Should circumcision be made illegal?

[Zanman11]

To me, I believe that circumcision prior to the prober age of consent should be illegal, do long as there is no medical issue or religious requirement. I understand that a lot of circumcised males have no problems with the way they are, but they (for the most part) do not make the decision on their own. All other bodily modifications which are comparable (ie. female circumcision) are illegal. I am not against circumcision in general, just circumcision that is done for no real reason. And don't say because its cleaner(false) and because it looks nicer (personally I think cut dicks look modified and unnatural) what do you guys think?

[PinkFloyd]

I agree with this. Although I'm happy with the uh... procedure that was done to me as an infant, I still feel violated in a way. I think of it as an invasion of someone's body.

Oh and the reason why female circumcision is illegal no questions asked is because it is atually very, very bad. It removes all the feeling, so the procedure would basically take sex away from the female. male circ is just an invasion of privacy.

[abc983055235235231a]

Totally agree. Circumcision should be legal for a consenting adult. Infant circumcision is a big no no.

[phuckphace]

yes.

[TapDancer]

I can agree with this idea on principle, however, what would become a grey area is the area of religion. For example (I know female circumcision is beyond horrible, but I am talking from a legal perspective) a certain group of Muslim people (mostly men) argue that female circumcision is a procedure necessary to help girls be "modest". Even though that is (if you could call it that) a religious reason, it is still illegal because the right to life surpasses the right to religious freedom (like if a sick Jehovah's witness child needed blood, the hospital will force it on the child, regardless of what the parents say, but as an adult, you can refuse medical treatment) and female circumcision is deadly. But for men in the Jewish faith, circumcision is normal, and because it is not a life-threatening procedure, you can't legally stop people from doing it for cultural or religious reasons. Personally, I don't think anyone needs this surgery, and it should be that persons own choice when they can make an informed decision. But, you can't really make it illegal, because religious groups would be in uproar, and a law forbidding the practise with the exception of religious (or cultural) reasons would be ineffective, because all you would have to say is "it's always been done in my family, it's part of our history and culture" and there you go.

[Gigablue]

To me, I believe that circumcision prior to the prober age of consent should be illegal, do long as there is no medical issue or religious requirement.

I agree with you for the most part, but I disagree when you say that religion should be exempt. Religion should not give you the right to perform cosmetic surgery on an infant. Circumcision for religious reasons is as illogical as circumcision for any other non medical reason, and should be banned as well.

[Zenos]

Theres actually no true medical benefit to Circumcision,despite the claims it'll help prevent catching HIV!

[Lovelife090994]

To me female circumcision should be illegal because of all the damage it causes along with it's brutal methods. Male circumcision however to me should be legal to those who want it and legal to the religious groups like many Jews who have a tradition to it. I was partially circumcised because my foreskin was in excess but my momm said how she did not want me to become full cut. It is hard to explain I guess. I just don't see harm in properly done male circumcision since it is not castration or 100% life threatening culturee. Plus, I know a few people who flat out admitted that they are cut and okay with it when asked about circumcision.

[Zenos]

To me female circumcision should be illegal because of all the damage it causes along with it's brutal methods. Male circumcision however to me should be legal to those who want it and legal to the religious groups like many Jews who have a tradition to it. I was partially circumcised because my foreskin was in excess but my momm said how she did not want me to become full cut. It is hard to explain I guess. I just don't see harm in properly done male circumcision since it is not castration or 100% life threatening culturee. Plus, I know a few people who flat out admitted that they are cut and okay with it when asked about circumcision.

It's not the parents body,it should be held off until the child is able to make an accurate informed decision!

[Lovelife090994]

It's not the parents body,it should be held off until the child is able to make an accurate informed decision!

Alright, your opinion which you can have even though I disgaree. We can agree to disagree here, no I won't argue my opinion. Good day for now to you.

[Aajj333]

Id be fine with it as long as it is still allowed for religious reasons

[ksdnfkfr]

Have never seen any purpose whatsoever in removing that particular body part.
Why America has had such an obsession with assembly line circumcisions.
I was only spared because they were too busy with other medical concerns to have my bits sliced off. My school has a good percentage of Hispanic students and do not think I have seen a single cut Hispanic, Asian or European immigrant boy. One Romanian kid who saw me naked in the locker room, asked me where I was from because since I'm white and uncut he figured I must have moved to America like he did.

[Karkat]

Oh and the reason why female circumcision is illegal no questions asked is because it is atually very, very bad. It removes all the feeling, so the procedure would basically take sex away from the female. male circ is just an invasion of privacy.

Thank you for including this. Male circumcision isn't necessarily genital mutilation, female circumcision IS.

There would be reasons to remove parts of the female genitalia, but not on that scale or in those places. Also, they sew up the opening to the vagina partially- making sex HORRENDOUSLY painful (and of course there's no IVF involved when babies are made for these sorts, so sex is the way for reproduction.) and childbirth traumatizing, also HORRENDOUSLY painful (imagine if a penis hurts, what a tiny person would do to that.) and sometimes deadly.

Totally agree. Circumcision should be legal for a consenting adult. Infant circumcision is a big no no.

Agreed.

I agree with you for the most part, but I disagree when you say that religion should be exempt. Religion should not give you the right to perform cosmetic surgery on an infant. Circumcision for religious reasons is as illogical as circumcision for any other non medical reason, and should be banned as well.

Agreed entirely!

Theres actually no true medical benefit to Circumcision,despite the claims it'll help prevent catching HIV!

Wrong. There are most certainly medical benefits or medical reasons for males to be circumcised. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/circumcision/basics/why-its-done/prc-20013585)

Thanks for giving me something to add to my sexual myth list though.

[abc983055235235231a]

Thank you for including this. Male circumcision isn't necessarily genital mutilation, female circumcision IS.

There would be reasons to remove parts of the female genitalia, but not on that scale or in those places. Also, they sew up the opening to the vagina partially- making sex HORRENDOUSLY painful (and of course there's no IVF involved when babies are made for these sorts, so sex is the way for reproduction.) and childbirth traumatizing, also HORRENDOUSLY painful (imagine if a penis hurts, what a tiny person would do to that.) and sometimes deadly.



Wrong. There are most certainly medical benefits or medical reasons for males to be circumcised. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/circumcision/basics/why-its-done/prc-20013585)

Thanks for giving me something to add to my sexual myth list though.

One thing worth pointing out is that male circumcision does actually reduce sexual pleasure. Not to the extent that female circumcision does, but still to an extent.

And there really aren't health benefits to circumcision. If I amputate my arms, there's no chance that I will ever break my arms, but that doesn't mean that cutting off my arms is beneficial to my health. Pretty much any "health benefits" resulting from circumcision are achieved by (1) washing your penis, and (2) wearing a condom when you have sex.
There are of course some health complications which can result simply from having foreskin, but these are no more common than the health complications that can result from circumcision itself.

[Plasma]

Illegal? Not at all. Need of the person's explicit, 18 year old consent? Hell yes. I wish that I wasn't, and I never had a choice

[Karkat]

One thing worth pointing out is that male circumcision does actually reduce sexual pleasure. Not to the extent that female circumcision does, but still to an extent.

And there really aren't health benefits to circumcision. If I amputate my arms, there's no chance that I will ever break my arms, but that doesn't mean that cutting off my arms is beneficial to my health. Pretty much any "health benefits" resulting from circumcision are achieved by (1) washing your penis, and (2) wearing a condom when you have sex.
There are of course some health complications which can result simply from having foreskin, but these are no more common than the health complications that can result from circumcision itself.

Ok for one thing, there are studies that say otherwise. It hasn't been proven.

Also, no offense, but I'm going to trust one of the leading medical databases and institutions more than some random teenage guy.

But yes, even the link says that protection is a good thing, and proper hygiene.

However, you can develop a UTI even with good hygiene if you're sexually active. It's harder for a guy to, but it can happen, and circumcision is linked to a reduced risk.

Aside from that, your arm bit isn't even valid. Arms have multiple uses. Foreskin has one fairly debatable use.

Besides, I was debunking Zenos' 'there's no medical reason' myth, because there is. Context is always key in an argument.

[Korashk]

Ok for one thing, there are studies that say otherwise. It hasn't been proven.

Also, no offense, but I'm going to trust one of the leading medical databases and institutions more than some random teenage guy.
If your source includes the studies about circumcision and HIV conducted in Africa, well those studies didn't stand up to peer review. They've been invalid for a really long time but people still like to cite them in debates like these ones.

However, you can develop a UTI even with good hygiene if you're sexually active. It's harder for a guy to, but it can happen, and circumcision is linked to a reduced risk.
A UTI can be cured with a pill. Why cut part of your penis off to prevent it?

Besides, I was debunking Zenos' 'there's no medical reason' myth, because there is. Context is always key in an argument.
Let's look at your source's "medical reasons":

- Easier hygiene.
What a joke. Washing your penis isn't hard and two sentences later your source admits this fact.

- Decreased risk of urinary tract infections.
As stated above, UTIs can be cured relatively simply.

- Decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections.
The only studies I know of that claimed this have been wholly debunked.

- Prevention of penile problems.
Prevention of complications that can only occur because of the existence of a foreskin is not a reason to remove a foreskin.

- Decreased risk of penile cancer.
The only possibly legitimate claim of medical benefit made by the article. I have no idea about this claim's legitimacy.

[Typhlosion]

Should it? Sure. Add ear piercing in girls as well while you're at it!
Will it? Near never, the tradition of doing so is already solid and you also have the jewish tradition. Might as well abandon Israel while you're at it.

[Gamma Male]

I was circumsized, and kinda wish I hadn't been. I don't think it's okay for parents to make that decision, even if most circumsized people are okay with it. And I definitely don't think religion should be exempt from laws regarding the personal rights of infants. Religion is already given way too much undue respect as is, and it is not above the law.

[Miserabilia]

Well, we don't need it anymore, because we have good higene.
It's completely involentary body mutilation, so yes I think it shouldn't be legal.

[toplels]

This is definitley a complicated issue. Personally, I think the practice of circumcision should absolutely be abolished. There are seemingly no benefits to the operation as long as it isn't purely medical and not just aesthetic. However, this is where the religious debate comes in. To my knowledge (now, feel free to correct me I am a bit rusty) the freedom to exercise religion as stated in the First Ammendment (implying we are talking about the United States) has some limitations. One of them is your religion must not hurt or threaten the well-being of another living being. Male circumcision is mutilation of the genitals and has many problems associated with it including but not limited to the callusing of the exposed glans (tip of the penis); the bruatality of the operation itself; and, in the case of routine infant circumcision, complete disregard to the person undergoing the operation. Many people see the operation has harmless but that isn't really the case. There are 100+ deaths a year associated with male circumcision in the United States. Additionally, there have been cases of circumcisions being so tight that it is painful to get an erection. On the extreme side of things there have even been cases of penises, or parts of the penis besides the foreskin, being removed due to complications during or after the procedure. Arguably circumcision is not a risk free surgery and does pose a threat to those undergoing the procudure. Plus, why cut it off anyways? It protects the glans, is great for both masturbation and sex, and is all around fun. Of course there are valid reason for circumcisions such as medical complications but religion is arguably not a valid reason. Of course I'm not saying those who are circumcised should be thrown under the bus though. Circumcision is ingrained into American society (not so much in places like the UK, Mexico, or Japan) and even if you are circumcised you can enjoy sex and masturbation fine.

TL;DR: In my opinion circumcision should be illegal in the United States and religion may not be a valid reason for circumcision.

[Kyle9000]

Well, you can't even use "religious purpose" as an excuse for letting it happen because the infant doesn't get to choose that aspect of it's life until later on in it's life, so there's no reason that it should happen unless it's needed medically.

[EddietheZombie]

I'm good with the procedure as an infant. Ever have Lidocaine? AKA Napalm. That shit hurts like hell! I'd rather have it when I am an infant than do it when I will know and remember it. I don't get what people get so upset about. Its a piece of skin for fucks sake...... It's not like they took part of your brain to brainwash you.

[darkangel91]

Personally, I've always wondered what it would be like to be uncircumcised... I think it should be illegal before the age of consent, period. The medical benefits exist, but you know what else stops you from getting STDs? CHASTITY. More teenagers need to try practicing that, I think. If people just waited for marriage and remained faithful, there wouldn't be any STDs to begin with.

[Zanman11]

Sorry I should add in, if it is a consenting adult male who decides to have his foreskin cut off, I have no issue with that, it's just anyone under 18 being influenced or their parents chose for them

[Vocabulous]

Sure, but in some cases, circumcision can be medically beneficial and can't wait till they are 18. Just sayin.

[Andrew2499]

I just think it should be up to the person, not the parent.

[imthomas]

I don't think so

[tovaris]

not elegal, but people should have a choice

[Stronk Serb]

I'm good with the procedure as an infant. Ever have Lidocaine? AKA Napalm. That shit hurts like hell! I'd rather have it when I am an infant than do it when I will know and remember it. I don't get what people get so upset about. Its a piece of skin for fucks sake...... It's not like they took part of your brain to brainwash you.

It's not just a piece of skin. It's like they removed the skin on
he tips of your fingers. It makes them useless in feeling around because of nerve endings that were removed. In the case of the penis, it reduces sexual pleasure.

[NudistKid]

I don't think so because a lot of the time it's done for religious reasons and they should be allowed to do it under there religion

[Miserabilia]

I don't think so because a lot of the time it's done for religious reasons and they should be allowed to do it under there religion

I think it's wrong that they can do it without the child's permission. They don't even know what they want yet and they are just physicaly modified.

[Josh75]

I was cut @ birth so I remember nothing about it. I'm sure it hurt for a day or so, but there are other birth traumas a newborn experiences like all the the sudden bright lights everywhere, it's cold as hell compared to mom's womb, & whatever else. So the additional bit of pain of getting snipped I don't think really matters. No boy cut @ birth remembers it. People who yell & scream about mutilation & all that stuff is all crap in my opinion. My dad & his father were both uncut. I've never asked my dad why he chose to have me cut, we're not close & I wouldn't be comfortable talking about it with him.

I've been with many boys who are cut and many who are uncut. I happen to agree that there are definite health and hygiene benefits to being cut. I know lots of older gay guys who are uncut who say they have to wash their foreskins several times a day to keep it clean and so it doesn't smell bad. Many of the uncut friends I've talked about this with also tell me they have to wash it several times a day, up to 4-5 times in some cases depending. I've been with uncut boys who I had to ask to please wash it or let me wash it or let's shower together and we'll clean it because it smells bad, and I hate the smell. And I'm sure as hell not going down on a smelly foreskin, nor put it anywhere else! Teens get hard many times a day and most secrete varying amounts of pre, & they pee, which traps both pre & urine inside the foreskin and it breeds bacteria and germs inside there which is what causes the smell. You can look it up on the net, it's true.

I'm gay & 16 & I've been fooling around with boys since I was 7, learned to jack when I was 12 and started having sex then. So I have experience with this. I'm happy as a bug in a rug that I'm cut and if I have kids with a partner one day, the boys will get cut.

That's my story & I'm stickin' to it.

[RickMason]

Keep your studies. I have Adam. :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSWbTv3hng

[Leprous]

I don't think it should be illegal but I do think, unless for medical reasons the person should be circumcised if they are mature enough to make the decision themselves. Even for religious reasons, should the person grow up and find themselves not religious, they may not be happy with what their parents choose for them.

I completely agree with Toasted Cheese on this one. They should be able to decide for themselves.

[amgb]

I agree that circumcision does have some medical benefits, and should only be made legal for medical reasons. According to wikpedia, circumcision does reduce "the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual men in high-risk populations. Evidence among heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa shows an absolute decrease in risk of 1.8% which is a relative decrease of between 38 percent and 66 percent over two years, and in this population studies rate it cost effective. Whether it is of benefit in developed countries is undetermined." I don't understand why bodily harm is encouraged in religions and cultures. It's wrong. It should be illegal unless it needs to be done for medical reasons to reduce health risks.

[Josh75]

Theres actually no true medical benefit to Circumcision,despite the claims it'll help prevent catching HIV!

Excuse me???!!! I don't know where you got your information, but you are way off. And I've never, ever heard of anyone saying that being cut prevents HIV!

Why is it that most of the people who advocate stopping circumcision or who go this far in wanting to outlaw it are uncut? The number of cut guys favoring this line of thinking is extremely small. 98% of cut guys are very happy being cut, including me. You think you have the right to tell them they're wrong for being cut & cannot choose to have their son cut?

There are a number of health & hygiene benefits that many parents & teens & older guys who are not parents believe in, whether you and others agree with them or not. The most common is the fact that the uncut boys I know as well as uncut adults I know tell me they have to wash their foreskins during the day or evening to get rid of the pre & pee and the resulting bacteria that naturally accumulates underneath the foreskin. They tell me they have to wash several times, one boy said he has to wash his 4-5 times sometimes, cuz he gets so many boners and gets so much pre. The bacteria from the pre & piss is what causes a bad smell which to me is gross. I've been with many uncut boys, and when the underwear comes off and there's a bad smell I tell them to wash up or let me wash them or we'll shower together. There's no way that dick is going in my mouth!

If a parent has these beliefs I think they have every right to choose to have their son circumcised. My father is uncut and had me cut for this very reason.

I don't think anyone has the right to try to determine what a parent can and cannot do in this regard. Circumcision has been around for thousands of years. Health & hygiene are legitimate concerns and if that's what you believe, no one should think they can stand in the way or try to legislate against it.

This is a private matter to parents, and how dare you try to come into my home or someone else's and think you can tell them what to do?

It's this kind of thinking that leads to a Police State.

[Leprous]

The user above me got 360 noscoped by the staff.

Anyways, parents should never be able to make the desiscion of mutilating someone's penis because of their own beliefs. Medic1l reasons are something completely different than religious ones. So people, if you do not agree with someone's opinion, do not go and attack them.

[DoodleSnap]

I agree. Male circumcision, much like FGM, was originally conceived to make pre-marital sex and masturbation more difficult, which are old-fashioned and conservative ideals which I don't agree with, so unless there is an actually required health benefit, then it should be up to the child, when they are old enough to decide.

[NewZealand]

I'm good with the procedure as an infant. Ever have Lidocaine? AKA Napalm. That shit hurts like hell! I'd rather have it when I am an infant than do it when I will know and remember it. I don't get what people get so upset about. Its a piece of skin for fucks sake...... It's not like they took part of your brain to brainwash you.
You have said that you don't agree with it becoming illegal, but you haven't said reasons for circumsision, back up your point. Because it's not just a piece of skin, that's like saying that your eye lid is a piece of skin, it's rediculous.

Sure, but in some cases, circumcision can be medically beneficial and can't wait till they are 18. Just sayin.
Good point, in cases such as phimosis, then a circumsision is necessary.

I don't think so
Why don't you think so, in fact you haven't even what you don't think, you don't think cats can fly?

not elegal, but people should have a choice

That's no different from how it is now?

I don't think so because a lot of the time it's done for religious reasons and they should be allowed to do it under there religion
I don't agree with your answer, mainly because the higher majority of circumsisions(talking in usa) are not done for religious purposes. Though your bringing up of the point of religion is still partly valid, though the two main religions that circumsize, Judaism and Islam are changing. Some Jewish people are changing their traditions, leaving their sons Uncircumsized, intact now 10% of Jewish men are uncut, though it doesn't seem like much, it is growing . Meaning that circumsision is not a vital part of Jewish religion and it can be looked over. As for Islam, the age of Islam circumsision is older already, early teens, but getting older still, meaning that it could be pushed back to what could be a possible legal age of consent.

Though I do not agree with circumsision for many reasons, (and if anyone wants to know quote me and il reply), I do not think that it should be made illegal, perhaps an age of consent should be put in place, and in cases where it will be beneficial to the boy(such as phimosis & paraphimosis) circumsision should still be possible.