The worst thing about circumcision?

[Jupiter]

It's how stupid the arguments for it are. I speak up against it whenever I can on online forums, and 90%+ of people are completely closed to the idea that it might be harmful in any way.

I feel the need to spread the word, but I ruined the evening by trying to change fools' minds.

[peterpink]

It's how stupid the arguments for it are. I speak up against it whenever I can on online forums, and 90%+ of people are completely closed to the idea that it might be harmful in any way.

I feel the need to spread the word, but I ruined the evening by trying to change fools' minds.

I understand how you feel. Stick to the biology of what is lost in circumcision and the mechanics of intercourse. The problem is that once people have chosen a course of action they have great difficulty changing. In the case of religion or circumcision the choice was made for the child, but because they believe the authority of the adults they go along with it. In this way they dismiss evidence that is contrary to their belief and accept information that confirms their belief. This is called confirmation bias and is absolutely normal behavior for humans. Of course circumcised men have no choice in what they must believe and parents want to justify their actions - too late to change.

Somewhere I read that: 'Denial is a defence mechanism that helps resolve the cognitive dissonance that they feel when some facts challenge their belief system. Cognitive bias ensures that any new information that challenges a set of beliefs gets discounted or overlooked. They discount any information that disconfirms their beliefs and overinflates the importance of any information that supports their beliefs. Medics may becomes socially isolated by the changing public zeitgeist and disempowered. They get communal reinforcement from within their group.'

Tavris, Carol & Aronson, Elliot, Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me), Harcourt Publishing Company, Florida, 2007

It is worth reading this book, it explains the whole concept of cognitive dissonance and denial. The authors mention 'The Dinka and Nuer tribes in Sudan extract the permanent front teeth of their children with a fishhook. This custom began as a result of tetanus outbreak, when the removal of the front teeth allowed parents to feed a child with lockjaw. Now parents justify the procedure by saying: “The toothless look is beautiful”, “People who have all their teeth are ugly: They look like cannibals who would eat a person. A full set of teeth makes a man look like a donkey. ” “We like the hissing sound it creates when we speak.” “This ritual is a sign of maturity.” ' A parallel to the circumcision situation?

[WoundedBird]

Great post, peterpink. I sometimes have actually wished that I had the ability of denying what happened to me...my cut was severe enough that I only have good sensation in one small area of my penis. I think the loss of sexual sensation is by far the worst part about circumcision...and indeed that was the reason it began in the first place. Sometimes I have such a hard time dealing with the feelings of grief that I just want to die, frankly.

I think pointing out the immunological and general protective functions of the prepuce is better at convincing people. Sadly, I've had people repeatedly respond that sexual sensation isn't that important when I confront them with the facts. That blows my mind, as I find sexual sensation to be one of the most important aspects of life as human being. But we have to find ways around people's denial...presenting facts on the function of an intact male genitalia...literally showing them diagrams that explain how much really is lost to circumcision, that it is much more than "a flap of skin" is the best way to convince people. Rather than focusing solely on what cut men lose, showing people what intact men have seems to work better. Even most American doctors are ignorant to the anatomy of intact male genitalia...though I think that is finally starting to change. Unfortunately, most doctors who don't advocate circumcision whom I've come across seem to think the prepuce is there to simply protect the glans and urethra. The truth is, obviously, that the glans is more likely there to protect the prepuce...and is far less sexually sensitive.