Phil, just a friendly comment or two: Individuals, even the "men" [sic] whom you seem to scorn, vary considerably. Perhaps some are "obsessing" (which is their right if they so choose), but it would seem that most of them are merely concerned. BUT, when you call the foreskin "a vestigial sheath" you are clearly, demonstrably mistaken. "Vestigial" means that an organ has become evolutionarily useless and is most likely in the process of being eliminated by nature. Nothing could be further from the truth about the valuable foreskin---it has been around as long as humans (and other mammals) have existed, and is here to stay for a myriad of sound reasons. I won't belabor the issue by citing pages of facts, but will instead suggest that you make use of the internet to correct your misconceptions for your own edification (
Circumcision is Medically Unnecessary, Painful, Risky, and Unethical: Intact America is a good concise source; more thorough is
The Intactivism Pages; and there are many others).
I know what the term means. And sorry, but that
is what it is.
Its how evolutionary biologists describe it. And you're welcome to find ANY accredited scientist who is not some member of the Anti-Circ hysterics crowd who would suggest that it is NOT a vestigial form of sheathe.
But I suspect you don't post pages of references because you know full well those sites would be really easy to discredit as anti-circ propaganda. ( like posting 9/11 truther sites as evidence of conspiracy )
Sorry… but the notion that because its been around thru all of human history that that means its not vestigial illustrates that you have no actual understanding of evolution or the rate of mutation. Not to mention that there is ZERO evidence in the fossil of record of foreskins of any kind, ergo- you have no proof whatsoever that the foreskin has not changed significantly in the million years or so of the various species we label "homo".
Modern human beings have only been around about 200,000 years… and, Because the foreskin leaves no fossil trace, you can cite no evidence that the foreskin was not different back then.
On the other hand, complications of foreskin morphology are numerous, and growing in frequency among populations that do not circumcise; Foreskins that are too tight to expose the glans during erection, or that have more frenulum tissue than average and so can not retract at all.
Once more… if you actually knew anything about evolution you would realize that such common variations that negatively impact erectile function are evidence of drift in a trait that offers no particular advantage. It is clear that the only reason to protect the sensitive glass is so that when it is exposed by retraction of the sheathe it
can be stimulated. Ergo, the foreskin is not there to Rub the glans or provide stimulation…. its SUPPOSED to get out of the way like the 'foreskin' of EVERY OTHER MAMMAL on earth. This proves that a foreskin that does NOT allow flu exposure of the glans is, in fact, a genetic or developmental LOSS or primary functionality…. which is a hallmark of non-advantageous traits that are suffering drift, i.e. becoming vestigial.
Beyond that, traits that become vestigial are NOT species specific. That is, they become vestigial over the evolution of multiple species. Various forms of primate exhibit various forms of "foreskin" ranging from something not much different from us… to nearly complete sheathes… and these variations appear to become more sheathe like in morphology And function as the genes of each species diverge from our own…. that is, the farther BACK their lineage appears to have diverged from our own, the more of a sheathe they are likely to sport.
Thus… it is absolutely clear that the sheathe is a trait that offered no significant advantage to the primate lines that lead to US… and so the trait drifted into less and less of a functional feature.
So- once more… saying shit is true or not true is easy. Try offering some evidence, some analogy or some line of reasoning supporting your claim if you want me or any relatively educated and unbiased reader to credit your assertions.
-Because what you posted is no different than saying "oh no it isn't" as your actual argument.
It
is vestigial. ( ask any evolutionary biologist who's not obsessed with uncut cock porn )
Foreskins creates complication in function for people who have them more often than does circumcision. ( by a small margin )
Foreskins do show increased vulnerability to infection by multiple STDs ( scientifically proven )
Uncut penises do suffer an increased incidence of penile cancer ( again, verifiably true )
ALL of which have ZERO bearing on whether YOU happen to LIKE uncut cock better than those that are cut.
I am more than fine with people expressing their LOVE of foreskin… how much it excites them, or how much they like the way it looks or feels.
I am more than fine with folks trying to persuade others to like it as much as they do.
But when people utter bald faced
lies about how it serves an important function ( never demonstrated ) or that circumcision "harms" those who have one… ( No more so than those harmed by malformed foreskins ) or that circumcision offers zero medical benefit…. ( proven to confer lower STD transmission rates in studies from the 1930's and recently proven again by WHO in HIV studies in Africa ) ...
…. when lies are being bandied about for the express purpose of DISinforming people about something that is empirically knowable…. then I will challenge those lies.
But then…. I respond in the same way over the lies of the 9/11 'truthers' - the lies of the religious, and the lies of essentially every minute of airtime on FOXNews.
I don't care if you're cut or uncut. I just hate people treating what little real knowledge we actually DO acquire as if its a matter of opinion. The smartphone, tablet or computer you read this on does not exist as the result of opinions… it exists because SOME people insist on separating what is demonstrably true from what is just belief.
You are justified in complaining about my attitude toward the anti-circ crusaders…
I find the obsessive concern of the pro-foreskin crowd to be pathologically immature. If you were cut as a child… then get the fuck over it and move on with your life. Just as you would over losing a TOE.
And if you're not… fine, enjoy it and all…
but either way….stop obsessing over it as a mission in your life to meddle in other people's lives or outlaw something that many people, for reasons cultural or epidemiological, feel to be beneficial.
That is, whether folks should be cut, or not, is purely a matter of opinion.
But their REASONING supporting that choice ought to be founded in verifiable knowledge… wherever we can actually ascertain truthful knowledge.