American Circumcision

[Richard Channing]

Noticed this on my 'Popular on Netflix' list and it's a subject I feel quite passionately about, so I'm really glad to see an open dialogue about this issue and that it's getting some long overdue publicity. The doc offers opinions on both sides of the argument, and questions claims about hygiene and disease prevention that get banded about as fact. And it details the history of how certain bizarre and archaic notions made their way to becoming common medical practice in the US. It also asks the question why is the idea of female circumcision so abhorrent to most people, whereas male circumcision goes unquestioned as something healthy and in the best interests of the child? And what are the psychological effects of having this traumatic and often gruesome act carried out on you as a baby? As someone in the documentary says, one day we will look back in astonishment that this was systematically carried out on baby boys.

 

[Willie Oleson]

and questions claims about hygiene and disease prevention

I don't think it's a valid reason, all they have to do is teach their children the basics of hygiëne. And it's not like millions and millions of men have died because they weren't circumcised.

And what are the psychological effects of having this traumatic and often gruesome act carried out on you as a baby?

Hmm, I'm not sure if babies or young children consider the idea that this may or may not affect their self-esteem or sex-life.
Being circumcised is not an abnormality so I think that most boys that grow up without a foreskin simply won't give it too much thought. They simply don't know any better so what's the point of thinking about it?
I don't know how it works for adult men.

Either way, if it's done just because it's more convenient to the parents (and without the child's consent) then it's morally and legally wrong, regardless of the impact it may or may not have on the child.

On a personal note: I find excessive foreskin kind of off-putting (well, this is supposed to be an open dialogue)

 

[Richard Channing]

I don't think it's a valid reason, all they have to do is teach their children the basics of hygiëne. And it's not like millions and millions of men have died because they weren't circumcised.

Right, and the doc goes into that in more detail and debunks a lot of the studies which supposedly support the claims that it's more hygienic and prevents disease.

Hmm, I'm not sure if babies or young children consider the idea that this may or may not affect their self-esteem or sex-life.
Being circumcised is not an abnormality so I think that most boys that grow up without a foreskin simply won't give it too much thought. They simply don't know any better so what's the point of thinking about it?

It's not suggesting that American boys growing up are damaged by it because they are self conscious about this, after all, they don't know any better as you say, and also it's the norm so it's not like they feel different from everyone else. It's more about the trauma that the baby goes through and the effect this has on it's psyche. Up until the late 60's the medical profession didn't even think that babies felt pain! Studies went on to show that (obviously) they do, and in fact they feel it much more intensely than older children or adults. And also everything that happens to us as a baby/child is formative and affects us, even if we don't remember it. So even if you are only a few days old, being tied down and then cut can and will have ramifications in later life. One woman in the doc even goes as far as to say that this is the first sexual act that the boy encounters, having it's genitalia handled and clasped by an adult, and that it's a violent/traumatic one. So how does this affect the psyche. Who knows?

Either way, if it's done just because it's more convenient to the parents (and without the child's consent) then it's morally and legally wrong, regardless of the impact it may or may not have on the child.

Agreed.

On a personal note: I find excessive foreskin kind of off-putting (well, this is supposed to be an open dialogue)

lol, well sure. On the other hand circumcised penises have their disadvantages too. They can be more time consuming and labour intensive.

 

[Angela Channing]

I have to admit I was shocked to realise that such a large proportion of American males get circumcised. In the UK isn't almost unheard of unless the male is Jewish, Muslim or another religious denomination that requires it. The health benefits of male circumcision, if they exist, are minimal and the same can be achieved by good penis hygiene (i.e. washing your c*ck daily). It astonishes me that parents would put baby boys through a painful and unnecessary procedure by choice. That said, if it's part of US custom and tradition, the pressure of history might make parents feel obliged to do it. People need to be educated so they have real facts to inform their decision.

 

[Willie Oleson]

On the other hand circumcised penises have their disadvantages too. They can be more time consuming and labour intensive

Don't be such a lazy ho




But seriously now, what you say makes sense (for reasons we all understand) and I wonder if it applies to all cut and uncut men.

I also find it ironic that Puritan America would support circumcision as a standard procedure.
After all, by removing its "cover" it exposes the most private part thus making it look more explicit.

 

[Richard Channing]

Don't be such a lazy ho

I also find it ironic that Puritan America would support circumcision as a standard procedure.
After all, by removing its "cover" it exposes the most private part thus making it look more explicit.

Who knows what the real agenda is, because the supposed medical reasons are so flimsy that they appear to be a smokescreen.

 

[Angela Channing]

Who knows what the real agenda is, because the supposed medical reasons are so flimsy that they appear to be a smokescreen.

I sure I read somewhere that male circumcision in the USA became popular as a way to discourage young boys for masturbating although I can imagine it would have that effect on most boys. Why would anyone want to discourage what is a totally natural, healthy and fun thing to do is beyond me.

 

[Richard Channing]

I sure I read somewhere that male circumcision in the USA became popular as a way to discourage young boys for masturbating although I can imagine it would have that effect on most boys. Why would anyone want to discourage what is a totally natural, healthy and fun thing to do is beyond me.

The documentary does touch on that. Apparently in Victorian England masturbation was highly demonized and circumcision was seen as a way to discourage it, although I'm not sure what the logic was there. Anyway, this idea took hold in the US and went on to become standard practice.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I sure I read somewhere that male circumcision in the USA became popular as a way to discourage young boys for masturbating

How very optimistic of them.

And it's totally unfair and hypocritical, because the only way they could know that boys masturbate is because they used to do it themselves when they were young.
But if they were circumcised too then they should know (as an adult) that it's absolutely useless because adults masturbate too (I've read that in an article somewhere on the internet).

 

[Richard Channing]

How very optimistic of them.

And it's totally unfair and hypocritical, because the only way they could know that boys masturbate is because they used to do it themselves when they were young.
But if they were circumcised too then they should know (as an adult) that it's absolutely useless because adults masturbate too (I've read that in an article somewhere on the internet).

And not to mention the fact that due to the decrease in sensitivity circumcised boys generally need to masturbate more in order to achieve an orgasm, so there goes that theory.

 

[TJames03]

I would absolutely feel revulsion if I wasn't circumcised. Yuck.

 

[Richard Channing]

I would absolutely feel revulsion if I wasn't circumcised. Yuck.

Who knows, you might have loved your foreskin! I couldn't stand the thought of having mine chopped off.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I couldn't stand the thought of having mine chopped off.

This could be an interesting subject for a slasher movie.

The Circumciser!

Starring: the penis of...

 

[Richard Channing]

This could be an interesting subject for a slasher movie.

The Circumciser!

Starring: the penis of...

It would scare the shit out of me. There were some scenes in the doc where they were showing a baby being circumcised and even though it was blurred out I couldn't watch.

I suppose if it's a slasher movies there'll need to be a few penises. But who's doing the slashing? An evil doctor? An angry feminist??

 

[Willie Oleson]

But who's doing the slashing? An evil doctor? An angry feminist??

Well that's supposed to be the big surprise! I haven't worked out the plot yet, but it could be a mini-cannibal, or the crazy mother of a boy who died during a circumcision. Or a frustrated Jewish man who's ceremonial circumcision was interrupted by a massacre (a family feud or something) which left him half-circumcised.
Add to that the angry feminist and voila, you have a wonderful whodunit.

I would absolutely feel revulsion if I wasn't circumcised

Oh? Was your circumcision your own choice?

 

[TJames03]

Who knows, you might have loved your foreskin! I couldn't stand the thought of having mine chopped off.

Hell, no! Yuck!!!!!

 

[TJames03]

I don't know of anyone that I know that isn't circumcised. Uncircumcised males just isn't heard of in the US (for the most part).

 

[Angela Channing]

I don't know of anyone that I know that isn't circumcised. Uncircumcised males just isn't heard of in the US (for the most part).

I think that's kind of sad as it's a totally unnecessary procedure and one that could leave a male open to infection. I'm glad I wasn't born in the USA.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I think we should embrace and celebrate diversity.
Accepting each other's penises is the first step to world peace.

 

[TJames03]

So.....most of us in the US look like we always have semi-erections to all the guys that haven't been cut?