08/24/09 12:35 - 69ºF - ID#49619
Ugh.
Public health officials are considering promoting routine circumcision for all baby boys born in the United States to reduce the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.
-- NYTimes
I think the only person who should be allowed to consent to bits being chopped off is the person whose bits are going to be chopped. Cultural and religions traditions, or small percentage increments in medical studies be damned.
Wikipedia on mutilation:
The traditional Chinese practices of língchí and foot binding are forms of mutilation that have captured the imagination of Westerners, as well as the now tourist centered "long-neck" people, a sub-group of the Karen known as the Padaung where women wear brass rings around their neck.[1]
The act of tattooing is also considered a form of self-mutilation according to some cultural traditions, such as within the Muslim religion.[2][3]
A joint statement released by numerous United Nations and other international bodies oppose female genital cutting (female circumcision) as a form of mutilation.[4] Denniston et al. have argued that male circumcision is a form of mutilation;[5] their arguments have been criticised by Benatar and Benatar.[6]
Some tribes practice some ritual mutilation, e.g. scarification, as part of a rite of passage (e.g. initiation ritual).
Whether or not to have 50% of the surface area of your penis cut off is a serious decision. I am definitely NOT saying circumcision is in the same class of horror as female genital mutilation. I am saying that it's a choice I wish I was given, personally.
Permalink: Ugh_.html
Words: 272
Location: Buffalo, NY
08/19/09 09:06 - 72ºF - ID#49574
How to Save a Life
In 1972, the philosopher Peter Singer proposed a simple thought experiment: Imagine you're on your way to work and you come across a child drowning in a shallow pond. You're tall enough that you can run in and rescue him, but if you do so you'll ruin your new suit. Should you save the child?
Almost everyone says yes: the value of saving a child's life far outweighs the cost of losing your new suit. Indeed, someone who would let a child die to save their clothes seems like a monster.
But aha, Singer says. You - yes, you, the reader - probably spent several hundred dollars on new clothes recently, clothes you didn't really need. (Or if not clothes, perhaps a dinner out, or music, or books you could've gotten from the library.) And instead of spending that money on luxuries, you could have sent it to Partners in Health, and they could have used it to save a child's life in the developing world. (GiveWell estimates that you can save a life for between $150-$750.) How are you not a monster? [...]
-- Aaron Swartz
Read the whole post here:
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Words: 198
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: ui
08/18/09 04:20 - 79ºF - ID#49569
Most Honest Error Message Ever?
"Such is life"
Permalink: Most_Honest_Error_Message_Ever_.html
Words: 5
Location: Buffalo, NY
08/18/09 08:26 - 73ºF - ID#49565
Communication Breakdown
found on twitter
Permalink: Communication_Breakdown.html
Words: 11
Location: Buffalo, NY
08/15/09 07:42 - 83ºF - ID#49546
Botanical Garden
Permalink: Botanical_Garden.html
Words: 21
Location: Buffalo, NY
08/15/09 07:39 - 83ºF - ID#49545
Mario & Princess
Permalink: Mario_Princess.html
Words: 5
Location: Buffalo, NY
08/11/09 09:14 - 72ºF - ID#49509
Running Out of Desk Space
Permalink: Running_Out_of_Desk_Space.html
Words: 4
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: music
08/09/09 03:26 - 70ºF - ID#49491
APC40
The bits laid out look like this:
Permalink: APC40.html
Words: 52
Location: Buffalo, NY
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(e:James) makes a great point that if they want to cut down on AIDS there are a lot of ways of doing that.
-I think the best way of doing that is real Sex ed. You know talk about Blow Jobs and Jerking off and things like that
The thing is that no kid really has a choice when you are a baby who ever takes care of you makes those choices and I don't think any one would have a bris at 14 infront of their entire family. I don't think most people would even do it at a doctors office. Now if they could make it look like a porn star in look and size then maybe it could be sold. But since it can't be sold let the parents decide.
my son isn't circumcised, and he's never had a problem with infection or anything. just have to keep reminding him to wash well when he's in the shower.
as far as HIV prevention, I suppose I could see that being more effective in african countries, but here I think everyone pretty much knows they should be wearing a condom. whether they do or not is a different question, and their business I suppose.
and "ant-eater", that cracked me up!!
Ok, you do have to consciously wash it out once in a while. It is really eye opening to me to see that most guys that are cut always seem to have this longing for something that they can't remember having but at the feel a sense of loss. My one friend let his wife name their son anything she wanted, as long as their kid didn't get circumcised, as he wishes his parent's never did it to him...
And I don't mean to play devil's advocate here, and I am *NOT* pulling the "babies don't feel pain" BS line that has been used in the past- BUT- I will just say that the procedure is much less traumatic on a baby than an adult. It's actually kind of a big deal on an adult.
For whatever that's worth.
I guess I'm dispassionate about my own situation. I can't miss something that I don't remember. I would have liked the decision to be mine too but what's done is done. If I have a son, I can't see myself condoning someone putting anything sharp near his bait 'n tackle. If wants to go through that, it's his choice.
How about comprehensive sex education?
How about increasing funding for clinics?
How about increasing funding for outreach organizations?
How about condom distribution?
How about about protecting Planned Parenthoods so more people have access to their education resources?
How about a needle exchange program?
Funny, Europeans generally do not circumcise their children and they don't have the same problem we do. Meanwhile, when the AIDS epidemic began in the 70's around 70% of children were circumcised. And that sure helped, didn't it?
Rates of HIV infection are increasing in pockets of the population. In 2004 50% of all cases of HIV/AIDS was among African Americans. Being about 12% of the population you would think it would make sense to make a strategy targeting that group rather than cutting off dick skin.
This is just a foolish and poorly thought out strategy not to mention it violates what is a basic human right.
Finally, let me add, fuck you CDC.
Thank you.
I have nothing to add to that other than a horrific groan of frustration and disappointment.