I long ago abonded the negatively jugmental POV about body mods and decided that if I think one kind is "okay" then I should think others are "okay", too, regardless of whether they are socially sanctioned body mods, or not.

put a ring in it, willya?

I thought straight-edge was opposed to body mod as well as everything else. To be honest, this looks like a hoax to me. But then, people do all kinds of unbelievable shit to their bodies all the time.

Well, it's not for me. It makes it look like she's got some massive parasite or something. Still, to each their own.

Holy shit that's hot.

Also what the hell is 'straight-edge' in the body-mod scene and why are brass knuckles associated with it?

I'm not sure that there's a "straight-edge" in the body mod scene, but a lot of xXx straight edge kids like the brass knuckles because they're violent thugs.

Yeah, see, that's the thing that's always confused me about straight-edge kids. You choose not to go through life drunk and/or stoned? Good for you. Why beat up people who don't see it your way?

"Why beat up people who don't see it your way?"

Because it's fun? Here's a history of the human race. There'll be a quiz later.

Yeah, that's always confused me, too.

kmellis: there's "socially unacceptable" and there's innate revulsion. I'm not saying it's wrong I'm just saying it's FREAK-EEE

i like meeting straightedgers because then i know that i'll have a friend who's a junkie in ten months.

(joke joke joke.)


bodymods are like anything else people do with their bodies, or really, with anything. if the person's mind is healthy, then it's their business to do what they want. if they're not healthy, someone needs to help them. but you can't expect society to (morally) have a set of 'acceptable' body mods. everything's case by case, right? the weight loss associated with anorexia is arguably a body modification. if one of your co-human types who is sufficiently healthy decides to try that for a short period of time as an experiment, to see what it is -- or rather, not to be an anorexic, but to mimic the behaviours thereof, without being driven by the disease that is anorexia* -- then is it one's right to stop him or her?
people are guarunteed certain rights to privacy, i think most people would agree. it's terribly tricky, this business.


* i know. i've never met this person either. but i know lots of unhealthy people who suffer from anorexia. it's a terrible disease, and so on. i don't want to trivialize any of that. this might seem to do so, but it's really only because i'm poor at constructing hypotheticals. i'm generally opposed to argument by analogy on logical grounds.

You bring up a good point, sam. I think that a lot of things which are considered outre can be perfectly healthy or pathological. But that includes things that are universally acceptable, like hard work for example.

The test is if it's pathological. One big problem with this as a test, though, is that for a certain kind of unbalanced mind inclined to pathological behavior, it's precisely something very socially unacceptable that they're attracted to. But you can usually tell the difference if you know them.

"
The test is if it's pathological.
"
bingo.
it's a tough test. especially because it seems like 99% of the time, whoever is doing anything that seems a little off usually is a little off. i guess they spoil it for the 1%.

also: i've heard from people into branding that they do it because it is a way of exerting or exercising ownership of their body -- not, you know, dumb extension of cattle branding/leaving a mark of ownership, but rather in the fact that it is their choice to do with their body as they wish.
i personally cannot understand why ownership of one's body would ever be a question in the sort of n. american society i live in, but it's worth pointing out that i come from all kinds of social privelige &c., so i may have a biased perspective of what freedom one can normally expect to exert over one's body. perhaps if i were a woman or a minority in american society, i would have a very different perspective on this point (w/ the caveat that the only people i've known who were into branding were themselves from a white, middle-class type background).


goodnight, kids.

It must be getting harder and harder to shock people.

It must be getting harder and harder to shock people.

Yeah, we're about five minutes from vanity trepanning.

Its wierd - "straight edgers" are some of the angriest people I know. The straight edgers who eschew sex - even moreso.

I'm a *teensy* bit skeptical about those photos, but it sounds like they're silicon rather than actual brass knuckles. The clavicle also seems like a rather difficult place to implant stuff, but maybe that's just me.

I think people should be allowed to modify their bodies however they like, but the fact that I they should have the freedom to do so does not mean I don't think something like this is hideously ugly and a possible indication of some sort of mental imbalance/trauma.

I think people should be allowed to modify their bodies however they like,

Yes, but these people are trying too hard. If you want to use your body as a canvas, let nature do the work! Simply stop bathing, shaving and grooming. It's a win-win.

Sam: There's an argument that's made in political science that any true liberal democracy is de facto a breeding ground for fascism because it respects the rights of people to negate their rights.

The owner of bmezine.com is the Mefite known as glider. I'm sure you could drop him an email and ask if the implant is really ..er.. real.

Is he the one that did the thing about couples tying strings around their fingers til they fell off? This looks photoshopped to me with fake blood for good measure, but then, what do I know?

Man, it'd be a bitch going through security at the airport.

And god help you if you ever need an MRI scan...