Body Modification

...is the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the human body for non-medical reasons. ok so tattoos, piercing, turning yourself into a cat, that kind of thing. i think this subject can pevoke strong reactions for some people but personally i'm not that bothered. my body is a temple and all that really only effects you if you're religious...and i'm so very not. i have 2 tattoos, i have one drew up and probably won't stop there. i don't however get a tattoo lightly. i draw it and then i wait, i wait and wait and wait untill i know i want that thing on me permanently. i like tattoos that hold a meaning..i think its so stupid when people go "hhhmm i want a tattoo today", nip in the tattoo place and randomly pick one off the wall that looks pretty.

my tattoos:

• A butterfly on my foot. ok. not very significant it seems. however, i got this tattoo to symbolise my 18th birthday. the butterfly represents me growing, being released from the cacoon so to speak, freedom and learning to fly (stand on your own 2 feet etc). it also marked the time i was actually allowed to get a tattoo as not being 18 mother and brother dear seriously forbade me haha.


• a heart on my hip, half coloured in. my boyfriend has one to match, only with the other side coloured in to make a whole. very corny. but i guess we're both stuck with eachother :)


• progress. i am planning to get 3 roses, interwined going from my ankle up around my calf, with a date across all 3. this seems barmy. however the date will be the day that my dad died. the 3 roses symbolise my brother, my dad and me. on the day that he was cremated my brother and i threw 3 roses onto my dads coffin.

i think that people take tattoos very lightly ad seem to forget that they are, unless you want laser treatment, permanent, who wants winnie the pooh on their soldier for 80 odd years? fiar enough if you dooo, but no thanks.

piercings: i have my ears pierces twice in each ear, my belly button. i did have my tragus (tat little wierd bit in your ear) done but my body rejected it..what a waste of 20 squid haha. i dont really plan to have any more. i dont want any on my face as i think people will always stereotype you if you do and i dont want to lose out on the job of my dream because when i have a drink in the interview it falls out my chin. while i personally dont stereotype people with facial peircing- woo get you, i know it happens and cant be bothered to stand up for my self haha. plus theres none that i fancy.

wierd things: turning yourself into a cat, a lizzard. all that stuff. i think this is silly. i dont think anyone was meant to be a cat and just because you try to look like one you will never be a cat. why are people so content on becoming something else. i think with peircings and tattoos your really just altering you. but becoming a cat/lizzard you're altering who you actually are and i think this is when body modification gets risky.

personally for me, body modification should stay hidden, if i do make any changes id like them to be reversable or hidable. i,e i can put on some socks or take out my earings. this is just me.

i have found a website dedicated to modifications, some avergae (ears, tattoos) but some very peculiar. there is some pictures that may be disturbing so be careful if you are a bit sqeemish:

http://www.bodymod.org/mods/listMods~type~hc~mod~Newest~find~~page~2.aspx

the things on that site are waaaaay to out there for me, but if thats how you want your body to be then go for it. i dont have a problem with people who like this stuff, each to their own, i just think personally some is unessasary to meeee. whether its being bad or not? i dont think it can be considered immoral. it could however be extremely dangerous is some of the modifications go wrong :/ and therefore unhealthy. i think people are attracted to this just because it does sometimes look good and its a way to be unique and express yourself i guess.