No One Wins the Foreskin Wars…
QUESTION #1: I should not say this, but foreskins look sort of weird to me. Sure, I’m American and haven’t seen many except online. Is there really something wrong with me for this? Am I prejudiced or something?
QUESTION #2: I feel sorry for so many guys I see on here who are cut! Having foreskin totally rocks, and it’s one of life’s greatest joys! How can any guy stand being cut?
RESPONSE: First of all, let me state my opinion: in an ideal world, infant circumcision would be ended, but we do not live in an ideal world. Every man’s penis is precious, as special, as remarkable as he is himself. This does not depend upon its appearance: size, shape, proportions, colors, foreskin, or lack of foreskin. What matters is that you love your penis as it is. What really matters is the pleasure your penis gives you. When you truly love your penis without reservation, then sharing it with other men while you masturbate can bring a lot of pleasure to your Phallic Brothers as well.
The matter of intact, or uncircumcised penises in contrast with cut or circumcised penises can be a highly emotional issue. It sometimes causes major disagreements, and can even, sadly, end friendships. As a circumcised man myself, who seeks to encourage all men to love and fully enjoy their penises (no exceptions!) I cannot take sides on this issue.
Of course, the intact penis equipped with a foreskin is how evolution and Nature has designed human male genitalia. Most definitely the skin protects and enhances sensitivity of the penis head (the glans). The foreskin is richly endowed with abundant pleasure nerves both inside and out. The fantastic intensity of pleasure just moving this skin over the head, and manipulating the skin itself generates, is something I will never know. It’s beyond my imagining.
At the same time, it is not helpful for circumcised men such as me to view ourselves as handicapped or lesser than out intact brethren. Yes, we cut men may need to go to greater lengths to get as much pleasure as we possibly can from our penises. We are wise to use plenty of lubrication, to keep our penises as sensitive as possible. We are wise to employ a creative variety of stroking patterns—but all men can benefit from this.
On principle, I definitely want to see an end to all infant circumcision. The operation is traumatic Yet after the fact, a circumcised penis is still a magnificent gift, and one of life’s great joys.
To eliminate circumcision today you would have to eliminate at least two major religions, Judaism and Islam, and change the medical establishment of the USA. At present, the most constructive approach is to work for those changes, but also to accept the diversity of men’s penises, and to globally encourage all our Phallic Brothers to do the same.
Comparing and sharing different penises can be a source of delight and fun, part of life’s rich variety.
A note from The Batemaster: I’m honored that the guys at Bateworld have asked me to respond to some questions from male masturbators around the world every week.
Always check with your doctor about any issues you might be experiencing with your sexual organs. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important. This article’s purpose is to inform and entertain readers and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
I agree… Leave it alone! Nature’s design is amazing. Apparently it’s a combination of religion and doctors checking accounts. Do think the trend’s slowly changing to leave more of “them” uncut here in the states. Interesting how other countries tend to leave cocks natural, such as the UK and Australia.
Amen!
Actually all countries in the world EXCEPT Israel and in the Muslim world.
In giving a thousand erotic massages I haven’t noticed that cut guys systematically get less pleasure and arousal than uncut guys. However, I’m uncut myself and always try and slide my hand over my foreskin on each stroke because it feels so good! I think more guys are being left intact in the US now since many of my clients in their 20’s are uncut. I’m also proud that I helped to save the foreskin of a friend’s son when his wife wanted to cut him to avoid locker room embarrassment.
That’s a wonderful testimony, Brother. Certainly to avoid locker room embarrassment is a ridiculous reason for such a major choice! It’s a complex issue with some deep historical roots. As I’ve said, I don’t know if I could experience more pure penis pleasure without my brains pouring out my ears!
THANK YOU Bruce- a) for bringing this issue up and b) for crafting such a thoughtful and positive response.
Let me preface by saying I am by no means a formal activist.
But I can tell you that as an American who was circumcised and lives in Europe, quite often guys immediately lose interest, cut it off (pun intended)… basically because the frenulum IS where they derive pleasure. A circumcised penis to THEM seems altered (well, it is) and confusing. Watch the way guys who are intact masturbate. They don’t touch their glans because it’s way too sensitive. I had to learn that.
Likewise when a guy tries to masturbate me, he will hold his fist so that his top two fingers touch my (somewhat regrowing) frenulum. But sadly those nerve endings are mostly gone. I regret that’s the case but I also don’t wallow in sadness or seethe in anger towards society or my parents. They did what was common practice then. I still love them. Though I hate the medical establishment in the US that a) promotes this still with spurious claims and b) knows full well this is a paid treatment worth billions… and c) furthermore knowingly ships babies’ frenula to be used in cosmetics. (No joke… google it… it is absolutely nuts and disgusting). That makes me angry.
I did start regrowing my foreskin (there are several sites and inexpensive tools out there and I’m not here to promote them but BW may want to list these somewhere as they could be a positive force in the community for some).
I started 5 years ago and now have complete coverage when soft… 1/2 when hard. I will never have the nerve endings back. But what I did get back was an incredible level of sensitivity on the glans (which, if you cover it for a period of time becomes shiny and SUPER sensitive)… I also recovered the sliding motion of the skin over the glans which is very stimulating to the receiving partner.
Anyway I don’t mean to shame anyone- it would be me first!! All I’m saying is if you have the inclination try restoring. It’s a game changer. And tell those parents to keep the blade away! 🙂
And thanks Bruce, once again, because you offer a voice that is full of generosity and good will.
Well put and informative too Phil. We need to keep sharing the info and smart spokesmen to keep this discussion going and to simply stop IT! Awhile back there was a letter to one of the consumer columnists in the LATimes where a dad wrote in about getting a bill for $10,000 something for kids circumcision. Perhaps that’s another way to discourage parents in the US from doing IT.
“Locker room embarrassment”???? Really guys? Although I’m obviously not American I can understand and respect religious grounds, preferences, likes and dislikes… but could anyone please explain to me why do people find foreskins so disgusting? What are the ideas they have about foreskins? Do they think they smell or hurt or something like that? Do they think we don’t wash? or is it something just visual?
I think this is primarily conditioning based on experience, that some guys in the USA are simply not accustomed to seeing foreskins much in real life, or to interacting with intact men. It’s sort of sad if anyone lets it limit their appreciation for ALL penises, but human nature can be funny in terms of conditioning, personal history, limited experience. I’ve also encountered intact men who are somewhat disdainful of circumcised penises, which is also unfortunate. To some extent, as one Brother has commented, it seems to be improving. More younger men in the USA are being left intact. In my position I really cannot tell men to appreciate their own penis or those of fellow men less for being circumcised, and I cannot responsibly take the so-called “other side.” In genuine Phallic Brotherhood, every penis is precious and beautiful. — BPG
It’s just a question of what people are used to seeing.
Most Americans (though the percentage thankfully is decreasing) don’t know what to do with an uncircumcised penis. It looks strange to them. There are preconceptions of it being dirty, smelly, etc etc etc. All of which is incredibly ridiculous.
As an American who lives in Europe I have had the opposite experience where I looked strange… I started to restore my foreskin 5 years ago and now people can’t tell. But I was very, very self-conscious…
I would get comments like “are you Jewish?” “are you Muslim?” and when I said no, I’m just (Italian) American they would laugh but understand what I meant.
But plenty of guys in Europe– and I understand- lose interest immediately if you are circumcised.They find it very unattractive. Because the foreskin is so central to their sexual experience, they can’t understand it and are turned off.
So, a long reply but in essence it’s social conditioning.
Slowly, Americans are more and more not circumcising their baby boys. let me say, as an intact male, my foreskin and frenulum are by far the most sensitive and pleasurable parts of my penis. I am so glad I have them. I do not in any way shame men who are cut or not cut,…most cut men had no choice!! Slowly, male circumcision will go the same route as female circumcision has in the US.