look bigger.....

*cough*

Circumcision may be painful to an infant, but they won't have any lasting memory of the pain, whereas an adult would. The only real argument I can think of against circumcision is that it's relatively pointless. Pain isn't really a factor. I guess.

MojoMan, do you realize no one besides you has voted yet? :p

Absolutely not. It's an ancient practice which has no need in our society. With the advent of regular showers, and people generally being a whole lot cleaner than what they may have been centuries ago, the argument "It prevents disease" is utter lies. As is "It makes it look bigger", that's as bad as "Masturbating makes it bigger".

Not too mention circumcised males loose a tonne of sensitivity ;)

Alcar...

You mean it doesn't! :eek:

He's right. I masturbate regularily and nothing's happened.

I've never missed a day! :D

... too much information.

Speaking as the token 'compulsorarily circumsised' individual of the forums, I'm not voting. I don't think that all kids should be forced to have it but I think that anyone suggesting it should be banned outright is religiously-intolerant.

There is no scientific proof that circumcision is harmful, as long as it is performed by a qualified person (eg doctor/surgeon). I certainly wouldn't put my son's shmeckle in the hands of some doddering old rabbi a la that episode of Seinfeld. The only possible harmful side effect is that a slip of the wrist may cut the whole thing off, but that is surprisingly easy to fix. No, really!

I read once that the doctors best at penis repair are in Thailand because it's apparently quite common for women to go for the knife when they find out their husband has been cheating.

I met a guy last year who's parents made him have one at 13. I never got a good explanation why but he did say it was something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.

Some do cry, some sleep right through it. I know it's traditional in Jewish circumcision ceremonies to give the baby a couple of drops of wine that have the effect of a painkiller.

I've been circumcised but that was for medical reasons, but yeh, t'is quite painful. Moreso for me since hijinks a-happened in the form of me awaking and the Nurse informing me that "The operation was a success and all we to do now is put the breast implants in"

Lovely(!)

Medical reasons i can understand, tradition...i s'pose i can understand too. Meh. Not fussed, so long as it's done well.

My Uncle had it done in his 30's. He was involved in some sort of accident that made the skin go wierd and the doctors said it was best for it to be removed. My fathewr has also had it done, as he had problems and pain urinating as a child.

Personally, I think that they should get it done if it needs to be done for medical reasons or if they're going to follow an Islamic or Jewish life. Other than that, there is no need. Sure it might be cleaner, but it's still unnecessary and someone with foreskin can regularly shower and be just as clean as a circumcised person.

Also, I heard that a lot of Americans get circumcised at birth. Is this true?

...just...why would you ask that?
lol.
If they're Jewish or Muslim then they get it anyway.
Why should anyone else have it done? There just isnt a need. (apart from medically, I mean)

The foreskin is there for a reason. Like Alcar mentioned, you loose a lot of sensitivity. Circumcision was created by some religous nuts who wanted to prevent their children from masturbating. Less sensitivity means you become less likely to be aroused, so they hoped it would eliminate masturbation. It didn't really work out that way...

The only arguement for getting this done is that you will be less likely to encounter a urinary tract infection, but that is rare and easily treatable.

So why in the hell are we still doing it? Because it costs around $200 for the procedure. That's right, US hospitals make 400 million dollars a year off of circumcision alone.

400 million? For real? Well, at least it's going to something that needs money.
But I still don't think it's really a very good idea. I like to leave stuff the way it is, especially when it comes to sexual organs.

There are more afflictions of the foreskin than urinary tract infections. Which can happen for reasons unrelated to the foreskin, anyway. But does circumcision really cause you to lose sensitivity?! :confused: If so, I'm glad I'm intact. :happy:

- because in the male, the urinary tract is so much longer, and most bacteria don't make it all the way up to the bladder. ;)

I'm the sort of "bleeding-heart leftie" (*eyerolls*) that'd say it's up to the individual to decide whether they want it done or not; of course, that'd mean they were so much older, and it might hurt more, but then nobody knows it's NOT any more painful than it is when done to babies, they just don't remember it afterwards.

And we know men are a lot of wimps - first sniff of winter and "oh, no, I'm dying of 'flu..." ... ;)

Circumcision causes desensitisation, and religion is primitive, therefore my answer is no. If when the child grows up, he subscribes to a religion that involves circumcision, then he has every right to get it done, but cutting off the foreskin of a child is pretty obviously religious facism.

I believe many children are circumcised, even if their parents belong to no religion. I do not know why, but when recently accompanying my cousin to her pregnancy, soon after the child was born he the doctor asked if they wished for the child to be circumcised.

Seriously dude, keep it to yo' bad self. ;)

Funny, I was watching "most haunted" last night and thinking about how annoyingly wimpy the girls are.

These two brainless blonde moronic women who were clearly not up to the job (and were probably told to scream and randomly make shit up to make the show more interesting) ended up screaming while shouting "sorry, sorry" at a red light turning off on a coffee machine, and a completely inaudible noise in an upstairs room.

However the moment the blokes walked up there, nothing happened. I hope those women got fired, they really messed up the show.

Most parents want there child to fit in. In the US, circumcision is a way of ensuring there child won't be considered different. These parents are so narrow-minded, that they would disadvantage the kid, because they're afraid a little extra skin is going to cause him to get his ass kicked.

From what i understand, but i may be wrong, in the Eastern countries they get rid of the woman's clitoris so she doesn't feel as much pleasure during sex. Which, i believe, is rather barbaric.

I had the same problem that Rich's father had, i don't really miss it, so i'm not really that fussed. Non-circumcised phallus' look like Wombles anyway.

Heh. Wombles

http://www.birteff.de/Wombels/TV-B%9...footWomble.jpg
(You know what they say about people with big feet)

Seriously, though, you're right about female circumcision, though I think it only happens in some fundamentalist sects/tribes. In some countries it's actually outlawed.



OFF-TOPIC: Whilst searching for the womble pic I came across this. I don't know why. I don't want to know why.
http://dalliance.net/b3ta/Woodhouse.jpg

This topic makes me feel light headed.

*Votes no*

I'm voting yes, not because of tradition, but I read a book in my Health Class awhile back and they talked about that specific procedure...something about convienience or whatnot (My memory is foggy). Basically, there was supposedly some kind of benefit or whatever from being circumcised. It also mentioned some weird...psychology...thingy.

If I'm wrong, then it's no buisness of mine. let the parents decide whether or not they want their infants circumcised. As far as I can see, no real negative effects one way or the other.