Being European, I find the American custom of circumsising male children for no obvious reason a bit… well, highly bizarre, actually :). However, I’m also curious as to how attitudes toward circumcision are within different age groups, and wether they have changed over the years. Hence, this poll.
So, this poll is directed mainly to non-Jewish, non-Muslim Americans, though if any others have anything interesting to add, feel free to do so, but please mention that you’re non-American/Jewish/Muslim in your post.
The questions:
1.How old are you? If male, circumcised or not?
2.If you have any sons, are they circumcised? When were they born?
3.Do you intend to circumcise any future sons?
Feel free to add motivations to any or all of these answers.
A final note: You. Yes, you, who’s sitting there, about to compose some dramatic warning about Jack Dean Tyler. I don’t care. Shut up. Go away.
The decision was entirely my husband’s. I didn’t have any feelings about it except a slight aesthetic preference for circumcision which I don’t believe I communicated. I really did try to stay neutral.
My husband’s decision was based on social and health considerations, with probably a pinch of “want him to be like Daddy” thrown in.
I am completely indifferent, leaning towards not circumcizing. My husband thinks they should be circumcised, but I don’t think he has any rational reason.
My nephew, born in 1990(?) is not circumcised.
I think I was circumcised because of the supposed risks of infection and all kinds of urinary diseases if I did have a foreskin. How much of that is true, I don’t know, but I would circumcise my future sons if there is even a remote possibility that this is true.
None of my sons will be circumcised, unless medical circumstances call for it. The hygene risks associated with uncircumsised penises are greatly exagerated (at least this seems to be the case in the US), and can be dealt with as problems arise.
My husband and I are both of a Jewish background, but we are non-religious. If the future Beansprout turns out to be a boy, we’re in from some real grief from our families.
1.How old are you? If male, circumcised or not?
American male 39, cut and polished.
2.If you have any sons, are they circumcised? When were they born?
1 son, born 1998, not circumsized. Figured it was mostly unnecessary, although it does make taking care of it when they’re young more difficult. And if the current thing re circumcision and HIV turns out to have any basis then… I don’t know what.
3.Do you intend to circumcise any future sons? No more kids, please. Two is just lovely.
1.23, uncircumsized and loving it.
2.No kids
3.I would never circumsize my son(s) unless there is a definitive medical reason to do so. Please don’t anyone give me the “but if you don’t wash well underneath the foreskin, it can get diseased” argument – if you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities, but we don’t knock our yer molars when you’re a baby.
Okay, here we go:
I’m 42, hubby 49
2 sons, 11 and 13, neither circumsized
Spoke with obstetrician, pediatrian and looked over info they provided before older son was born. Both sons are aware of cleansing needs and do just fine. No, I don’t need to check. Up til the time they outgrew Mom giving them baths, I made sure it was always a part of the routine, right there with ears, elbows, bellybutton - the other easily forgotten spots.
Would I change my mind now? No, probably not. Something like 40% of males at the time my kids were born were not circumsized, so they’re hardly likely to feel out of place.
1-I’m 41, American Christian male, and I’m circumcised.
2-One son, born Oct 2000, he’s not circumcised.
3-Any future sons will also not be circumcised.
While I didn’t find it particularly necessary to tell anyone of OUR (GrizzWife and I) decision not to circumcise our son, the topic did come up in a family discussion after he was born.
EVERYONE in my family, including a good friend of my sister, tried to convince me to change my mind and have him circumcised. My sister’s friend even went so far to say that she used to work for an insurance company and she’d processed claims for men who had to have circumcision later in life and “they were in so much pain”.
"Huh? " said I, “It says ON THE INSURANCE FORMS that they were in a lot of pain?”
“Oh yes! Uncircumcised men get infections there ALL THE TIME!” says she.
<the crap-meter was going off like mad inside my head by now>
I sarcastically say “Really?! The US is the only civilized country that routinely circumcises it’s male babies for other than religous reasons! You mean to tell me that all of Europe, Canada and the far East haven’t caught on to the NEED to circumcise their males?”
“And tell me this… how many children get ear infections? Shall we cut them off shortly after they’re born just as a precaution?”
p.s.; i have lots of “long island jews” in my fairly close family. though i, personally, am pretty much just theist with no religous order, though i might have some vague buddhist values.
Male 34- trimmed nicely. Sons (children), HELL NO. I can cut my own lawn, shovel my own snow, and take out my own garbage. Personally, I’d rather have fish. Ever have kids…HELL NO!!!
No sons as yet. Expecting one in about two months.
FetalWhatsit will not be circumcised. Both MrWhatsit and I researched the available info and decided that we will not have surgery performed on our son for what are primarily aesthetic reasons.
" said I, “It says ON THE INSURANCE FORMS that they were in a lot of pain?”