Depressing article from a country that is overall anti-circ

[needhelpplease]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23289,00.html

I bet the author of that was part of the generation routinely circumcised and is trying to convince himself there's a reason for it.

Either that or he's just extremely stupid.

:

[kiara7]

You know, I'm trying to figure out the motivation behind all these ridiculous articles lately. What's the deal with these people? Are they just plain ignorant, delusional, obsessed? What is it?

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by kiara7

You know, I'm trying to figure out the motivation behind all these ridiculous articles lately. What's the deal with these people? Are they just plain ignorant, delusional, obsessed? What is it?

Much like the OP said, this Doc is probably still of the generation that was routinely circumcised in Australia. There are people who will latch on to these things in an attempt to turn things around. Fortunately, most Australian docs don't have that hangup but there will always be those, like this guy, who make these noises. Even their on HIV organization, the AFOA, has said there is no reason to promote circumcision in Australia.

This is why I feel that no matter how low we hopefully push the rate of circumcision there will always be calls to institute it again. They may be less frequent but you will get them every now and then. It's like that fable, the fox without a tail: http://www.circumstitions.com/Fox.html

[tennisdude23]

Frankly, I don't think anybody will really pay attention to an article like this. Anyone with a semblance of knowledge about circumcision will realize that the premise and suggestions presented here are so ludicrous that the good doctor may have just as well suggested penilectomies to curb HIV. By about paragraph two, I was asking myself whether this guy was for real or not, given the glaringly apparent weakness of his own data and factual inconsistencies in the article. Seriously, I view something like this more as a publicity stunt than anything else. I mean if you are really going to have something constructive to say for academia you will not publish in the Australian. Secondly, the truth is that there will always be weirdoes in all kinds of professions around the world and you just have to expect articles like these from time to time, no matter what the subject topic is.

[MommytoB]

who would want to believe a doctor who deals with drugs and booze issues .

[latinalonestar]

I wish I could leave a comment. I'd say: Tell that to the over 450,000 circumcised males that died of AIDs in the US!

[Marnica]

Ridiculous!

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by MommytoB

who would want to believe a doctor who deals with drugs and booze issues .

Everyone who is running out of excuses to justify torturing babies.

[needhelpplease]

Well somebody has to deal with drug and booze issues I guess. He mostly works on HIV transmission between intravenous drug users according to google, so I don't know why he's decided to suddenly go for this.

I'm thinking of sending him a letter, but I wouldn't quite know what to say. Maybe a letter to the paper would be better? Any ideas or other people who want to help?

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by needhelpplease

Well somebody has to deal with drug and booze issues I guess. He mostly works on HIV transmission between intravenous drug users according to google, so I don't know why he's decided to suddenly go for this.

I'm thinking of sending him a letter, but I wouldn't quite know what to say. Maybe a letter to the paper would be better? Any ideas or other people who want to help?

Are you in Australia? Check out my new post.

[Murihiku]

Some ad hominem attacks here--while the state of the author's penis might possibly have something to do with his motivation in referring to those studies about HIV transmission in Africa, it doesn't say anything about those studies themselves. Can anyone point me in the direction of arguments that critique those studies? TIA.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by Murihiku

Some ad hominem attacks here--while the state of the author's penis might possibly have something to do with his motivation in referring to those studies about HIV transmission in Africa, it doesn't say anything about those studies themselves. Can anyone point me in the direction of arguments that critique those studies? TIA.

I'd say that it almost certainly has an impact on his motivation. Circumcision is an act that is self perpetuating. The greatest risk factor for a boy is if his father is circumcised. In any case, you can read one critique here. Or you could also check out my earlier post which tries to estimate the true impact of circumcision should we believe they hype.

[Dave2GA]

Why the increasing number of articles calling for universal neonatal circ? Because we are being successful in reducing the rate of circ and the cut feel threatened. That's why. If you look at the authors of the recent pro-circ articles and studies you will begin to see how interconnected the pro-circ folks are. There are probably 20 or so of them who are active and vocal. But they are very well placed, both here in the U.S. and internationally. We can expect to see a lot more of this. The CDC and the AAP are the subjects of what looks like a full court press. Meanwhile those opposing routine neonatal circ find it hard to get their articles published, particularly in the U.S.

[MadameXCupcake]

I just read about this article on a pro-foreskin group. Issue of whether or not it reduces HIV aside.. I just do not get why we can not have personal responsibility and use condoms. Where did our personal responsibility go? Circ everyone for the few thousand that can not practice safe sex?

[Murihiku]

Originally Posted by MadameXCupcake

I just read about this article on a pro-foreskin group. Issue of whether or not it reduces HIV aside.. I just do not get why we can not have personal responsibility and use condoms. Where did our personal responsibility go? Circ everyone for the few thousand that can not practice safe sex?

Although I pretty much agree with you, I think you need to change "thousand" to "million" unfortunately.

Thanks for the links, jwhispers!

[needhelpplease]

Interesting, some blogs are going around discussing how Dr Wodak has a not entirely impartial view, due to his religion. (Am I allowed to mention that?)

http://www.israelforum.com/blog_article.php?aid=1934432

I really wish I could get a letter published in that paper but I couldn't find an email for them and it's a bit late now. I just can't believe that horrible article and how he was allowed to get away with it.