For context, I’m circumcised and expecting a son and my wife and I are torn about the circ. We’re American so from a cultural standpoint circumcision is the default choice. Thing is, there’s no real benefit besides practicing a religion we don’t believe in, and I’m uncomfortable about cutting the tip of my son’s dick off.
On the other side, I’ve met a guy who was bullied in high school so bad for it he got a circ as an adult. Apparently crazy painful recovery. I’ve also talked to women who are generally grossed out by uncircumcised men. I don’t want to make him feel like something’s wrong with him his whole life because I was uncomfortable with the idea.
From a moral standpoint I’m against it, but from a social and cultural standpoint I feel like I should do it? It’s a crappy situation. If there’s any uncircumcised American men who want to talk about their penis I’m all ears.
Edit: I really appreciate everyone’s responses I never expected to hear from so many people. With the decision hinging on social and cultural norms it’s been really helpful to be able to take the temperature like this. I obviously need to talk to my wife, but given the overwhelming support of dick hats I don’t thing we’re going to do it. Thanks, lemmings!
Drum Roll
No
Nope. Heavens no. It’s a feel-good part of the body, hell no.
The only requirement is to keep it clean. Parents shouldn’t shy away from educating your boys about this and have some open conversations about it.
Might as well ask if you wouldn’t mind having one fingertip shaved off at birth, the difference being you’d know what you were missing because you have the other fingers to compare it to.
Have I ever wished someone had genitally mutilated me as a baby?
When my son was born, I casually asked his mother (my now-ex-wife) whether he should be circumcised because it was a question on a form. I hadn’t thought about till then, we hadn’t discussed it. She was vehemently against it, and I didn’t care one way or the other, so that was the end of that.
There won’t be any bullying about this, because most boys don’t see each other naked anymore, in P.E. for instance, at least not in the U.S., and most boys are not circumcised now.
Of course, circumcision started with and is tied to religious BS, but in the sixties, when I was born, it was so common even my atheist parents had it done to their two sons. I supposed it was recommended for “health reasons”, I dunno. Also, my dad was, but I don’t know why–I don’t know much about that side of my family.
It’s just how I’ve always been, I’ve never resented them for having it done. I’ve never wished I wasn’t or wondered what I missed, or had any desire to try to recreate it. I’m sure my uncircumcised son feels the same way, we haven’t discussed it.
There will always be one kid who will try and find something to bully someone else about.
Not American, not circumcised and I never want to be.
No and We would never even see if anyone was circumcised or not in school
Never even crossed my mind.
women who are generally grossed out by uncircumcised men
And this must be an American thing, because I haven’t met one and from what I’ve been told, most women find uncirc more attractive.
And as for bullying, in my school, if anything, the circumsised would have been bullied for having “half dicks”. Not that I ever saw anyone be bullied over their dicks, that’s just fucking weird.
Fuck no.
No, of course not. That’s weird.
Nope
Nope, never.
I live in the UK, I’m in my 40’s and I’ve only ever known a single person who needed to be circumcised for medical reasons.
Beyond medical reasons, which are honestly pretty rare in reality, there’s no need.
I’ve literally never heard an uncircumcised person express a desire to be circumcised.
Yes, I have a sometimes uncomfortably tight foreskin and even asked my doctor about it. In the end, I decided it wasn’t bad enough to warrant the surgery.
IMO circumcision is genital mutilation and that’s always wrong in general. In the very few cases where it actually has health benefits you can still do it later in life, it’s not a big problem. You’re not missing out on anything if you don’t do it.
I have never met anyone circumcised before, nor even heard of one outside of celebrities and internet randoms like this.
So the thing about some being grossed out is purely cultural and not a universal thing. I find it odd that some would be grossed out about a thing like that, but if you choose to remain within that culture, it’s probably sensible to account for that. But I would bet it’s really not a big deal for anyone despite what they say. There are more important things going on whenever people end up in a situation where that comes up. I wouldn’t worry about that, but the again I don’t know your culture, maybe it is a big deal.
For me personally, I really like my “hood” so to say. Keeps the senses more heightened there when the delicate part does not chafe around and touch everything all the time. On top of that, I find much more hygienic to have a natural “shield” that is easy to clean and keep regulated in terms of pH and all. No doubt it would be more problematic in hot climates where there might be more sweating and stuff, that would require more intense and frequent upkeep, but here in the global North, I think it would be disadvantageous not to have the natural luxury.
Not only would I not want a circumsization, I find it actively harmful to myself and my personal health. I also find the practice extremely off-putting and horrifying, but then again all cultures come with their own “barbaric” traditions so to say, so I’m not about to yuck anyone’s yum. You do you, I say, live your best life.
It does come with some required upkeep and work, but so do our teeth. If you maintain them, they’re going to be healthy and beneficial overall. No need to cut them off in my opinion, just because it’s extra work. But that’s not the justification for the cut, so I also don’t mean to sound patronizing here. Just my view on it.
I have no idea where this American obsession with male circumcision comes from. It is an unnecessary medical procedure that you only share with Jews, but they at least can cite their ancient religion as an excuse.
Anyone else in the world just shake their heads about this.
