[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 11 Aug 2002 00:26:12: Why do anything?
As an answer to: Re: Why do erase remarks? written by GW at 10 Aug 2002 22:46:15:
> Does anybody have a problem with their penis at all anymore?
Now you're getting to the crux of the matter.
Most of the "problems" posted on these fora, are in the event not primarily physical, even where there is a physical anomaly. The problem is generally that the perception of the problem is interfering with its immediate resolution. Two examples:
- Problem: Should an infant be circumcised?
Physical reality: There is no reason to perform a circumcision on an infant. Had the urinary tract not been functioning before birth, the infant would not have survived thus far.
Psychopathological overlay: "Research" into "benefits" of circumcision including diseases that are claimed to be less common in circumcised men, is the exclusive province of researchers who are either victims of infant circumcision, have a personality inadequacy that has been accentuated by a circumcised peer (or "betters") group, derive substantial financial profit from the procedure, or a combination of these factors. Mentally fit men in a civilised (indicative: non-circumcising) society simply do not seek such pursuits.
- Problem: Phimosis; inability to retract the foreskin over the erect glans and penis.
Physical reality: The foreskin dilates and adapts to growth when retracted over the erect penis on a regular basis. If it is fully retracted by the erection itself, it will maintain this condition automatically, but this is a growth variant and not universal. Failure to retract indicates that a healthy habit of adequate deliberate routine retraction has not developed. Inability to retract reduces the effectiveness of stimulation during intercourse, but by no means precludes it, and causes negligible limitation of (indeed is somewhat advantageous to) masturbation either by self or partner.
Psychopathological overlay: Childhood play with the penis is automatic. Attempts to retract the foreskin should also be automatic, but may not occur if the boy has been frightened or inhibited in such sexual exploration, and this certainly implicates lack of education and/ or exposure to other boys.
Where the problem continues into puberty or beyond, the simple knowledge (Beaugé) of stretching is generally adequate to resolve the problem, but failure to proceed with such a simple remedy, albeit over a significant time frame, particularly when the benefit is generally apparent within weeks, must de facto indicate substantial psychopathology, possibly a mixture of genital aversion (guilt), attention deficit, and performance anxiety (in essence, "What if it's still not good enough?").
So in answer to your question, while it may seem that discussion is avoiding the "real" issues, it turns out that the "penis bit" is the easy bit, and all this "peripheral" discussion of why people do what they do, or don't, and have difficulty relating to others, is in the final analysis the real issue.
Of course, I agree, this may not be at all evident to the casual onlooker who comes here for advice on his "simple" problem. {:-)}