"It's dirty and gross" and other lame comments.

[LionessMom]

that is what my friend said to me when i told her i wouldnt circ if it was a boy. she said, "have you ever been with an intact man? they are so dirty." i obviously know that this isnt true. the man she had been with obviously had a problem with hygeine, or a yeast infection or an STD. right?

tell me about it. i need a good response. all i could say was that the man she had been with obviously didnt have good hygeine.

in the end i will refuse to circ and i will deal with whatever happens. i will teach my son how to clean himself and about safe sex etc.

i will have to stand up for myself to my family and his (my family will get over it faster than his). i need to hear the stupid things people say about circ and how to respond. i already know they are wrong, how do i say it?

[Ann-Marita]

That same argument - that it's dirty and gross - is used for cutting pieces off females in cultures where FGM is done. In the US, we think that's just horrifying and know that washing is the answer to "dirty", not surgery. Why would it not be the same for guys?!

[AnalogWife]

I'm always surprised by how many circ discussions ppl get into. My DS is intact, and no one ever asks me about whether he's circ'd or not. I have no idea if my DF and DBros are circ'd...at least 2 of them have changed DS's diapers and never breathed a word about his penile status (to me, at least.) No one EVER except the hospital/OB office approached me about circ'ing. The internet is the only place I see it being discussed...how do folks get into circ discussions? I am wildly open to talking about it, but I feel funny bringing it up with people since they never bring it up with me.

IMHO, anyone who says "it's dirty and gross" re: an intact penis sounds like the type of person who goes "ewwww" if someone is eating goat cheese or sushi or something one inch out of the American norm. Getting through narrow-mindedness like that is pretty tough, I've stopped trying. GL!!

[bezark]

Originally Posted by AnalogWife

IMHO, anyone who says "it's dirty and gross" re: an intact penis sounds like the type of person who goes "ewwww" if someone is eating goat cheese or sushi or something one inch out of the American norm. Getting through narrow-mindedness like that is pretty tough, I've stopped trying. GL!!

:

Anyone who'd say something like that (obviously) without educating themselves is not someone who's going to listen to a rational thought process.
I've given up. If those people don't have the respect to keep their small-minded opinions to themselves, I simply say "The status of my son's penis is not up for discussion. If you'd like to do some research and get back to me, you're welcome to it."

[kriket]

I like the illustration that it would be easier to keep under finger nails clean if we simply removed the finger nail.

Which is true, but obviously outrageous.

[Fyrestorm]

"ya know...the really disgusting thing is cutting up a child's genitals"

[Ann-Marita]

Originally Posted by kriket

I like the illustration that it would be easier to keep under finger nails clean if we simply removed the finger nail.

Which is true, but obviously outrageous.

Oh, YES! That's the exact type of comparison I was trying to make! Other body parts get dirty, but we don't CUT THEM OFF.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by LionessMom

that is what my friend said to me when i told her i wouldnt circ if it was a boy. she said, "have you ever been with an intact man? they are so dirty."

Wow, how stupid is this woman? I have been with a girl who was rather "unclean" down there, does that mean I think all girls should get parts of their genitals lopped off? No!

[Ann-Marita]

Foreskins make excellent shallow woman filters.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Ann-Marita

Foreskins make excellent shallow woman filters.

laughup I choked on my water a little.

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by perspective

Wow, how stupid is this woman? I have been with a girl who was rather "unclean" down there, does that mean I think all girls should get parts of their genitals lopped off? No!

this has been a point i have been repeating to the "close" firends of mine who have offered an opinion. at least my doc agrees. i had my appt today and told her about the disagreement. she totally agrees with staying intact. she thinks it is an awful thing to circ. so if he wants to ask a doc... i'll have him talk to her.

[Ron_Low]

I was cut at birth and restored starting at age 38.

I *can* be a lot more dirty and gross now that I have a foreskin IF I have to skip showering for a couple days. I can't imagine I'm any dirtier or grosser than a similarly unwashed person of a different gender.

I think the answer to "it's dirty and gross" has to be "but it's the most pleasure-receptive part of his body. Leave him intact and let HIM decide what he's willing to do to be clean. There's washing, or amputation. Which have you chosen ma'am?"

BTW - an intact guy has at least one other choice; to wear his skin back off the glans 24/7, so everything dries out like for a circumcised guy.

[prothyraia]

You want to talk about dirty and gross?

How about having an open wound on your penis smeared with feces, because, you know, infants usually wear diapers.

[greenrosemom4]

Originally Posted by LionessMom

that is what my friend said to me when i told her i wouldnt circ if it was a boy. she said, "have you ever been with an intact man? they are so dirty." i obviously know that this isnt true. the man she had been with obviously had a problem with hygeine, or a yeast infection or an STD. right?

tell me about it. i need a good response. all i could say was that the man she had been with obviously didnt have good hygeine.

in the end i will refuse to circ and i will deal with whatever happens. i will teach my son how to clean himself and about safe sex etc.

i will have to stand up for myself to my family and his (my family will get over it faster than his). i need to hear the stupid things people say about circ and how to respond. i already know they are wrong, how do i say it?

"It's called a bath, and even my cat knows how to bathe. Why do you assume my son(or any man) is going to be dumber than my cat?"

Ususaly shuts them up.

[latinalonestar]

Man why didn't I have my labia and clitoral hood removed, it would be sooo much cleaner!

[calebsmommy25]

Some of my friends have said that an uncirced penis looks ugly, that they'll feel weird around all their friends or possibly fathers if they aren't circed and other's are, the cleanliness argument...and also it says in the bible to get it done. "You don't want to go against God, do you?

Yah...such a fun one to get into with people who are narrow minded and uneducated. If it happens to come up, which it hasn't in a while, I try to get my message across in a patient, calm manner and if someone chooses to judge, let them judge. In the end, just know you are doing the right thing by not-circing.

[Munki'sMom]

I've heard the "its ugly" comment but tell me exactly what it is about a circ'd penis that looks "pretty"?

[calebsmommy25]

They say 'pretty', but I guess it is just more familiar to some. Ya know?

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by Munki'sMom

I've heard the "its ugly" comment but tell me exactly what it is about a circ'd penis that looks "pretty"?

:::insert sarcasm:::::

Cause ya know that adorable scar is just beautiful!

and the fact that babies get to look like erect adult men is really neat!