I've heard the "don't like the cold" explaination -- but do they start howling before the snipage? I'd think they'd be just a cold at that point...

I wasn't present for my sons' circumcisions, but I was present almost every time they were ever naked as infants, and they HATE the cold and would howl. Ben also just hated lying flat on the changing table.

Some of the information I've seen argues that non-religious circumcision really became big as a Victorian-era prescription against masturbation, since (at least in theory) it doesn't feel quite as good without the hood.

Then again, few people can really compare -- Trudy's friend being a rare exception.

ETA: Mind you, it's a bit difficult to tell, as a lot of what's on the Nets of Inter about circumcision is strongly opposed.

I've seen several britim (britot? Whatever the plural of "brit" is) where the baby either didn't cry at all or barely cried. Generally, it was over really quickly and the baby was left with a "Huh? What happened?" expression.

My ex-husband was born when his parents were in England on a Fulbright, so was not circumcised. When they mved back here when he was four he was definitely in the minority. He made a nickel a look in elementary school, so he was very pro-circumcision at least for himself!

sugar water, which acts like a painkiller in neonatal brains for reasons no one really understands.

This happened and I didn't know why. Interesting.

Ish was not strapped down. His grandad held down his legs as he lay on a familiar pillow.

The moyel was a bit undone when Ish started pooping just before the snippage and kind of kept going.

Later, the moyel asked if it was possible that Ish had worms. moron

An attendee speculated that his being 22 days old may have thrown the cutter off. Maybe in 20 years he's never seen a three week old's poop!

I think if I DID do it I'd want a moyel -- them boys got practice.

This particular moyel had three jobs just today and apparently makes a mighty fine living at it. He clearly enjoys his work, what with the standup comedy and was obviously proficient.

It unnerved me that his 'kit' was a banged up old briefcase. Didn't come over medical at. all.

I don't think I've ever seen an uncircumcised penis.

Neither have I. And it occurred to me the other day that here I am writing novels with English heroes born (at least thus far) in the 1780's, who are therefore operating with a somewhat different set of equipment than the type I have personal experience of. 'Course, I've yet to describe anything in a level of anatomical detail where it would matter.

I wasn't present for my sons' circumcisions

Me either. Newborns hate to be naked and ... loose. Thus the swaddling in the beginning. Plus, scary strange people handling your sensitive bits...

But, yeah - got a stanley knife and some germoline, or something along those lines, and chopped off a bit of his old fella. That's Yorkshiremen for you - stoic and independent and more than a wee bit insane.

Yee-owwwww.

While he'd never had sex with the foreskin, he'd masturbated both ways and liked with the hood better.

Now I feel bad. I guess I never thought of that. I'd be pissed off if someone had snipped any of my good-feeling parts, for sure.

Oh, Cashmere? Annabel now has a boo-boo to rival anything you've posted of Owen's. She fell coming down the ramp outside church and faceplanted on concrete. Nothing serious, but conspicuous scraping and a bit of blood across her right cheekbone and nose.

As soon as we cleaned her up and set her down, she was off and running again.