Top 10 Bizarre Body Modifications
Published on August 17, 2008 - 207 Comments
[This list contains text that some may not consider family friendly] Many of us have had piercing in the ears and probably quite a number of us have piercing in other less common parts of the body, but there are some people who have outright bizarre piercing and other body modifications. It was certainly not an easy task to find “safe” pictures for this list - but I have done my best!
Human branding is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention that the resulting scar makes it permanent. This is performed using a hot or cold iron. It therefore uses the physical techniques of livestock branding on a human.
A subdermal implant refers to a kind of body jewelry that is placed underneath the skin, therefore allowing the body to heal over the implant and creating a raised design. Many people who have these implants use them in conjunction with other types of body modification to create a desired, dramatic effect.
Most people can stretch to at least 2ga (1/4″) and still have the tissue return to normal when they remove the jewelry, but there really are no guarantees. Don’t stretch your ears unless you are certain you’ll be okay with it forever. Once the elastic limit of the skin has been passed, or a large amount of additional tissue has been built up, the hole will not close again completely. A person who is either obsessed with stretching their piercings, or with showing off their many stretched piercings, is known as a “Gauge Queen”. Some wear this term with pride, others use it derisively.
Tongue bifurcation, or tongue splitting, is a type of body modification in which the tongue is cut centrally from its tip part of the way towards its base, forking the end. In most cases, the split is created through scalpeling or surgical laser. Self modifiers often choose to achieve a split by gradually tightening nylon bindings inserted through an existing tongue piercing over a long period of time. This method is long, arduous, and requires a high pain tolerance.
Tooth filing is a form of body modification in which people file their natural teeth to create a desired look or shape.
Also called corset training and waist training, this is the practice of wearing a tightly-laced corset to achieve extreme modifications to the figure and posture and experience the sensations of a very tight corset. Those who practice tightlacing are called tightlacers. Some tightlacers call the corsets they wear training corsets.
This is the practice of permanently inserting small beads made of various materials beneath the skin of the genitals–of the labia, or of the shaft or foreskin of the penis. As well as being an aesthetic practice, this is usually intended to enhance the sexual pleasure of partners during vaginal or anal intercourse. The practice seems to have been fairly common across world cultures and is still done today. You can see a VERY Not Safe For Work image here.
Eyeball tattooing has been around for a long time; in the 19th century it was commonly used to correct cosmetic defects in blind eyes. The procedure can be performed with traditional tattoo needle or a syringe. The eye is simply held open while the pigment, which is the exact same type used in a regular tattoo, is injected into the eyeball.
The process of anal stretching is a lot like earlobe stretching, except you don’t wear the “jewelry” around the clock. Like stretching a piercing, it involves slow and increasingly larger play over an extended period of time. The image above is for “tools” to aid in this modification.
The implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye, this is one I must admit I had not heard of. Apparently first done in the Netherlands, it has come to the US. According to Dr. Christopher Rapuano, a corneal surgeon at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Hospital, “You can think of it as crazy. I mean this is invasive surgery where you are cutting the surface layer of the eye open to put a little piece of jewelry in. The first time I read about this I said, ‘Oh, my God, who is doing this?’” The safety of this procedure will have to prove itself over time, since it hasn’t been performed on many people, but the possibility for infection and complications is definitely there.
James Sooy and Oliver Gibson have come up with Pierced Glasses - the most minimalist eyewear since the Pince-nez was invented in the 1840’s. I would not have believed this one if I had not seen it with my own bespectacled eyes.
Notable omissions: penis splitting (try finding a SFW image for that!)
Contributor: rushfan
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1. Tempyra - August 18th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Bizarre.
2. Sarah At The Disco - August 18th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Number one is crazy.
But if it worked, it would be pretty cool to show of to people.
There all pretty…umm…different.
3. bec - August 18th, 2008 at 3:46 am
My god, they’re all awesome.
4. ohrmets - August 18th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Ugh…
Why oh why did I choose to eat breakfast while reading this list?
5. HandyMan - August 18th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I heard that the worst thing about getting branded is the smell of your own burning flesh.:( .. number 3 is just dumb
6. Drogo - August 18th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Years ago when I saw there was a piercing for the bridge of the nose, I had the idea that it could be used to hold glasses on a person’s face, just as pictured above. Darn it, once again someone has beaten me to an invention.
I’ve (Um) already seen (ug) pictures of (ew) penis splitting (ew, ew, ew,) (shudder)!
7. Egg - August 18th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Sweet. We are an awesome age of body-mods. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to get an eye tattoo, but the subdermal jewellery looks pretty neat. If I wasn’t such a coward I’d love the piercing glasses.
8. amy - August 18th, 2008 at 4:39 am
No. 10= crazy!
No. 9= crazy!
No. 8= crazy!
No. 7= crazy!
No. 6= crazy!
No. 5= crazy!
No. 4= crazy!
No. 3= crazy!
No. 2= crazy!
No. 1= crazy!
Plus pierced glasses also crazy!!
Ugh maybe some day you will find people modify their head shape!!
9. amy - August 18th, 2008 at 4:41 am
All these things are crazy!!
Ugh maybe some day you will find people modify their head shape!!
10. Hobolad - August 18th, 2008 at 4:48 am
It’s up to them but… ew! Ear plugs are the only ones I’ve seen in real life (Never cool).
I think people probably mistake “being an individual” for “looking like an individual”. I dunno. All of those things… quite unattractive to me at least.
11. Why oh why - August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 am
@ Amy ‘Ugh maybe some day you will find people modify their head shape!!’
Already done that
http://www.austmus.gov.au/body.....inding.htm
If you want to see some extreme body mods then look here (extremely nsfw images) feel free to delete link jfrater if you don’t think it should be here
http://www.bmezine.com/service/samples/tour1.html
12. Swifty66 - August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 am
ew! Way too early!
13. Mom424 - August 18th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Interesting list Rushfan. I am in agreement with most of the other comments - ewwww. Although I must also admit to signing up at a body-mod site in order to satisfy my own morbid curiosity.
What is a cold iron for branding? I don’t understand how that would work.
Jamie; Most excellent pic for #4, made me chuckle.
14. henry o - August 18th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Lovely. Pathological attention seeking. Almost honked up over my keyboard.
‘White man speak with forked tongue’: wouldn’t he also speak with a lisp?
15. Sarah - August 18th, 2008 at 5:14 am
o.O Wow, I guess people are entitled to do what they want with their bodies; they aren’t hurting anyone else. But…ew!
16. blaze fielding - August 18th, 2008 at 5:21 am
great list :] i already have my ears stretched to 14mm & my bridge pierced, though id be way too scared to have a pair of glasses through it haha my friends think the tattoo inside my lip is the grosses thing ive done though
17. Randall - August 18th, 2008 at 5:22 am
rushfan:
Gotta tell you, nice work on the lists lately. Informative, well-researched (seems to me anyway) and interesting topics. Good job.
18. sarahenity - August 18th, 2008 at 5:29 am
i agree with Randall, your lists are certainly awesome rushfan
19. sarahenity - August 18th, 2008 at 5:29 am
and Drogo - “I’ve (Um) already seen (ug) pictures of (ew) penis splitting (ew, ew, ew,) (shudder)!”
oh dear god why?!
20. Tempyra - August 18th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Is it rushfan week at Listverse?
21. stewart - August 18th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Pearling –never heard of this before but its interesting, that pic in the link looks uncomfortable though. Kind of like a Prince Albert. If you don’t know what that is, google it, you will be amazed. But take the safe settings off your google under preferences first and then do a picture search to get the pictures.
Corneal tattooing – Hmm ok different
Extraocular Implant – you have to admit, humans are creative.
22. stewart - August 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
You guys have got to see this.. it’s the image has been pixilated because its really hectic. If you click on it you get the high def image.
http://tyranno.saur.us/?tag_na.....%5B0%5D=95
23. Catsy - August 18th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I have tattoos and at one point considered branding. I am quite attracted to piercings and other body mods in moderation, but can’t even put pure metal through my ears with an infection issue.
@ Why oh why
Went to the second link and while some the images were actually quite interesting you have to wonder at the psychology of extreme modifications.
24. astraya - August 18th, 2008 at 6:12 am
One word: Yuck!
25. stevezio - August 18th, 2008 at 6:17 am
self mutilation / self-injury is a illness - these people need help
26. fez - August 18th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Okay, I looked at the pic of the split penis. If a guy came at me with that I’d run like hell. Why????
27. Arkz_Archduke_of_Geeks - August 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
actully my tongue is split.. it wasn’t on purpose and most can’t tell till i pull my tongue apart.. its only like a few millimeters.. long story short i was little and got my tongue stuck and ended pulling a chunk out
stevezio: no no its not for some it is but others its not
28. Arkz_Archduke_of_Geeks - August 18th, 2008 at 6:43 am
stewart: congratulations.. your link actually made me cough and wretch.. let me put it this way two girls one cup just made me cough….and goatse made go the hell.. ok tub girl made me wretch.. why would some one do that.. i cant think of a man or woman who would enjoy a person with a penis like that
29. adora belle - August 18th, 2008 at 6:48 am
the stuff with the eyes is questionable.
waist training is cool in moderation. lacing as tight as the person in the picture is some what dangerous because your internal organs can be cut in half by lacing that tightly. also, lest any one think that tight lacing is some how a new phenomenon its been practiced for centuries as a fetish. all women by no means tight laced as it was impractical for most people.
30. Ghidoran - August 18th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Weird.
31. thematic - August 18th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Wow, I actually felt a bit ill reading some of them. Certainly an education thats for sure, well done Rushfan.
32. Rshady - August 18th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Anal Stretching is perhaps the nastiest.. I mean Goddamn.
The Cornea Tattooing seems quite pointless, especially if they all look like the one in the picture.
Meh attention seekers.
33. The Doppleganger - August 18th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Well iv lost my apetite. thanks rushfan
34. The Doppleganger - August 18th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Penis splitting? ther must be some sorta pathology there i mean oh my god
35. segue - August 18th, 2008 at 7:48 am
rushfan, your last two lists ( this one & the prison one) have been marvelously researched and written.
This one, however, makes me wonder just how far people will go to get the attention and approval they so desperately seek.
Every new generation, going as far back as written history takes us, has had to make its own mark on society. Usually, this has been done in a relatively benign way: hairdo’s, fashion, dances, special lingo.
These are done by kids who come from happy, accepting, nourishing backgrounds.
Take away those those backgrounds and what you are left with are kids who are yearning for that that happiness, that acceptance, and they’ll take it wherever they find it.
No one who’s happy in their own life is going to allow someone to put a branding iron on their flesh, but if doing so makes them part of a “family”, well, it may seem a small price to pay. The same logic applies to the other practices, as well.
I don’t include tattoo’s in this realm, they have a deep, rich, cultural background of their own.
36. modelpenguin - August 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
That work safe photo for #4 is hilarious. =) Also, how does the pierced glasses thing work? Do they unscrew them at night or for sports and put a stud in or something? They can’t possibly keep those things in all the time. I would not be impressed if someone I knew had those. Their IQ would instantly lower IMO.
37. Cymplyirziztbl - August 18th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Is there anyone else squirming in there seat right now.
38. Blogball - August 18th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Good grief! Can’t we all just be happy with the bodies God gave us? I have a theory that if everyone was born with what we see in the pictures these same people would have them removed for dramatic effect.
I agree with seque, it’s all about getting the attention and approval they so desperately seek.
Another nice list rushfan.
39. infallibleangel - August 18th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Good list.
Oof. The ones with the eyes just make me cringe.
40. smurff - August 18th, 2008 at 9:24 am
A couple of weeks ago I saw an article somewhere ( with photos ) of an eastern women having a symbol done on her back the procedure is yuk. It involves a cosmetic surgeon that cuts a symbol, crest or motive call it what you like on her back with a scalpel, its all done in a hospital.
Then the healing proses starts a couple of weeks later the scabs start falling off, The last image after complete recovery was breath taking a work of art.
But to go through such pain and cost, I agree with all you guys that said ” everyone to their own ”
By the way she would have to wear a bikini 24-7 to show it off anyway.
41. Mike - August 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Oh. My. God. What. The. F@%k. This is freakin insane!
42. kowzilla - August 18th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Good work rushfan.
For some reason I always enjoy ListVerse lists that make me cringe like a little girl.
43. BrotherMan - August 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
#22 stewart: Looks like someone microwaved their hot dog too long
I have only one ear piercing. However, I am addicted to tattoos. It started with one then led to two and now I have a half sleeve on one arm and I do not want to stop there. That is the extents of my body mods.
The mods on this list are just downright odd. Definately not for me, but to each their own I guess.
44. sanasunshine. - August 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
ahh, finally a list right up my alley :].
i LOVE body mods, although i can’t do much cause my parents are pretty strict.
i’ve wanted number 1 for a long time,
but i’ve heard it feels like having an eyelash constantly in your eye.
number 8 is fairly normal, my best friend has her ears gauged.
as for me, i loveeeee piercings,
and the oddest i have is a smiley,
which looks like this:
http://bmezine.com/pierce/05-l.....titled.jpg
(it’s pierced through the upper lip frenulum, that little web between your gums and lip).
:].
45. Vera Lynn - August 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Stewart (22) Not too much freaks me out. That did. And that being said, there are a couple of guys I’d like to do that too.
46. JayArr - August 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
MOM424, a ‘cold iron’ brands by freezing the skin - like an instant severe frostbite that will pernanently scar the skin.
47. Jes - August 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Really, nothing on this list is bizarre. Every one of the things listed, except for the eyeglasses, eye implant and anal stretching, has been done and redone by countless cultures around the world. Only in modern society has acts like these been deemed outrageous. Branding and scarification is far more common in many African cultures than tattooing and pearling was common place with many Asian men centuries ago.
I’m still surprised in this day and age of internet connectedness that there is still such close mindedness towards other peoples actions. I’m making a reference to all the “ew” and “what the f–k’s wrong with these people” comments.
And yes, I have several tattoos, stretched piercings and brandings. I’ve removed the implant I had. I also can name at least one person I know personally who has at least one of the above mods. Except the bridge piercing eyeglasses. That was from several years ago and from what I remember the guy no longer has the piercing.
48. P.J. - August 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
So, what’s the deal with the cold iron, JayArr? Is it like a branding iron dipped in liquid nitrogen or something similar?
49. warrrreagl - August 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Boy, nothing says “self-esteem” like self-mutilation.
50. rushfan - August 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Jes ~ I was waiting for a comment like yours.
These body mods are “bizarre” because they are abnormal. That’s not to say they are anything new or original or honestly even that out of the ordinary, these days. I’ve seen, either in person or on tv, all of these things and more. But until I walk thru the grocery store and ordinary people have eyeball tattoos and horns under the skin of their forehead, it’s gonna be considered bizarre. Okay, so I’m actually pretty likely to find someone at the grocery store with a branding or stretched earlobes, but it’s still pretty bizarre.
Oh, and p.s. I could have made a separate list entirely of penis modifications. Who knew?
51. Csimmons - August 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I was eating lunch damn it! oh well, great list anyways
52. copperdragon - August 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
i’ve noticed that a large number of black pro sports players (mainly basketball and american football) have done “branding”.
it seems counter-intuitive to me that a prosperous, healthy, popular black man to *want* to be branded.
53. copperdragon - August 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
what about tooth-tattooing and tooth-jewelry implants (grillz)?
54. SlickWilly - August 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
“I was eating lunch damn it! oh well, great list anyways”
Well, stop eating your lunch while you are reading gross lists. It’s your own fault.
55. jfrater - August 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hobolad (#10): I agree - it is a bit like groups like emos, etc. - they think they are being unique and special by dressing and behaving as they do, but in fact they are just sheep following that particular trend.
56. Brickhouse - August 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I expected to see ear pointing on this list!
I’ve seen most of these and a couple I’d like to do. The corseting, if done nicely (and not to that extreme) can be very pretty and I may stretch my ears to the 2 gauge, because I’ve heard more than once (here incl) that the ears can return back to normal if I don’t want them any more.
I’m a mother of two with a civil service job and a great big tattoo across my chest (a couple birds, nothing offensive). Some of these things are done solely on those who want to modify and some can be hidden and work into a normal life. Hell, who’s gonna know you stretched your anus or stuck ‘pearls’ in your genitals?
57. jfrater - August 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Cymplyirziztbl (#37): I bet no one is squirming as much as I was when I was searching out the pictures for this list!
58. goof_ball - August 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
great list. i wanna gage my ears but not as big as in the picture
59. NestorV - August 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The branding thing isn’t new.
Alot of fraternaties brand their new member.
Make sence, since they are kind of sheep anyways.
60. Daniel Wallin - August 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
these freaks should be purged stalin style
61. anon - August 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Hmm I was expecting to see scarification on here. The pictures of people getting them always makes me cringe, ESPECIALLY when they show the bits of skin that was cut off >.
62. stormy617 - August 18th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
#43 Brotherman, I was thinking the same thing about the picture of the penis splitting. An over microwaved hot dog was the first thing I thought of.
And #26 Fez I totally agree if a guy was coming at me with something like that I would run screaming into the night LOL
63. PsyAlice - August 18th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Great list, and the first I’ve commented on.
The most interesting modification to me has been corset piercing. Quite controversial, though, due to not being very “practical” piercings (higher problems with healing, infection, etc.) Here is a good editorial on it:
http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20050417.html
I would never personally do it, I think it looks very cool, but the risks, pain factor and scarring wouldn’t be worth it to me.
The penis splitting, holy crap. I thought I’d seen pretty much every body mod, but that one is new to me.
64. Cubone - August 18th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Ugh
65. JayArr - August 18th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
P.J. (48) You can use dry ice and alcohol or liquid nitrogen. It’s less damaging to the body than hot iron branding, but takes more equipment and expertise
66. Mom424 - August 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
JayArr; Thank you for the info, makes perfect sense now.
Segue; Although I agree that some or even most folks do in fact have these modifications because of a yearning to belong, others I know also do it because they are addicted to the endorphin rush that pain precipitates. And they have a permanent or semi-permanent reminder of the experience. Not for me, thank you very much, but I can understand the allure. (Not the penis splitting thing though, that I can’t understand. Is it useful afterwards? Do you get 2 erections or does it go back together? Is it mostly gay males who wouldn’t ordinarily be using it? Beyond my realm of comprehension)
67. astraya - August 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Upon further thought, another word: Why? The point of bodily adornment has always been to attract mates, not make them run away screaming. Maybe all of these people will breed themselves out of the gene pool.
68. jfrater - August 18th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
This list is doing pretty well on reddit. If you want to vote it up you can go here.
69. Korey - August 18th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Wow..All of that is intense! I think I’d only do maybe 2 out of the 10 things listed up there. But congrats to all the men and women brave enough to do it! -Applauds for them-
70. Ravenlady - August 18th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The one on here that I see the least amount of comment on is also, likely, the one with the greatest health risks. Tightlacing; this practice creates numerous health risks and even kills. It weakens your stomach muscles so much so that you can not function without the corset. With the corset your lower lungs are unused thus limiting your oxygen intake. Here is the Wiki link with more details on the history of this practice and its health risks. Quite interesting…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tightlacing
As for penis splitting, wow! That is truly disgusting. I really do not get that one. I understand all the others (except eyeball mods) on here and even appreciate many of them but penis splitting? What is to be gained by that? That can’t possibly be pleasurable, can it? Who would want to partner with anyone like that?
71. Michelle - August 18th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Most people with extreme mods are not doing it to impress other people. Someone with a bisected penis has done it for their own personal reasons. I’m pretty surprised that so many people seem grossed out by all this. People have been doing modifications for thousands of years, its a natural inclination
72. Callie - August 18th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I love you rush. It’s official. I have 7 tattoos (hidden) and I’ve been thinking about scarification
http://www.lifeinthefastlane.c.....tion_6.jpg
The above link is the final, healed product. If you’re squeamish, don’t google the process.
Body mods fascinate me….
73. Korey - August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
@Callie: Oh wow..That looked really awesome! How much did it hurt?
74. grungefreak10 - August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I’m not telling people how to live their lives, but this kind of self-mutilation is just stupid.
75. Callie - August 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
oh its not mine lol!! that’s something I’m going to have to think very long and hard about. I haven’t even started thinking about artists/costs/pain yet.
76. dofnup - August 18th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
The difference between modified people and non-modified people is that modified people don’t care if you’re not modified ^_~
77. Sara - August 18th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
10. I have afriend who was branded as part of a religious ritual. He said it felt “very spiritual,” which I think I New Age for “endorphin rush.”
9. I like things that create texture so, this is cool with me. I was sad when I stopped being able to feel my tattoos.
8. Well this is the oldest of the old school, init? Kind of hard for this to be shocking.
7. Ever since I discovered that the bits of my tongue can move independently, I’ve felt it a shame that they are connected. I am all for this for those brave enough to do it.
6. Oh god, can you imagine how much it would hurt your brain to have your teeth filed. I mean… that sound… that horrible scraping… oh god. Maybe it’s just because I’ve never had any dental work, but my teeth are already trying to escape from my mouth just thinking about it.
5. Well, that doesn’t look healthy.
4. The is just like 9, but for your cock. I guess I should commend the guy for thinking of his lady’s pleasure.
3. It’s not even cute. No one wants to see that part of your eye — it’s all bloodshot and weird. Plus, this can’t be vision friendly.
2. um, OK then.
1. Well, I have a panic attack when I get an eyelash in there, this is probably not for me.
Bonus: Neat!
78. robneiderman - August 18th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Wow. Just wow.
I totally had the idea for screwing lenses onto a piercing through the nose years ago! (I work in the eyeglass field, and sometimes I get bored at work…) Also, that’s not a corneal tatoo. It’s on the sclera, so it should be a scleral tatoo.
Oh, and it might be politically incorrect to say so, but I expected to see gender reassignment surgery on here. How much more bizarre can one get than cutting off a penis, drilling a hole down there, shoving some silicone in the chest, and pumping the body with hormones?
79. CRSN - August 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Rushfan - Geat list, i had a freind who went and got an Inverted Prince Albert and to say he was in a bit of pain afterwards would be nice, except his dick got so swollen (size of a large grapefruit) he had to go to the emergency and when the nurse said it wasnt an emergency and he’d have to wait a little longer.
Hahahahaha! 3 hours later he had it removed, but for that 3 hours i was thinking to myself “how many people have ever had to stay with their mate after they put a scewer through his dick?”
80. NN - August 18th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Wow, number 1 is definitely the worst trade-off ever.
Either your eye gets infected or…no one will see your jewelry.
81. Wildlifeman - August 18th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I can only ask….why?
82. Freaky424 - August 18th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
to the 4th person who commented
you eat breakfast at 3:52 in the morning?!
83. Billius - August 18th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Meh, I GUESS you could call #2 body modification going strictly by definition (it modifies the body). I’d consider it more of a sexual practice than anything else, as opposed to genital piercings which in and of themselves are not a sexual activity, but rather a sexual modification.
84. Mortivore - August 18th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I gotta say, most of these don’t seem too odd. Most of them. That thing with the penis was a litte… different… to say the least, but other than that and the anal thing, it’s all pretty cool. I’d get a lot of these done, probably. With the exception of tightlacing, anal stretching *Shuddercringe*, and the penis beads *Shuddercringe*.
85. The Doppleganger - August 18th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
@ freaky (82):
Yea. I usually get up round 3 and start my day. Im strange like that.
86. Nejikun - August 19th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Mom 424: With the cold iron, it’s generally done using either liquid nitrogen or dry ice.
87. Rlemass - August 19th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Some people really have issues…
88. jhoyce07 - August 19th, 2008 at 1:33 am
DARN PEOPLE DO DA DARNEST THINGS,DONT THEY??
89. alakdan13 - August 19th, 2008 at 1:40 am
number 1 is pretty neat, I would do that if its not dangerous. Great list.
90. Callie - August 19th, 2008 at 6:37 am
I don’t think it’s about people having “issues.” I’m sure somewhere, some person thinks it’s really over the top and odd to have your ears pierced, but we consider it quite normal. Ten years ago, tattoos were no where near as mainstream as they are now, and now the statistics are nearing half of young adults having them. It’s about what you like and how you feel, any issues nonwithstanding.
91. rubysp - August 19th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I aim to try Tooth filing when I have the courage to do that. I think sharper canines would be wicked for personal satisfaction. Also I know someone who did ear stretching and it looked absolutely fabulous. Tongue splitting sounds interesting if I’m not afraid of pain.
Strange but I’m most wierded out by the bonus one of attaching Glasses to face. I mean, I like my glasses but not this much. Are you able to take it off? what happens if someone accidently knocks them? what happens if the lenses shatter? If you need to take it off?
The list is quick shocking but I wouldn’t diss what people do as their body is their own. Although most look excruciating, especially the split penis one (I feel a twinge of pain from my nonexistant penis)
Great List!
92. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I suspect that the glasses are held in place magnetically in which case, they’d be quite easy to deal with.
about the filing one. I hate a mate who had weird teeth, his pair of baby K9 teeth didn’t loosen and come out and his second set grew in over top. he filed them all vamp style and everyone thought it stupid and kinda disgusting. but after a litle while everyone came to like it and a few even followed suit. cris was a trend setter after that.
93. Cedestra - August 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
The only thing I’ve done on this list is branding. I did it myself to honor my religion. It’s this shape: /|\ on my hands. I did it by lighting chopsticks on fire, cooling a little, then applying to my hand. It really doesn’t look great at this point: the left is okay but the right only has one that’s uniform and noticeable. Most people don’t notice them, but that’s fine. It hurts, of course, and the ensuing blisters are gross, but it was worth it.
94. K.Inez - August 19th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Wow, lots of judgmental thoughts here, though I guess I’m not really surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. Just because it’s in your own backyard doesn’t mean it any less a different culture, which deserves a certain amount of (albeit detached) respect. Just because you find something unappealing to look at doesn’t make it “gross” or “wrong”. I have seen most of these up close on friends and acquaintances, and I happen to think most of them are beautiful. I don’t think it’s any different than choosing what colour your hair is or what kind of clothing you wear.
95. K.Inez - August 19th, 2008 at 10:52 am
You know what? Scratch that. Such conservative reactions just make it easier for those of us who dig modification to avoid accidentally wasting our time.
96. Callie - August 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am
K.Inez..don’t scratch it! We need more people like you.
By that I mean well-educated, knowledgeable about the mods you and others have, and open-minded. People would never in a million years guess the mods I have and/or want. It makes it much more fun that way.
97. Alex T. - August 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Thanks for that… right around lunchtime too.
98. Brickhouse - August 19th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Come to think of it, I branded myself, too. Sorta.
I was a teen and had angst, incl self-poking a tat on myself… Still there like the day I did it. Anyway, I had a skull ring that I heated over a lighter and held on with a towel and touched to my ankle and THREW it off my skin. Damn!! I can’t take burns apparently. I have 3 small blotches still - very unnoticable.
It takes a lot of mental power to be able to deal with branding and scarification - those pictures showing during the scarification and the skin pile creep me out, but the end product is beautiful. I’m a tattoo and piercing gal - I may get my ears pointed as well, I think that’s beautiful… But I expect that will cause much pain, to me - it’s worth it!
—————-
The only things that creep me out on this are the eye jewelry and tattoos. I think the eye jewelry is pretty, but I could never do it - I’m too creeped out by any foreign object touching my eye (except contacts).
99. Brickhouse - August 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
* That is the eye jewelry and eye tattoos. I wasn’t sure that was clear enough. No needles are coming near my eyes!
100. Tempyra - August 19th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
How do the people who get the eyeball implant thingys avoid messing up the insides of their eyelids? I know (from experience unfortunately) that it’s not hard to get giant papillary conjunctivitis from wearing contact lenses - wouldn’t that implant have a similar effect? It’s there 24/7 after all.
Anyone know?
101. glittershrooms - August 19th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I pierced my own ear once when I was 15. I thought I was so badass XD
102. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I am going to get an ‘Eye of Ra’ on the left of my chest.
don’t think I’ll bother with any piercing. I don’t see the point/appeal.
103. Diogenes - August 19th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I skimmed the comments , so i may have overlooked someone else bringing up the same.
Regarding “Tightlacing”: Cathie Jung, the woman with the thinnest waist in the world (15inches) has been wearing a corset sense 1983. She says she never had ribs removed as others have and has had x-rays made to prove it.
This other thing that i dont know if it’s been brought up, but want to mention, is Body Integrity Identity Disorder, which is in some way connected to Munchausen syndrome. In the case of someone with BIID, there is a desire and despair with their appendages ultimately being removed. Desire in amputation and despair in not being an amputee. The missing of missing. the absent whole. This strange unfullfilled self where if they are unable to get a doctor to “do it” then they will do it themselves.
And if they are unable to amputate, they “fake” it, by wheelchair or strapping a leg or arm up,using crutches ect.
And this makes me think of two actors for an interesting reason,
Lon Chaney
and Eric Von Stroheim, who used to always include a degree of body part loss or scarification or limpedness (is that a word?) within characters he played. and if it wasn’t in the script , he would implore it be part of his character.
This all here also makes me think of J.G.Ballard, in part
There is definately a link to a personal desire within all this. I’m not saying that’s all arrows pointing to one, just my particuliar thought at the moment..
104. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I saw a docco on that just the other day. It was on the controversy stired up by the debate about wether docs should be alowed to amputate because of this condition.
are you saying that it or something like it brings on the desire to do some of the above?
105. Callie - August 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Well there’s also body dysmorphia, but I’m not sure tightlacers do it for the thin part.That’s an interesting disorder though, Diogenes. Do you know which show you were watching dopple?
106. chershey - August 19th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I suppose I don’t “get” most of these, but I really don’t get the teeth filing. I mean, I bite my tongue and lips enough with my plain ol’ dull teeth!
107. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Ah gosh. It was on the documentary channel so it mighta been called sumfin like ‘the man who wanted to amputate his leg’ as a lot of those doccos have titles like that.
Try googling: ‘body dysmorphia’ ‘documentary’ ‘docco’ or sumthing. you might get lucky
108. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
jeez I nearly descended to “Vicky Pollard” there for a sec.
“No, but, yeah, but, no, but, yeah, but, no, but, yeah but I know because I’m not wasting police time because you know Micha? Well, she saw the whole thing, right, because she was bunking off school because she was gonna go down the wimbley and get off with Luke Griffiths, only she never because he’s been trying to grow a moustache but it just looks like pubes, so she got off with Luke Torbet instead, only don’t tell Bethany that because she’s fancied Luke Torbet ever since she flashed her fanny at him during Home Ec’.”
109. Diogenes - August 19th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
“are you saying that it or something like it brings on the desire to do some of the above?”
I was speaking specifically with BIID, but i only loosly thought of the rest above as part of the whole.
There is a level of continual expanse after one goes through and feels and is altered.
I dont know if there is a step by step degree of stages or easily connecting ear-peircing to labia piercing. but the body is a threshold of pain and pleasure. Most people that I have know when they get their first tattoo, later get another..in some cases, it’s another and another and another. feeling physical pain in depression or during teen years is also on my mind.
I’m just throwing these things out there.
their is also internal scaring that can manifest itself in various ways, as there are rites of passage in our current times that seem to occur without the same foundations as experienced by our great ancestors, ect.
I don’t know.
110. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I spose it’s hard to comprehend such things like o say self-harm if you’v never been there.
Iv had a couple of friends who were going to do something silly like a radical tattoo and sub dermalimplant. I talked them out of it by asking. “why do you want to do this? you need to think am I doing this to impress someone? be recognised? be cool? cos everyone else has one? or do you want one because you like the tattoo? Just don’t do anything rash.”
111. thefaxmachine - August 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Best list on here so far!
All so gruesome, yet all so fascinating!
112. Diogenes - August 19th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
one supposed extreme is sadomasochism, although I believe what once was a “dirty little secret” seems now, more in occurance, because it is possibly more prevailant within so-called mainstream consciousness.. There is a broad sex-play sadomasochism and a deeper,”more realistic” S&M and then there’s the final “Totally for real/no fucking joke S&M”
Sex shops sell it all and whoever is buying may be at either end of the balanced middle of what’s acceptablly acknowledged.
113. Shorty - August 19th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I can understand why many people would think that these modifications are bizarre or unconventional but I think it is a little harsh to call people who are modified “freaks of nature” or “abnormal”. Being modified myself (numerous piercings, ears stretched to 16 mm tattoos and a dermal anchor), I tend to find those types of comment hurtful. Yes, as mentioned before, I can understand why people see modifications as bizarre but it is a lifestyle that I have chosen to follow, and while I’m not asking for acceptance and I’m happy to answer questions, I just wish that people could be a little more sensitive.
114. Deziner - August 19th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Well, I’ve read the comments posted for this list and am surprised no one has mentioned “Giraffe People”,( who elongate their necks by wearing large brass rings that stack upon each other. They add new rings on an annual basis. This process also compresses their ribcage. Some women have achieved neck lengths of 13 inches. It is a cultural custom, and I do not know if it is still practiced.
I also would think that foot binding would be included, although I know that that practice has been included in at least one other list at this site.
Thank you for all the interesting and fun reading.
115. Diogenes - August 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
you may be on to something Deziner: start ‘em when they are young, when the bones are rubberized! “you wanna be like mommy? like daddy” Who needs genetic modification when we can sculpt them within our own interests?
15inch waist , 13inch neck, sharpened little “IT’s Alive!” teeth, binded cutsie feet…each time they stray to far from the litter, another branding.
ok, i’m sorry. I know I can only post comments one after another, before i start going off the deep end.
But it this out of the question? I mean we have “KKK kids” and babies wearing political statements on their tee shirts, and darling tiny motorcycles(pocket rockets) — why not “full mod bod kids”?
116. Cedestra - August 19th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Diogenes: Not sure if you were scoffing at them, but it’s an African tribe that does that, not some random people who think it’s cool.
117. Khat Baker - August 19th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Another thing that is becoming more and more popular is… (I forgot what they call it) but they take these large fish hooks and pierce them into your back and then you are lifted up and you hang from them while they are in your back. OMG, I’m sure it transcends you into a suspended state of mind just from sheer shock but WTF?
118. The Doppleganger - August 19th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Its called suspension i believe.
119. Diogenes - August 19th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Cedestra: What ever do you mean?
I didn’t touch the “coolness” aspect of random people.
Which African tribe does what?
Scoffing wasn’t at all part of my thoughts.
120. segue - August 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
#93. Cedestra
The only thing I’ve done on this list is branding. I did it myself to honor my religion. It’s this shape: /|\ on my hands.
****
Cedestra, my guess is that you honor your religion daily.
121. Sara - August 19th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I remember seeing a picture similar to the eyeglasses picture. It showed a guy who had both eyebrows pierced, and his sunglasses hooked onto the barbells. And I am sure that the eyeglasses picture was only a play piercing because with the weight of the glasses that piercing is 100% likely to reject. More especially if you snagged it on anything.
122. rushfan - August 19th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Deziner ~ Thanks for your input. When searching out body mods for this list, I decided to leave out things that were purely “cultural” like lip plates, neck rings, foot binding, because I intended this to be a list of mods you can see at your local tattoo shop. My best friend’s brother owns a tattoo & peircing shop and is a kick-ass drummer and his crowd can proudly represent almost all of the mods on this list. I have a strict “don’t ask don’t tell” policy on issues of the anus, however.
123. massoluk - August 19th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Some of those looks very very dangerous. The Piecred Eyeglasses, I could definitely see some danger there if something press/bump at the glasses.
124. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
That African tribe with the rings,they cannot remove them. Well, they CAN, but their neck muscles have atrophied and they may stop breathing. So they are in a sense removable yet permanent.
125. Cat Skyfire - August 19th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I’m surprised Scarification wasn’t on the list. Branding is the low end of it. There are those who get complicated designs on their skin by either burning or electrical energy.
The thing to understand on all of these, is that they are done without anesthetic. The only case of anesthetic I heard of was a dentist brought some topical for himself before getting a tattoo.
As for why: Why do people do anything? It makes them feel special or a way of representing themselves. Some of them represent a type of lifestyle (the corset look). Others are private.
Those who don’t like to risk pain do other things. Constant changing of nail or hair color. Grow a beard, shave a beard. Combovers and balding ponytails.
126. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Cat Skyfire - personally, to make myself feel as though i’m individual, i plat my pubes
127. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
i posted this in forums but thought to supply to the whole community, meet Yoda the Cat:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-ears.html
Its cool
128. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
CRSN (126)
That’s cool! Do you do it yourself or do you have some help?
129. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Vera - No, i go to a buety salon and get the girls to do it, gives them something nice to look at for once, i’m thiking of either braiding or corn rows next time, what do you think?
130. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
CRSN (129)
What’s the difference? Here it’s the same. I, myself, keep it trimmed.
131. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
This is a new way of making new people uncomftable, wonder if J will pick up on it.
Anyway, Nah! i think i’ll go the Hulk Hogan look down there, you know, big, muscly and hair with a hole thats constantly open making weired sounds.
i cant contain this any more, if you reply Vera its only gonna get worse, i got a sick mind
132. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
What kind of weird sounds?
[ Joke moved to the forums
]
133. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Vera - thats fucking discusting, i like it
we need a jokes forum, i’ll go in and start it with a foul one, see you there.
*CRSN wanders off to the forums in utter confusion about Vera*
134. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
There is a joke list. I got lost there several times. Top 10 jokes, and there is a continuance in the forums. As soon as you said you had a sick mind, I knew that was the joke for you. It’ll probably be pulled, so Im glad you saw it.
Why are you confused about me, BTW?
135. jfrater - August 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
okay - I tried very hard to keep the images SFW - can we keep the text that way too please?
136. Vera Lynn - August 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
JFrater
You got it. No more nonsense from me. Promise.
(But it is a great joke!)
137. jfrater - August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
No comment
138. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Sorry J, I’m making a forum for this stuff
139. CRSN - August 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Awww!? J, that was a good one too, bugger!
140. Ayellene - August 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Quite bizarre…but in my opinion the most bizarre and painful modification is the Chinese foot binding….the foot was suposed to be 7 inches long…. that is bizarre.
http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.u.....tchins.htm
141. Deziner - August 20th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Rushfan– I had a feeling that “modern” & “mainstream” might be part of the parameters of this list. As a retired tattoo artist myself, I realize mainstream can be a very subjective term.
Regardless, truly enjoyed the list, it led to some personal net-fishing of my own…and freaked out my husband. He-he-he
142. The Doppleganger - August 20th, 2008 at 2:49 am
Wow the conversation diverged a lot there for a while.
(note to self: dont provoke CRSN)
143. Drogo - August 20th, 2008 at 4:00 am
I looked at the Not Safe For Work image for no.4 and apparently the photo was taken on a cold day.
144. Callie - August 20th, 2008 at 7:31 am
ooo drogo…low blow
145. Kittykat73 - August 20th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Please tell me that photo in number five isn’t real?!!! Where are her internal organs? Seriously, if that is real, how does she manage to stand without bending in half? :O
The guy in number three has filthy fingernails.
I’m also curious now as to what a split penis (Ouch! ) looks like so I’m going to Image Google it. Ooh, image my cookies! *blushes*
146. The Doppleganger - August 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I googled it. Bad idea.
147. Sandra - August 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
smurff–
“A couple of weeks ago I saw an article somewhere ( with photos ) of an eastern women having a symbol done on her back the procedure is yuk. It involves a cosmetic surgeon that cuts a symbol, crest or motive call it what you like on her back with a scalpel, its all done in a hospital.
Then the healing proses starts a couple of weeks later the scabs start falling off, The last image after complete recovery was breath taking a work of art.”
I’ve been googling yuk for the last hour, and i got desperate and googled “eastern body modifications called yuk”
The first link is to your comment smurff. I still haven’t found anything on it though. Mostly things with the word yuck mispelled. Do remember where you saw the article?
148. Tempyra - August 20th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Sandra: I think what smurff might have meant was yak, which is short for yakuza (the Japanese mafia-equivalent) who often get the traditional Japanese tattoos called irezumi.
Wikipedia has more info on irezumi
If you look for irezumi using Google’s image search there are some pretty amazing examples.
149. candi_sue - August 21st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I’ve got to say, The only mod I didn’t expect to see on this list is Tightlacing.. I’m a licenced tattooist in Alaska and have been witness to people with most of these mods. However, In my opinion I think earlobe stretching could have been ommited, or at least included stretching other piercings such as nostrils, lebrets and various genital piercings.
The one thing that I believe is missing from this list is scarification and skin removal procedures. Both are performed with a scalpel, an outline of a simple image is cut to produce a scar, and for a skin removal the skin within the design is cut away to completely remove it.
Still Curious? Try www.modblog.bmezine.com but beware most photos are NSFW.
150. DoppHopper - August 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I have a question to all those who have piercings:
Why?
151. Drogo - August 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 am
Maybe I shouldn’t have done that off-color joke about it being a cold day or at least used an alias. (haha) You all know about shrinkage, don’t ya?
To answer DoppHopper: Because they can.
152. afds - August 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
comment number 8 amy. people do modify head shape very often. i forget which but either the aztecs or the mayans formed their heads with boards and rope tightening the ropes over years to make the head longer and more triangular. in current years it is done very often to babies for medical reasons because many babies are born with elongated heads from birth and so doctors make them wear a “helmet” that over a course of months forces the head to be rounder.
153. DoppHopper - August 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Like growing watermelons in square boxes to make square melons.
154. Megan - August 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
EWWWW OMG WIERDDDDDD AHHH OMGOMGOMG THIS IS GROSS AND CREEPY
155. 5monkeys - August 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I personaly have several piercings and Im a mother of five, and I am waiting for my art work to come back on my totem pole tatoo. and even I think number two is weird and gross, and I want to do #2 and would like to look into #3 maybe have a rainbow thing going on, I would love to see what other peoples reaction is to it.
156. rushfan - August 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Why on earth would you wanna stretch out your heinie-hole? No judgement, just why?
157. Sean - August 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
WOW!!! the pierced eyeglasses thing is actually pretty cool!! I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 5, and couldn’t stand contacts on my eyes….If the medical profession deems this procedure benign, I may consider doing it!!!
158. maddo7 - August 23rd, 2008 at 4:09 am
maybe some of this stuff is cry for help lyk most selfharming is obviously its a bit for the attention and since most of it is done by teenagers or young people it can also be about being part of agroup lyk wen emos self harm to fit into the ‘emo’ group
159. jumbo - August 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
I’m surprised gender nullification isn’t on here
160. Elwood - August 23rd, 2008 at 6:54 am
What a waste of space these people are. It just goes to show how incredibly stupid people can be. Most of these things are arguably unique at best for a while. Then they get older and infected their body parts fall off. Now that is when things get really cool unique. This earth is full of waaaaaay too many morons. Maybe Dwight Schrute was right. “There are way too many people on this planet. We need a new plague”.
161. Sam - August 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
The thought of a tattoo needle going near my eye sends shivers down my spine.
The glasses thing is pretty cool, but isn’t it basically a bridge peircing with specially made glasses as the jewelry?
162. Modified Cowboy - August 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Way to steal the direct text from BMEzine’s Encyclopedia… (Earlobe Stretching being the prime example)
163. Pavel - August 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Stay tuned next week for a new episode of “Ripley’s People That Scream Look At Me!”.
164. Spacechick - August 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I frankly think that people can do what they want with their own bodies although I admit I cannot understand the more extreme body mods. As for the split penis, why oh why? Not like you can show it to many people (without getting arrested anyway). I would think that body modification is about getting attention and screaming look at me, I’m an individual, just like everybody else.
165. Mrthubbron - August 24th, 2008 at 10:45 am
What’s so bizarre about ear stretching? I got three flesh tunnels and find nothing weird about it at all. The corset training just looks repulsive to me though. Each to their own I suppose.
166. James - August 25th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Sad. Very, very sad.
These people are obviously attention junkies who are also uncomfortable with their race; bodily modifications have always been associated with primitive tribal cultures, and it seems pretty self evident that these (predominantly) white people are SO ashamed of their skin colour that they want to look as little like a european as possible.
I think they should all try gradually tightening fishing line aroiund their necks until they bifurcate their throats, that would be ‘extreme’ and ‘unique’.
167. DoppHopper - August 25th, 2008 at 4:03 am
You don’t seem to have any grasp on the mind of these people. Since people of all races, skin colours etc. get these sorts of modifications it hardly has anything to do with your brand of racism.
168. deskpotato - August 25th, 2008 at 4:07 am
ever seen the type of kid that runs about shouting “look at meeee, look at meeeee!!!!”…. This is the sort of adult they grow up into…
169. DoppHopper - August 25th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Ive failed to have every meet a kid who hasn’t run around shouting look at me. And considering that nearly all mods are concealed it hard translates to “look at me”
170. WaZzUpGaL - August 25th, 2008 at 10:05 am
wow.. i’d luv to hav #9 and #1 .. xD
171. ocanada - August 26th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
to those of you who are belittling those of us who choose to decorate our “temples”..or own bodies..the only canvas we are given…the way WE feel fit, i am pretty sure you CHOSE to look at this list, because you were interested. PERIOD.
At least I am interest-ing.
maybe you should just let people live there own lives and not give them any guff about it…how bout that.
172. Denzell - August 26th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
The corset training isn’t really bizarre. It should be moved to rank 10 if you’ll really include it.
Anyway, I’d not do any of these to myself even if I’d be given money bigger than the wealth of the entire USA.
173. Jennie - August 27th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I love body modifications!
Even though, personally, I only have tattoo’s.
One of my best guy friends was heavily into the culture when he was younger. Not so much anymore. He had his tongue split in the last year though and its the coolest site! Kissing a guy with a split tongue is the most unusual and awesome feeling. lol!
174. Mia - August 27th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
could you imagine getting hit in the face with those glasses?..
owwww
175. Helena - August 27th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Most of them are horrifying and really unattractive, but I have to say that number one actually looks sort of cool. I would never do it myself because I’m not a retard, but it does look cool, instead of just gross.
176. priscilla - August 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am
9 is my favorite. i’d love to do that!
and while i can’t speak for every person with body mods, i know i don’t have mine for attention or to fit in. i have them as representations of different parts of myself. every time i look at one of my tattoos, i remember the personal significance it carries, and whether they’re noticed or not is irrelevant. all i ask is that people don’t go around pigeonholing everyone they see with mods. we all have our own reasons.
177. elnrith - August 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
iv gotten the teeth filings done by a doctor but this was on my canines
it wasnt to make them sharp it was because 3 of them ahd been chipped(long story but same cause)and it looked weird when i smiled so i got it filed to look normal
178. elnrith - August 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
oh andif youre wondering no i didnt want to get them capped - i have a freind who got a tooth capped for the same reason and it looks kind of weird LOL
179. segue - August 29th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
#178. elnrith
oh andif youre wondering no i didnt want to get them capped - i have a freind who got a tooth capped for the same reason and it looks kind of weird LOL
****
He just didn’t go far enough. Due to medical reasons, I ended up having to have 22 teeth capped, and 12 veneered. Looks great.
I won’t say it was the most *fun* I’ve ever had, though.
180. Tomo - August 29th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I dunno what to say. I am reallt struggling to hold a ‘to-each-his-own’ opinion but maaaaannnn, who in their right mind would want to split their tongue!! You can’t be sane to want that or any of the other ridiculous things listed here.
181. Tomo - August 29th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
*really*
182. elnrith - August 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
tomo
i have a freind who split his toung and it really is weird - he said he did it because it quote”looked cool at the time”
lol!
183. ZedroZ - August 30th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Hi all
I’m a long time Listverse reader and i post on occasion here also. I am a huge fan of body modification and have major respect for people who undertake many of the procedures listed above. Currently i have 26mm stretched lobes, a stretched septum to 6mm and a number of other piercings / tattoos. I personally do this myself as i don’t see my body to be the way i feel it should be. More often than not persecution is rare for me… (having said that i have had 4 people stand outside my house accusing me of mutilating gods work!)
I firmly believe that modifying ones body is the choice of the owner of that body and no-one elses. It is a shame that some people don’t see it this way. Fortunately most people are more inquisitive than persecutive. I must also appologise for my spelling but i am dyslexic.
Thanks JFrater and i applaude you excellent idea which has the simplest elements!
ZedroZ
184. ZedroZ - August 30th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Helena: Just re-read your comment above and i feel it is unfair to call someone a retard for making personal choices in their lives. We all make them, to different degrees and extents but the word retard is an exceptionally simple minded and offensive term to use. would you call a mentally handicapped person retarded??
I sincerely hope not…
185. ZedroZ - August 30th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Appologising profusely for the triple post here but in regard to the suspension posts above. As far as i am aware (although i may be wrong so feel free to correct me if i am) the brain produces similar endorphins (sp?) to that which heroin produces when injected into the bloodstream. I do not for one minute suggest that this is the reason why people would undertake the grueling exsercise. However this is what i am informed of by good friends who have experimented with the idea. (professionally of course!!)
Z
186. ZedroZ - August 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ha ha sorry but now i have to appologize for the quadruple post. Pierced glasses are an expansion of the bridge piercing one would have on (guess where) the bridge of their nose. The piercing is usually given a “banana bar” to heal. This is simply a banana shaped bar with screw on balls on either side. if one wished to put lenses on either side they generally must have custom built lenses with a thread on them to screw on in place of the balls on either side of the piercing. I have done this myself and it is not so hard to protect provided your bridge piercing is fully healed in the first place…
Excellent list and i must really move onto another website as i may be in danger of overloading the comment boxes
sorry all!
Z
187. Peter - August 31st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Trbal traditions aside (strange that modern western people should consider them proof that the practices mentioned are not bizarre), I believe the underlying subtle motive for these modifications is this: a desire to proof that we own our body. In other words, to make a statement about total personal freedom.
The reality is that we are not master of our bodies. Who can stop his stomach from digesting or her hair from growing ? The body is an instrument that allows us to experience the physical world.
It is of course not wrong as such to do these things. It is imo a sure sigh though that the person in question has not understood what freedom is and what our real desires are. To make the body the focus of one’s attention, is a sure way to disillusion and sorrow.
188. ligeia - September 4th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Apart from the eye ones (how would you be able to keep your eyeball still while getting it tattooed?) these aren’t that extreme (though I suppose it depends on your definition of extreme). Penis splitting is WAY worse. I have a few piercings and tattoos and I want to get more but I don’t think I would get any of these done. I can’t even wear a watch or a bracelet for too long so subdermal implants would drive me nuts!
189. Davo - September 4th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
…aka what attention whores do to themselves
190. mickey - September 5th, 2008 at 8:32 am
lol i’m more amazed at the comments than i am at the actual pictures. most of these things have been around hundreds and hundreds of years. things such as branding, ear stretching (along with stretching of other body parts such as the lip and nose), tightlacing (is the extreme form of wearing a corset), *not mentioned in the list* scarification (the act of removing the skin to creat a desired effect and a scar), even the ever present tattoo has been around for eons. also the implantation of foreign objects inside the body.(hello women have been getting breast implants for a long time)
in some chinese cultures women would have their feet binded at a young infant age to keep their feet small which was a desired look back then. in some african tribes women stretch their necks by wearing a metal coil. tattoing branding and scarification where done in tribes all over the world both on males and females…and especially on warriors. and believe it or not anal stretching has been around since the dawn of the animal kingdom millions of years ago…surprise surprise your anus is made to stretch to accomadate the thickness of shit that comes out of it.
now there are loads of things i deem down right gross.. such as tattooing or putting a jewel in the eye ball, thats just asking for infection. (mind you tattooing the eye ball or even the inner lip can be used as a form of military identification instead of the traditional dog tags).penis splitting is disgusting, but adding jewlery to it i don’t find gross. the beading of the private areas is under the same catagory as subdermal implants.
there are so many things that have been around for a loooong time that only seem new to us because we’re a new age. it seems so extreme to some people because they don’t know the history of it. most people just label it as freakshow material, and label the people who do it as attention seekers. while some do do it for the attention, others such as myself do it because we like it and are amazed by the history of body modifaction. a lot of people are to ignorant to ask question to the people who do these things. i get asked a ton of questions about my peircings…and it pleases me to know some people actually wanna know about it instead of just label shit for their likings.
191. coryvictorious - September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I have my tongue split and my ears stretched. body modification these days is incredible
192. JabberingJanet - September 8th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Well what is up with the anal plug? Why would even people who have anal sex want a stretched out butt hole? I thought tightness in any entry is part of the good feeling.Really what person would want a stretched out smelly,hairy,……ewe gross!!!!!!!!!
193. Sledgeham - September 9th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Aggggggggh!! Waaaahhaaaaaahh!! Bwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaahhahahaaaaa!!
K, I’m done. But seriously, those people are whacked!
194. A - September 11th, 2008 at 9:36 am
The whole corset thing gets me. Wouldn’t that jam up your organs?
195. aimomo - September 12th, 2008 at 1:11 am
“in some chinese cultures women would have their feet binded at a young infant age to keep their feet small which was a desired look back then.”
They’d actually do it at about seven years old. And they wouldn’t just bind them–oh, no. The girls would get an all day spa for their feet so they’d be nice and soft by the end of the day when they’d break them and bind them. And then sometime later (I forget how long, but I think it’s a few years), they would do it again. Most o