I don't get it...

[OracleYori]

I just realized that I have no idea why people would want to circumcise other people—other than exerting power over other people and extracting some sort of gain from their pain and naivete.

Is it just lost to antiquity where the origin is or is it truly just to make it so that people cannot feel pleasure?
Jealousy or hate of those that enjoy life (and sex)?

Sorry for this rather basic question. I just find the motivations of people long ago rather unfathomable when it comes to purposefully harming others for no direct profit.

[Billybobbed]

I just realized that I have no idea why people would want to circumcise other people—other than exerting power over other people and extracting some sort of gain from their pain and naivete.

Is it just lost to antiquity where the origin is or is it truly just to make it so that people cannot feel pleasure?
Jealousy or hate of those that enjoy life (and sex)?

Sorry for this rather basic question. I just find the motivations of people long ago rather unfathomable when it comes to purposefully harming others for no direct profit.

In ancient times conquerors circumsised the men they conquored to enslave them. The scar on their cock was like branding cattle. When a male was circumsised it was a warning-->either you submit to our authority or we will take the rest. It made obedient slaves and yet did not interfere with copulation so they could still reproduce and make more slaves. Jump to the nineteenth century and you have nut cases like John Harvey Kellog who promoted circumsion to stop masturbation. Kiss my ass Kellog and the rest of you religious zealots. I had my first orgasm before I was a teenager. I liked it so much I haven't stopped fucking since.:p

[Unregistered]

There is no one model for this, no one reason.

There are a bunch of intertwined reasons.

1. Religious ritual: a by-definition-insane need to mutilate sex organs. This itself has a number of reasons behind it. Tribal unity, psychological dominance, fear and hatred of sex and pleasure.

2. Historical inertia: traditions die hard.

3. Ignorance: blindly following custom and tradition, often with a proud ignorance.

4. Financial motives: I tend to not think this is that big a deal, but I guess doing a bunch of genital cutting each weak probably adds up.

5. Psychological sadism: probably present in some/many who advocate cutting.

6. Pseudo-scientific rationales: Some probably genuinely believe this stupidity, others push it for reasons outlined above.

In short, there isn't any one reason for this barbaric act. But it is fascinating how it became universal in a Cold War America defining itself through militarism, religion, consumerism and non-overt means of political control.

[ih8vtec13]

I cant help but think of someone during the cold war having he argument "Foreskin is for Communists!!!!" .

But seriously, if a medical professional told you something you belived it before the age of the internet. Unfortunately it is so much the norm in the US that any people dont even question it being right of wrong.

[Unregistered]

I cant help but think of someone during the cold war having he argument "Foreskin is for Communists!!!!" .

But seriously, if a medical professional told you something you belived it before the age of the internet. Unfortunately it is so much the norm in the US that any people dont even question it being right of wrong.

Parents who cut their kids before 2000, I can forgive them. I certainly forgive mine.

Parents who have cut their kids AFTER the widespread adoption of the internet are... well, they have no excuse now. Absolute bullshit to cut your kids with all the information out there. And any idiot can see through that HIV bullshit.

[saturnclue]

I have been wondering the exact same thing as the OP.
I guess the biggest issue is historical inertia and the fact that by this point it is going unquestioned in many cases. It's awesome that some parents-to-be are finally questioning it.
I mean when you think about it it's completely nonsensical to cut off a piece of your baby when nothing seems to be wrong. Like seriously wtf?! Why would you ever want to do that? I don't think anything could convince me to let that happen even if I didn't know what I knew now, it's just so.. Counter intuitive.

If there were more places around the world that did it as often, maybe I could be convinced if it was like.. the 1980s, but that's not the case at all, so I don't know why more people (my parents included) didn't prevent it from happening.

[tjberens]

I was circumcised because my dad thinks foreskins are useless pieces of skin. He always used to call his foreman at work a foreskin. I always thought it was an insult, but now I'm starting to think it was a compliment. :p

[John G. Smith]

Thank goodness for the TLC Tugger; it really works!