Body Piercings: Why Do You Do It? Self-mutilation?
<div class="IPBDescription">Imho it's self mutilation :></div> After reading in another thread that someone got their lip pierced, it brought back thoughts that had slipped below the surface...
I suppose most of you have succumbed to peer pressure, a few of you even think it looks cool, but I'm still puzzled ... <b>Why do you wear body piercings?</b> I'm certainly not a prude, and am much younger than my years indicate, but I just don't get it. Btw, my bro has them, and I've asked him the same thing ("he's a biker, personal expression, blah blah").
Please don't flame, as I don't frown upon it or even dislike it (unless it's excessive), I just don't understand it. Yeah, tattoos fall in the same category.
If you have a pictar handy, post it. <b>And leave my friggin' age out of this!</b> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<span style='color:red'>*edit*</span> While we're on the subject of "body art", let's toss tattoos in the ring too! :>
I suppose most of you have succumbed to peer pressure, a few of you even think it looks cool, but I'm still puzzled ... <b>Why do you wear body piercings?</b> I'm certainly not a prude, and am much younger than my years indicate, but I just don't get it. Btw, my bro has them, and I've asked him the same thing ("he's a biker, personal expression, blah blah").
Please don't flame, as I don't frown upon it or even dislike it (unless it's excessive), I just don't understand it. Yeah, tattoos fall in the same category.
If you have a pictar handy, post it. <b>And leave my friggin' age out of this!</b> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<span style='color:red'>*edit*</span> While we're on the subject of "body art", let's toss tattoos in the ring too! :>
Comments
The background that you ended up with is different then what your brother or esuna ended up with.
Body Mod is no different then any other choice in apearance.
You think that x cloathes, y hair, z bearing and no body mods are good.
I tihnk that h cloathes, g hair, f bearing, and d body mods look good. (well, actualy I don't have anyithing <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
everyone ends up with a different outlook on fashion/life/whathave you, and thus they do different things.
Alos, some people look on parts of body mod as religious, spiritual, right of passage, etc etc (for a society with out a central religon or anytihng, we often make up our own).
The way I understand it, they are using their bodies as a canvas. The like to carry their "art" on their bodies everywhere they go. They've really submersed themselves into an art culture. Somewhat creepy in some cases but, in all my experience with underground cultures, they are quite harmless.
well, age/background DOES have sometihng to do with it.
The background that you ended up with is different then what your brother or esuna ended up with.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Can't argue with that. I just don't want to drift off on that tangent, but rather tell me why it's done.
<!--QuoteBegin-BloodySloth Jul 29 2005+ 11:43 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BloodySloth Jul 29 2005 @ 11:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Decoration? People think it looks good. Why do you get an ear piercing? It's mostly the same thing, except that ear piercings don't have a taboo on them anymore. Saying that it's sole purpose is self mutilation or peer pressure seems a bit... odd, to me. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
One can only cram so much into a title. Peer pressure most definitely is a reason, particularly amongst younger teens that are quite impressionable. And many acquaintances I have who have numerous body piercings ALSO are into self-mutilation. In some circumstances I feel they're related, so what's "odd" about that?
<!--QuoteBegin-Spooge+Jul 29 2005, 11:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spooge @ Jul 29 2005, 11:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I spoke with a guy I in a class I had last semester who is into all that. Things like tattooing and piercings, hanging from ceilings, colored hair, etc. He's a member of a local artists guild and he showed us a documentary he did for our class.
The way I understand it, they are using their bodies as a canvas. The like to carry their "art" on their bodies everywhere they go. They've really submersed themselves into an art culture. Somewhat creepy in some cases but, in all my experience with underground cultures, they are quite harmless. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This sounds like a reasonable explanation for it.
"slag tags" <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If it's on girls its sexy. Shush.
Thing is than, hair and clothes don't require puncturing holes in the largest organ your body has (skin), they also don't have the potential to rust or get infected :p
I don't care if people have piercings but like depot I don't like 'body modding' itself; I don't even have my ears pierced!
Well for some people, like Spooge said, is a dedication to an art form. Granted, it is quite...unorthodox, but hey, if it's there it's there <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
For some other people, it's a way to express their individuality. But of course, I don't see how they can be individual if 500 other people are doing the same thing. But hey, if it satisfies their needs for individuality, I'm fine with that.
And of course, the people who thinks that 'body piercings r teh kewl' crowd that you see sometimes.
@Gem : If what I'm thinking is correct, I think it's those butterfly tattoos that grinds rat's gears <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
but most people will not look twices at a female with their ears pierced, simply b/c that is socialy exceptable.
yet, how is a nose ring, a belly ring or anytihng like that different?
Yes, you can chalk it all up to 'peer preasure'
but so is everything in life.
why do you wear the same colour shoes as you do belt, why no white shoes after labour day(aside from not wanting cereal mom to kill you)? peer preasure (aka fashion, and social norms)
a buisness exec would never be caught dead wearing an off brand suit.
A punk would never be caught dead with out his/her piercings.
If you are rich, you are ecentric,
if you are poor you are crazy.
Personaly, I jsut view everythign as how you desire to express your self.
Buissness execs want to show power and money
punks wana show freedom, and thier version of style.
ah, well, off to work.
will continue this there <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Of course, there's risks involved, your stuff could get infected if you don't look after it, your tattoo could flake if you don't keep it moisturised, things like that.
I'd also say that you'd have to think about getting a tattoo much more than a piercing, because tattoo's are messy to remove if you change your mind, whereas you can simply take a piercing out and it'll heal up.
Personally I think tattoo's/piercings applied in the right place can look great. When I get the chance, and when my braces come off, I'm getting my lip pierced, and getting <a href='http://another-world.org.uk/spacer/backpiece.jpg' target='_blank'>http://another-world.org.uk/spacer/backpiece.jpg</a> that tattoo'd somewhere, maybe on my arm or lower back. Yeah. I know it's from Quake 2. IT LOOKS COOL DAMN YOU.
Also: surface piercings look really stupid.
Where I'm from we wear white shoes after Labor Day, pffffffftttttttttt. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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As to tattoos on females, imho a small, strategically placed tattoo on a lady is ultra-sexy and quite acceptable. :>
Well, while I understand that this might be their motivation for continuing to tattoo, I wonder if perhaps there wasn't some trauma in their childhood that caused them to enjoy such things. Perhaps a little abuse, or something like that.
Well, while I understand that this might be their motivation for continuing to tattoo, I wonder if perhaps there wasn't some trauma in their childhood that caused them to enjoy such things. Perhaps a little abuse, or something like that. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You, sir, have been declared the <b>WiNNarhz!</b> Damn good answer sire...
First, piercing can denote a group affiliation. Some cultures, I think the Maori do, use piercing to show social standing and rank. It used to be, and possibly still is, that having one's right ear pierced signaled that one was homosexual. Piercings can also be used, in conjunction with other identifiers, that one is a member of punk culture or an art community.
Second, piercings can be for looks. The most common of these are ear and nose piercings because those are the most visible. This is usually an expression of beauty without an adherence to a social orthodoxy. Facial decoration isn't exactly a new practice in the West, particularly among women. Piercing for men is a relatively new phenomenon in Western society.
Third, piercing can be sexual in nature. Piercings can, and frequently are, used in bondage and S&M play. Pierced nipples are probably the most common, but it's not rare for women to pierce their clitoris or labia. Very rarely, men will pierce their ****, but most men don't fancy having a metal rod through their rod.
Fourth, piercing can be spiritual. I know that a few Hindu groups in India pierce their bodies with hundreds of small hooks that are connected to a large apparatus. They then dance for hours on end with the result being a massive influx of endorphins.
If somebody has a piercing, odds are it will probably fall under one of these categories. I've actually seen somebody be suspended by hooks like Spooge described and it's pretty intense. Suspension is similar in effect to the Indian dancing ritual in that it produces a large number of endorphins if done for long enough.
Also they hate trees.
Well, while I understand that this might be their motivation for continuing to tattoo, I wonder if perhaps there wasn't some trauma in their childhood that caused them to enjoy such things. Perhaps a little abuse, or something like that. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Possible I suppose. In most of my experience though, it's based on not having enough challenges presented to them during their childhood. Trust fund babies who never had serious character building experiences. Now, they want to be "special".
checking this out....
<img src='http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8692/picture0022mz.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9149/picture0030ex.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
I'll take some more pic, onces ive got the dressing off and cleaned it up.
The first piercing was pretty much a combination of thinking Maxim (Prodigy MC) looked cool with a pierced nipple when I saw them play, and partly because I wanted to be Mr. Rebel™ when I turned 18 and be all "look at me I'm not such a nerd after all" at school. Sad but true.
However, the next two piercings I got because I liked the first one so much. There's possibly some self-fondling pseudo-masturbation involved, but I couldn't stop playing with them, as they do (did) feel nice to have on me. In fact, I'm very tempted to get my tragus redone, and possibly my nipple again too (I took them out so I wouldn't set up the metal detectors at the palace when I had dinner with the king - true story - and they wouldn't go back in the next day).
As for the tattoo, I've been wanting one for years but really don't want to end up hating the design I get put on, so I'm agonising over what to get. I am currently thinking of something inspired by or taken from Jim Woodring's artwork, but ih. I'm giving myself a fortnight to decide, so I can get it done before classes start in the fall.
I used to be against tattoos, for a couple of reasons: first I got sick of seeing the same tired old designs over and over (especially celtic and japanese designs - bleah), and second I didn't want to permanently mark my body. Oh, and thirdly because as I was a skinny wimpy little thing I didn't really have much arm to put a tattoo on <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->. However, Mrs Maus has a few tattoos that I really like and she loves tattoo art in general and has slowly been teaching me that all you need to do is come up with something original and find a good tattoo artist to work with in preparing your design and you can't go wrong.
I seem to have wandered off the topic. Oops.
---
Also, the claim that tattoos/piercings are some sort of a reflection of childhood abuse is retarded/insulting.
Um, I just have some ear piercings, but I used to have a lipring. My reason was purely aesthetic, like the earrings - I thought it was a cute jewelry. Fashion, except it's semipermanent and involves some pain (sometimes. lipring didn't hurt at all). It's just another form of self expression (cliche, manufactured, whatever or not).
Inking for me was both aesthetic and personal. Also, the sensation is... interesting. My Halo was more painful, but my Yuuga (right thigh) was pleasurable in a weird way, probably the endorphin thing.
From what I can tell of a lot of the tattooing community, a lot of the hardcore people do it for the 'body as a canvas' / art thing.
I also think facial piercing is ugly... for example a nose piercing.
If someone gets a spot on their nose they're like "omg nuuuu!" yet nose piercing usually consists of putting a small metal stud on the nostril (I'm not touching bullbars with a bargepole :s).
Congrats... you now have a metal zit; which I find about as attractive as the non-metal version :/
personaly, I REALY like the way piercings look.
Alot of cool things can be done, and alot of prety pieces are out there.
I have no desire to ink my self, ever. As that is way to perminent for my stastes (though there are alot of realy cool tats out there).
If the occasion ever comes up I will probably get a pierced ear. I just rarely am in the position to do it (and don't care enough to go outa my way). I would get my tounge pierced, but I am WAY to scared of the smalles possiblity of my sense of taste going away!
Well, while I understand that this might be their motivation for continuing to tattoo, I wonder if perhaps there wasn't some trauma in their childhood that caused them to enjoy such things. Perhaps a little abuse, or something like that. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You, sir, have been declared the <b>WiNNarhz!</b> Damn good answer sire...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh sure. People with tattoos must have been abused as kids and like pain.<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->You get NOTHING! You LOSE! Good DAY, sir!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->