# Circumcision. Is it medically necessary or "just for looks". **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048 "2001-06-25T04:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/21 "2001-06-26T02:46:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*_“300 million Europeans can’t be wrong!”_ 😃 \*\* Um, yes, they can–and frequently are. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/22 "2001-06-26T06:12:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*_“300 million Europeans can’t be wrong!”_ 😃 \*\* Did you forget about the other 5.2 **billion** others elsewhere?(The figure looks high because I included women.) ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/23 "2001-06-26T06:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*wishbone, sweetie, if the head of your johnson is coming into frequent contact with sharp rocks, I think we need to start a different thread to discuss bigger issues. > \*\* Yes dear, my penis is often in contact with rocks(appx 50% of the time), but I wouldn’t necessarily call them sharp. But they often cause me trouble, as it seems I am always trying to get them “off.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/24 "2001-06-26T06:39:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*_“300 million Europeans can’t be wrong!”_ 😃 \*\* They wear speedos and don’t put ice in their drinks. If you ask me thats damn wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/25 "2001-06-26T06:54:29Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by TitoBenito \* \*\* > [@](#): > > They wear speedos and don’t put ice in their drinks. If you ask me thats damn wrong. \*\* Tito, Did you forget? They also don’t wear bikini tops or even bottoms half of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/26 "2001-06-26T07:17:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manda JO \* > \*\*Ack! and I was feeling smug about my link! > > [Try this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=43031) \*\* Thanks ever so much, Manda. I think I’ll go curl up into a ball now. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/27 "2001-06-26T22:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TitoBenito \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > > \*\*_“300 million Europeans can’t be wrong!”_ 😃 \*\* > > They wear speedos and don’t put ice in their drinks. If you ask me thats damn wrong. \*\* We wear Speedos because we _can_. 😉 And I’ll take a warm drink over a mutilated member anyday, thanks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/28 "2001-06-26T22:47:24Z")
OK, I’ve now seen two references in this thread to that one guy who started our nightmares. I’d like to move that we, non-Banned Dopers, henceforth refer to him as, “He Who Must Not Be Named,” like Lord Voldemort? You may shorten this, for your convenience, to HWMNBN. Really, one more person posts his name or initials and I think we’ll all burst right into flames… really. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/29 "2001-06-27T05:35:06Z")
I think its incredibly silly that you guys let one asshole keep you from posting on a thread with such potential. You guys are almost worst than Jack. Sheesh. Children. Anyhow… I had my son circumsized… long before I knew that you didnt -have- to. I just figured horrible things would happen to him otherwise. Ive been with both cut and uncut men. It really doesnt seem to matter much. Masturbation does seem alot easier for intact men though. Theres my $1.21 ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/30 "2001-06-27T05:39:32Z")
Mmmm… foreskins… Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Harbour\_Lights](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7feea3/32.png) [@Harbour\_Lights](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harbour_Lights)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/31 "2001-06-27T06:34:13Z")
When my son was born, the doctor asked me if I was circumcised, and if I wanted to have my son circumcised. I asked if there was any specific reason why it should be done. His answer was because most fathers like their sons to match. Saves answering awkward questions. My son and I do not match. ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/32 "2001-06-27T07:05:44Z")
> [@](#): > > We wear Speedos because we _can_. 😉 > And I’ll take a warm drink over a mutilated member anyday, thanks. 😃 \*\* We Americans prefere to call our penile fashion statements stylized members, mutilated sounds like it has been ruined or something. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/33 "2001-06-27T23:31:36Z")
Since they skipped this question on the census, I’ll offer that I’m another dad with a non-matching son. Isn’t it bizarre that American medical practice still makes rituals like this routine? What are they thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/34 "2001-06-28T00:07:27Z")
I HEARD, and I don’t remember WHERE, and I have no idea if it’s true or not, that supposedly there is a way to regain the foreskin…some special device or something, allows it to grow back… I Think it’s bullshit…something about a device that pulls the skin towards the tip, and it gradually forms a new foreskin? ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/35 "2001-06-28T00:13:43Z")
Most Jaques are uncircumcised, but they aren’t all from France. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/36 "2001-06-28T01:27:27Z")
get it? ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/37 "2001-06-28T08:28:51Z")
bwahahaha! the planets are aligned, and the pentagram is readied! now the demon will be summoned! [sub]_Jack Dean Tyler![/sub] Jack Dean Tyler! **JACK DEAN TYLER!!!** _ BWAHAHHAHA!!! it shall return and destroy you all!.. oh wait. he says he’s on the john. he won’t be here to torment us again after all. “damn spicy food” he says. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/38 "2001-06-28T08:51:40Z")
Guin, it was a TugAHoy. Supposedly developed by a Mr Hoy. The website is hilarious. I think the foreskin stretching exercises are just an excuse to masturbate more 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/39 "2001-06-28T11:24:48Z")
Who needs an excuse? ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kid\_Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048/40 "2001-06-28T12:35:36Z")
Here we go. I can’t help it. I know this board has been here before, but this thread has included too much misinformation to remain silent. > [@](#): > > Still, the rare, cancer of the penis, still is contracted only rarely by circumcised men. This is because the tissue has been removed before it can become cancerous. However, if we were going to remove tissue that is unnecessary in case it becomes cancerous we would save MANY more lives by giving men mastectomies since their incidence of breast cancer is many times higher that of penile cancer. Regarding Sensitivity > [@](#): > > But you are right, there is no way that I know of, besides hooking us both up to cerebral pain sensors and subjecting ourselves to grueling acupuncture sessions, to tell. Not true. Without getting into some kind of metaphysical “how do we know that the green you see is the green I see?” nonsense, we know about sensitivity, because we know what kind of cells are ripped off during the process. The foreskin is still adhered during infant circumcision and the surface of the head of the penis comes off with it. This outer layer of cells which is lost contain fine touch receptors that are not present in the underlying tissue. If we could somehow invent a cover for the circumsized penis which would keep it moist it would still not duplicate the sensitivity of the intact penis. As for religious circumcision… David probably had a foreskin. Moses probably had a foreskin. Jesus and the Apostles probably had a foreskin. However, the end of it would have been snipped off. That’s all. If you can imagine, it would have looked like someone shortened it to make it possible to pee without pulling it back. Ironically, the manner and extent of religious circumcision was changed in the late 1800’s to keep up with the goyum who were starting to chop theirs too. And then described as a crazy idea: > [@](#): > > That doctors know that they are ruining the lives of everyone they circumsize, but that they are too ashamed of the lives they have already ruined to ever admit it. While the above is certainly a gross exaggeration, it contains more truth than you might realize. It is obvious that pro-circumcision research is given credence often, because pediatricians who have done thousands of operations find it easier to sleep at night if they think they’ve done the right thing. While less sinister than the theory above, it is still a poor reason to continue the practice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-is-it-medically-necessary-or-just-for-looks/70048.md?page=3)