Anyone else have any piercings or tattoos?

[MissInformation]

Back in the early 90s I did a term paper on past and present harmful beauty practices entitled "Beauty: the Eye and the Beholder". It focused mainly on women, and included the European practice of drinking arsenic for paler skin and putting belladonna drops in your eyes for bright, sparkly eyes, the African practice of extending the neck with rings, lip discs, etc. and their tattooing, which is nothing but intentional scarring of the skin, the old Chinese practice of foot binding (one of the worse things done) and hair removal, the American practice of whalebone corsets and Native American practice of flattening a baby's forehead with boards... and of course, the ever popular trend towards plastic surgery and implants and what not. And in almost all circumstances, these modifications were done because someone else was dictating what was and is beautiful.

Before I did this paper, I was planning on getting a tattoo. Originally I wanted a barbed-wire anklet, but found out that barbed-wire is a prison symbol, so I was willing to settle for a black rose with a silver stem and a spider dangling from it's silver thorn (don't ask, I was young). I didn't have much in the way of piercings, just two holes in one ear and three in the other. After doing all of the research I did for this paper, I felt a little sick and decided not to modify my body anymore, I even let my ear piercings close (this was also when I decided I would never get married as most of these things were done to women and by women in order to attract a husband).

Two years ago, I got my ears pierced again (just one in each ear). I did it because I wanted it, not because someone else said it was the thing to do. And now that I'm older, I'm really glad I didn't get a tattoo, mainly for the reason Dave said about the wear and tear aging has on them. I still think tattoo artwork can be amazingly impressive and have recently been fascinated by people I've met who have had poetry tattooed onto their bodies, but hey, that's what finger paint is for… So, nope, not for me. But if it’s for you, make sure it really is for you, and not for impressing people who probably aren’t worth impressing anyhow, or you'll end up spending lots of money getting them removed (like my friend's sister who had a big heart with "New Kids on the Block" in the center tattooed on her shoulder... ugh...)

Heidi

[Amanda Morrison]

Thank you, Heidi! Something for all you kids to think about... especially those who said they wanted tongue piercings and the like.

Do not pierce or tattoo anything that you aren't prepared to live with for the rest of your life. Hands down, stupidest thing you could do.

Moreover, don't pierce something because it's cool, or because your friend has it, etc. (such as belly button piercings, which are the latest trend). It's not worth it.

If you get something, get it because you like it - because it represents you, because you believe in it, etc. Don't get it because it's cool. Heidi (and Dave, too) cannot speak more of the truth.

[Aaron Lussier]

I have been pondering getting a tattoo of the Aquarius symbol on my arm somewhere I've been one all my life so its something I can definitely live with and still like in a long time.

-Aaron

[Joshua May]

Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison

Thank you, Heidi! Something for all you kids to think about... especially those who said they wanted tongue piercings and the like.

Do not pierce or tattoo anything that you aren't prepared to live with for the rest of your life. Hands down, stupidest thing you could do.

Moreover, don't pierce something because it's cool, or because your friend has it, etc. (such as belly button piercings, which are the latest trend). It's not worth it.

If you get something, get it because you like it - because it represents you, because you believe in it, etc. Don't get it because it's cool. Heidi (and Dave, too) cannot speak more of the truth.

Yep. And I can second the tongue peircing. My dad did it a few years ago, and his tongue swelled up like a baloon. Yeah, these things are permanent and should definitely be thought about beforehand. But as long as one is comfortable with any and all consequences, by all means go ahead.

Happy peircing.

[Katie Reynolds]

When I was younger, I had my ears pierced but had to let them close up because they were infected. My sister wanted to get some more piercings in her ears, so I went with her and was going to get mine re-pierced ... but when the lady did hers, I almost passed out from watching (I'm not so good with needles and stuff) so I opted out.

Ah well, I'll get it done someday. But probably not anytime soon ...

[Ryan Albright]

I have three peircings.

Both lobes and my cartilage.

No tattoos as of yet, i want to get one but just dont know of what yet. I have been seriously considering getting the FIRST logo tattooed. My reason is that FIRST changed my life and its always goign to be apart of my life. I am thinking aobut getting my tongue pierced to just for awhile, enjoy it and then take it out

[Josh Hambright]

i forgot to mention i got my bridge pierced last weekend, and my labret, i didn't like the labret and took it out 2 days later.
stretched my ears to a 00g also.
Ohh and i got another tattoo started on my left leg and the one on my right leg worked on.

[Denman625]

this summer, 18th birthday, i am treating myself to a "self mutilation fest" tattoo on my shoulder blade, earrings, and eyebrow pierced... honestly, i love it... self expression is a beautiful thing

[Rachel2177]

I love this topic bc I have an obsession with piercings. I have 10 piercing in my ears. I have my ears triple pierced, my first hole is gauged to a 0, then I have an orbital in the other two. I have my conch, rook, helix, and cartilage pierced. There will be more to come when I find more cool places to put them

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

i have braces on 4 teeth and i am waiting for them to disappear then that day my tongue is getting done....i can;t wait


none other..(thinking about cartilage though)

It's amazing how time changes people's thoughts...I have had those braces off for about 3 years now and I still have no piercings or tattoos. I also don't see them coming in near future.

[Deacon Blues]

I imagine I'll get a K Records Shield tattoo on my arm when I turn 18. It's a good reminder of DIY standards, artistic integrity and success in free form work.