I think I have some questions that might have lots of different opinions. I was talking to ~kimtheslackerbitch about this:

In terms of body mods, where do you draw the line between beauty, pain and addiction?

I'd like to see what people think. I mean there are many people who get tattoos and piercings because they think they're beautiful, and they like the way it makes them look or the personal significance it holds. I've been pierced before and I still can't explain exactly why I did it, except for liking the way it looked or the idea of it. I think tatts are beautiful too and I would love to get some when I have money and can finally decide what I want.

But what about the people who decide to pierce themselves? I know of a few people who choose to do that, and they have lots of piercings - it some what becomes an addiction. I know this is even more true of scarification / cutting, whilst some like the scars and how they look like, sometimes it's for the release or for the high. Sometimes it's both. I think with scarification though is that it's even more stigmatised in society than tattoos or piercings because it's not as common.

So what becomes to an extent, socially acceptable? Paying someone who is qualified to modify your body? Does this mean that if you do it yourself you are sick and have a mental illness? I know there are people out there who cut themselves simply because they find it beautiful, and not necessarily in a pattern / design (for example, a famous example would be Scar [link]) and have built a career on this extra aspect that makes them stand out from all the other amazing models.

Scientifically pain releases endorphins, which produces a high - how is it any different than drugs? Yet if you have a drug addiction you go to rehab, you blame it on Bad Influences in your life and peer pressure, but if you choose to hurt yourself you have a serious mental problem but you get no help for it whatsoever. (That is to say if you even need help for choosing to hurt yourself in the first place, I'm not saying it's a bad thing.) Maybe that's the thing, that it's easy to say drugs are bad for you, but if you hurt yourself without placing your life in danger it's personal choice and no one can tell you it's Wrong (although trust me, many try to).

I'd love to hear everyone's opinions on this, or personal anecdotes.

In other news I got a new shelf from Ikea and have cleaned my room. Any of my friends who have seen my room know what a remarkable feat this is. Previously you couldn't even tell what colour my carpet was! I don't think my mother has ever been so proud of me.

EDIT

I just found the best graphic ever.



Hahahaha. From the AGIA website: [link]

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