From: cycloptres@aol.com (Cycloptres)
For as long as i can remember, I've wanted a tattoo. I've always considered
tattoos to be a beautiful way to express ones inner self to the world at
large.
Two weeks before my 18th birthday i started checking out tattoo shops in my
area, and found a design that i fell in love with, a small sun, that i decided
to have put on my ankle.
It was one of the best things I've ever done for
myself. Then about a month after i got my tattoo done, I started to consider
piercing....years before I'd seen a few people with tongue piercings, and when
ever they would talk i couldn't stop staring at their mouths...it was
mesmerizing watching the light reflect off the barbell. At the time this
piercing wasn't as popular as it is now, and i found these people intriguing,
and that feeling just stuck. Thats why on July 27th I had my tongue pierced.
Keith, feel free to use my email address if you want. and please post the
address of the site once its up...
Jessie
From: altwit@aol.com (Altwit)
i got my nipple pierced about ten years ago because i wanted to have a
ring, or a piece of jewelry hanging from my nipple. the thought tantalized
me.
i thought it would be way fun, and it is. i knew the experience would be
very
painful, but i figured it would be worth it. it is.
i got my eyebrow pierced about 4 yrs ago for many of the same
reasons.
but there were additional considerations with my eyebrow. i wanted to have
some face jewelry, but i didn't want anything that would get in the way. it
seemed to me that anything in my nose or mouth would be in the way, so i
considered my eyebrow... i had seen a couple of women with rings in their
eyebrows, and i liked it very much. that's why i chose my eyebrow. it also
hurt a great deal, but i would do it again if i lost it for some reason. i
love my eyebrow piercing, and wouldn't want to live without it.
respectfully submitted, alt
From: cuervo9936@aol.com (Cuervo9936)
The first piercing that I got was done in my bedroom with a dirty safety pin
into the side of my nose. I was 15 and bored.
The second two (lip and eyebrow) were done a little (not much) safer
with 16
gauge needles from Farm n Fleet that they have in stock for cows. I was 17
and
wanted to feel someone _else_ pushing a needle thru my skin.
I won't go on and on about all of them (there's 22, including mall-done
ears
that have since been streched).
More recently, it's like a fix. For the past 2 or 3 years, I get one or
two
piercings every 6 months because I wake up with this feeling like.. "i need
some endorphins and i need them now". Plus I think it's beautiful. And I
also
want to see how many I can get away with before my head (where the majority of
them are) is heavier than it should be. ;)
Instead of including my email addy, I wouldn't mind if you include my
website
http://members.aol.com/cuervo9936. Thanks and please post the URL to the
group
when you get it done, I think it's a great idea.
-becky
(remove "blah" from return address to reply)
http://members.aol.com/cuervo9936"
From: "Don and Angie" donjoku@email.msn.com
Here ya go. Hope it is understandable... otherwise ask questions and maybe
you could edit it... I am not too good at written communication..... And
yes, you can include my email donjoku@email.msn.com and a link to pics of
the tattoos if you want at
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Boardwalk/3806/Mytattoos.html
I will be updating the pic of my right arm in a week or so... if i get the
pic scanned...
My reasons for my tattoos started one night when a group of friends were in
mourning over a fellow friend's loss of life. I had a bottle of India
Ink... no money, but a safety pin... so... I made a total of 5 primitive
looking jail-tat style markings on my body. One on each bicep, one on my
ankle, and two on my left hand. After about 8 years I had the means to go
to a professional... and had one redone... badly... then after I met my now
husband , a tattoo enthusiast, he offered to pay to have one of them
covered. From then it has been simple. Now my reasons are to perfect
already existing tattoos. I am happy with them now as they are, as of
December 26th 1998, but may add to them if a well- blending design comes to
mind in the future that I think would intensify the symbolism or meaning of
a tattoo itself, which is definitely harder to explain than my reasons for
being tattooed in the first placed.
---Angie
From:
jason mcmillen laughman laughman@cis.ohio-state.edu
Because I am a fashion victim.
--
one foot on the moon, one foot in the cave.
Hi Keith,
Here's one I made earlier, it's the opening paragraph of something I wrote
for a UK BDSM site.
Love,
Kate.
kate@stair.demon.co.uk
Once upon a time there was a little girl who liked to read books...
One day around the age of 15 or so, I was browsing in a bookshop, when I
came across a copy of "The Story of O". I was actually looking for books on
the Occult, which was my main pre-occupation at the time. I liked to read
accounts of witch trials for the torture scenes. I'd never heard of "The
Story of O", but it looked kind of interesting, so I bought it. I was
entranced by what I read, and I was particularly struck by the scene where O
gets her labia pierced. At the time I was horrified but fascinated, I
couldn't get the image of pierced labia out of my head, although it never
occurred to me that anyone would actually do that. The book informed all my
fantasies for years, but of course I never mentioned any of this to anyone,
I was too afraid of being thought weird or scary.
20 or so years later, I was married with children, and one evening my
husband and I were watching a porn video together. One of the women in the
video was wearing a labia ring. My partners reaction to the piercing was
very positive, so I plucked up courage and said "Well actually I've always
wanted to get that done..."
A couple of days later, it was done. I felt great. I was *so* pleased with
myself.
Since then I haven't looked back. My admission that I liked that sort of
thing has opened the way for us to explore some of our other fantasies.
We've discovered that we're not really into D/s, but I do like to "bottom"
and he likes to "top", and we're both pretty keen on bondage.
About 6 months after getting my labia pierced, I got both nipples done, and
since then I have had a vertical and a horizontal clitoris hood piercing
(both since abandoned), and have acquired a couple of tattoos. Plans for the
future include more tattoos, getting the horizontal hood re-pierced, and one
day I'd like to be branded, something which is also featured in "The Story
of O", funnily enough....
Dave Smith
mystic@indy.net
www.gawth.com/~desolate
Why I am Modded...
The possibility of getting modified always intrigued me, and for a long
time, it scared the hell out of me. I wanted mods, but I was afraid of the
pain. Eventually, I got over the fear of the pain. I decided that all
meaningful things in life are intense, and that this should be no different.
My first mod was a simple lobe pierce. After that, I knew I had to have
more. It gave me a feeling of power over my own body. What we look like is
often beyond our own control, but not this.
I have also used my mods as markers of important events in my life. My ear
cart symbolized my relationship with my BDSM partner. My first nipple was
to celebrate my divorce from a bad marriage. My second nipple was to
celebrate my finally learning how to live for myself. My tattoo symbolizes
that I am a member of a Tribe. We all share a similar tattoo design, into
which is incorporated our own personal design as well.
To sum it up, my main reasons for being pierced and tattooed are
self-exploration, and to mark important occurrances in my life.
Dave Smith
mystic@indy.net
From:
knifegrl@newsguy.com (Knife Girl)
I got pierced for a few different reasons. I decorate my body when I
feel good about it. There is also a sense of recovering ownership of
my body that goes along with bodyart to me. But these things apply to
my tattoos as well as my piercings, so beyond the reasons I enjoy
bodyart in general, I enjoy piercings in particular for sex. Before
my first piercing, my thoughts were not that a labia piercing would
enhance sex, but that it would look so damn sexy. My first
experience with body piercing (I'm not including ears here) was all
about sex -- the planning of it, the experience of getting pierced,
and the enjoyment afterwards.
I do have vanity piercings that are not functional, but overall, the
piercing process and then the healed piercing and jewelry are very
sexy to me.
Regards,
Michelle
--
Contrary to American-culture-conditioning acting
ignorant/stupid does not make you more attractive.
-Brian Ast
From:
Lfballard@aol.com
It was about 16 years ago and I wanted to so something for myself as a
gay man that would enhance my body feelings about myself. I had read in the
gay press about nipples being the new erogenous zone and about piercings. A
friend also told me about his piercing experience. So I flew from Pueblo, CO
to LA and my friend took me to the Gauntlet and I got the nipples done. Have
had them in ever since.
Was a museum director and couldn't do earrings or tats that would show (tats
don't work with my skin conditions). But I wanted something private and
personal and the titrings did it for me. Kept up grading from what ever
ridiculously small ga bb I started with to 6 ga captive bead rings now. Did a
prince Albert 3 years ago to have more to play with as I am primarily into
solo
sex living alone.
The ultimate reason was body spirit enhancement as a gay man who felt he
had
to
hide his gayness at work and in small community -- and actually I was more
quietly out than I ever realized at the time, but that is another story. At
any rate it was wonderful to sit in boring meetings and play with my pen in my
breast pocket -- fiddling with my "secret" rings reminded of my real self and
I
enjoy that odd shifting of the rings and the weighted feeling that sneaks up
on
me to remind me I am a WONDERFUL GAY MAN!
Blessed be. Ford
From:
"Martin Wenham" mwenham@silicon-village.co.uk
Why did I get Pierced?
Well, I had been wanting to get a tattoo for a wile and having gotten my
self on the Internet I found the news group Rec.Arts.Bodyarts. While trying
to get my self some what informed on tattooing I started to read the odd
message about piercing and I got interested. I was stumped as far as the
tattoo was conserned, nearly getting this, nearly getting that, all of the
ideas were wrong and as soon as I would make up my mind it would change. I
thought it would be safer to take my time with the tattoo and let what ever
it would be evolve from my emagnination untill I was happy with it and most
of all ready to live with the decition.
In this time I wanted to prove to my self that I was strong enough to
confront any feirs I had about, Pain - being ridiculed - failing etc, and
prove to my self that I have the courage to do what I wanted to do. My
decition to get pierced was cind of a reaction to people taking the piss out
of me for not getting tattooed yet. I had been quite vocal about getting
tatttooed and for months no one saw any progrestion and I sapose they took
me (as they usualy do in my village) as an ideot talking out of his arse
again...
I saw a Pierce as not being such a comitment as a tattoo and there for I
fealt a bit easer about getting it done. If I dident like it I could take
it out and all that would be left would (if anything) be small marks were
the entery and exit holes were. But the chalange of going and getting it
done was still there and once the decition was made (for, looking back,
bogus reasons) the hole 'thing' of getting pierced changed and became (and I
hate to say it) almost a right of passage. It became much more personal and
about me and my body. I think this point was alplified when my friend
decided for what ever reason he couldent go (a very big disapointment and at
the time made me quite angry) and I still went, very determind and got it
done. A nice set of pierced Nipples.
So as a result of my mixed reasons for the Pierces I had a mixed reaction.
I walked out of the studio very hi and dazed.. I was amased that I had gone
threw with it and very proud of my self but at the same time very sad at the
sercomstances that I had them done under. I think it would have been a more
positive experance if my friend had been there and I felt less like I had
to, but having said that being pierced was one of bigger experances of my
life so far, when I look down to my chest I cant help but be prowed of my
self. And they look great!
I think it is also worth pointing out that there was also alot more little
things buzzing around that influanced my dection to get pierced and that I
did plan the Piercings for at least two months befor getting them done.
Nothing to rash hear!
The next Pierce I got (and the last one to date) was my ear cartilage and
that was purly a good way to mark a good time (RABcon uk) and for astetics,
I liked the Look of the pierce!
So there ya go, straight down the line!
From:
Paul Fitzgibbons psf41@banet.net
I find it very interesting that this question is being asked now as I have,
over the holiday's, discovered that my 27yr. old nephew has gotten a tattoo
and
is planning more. BTW, I had NO influence on him at all since he also did not
know that I have tattoos or piercings. Of course now he does. I really
got me
thinking about my motivations as we were discussing his. My nephew and me
are,
in many ways, very much alike. We are both the last of 4 kids, both adopted
and both foreign born. We come from a family of very successful siblings and
were/are somewhat lost in the family unit. We are very good at what we chose
to do in life, him in the Army and myself in retail but, at least speaking for
myself, a we both feel like "black sheep" and different. A little lost in my
case as compared to a doctor, a career high ranking government bureaucrat and
an airline pilot. That is however where my nephew and me part. His
motivations for getting tattooed are very simple and consise----"I've always
wanted to" while mine seem to be multi faceted and on many levels.
There are many reasons why I have I got my piercings and tattoos. There are
spiritual and physical, emotional and philosophical. To me it's a journey of
self exploration and testing of my psyche and becoming outwardly what I had
always thought inwardly. I've used both venues to heighten my senses such as
sound, feel and sight. I have also used them to help break a cycle of shyness
and to try to gain some self confidence. BTW, there is still along way to go
in this area but if you knew before----well then (hopefully) you would see a
difference.
Each tattoo that I got has much meaning and celebrates a part of my life.
Whether it's the Celtic work that represents my families heritage or the
shield
and tribal work that celebrates my heritage and place of birth or my back
piece
that shows the duality of my life. There will be more and each will be as
meaningful as all the rest. As far as piercing is concerned, I use them to
enhance my sensory perceptions and probably as stress relief. My cutting
while
it started as strictly an enhancement to a tattoo, the process became far far
more spiritual for me. I don't really know why. I guess there will be
questions never truly answered. Maybe it was the feel of the blade or the
flowing of blood----I really don't know. It is funny, that with everything
that I have, if you were to see me on the street you would never know. I
kinda
like that however with the additional tattooing that has been planned that
will
be harder to maintain.
I have enjoyed meeting new people who have been a tremendous help to me.
Keith
at MAB and Tom and Chris at New View plus the too numerous to mention RABits
whom I would like to count as friends. Their aid and comradeship are beyond
words.
I am writing this on the last day of 1998 and it was a very active year
with 17
piercings (16 active) and 4 to 6 tattoos depending on how you want to count
them. Where 1999 leads, I have some things in the works as for the rest I am
gonna wing it.
There is the probably one of the biggest reasons for what I am doing is that I
like it. I like how it looks and I like how it feels.
I think too much.
Paul
PS---Keith if this is too long, edit as you will or if you don't want to use
that is fine also. If there are glaring spelling or grammar mistakes, please
correct. Thanks for the opportunity to write about this---it was fun
From:
Plogsloth@aol.com
I have always been drawn to the fringe, I can not remember a time that the
norm looked attractive in any way. For this reason my performing progressed
from juggling birthday clown, to Mardi Gras fire eater, to full out sideshow
geek. Along the way I picked up an interest in some of the classic self made
freaks, such as Mortadado, or the Great Omi. This led to piercing and
tattooing for the sake of performance. While I have not been able to justify
full body tattooing ala' Omi or the more current Enigma, piercing both temp
and perm have played major roles in my evil clown persona. There's something
about a 6'3", bald, white face clown, with septum spikes and a 00 grommet that
just works.
While experimenting with performance piercings I began to find
that I enjoyed the process, not the pain but the actual process. I am and
always have been a needle phobe. By voluntarily being pierced, or piercing
myself I challenged this fear and even conquered it. I can now give blood
without going into shock, for years I couldn't say that. I also discovered a
sense of pleasure from the pierces. There is something to be said for knowing
that under the normal business attire is a set of nipple rings and couple of
hafadas. It seems the more metal you have the more often you're reminded of
it's presence, this alone is enough to keep me seeking more. Finally, there is
the Ampallang, this had multiple motivations. I seldom can settle with a
second hand account to quench my thirst for knowledge. After reading Fakir's
account in Modern Primitive, I had to experience this for myself.
My self done
Amp was successful, but I had to give it up due to poor jewelry selection. A
year later I had it redone professionally on stage, both for myself and for
the sake of my at that time current girl friend. Let's just say she had a
thing about watching metal go through my body, and I was happy to oblige. I
guess if I had to boil it down to one statement I would say I have been
pierced as both an expression of individuality, and as means of exploring my
limits both physically and mentally.
Chumley
From:
"'Torea" babalon@buffnet.net
Because I ~needed~ to :-)?
I'm a 35 year old female, I look "fairly normal" when I'm at
work. My hair covers my ear, which has had at least 6 piercings
in it since I was 13. Most of my other piercings are on
non-public body parts.
Why the genital piercings...? I own my body, it's not for a man
or society to tell me what I can do with it. The inner labia
piercings are decorative, and they jingle when I walk naked ;-).
The triangle is functional, it makes sex more... reliable ;-)~.
I'm not into pain, the pain is brief and after the healing is
over it's gone. I don't hate myself and I wasn't abused as a
child. Piercing does have a kind of spiritual release to it for
me, though. It helps me focus and feel in control. Having my
hidden piercings and tattoos helps me to feel that I'm still
myself even though I have to work in a ~normal~ job.
'Torea
Babalon@buffnet.net
From: turbodog rings23@hotmail.com
Why I got Pierced
I have been getting pierced for about 10 years now I guess. Been into
mods for
sometime.
I got pierced, at first for sexual reasons I guess you could say.My nipples
got it
done and it felt great.Changed me at the same time too.From that day on, I
was a
different person.I now have 14 piercings.I Have had more at one time or
another
but they are no longer with me.
I get pierced now because I like the way it looks and feels. Some of my
piercings I
have done a little research on, and then decided to get.Like the septum and
labret.Also get "poked" as a way to express myself.Show I am my own person,in
control of my own body/decisions. This is the main reason I figure.I will
continue
to get more holes as I get older.
I too get the questions,"Why did you do that?"
One response I give is I am just drawn to it.Or, I don't know I just felt
like it should
be there.(ring).
I guess that's all for now. Use it if you can Keith.It's not much.You can
include my
E-Mail:turbodog@bme.freeq.com
turbodog
Keith:
Of the four piercings and two brands that I have, all of them were the
result of a desire to do something for myself.
I was searching for something that I could do to reestablish my sense of
self and self-identity. Not necessarily reestablish my "self worth," nor
my "individuality"--I wanted to do something for me. Something
significant, something permenant, but not something that would affect
anyone but me.
When people ask me why I did the things I did, I tend to avoid answering
their question. If I had to articulate an answer, that answer would be
to say that "I got pierced because I had to." That answer would probably
scare a lot of people, but I know it's the truth.
J
The Johns Hopkins University: CTY 1991, AS 1998, EN 1998
From:
M Blaze Miskulin brblaze@chorus.net
Essay:
"Territories"
I am inked. Currently I have four separate designs consisting of over
40 hours of work. I have also recently had my left nipple pierced. I
am both proud and conscientious of my ink. The designs are my own, and
will eventually, I hope, be unified into a single tribal suit covering a
significant portion of my body.
Inevitably, I am asked "Why?" Until recently, I haven't known. At
first there was the curiosity. But after 40 hours under the needle,
there is no mystery to what will happen or what it will look like. It
is now an addiction. But still, what is the driving force behind it?
The answer has come to be a simple matter of boundaries. My
boundaries. And the boundaries of what is me.
Several years ago I wrote in my journals that "I am the only art which
can truly embrace the Void". Unknown to me at that time, that describes
my fascination with ink, and the modification of my body. As a creative
intellectual who is fascinated with both the artistic and the logical, I
have been an outsider for all my life. I have made my attempts to fit
in, and my attempts to break completely from it all, but in the end, I
have returned to simply going my own way--a path which encompasses both
paths, and neither path. I am my own path.
With no external boundaries to mark who I am, I have resorted to
internal ones; codes, ideas, ideals, and visions. With the introduction
of Ink, I have identified the physical boundaries of myself. The Ink
becomes a cloak, a fence which keeps me in and keeps others out. More
than that, however it becomes a simple marking. "This is me. This is
mine." My life is art. As stated in that earlier quote, I *am* art.
Art--or at least my art--comes through experience. Most of that
experience is pain. For me, peace and joy do not inspire beauty. Pain
and endurance create beauty. This is not to say that it is beautiful to
inflict pain, or even that it is beautiful to endure pain. Rather it is
beauty which has endured pain and still remains beautiful. Pain--be it
physical, emotional, or mental--is the temper which takes the pretty or
the interesting and makes them truly beautiful. That which is lovely
but has not endured pain, is incomplete. It is fragile and too easily
lost.
My ink is beautiful. It was acquired through pain. It is permanent.
The thick black lines and strokes which are slowly covering my body are
a representation of what is inside me. They are me. By both their
presence and their style, they identify that I exist, and to what
extent.
As the amount of ink slowly grows, less and less of me is recognizable
as normal. The mental boundaries of my "otherness" are blatantly
displayed for others to see. And yet, the extent of my ink will never
go beyond the areas that can be covered by a common T-shirt and pair of
jeans. While I may be different, I don't always wish to show it. While
I may be "other", there are still times that I feel the need or desire
to blend into the accepted appearances of society. But no matter what
clothes I may wear, what social mask I may display, there is always a
permanent reminder scarred into my skin that I am not what they may
perceive me to be. I am only what I define myself to be--a definition I
wear in my skin as well as in my mind and spirit.
Brother Blaze
The Unintentional Monk
http://members.aol.com/~brblaze
From:
"S and S"
"I Got My TATS Because I Want To Be Cooler Than You"
Sean
From:
"anon.e.mouse" SPAMmailclive@bigfoot.com
Why did I get pierced?
I didn't know. I just felt like the right thing to do.
On reflection (it's taken 3 drafts/4 days to work this out) ....
All of my life I have concentrated almost exclusively on using my mind
for both work and pleasure, and pretty much ignored my body and my
sexuality.
I needed a powerful way to make me aware of my body and my sexuality.
Piercing provided me with the following ....
a. A sense of ceremony, anticipation and strong emotion (fear!) to
underline the importance of the decision and the commitment.
b. Pain which is a symbolic and real barrier that has to be overcome,
and makes the mind very aware of the body!
c. The piercing site is a physical, emotional and symbolic focus point.
d. The retained jewelry provides a visual and sensory reminder of the
commitment.
e. An emotional "feel good" high and a better self-image were unexpected
bonuses.
It was the right thing for me to do.
Was that my last piercing?
No. Thinking this through has shown that there is still some emotional
issues that I need to overcome. A second piercing/re-piercing is being
planned to resolve these remaining issues, and should also reinforce the
original decision and commitment.
It is worth noting that, in most cases, the piercee still retains the
option of easily removing much of the evidence of the experience. This
option may not be available for the alternatives (tattoos, scarring,
cutting, branding, etc.).
You can rest in peace Dr. Freud - and all because you never met me!
****Note****
If you distribute/publish any of the above, please remove any references
that will enable it to be traced back to me. I have a feeling that I may
regret having said the above in the future, and I am not sure that some
of it isn't a little egotistic!
Thanx
--
Clive a.k.a. anon.e.mouse
From: "Lucia" luciaa@phoenix.Princeton.EDU
Beginning with a tangential story:
When I was three or four my grandmother (an M.D.) had a laboratory
that did all kinds of blood/urine/etc. analysis. The first time I
remember having blood drawn was by my grandmother in her lab. My
grandmother had the gentlest touch. As I watched the needle slide
into my arm, she explained the techniques of drawing blood. She made
slides of blood drops and placed them under a microscope. She taught me
how to focus the microscope. I was fascinated.
I grew up liking needles and blood. I never engaged in self-mutilation.
When I was upset, I'd run outside, hug my dog and cry.
I did take a lot of pleasure in performing "surgeries." Splinters, cuts
and scrapes, old scars, etc. were perfect excuses to raid my parent's
medicine cabinet. Supplies included iodine solution, a razor blade, a
needle, tweezers, cotton balls, my pocket knife, a set of matches,
sometimes those little scissors used to cut fingernails. Everything was
meticulously planned. I'd carefully cut out a splinter, or reshape an old
scar. It was fun. I wanted to be a surgeon.
Sometime after somewhat growing up, I realized these small rituals
had little to do with medicine and a lot more to do with aesthetics and
pleasure.
Piercing occupies a similar realm. It's beautiful, pleasurable, erotic,
entrancing... multi-dimensional; it means different things on different days.
I like the anticipation, confronting pain, the sensations from tugging on
jewelry- like my roommie would say, "It's all good fun."
I must confess I find scarification and tattooing more aesthetic than
wearing jewelry. But what do I know? I plan on getting a few more
piercings.
-L
From: Spidergod5@aol.com
I get tattoo'd, pierced, and/or modified because I love to tell people
why I
do it.
There are some other reasons too...
1) I have certain inclinations and fetishes which are appeased and aroused by
these things
2) A somewhat wise man once said of certain piercings "They make fucking
better"
3) I am better realizing my own understanding of who and what I am through
using these and other available methods to become a human lizard.
4) Some people live such pedestrian lives that will actually be so drawn to
see someone like me that I can exploit that desire for profit (money or other)
5) There had to be at least 5 reasons
Erik Sprague / Spidergod5@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/spidergod5/index.html
;)-<
From: Bonita80@webtv.net (Bonita80)
***How I started to get into bodyart:***
Quite simply, to attract a male :-) Seriously, that's exactly how it
began, as pathetic as it may sound. A quick warning: this little 'essay'
is not very PC so if that'll bother you, either get over it, or don't
read it.
I spent a year in depression after the breakup of a long term
relationship. I never felt very 'womanly' or 'feminine' so the loss of
my then boyfriend further reinforced these feelings.
Then I met someone who caught my eye and I began to lift from the
self pity. I began to flirt a bit and dress a little more sexy. But that
wasn't enough . I decided to do something that at the time I though was
crazy, which was to get my navel pierced. I saw this as a very feminine
thing to do, and as a perfect way to enhance my flirting with this guy
;-)
So I got it done and I felt great. I showed it off to him and
anyone else that was interested. I got over the self consciousness I
felt about my pot belly and I also liked the power I felt trying to
'seduce' this guy with my femine wiles :-)
I thought, well if the navel pierce did all that for me, then how
about getting a nipple pierced... I was very self conscious about the
size and shape of my breasts. And I thought about what a cool
conversation piece a nipple piercing would be with this guy . So I did
it and again I felt great. Now the addiction started setting in.
Still nothing was really happening with this guy. So I decided to
get my tongue pierced. Now. _that_ led to hours of flirting and
suggestive talk, which eventually led to something else. I finally
seduced someone ! Things wound up not going well with this guy in the
long run, but that was okay, since I think for whatever reason he was
brought into my life, he served his purpose.
*** Why I continued and went even further***
My next pierce was my other nipple. By this point I met Keith and
was impressed by him and his shop. What made this pierce different from
the other three was that by this point I made the connection that
getting pierced put me in a better mood and since I was bummed out I
wanted a new one . It wasn't to flirt with this guy or for any other
reason but for myself.
I've got a ton of other piercings now, including genital. I think I
was able to move into that area since I found someone (Keith) that I
could trust and respect. I will admit that I did try to use these
pierces to flirt with this guy again, but honestly that wasn't my main
motivation to get them. And actually, it would have backfired anyway
since those 'down there' pierces made me too "freaky" for him.
Getting these pierces made me feel in comtrol of my body for a
change. I felt my attitude change and my outlook become more postive. I
felt more loving of my body and I wasn't ashamed of it. I also began to
get over the guilt brought on by my Catholic upbringing concerning
myself as a sexual being. I was taking steps to improve my sex life and
I felt real good about that. Also, being involved with bodyart, I met
some of the most interesting and greatest people anyone could aver ask
to meet. The influence these people have had on me has been enormous and
positive. They have helped me find who I really am and to live the life
I want to. They are there to inspire me, help me, encourage me, and push
me when I need it. They also have opened my eyes to new things and this
exposure to other things has helped me grow so much over the past year.
My tattoos are a source of strength for me. When I even think
about them, I can't describe what I feel. And my cuttings mean a lot to
me too. Basically what they did for me was help me realize that I
finally blossomed into a fragrant, colorful flower , metamorphisized
into a beautiful butterfly, I think you get the point I'm trying to make
;-) . These tattoos and cuttiings are a reminder of the challenges I've
faced ,fears I've overcome and barriers I've crushed. They give me
strength, inspiration and hope for the future . And I also think they
look very good on me too :-)
Basically, when I began to get into bodyart, I actually began
_living_ my life, instead of letting life pass me by. Christine
<>/\<>=<>/\<>=<>/\<>=<>/\<>=<>/\<>
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/bonita80/
From: "zookster" zookster@sprynet.com
Where to start......I have been getting tattoos for the last 15
years, piercings for the last 7 years. Even as a child I always
admired people with tattoos, I thought tattoos were beautiful. I
have always considered myself outside of mainstream society (
although I work and live among "mainstreamers"). Getting tattooed
was a way of expressing my feelings, of identifying with those I felt
closest to, of marking myself as a non-conformist. My tattoos are
for me, but I admit part of the reason (a small part, but it is
there) for getting tattooed was the effect they have on uptight
society types. My tattoos serve as a filter too, keeping undesirable
elements away. I like the way tattoos make me look and feel. Each
tattoo I get is chosen carefully and from within. I can look at blank
spots on my canvas and already see what will someday be inked there.
Although I am not into pain, I enjoy the ritual of getting tattooed,
the smell of the green soap, the setting up, the sting of the needle,
they all are part of an uplifting experience. The end result far
outweighs any discomfort endured in getting inked. I would feel
naked and incomplete without my tattoos. I have never regretted
getting tattoos and cannot imagine life without them.
My journey into the world of piercing was a completely different
story. Up until a year and a half ago the only piercings I had were
two left earlobe CBR's in 14ga. For many years I maintained that
those were enough for me and I would not be getting any additional
holes!! All that changed dramatically (really overnight) when I
happened to be in New Orleans, LA in late 1995. I ended up with some
time to kill one evening before meeting some friends in the French
Quarter. I was wandering through Riverwalk Mall and went into a
bookstore. I asked about books on tattoos. The clerk produced 2
books from behind the counter ( wonder why they were kept there?), I
don't remember the first one but second one was Re:Search #12, Modern
Primitives. One look inside and I bought it. Started looking
through it and was so captivated and spellbound by the powerful
images contained therein that I didn't make it to Bourbon Street that
night. Went straight back to the hotel room and spent the evening
reading. It may sound corny and cliched, but I was enthralled by the
articles in that book, particularly those on Fakir and Jim Ward. The
more I looked at the book the more I wanted a piercing. I don't do
things hastily ( well not most of the time) so I let the idea
percolate for awhile. I finally decided I was going to go for it.
My first non-earlobe piercing was an Ampallang, followed by a single
Frenum, and then a Prince Albert. In the next month or so I will add
a Labret, Septum and Tongue. Future plans include both nipples and
perhaps a pair of Hafadas. I also will continue to get tattooed.
Where will it all end? I do not know. The journey is far from over.
It has been a wonderful and sometimes strange one so far, and I
really look forward to continuing the exploration of my body and the
adornment of my temple.
Zookster
Beautify America...........get a TATTOO
From:
Sooze sooze@rocketmail.com
Here's my little contribution, if you're interested.
I'm not heavily pierced and don't plan to be--ears
done (3 in left, 2 in right), captive bead in navel,
and plans under way for labia, but here it is anyway:
"When I got to college, I initially decided to get
pierced because I just loved the way it looked. It
took me a while to actually get it done (I come from
a conservative background, I had to get up the
nerve!), but when I got around to it, it instantly
made me feel aware of myself, and it made me feel
WONDERFUL! It surprised me to look down at my flat
little belly and seeing that glittery jewellry
hanging there. It makes me feel beautiful, unique,
sexy, and exotic. I can't imagine myself today
without my pierce. I would probably get more
piercings in more visible places if it were not for
the fact that I have a job in a fairly conservative
field (teacher in an elementary school)."
You may quote me, and you may post my e-mail address
as well. I hope this helps you
Sincerely, Suzanne J. S. Romano - www.kalnyc.org
Come on, be brave!
This time a ripple,
This time a wave!
From: kjp viperkjp@glue.umd.edu
Hey Keith!
Decided I'd give you an answer to that question, because maybe if I can get
it out on "paper" to you, I can try to explain it to my [quite unapproving]
parents better...feel free to edit as necessary...
I s'pose I am one of the least moded people who frequents the newsgroups,
but that's okay. As it stands right now, I've got 2 lobe holes in each
ear, my tongue, and my left nip.
My first lobe holes came when I was seven. I got them done because my mom
made me. I was an even bigger tomboy then than I am now, and didn't want
to look "feminine" or "cute" like my mom said the earrings would make me.
To top it all off, I went to this jewelry place in the center of Larel
Mall where the woman was an abnoxious jerk and didn't tell me what she was
doing. She wound up doing the first one and I kicked and screamed and
didn't want her to touch my other ear. Half an hour later and out of
energy to fight, I got the other ear done.
Fast forward about 11 years in my life. I've been pressing my mother for 3
years to let me get *just* another set of lobe holes. She's been coming
back saying that she doesn't want her oldest daughter to look like a
pirate. College, ah, college, time of freedom from overprotective mothers.
Mostly because I liked the looks of a second hole, but also partly to
spite my mother, I went to Claire's one afternoon and got my second lobe
holes. These weren't half as bad as my first experience, though the gun
was still rather annoying. My mom was frustrated that I did it, but
admitted that it didn't look too bad, so things were still okay. I, on the
other hand, loved the way they looked...and started to wonder what other
kinds of piercings I could get.
My next piercing was a cartilage pierce with a gun from the mall. I knew
my mom would hate it, because we'd talked about what other piercings I
wanted when I got my second lobe holes done. She was adamant in objecting
to a cart piercing. Unfortunately for her, I really liked how it looked,
and did it anyway. Wound up hiding it from her for about six months, then
she found it accidentally (I was dressed all formal like and pushed my hair
back behind my ear, when she noticed). She hated it, and I suppose lucky
for her, it wound up getting a keloid. I took it out and haven't redone
it--yet.
Soon I discovered RAB and toyed with the idea of other piercings. I liked
the idea of having a helix pierce, so did that myself with a safety
pin...bad idea. It is now gone.
Next I wanted my navel done...a pierce I could hide from my mom, but one
that still looked neat. I took a big step in this one, seeking out
piercing places through RAB and word of mouth and finally decided on
Perforations in DC. This was my big deal pierce, my way of finally
shedding the "good little girl" image to some of the people around me, and
a sign that I really wasn't going to let my mother control my life.
Fortunately, it didn't quite work out as expected. Turns out I have a
non-piercing-friendly navel, and the piercer didn't want to do it (no lip).
I opted, instead, to get my tongue done. I had planned on getting it done
for my 19th birthday, and had "researched" it, waited my customary month or
so. This piercing was a new experience. For the first time, I felt
*connected* to the pierer, because of the matching breathing styles, and
got a big adrenaline rush out of it...ooh. Even better, it was something I
couldn't hide as well, and to me felt like a big deal, like me showing my
mother and the world that I could make my decisions on my own, I didn't
need parental approval. It was a growing up sign to me, a pierce
signifying my change from child to semi-adult.
I'll admit, my next and final pierce came because I was curious. It was
also a sign of my wanting to explore other areas of my body, more growing
up, but this time, more sexually. I got my nipple pierced about a month
ago. It was a big decision, but probably one of the most fun I've made in
awhile. The piercing itself was great, an aggregation of my energy, my
piercer's, and my handholder's energy. But you can read about that in BME
("Innocent Girl Down the Hall Gets Her Nip Done" or something like that).
The nipple is a sensitive area, and it's sensitivity has been increased.
I just think it's another side of my growing, learning, and exploring...
My next pierce is going to be my other nipple, with the reason being that I
would like a matching set and I really ENJOYED the energy and feeling of my
last two pierces. I'm also working on getting a tattoo, but am still doing
my drawing for it. The drawing is a reflection of things important in my
life...my religion, my family, my energy. So, until then...have a good
day.
peace and take care,
~kristin
Look into my eyes and tell me this isn't real
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~viperkjp
From: "David" david@crown-cottage.demon.co.uk
This is my side of our story,
This was about 12-14 years ago. I got married late, after a good
bachelor life and comfortable flat, sports car etc, but in three years we
had a family, things changed, our loving was more difficult, my wife's
nipples were almost impossible to arouse after feeding two babies, very
hard to satisfy at all, and I desperately wanted to improve and
regenerate our love life. I got hold of a very early copy of UK 'Body
Art' Magazine published by Lynn and Henry Ferguson and browsed
and dreamed a bit.
We had played around with home-modified push-on nipple rings,
mainly adapted earrings, and my wife was sufficiently interested for me
to open the topic of body jewellery I had discovered a few years
earlier.
I'd mentioned it before and got a really scorned WHAT!, but this time it
became a 'well I will if you will', so trembling all over I set out to see Mr
Sebastian, the originator of Uk piercing, in London with the idea of
getting some dydoes. He persuaded me against those, but I settled for a
barbell in a frenum and he did it there and then. I was extremely turned
on, so much so that for about 10 days it was unbearable - I couldn't do
anything to ease it because it was so new! Anyway, that went down
really well with my other half, so the ball was in her court now to get
something done - we had sort of agreed on nipples.
However, it was also understood that nothing like ordinary steel or
plastic (which I had had, both) was in anyway acceptable, so I got Vic
Carter to make gold ends for some PTFE barbells at 1.6 gauge on Mr
S's advice. They looked great and were accepted!
So down to London again, to a dingy little studio hidden in a 5 storey
block in a rough area behind Kings Cross railway station - it was a
very unusual thing to be doing in UK in the late 80's early 90's I can tell
you, and needed a lot of courage for a very apparently normal couple to
be seen in there at all!! We weren't even sure if it was legal, far worse
than tattooing.
My wife was really nervous, the area didn't help much, and when I
nearly got lost that almost did it! However, I found the *completely
unmarked* studio and was recognised. As soon as we went in, Mr
Sebastian took over, with a really kind gentle and soothing manner, and
listened to what we wanted, showed him the tiny thin barbells with the
gold ends, and then I was told by my quite calm wife- 'You can go
now, see you later' so off I had to go. When I came back half an hour
later there was my other half, with a smug expression on her face, and
me all confused and wondering what had gone on or not gone on - I
had to ask if she had had it done -'Yes' - but then had to wait the hours
journey back home on the train before I could see what had been done.
Well, after a lot of care during healing, looking and not touching, things
improved not only visually but her sensitivity returned plus some, mine
was off the clock anyway. We went on to have another four for me -
one pubic (lost), two hafadas, and finally a PA - plus two horizontal
hood rings for her. Best thing we ever did.
Since then we've stretched a bit here and there, nothing extraordinary,
but bigger by two gauges than when they started. And we've collected a
lot of different jewellery, mainly gold 9ct custom made by Vic who is a
real star. And now we don't mind chatting about it, its become a
conversation piece almost, though many of our friends don't know and
would be very shocked, some do know and think we're quite
adventurous!
David
From: "Amy" wolfsong@salsgiver.com
Why I got pierced?
I got my navel done cause my friend had her navel pierced, and I saw
this piercing in alot of tattoo magazines and thought it looked cool.
But the question I think I need to answer is why I keep getting pierced.
I got my nipples pierced because my hubby wanted me to and I also like
the way it looks but I love them and it was well worth the moment of
pain. Then I just felt better about myself. Sexier or more sensual in a
way. I don't notice alot more sensitivity because of them, but there are
moments.......
I got my labret done last night and I love it. This is my first visible
piercing other than my ears. I'm planning on getting my hood pierced
within the next couple months.
I have always been a quiet and shy person and I feel that piercings have
given me a way to really express myself and to be me.
And, I get tattoos cause I like them.....lol
I also think big, tattooed guys are sexier ;o)
Amy
"Nothing is Trivial"
Check out my homepage
http://members.tripod.com/~Mya_/Wild_Heart-index.html
From:
"Atalanta Pendragonne" atalanta@hotmail.com
So...
The Top Ten Reasons Why I, Atalanta Pendragonne, Chose to Get Tattooed
and Pierced
- 10. Extra places to put shiny things!
- 9. I needed more strangers to ask rude, intrusive personal questions
- 8. To prove to myself that I *could*
- 7. Came to me in a dream
- 6. There is no #6
- 5. To assert ownership of my body by making it more *mine*
- 4. Feeling defensive about hitting the 'big 2-5' and being married to a
BMW-driving yuppie
- 3. Because you're never fully dressed without a labret
- 2. D/s act
- 1. To deflect attention from my breasts!
Atalanta Pendragonne
http://www.flash.net/~susan0/-Atalanta's Bookshelf *
From:
"Golgotha" golgotha@www.bmeworld.com
Why...
My initial reason for getting modded was fairly simple...shock value. I
have always been an 'attention getter', a ham, a class clown, a person that
was unique and a person that always left an imprint in peoples minds when
they met me. And I would take any risk to do so - take any risk to get a
laugh from someone or to get a 'oh my god' reaction from someone...and mods
help me do that. It was a conversation starter, an ice breaker...I was/am
great at parties. I started getting pierced and tattooed well before any of
my friends were doing it - so the shock value was something I really
enjoyed.
It wasn't until later that I started to realize the beuty and meaning
that
mods can and do have for me. Once the popularity grew and the shock value
really stopped, I kept getting modded and still get modded. Now it is for
different reasons, personal reasons, achievments or rewards for me. Now the
question, 'Why?' usually doesn't get an answer from me because I am not
willing to share these meanings with everyone. It tends to cheapen it when
I try and explain it to someone that is only asking so they can run home and
tell the family they met a weirdo at the airport, etc. And alot of times I
feel as if the old saying 'If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand'
holds very true. All of my mods are something that I hold dear and that are
a part of me...without 'em...I feel nude.
http://www.bmeworld.com/golgotha
G¤£gð†hå ®
From:
"Sally Goins" oriel_@hotmail.com
Why I got pierced and tattooed......I guess it all started when I was a
little kid. I would see people who were tattooed, and although my mom
always said that these people were freaks, I knew I would have a few
pieces of my own someday. My first tat came 1 week after my 18th
birthday. I had wanted a tat of a flower for a couple of years, so I
went to a parlor with a few friends and did the deed. I was happy, and I
knew I had to have more. My second (and latest) was 6 months later, and
it is a tribal piece on my ankle. It really doesn't have any particular
meaning other than I think it is beautiful and shows off my legs. ;) As
far as pierces, i had my lobes triple pierced and my cartilage done once
by the time I was 16. My first "body" piercing was my navel, to inspire
me to get back into shape. Since then, I've gotten my rook, both
nipples, and my favorite, my tongue. I LOVE MY TONGUE PIERCE! So, in
conclusion, I'd have to say that my mods help me to see the beauty in
ALL of my body, to assert myself as an individual, to help me have
control over what happens to my body, to look pretty, and to some
degree, help open (and shock)the minds of my very conservative family.
Oriel
From: "Me" saobodda@Princeton.edu
Why I got pierced:
I guess it might have been the desire to decorate my body with something
more than temporary and less than permanent.
I also think it's a way to remind myself who I am.
It reminds me that I must have had some courage to take the pain, so I
should use it in everyday life and not be afraid to take some risks.
A more shallow reason: I love the awesome jewelry that is out there.
Stephanie
http://www.princeton.edu/~saobodda
From: "Kevin Cook" kevincook@att.net
Why I got pierced ...
1) So I would have a reason to keep maintaining the list ... no just
kidding
2) It's because I get a thrill out of being different from the way I
came into this world ... NOT to stick out or call attention to myself
(which is a plus at times)
Why I got tattooed ...
1) I just wanted to know what it was like
2) I wanted a pair of dice that people could not steal (my other
collection 1500+)
Kevin Cook http://www.piercinglinks.com
From:
"KARI" luvabeat@aol.com
To my brother Keith....
I know I never told you but my first tattoo that I got was for the
most part to be
more like you. I always loved they way they looked on you. I looked up to
you so much that in my own
small way I thought you would think I was cool. I wanted something to
share with you. I also happened
to love the drawing mom had done for me and wanted it for myself to see
always.
Half way through the first one I was thinking about getting another one. I
have 5 now and look forward to
my next.
Thank you for sitting with me for my very first. As for my nipple
Piercing.....I love it. Everyone
always says "Your brother did it?" and as I always explain there is nobody
in this world I would trust more.
It gives me pleasure and it has given me many laughs watching the faces of
those who see it.
Keith,
Thank you for opening up my eyes to your world. I love you and I am proud
of you for all your
accomplishments....I'm proud to call you MY brother.
KariAnne
