To circumcise or not to circumcise?

[Aoi Magi]

Oh noes, now I googled "tattoed babies".

And I am guessing google suggested the correct spelling?

[Catholic_Lady]

CL...you do this every time. It gets to a point where one has to wonder if you're doing it on purpose. I don't think you are, but it's hard to tell anymore. You start a thread on a highly emotional hot button topic. You makes jokes about cutting off pieces of a baby's penis. You ignore all the factual posts that are constructive and not mean. Then you go off in a huff because everyone is so judgemental. Can you honestly not see this?

Even if you don't agree, can you honestly not understand why anyone would be upset that you're so whimsical about letting a doctor cut your baby's genitals? You don't have to agree, but it makes no sense to not be able to understand why people get emotional. I nearly beat the shit out of a doctor who tried to just pull my son's foreskin back when he was only 7 months old (while he screamed). I had to be escorted (read as dragged) from the room. I can't imagine if she'd had a knife. It's an emotional topic.


Would you be so offended if we were upset because you were planning to have your newborn baby a nose job to be sure it has the same nose as you? Or if you planned to remove your daughter's labia?

Hi, before I go I decided I do want to address the bolded here, as I feel I am being misrepresented. Considering how many kudos this post got, I don't know if this is the perception so many people might be getting of me or not. I know I shouldn't care what other people think of me, especially on the internet, but I invested a year on this forum and have gotten to feel like I've shared a lot of myself, personally. So even though it's on the internet, it does feel personal and it bothers me that I may be going out with some of you thinking I may be a possible troll/instigator.

I've already talked to Losty about this off site and explained myself to her, and we're good. But I wanted to share it here as well. 

To clarify, yes, I have started threads where I've backed out of completely. But to say I do it "all the time" is definitely a misrepresentation. The only threads where I have done that are 1. the very first thread I ever started on AF, after about 100+ pages... 2. the thread about objective morality back in March where I was accused of condoning/excusing rape... 3. and now this one.

Since my views are so different from those of the vast majority here, it makes perfect sense for almost all my threads about a serious topic to get super heated. I've gotten through many of them without dramatically backing out, except those three. After my last serious thread about objective morality back in March, you will notice that I never started another serious thread again. Neither did I ever plan to. Because I did not want this to happen again. This circumcision thread was not supposed to be that way, and trust me, if I knew it would become what it became, I wouldn't have started it. 

That's why I start so many threads about bodily function and bathroom humor type stuff. Because any serious thread I start gets really heated due to the different views. 

A couple days ago I watched a comedic movie called "What to Expect When you're Expecting" where a couple who is having a baby argue with each other over whether or not they should circumcise. The dad was for it, the mom against it. It was a funny thing. That's how I got the idea to start this thread. I knew there were people who disagree with circumcision for their own kids, and expected the results to be more 50/50... but was unaware it was such a gravely serious topic and was considered legit child abuse by so many people. 

So yes, I meant this thread to be another light hearted, funny thread where people would make jokes about the male genitalia, as it is not a topic relating to religion, politics, or values. Once things got super heated, I tried to stir it in the funny direction because that was my intention with the thread, which is why I started to focus on the funnier posts. When I first wrote the OP, I didn't realize people would get offended at the goofy tone, but once it became more clear how people view it as child abuse, I should have had the mind and sensitivity to not keep trying to make it funny. And I'm sorry for that. I am sorry I made light of a topic so many of you are so passionate about and take so seriously. 

Anyway, while the heatedness of this thread was completely accidental, I do take responsibility for backing out on those other 2 threads I mentioned which actually were on serious topics. I didn't expect them to get as bad as they did, but I should have been prepared for them to be so. I shouldn't be on an atheist forum and not expect to have that happen. It's only natural. 


With that being said, I don't think I'm gonna do AF anymore. And I know I've said that once before and came back lol. But I think it's better for me if I don't this time. There's no point really and the only reason I'm still on anymore is out of sheer boredom. But I have a hard time dealing with all the backlash, and that is something that comes with the territory of being a Cath on an atheist forum. And if I can't deal with that, then I'm only doing myself and all of you a disservice by being on. While I could handle it for a while, the more I get to know people and make relationships on here, the harder it gets because it feels more personal and thus more vulnerable and makes me more upset. 

I just wanted you guys to know I'm not a troll who's been wasting your time and neither am I an instigator trying to upset yall and cause drama. 

If we are not already facebook friends and you wanna stay in touch on facebook or email, feel free to send me a message at Snip. I'll send you my name for facebook, or we can just chat via email. 

Peace!

Administrator Notice
Anyone who wants to take up CL on her offer, PM her for the email address. For obvious reasons we can't have it displayed publicly.

[Losty]

Oh noes, now I googled "tattoed babies".

Go Georgia
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rome-georgia-ma...d=13300828

[Rev. Rye]

I voted yes.

Why?

Because it looks better that way.

Your turn.

I'd vote the same. I was circumcised myself, and I think it looks better. Honestly, from what I understand the jury's still out on whether or not it benefits health (mostly, there's compelling reason that it reduces transmission of HIV; that said, it isn't exactly endemic to the North Shore Suburbs of Chicago) or hurts sexual pleasure. All I can say is it hasn't hurt me.

[Kitty Galore]

I know this is old news, so sorry to resurrect, I want really around when this was a hot thread. Probably could not have kept up on it. I just voted and wanted to share my personal views.

In 1991, at 23, I had my first son. My ex and I talked about it and had him circumcised. Mostly because he (my ex) was, and anyone I had been intimate with. We weren't educated on it. I hated when they did it and felt so bad for him.

In 1999, 8 years later I had my second son. The Web, had come on. We were hearing stories of female genial mutilations going on in other countries. We were much more aware and educated, and I was 31. We decided we would not make that decision for him and left him intact. Also, I worked in a preschool and saw that many boys were intact. I knew he wouldn't be one of few. Progressive Portland.

I am satisfied with both decisions as they were made with the knowledge i had at the time.

[Losty]

Well, clearly you are a horrible person.

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[LastPoet]

I know this is old news, so sorry to resurrect, I want really around when this was a hot thread. Probably could not have kept up on it. I just voted and wanted to share my personal views.

In 1991, at 23, I had my first son. My ex and I talked about it and had him circumcised. Mostly because he (my ex) was, and anyone I had been intimate with. We weren't educated on it. I hated when they did it and felt so bad for him.

In 1999, 8 years later I had my second son. The Web, had come on. We were hearing stories of female genial mutilations going on in other countries. We were much more aware and educated, and I was 31. We decided we would not make that decision for him and left him intact. Also, I worked in a preschool and saw that many boys were intact. I knew he wouldn't be one of few. Progressive Portland.

I am satisfied with both decisions as they were made with the knowledge i had at the time.

I dunno, but when I err, I take my chances to learn something from it. I tend to learn better that way, instead of doing it right.

Or some shit like that.

[T.J.]

No. Despite being raised religious myself I was never circumcised, and none of the men in this house were. I don't know if it's just more of a catholic or Jewish thing since I was raised protestant, or my family are just in the minority on this issue. I see no reason to circumcise my son if I had one. If he grows up and decided to do it himself for whatever reason (though I don't know many adults who do besides for health reasons) then that's his decision to make, but it's not something I'd force on an infant.

[Losty]

Goodness a name change and an avie change at once. I didn't even recognize you. For shame

[T.J.]

Goodness a name change and an avie change at once. I didn't even recognize you. For shame

An Ayen is always in a constant state of flux.