Should I circumcize my son?

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Tom31

People don't need to have a finger cut off to "lecture" on the rights and wrongs of cutting off a finger. Cutting off ANYTHING fits the legal definition of "wounding," and wounding a child is prohibited in civilized countries unless the wounding is medically mustified.

It's not remotely the same. Everyone knows the consequences of losing a finger, you lose functionality in that hand...a foreskin does not have the same function...so your argument is invalid.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Trying to compare piercing ears to anything that would actually cause pain is what is hysterical.

Tell that to some people who have had their ears pierced, and felt a ****load of pain when it was done. And again, I point you to the studies linked that say the baby might not really feel that much pain at all. It might be just like a pinprick.

Btw, from what I've read about foreskin, I'd imagine it wouldn't be easy to make it hurt either.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Let me assure you that a clumsily wielded zip around a misplaced foreskin is ****ing agonising.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I bet a zipper around an ear lobe, would be just as agonizing. It's the skin being twisted in the zipper, not an inherant thing of foreskin.

[Tom31]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And tribes in Africa cut their ear lobes and put plates in them. People in the WEST, 'wound' baby girls by putting holes for earrings. Do you have a point or are you just being hysterical for fun?

Woundings are OK if they are what the law calls "de minimis" (a trifle). Arguably, ear-piercing may be "de minimis," especially since it's reversible. But by no stretch of the imagination is irreversible genital surgery in the same category as ear-piercing.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I know what 'de minimus' is, but it seems like you are now changing your tune. There was no de minimus justification before... and if anything, cutting off the foreskin for religious reasons is de minimus. I sure don't miss it any. I get enough sexual satisfaction from my penis as it is.

[tandeetaylor]

Originally posted by SuperSneak
1) I think it is foolish to seek advice from people with no practical experience in the matter.

As I believe I've stated before, I don't think there is much practical experience in deciding whether or not to circumcize. Believe me, I've sought advice from people who have "made the choice." I found it very difficult to find anyone who made any sense. As I told someone else in a PM, I came here because I really think there are a lot of intelligent people here and it's a chance for me to gain a more international perspective on the matter, which is slightly more difficult here at home. I know how things are done in the US. I want to know how they're done elsewhere and why. And I certainly received my answer. Whether or not you personally agree with the arguments presented here, I thought they were very reasonable and well thought out. If I had received only answers similiar to AH's "Yes cut him." and that guy who said that I was supposed to because God said I should and because it would be like leaving the umbilical cord, believe me, the logic would not have been overwhelming enough to allow me to jump off the fence.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I bet a zipper around an ear lobe, would be just as agonizing. It's the skin being twisted in the zipper, not an inherant thing of foreskin.

Your point being......?

"It's only a bit of skin! Flay yourself alive and be shiny and beautiful!"

[Tom31]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison

It's not remotely the same. Everyone knows the consequences of losing a finger, you lose functionality in that hand...a foreskin does not have the same function...so your argument is invalid.

If you want to know about foreskin function, then read this:

http://research.cirp.org/func1.html

[Imran Siddiqui]

Your point being......?

I'm saying it is not much more sensitive than the ear lobes (you know, piercing ears v. circumcision), or did you miss that part of the debate?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Quick circumcision query.

Does the banjo string get snipped?

[Imran Siddiqui]

banjo string?

[SuperSneak]

Well, the choice is of course yours.
But if you think your son is always going to use a condom, think again.
Ultimately, a variety of factors went into my decision, but foremost was his health.
Also, he will most likely go to a Catholic school and I didn't want him to be odd man out.
After making a brief survey of the non and circumsized men in this thread, I am also wondering if not going through this painful ritual as an infant makes the majority of uncut men whiny little panty-waists, as seems to be the case at Apolyton, anyways.

I guess if there is a silver lining, leaving it on at least means it can always be taken off later.

[Tom31]

Originally posted by tandeetaylor
I know how things are done in the US. I want to know how they're done elsewhere and why.

Here's a memo that was sent out to doctors by a Canadian licensing board:

http://www.courtchallenge.com/letters/skcoll2.html

Quote: "...it would generally be considered imprudent if not improper for a surgeon to perform such a surgical procedure."

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
banjo string?

The most sensitive part of the entire penis. Think it's called the "frenulum" or something. The strand linking the inside of the hood with the bell-end just below the jap's eye.

Stop me if I'm getting too technical.