Should teens make circumcision decision?

[Renew Deal]

(CNN) -- Fifty-one years ago, Frank lost something he considers valuable. It was his foreskin, and Frank would like it back.

Frank -- he'd prefer not to reveal his last name -- knows his foreskin is gone forever, but he's angry he was circumcised as a newborn when he was too little to say yay or nay to a procedure that changed him forever, and that he believes left him with decreased sexual sensation compared with men who aren't circumcised.

"It's idiotic," says Frank, who works in marketing in Los Angeles. "It's mutilation of men."

As the American Academy of Pediatrics prepares to update its policy statement on circumcision, the debate rages on over whether boys should be circumcised at birth.

On the one hand, recent studies show circumcised men have lower rates of some sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and they're less likely to transmit diseases to their sexual partners.

On the other hand, circumcision involves pain for the baby -- how much is debatable -- and babies are incapable of saying whether they want it.
<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/04/14/teens.circumcision.ep/index.html

[MineralMan]

1. When all else fails....

make popcorn.

:popcorn:

[FSogol]

2. Hey, I heard Applebees serves Daiquiris and Margaritas to toddlers!

:popcorn:

[MineralMan]

3. Hell, these days, kids need a stiff one before dinner, too.

Especially at that dump.

[Renew Deal]

8. Circumcised toddlers!

:yoiks:

[geardaddy]

9. Pass me some of that popcorn

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Buuuuuurrrrraaaaappppppppppp!

'scuse me, too much soda with popcorn.

:popcorn:

This is gonna start a flap.

[tularetom]

4. If I'd had to make that decision as a teenager

There ain't no way I would've made the choice my parents made for me. Since I was born at home, the evil deed was delayed for a month or so.

All these years later I still cringe at the thought.

[shanti]

30. my ex had it done as a teen

and had horror stories to tell about the recovery period. needless to say, all of my sons are circ'd, but the decision was not up to me.

[qb]

5. Circumcision is genital mutilation that happens to be culturally acceptable in the US.

As for the prophylactic surgery argument... why aren't girls' breasts removed at birth to prevent breast cancer? Why aren't their genitals surgically modified to reduce the risk of contracting urinary tract infections? It could be done.

Unless there is an immediate medical need for it, circumcision is elective surgery that should not be done without the informed consent of the patient.

[LanternWaste]

38. As are tattoos and piercings self-mutilation too...

As are tattoos and piercings self-mutilation too... however I imagine we all justify and rationalize those cultural trappings we get done at the local tat parlor.

I would imagine mutilation is mutilation-- regardless of whether it's done to the genital, the nose, the lip or the bicep.

[darkstar3]

54. But if you tattoo something onto a newborn, your ass is going to jail.

[ZombieHorde]

57. Most people in the US chose to have their own bodies tattooed or pierced.

Most circumcised men in the US did not chose to have the amputation performed.

Interesting DU rule: You are allowed to say you have had a part of your penis amputated, but you are not allowed to say you had a part of your penis pierced.

[PBS Poll-435]

68. If your view held true then you could never get a kid to go to the Dentist or Orthodontist.

:shrug:

[JackRiddler]

6. How many other issues cause so many to run in and mock their insignificance?

Reasonable people who thought this was a trivial issue would simply not bother to click. Given that with discussions of infant foreskin removal you always have the reaction already visible above (for example, starting in Reply #1), what we have here is people who must think it's very important to emphasize how unimportant the issue is.

Which indicates something about it must make people uncomfortable.

The violation of defenseless infants, perhaps? The irreversibility of the procedure, and the fact that it was perpetrated on a majority of men in the United States and cannot be made good again? The endless rationalizations about hygiene and custom, recycled and reincarnated into new forms to fit each era?

The other reaction you get is the how-dare-you-compare this to female genital mutilation. This is pure divide and conquer. No one's debating which is worse (FGM is obviously worse). They're both violations practiced on people who will never have a choice about it. The only consistent position is to abhor and reject ALL forms of preemptive genital mutilation, whatever the rationalization.

[MineralMan]

32. Oh, not really. It's just such a hot-button issue that it

just naturally attracts attention. Right along with all the other ones.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. If I had it to do over, my kids would not have been circumcised. n/t

[MineralMan]

13. I hear they're working on a solution using stem cells.

Could work, I suppose.

[MineralMan]

11. Now, see what you started, you nasty person?

Distracting people from important issues like breastfeeding in public places where open carry is allowed. For shame!

[JackRiddler]

15. You're a laugh a minute.

[MineralMan]

17. Thanks!

I do try to be circumspect with my commentary, especially under these circumstances.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Is this to be based on circumstantial evidence? Just wondering. n/t

[MineralMan]

16. I think comments like that should be circumscribed by the admins.

But, again, that's just me.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Not very circumspect. Think it through.

Do you really want to cut off debate like that?

[MineralMan]

22. I try to eschew circumlocution at all times.

I'd never circumnavigate around an issue, either.

[uppityperson]

14. heh

[Snoutport]

18. Breasts get breast cancer...we don't cut them off baby girls.

Read this and you will see some very good cases including many males who have to become females because of circumcision accidents. I think a male should get to make their own decision about their penis. http://www.noharmm.org/problem.htm

[cali]

27. that comparison is as absurd as the one between circumcision and

FGM. And there are not "many" men who have had to become females because of circumcision accidents. I chose not to circumcise my son, but that hardly means I think circumcision is even close to FGM or cutting off breasts.

Fucking ridiculous arguments.

[qb]

37. The absurdity of the female examples makes the point.

Justifying circumcision as a prophylactic procedure is absurd.

[snooper2]

72. because they are not developed yet...Interesting idea though

:P

[Blue-Jay]

20. Wow.

[HughBeaumont]

40. Seriously. Just . . . WHY?

WHY do people CARE about this sort of thing? Of all things to get mad about . . .

[Manifestor_of_Light]

45. Malicious website in image.

[Withywindle]

21. I think so, yes.

Circumcision is a lot more of a major change than, say, getting ears pierced or getting a tattoo--and about as necessary.

[HughBeaumont]

23. I got nothing.

Getting circumcised as an infant ranks about 0.0000000000000000001 on my "Things to Get In a Snit About"-ometer.

I love my cut penis. It's a magical work of art. :)

[MineralMan]

24. Hey! You mean my penis is missing something?

Who knew?

[Change Happens]

25. Is this Frank Luntz?

[mysuzuki2]

26. When the Mohel goes out to dinner

does he leave the waitress a tip?

[MineralMan]

28. Nope. He orders the calimari.

K-boom-shhh!

[mysuzuki2]

35. Did you hear the one about the Mohel

who got fired? He couldn't cut it! Right back at ya.

[rug]

29. Only about their own.

[subterranean]

31. If they let boys decide for themselves when they're teens...

I guaran-goddamn-tee you that very few will opt to get part of their genitals cut off.

[MineralMan]

33. Not always true. In some cultures circumcision of males is

a pubertal rite of passage. Boys in those cultures accept it because they're not considered to be men until they are circumcised. In other cultures it's a religious thing, handed down in scripture. Not every culture has the same idea about it.

I was circumcised as an infant. I never knew a thing about it until group showers in high school. Never thought a thing about it then, either.

[ecstatic]

34. why would he be mad about his lowered risk of STDs and bladder

infections, not to mention improved appearance? Being born is also painful for babies, should that be stopped too? :nopity:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

46. Appearance?

As an adult female, I will state that I don't think any man should be circumcised except for medical reasons.

Sexually, the uncut ones are much better because the foreskin reduces friction greatly, for both parties.

It is there for a reason. To make intercourse easy. The man slides around inside his own skin. If he's circumcised there is no extra skin, which can make both parties irritated and very uncomfortable.

[Fla_Democrat]

48. Hasn't really been a problem so far..

The again, my idea of foreplay isn't.. "Brace yourself" :evilgrin:







:smoke:

[snooper2]

73. No pain no gain baby!

:rofl:

[subterranean]

50. Improved appearance?

That's your opinion.

"Being born is also painful for babies, should that be stopped too?"

That is possibly the dumbest thing I've ever read on DU. Being born is not optional. Circumcision is.

[Withywindle]

51. "Improved appearance"?

That is HIGHLY subjective, to say the least. :eyes:

[BobbyBoring]

36. This reminds me of the boy born without eyelids

This boy was born without eyelids and the parents were freaking out. The Dr. thought about it and came up with a solution. He said "When we circumcise the boy, we can make a pair of eyelids out of his foreskin". The operation was a success, but the boy turned out to be a little cock eyed. Ta tat bump!

You get it all here at DU!

[Modern_Matthew]

39. Yes. Even if just to shut up the elitists who claim they are superior to those with the foreskin. nt

[xchrom]

41. I like dicks with the drapes. And without the drapes.

Mines drapeless - and it's like my best buddy.

[WolverineDG]

42. Slow day in GD again, I guess nt

[Iggo]

43. No way!

DU should decide!

:rofl:

[JoePhilly]

44. I like the mushroom look ... but hey ...

Maybe Frank ... and his "beans" ... should sue his parents ... for "shorting him".

Frank also did not have a choice in being born. He's probably lucky that mom and dad enjoyed a few drinks on the Friday night on which he was conceived, and that there was nothing better on TV that night.

[Stevenmarc]

47. Really Frank, get the fuck over it.

[Confusious]

53. Seriously

I think frank has problems that go a little deeper then a foreskin.

[pipi_k]

64. No shit. There are people out there missing legs and arms...

they don't bitch and whine about what they don't have. They function just as well as any other person with limbs.

They go happily through their lives. Little kids, even...with smiles on their faces.


If Frank is otherwise healthy, and if his family is healthy, then he should be thankful.

"Mutilated". What a crock of shit. He should take a look at some little kid who's been beaten to a pulp or burned by its parents...children who have been maimed by land mines or bombs. Then come back with a different attitude. Seriously, I want to slap the shit out of him.

[DemoTex]

49. Like a great co-pilot of mine often said: "Can I be Frank?"

"You can be Natasha."

:rofl:

[Union Scribe]

52. You know, I understand being upset, but

there are likely some underlying issues with this guy, and anyone who lets a typical--whatever else you think about it--operation five decades prior define their capacity for enjoyment and fulfillment to that degree.

[in_cog_ni_to]

55. Just asked 18 year old son if he wishes he was never circumcised...

His answer: "No, I actually prefer it." There ya go. ;)

I think Frank has issues. Why is he complaining about this at 51 years old?

[wickerwoman]

56. I've got no skin in this game.

:rimshot:

Sorry... it's been a long, long day.

[pipi_k]

66. Said Rabbi I. Kutchapeckeroff.... n/t

:hide:

[ZombieHorde]

58. I am pro-choice on this subject, but I know many here are anti-choice.

My wife got in trouble in nursing school because she refused to watch circumcisions. She told me she wanted to hit the parents and doctor for abusing the baby.

[last_texas_dem]

59. What's the deal with DU and circumcision?

I go for long stretches of time never even thinking about this topic except for the threads about it that crop up here three or four times a year.

Is this a common topic of discussion in real life for most of the world, and I'm just the weirdo who never really gives it any thought until I see a thread about it on here? Honestly, I never knew this was such a hot-button political issue until I first saw people getting their foreskins all wound up over it on here a few years back. I wonder if the FReepers get into flamewars about this topic, too... Don't really feel like spending enough time over there to find out. haha

[MineralMan]

70. Yes, the Freepers go nuts over this issue, too, as did the folks

on the Politics forum on Compuserve, way back when. I've always wondered if it was the same people everywhere who were bringing up the issue. Haven't been on Compuserve since 1998 and haven't been on Free Republic since 2006. Compuserve is long gone, and FR has been far gone since its beginning.

I think the circumcision issue comes up almost everywhere online.

[Donnachaidh]

60. oh fer chrissakes -- teenage boys have problems deciding what haircuts to get

You really want to put an important decision like THAT in their lives? Look up the word TRAUMATIZE while you think about it.

Look, I'm a parent of an uncircumcised teenaged boy. But we opted out because of a medical condition that could have given him problems having it done.

I do recall the absolute WAVE of hospital employees who were aghast and shocked that we wouldn't automatically have him circumsized. There was literally *6* signs around his bassinet with HUGE lettering stating *NO CIRCUMCISION*. You'd have thought we had sentenced him to death!

He's had some acquaintances who have reacted strangely to the fact that he is whole. He doesn't have a problem with it.

Do I think our society has a hang up about foreskins? Yup. We were giggling yesterday about that new Arizona law, and wondering if he would be deported out of the state because he's not cut.

But I don't think teenage boys are mature enough to make the decision. They are just as hormonal and crazed as teenage girls are. Mess with their junk? Uhhh, no...

[Mariana]

61. I wonder if they had cut a boy who wasn't supposed to be cut

sometime before that and got sued. It happens. All those signs and the "OMG" reactions of the staff could have been because they were trying to make damn sure it didn't happen again.

[Donnachaidh]

63. it was more than that -- our son is a hemophiliac

And the over-reaction about EVERY aspect of his birth and aftercare was stunning, and looking back on it now, pitiful and laughable.

But he wasn't the only one not circumcized that weekend. There were two others, and both had what we laughingly called the Scarlet U on their bassinets.

[LeftinOH]

62. A grown man who laments his long-lost foreskin reeeeeeeally needs to get over it-

mine's gone, too -and I've got more important stuff to obsess about.

[pipi_k]

69. Here's what I'm thinking...

I'm thinking he's probably jealous as hell imagining his long-lost foreskin out there having more fun than he is.

[druidity33]

65. What do they do in Europe? nt.

[PBS Poll-435]

67. Frank is probably 75 lbs overweight and impotent anyway.

Boohoo.

[Angry Dragon]

71. .........

:popcorn: