A Question for Genetic Males

[Jamie-o]

I was recently watching the Bris episode of Queer as Folk (U.S. version), which got me to thinking.

I was under the impression that, at one time at any rate, there was a social stigma attached to guys in the U.S. if they were uncircumcised.  Is that true, and if so is it still the case?  Or, has locker room culture changed as the popularity of the procedure has diminished in recent years?

And for those of you in the rest of the world, is there social stigma attached to being circumcised, or is it not something people even think about?

I've always said that if I had a son, I would leave that decision up to the father, since he would know more about the potential consequences than I would.  But since I would now be the father, I figure I ought to try to find out what the whole story would be for him at school, etc.  Besides, it could potentially make a difference in decisions I make for future surgery.

[amie]

I normally kinda pride myself in being reasonable, but this time I made a vulgar exception and replied before even dropping far enough to read the big Q so as to try and save you some unecassary reading: IT ALL SUCKS, SWEETY!!! Just kidding, I'll go back to bein' reasonable and less an ->-bleeped-<- now.

[Chrissty]

I'm sure it may be an issue in some circles.....

...but it has never been voiced in any locker room I've been in...

..Now breasts....that's a whole different "ball" game...

Chrissty

[amie]

I thought yours to be a quite interesting and very considerable sentiment in light that you'd post no resistance on the circumcision matter in granting the boy's father full dominion so to speak on this and like issues. I guess that's cool. I can't relate first-hand for my father was drunk all the time. I'm afraid I also can't relate on the locker room mentallity all that well. Yu see, I had to take three cracks from the paddle swung by a guy that hit 22 home runs his freshman year in college to avoid failing gym. He caught me tryin' to skip out on shower n' dress far too often and cut me a deal only because he wanted to try and inflict great pain on my ass cause he thought I was a panzy. Well, he succeeded. You gotta consider, the locker room isn't exactly a lovely place to be when your the polar-opposite genital-wise to John Holmes.

[sd]

I run a website with a lot of young male adults (16-24 avg.) and this question has come up a few times about who is and is not and what the women prefer. Granted these are not medical stats just what I have seen on my site.

Based on some old threads...

In the U.S. it seems perceptions are changing, it can be either way right now, with more and more not being cut. While most seem to feel whatever they are is the best way, the majority of them do not intend to cut their sons. The girls however still seem to prefer cut by a fair margin.

In the U.K. it seems a much larger percentage are not cut and feel it is ridiculous to have it done, meanwhile the women seem to have no preference except that cut is somewhat rare. Canada seems to be similar to the U.K. except the women have a slight preference for cut.

[Sephirah]

I tend to avoid locker room conversation as much as humanly possible, but when subjected to it... the issue has never been discussed once. I'm in the UK, and maybe it's just down to the specific location, but I don't think people are bothered about circumcision at all.

[Kara Lee]

I've always said that if I had a son, I would leave that decision up to the father, since he would know more about the potential consequences than I would.  But since I would now be the father, I figure I ought to try to find out what the whole story would be for him at school, etc.  Besides, it could potentially make a difference in decisions I make for future surgery.

Most fathers don't even know, they would tend to trust a doctors opinion.  My opinion, as a circumcised individual, would be to just leave well enough alone and let the child decide that as an adult.  Yes, adults do chose to have this done sometimes.  That is the key, an informed choice.

[sd]

The girls however still seem to prefer cut by a fair margin.

Canada seems to be similar to the U.K. except the women have a slight preference for cut.

if for no other reason it's cleaner, healthier, lol better looking?

Yes, for those reason's. A very select few guys were told that it feels different as well but some preferred one way, others preferred the other way. Some claimed it tasted a bit different, preference on that went both directions as well (the reasons were a bit graphic).

[Maebh]

Would you get your daughter circumcised? So why inflict it on your son?

LL&R

Maebh

[Seshatneferw]

Would you get your daughter circumcised? So why inflict it on your son?

For one thing the female 'circumcision' is very different from the male. That said, though, I agree with you.

At some point in my late teens or early twenties I decided pull my foreskin back for a day, just to check how it would feel. I stopped the experiment after an hour or so and was left with a question: if the absence of the foreskin makes such a big difference in feeling, what happens to sensitivity if one has to spend his entire life with that extra protection? In the context of this thread it raises a further one, namely why would one feel they can make that kind of a decision for a baby they are supposed to love and care for?

  Nfr

[joannatsf]

I think in the USA circumcision was/is a Boomer thing.  Back in the '50s, '60s, doctors recommended that all boy children be circumcised.  They claimed it would be cleaner and hence healthier.  Americans are obsessed with hygiene so it meant the knife for everyone.  Since there are a lot of us it really became the norm.  When I was in school it was rare to see a boy that wasn't cut.

Since then it has become more controversial, partly fueled by the female circumcision protests.  I know of mixed Jewish-Christian marrriges that almost ended over the Bris thing!  Recently I read that circumcised men do have a much lower rate of penile cancer.  Keep in mind though that the incedence of penile cancer is very tiny.  If the risk is doubled or tripled it's still very low.  I'm sure the uncut have greater sensitivity.  They just need to watch out for that smegma stuff!

[Maebh]

I think in the USA circumcision was/is a Boomer thing.  Back in the '50s, '60s, doctors recommended that all boy children be circumcised.  They claimed it would be cleaner and hence healthier.  Americans are obsessed with hygiene so it meant the knife for everyone...

And an other intervention to add to their bill of course.

I'm sure the uncut have greater sensitivity.  They just need to watch out for that smegma stuff!

Do you wash behind your ears? Would you get your teeth pulled out intead of brushing them? 
As part of a regular washing routine, pulling back the foreskin and cleaning it either in the shower, bath or even simply under running water will keep it hygienic and trouble free. 

LLL&R

Maebh

[Sandy]

Jamie:

When I was in high school, which was about the last time I used a locker room regularly, NO ONE WOULD DARE LOOK AT ANOTHER MAN'S PENIS!

Of course you could not help but notice a fully nude male whether or not he was circumcised, but you would never mention it.

At least I never did.  I got beat up too often being accused of being a ->-bleeped-<-got in the first place, if I asked some guy why he was or was not cut, would have been a death sentence for me.

As a woman I would not think that whether or not some guy had his tool "sharpened" would make that much difference to me.  It would depend on how well he used it.   

-Sandy

[joannatsf]

I think in the USA circumcision was/is a Boomer thing.  Back in the '50s, '60s, doctors recommended that all boy children be circumcised.  They claimed it would be cleaner and hence healthier.  Americans are obsessed with hygiene so it meant the knife for everyone...

And an other intervention to add to their bill of course.

I'm sure the uncut have greater sensitivity.  They just need to watch out for that smegma stuff!

Do you wash behind your ears? Would you get your teeth pulled out intead of brushing them? 
As part of a regular washing routine, pulling back the foreskin and cleaning it either in the shower, bath or even simply under running water will keep it hygienic and trouble free. 

LLL&R

Maebh

Helpful hints!  I'll remember that if my foreskin ever grows back!   

[sd]

Helpful hints!  I'll remember that if my foreskin ever grows back!   

They now do foreskin restoration, not that I suspect you would want it.

[Chrissty]

Helpful hints!  I'll remember that if my foreskin ever grows back!   

They now do foreskin restoration, not that I suspect you would want it.

....Oh dear...I can just see another "how do they do that?" request about to come up.... 


Chrissty

[sd]

....Oh dear...I can just see another "how do they do that?" request about to come up.... 


Chrissty

It is non surgical. You wear a little "helmet" that allows you to stretch the skin and create a new one, it just takes time. I can't imagine it being a comfortable process but they claim it works and that you do gain some sensitivity.


Why the heck do I even know about all of this?

[joannatsf]

....Oh dear...I can just see another "how do they do that?" request about to come up.... 


Chrissty

It is non surgical. You wear a little "helmet" that allows you to stretch the skin and create a new one, it just takes time. I can't imagine it being a comfortable process but they claim it works and that you do gain some sensitivity.


Why the heck do I even know about all of this?

So, just how long have you had this foreskin fetish?  >

[Chrissty]

Hey...I was just warning that this was the sort of
explanation that was about to come up!....

Thanks Leslie Ann, we can all sleep soundly now
knowing and dreaming of...Oh heck..No..No,,! Ahh....

Chrissty

[KJS MOM]

I am a married woman to a heterosexual man (my child is TG).  He was so "ashamed" at not being circumsized that he did it as an adult!! (before I met him, I think he was in his early 20's).  He is a baby boomer (55) so, yeah, I guess it is a big deal to some guys.  I had 2 sons and had both circumsized...doctors said for health and cleanliness issues and their fathers were....now I wish I hadn't done it to my youngest (19) who is transitioning to a female.  Apparently the SRS goes better with more skin to work with....