# Let go get rich cutting the nutsacks off orphans!--Or, Humanity sucks! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029 "2004-02-13T13:45:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/81 "2004-02-14T13:52:46Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > And spewing forth poorly phonetically spelled wordage on a website and whinging when someone comments on becoming tired of trying to wade through your crap to put together a concise message is just so terribly weak. > [@GaWd](#): > > This is the last time I’m visiting the subject with you because we’re getting nowhere quick. You haven’t had anything but a circular argument regarding the **hypocracy** of criticizing one’s own culture for criticizing another culture. That’s it, that’s all. You’ve not managed to get anything else of substance out of your thick ass skull except a little race-baiting, and mass sarcasm. (bolding mine) Since you’re so big on spelling and all, I thought you might like to know the word you’re looking for is _hypocrisy_ . Oh, and you can defend the OP’s outrage when you’re prepared to let someone cut off _your_ balls. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/82 "2004-02-14T13:54:23Z")
> [@dutchboy208](#): > > (bolding mine) > > Since you’re so big on spelling and all, I thought you might like to know the word you’re looking for is _hypocrisy_ . > > Oh, and you can defend the OP’s outrage when you’re prepared to let someone cut off _your_ balls. Sorry- express your disdain for the OP’s outrage, I meant. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/83 "2004-02-14T17:25:33Z")
I’m disinclined to join a thread that has already fallen prey to Godwin’s Law, but I thought I’d that the premise – that organized groups are castrating orphans and selling the results to willing buyers – sounds like an urban legend to me. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/84 "2004-02-14T17:59:08Z")
The sad part of this is not that there are individuals without any moral compass but that they were likely _made_ this way. I suspect that moral perversity this deep must be taught. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/85 "2004-02-15T00:22:38Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Cue the ominous music… > Please tell me you’re not talking about circumcision? Who, me? If the shoe fits, wear it. Cutting bits off kids without their consent is cutting bits off kids without their consent, whether you’re talking about re-assigning intersex newborns in a sterile surgical theater in the USA or castrating orphans in Africa. If it’s bad for _them_, it’s bad for _us_. It’s a pity Godwin’s law got invoked so soon. The discussion of moral relativism was getting interesting. ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/86 "2004-02-15T01:14:54Z")
GaWd, please, _please_ stop and think about what you’re saying. People are cutting the testicles off orphans. Without the orphans’ consent. Without the benefit of anesthesia. For profit. And you’re crying ‘cultural relativism’. The folk beliefs that led to this practice may well fall under the umbrella of cultural relativism, but the practice itself _does not._ It is a horror and an atrocity in _any_ culture, and it should be stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/87 "2004-02-15T01:21:58Z")
> [@Chotii](#): > > Who, me? > > If the shoe fits, wear it. Cutting bits off kids without their consent is cutting bits off kids without their consent, whether you’re talking about re-assigning intersex newborns in a sterile surgical theater in the USA or castrating orphans in Africa. If it’s bad for _them_, it’s bad for _us_. You obviously have a pet peeve, and have some difficulties with perspective. > [@Chotii](#): > > It’s a pity Godwin’s law got invoked so soon. The discussion of moral relativism was getting interesting. Oh wow, that unspeakable Nazi thing is a real heavy mojo. Why do you feel the mere mention of out common Nazi history should destroy any discussion? There is nothing mysterious magic about the Nazis that they should never be mentioned. On the contrary, it is of the greatest importance that we never cease talking about them, that we never forget. Nazi atrocities taught humanity a moral lesson we must remember, and one I find very apt to this discussion. As far as I’m concerned Godwin’s law deal mostly with situations of Nazi name calling. The way you choose to wield it reminds me most of Faulty Towers’ “Don’t Mention the War”. However there is almost nothing of interest in discussing with people whom hold to some kind of nearly absolute moral relativism. It’s like solipsism, fairly interesting for five minutes – then you realise you’ll never get any headway, and are left pointing out inconsistencies. And just how interesting is that? Like for all extremists, the best way to deal with them is fun and ridicule. - Rune ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/88 "2004-02-15T01:39:35Z")
> [@Achilles](#): > > It does sound abhorrent to us, and indeed quite possibly is abhorrent to many Africans, but we (or a bunch of nuns) cannot make that judgement. The local tribal and national African leaders must be allowed to judge these people, without pressure from the rest of the world. It is too easy to condemn everything we don’t understand or agree with Earth to Achilles. Earth to Achilles. In your attempt to keep your mind open, you have allowed your brains to fall out. Repeat, YOUR BRAINS HAVE FALLEN OUT! Please correct this condition immediately. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/89 "2004-02-15T02:06:12Z")
> [@lucwarm](#): > > I’m disinclined to join a thread that has already fallen prey to Godwin’s Law, but I thought I’d that the premise – that organized groups are castrating orphans and selling the results to willing buyers – sounds like an urban legend to me. Well, even if it is, the other side of the continent has heartwarming stories like [url =http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/11/1076388395599.html]this one–completely verified and just as sad. Child mutilation is wrong, and I’m a little nauseated to imagine that there are actually people out there willing to defend it. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/90 "2004-02-15T02:25:20Z")
[Fixed Link](http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/11/1076388395599.html) [sub]how embarrassing…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/91 "2004-02-15T03:36:42Z")
From the [Daily Rotten](http://www.dailyrotten.com/) on February 14,2004 > [@](#): > > _bolding mine_ > A grisly discovery in town last Thursday brought to nine the number of mutilated seals found in New England waters. The seal discovered on Feb. 5 was decapitated and had the letters ‘M,’ ‘A,’ and ‘L’ carved in its side… The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Law Enforcement Bureau officials said it is not typical to see cases like this in New England… Last week, four dead seals were found in Massachusetts, adding to the three skinned seals discovered in Hampton and Kittery. A fourth seal found in the region was too decomposed for accurate tests, but its death is being considered suspicious. In the New Hampshire cases,\*\* the seals had been skinned and their male genitalia were removed, allegedly for sale as an aphrodisiac on the Oriental Black Market." \*\* I don’t suppose there is a connection though. Would the harvest of testicles and epidermises be a cultural trait to be ascribed to North Americans as well? ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/92 "2004-02-15T04:31:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Separating subjects, you infected hemmorhoid? You are the one blaming the 9/11 attacks on the hideous cultural violation of objecting when Africans castrate orphans. > > The moral emptiness of your position has been adequately exposed by **Truth Seeker** and others. I assume you were equally vehement in condemning the US and others’ efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, in funding for AIDS prevention in Africa, and staunch in your support of slavery, Pol Pot, and the killing fields. > > Actually, I am quite sure you held no such position, since this half-baked cultural relativism is nothing but a chance to assail your betters from the safety of your mother’s basement. > > Some people have a well-thought out and consistent moral positon. Others simply post to fill the time while their girlfriends are inflating. Well, here’s a new thing: I’m agreeing with **Shodan**. Wonders never cease. Nor, apparently, does man’s ability to commit attrocities in the name of profit and/or superstition. Actually, after stories like the one about men raping infants because it was supposed to cure AIDS, I’m not terribly surprised by this. What is surprising though, is that a Doper I respected is actually _defending_ this. That’s one of the more fucked-up things I’ve seen lately. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/93 "2004-02-15T06:49:16Z")
Call me a bad person… But my culture IS superior to any that encourages the genital mutilation of children, especially the genital mutilation of children for fun and profit. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/94 "2004-02-15T10:37:45Z")
At the risk of being accused of having an axe to grind, I want somebody, anybody, please to answer me this question: _why_ is it worse what these people are doing to these orphans, than what is done in America in the name of culture, etc.? Why is this worse than gender reassignment of children born intersex? Why is it worse than infant circumcison of boys (or girls, in locations where they are not protected)? What makes this worse? Is it because the entire scrotum and testicles are removed? Is it because it’s done under primitive conditions? Is it because being children, they cannot consent (unlike the _castrati_ - who at least agreed to it in the hopes of retaining valued singing voices)? Is it because they’ve already lost so much (being orphans after all) that it’s an inconceivable injustice to inflict yet more loss on them? Why is _this_ form of genital mutilation/alteration worse than any other kind? I think it’s all the same: horrible. I don’t see how any of it can be defended. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/95 "2004-02-15T11:17:51Z")
> [@Chotii](#): > > At the risk of being accused of having an axe to grind, I want somebody, anybody, please to answer me this question: > > _why_ is it worse what these people are doing to these orphans, than what is done in America in the name of culture, etc.? Why is this worse than gender reassignment of children born intersex? Why is it worse than infant circumcison of boys (or girls, in locations where they are not protected)? What makes this worse? Is it because the entire scrotum and testicles are removed? Is it because it’s done under primitive conditions? Is it because being children, they cannot consent (unlike the _castrati_ - who at least agreed to it in the hopes of retaining valued singing voices)? Is it because they’ve already lost so much (being orphans after all) that it’s an inconceivable injustice to inflict yet more loss on them? Why is _this_ form of genital mutilation/alteration worse than any other kind? > > I think it’s all the same: horrible. I don’t see how any of it can be defended. Male and female circumcision belong in the same category like firecrackers and atom bombs do; sure they both go _booom_ but surely they hardly comparable. I have my foreskin last I checked (lemme just see – yup still there), and while I’d rather keep it attached I don’t at all get the reverence some Americans without seem to imbue it with. Besides the infinitively smaller consequences, male circumcision (and even female for that matter – while still abhorrent is nothing compared to this) and gender reassignment, even though you personally may not agree, are performed for the perceived benefit of the child – whereas the things being spoken of in the OP, if true, won’t benefit the child in the least, on the contrary it’ll leave them dead - after long hours of torturous pain and fear I’d imagine. Also as an extra weight of awfulness, the fact that the recipients of the stupid magic organ charms, won’t gain anything by it. They’re not just cruel, but incredible stupid too. I don’t know that the castrati (if you’re talking about the middle age or renaissance singers) were able to consent in any meaningful way since I believe the operation would have had to be made long before adulthood. That they’re children, unable to consent of course makes for all the difference in the world. If you, as an adult, want to sell your private parts to a witch doctor, by all means go ahead (go without head). If you want to steal somebody else’s private parts, go put a bullet in your head - Rune ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/96 "2004-02-15T11:56:27Z")
> [@Chotii](#): > > At the risk of being accused of having an axe to grind, I want somebody, anybody, please to answer me this question: > > _why_ is it worse what these people are doing to these orphans, than what is done in America in the name of culture, etc.? Why is this worse than gender reassignment of children born intersex? Why is it worse than infant circumcison of boys (or girls, in locations where they are not protected)? . Well, female circumcision is against Federal law (and 16 State laws as well) because it’s barbaric. Male circumcision, though unnessecary, is harmless. It is not mutilation, despite the hysterics you hear from some folks. If you can’t see where what’s going on in Africa is worse, what with the orphans being mutilated and actually _dying_ as a result, well then there’s not much to say for you. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/97 "2004-02-15T12:50:06Z")
> [@Chotii](#): > > At the risk of being accused of having an axe to grind, I want somebody, anybody, please to answer me this question: > > _why_ is it worse what these people are doing to these orphans, than what is done in America in the name of culture, etc.? Why is this worse than gender reassignment of children born intersex? Why is it worse than infant circumcison of boys (or girls, in locations where they are not protected)? What makes this worse? Is it because the entire scrotum and testicles are removed? Is it because it’s done under primitive conditions? Is it because being children, they cannot consent (unlike the _castrati_ - who at least agreed to it in the hopes of retaining valued singing voices)? Is it because they’ve already lost so much (being orphans after all) that it’s an inconceivable injustice to inflict yet more loss on them? Why is _this_ form of genital mutilation/alteration worse than any other kind? > > I think it’s all the same: horrible. I don’t see how any of it can be defended. Because most of the orphans **die** dumbfuck. Also, the American practices are done, at least ostensibly, to help the child. The Africa orphans are getting the chop (and I **do** mean chop! ) so the “choppers” can make themselves rich, & promote a useless superstition. It _probably will_ kill the child, and _cannot_ help the person who buys it. ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/98 "2004-02-15T15:22:45Z")
It seems to me that **Gawd** and **Achilles** are **child hating** _(if they’re not even comfortable condemning people who forcibly castrate orphans), **anti-gay** (since, if they feel unable to condemn the castration of infants on grounds of cultural relativism they must surely be unwilling to condemn the house of Saud when it beheads gays)_ **misogynists** _(who wouldn’t dream of raising their voices in protest when women are stoned to death for adultery in Nigeria)._ Why are we even pretending to entertain their ideas, folks? ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/99 "2004-02-15T17:04:44Z")
> [@Gomez](#): > > \ > > Why are we even pretending to entertain their ideas, folks? I’m starting to feel very “whoooshed” on this thread. Children are having their sex organs removed and are then left to die of shock, blood-loss, and infection. I can’t believe any sane person would defend such an activity so I’m left believing that **Achilles** and **GaWd** are simply trying to impress everyone. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029/100 "2004-02-15T17:05:10Z")
Is there yet **any** corroboration of this accusation? I don’t want to seem unduly cynical, but the nuns _are_ the local representatives of one of the major competitors for the religious dollar. Belladonna’s story has a pretty clear “market share” motive too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-go-get-rich-cutting-the-nutsacks-off-orphans-or-humanity-sucks/229029.md?page=6)