It’s disheartening to see how deeply some of us still believe that people can magically make another person’s penis disappear. Meanwhile, we continue to live in chaotic, impoverished conditions, conditions that could surely benefit if we truly possessed such supernatural powers. But of course, they never seem to work where they matter most. Perhaps that’s because these so-called powers are not real, just myths born from fear, ignorance, and a long legacy of misinformation that remains endemic in our societies.

If we had such powers, how then were we enslaved for centuries, subdued by nothing more than gunpowder and greed? It doesn’t add up. And yet, here we are, still recycling the same stories.

Recently, I came across an image online of someone said to be a victim of one of these “disappearing penis” incidents. Assuming the image is even real, I found myself asking: are there medically documented cases of such a condition occurring naturally? A brief dive into medical literature revealed that my curiosity wasn’t misplaced.

There’s a rare condition called aphallia, a congenital absence of the penile shaft. It’s extremely rare but real, with several peer-reviewed case reports, including one published in the International Journal of Urology (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21615524).

Beyond physical anomalies, there’s also the psychological and cultural phenomenon known as koro; a syndrome in which individuals believe their genitals are shrinking or retracting, often accompanied by intense fear and panic. It’s a striking example of how cultural beliefs can manifest as psychological distress.

What’s truly unbelievable isn’t the condition, it’s how quickly and uncritically people accept sensationalist narratives without pausing to ask questions or seek facts. Before we surrender to such collective delusions, we ought to look around. Our environment, with all its suffering and disorder, rarely reflects the presence of supernatural powers. And when observation fails us, a bit of curiosity and due diligence can go a long way in dispelling ignorance. We owe it to ourselves, and each other, to think more critically.