Good Morning America Circumcision segment

[TCA2008]

Please watch the video, and click on the story on the right side:

http://abcnews.go.com/health

[Fellow Traveler]

Defiantly didn't like how the doc under reported the prevalence world wide. Said: Oh they don't do it as much. BS they don't do it at all. How hard would that have been to say, even the reporter got it right when she asked the question. And then she kind of down played the changing face of it here.

[purplestraws]

While certainly not anti-circ...it was *somewhat* neutral. I hadn't cringed until very end when the pediatrician said that the "locker room" reasoning was very valid and should definitely be considered. I also did not like that there were 4 "pros" for circumcising...but only 2 cons. The cons were very unconvincing and just based on parental feelings...nothing based on fact or science.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by purplestraws

While certainly not anti-circ...it was *somewhat* neutral. I hadn't cringed until very end when the pediatrician said that the "locker room" reasoning was very valid and should definitely be considered. I also did not like that there were 4 "pros" for circumcising...but only 2 cons. The cons were very unconvincing and just based on parental feelings...nothing based on fact or science.

I thought that last sentence was a crock too. And nothing about ethics. Though I agree it wasn't the worst thing I've seen.

[Pumpkinheadmommy]

She pretty much sounded like a puppet for the AAP stance.

[serenekitten]

I had to dig around for the video, so in case anyone wants to get to it quickly: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7103861

The host asks, "Why hasn't the medical community come down on this issue one way or the other?"

Because if they did, they'd lose millions of dollars a year.

Overall, I was pleased with the segment. And yes, the pediatrician sounds like the AAP.

[perspective]

I got the feeling watching it that they tried REALLY hard to tip-toe around the issue, heck the reporter even even seemed to have trouble saying the word "circumcision" at the start of the segment.

She seemed (like she said) to not really care about the issue. I did find it interesting that reporter seemed almost to set up a few questions as opening to make a slightly more anti-circ response, but the doctor never seemed to take the hook.

Overall the interview did not surprised me, it was the usual underdeveloped (uninformed) discussion by the average american, and the "I am just observing this, and have nothing to do with rate at which this occurs" frame of mind of the doctor. Basically, causing the usual. The same bland conversation with no conflict, or dialogue, ending with no real new information being presented.

The one part that I found odd was how in the beginning of the interview they talk about how some of the reasons why people are circing less is that the health benefits are not as strong as originally start, and yet then she then asks what are some of those benefits. If you just said those reasons are not as strong as once believed, wouldn't you not then focus on those reasons as if they were really important?

[perspective]

Also, it really annoyed me when the doctor brought up the locker room "issue". She said something like "In my practice, most of the parents still circumcise. Imagine if your a 13 year old and in the locker room and feel like the odd man out" basically all the emotional trauma that can cause.


I was a 13 year old guy "standing in the locker room" less then a decade ago. I have an intact twin brother, and had a few intact friends my age. Guess what? None of them had a problem in the locker room.

It annoys me greatly that a 40-50 year old woman makes the claim that this will be a problem for boys. She has absolutely no idea what idea she is talking about. She can be the best doctor in the world, but that does not change the fact that she knows little about the life experiences and mentality of a modern teenage guys.

[latinalonestar]

Originally Posted by perspective

It annoys me greatly that a 40-50 year old woman makes the claim that this will be a problem for boys. She has absolutely no idea what idea she is talking about. She can be the best doctor in the world, but that does not change the fact that she knows little about the life experiences and mentality of a modern teenage guys.

I know what you mean. Every time there is a teen issue segment on the Today show, there is a 50 year old lady acting like she understands it completely.

I think these shows are just filled with crap. I turn them on every single day (for background noise) and can honestly say that there is not much to learn. Usually they are rushing through topics (the segment is only 2 minutes), making obvious points or generalized statements, and then it is off to the next commercial break. I want to scream every time they try to make a chef show a recipe and then make him run through it so fast and usually end up cutting to commercial before he has finished. Sorry this is a bit of a rant but it bugs the heck out of me.

[moonglowmama]

I just wish that someone would talk openly about the benefits to keeping a boy intact.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by perspective

Also, it really annoyed me when the doctor brought up the locker room "issue". She said something like "In my practice, most of the parents still circumcise. Imagine if your a 13 year old and in the locker room and feel like the odd man out" basically all the emotional trauma that can cause.

I agree, it was like the last ditch effort to find a justification. I wonder when things are clearly in the other direction in most places will they say, "well you better not circumcise him the other boys might make fun of him in the locker room." I doubt it.

[latinalonestar]

She clearly doesn't understand the intact boy b/c she said that "phimosis was when the foreskin was stuck to the penis and it very painful for a boy".

One decision left to the dad???? What about leaving it to the boy?

[GoodMomma]

Stupid! They put a list up of the "benefits" of circ'ing....but failed to put a list up or even mention the benefits of the foreskin. That just gets ignored, all the time!

[Ryan124]

the words "penis", "foreskin" censored on abcnews.go.com

http://forums.abcnews.go.com/n/pfx/f...btag=ABCHealth

the message boards about the asinine gma segment censor "penis", "foreskin". it took me a moment to realize what all the "####" were. on their own articles they freely use anatomical terms but it's too offensive when they're in readers' comments? if this is the level of maturity of our country it'll be a long time before common sense can even be considered.

[fruitful womb]

It felt like I was listening to a salesman trying to promote business:

"I have a large Irish community in my practice and they tend to NOT circumcise."

"Most parents in my practice choose to circumcise..."


Oh yeah, the 'locker room' reason sounded creepy. Do teenage guys really check each other out??? Thats just... really weird. But this 'idea' is coming from a lady so it makes it even less credible.


Why do they tout the UTI bs and penis cancer (which can also occur on the scar of the circ'd penis) while saying "even tho its rare" WHEN THEY COVER UP DEATH THAT HAPPENS DURING A CIRCUMCISION OR PURPOSELY NOT REPORT/RECORD IT BECAUSE, "Its so rare"????

[kiara7]

Ridiculous!!!

The procedure is "hmm, uncomfortable". I'm very tired of this @#$%.

[blackapple]

My husband, who is circed, laughs when anyone brings up the locker room argument. His response is he will tell Oscar to retort "Why are you so concerned with my junk?" all passive-aggressive. Not saying homophobia-tainted replies are the best thing, but if we are talking about locker room taunts, I think it would be effective in that regard.

For all other arguments, my husband's standard reply, to whoever is complaining/urging circ, is

"Why do you want to cut off some of my son's penis!?"