# Do Aborigines 'Fillet' Their Penises? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746 "2004-03-22T19:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/1 "2004-03-22T19:24:01Z")
Is it true that certain Aborigene tribes ‘fillet’ the penises of young boys by inserting a bone down the urethra, then slicing the penis in half longitudinally? If so, what is the reasoning behind this ritual? I understand that this procedure is sometimes performed here in the U.S. as well, apparently by Caucasian men. Can a person who has had this procedure done to them still have intercourse? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/2 "2004-03-22T19:46:44Z")
Yes, it’s called [subincision](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subincision) You probably don’t want to click the link at the bottom of the article. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/3 "2004-03-22T23:41:52Z")
Just clicked on the link…_shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/4 "2004-03-23T00:28:38Z")
This is one area of cosmetic surgery thay I won’t be exploring any more deeply. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/5 "2004-03-23T01:47:55Z")
I’m going to pretend I did not click that link. I didn’t. I did not. I am now going to go away and think happy thoughts, and not mention what I just saw to my husband. He wouldn’t want to know. Aagh. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/6 "2004-03-23T02:21:17Z")
I just want to say that this thread title next to Ill Logik’s question about Outback steaks makes a _really_ bad combination. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/7 "2004-03-23T02:23:54Z")
Ah, the infinite variety of the human condition. Is there truly nothing that _someone_ won’t try to do to themselves? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/8 "2004-03-23T02:34:19Z")
Oh, man. I remember that from college! Studying it, not doing it! :eek: The penalty for being an Anthro major… For the life of me, I can’t remember _why_ they do it. Other than the whole “transition into manhood, prove yourself” schtick. I’d rather kill a lion with a spear. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/9 "2004-03-23T02:40:54Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Ah, the infinite variety of the human condition. Is there truly nothing that _someone_ won’t try to do to themselves? Geez, **Qadgop** , you’re the prison doc - IS there something _someone_ won’t try? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/10 "2004-03-23T02:58:50Z")
Not to get all technical, but isn’t this more a “butterflying” of the penis, rather than a fileting? SOme chef can enlighten us. At any rate, sometimes mother nature does this for you; it’s called hypospadias. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/11 "2004-03-23T03:01:00Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Geez, **Qadgop** , you’re the prison doc - IS there something _someone_ won’t try? Not that _I’ve_ found. That’s why I’m asking!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/12 "2004-03-23T03:03:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’d rather kill a lion with a spear. I’d rather have a lion kill _me_ with a spear. That is some seriously messed up shit, man. Oy. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/13 "2004-03-23T04:51:17Z")
On the bright side, it would seem to be easier to pee with morning wood. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/14 "2004-03-23T05:52:29Z")
I refuse to click on the link, but I was reading about the custome lately. It was in a Joseph Campbell book and it has to do with the male/female relationship. Adam did not have his rib removed, but instead he was made into the two (Adam is really not his name, but the word for man.) In the eastern religions it is the ying and the yang. When the Aborigene youth makes the passage into manhood he is circumcized, which reveals his manhood. Later, in life he has this other procedure that reveals his entire self. 😃 [sup] **I highly suggest that you read more from Joseph Campbell, since something has been lost in the translation.** [/sup] ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/15 "2004-03-23T12:45:12Z")
> [@](#): > > **Q.E.D.** You probably don’t want to click the link at the bottom of the article. Doh! Bloody reverse psychology. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/16 "2004-03-23T12:51:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Advantages of subincision include greater sensitivity and the effect of increased width. Advantages!! how can such a procedure have advantages! Must make you really look forward to whichever birthday you get to do this on. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/17 "2004-03-23T13:02:06Z")
Choice quotes lifted from the secondary link for those that don’t want to look (and if you like butterfly prawns then you probably shouldn’t): > [@](#): > > About ten years ago I wondered what it would be like to open the skin part of the shaft, and I learned the hard way what works and what doesn’t. > [@](#): > > . . . “meatotomy” (that’s mee ah TOT ah mee, not “meat” like salami “-otomy.”) > [@](#): > > You get a clamp from Radio Shack . . . . I think I’ll have that second one as my sig. After you get over the horror, that article is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long while. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/18 "2004-03-23T14:00:27Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Ah, the infinite variety of the human condition. Is there truly nothing that _someone_ won’t try to do to themselves? No. To paraphrase something once said in a movie, [there’s always a bigger idiot.](http://www.bmezine.com/news/people/A10101/trepan/index.html) Yes, there are pictures on the linked page. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-aborigines-fillet-their-penises/235746/19 "2004-03-23T14:13:27Z")
I need trepanation like I need a hole in my head. There are a _lot_ more bizarre things people have done to their penises. I read about subincision ages ago, I think in **Everything you wanted to know about sex…**. I’ve learned that the book isn’t entirely truatworthy, but it seems to be correct on this. Other modifications apparentlu include making incisions and putting small pebbles under the skin (“ribbed for her pleasure”), piercing to insert bells (!), and splitting the peis into _four_ parts, rather than merely “filleting”. Kinda lie that “octodog” hot dog cutter, I guess. I won’t be trying any of these things soon.