Does anyone else wonder what the fascination with self mutilation (body piercing) is?

I don't wonder what the reasoning is behind it at all. I know exactly WHY people self mutilate. There's a lot of great websites you may enjoy checking out - - just type in "Psychology". People aren't as hard to figure out as you think.

In some cases I find that to be true (people not hard to figure out). But I am puzzled when I hear many of the invented excuses they use to justify their behavior. I guess we're all guilty or denial at times.

i don't think of it as self mutilation. i think of it as free will. i don't have facial piercings anymore but not because i "grew up" or "conformed to society" but because they were a hassle i didn't want to deal with anymore. i on the other hand have 13 tattoos that go from my upper back down to my calfs , gaged ears and multiple holes in my ears. i don't think they make me look any way in general. i don't do them for other people, i do them for myself. way i look at it, I'm not poking holes in other peoples bodies.

Of course your not poking holes in other peoples bodies, I never said or implied that. I'm just trying to understand what the fascination with self inflicted wounds could possibly be. I used to wonder the same thing when I'd watch certain African tribes on National Geographic (or similar programs). It doesn't seem healthy or beneficial in any way, so I naturally have to ask why.

what I meant is what business is it of other people what i do with my body if I'm not poking holes in theirs. I keep my mouth shut when guys wear pink and when big women wear stretch pants. you look at it from the outside perspective as self inflicted wounds. i think of it as body modification. its perfectly healthy if its done right by a professional and kept clean. theres no reason jewelry has to be beneficial. alot of things people wear aren't beneficial. base ball caps aren't beneficial, high heels on women are known to cause varicose veins and bracelets serve no beneficial purpose either. i don't hear anybody complaining about those.

I'm not trying to tell anyone else what to do. I guess I'm too practical in my thinking. I try to use logic to make sense of a race that doesn't use logic or make sense. It's a curse;)

so you don't use anything that doesn't serve as a physical beneficiary? No baseball caps, designer clothes, nothin... never wore a necklace in high school. what about music? do you listen to music? cause none of those are bettering health or beneficial to your body either.

Music does benefit the mind, according to the "experts". I wear a cap to keep my big forehead and nose from burning. When I find cloths that are cheap and fit I buy a dozen at a time and wear them for years. I've never worn a necklace. I don't even wear a wedding ring. I guess I'm just a boring guy.

not being pierced doesn't make you any better than the people who are or smarter.

I never said it did. Many pierced people make a lot more money than me.

alot of people do feel that way though and i think thats why alot of people with piercings and tattoos get defensive.

i have never supported piercing babies ears though. body modification outside of health reasons should be a self choice, not forced and those babies are in there screaming their heads off.

I agree. And although I find piercings rediculous, I'm not vain enough to deem myself superior. I've met many different people in my life, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.

i just don't think having piercings is a weakness.

what is up with everyone talking about how piercing are nasty and unattractive!? i have two guages in my ears almost up to inches, i have two more piercings on my left ear and one more on my right. i just got my nose pierced today and i have had my lip pierced before. im gunna get my cheek pierced pretty soon too:D i have had a couple tattoos so far and plan on getting much much more!! and people ALL MY LIFE have told me i look like a well respected man and look good.:) what the hell does it matter how many piercings you have or how many tattoos??? if you dont like it, well get over it! is the world gunna change because you think it looks ugly and complain on the enternet? people get piercings because they look good, well on most people. XD. and the same with ttattoos. if THEY like it then THEY'LL do it. if YOU dont like it then YOU can get over it.

Get over it? Who said I was ever "under" it?
Complaining? Since when is asking a question complaining?
And even if I was complaining, it's as much my right to complain as it is your right to mutilate yourself. So YOU get over it. Have a nice life.

My eldest daughter had a female roomate back in the 90's who had her tongue, nipples, belly button, nose and labia pierced. (Of course, I only ever saw the obvious ones!) Every time I saw that nose thing, the only thing I could think of was how was she able to pick her nose. Weird.

No, I never wonder why I and others have enjoyed piercing and tattoos. It is a personal thing that some enjoy and shouldn't require a text book explanation for those that don't.

I'm just asking. No answer required, text book or otherwise.

Sorry, I tend to over analyze things sometimes. I used to wonder the same things when I was younger and forget sometimes that others need to go through their natural pace in life also. Life is a classroom and the learning never ends : )

It's easy to become over analytical here on sh. It seems like there is a baited question around every corner and giving an honest civil answer only gets you ambushed by those who like to call "you" a hater. How hypocritical is that? After awhile I began to over analyze every question, innocent or otherwise. This is the first blog I've ever been on so, for me, the learning has just begun.

Thanks for being understanding : )

I try.

i DON'T GET IT AT ALL, SAME FOR TATTOOOS, IT IS VERY UNATTRACTIVE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. i KNOW i AM IN A MINORITY, BUT IF i AM WRONG i AM HAPPY TO BE WRONG!

I don't think your in the minority but if we are, I too am happy to be wrong.

Thank you! Where I live it seems a VASTLY larger amount of people have those things as compared to those of us that don't. I am one of the only guys at work that doesn't have any of that! Never will, either, I have never conformed to "trends" and fads like that. Alot of those people are going to wish they didn't do that to themselves, later on!

I see a few here, but not many. Employers here are not fond of a clerk with shrapnel sticking out everywhere. As for more piercers in your area, monkey see monkey do. Bell bottms can be thrown away or put in a closet when fads change. Purple and orange hair will grow out and can be cut off. The same can't be said for piercings and tattoos.

EXACTLY!

You consider it, "self-mutilation." Other people consider it, "art."
Piercings are a way to stand out and make a statement, and they're interesting. That's why so many people get them. And yes, it can turn into an addiction to get piercings, but so can other behaviors. As long as the amount of piercings are within a reasonable amount, it's not at all ridiculous.

I've seen many works of "art" that leave the definition of art wide open to interpretation. But in my sincerely humble opinion, willingly causing self inflicted wounds for decorative purposes is not (logically) open to any other interpretation than self mutilation. However, I do realize we all have some illogical behavior(s). Some just seem more extreme. All I'm doing here is trying to gain a little understanding as to what the attraction is. Thanks for the input.

In your opinion it's self-mutilation.

They appeal some people and disgust others. Everyone is different

I don't believe piercings are a form of self mutilation. I think facial piercings are very attractive to an extent.

It's all about moderation, and personal taste.

My ears are pierced, once in each lobe, and that's it. Later on down the road, I might choose to get additional piercings.

Besides, I'm way further down the road on self-mutilation than piercings. Surely getting Cochlear Implant surgery is a form of "self-mutilation"?

Edit: You seem to be asking "why do we like it" and "why do we think it's sexy". People like shiny things. Most piercings are shiny, or are something interesting or meaningful. So for the same reason we put on bracelets and necklaces, we put on more shiny metal like a bowerbird nicking feathers from the Bird of Paradise to add to its nest.

Seems tattoos and piercing are birds of a feather . Both practiced by the aboriginese before it became faddish among the general population . Both mutilate the body. In some cases to the point of grossness. Fat broads with tattoos are not atractive . Even slim ones are sometimes questionable. But that is just my opinion and I could be wrong !

It's an adrenaline rush.

There is no accounting for human behavior. People have been poking holes into themselves and painting their bodies since they climbed out of the pond. My girls say they like the way they look and they are making a statement. Personally, I think the statement screams CRAZY or STUPID, but that's just me.

a little bit here and there is sexy.
i love tattoos, i love piercings, i even like stretching, but just like with everything, there is a limit.

It must be a generational thing. When I was in school, only punk rockers would have body piercings. Now it seems to be more mainstream.