What body mod's. do you have? - specifically tatoo's/piercings

[banquo's_bumble_puppy]

What body mod's. do you have? - specifically tatoos/piercings

I have none- too chicken/too old

Lots of young folk on here and I'm guessing there's navy and miltary and they tend to get tatoos....

[Maksutov]

None whatsoever. I like my body the way it is.

If I want to do art, I'll buy a canvas, blank orchestral multi-stave paper, or mess with PhotoShop.

I find mutilations of the skin and body to be intrinsically ugly.

With females it's an immediate turn-off, as well as the things noted below.

With fellow males, well, their body, their money, their choice, their infections, their looking completely "dated" in about 10 years.

Fad. (http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0434152.html)

At least with clothing, it's easily modifiable.

[Donnie B.]

None except circumcision, and that wasn't my choice. ;)

[SolusLupus]

I'm thinking of getting a nice wolf tattoo someday. I don't have any yet.

I'm stuck with a human body I didn't choose to be in, and I wish I could change myself to be what I want to be. I don't quite see why so many have to act so elitist against that POV.

What's a bit of decoration, really? I still don't see the big deal.

[Moose]

None, other than circumcision, removed tonsils, and a rather cunningly rebuilt intestinal tract in lieu of the original manufacturer's defects. That's about as many mods as I care to have at this point in my life.

I'm much too pretty for cosmetic mods anyway.

(*sings* I'm not half the man I used to be... )

[farmerjumperdon]

No voluntary mutilation for me either. I'm really put off by needles. I wouldn't say afraid, but I can not see myself getting pierced or pricked unless it is very necessary.

I had several surgeries on my nasal cavity and sinuses in my teens and early 20's. Had to be concious so as not to choke/suffocate on all the fluids and chunks sliding down the back of the throat. It was very unsettling to see the surgical tray beforehand with all those long instruments; and then sneak a peak during the operation and see them all sticking out of your face by only a couple inches. I never knew how deep the cavities were.

Even with all the novocaine in the face (I've probably had 30 to 40 shots in my face over time), the feeling of all that tugging and cutting going on in the middle of the head was just too wierd. Not too mention the way it sounded.

No elective needle use for me. It's one of the few things in which I feel confident and comfortable saying never, ever, never, ever.

[Moose]

What's a bit of decoration, really? I still don't see the big deal.

Nothing's wrong with a bit of decoration. In my mind, less is more. I have never had a problem with pierced ears, and am (slowly) getting acclimated to seeing women with tasteful nose piercings.

Ink, on the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen one that has been of genuine aesthetic benefit to the wearer. The problem, in my mind, is that they're permanent, and most youngsters I've met who are considering tats aren't really understanding the implications of that.

Bodies change, so that nice tight tat "you're" considering will be faded, warped, and dated by the time you get tired of it in a few years. And that's assuming the tribal character or kanji you've chosen really means what you think it does.

[Jakenorrish]

I've three tattoos. One of a skull and crossbones on my right arm, one of a serpent on my left arm and my favourite on my right shoulder which is an eye, but difficult to describe. Oh I've got a pierced ear as well. I had them all done during my heavy metal phase when I was about 19. I don't regret it at all, which is good seeing as though they aren't going away anytime soon!

[Maksutov]

I'm thinking of getting a nice wolf tattoo someday. I don't have any yet.

I'm stuck with a human body I didn't choose to be in, and I wish I could change myself to be what I want to be.Therefore you wish you were born with piercings and tattoos? I don't quite see why so many have to act so elitist against that POV.What's elitist about expressing one's likes and dislikes? You just did, so that makes you elitist? http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/566/iconwink6tn.gifWhat's a bit of decoration, really? I still don't see the big deal.It's no big deal to me either, but don't expect me to do anything but laugh (or worse depending on the degree) when I see what you did to your skin.

As I said to my son when he was 15 and he announced that he was considering getting an earring, "Well go ahead if you want to, but that doesn't mean I'll not be ROTFLMAO when I see that thing."

http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/froehlich/a065.gif

Yet another definition. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fad&x=31&y=9)

[pghnative]

I've modified my belly to be much larger than original specification --- otherwise no mods.

[AitchJay]

I may be able to add something here, I have had - nipple ring (gone), eyebrow ring (gone), peircing of the frenum of the circumcised male genitalia (gone) and a pierced ear. Kept the last one.
Two tattoos, and it took me about three years to decide what they were going to be. They hold a kind of reminder for me, so it's not a decision I'll regret - and it's been nine years now. It's all (IMHO) down to how you view your body, a vessel or a temple..
Elective is different to necessary, when it comes to needles - necessary has better pain relief!

[Nicolas]

There are enough mods around here already ;)

[Ilya]

With females it's an immediate turn-off, as well as the things noted below.

Matter of taste. Many (not all) tattoos I find very sexy.

[SolusLupus]

Therefore you wish you were born with piercings and tattoos?

Where did I say that?

Why should I be stuck with the aesthetic looks that come with birth? What's wrong with CHOOSING to look differently?

I'm born with it, so I'm stuck with it? Is that your point?

What's elitist about expressing one's likes and dislikes? You just did, so that makes you elitist?

I'm not saying, "I R THE BEST BECAUSE I HAVE TATTOOS", no. You seem to be saying, through subtext, that you are somehow "better" because you do not have tattoos. That sounds elitist to me, but whatever.

It's no big deal to me either, but don't expect me to do anything but laugh (or worse depending on the degree) when I see what you did to your skin.

And don't be surprised when I roll my eyes and laugh at you back. Nothing like seeing a person rolling around laughing because someone had a rose put on their ankle or somesuch.

Heh, whatever. Go ahead and laugh; I really couldn't care less about you or your opinion. :)

[Nicolas]

I've got a face piercing. It's 2 hooks behind my ears, a clamp on my nose, all of that connected by thin, special formed profiles, and featuring two large precision cut jewels right in front of my eyes.



It pierces the unblocked view others used to have of my face.

[Argos]

None whatsoever. I like my body the way it is.

If I want to do art, I'll buy a canvas, blank orchestral multi-stave paper, or mess with PhotoShop.

I find mutilations of the skin and body to be intrinsically ugly.

With females it's an immediate turn-off, as well as the things noted below.

With fellow males, well, their body, their money, their choice, their infections, their looking completely "dated" in about 10 years.

Fad. (http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0434152.html)

At least with clothing, it's easily modifiable.

Ditto!

[Serenitude]

A tattoo of a yellow rose on my left shoulder, where it's out of sight even in short sleeves, unless I choose to show it. I have a few more planned, though. Can't do the peircing thing - it's just not me.

[jseefcoot]

I have had, at various times, three earrings in my left ear, and five in my right (two rights and one left were cartilage piercings), but have never actually used more than six of those at one time.

When the time came to cut my hair short for a job, I also removed all the earrings. That was several years ago. I am now in a different job, in the process of growing my hair out again, and will soon start on getting repierced.

As far as tattoos go, I have only wanted one, and have wanted it since I was 18 or so: I got my percussive start playing quads in marching band and drum corps, and I want a tat of Baby Animal tearing up a set of quads. (tearing up as in playing, not destruction.) I have put off getting it until I can keep my weight down to a specific goal, because I want to minimize deformity due to aging skin. If I ever get this tat, it will be the only one. Working in a professional setting, I won't put this tattoo anywhere it can be visible when wearing a normal, short-sleeved shirt. Our environment is relaxed enough for the hair and earrings though.

[korjik]

... and I want a tat of Baby Animal tearing up a set of quads. (tearing up as in playing, not destruction.) ...

There's a difference? This is Animal we are talking about

Other than one similar to Nicolas, the my only other mods were internal.

[Nicolas]

Other than one similar to Nicolas, the my only other mods were internal.

Next to some minor "random skin modifications" due to a multitude of accidents of varying amplitude and some dental mods, I've got a body modification that is both internal and external. One of my toes used to resemble pudding on the inside, and after it returned to a standard bone and tissue structure, is quite a lot shorter than its counterpart on the other foot.

It's one body modification I'd rather not have, but it's not too much of a problem. I'd rather have another shorter toe than my slightly misalligned hip. That's no modification though, as I had that from birth. In fact my nicely straight pace is a body modification, because my pace used to be more wavelike. I'm happy with that modification, as it helps in having a decent pace and keeps my knees from hitting each other too much. I don't have x legs though, it's simply due to the slightly misalligned hip and accompanying wavelike pace that they would come too close during walking and riding a bike if I hadn't modified my pace. It's amazing: when reading about these things, people (including myself) always think of somebody walking really strange, obviously misalligned, but in fact even a misallignment that is invisible on first sight can cause problems in the long term, such as your knees starting to hit each other.

But when I look at most people's pace, mine is more straight even though I've got the slightly misalligned hip, so I can't complain at all :). The only problems I have with it is not being allowed to be a fighter pilot if the doctor is having a bad day (but I've got bad eyes anyway) and sometimes a painful back after the night when I don't have the whole bed for myself to roll over from time to time during the night and hence spread the load, or when I fall asleep on my wrong side :). I don't seem to have problems with G loads at all though, so unless it's against the rules I see no problem in becoming astronaut or projectile ;).

As for the toe, it can be a problem when buying shoes, but other than that I can live with that modification without problems.

As for deliberate, non-medical modifications, I wouldn't know which one would fit me, so I refrain from having any.

[tofu]

Someone help me understand the following: Why would anyone get a tattoo that's "in style" like for example those ring of thorn things that guys get on around their biceps, or the tattoos that girls get on their lower back? I mean, you look just like everyone else so, uh, what was the point of the tattoo?

"I'm going to demonstrate my individuality by getting the same tattoo that everyone else has"

[Ilya]

The point of such tattoo is NOT to demonstrate one's individuality, but quite the opposite. It is to show that you a part of the "in" crowd.

[Nicolas]

That's why I tattoed my entire forehead fluorescent pink. Individuality 2.0 ;)

[DaveC426913]

The point of such tattoo is NOT to demonstrate one's individuality, but quite the opposite. It is to show that you a part of the "in" crowd.

Well said.

[Doodler]

None personally, though I had considered a gothic thorn pattern on one of my forearms.

I'm not a huge fan of metal all over the face, myself, though navel piercings can be immensely entertaining on women. Genital/nipple piercing, hey, whatever floats your boat, but eh, pass...

Skin art isn't a huge deal to me, until the percentage of exposed skin colored hits about the 10% mark, then it becomes, "ok, congratulations, you're a billboard".

Needless to say, despite my own opinions, I would never put myself in a position to say someone shouldn't do what they want (including some of the REAL bizarre crap that I've seen), but I do think people who push certain limits are begging for a backlash and shouldn't whine when they get it.

[Moose]

or the tattoos that girls get on their lower back?

Those tats have acquired the dubious nickname "tramp stamps". People considering them at this stage might want to think about the implications of that on their expectations of making a statement about individuality, or their expectations of social acceptedness, whichever it is they're gunning for.

[Kelfazin]

I've got a tattoo on my right arm, but I am able to cover it with a short sleeve shirt. I also have plans to get more tats. I see no problem with people that choose to get them or not get them, personal preference for the win.

I also agree with Doodler about navel rings on women...that's hot :)

[Van Rijn]

I'm stuck with a human body I didn't choose to be in, and I wish I could change myself to be what I want to be. I don't quite see why so many have to act so elitist against that POV.


I think most people would like to change some things about themselves, but I don't see what permanent staining of the skin or putting holes in the body have to do with that.

I'm not going to go around telling people I don't like their tattoos or piercings, but that doesn't mean I have to like them. How that is elitist is beyond me.


What's a bit of decoration, really? I still don't see the big deal.

I see it as not so much decoration but as needless (and more or less permanent) damage to the body. But if you want to do it, sure, it's your choice.

[Casus_belli]

Despite being in the merchant navy no tatoos, piercings or anything else.

Never saw the point of all that needlework for something that I'd hate in years to come I have enough regrets in life without that.

[Serenitude]

That's assuming people regret them in later years. 10 years later, I still love my tat.

[Tensor]

I have one piercing in my left ear. I've got several different earing that I wear as the mood strikes me. I have a 1/2 carat diamond, one of the shuttle, a couple of hoops and the one I'm wearing now, the theatre masks (I wear this one while a show I'm in is in rehearsal or running). Thats all I want and plan on getting. I've had it for almost 15 years and still wear an earing. I had it done while I was in the Air Force. Just took it off while on duty. I'm not really concerned what other people think of it. I like it, my wife likes it (she bought me the diamond) and thats all I care about. I'm lucky in that my work is rather laid back about things like that. Almost everyone is pretty much the picture of corporate culture, but I wear my hair rather long (except when I cut it for a show) and have the earing and I've never had a problem with promotions or job movement. I think they may be a bit tolerant due to my being in IT. I'm kinda known as the weird one who gets things done, which doesn't bother me.

[Big Brother Dunk]

I'm due for a haircut next week.;)

That's about it.

[Ronald Brak]

Q. What's the difference between a tatoo and an Armani suit?

A. Not much. You have to pay for both with either pain or cash and both are social markers.

[Melusine]

I can't say I'm fond of tattoos--our bodies create interesting marks and scars with their own stories as it is. I have freckles on my nose and lots of those tiny brown spots that have multiplied over the years, especially on my upper arms. Once a boyfriend took a marker pen that happened to be on the nightstand and started connecting the dots making constellations. (Maybe that's TMI, but it was funny at the time, and washable.)

I once briefly dated this guy who had a Winnie-the-Pooh scooping honey out of the jar on the back of his shoulder. It was actually cute even though I don't care for tattoos, but other guys thought it was effeminate and/or corny. :D

[SolusLupus]

I once briefly dated this guy who had a Winnie-the-Pooh scooping honey out of the jar on the back of his shoulder. It was actually cute even though I don't care for tattoos, but other guys thought it was effeminate and/or corny. :D

I don't quite see how it would be corny, but I guess I can see effeminate.

"Corny", to me, means something similar to "cliche", and that sounds like something original.

Either way, more power to him.

[Melusine]

I don't quite see how it would be corny, but I guess I can see effeminate.

"Corny", to me, means something similar to "cliche", and that sounds like something original.

Either way, more power to him.
That is one definition of corny-"cliche and trite." Another one is "mawkishly sentimental," which then means "marked by sickly sentimentality." (Per Merriam-Webster.) He had some personal Winnie-the-Pooh leitmotif going on his life.

[Jakenorrish]

That's assuming people regret them in later years. 10 years later, I still love my tat.

Yeah, its down to personal taste and thankfully we're all different. I like my tattoos and wouldn't call it damage Van. I think that if you see it as damage, that's cool. We're all different, some have them, some don't but it isn't a problem is it?

[HenrikOlsen]

I'm at two tattoos and a piercing.

One tattoo which is an abstract symbol inspired by, not copied from, one appearing in an episode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Age_(Buffy_episode)) of Buffy is on the inside of my left forearm where it normally isn't noticed a lot, I don't have a picture of mine, but here's (http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/season2/vidcaps/20_12.jpg) how it was in the episode.

The other (http://www.iaeste.dk/~henrik/projects/tattoo.html) is on my right shoulder and upper back, with the main motif (http://www.iaeste.dk/~henrik/images/SigurdFafnir5.jpg) taken from a wood carving (http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/sigurddoor.html) on the entrance portal of a 12th century norse church, depicting (http://www.khm.uio.no/samlinger/oldsak/oldsak_gb4.shtml) a scene (http://omacl.org/Volsunga/chapter18.html) from the Volsunga saga (http://omacl.org/Volsunga/).

[GeorgeLeRoyTirebiter]

I'm reminded of an advertisement I saw in a manufacturing trade magazine a few years ago. There was a photo of a young man sporting many facial piercings- lips, nose, eyebrows, ears, etc. The tagline read, "Fasteners don't look good in your product, either."

[BigDon]

Got tattoo'ed in the Navy as well as an earring in the left ear. By tradition, the only guys in the Navy that can get both ears pierced and not get blown a major ration of crap are the guys who've circumnavigated the Earth on a ship. I've only sailed to the farside of the Earth twice so I just have the one.

Now my daughters ask me about tatoos and I have to tell them that I firmly believe that tattoos on a woman are out-right vandalism. Women are already the right color.

[mike alexander]

Doodler's mention of billboards made me wonder why corporations haven't hit on the idea of paying people to get tattoos for commercial products - kind of like a NASCAR suit on your skin. CASTROL pecs, anyone?

I have a nifty three inch scar on my abdomen; like Moose, a memento of internal slicing and dicing in the past.

[HenrikOlsen]

Doodler's mention of billboards made me wonder why corporations haven't hit on the idea of paying people to get tattoos for commercial products - kind of like a NASCAR suit on your skin. CASTROL pecs, anyone?

Then have already, I won't demean this noble board with links to it though.

Or rather, as I remember it, it was someone putting their forehead up on eBay as advertising space.

[BigDon]

Oh that's just creepy...

[Ilya]

Then have already, I won't demean this noble board with links to it though.

Or rather, as I remember it, it was someone putting their forehead up on eBay as advertising space.

As I recall, Fleet Bank (now Bank of America) bought their foreheads. The price was four years of college tuition.

[Maksutov]

I've modified my belly to be much larger than original specification --- otherwise no mods.Too much Iron City (http://www.pittsburghbrewingco.com/), eh?

[jseefcoot]

I guess I can add something, since some people have posted about surgeries, scars, etc.

I have a BB embedded in my hand, obtained during a shooting accident with a friend. (he Cheney'd me!) Right between the long bones in the palm that lead up to the fourth and pinky fingers. It's been there since 1995, so I guess that makes it my first 'body mod'. It manifests as a tiny round ball just under the skin on the top of my hand, so it is visible with little trouble. It really freaks some people out. You can definitely tell what it is if you put your finger on it.

To answer the questions that are sure to come, it's still there because: Dr. thinks it would probably do more harm than good to remove it; it doesn't hinder in any way any activities I do with that hand (typing, drumming, sports); There is no indication it is 'poisoning' me; no one else has one.

[closetgeek]

I have to disagree with that. The crowd I ran with, most certainly would not be considered the "in" crowd. We were basically the rejects that banded together to form our own little crowd. I don't see much of a difference between piercings and tattoos. It all comes down to permanantly altering your body. I personally have a lot. Yes I am a female, and to those that find females with tats a complete turn off, I am not offended, there is a good chance that you would have been turned off by my annoying voice, big nose (princess Vespa, pre-op), or artificial leg before you even knew I've been inked. As for why? I have always liked them. My first few were impulsive, though I still have no regrets. I have my children's names on my left arm, an arm band on my right with the chinese symbol for strength/power, also a Shamrock on my right forearm. I have always been a collector of daggers so I had to have a rose wrapped around a dagger on my right ankle, a pink floyd symbol on my lower back (the only one I am mildy embarassed of). I also have hubby's name over my heart (mind you even if we do get divorced he will always be the father to my children), a memorium to my oldest and dearest friend on my right shoulderblade. The best one is on my lower tummy. It is a hand holding a rose with a butterfly landing on it and an explosion behind it. It was not that big when I got it, but three pregnancies later, hubby lovingly now calls it the big bang. Yep, did not think that one through. You don't have to like them because they are mine.

The point of such tattoo is NOT to demonstrate one's individuality, but quite the opposite. It is to show that you a part of the "in" crowd.

[BigDon]

LOL, peace Closetgeek, Its not like I'm going to take sandpaper to you and grind off your tats. Heck, I would shoot anybody who tried. I keep my opinions about tattoos to myself unless, like my daughters, you ask me. Then I'll tell ya.

[closetgeek]

Lol, I guess I have been dying to share my rant ever since an unfriendly confrontation with a soccar mom. I was fully aware of the reprocussions of getting inked. I have just always found tattoo prejudice a but unfair. People cut their hair to decorate their face, dye their hair, wax eyebrows, wear makeup, peirce their bodies, and the new black in cosmetics; plastic surgery. Grant it, not all of them are permanant, but generally people don't cut their hair once and then let it grow naturally for the rest of their lives. The styles may change but the alterations remain pretty permanent. I have never met a single "natural" person, in my life. People make plenty of permanant changes to their bodies all the time, though some are not even conscious decisions. Tattoos are now associated with bikers, dirtbags, and lately, the "in" crowd, but, in fact, the culture origin dates back further than most religions. I didn't do it for anything but the mere fact that I like them. Back to the soccer mom, a young man and I were discussing tattoos (they do make for great conversation starters), and when he stated which types of tattoos are beautiful, a rather rigid woman bursts out with, "There is no such thing as a beautiful tattoo!" I am terrible with confrontation so my first reaction was to sink into myself. I never replied to her but I really wanted to and regret letting fear take me over. I merely wanted to point out that there is no such thing as a factual opinion. And there is not. The changes people make to their bodies are their way of representing, with out words, who they are. There are many things about each individual that are turn offs, (the listings of my shortcomings were not for the sympathy factor, but just to point out that our involuntary appearance is just as much a factor in communication as our voluntary appearance) and more than likely, if tattoos bothered a person enough to turn them off to me, chances are we lack many things in common and there are aspects about you, that I, in turn, would find displeasing.

I put it out there to be seen and expect to hear people voicing their disapproval. It doesn't bother me and in no way makes me ashamed of my choices. I just find it odd that my personal choices bother strangers so much that they feel it necessary to let me know. That is not to say this board, the posts seem rather plain and uncritical, simply answering the question. I am talking about people on the street.

LOL, peace Closetgeek, Its not like I'm going to take sandpaper to you and grind off your tats. Heck, I would shoot anybody who tried. I keep my opinions about tattoos to myself unless, like my daughters, you ask me. Then I'll tell ya.

[BigDon]

My brother and some of his friends are seriously salaried excecutives. They heard this one CIO they dispised talk very badly about the type of people who get tattoos and went out that night and got some major ink done. Across both deltoids, down the biceps to short-sleeve length. Shelled out some bucks, too. My kid brother, you don't want to get him angry. He's got a temper and has been known to really hurt people. Doesn't seem to go with the usual executive image. Aww facades.

[Kelfazin]

There's a lady in my office that believes that every single case of Hepatitis C comes from tattoo's and thinks the government should ban them altogether.

[closetgeek]

Though not in every case, it is very easy to get Hep C through tattoos. That is why people are urged to hang out in the parlor they are considering for their work. Watch to see if the person throws out the unused ink or pours it back into the bottle. I don't know if they can get away with that anymore. I was under the impression that most of the Hep C cases came from blood transfusions before 1991. Most people don't even know they have it. If you look up the statistics, there was a surge in reported Hep C cases immediately following 9/11, due to all the people that donated blood.


There's a lady in my office that believes that every single case of Hepatitis C comes from tattoo's and thinks the government should ban them altogether.

[HenrikOlsen]

My brother and some of his friends are seriously salaried excecutives. They heard this one CIO they dispised talk very badly about the type of people who get tattoos and went out that night and got some major ink done. Across both deltoids, down the biceps to short-sleeve length. Shelled out some bucks, too. My kid brother, you don't want to get him angry. He's got a temper and has been known to really hurt people. Doesn't seem to go with the usual executive image. Aww facades.

Interesting reason to get a tattoo.
I think protest tattoos are likely to be amongst those most likely to be regretted later, those and group belonging feeling1 tattoos once you realize you don't belong in the group anymore.

1) Sorry about the neologism, I couldn't think of the right word:) In-crowd tattoo might have covered it except the group belonged to are often very much not in.

[Damien Evans]

i personally don't have any body mods myself, but my cousin does

As a sign of his love/comittment/whatever he got a tattoo on his chest of his girlfriends name...

Several months later they split up, oops...

[MrClean]

Always wondered what it felt like. When my daughter had her ears pierced originally, her mother did it with her and they went around frumpily holding their ears. A year later I went to a contest and having very little hair but enough to keep the suntan lotion off of my scalp, I just shaved my head. Suntan lotion does it's job that way and I don't turn into a mindless, sunbacked drone in a couple of hours of forgetting my hat. Well those folks were asking me where my Mr Clean earing was and one in particular kept telling me she'd fix me up after the nights barbeque/beerfest. At the end of the service line one of her co-workers assured me that while everyone was sober I was safe, later that night he'd probably help hold me down and that she and her son also ran the local piercing/tattoo parlor. Then he told me the mall was about 10 miles down the road and they could put one in more gracefully and with less chance of infection. I took the mall. When the lady finally stuck my ear I kept asking her to get a move on because I had an event coming up. When she told me I was done already I had to wonder what was up with my wife and daughter.

My Brother in law decided he'd get a big mean tattoo with his inheritance. He's got some little Chinese symbol that supposed to say Father, but probably means There's a sucker born every minute, like he's even the least bit Asian. Always wondering what that felt like I took the more patriotic route and had this Eagle put on my shoulder. That was fun. I first had a temporary tat on for a couple weeks that was real close. My sife thought it was cute and that I'd grow out of it. 2 weeks after that she noticed the tattoo was still on. She said "Man, that thing has lasted a long time, is it waterproof or something?" Which I replied, "I sure hope so, it cost enough."
Took her about a minute to figure that out.

I also have Titanium in my toes and a big old Titanium plate in my right hand, but we won't go over my brief dirt bike experience at this time.

[SolusLupus]

As for kanji characters on your body, ALWAYS consult an expert in Japanese/Chinese calligraphy (the two sometimes intertwine). For instance, I consult the girl I know in Singapore before I draw calligraphy for various games I play.

Research is always essential.

[BigDon]

Speaking of Kanji characters...

Did anyone see that movie where this obnousious guy who was rude to the tattoo artist is showing off his Kanji character to an old Chinese man and tells him, "It means Firery Strength!" and the old Chinese man replies, "No, it means when two men live together as husband and wife you are the woman." I just saw the trailer but thought that was hilarious.

[Josh]

I have my tragus pierced (that's the nobbly bit at the front of the ear). I’ve had it pierced twice now after getting bored of it the first time. Putting the needle through the scar tissue the second time round was actually pretty fun.

I also have a tattoo on my back. It incorporates a few things that remind me of, mean, or allude to things, that are very important to me. It’s made up of two birds which I drew to look like eagles and ravens (they’re silhouetted) which represent different things, a golden spiral and my dog’s name.

You should only get a tattoo if you are really certain about it. You’d think that’d be pretty obvious but I know so many people who have regretted it*. I took years to finally settle on what I wanted … it went through many iterations and was inspired, ultimately, my the death of my dog.

I was sure I had a photo of it on here … hmmm

*Not least of all a guy who staggered into the tattoo parlour with a Mickey Mouse tatt on his chest the size of an outstretched hand. He begged the artist to cover it up but, having only got it the day before (at some dodgy place whilst drunk) he was told he’d have to wait a month at least.

[Maksutov]

All my body modifications are of the involuntary sort.

There's the scar on my abdomen from where surgery was performed to undo a knot that formed in my large intestine that almost killed me. That was at 2 1/2. While in there the surgeon also removed my appendix. Thank you.

I still have the scar from my first vaccination.

There's a scar on the back of my right hand where my future brother-in-law's brother, who was a pyromaniac, lit a tape on fire and stuck in on my hand.

There're the various non-normal areas of my nose where it was broken, from fights, football, baseball, or skiing. I know how the late Jack Palance must have felt. Same thing applies to various appendages, i.e., arms, legs, etc. Funny how the football injuries were for the most part internal, and thus show no scars, like when I dislocated my left femur while playing left tackle.

The end of my left index finger is much smaller than its equivalent on the right. This was due to making a mistake when taking apart a spectroscope I had built for my senior project in high school. The slit was formed by two razor blades mounted on cardboard. I stuck my finger in the wrong end. It was sort of like a Chinese finger puzzle.

There's the scar on my chin from where I went over a jump while skiing and one ski came loose from its binding while I was in the air. I landed on the other ski but then lost balance and painted the slope red with my chin.

There's the scar on my right wrist from where I was playing volleyball in college, went for a dig (success, we won the game), and fractured all the wrist bones. After the cast came off, the wrist kept locking up, so the surgeon wound up removing 21 bone fragments.

There's the scar on my forehead from where I hydroplaned off the road in the Adirondacks, hit a stone pillar, and broke the steering wheel with my head.

There's the scar on my left knee where a friend and I were hustling down Mt. Washington with lightning and thunder all around us, trying to get below treeline ASAP, and a rock on Lion's Head jumped up and got me.

There's the weird-looking curve of my big toes where the first two joints have fused together and no longer flex.

There's a scar on my inner thigh from a coronary catheterization in 2003.

Finally there's the scar tissue all over the bottom half of my right leg due an infection that had me in the hospital in February and March and almost cost me that leg.

Oh yeah, one other thing, somewhere inside my chest cavity is the scar tissue from a broken heart...

[Nicolas]

Since last weekend I have the texture or a shopping street's pavement and a fat lady (with all due respect, that is the correct description) 's shoe imprinted on my middle finger.

Don't ask. Don't.

[HenrikOlsen]

There're the various non-normal areas of my nose where it was broken, from fights, football, baseball, or skiing. I know how the late Jack Palance must have felt.
Are you sure?
His face was the result of being pulled out of a burning bomber during WWII, not the result of his boxing days.

[Maksutov]

Are you sure?
His face was the result of being pulled out of a burning bomber during WWII, not the result of his boxing days.Sure. Different method, same results.

[SolusLupus]

Since last weekend I have the texture or a shopping street's pavement and a fat lady (with all due respect, that is the correct description) 's shoe imprinted on my middle finger.

Don't ask. Don't.

Sooo... what happened?

(I'm evil)

[Nicolas]

Let's just say that it is unwise to pick up a candy when the fat lady has also spotted it.

I'm not laughing.
My knuckle is gone and my nail is matte.

[closetgeek]

The funny thing is the Chinese symbol that I had done on my arm, I originally thought it was a Wiccan Symbol. I am not Wiccan, I just bought it from one of those shops in New Hope and liked it. As it turned out, I was getting my nails done and the chinese man that owns the shop told me it was Chinese. After that, I decided my last tattoo is going to be the Chinese symbol for gullible round eye. The problem is, I have run out of discreet places, so I was thinking of having it done on my forehead. Think that will look cool?

A quick side note: my father and I were out to dinner one night when a really scary looking biker guy approaches us and asked my father if there was a problem. My father calmly replied, "No, there is no problem. Why?" To which the biker replied, "You have been staring over here since you sat down. I think there is a problem." Obviously he was looking for a fight. My fathers says back to him, "Oh I guess you had roses tattooed on your face to get ignored." Even he had to laugh.

Speaking of Kanji characters...

Did anyone see that movie where this obnousious guy who was rude to the tattoo artist is showing off his Kanji character to an old Chinese man and tells him, "It means Firery Strength!" and the old Chinese man replies, "No, it means when two men live together as husband and wife you are the woman." I just saw the trailer but thought that was hilarious.

[Fazor]

:) I was just informed by the other half that she wants to get me a tattoo for an x-mas present this year. Might take her up on it, haven't decided tho. If i do I want something patriotic.

Not political, just showing pride for where I was born and raised. Would expect anyone to feel the same way for thier home country, town, city, whatever. Well, anyone except the bloody Irish! :) j/k.

Also, aside from not knowing exactly what I want, dunno where I want it. Probably shoulderblade or something. Somewhere easily concealable. Maybe I'll have her get me a Nintendo Wii instead. :)

[SolusLupus]

:) I was just informed by the other half that she wants to get me a tattoo for an x-mas present this year. Might take her up on it, haven't decided tho. If i do I want something patriotic.

Not political, just showing pride for where I was born and raised. Would expect anyone to feel the same way for thier home country, town, city, whatever. Well, anyone except the bloody Irish! :) j/k.

I don't. "I'm not an Athenian, but a man of the world" -- Plato.

Where I was born was where I was born. I don't quite get why I'm supposed to feel some sort of pride just because I was situated someplace geographically.

[Maha Vailo]

I don't have any. I'm not fond of tats, and piercings would only get dirty where I work.

- Maha "not even the ears" Vailo

[BigDon]

I don't. "I'm not an Athenian, but a man of the world" -- Plato.

Where I was born was where I was born. I don't quite get why I'm supposed to feel some sort of pride just because I was situated someplace geographically.

That's 'cause your a Texan. Who the hell what's to admit that?

[Fazor]

Lol! Good show big don! As they say, only two things come from texas...and i think we all know what those are... ...cowboys and cowgirls. am i right? lol.

[SeanF]

No tattoos or piercings on this guy. Never really even considered it. However:

My Brother in law decided he'd get a big mean tattoo with his inheritance. He's got some little Chinese symbol that supposed to say Father, but probably means There's a sucker born every minute, like he's even the least bit Asian.
That would actually be something meaningful to me. I'm not the least bit Asian, either, but my daughter is.

I would know the right symbol for father, though. :)

Where I was born was where I was born. I don't quite get why I'm supposed to feel some sort of pride just because I was situated someplace geographically.
Do you feel pride in your children, but refuse to feel any in your parents?

Just curious. :)

[Nicolas]

Where I was born doesn't exist anymore.

[Dr Nigel]

Where I was born doesn't exist anymore.

What, Krypton? Hello, Supes!

[Dr Nigel]

I was hoping to wait until they are able to implant a plasma rifle in my left arm (anyone remember T3?). However, apparently the heatsinks are a pain in the **** so I changed my mind!

[BigDon]

LoneWolf, you know I'm just joking right?

For those of you from "furrin' parts" Californians and Texans have a long running feud. Mainly to do with which state produces the greater number of homosexuals, with each claiming the other as the greater source. Just so you Aussies and Scotsmen know.

[MrClean]

I was hoping to wait until they are able to implant a plasma rifle in my left arm (anyone remember T3?). However, apparently the heatsinks are a pain in the **** so I changed my mind!

So that's where the thermoconductor vents are located,,,


veeeeeery interesting.

[Nicolas]

What, Krypton? Hello, Supes!

No, the gov't simply decided to get rid of the village. Again.

[SolusLupus]

That's 'cause your a Texan. Who the hell what's to admit that?

Uh, every Texan besides me? I'm not a Texan either; I was born in Germany. I've spent more time in Korea than Texas. I've also spent a significant time around the U.S.

But other than that, have you even met someone from Texas? They're from Texas, and proud of it. They'll even rub it in your face.

[SolusLupus]

Do you feel pride in your children, but refuse to feel any in your parents?

Just curious. :)

Don't ever plan to have children, and I certainly don't feel proud of my wife-beating alcoholic father. As for my mother, yes, I find proud, but my mother is not my country.

I'm of the opinion that respect isn't given, it's earned. I do not feel respect for a country merely because I was geographically born there. I was born in Germany, too, soo... by the logic that geographic location is important, I shouldn't care at all about America, even though people assocate me with being an American.

[Fazor]

But other than that, have you even met someone from Texas? They're from Texas, and proud of it. They'll even rub it in your face.

Yeah, and that's what makes it soo great that we (ohio state) beat Texas in the second game of the season this year. MWAHAHAHA. ...we'll just forget that they did the same thing to us *last* year.... :shhh:

Anyway, I guess I worded it wrong. I didn't mean i expect everyone to feel pride for where they're from. But the ones that do, I understand why. But this convo is headed down a road It probably shouldn't so we'll steer it back towards body mods. I'm still think'n either shoulder blade (painfull, i know) or the typical upper arm, but my gf hates the later so probably go with the shoulder blade.

[Laguna]

No decorations on my body.
Just a good selection of scars.

[SeanF]

As for my mother, yes, I find proud, but my mother is not my country.
But your relationship/association with your mother is just as much a coincidental happenstance as it is with your birthplace.

So to answer your question as to "why [you're] supposed to feel some sort of pride" in your birthplace, the answer is - the same kinds of reasons you might feel pride in your mother.

[SolusLupus]

But your relationship/association with your mother is just as much a coincidental happenstance as it is with your birthplace.

No it isn't. I like my mom because she's a good person, she cares about people, and she's a hard worker. There's a lot more to admire about her than simply her being my mother.

Please stop making assumptions on me and my motives. It doesn't come off very well at all.

So to answer your question as to "why [you're] supposed to feel some sort of pride" in your birthplace, the answer is - the same kinds of reasons you might feel pride in your mother.

If someone feels pride in their mother purely for arbitrary reasons, then I would question that. I would not feel pride for my mother if she was vindictive, uncaring, or harmful to those around her. She's EARNED my respect. I am not arbitrary in my admiration of her.

Once more, do not make assumptions on me, nor try to assign things to me that do not exist, please.

And if you're supposed to arbitrarily feel respect for a geographic location because you're supposed to arbitrarily feel respect for the person that gave birth to you, I guess I can see why so many messed-up things happened because of Nationalism.

[Dragon Star]

I'm a pain pansy when it comes to the fact that I know it will hurt, so I don't do Tattoos or Piercings. But if I get hurt unexpectedly I could care less. Guess it's a psychological thing... However, if there was no pain involved I would probably have a small Tribal Dragon on my shoulder or something. Go figure, eh?:D

I'm going to go with the Tattoos are unattractive on women thing as well though, but it depends on size and location. Bigger it is and more obvious it is, the more unattractive it is. I think mostly because almost all the girls I know/knew who had/have tattos are slutty, so it becomes an automatic turn off. Apparently I'm not the only one that thinks this though...

[SeanF]

Please stop making assumptions on me and my motives. It doesn't come off very well at all.
I apologize if I'm coming off poorly. However, your post that I'm responding to was no less insulting to anyone who does take pride in their birthplace. That's why I'm responding to it.

If someone feels pride in their mother purely for arbitrary reasons, then I would question that. I would not feel pride for my mother if she was vindictive, uncaring, or harmful to those around her. She's EARNED my respect. I am not arbitrary in my admiration of her.
Absolutely. But lots of people could (and, I would imagine, have) earned your respect for similar qualities.

So think of someone who has similarly earned your respect but with whom you have no direct association (perhaps a well-known philanthropist). Are you proud of that person? I doubt it. But you are proud of your mother. What's the difference? The difference is the direct association - even though it is an association for which you are not responsible and which you could not have prevented if you wanted.

So if someone's birthplace is also worthy of respect and admiration, isn't it sensible to feel pride in that?

And if you're supposed to arbitrarily feel respect for a geographic location because you're supposed to arbitrarily feel respect for the person that gave birth to you, I guess I can see why so many messed-up things happened because of Nationalism.
This post - by you - is the first suggestion of arbitrariness. Your previous post didn't suggest it was wrong to be proud of one's birthplace for arbitrary reasons. It suggested it was wrong to be proud of one's birthplace for any reason at all.

Unless, of course, you were not speaking generally and simply meant that your, Lonewulf's, actual birthplace is specifically unworthy of pride, but I'm afraid it didn't come across that way.

[SolusLupus]

Absolutely. But lots of people could (and, I would imagine, have) earned your respect for similar qualities.

So think of someone who has similarly earned your respect but with whom you have no direct association (perhaps a well-known philanthropist). Are you proud of that person? I doubt it.

I'm proud of him as a human being, yes. I would draw it parallel to being proud of my mother.

The major case here is vocabulary, then. I am not "proud" of my mother in the way you think I am. I like her as a person, and I know I can count on her to support me and she can count on me to support her. We have a symbiotic relationship, and she has earned my respect as a person.

All of the above could happen with any friend I make, or any person that I know personally. Once more, it is not because she gave birth to me, but merely because she is a person that I like to be around, and a person that I know I can trust. There is nothing sacred nor different than what is potentially possible with another person.

So if someone's birthplace is also worthy of respect and admiration, isn't it sensible to feel pride in that?

If I was born in America, and I found American values to be worthy, then yes, I would have respect and admiration for them (personally, though, I find some American values hypocritical, and some people in America to be rather obnoxious, but that's besides the point). HOWEVER, if I know of another country that has values that I admire (even if those values are entirely different -- in this case, we take Singapore, where firearms are strictly limited, and I'm usually all for firearms... special case for Singapore, however), then I admire that country. I don't give more weight to one than another; they both are of equal value to me. One I know more about, since it's my geographic location of living (though I wouldn't mind leaving and visiting another country at will).

So no, I don't see why someone should put more weight on their country than another. In fact, I think that that sense of nationalism is more harmful than beneficial. It sets up a mindset of "us vs. them". Your nation, country, or geographic location is obviously superior to the other countries, and you believe that because you were born there. This sets up dividing lines, and prevents people from coming together.

This post - by you - is the first suggestion of arbitrariness. Your previous post didn't suggest it was wrong to be proud of one's birthplace for arbitrary reasons. It suggested it was wrong to be proud of one's birthplace for any reason at all.

For any reason at all? How did I suggest that?

Don't ever plan to have children, and I certainly don't feel proud of my wife-beating alcoholic father. As for my mother, yes, I find proud, but my mother is not my country.

I'm of the opinion that respect isn't given, it's earned. I do not feel respect for a country merely because I was geographically born there. I was born in Germany, too, soo... by the logic that geographic location is important, I shouldn't care at all about America, even though people assocate me with being an American.

I said that respect isn't given, it's EARNED. If the birthplace earns respect, then that respect is earned. How did you get "no reason at all" out of that? Anyways, I'll paraphrase my argument later, and maybe that will clear things up.

Unless, of course, you were not speaking generally and simply meant that your, Lonewulf's, actual birthplace is specifically unworthy of pride, but I'm afraid it didn't come across that way.

Let me simplify my argument, then, since you don't seem to quite comprehend my meaning:

1) You should not have respect for your parents, or your home country, for the pure purpose that you were born by them, or born in that location.

2) If that country or person happens to earn your respect however, then you should still respect them.

3) If that place or person you were born in or under, however, screws you over, then you should not denote them undue respect.

By this argument, I would betray the country I was born under, or the country I lived in, if I felt that that country was a direct enemy to humanity (I.E., I would have left Nazi germany to go to America, or I would have left Stalin's regime to go to America). Now, while you could make the argument that you could stay in your country and try to make things better, that is a very dangerous path, very difficult, and not everyone can take that path. In the same argument, I could stand by my father as he beats my mother, and continues to insult her and get himself drunk... but I see no way of ever changing him, and only see more harm coming out of the relationship. So, instead, I encourage my mother to divorce him and get away from him.

So, that's basically my argument. Respect is earned, not granted freely. I'm not saying that there is "no reason" to respect your home country, just that there shouldn't be undue respect put upon a person or any body of people that is not earned.

I'll also add that that's why I used the word "arbitrary". I find it arbitrary to respect someone because they just happen to be related to you, and I find it arbitrary to love someplace just because you happened to have been born there. I mean, if you were born in the ghetto, you most likely would not respect it; the same with the idea of automatically respecting a country because you were born there. Some countries are worse than ghettos (and some countries put you in them)

[SeanF]

If I was born in America, and I found American values to be worthy, then yes, I would have respect and admiration for them
But would you feel proud? That's the question.

For any reason at all? How did I suggest that?
Mea culpa. On looking back, it looks like Fazor was saying that he'd expect anybody to feel pride in their birthplace, so your response should have been taken in the context of whether pride was justifiable with no other reason. I think I read your statement without carefully reading his, and thus took yours out of context - my apologies.

[SolusLupus]

Mea culpa. On looking back, it looks like Fazor was saying that he'd expect anybody to feel pride in their birthplace, so your response should have been taken in the context of whether pride was justifiable with no other reason. I think I read your statement without carefully reading his, and thus took yours out of context - my apologies.

No problem. As for your "but would you feel pride?" question: I don't consider my feelings for my home country to be any different than my feelings of another country. So, if that means that "I don't feel pride" (as you seem to identify pride as what you would feel for your home country, but not other countries), then so be it. I feel no different about a home country, or those that are related to me, than I would about any other country, or another person. Part of this may be a bit of confusion. If you (as I assume you were) are born in a country, and spend most of your life there, then naturally you will feel different about that location than if you had done plenty of travelling, and spent much time living in different locations. I was born in Germany, and never spent too much time in any one location; I think that Korea was my largest amount of time spent in one go (a good 7 years or so, though mixed between Taegu and Seoul). And, honestly, though I identify myself as an "american", I really am not. Genetically, I'm based European (Polish ancestry). Geographically, I'm German. I'm technically an American citizen, because of time spent there, but I don't "feel" like an American (I identify myself as one by word, but I don't feel as if I'm "confined" to America, in thought, ideals, or geographically). Once more, I feel more like I'm a man of the world than a man confined to any single country (mentally or physically).

I guess I could see why someone would be "proud" of their home country if they felt that their home country did them proud. However, pridefulness can be a weakness, and honestly I see pride illogically used sometimes. Heck, if you want a very extreme example, look at WWI for extremes of what "pride in my nation" can get you, if it is not logically used. That's why I get a gut reaction whenever I hear words like "You should be proud of your country", "patriotism", etc. In my opinion, those words can be used to denote something arbitrary (You were born there, so you should like it), and also in ways that they aren't really meant (Patriotism, IMO, should not denote "blind loyalty", but is used in that context by some people).

Once more, I do not like the idea of ascribing to a place or a person undue attention for an arbitrary reason, and I consider "because I was born there/born in that family" to be arbitrary. And that's pretty much what I feel, and no matter how much you bring up "pride", and keep trying to define that word in a way that would make me feel otherwise, I will not feel otherwise. A country is just a country, a geographic location is just a geographic location, and a family is just those you happen to be related to by birth (at least, family by blood relation; emotional "families" are different, but are not necessarily composed by relation by blood)

Anyhow, we have gotten off-topic. I'm sorry for the ramble, but I wanted to make sure you understood where I was coming from. Worst comes to worst, this part of the thread could just be split.

[Donnie B.]

Um, as this is pretty far afield from the original topic of this thread, and it seems to be between just the two of you... could you maybe take it to PM? :think:

[SolusLupus]

Um, as this is pretty far afield from the original topic of this thread, and it seems to be between just the two of you... could you maybe take it to PM? :think:

I'm pretty sure that my point has been made; I doubt there's much need for further discussion.

But yes, you're right.

[BigDon]

LoneWolf, I'm sorry I started that. Meant it as a harmless tease and it sort of blew up in my face. I do apologize. I'll go back to not talking to you, as promised in another thread.

[Dragon Star]

But other than that, have you even met someone from Texas? They're from Texas, and proud of it. They'll even rub it in your face.

Literally.

"How's that dirt taste, boy?"

:D

[SolusLupus]

LoneWolf, I'm sorry I started that. Meant it as a harmless tease and it sort of blew up in my face. I do apologize. I'll go back to not talking to you, as promised in another thread.

Er, you do realize that I like discussing philosophy and debating and stuff, right? Also, you promised to not talk to me? I'm sure that I didn't ask you to...

There's no bad feelings here. Really.

(And now we return you to your regular broadcast)