The Official JCC Circumcision Thread

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I've been circumsised when I was an infant,and I don't mind. My parents did what they thought was best.

 

Is it just the US that circumsizes (sp?) infants when they're born, or do other countries do that too?

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Girls were either totally freaked out by the concept, or alternatively were extremely interested to see it. It was like I was some museum piece or something.

A similar thing happened to my friend (who is uncircumcised) when he went to an Art class in Chicago. A girl actually wanted to take a plaster cast of it because she'd never seen one before. But then again, that was one weird girl.

And like that... he's gone.

 

Her-Indoors and myself have been talking about starting a family for a while and this subject has already caused an issue. Me, I am from Blighty and have an intact member, however she originates from Northern America and her male family members have all been butchered so she seems to think that if/when we have a little boy he will follow her families tradition of male butchery, I am dead against the whole practice.
I really do not understand why a boy should have this operation, as I said, I didn?t and I have had no problems. The only reason I see for this practice, outside of religion, is laziness with regards personal hygiene, please correct me if I?m wrong because I would be interested in other people?s views and maybe we can end the arguments.

EDIT This is the only point in contention with regards children, names have been pretty much decided, although I did have to fight hard for Obi Wan

 

Mostly only the US does it on a routine basis, but thankfully the rates have dropped steadily in the last decade. There was an 80-85% circumcision rate, now the average is about 50%, higher in some areas, lower in others. Many insurance companies won't even pay for routine circumcision anymore.

I am appalled that so many parents would hurt their sons like that, for a cosmetic procedure(because that's all routine circumcision is).

And unfortunately, Snerd's son isn't a rarity, many infant boys have the same problem his son had, causing yet more un-necessary pain and suffering.

 

Did any guys get a surprise when they went to the toilets with their mates for the first time at school and see they were different from other guys?

I can't think of a better way to write that sentence.

 

malkie edit inappropriate links

 

For the great un-cut out there, all I can say is WASH WASH WASH. As a nurses aid, we got an older gentalman in once who seemed to be quite unfamiliar with a washcloth down under... and here I though that washing a horse's accesory was bad...

*shivers with horror at the memorey.*

 

Well, I'm here and so's my junk - who gives me the snip?

Oh, right - info only. Yeah, although technically Jewish I've still got a turtleneck.

 

I am appalled that so many parents would hurt their sons like that, for a cosmetic procedure(because that's routine circumcision is).

And unfortunately, Snerd's son isn't a rarity, many infant boys have the same problem his son had, causing yet more un-necessary pain and suffering.


You can be "appalled" all you want. Hell, you can even call it butchery, but the fact of the matter is that circumcision has become such an accepted normal standard for most males in this country that those who aren't snipped are thought of as "weird-looking" or "Eastern European." I don't care. My wife and I circumcised our little boy because I am grateful that my parents made that decision for me. He will thank us later in life.

As for the pain thing. He was circumcised the day after he was born and didn't flinch. Infants feel pain kind of the same way animals do. They don't anticipate it and they don't dwell on it. I am happy to report that yesterday the procedure he went through was a "skin separation" and not additional circumcision. There were no scalpels or medical instruments of any kind, and there was no pain. It was just a matter of making sure the skin didn't heal together on top of the head of his penis. How graphic do you guys want me to get? I could explain further but I don't see the point.

Bottom line: He is circumcised and healthy, and there was no pain or cruel procedures of any kind.

 

Did you watch when your son was circ'd? Babies DO in fact feel pain just as much as, or maybe even more so(due to their immature nervous systems)than adults. Whoever told you they don't is full of it. And some stunned doctors are still doing circ's without pain medication.

 

I'm circumcised, was snipped at birth, and I would never go back.

 

Yes I did watch. Of course infants feel pain nobody told me they don't. Have you ever heard of local anasthetic? Lidocaine? Anyway, the point is he did not even squirm. The procedure went on without him even noticing it seemed.

or maybe even more so(due to their immature nervous systems)than adults.

Actually considerably less so because infants lack the cognitive ability to recognize the pain for what it is. Like I said, it is impossible for a newborn to dwell on a moment of incidental pain. Given how much my son laughs, I don't think he's in any pain or discomfort as a result of yesterday's separation either, and his little weiner looks fine.

 

I am appalled that so many parents would hurt their sons like that, for a cosmetic procedure(because that's all routine circumcision is).

No it isn't; stop acting as if you know everything there is to know about Jews and Christians. Jews do it because it was a command given to them by God, one that hasn't been repealled. Christians do it because they feel like they should obey God's commandments as well.

Now, if you want, you can scream and yell at God until he tells us we don't have to circumsize anymore. Until then, we're doing what we think is best.

 

Well, at least his doctor actually used a decent pain medication. I am serious when I say some doctors don't. Some doctors don't even give parents the choice.

 

My wife and I circumcised our little boy because I am grateful that my parents made that decision for me. He will thank us later in life.

Of course, he will not have a choice, never having experienced the opposite, hmm? Personally, I believe that there is no need for it, that if a person wants to do it, they should have the choice. Therefore, I say, let them alone until they are able to decide to do it all by themselves.

And no, I never thought differently of guys who are or are not circumcised.

Master Mishima

 

Ikrit, I said NOTHING about religious reasons for circumcising, nothing at all. I'm talking routine circumcision of non-jewish male infants in the US.

But since you brought it up, there is a new non-circumcision based bris that is done in the US now.

 

I still can't figure out why a man would be grateful to have the most sensitive part of his manhood "snipped" off.

Strange how some of us find the clitoral mutilation of young women to be repugnant, and yet remain almost enthusiastic about male circumcision.

 

Yeah, although technically Jewish I've still got a turtleneck.

Then are you technically Jewish? Isn't a big part of the contract with God to be one of God's people that you be circumcised?

 

Mostly only the US does it on a routine basis,

Yeah, I get it done once a month.

 

^^

 

A circumsized penis is unprotected and constantly incontact with the inside of your underwear. Hence it loses an element of sensitivity, and thus loses some sensation using intercourse. So, having a "hoodie" or "turtle-neck" is advantageous.

Definitely. I certainly noticed the change when I was circumcised.

 

The skin that is removed is not the sensitive part it's just a cover. Babies are numbed and do not put the experience into long term memory. (How much do YOU remember about getting your teeth in when you were a baby? It's obviously painful, but not life scarring)
FEMALE circumcision on the other hand, is about removing the sensitive parts, so that the woman can't enjoy sex. That IS mutilation.

It is done for tradition, religious rites, and health issues.

Boy if I'm LESS sensitive down there because mine is gone, that's even more reason to have it gone. I wouldn't ever want to be MORE senstive than I already am.

Disney of course doesn't take a stand on it. They leave it as a personal choice.
http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/child/health/childhealth/dony79enc_circ/

We chose to do it for our boy for tradition, and health reasons. It is obvious to us that it is much easier to clean without a cover to trap bacteria/dirt in.
I'd hate it if my bellybutton had a cover. I'd never be able to get the lint out.

 

My 2 cents:

If there was any need for this 'procedure', any reason that would mean the penis was better off without a 'lid', then it would've evolved without one. But it didn't. Boys are born like they are, and should stay like they are.