People will defend the most batshit insane things just because they're used to it.

But I also think there's an element of (understandable) insecurity to it.

If they concluded that mutilating the penises of babies is wrong, then that makes their penis "wrong", and society is really weird and judgemental about penises. There's a huge amount of pressure applied to men about their genitals.

We constantly talk about big dicks and "big dick" energy. Casually saying someone has a small, soft, or ugly dick is seen as a scathing insult, we constantly mock people for it, both in life and in media. Comments about their penises is something used to build up or knock down men. It's used to make them feel powerful and manly, or weak and emasculated.

It's no wonder people rally so hard against those who want to see an end to male genital mutilation. The very victims of it typically don't want to feel like their dick is "wrong", because society at large has told them that if their dick is bad, they aren't real men.

Dude, yeah. It’s so weird.

I refused circumcision for my son (25 years ago, US hospital), and had to remind the staff several times because it was just assumed it would be done. I stopped them 3 times during different shifts when they were about to take him from our room for the procedure.

Then when it came up in conversation when he was an infant, people would say to me ‘you should have done it’, because he would get infections (he never did), or he’d be bullied in gym showers (he never did to my knowledge), or whatever. My take was it should be his decision, not mine.

The pressure was really intense, though. It’s weird how interested people can be in someone else’s infant’s penis. We’ve never talked about it, but reading stories from other men, I assume he’s happy being uncut, and I’m glad I didn’t do it.

e: for anyone reading this days later, I did ask my son for his opinion prompted by this conversation, mostly because of responses I got elsewhere in this thread that made me question my decision:

Me: Hey man, so feel free not to answer this if it’s too personal, but I was having a debate about circumcision and another parent challenged me saying I’d made the wrong decision. So yes/no/I don’t want to talk about it cuz that’s weird, do you regret my decision?

Son: I don’t, and none of my partners have, either. I only get thumbs up and compliments. I hope that wasn’t too personal.

Me: Not at all. Thank you for giving me your and your partners’ review!

So yeah, it’s not just my assumptions. And no regrets.

The main problem is that people tend to intuitively think of the least invasive form of male circumcision and the most horrific form of female genital mutilation.

For both genders, all kinds of forms exist

Jokes on them. Masterbation has never been in higher demand.

That's fine, as long as that isn't used as a justification to normalize this procedure's continued use without medical necessity.

I mean, people just like what they're used to.

If you never got circumcised, you'd likely be saying "I prefer uncut. Looks a bit weird with a piece missing."

I'm willing to bet if you surveyed, say, Israel or Saudi Arabia, on what looks better between chopped and natural, they'll say circumcised. And if you surveyed, say, Australia or Spain, they'll say uncircumcised looks better.