Tattoos, piercings and body modifications: why?

[Farseer]

I don't consider chewing fingernails to be body modifications.

No, neither do I in the true sense...but I thought it interesting that if I am going to take control of such a small decision on the part of my daughter's body, where do I think my rights to tell my daughter what to do with the rest of her body begins and ends?

It's, to me, the same category as shaving off your hair (I do both by the way). In a sense it could be considered healthy, since you're removing waste products from your body .

I thought about shaving my head for Shave for a Cure this year (this is an annual fundraiser that supports the Australian Leukaemia Foundation) but chickened out...again. I'm not sure the world is ready for my moon head to be exposed!

Interesting that hair is sometimes kind of thrown into the same category as other body modifications and alterations though, and the perception that someone is being rebellious or anti-social or whatever if their hair is outside what is considered 'normal' or 'acceptable' in any setting. Such thinking is well reflected in many private schools here in Australia where colouring hair, wearing hair shorter than a number four length or longer than the collar (in the case of boys) is considered a major breach of a school rule. Even wearing long hair out (not tied back in a bun or pony-tail) is a 'uniform' breach for girls.

Hmm. I see with this and the fingernails that I have gone wandering aimlessly off-topic and am really going on about what is or isn't deemed socially acceptable...!

About cutting: There is an artform called scarification. It's a tattoo created by deliberately creating scars on the skin. Definitely not my thing but some amazing things have been created in this field. The most beautiful scarification I've ever seen: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37996580417...790777327/

This isn't my thing either (I'm too much of a sook for a start!), but I can also see the beauty in it. It is nicely done. I see from the comments that the female had been in an accident and covered whatever scar she'd received from it with the artwork. Rather clever really! From my understanding, it looks like it was quite freshly done at the time the photo was taken, so I'd imagine that it would appear far less raw or weepy-looking once the skin settled down.

I don't know much about it but it would seem like a 'natural' alternative to a tattoo?