Why is circumcision horrible, but piercing a babies ears is accepted?

Question

This question is just out of curiousity. I got my son circumcised, because he was my first and I didn't understand much about it (pain, etc.). I have heard some people on here refer to it as torture, a cosmetic procedure, and just really put down parents who do it. But there have been questions about piercing a babys ears, and that is acceptable. What is the difference? They both cause pain, both are not necessary, both are done in many cases for "looks". You can argue that a child who gets its ears pierced as a baby, will not remember the pain, they would probably want it done at an older age anyways so to do it when they are young is better. Well, some can say that a child who is circumcised wont remember the pain later on, so to do it when they are younger is better. My husband and son neither one remember the pain. So why is one horrible and one is accepted? Since technically they both cause unnessisary pain. This question is just for curiosity, so lets all be nice!

Two Eight and anyone else who is confussed: I did not say I thought that circumcision is horrible, I said that I have seen people on here say it is. I am not pregnant nor do I have a newborn. I am not in a position to need to make a decision about this. I asked this simply for arguements sake.

Answer 1

as a good portion of the other answerers said, circumcision is not unnecessary pain. some doctors even use anaesthesia to perform the procedure.

circumsized males:
1. less at risk for bacterial growth and infection.
2. studies have shown a reduced risk of HIV.
3. less likely to contract HPV
4. less at risk for UTIs
5. less likely to pass an infection to their partner
6. do not become less sensitive when it comes to sex(there are no definitive reports saying it reduces sensitivity)

so there are plenty of reasons as to why it's a recommended procedure. having it done at a younger age is better. for an adult male to have the procedure done, it requires 4-6 weeks of no sexual contact at all, including masturbation.

as far as ear piercing goes, i had it done when i was at a young age, with no anaesthesia, and i still remember screaming and crying. there was no reason to have it done. there are no medical benefits from it. so that's nothing something i'd do.

Answer 2

Circumcision isn't horrible--many, many doctors and reports have stated that circumcision can help prevent infections later in a man's life. Also, nowadays circumcisions are performed with anesthetic for the baby, as they should be. I have personally heard more men say they wish they had been circumcised than that they wish they hadn't. My husband also felt it would be important to our son later that he look like his father in that respect. (I do tend to feel this is an issue on which men should have the last word, if possible--they know a lot more about it.)

To me, pierced ears are a cosmetic decision, and I personally will wait until my daughters want their ears pierced to have it done. However, piercing a baby's ears might be more humane--I can remember every minute of the pain of my ear piercing at 12, but I bet a one-year-old doesn't remember a thing a week after it's done!

Answer 3

I don't think circumcision is horrible. Some times it is very necessary. Some(not all) men who are NOT circumcised get infections. I have heard of grown men and teenagers having to be circumcised at a later time, due to these infections. I think of it more as a preventitive kind of thing. It can't get infected if its not there. I would get any male children I ever have circumcised. But as for piercing a babys ears? thats a bunch of nonsence. It does not prevent any health issues and it totally cosmetic. Whoever you are talking to who is telling you circumcision is wrong has never had to deal with a child who has a extremely painful infection in a very sensitive place.

Answer 4

Both ear piercing and circumcision are horrible and unnecessary, and I am opposed to either being done to someone that has not reached the age of consent. The difference is that circumcising causes permanent damage that cannot be undone no matter what the victim does. Pierced ears heal in a few weeks if you leave the posts out.

If I had my choice I would much rather had my ears pierced than my foreskin amputated. Hell I would much rather had my ear lobes amputated, if I could have kept my foreskin. My earlobes do not play an important part in my relationship with my mate, actually, hers don't really either.

I see several post claim that circumcision prevents some disease or cancer. In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Cancer Society said "we would like to discourage the American Academy of Pediatrics from promoting routine circumcision as preventative measure for penile or cervical cancer.The American Cancer Society does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent such cancers."
"Fatalities caused by circumcision accidents may approximate the mortality rate from penile cancer."
"Portraying routine circumcision as an effective means of prevention distracts the public from the task of avoiding the behaviors proven to contribute to penile and cervical cancer: especially cigarette smoking and unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners. Perpetuating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate."

***Added: To Lindsey
This adult male says "Gee, I wish I wasn't circumcised!"

Answer 5

I don't know why you say circumcision is horrible. Studies have shown that circumcised men have a lower risk of cancer AND can last longer having sex than uncircumcised men (go figure). I'm circumcised myself and I'm happy I am. Trust me, babies just forget about the pain, and they can heal faster than any adult. Give the little dude a day or two, and he'll be fine after that ordeal. It'll benefit him from more pain like the cancer, I just mentioned.

As for babies getting their ears pierced, I really don't have an opinion on that, but it does sound like too much of a chore to keep it clean all the time. I should know, since I've had my eyebrow pierced years ago.

Answer 6

I think that the same people who think circumcision is bad would also think that ear piercing is bad. I think you are accusing (or at least lumping them all together) the general people on here of deciding that one is worse than the other. I hope you understand that I am not being hostile towards you I am simply making an obsevation. I personally see nothing wrong with either procedure. If you polled the people you should find that the numbers would be that more people find circumcision acceptable than that don't.

Answer 7

I have a boy and a girl and have neither procedure done. I would not circumcise a girl, so why would I have my son done. Ear piercing is a person choice for the PERSON who the ears belong to. Until my children are mature enough to make that decision for themselves, they will remain as they are.

Answer 8

There's not alot of feeling in the earlobe, and you do not remove it, just put a little hole in it that displces the flesh. The foreskin, however, has more nerves in it per square inch than almost any other area of the body. If you were to pierce it, it would probably be more painful than getting a ear pierced, but the fact that it gets completely removed REALLY increases the pain. I imagine it feels like losing the tip of a finger (but what do I know - I'm a woman!)

Answer 9

No comparison possible, circumcision is way much more serious and not reversible.
Interesting that women are very interested in a male issue like circumcision and support such a horrible thing because of selfish and stupid reasons; BUT THEN they women are extremely against ear piercing, and is nothing compared to circumcision, mostly because ear piercing is a girl thing. Typical female way of thinking; they like terrible tings to others, especially to men, but then do not like at all the slightest bad thing to happen to themselves!

Answer 10

I've noticed this too, only the other way around. I see a lot of posts on here about how piercing a baby's ears is soooooooooooo terrible yet these are the same people that are VERY against circumcision. People are just stupid and only think of their own opinions. I am a mother or a 2 1/2 year old with pierced ears. She had them done when she was 9 months. If someone doesn't agree with it, oh well. If you don't like it, don't do it. Same for circumcision.

Edit- after I read some of these posts I had to add more. Getting ears pierced during infancy has less risks of infections. Same thing goes with getting a boy circumcized. If you do it while they're babies, it not only doesn't hurt them sa much, they also forgot about nearly immediately after it happens.