| I was playing Trivial Pursuit when the question was first put to me: "What is the most accepted form of self-mutilation?" I think I gave some flippant answer like "big hair" or "spandex," but the card flipped to reveal "ear piercing."
Well, I had never really thought of it that way before. I was 16 and already had a few piercings in my ear, but to me it was just an extra place to store some jewelry. Over the years my piercings came and went – a few I took out for work, others I took out for myself and a few I kept.
Piercing is an extremely personal ritual for some individuals and an expression of fashion for others. The same can be said about tattoos. If you’re looking for something a little different, scarification might be for you, or maybe flesh plating. Whatever your interests, you’ll find your community at bmezine.com.
The site covers quite a bit of ground, with piercing, tattooing, scarification and ritualistic entries. There are hundreds of photos and journal entries outlining procedure, healing and any problems encountered along the way. There is a FAQ page for parents who may be concerned about their children being involved in body modification, in addition to hardcore and extreme practices for the clearly devoted.
The site offers a nice balance of risk versus reward, with a large database of artists and professionals waiting to help you with your greatest desire or silliest whim. Just don’t ask them if it hurts. |
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