Piercings - why do people get them?

[SuperVegas]

Hey, thanks for the responses, I might be a bit less ignorant now =)
It looks like the problem is that I don't understand fashion either, and while I can understand why people do self destructive things for short term gain (e.g. food) I couldn't see the gain from deliberately injuring one's self. Normally I just accept people are different and am cool with it, but I can't really do that with the feeling unwell at the sight of them.

If you play sport, or go to the gym, your injuring yourself.
If you want to look up pointless, look at bodybuilders. What they do to their bodies to look good is amazingly unhealthy short and long term (and someone who works out normally half the size of them is usually stronger too) there is nothing healthy or positive about it except an aesthetic.

Piercing a hole in yourself that (for most piercings anyway) is just unused flesh that will heal if you let it, it hinders you in no way (sure there's a risk of infection, but I'm not sure that its extreme enough to really call it a problem) and won't really stop you from living a full life.
The point of my little example is that maybe your difficulty accepting it is a visual thing, a right there right now ick factor, which you have created a theory around.

 

[Detective Prince]

I've got a lip piercing, why? Because it looks good. XD

I love my lip piercing, the only thing is I tend to annoy my housemate with my constant playing with it. XD When I had a stud in my lip I'd constantly chew on the back of it and now I have a ring in I've learnt how to spin the ball which makes a satisfying squeaking noise that drives my bf NUTS. XD I'm trying to condition myself to just flicking it from side to side with my tongue but that squeaking is cool.

 

[mikev7.0]

Why they do it to be completely unique individuals!

Y'know, just like everybody else....

 

[Woodsey]

Was this really a necessary question? This website seems to have become increasingly populated with exceptionally dense people who can't think of why anyone would do anything at all that they themselves wouldn't.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I Don't know, To me It seems really inconvenient.

But I guess they consider it a part of Self Expression and makes them more so of a individual...

That would be my guess.

This - and the same goes for tattoos. Some people don't like looking the same as everyone else, or the average Joe.

Also fixed your spelling friend

 

[Choppaduel]

No idea. I understand tattoos, but why you would get piercings eludes me.

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

People like to personalize their bodies. Hell, when cyborg parts are decent and commercially available, you can bet your ass we'll have people walking around like they're from Deus Ex or something.

 

[Acier]

Because depending on your facial structure they look nice. I just have an industrial and I plan to get a second lobe piercing but that's about as far as I'll go.


But can you seriously not understand subculture fashion? If you don't want to do body mods thats fine, it's just similar to getting a haircut for us

 

[Riff Moonraker]

I've always been confused and somewhat disturbed why people get piercings; to me it seems like unnecessarily damaging your body without benefit, and they make me nauseous - I'm fine with stud ear piercings since I'm more used to seeing ear piercings and the injury can't be seen, but earrings, piercings on other parts the body, they make me unwell seeing them very quickly.

I'm not saying its stupid to get them or anything, I just don't see the logic, and am curious why people have them, and what people like about someone who has earrings.

In most cases, they are forms of expression and rebellion. Its the same as tattoos. Personally, piercings are fine except when you start piercing your junk. Thats bonkers to me. As far as tattoos are concerned, it has definitely become the "in" thing, so to speak, and it drives me crazy to see people getting tattoos of bogus things that dont mean anything to them, other than to say, "I have a tattoo!". I think they should MEAN something to you, in some sort of fashion. All of the tats I have, have personal meanings to me.

 

[Richardplex]

If you play sport, or go to the gym, your injuring yourself.
If you want to look up pointless, look at bodybuilders. What they do to their bodies to look good is amazingly unhealthy short and long term (and someone who works out normally half the size of them is usually stronger too) there is nothing healthy or positive about it except an aesthetic.

Piercing a hole in yourself that (for most piercings anyway) is just unused flesh that will heal if you let it, it hinders you in no way (sure there's a risk of infection, but I'm not sure that its extreme enough to really call it a problem) and won't really stop you from living a full life.
The point of my little example is that maybe your difficulty accepting it is a visual thing, a right there right now ick factor, which you have created a theory around.

It probably is as you say, an ick factor that will probably go away over time, but I don't know this theory your talking about. I'm probably coming across as only disgusted by piercings, but I am genuinely interested in the cultural implications of piercings.... so long as I don't need to visually observe =P. I haven't thought about it mostly being done on unused flesh, but now that I do it's probably why I can handle ear piercings, but things like tongue piercings and genital piercings (god damn you internet)... I mean, to the people who have them, do you feel them? sorry if I'm coming across as narrow-minded, I'm not (I think) I'm just interested about it.

 

[ChicagoTed]

My mind says crazy people do crazy stuff, like getting a bagel in your forehead
http://www.japanator.com/newest-bagel-body-modification-makes-me-facepalm-19750.phtml

I can just imagine it now

"Hey dad look at me, dad your not looking pffft fine! Mom look at me, i'm over here mom see what I did"
"Yes son that a very nice shirt"
"You guys never pay attention to me!"

That guy on the right side of the picture is the reason I always carry a padlock with me.

 

[Richardplex]

Was this really a necessary question? This website seems to have become increasingly populated with exceptionally dense people who can't think of why anyone would do anything at all that they themselves wouldn't.

I'd rather find out from people who actually have piercings than just try to guess what people would say, like I said, I find it interesting. I don't blame you though for thinking I'm just an idiot who can't think for himself, I do accept that people do things I wouldn't do and have reason for it, it's just piercings is one of the few things I have problems wrapping my head around. Sorry if my ignorance offends you =(

 

[Klarinette]

I don't know... I just do. I can't explain why, but I wanted them. I don't have any that are unusual... I used to have my eyebrow pierced, but now it's just my ears and belly button.

 

[orangeapples]

society they are raised into and they are either accepting or rebelling against.

That's pretty much how I see everything and it helps that my angle is very vague.

for some, it is purely aesthetic. for some it is because society says it is okay. for some it is because society says it is not okay.

my friend said something pretty funny about this once. He said that every time he sees a person with the big loop rings in their ears, he wants to take a combination lock and lock it in their ear. He even said that he wouldn't even have to run far because running with a lock on your ear would hurt.

 

[SuperVegas]

Sorry if I'm coming across as narrow-minded, I'm not (I think) I'm just interested about it.

You're not, you had a question and you asked it without being rude, I apologize if i seemed to be attacking.
What I was trying to get at was (and this is just a theory) if you create an ethos as to why you don't like them, its sort of like a shield around your base phobia.
So understanding that
a) they aren't pointless, just different and
b) not as dangerous as you think they are,
then maybe the insta-reaction you have to them will lessen over time.

We all do it man, justify things we do, and don't like, but it doesn't sound like your trying to reinforce it, you are genuinely trying to learn about it.

So, kudos for being open minded enough to ask.

 

[AngloDoom]

Just to look how you wish.

It's the same as dying your hair or brightening your teeth: you're damaging you body in ways to make it how you wish.

That said, the piercings most people get aren't particularly damaging anyway. Sure, the skin looks a bit funky after it fully heals in some cases, but if a piercing goes all to plan it's less damaging than, say, bleaching your hair.

EDIT - I'm also planning to get a tongue piercing for 'functional' reasons that my girlfriend seems all too happy to accept.

 

[hazabaza1]

Buggery if I know. This girl I know gets piercings to annoy her grandparents, even though they threatened to put her out of their will if she did.

 

[Liam Barden]

People like to personalize their bodies. Hell, when cyborg parts are decent and commercially available, you can bet your ass we'll have people walking around like they're from Deus Ex or something.

Doubly so, because even if you lose the bet you can just get a cyborg ass replacement.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

It's all a part of fashion, used as an article of clothing like anything else.