Snappy Comeback Request - Page 2

[Telle Bear]

I always thought if someone said...Why didn't he get circumsized that I would turn the question around and say...Why would anyone do that?? He came out perfect and we love him just the way he is!!

[paquerette]

ITA with Quirky!

Someone used to have a sig "My son will be different, yes, gloriously different!" or something along those lines.

Or you could try "Nope, nothing different. Still just the same as when he came out!"

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Quirky

I said it in another thread, so forgive the repetition, but I strongly disagree with the "you pervert" line of responses. I think that it's unproductive and actually supports the pro-circ cause.

Why? Because we here at CAC spend an awful lot of time discussing and thinking about baby penises, both collectively and individually. We're not doing it in a sexual way, although obviously we are trying to save these boys from a sexually damaging mutilation. When we preach about circumcision to the unconverted, what happens when they accuse us of being creeps and perverts for thinking and talking about their sons' penises?

We can't have it both ways, folks. Either it's OK to talk to people about baby penises to discuss intactness vs. circumcision or we're all a bunch of creepy perverts and no one should ever talk to anyone else about the other person's baby's penis, and we should shut our board down.

I think if you accuse someone of being a pedophile or sexually perverted because they're not used to an intact penis, you a) accuse them wrongly, because I will lay odds that they aren't having sexual thoughts about the baby, just trying to wrap their heads around something different from the norm, and b) you slam the door in their faces and lose a chance to educate them. Unjustly accusing someone of sexual interest in a baby is a guaranteed way to get them to drop the subject -- and also close their minds to what you might teach them about why circumcision is wrong.

I would much rather respond to someone in a way that doesn't put them on the defensive, that opens up their minds to the possibility of leaving babies intact. We need to change the mindset of our culture, and we're not going to do that by accusing people who still have that mindset of being perverts.

What an interesting perspective. I never thought of it that way, but now that you mention it it makes perfect sense.

I have to admit though that sometimes I do feel like I spend way too much time thinking about little penises. It's part of the reason I prefer not to use the sexual side effects of circ as part of my argument against it. I really don't want to think about my little toddler having adult things going on someday (note that I'm suddenly using euphamisms.)

[Doodadsmom]

Regarding the baby being 'different'? Maybe something like yeah, it's kind of sad, really. The kid without cosmetic surgery on his genitals is the 'different' one. And then something positive about how circ rates are going down?

[TryingMyBest]

Quirky,

Thank you for posting your message. I had a total "DUH" moment while reading it. It seems to be the obvious things that slip right by us. You are right...we have a chance to keep the door of communication open and if we alienate those around us that open that door....we will in fact possibly make the fight even harder to win through education...or lack thereof...

I am glad that you posted this. It just feels natural to get defensive to the point of insulting someone...but in reality...they are curious and short of out and out insult...they are a sitting opportunity.

Thank you for posting that information. Very good ideas.

[Lady Madonna]

Quirky, I see your point. I really do. And you're right.

Though with some of my friends, the verbal 2x4 can be necessary to open up such a conversation. If I actually *called* them perverts, they'd protest, and I'd probably respond by saying that I know they aren't perverts - but isn't mutilating a baby's genitals so they "look like" the mythical "everyone else" awfully perverse? It's another way of opening the conversation, I guess, but one that works with people you know well enough to jokingly call out on their attitudes.

[wfuteach]

Excellent point, Quirky.

[Quirky]

I think it depends on the audience, of course.

Me, I go for the utterly sincere, "let me now tell you, in exquisite detail and at great length, everything you never knew about circumcision." : If they're at all open to having their minds changed, they learn something. If not, well, they learn not to ask again for fear of being lectured! :

[serendipity22]

There are some snappy comebacks to a variety of questions at
http://www.circumstitions.com/One-liners.html

[gridley13]

I agree Quirky. But I know for myself, during the newborn period, especially the first few days, I was just trying to get through the day and was sort of defensive as a new parent. By now, I do what you do and take every chance to get into a meaningful discussion and educate.

I do agree with your attitude and thanks for the reminder!

[nd_deadhead]

I have a couple:

"No, of course not - there is nothing wrong with his penis. We were so grateful that our baby boy was born perfectly normal and healthy, and didn't need an operation right away!"

If the comment is about looks, or doing it "because everyone else does it":

"No, we didn't have him circumcised, but we are going to make sure that he gets exactly the same hair style as every other boy in school. It's so important for kids to look exactly the same".

or:

"Yep, our son is different. And when every other kid in school is trying drugs and cigarettes and alcohol, I hope he understands as well as we do that some things are more important than following the herd."

[BabyJay'sMom]

"Slicing off a perfectly functional part of his penis? Nope. Just not for us!"

"Are you kidding me? I'M going to be the first one in our family to have purely cosmetic surgery! Have you seen my love handles?"

"We figured that God got him right the first time. Who are we to try to improve on that?"

"Circumcision? Really? Do people still put their children through that barbaric procedure?"

"We thought he would want to make that decision for himself."

"Our Pediatrician thinks it's unnecessary."

"We're stopping the tradition of genital mutilation being 'acceptable.'"