Charlatan

First off, I don't think there is anyway to argue that tattoos and piercing are *not* a trend. Yes, both have been around for a very long time but it is only since the early 90s that they have been embraced by mainstream youth culture.

I am sure we all do these things for personal reasons. Just don't be surprised that your personal reason is the same as everyone elses.

Some here may be too young to remember but it wasn't that long ago where only Bikers, sailor and those considered "white trash" would have had a tattoo. For men to have an ear ring would have meant you were likely gay. These things just weren't done except by certain clearly defined subcultures.

When I go my first ear piercing in the mid-80s, my Mother didn't speak to me for weeks and the hamburger place I worked at wouldn't let me wear it while at work. It was a *very* different culture.

Now before you read into this that I am against piercings and tattoos I should state that the only reason I don't have a tattoo is because I've never really come up with the right design. As for piercings, I've had 6 piercings in various parts of my body over the year and plan on getting a new one in a about a month.


What I am troubled by is the argument that this isn't natural or somehow is a mutilation of our bodies. What a thing to say! Tattooing and piercing is, for all intents and purposes a form of body modification done to beautify, mark or differentiate yourself from other bodies. We do these things for many reasons. Rarely for reasons of damage or mutilations.

Here is a short list of other body modifications we do:

Laser eye surgery
Liposuction
Hair dye
Braces (for straightening our teeth)
White strips or teeth bleaching
Face lifts
Breast augmentation
Body building (wiegh lifting)

The list can clearly go on an on...

Some of these are temporary (hair dye and teeth bleaching) while others are not. I make this distinction because, generally speaking piercing is a temporary thing. The holes in my ears have grown over and you would be hard pressed to know I ever had them. If had pierced my tongue and removed the jewlery, you'd likely never know I had it done.

None of the above list is natural and yet something like braces is widely accepted as a good thing to do.

The fact of the matter is, there are all kinds of ways in which we alter our bodies aesthetically from the clothes and shoes we wear to the make up and styling products we use in our hair... some are temporary and some are not. Some aesthetics appeal to one group and some don't...

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke