I’m impressed by both James and Time20 here.

Why don’t you go and read through some of the back archives of Modblog? (Prior to 2008, when it went under new management). it’s a consistently intrigueing archive of photos and articles about body modification submitted by the BME community.

Hell, you could end up becoming interested in it yourself. Mainly I think it’s the “Yuck” factor and that they don’t understand it that puts people off. Reading modblog sure as hell solves that, Lol.

Some people like to talk about what music they like. Some people enjoy video games. Some people get a kick out of making fun of whatever people do to eke more joy out of this life.

Your wants and desires don’t at all have to be rational, and many frequently aren’t. It’s stupid and pointless, though tempting, to make fun of someone or pretend assumptions about why people do the things they do.

People pierce themselves because they like piercing themselves. And don’t tell me “How can you like hurting yourself?” You hurt yourself everytime you eat a cheeseburger, or play with a loose tooth in your mouth, or lick chapped lips, or scratch an itchy scab. Some people like having their nipples pinched during sex, begrudge them if you begrudge body modders.

People who are REALLY into bodymod do it because it’s interesting to shape and grow parts of your own body. A lot of people get the same kick from working out and bodybuilding. Piercings stretch, you can gauge up, and your body itself sends you signals when it’s ready for a wider gauge. Some people are intrigued.

Mostly, don’t question it. It’s arrogant to further deride it. Like everything you do is rational and not based on random wants and programmed needs.

One is wanting to Express Oneself, the other is Wanting to be Totally Individual.

Different wants.

Come back when your arguement makes sense.

Fail.

“A guy with pierced nipples/belly button/shaft/lip/nose/between the eyebrows is just a homo.”

Right. Total failure of understanding ITT, as well as casual bigotry.

Body modification is about changing ones body to suit oneself. Not to impress anyone else.

Of course, what a person wants to change their image too is subject to things like fashion, economic situation, self identity blah blah blah blah. But the point is people adorn themselves not to join a particular community, or to shape others perceptions of them, etc, but to satisfy their own need for self expression.

As for first poster, personality can’t be bought or sold. Getting a piercing or other modification is a result of personality, and not something that “Adds” to it. You fuckin’ fail at understanding.

Also, chances are you are all looking at piercing through the narrow spectrum of what’s fashionable and popular, seeing as this would be the only experience of it you have. ;Shrug; Nothing wrong with that, only that it completely fails to account for all the different and interesting things that can be achieved with piercing. Eg: I see many people with septum rings or eyebrow bars, but I am still the only person I’ve ever met who wears 3mm porcupine quills through my septum.

Just like all other arts, body modification is about self expression.

This derogatory bullshit about “Metal in ones face” is just childish, and you know it. Grow up.

Btw, final comment: The vast majority of that chart is bullshit. Source: my professional piercer (10+Yrs experience) and my own modifications.

Though I must say, I have/ had two piercings and I regret them. I left only the navel piercing in so only people at the beach in the summer see that one. But in general, I don’t want to be liked more, or less because of metal in my face.

Unfortunately I like dressing in fine clothes way too much, but if I wasn’t so vain I’d totally wear only plain white or black clothes.