NationStates

In all my time on these forums, I don’t recall ever having an in-depth discussion on body piercing, so here it is!

I’ve been fascinated with body piercing since I learnt that it was a thing. I first got my eyebrow done when I was 18 - my parents wouldn’t sign the consent forms to allow me to do it when I was a minor. Unfortunately, I had a few issues with infections, which I put down to my university’s requirement that I remove it whenever I entered a school for prac teaching. Once I became a real teacher and discovered that schools aren’t as strict as universities on the “bits of metal sticking out of your face” issue, I was ready to get it redone, but my boyfriend at the time indicated his displeasure with it. I stupidly decided not to do it based on his wishes, but ended up getting it done the day we broke up as a bit of a “fuck you” to him. Ten years on, it’s still in there, and I will likely have it for life (whether I want to or not - the ball is stuck).

Last week I got my ears pierced. That was an experience, and I’m still getting used to it. My left one in particular is driving me nuts because I keep catching it whenever I put on or take off a shirt. My motivation for getting my ears pierced is related to my gender identity and I’m not really sure I can put it into words adequately.

I’m looking to get some more piercings done in the future, but I’m taking it slow because piercing is expensive in Australia and, despite my love of piercing, I’m actually afraid of needles. I’d like to get my helix done, and possibly a few that aren’t on my face.

So, NSG, I ask you: where have you been pierced? What was your motivation? What pearls of wisdom would you share with others?

I don't have piercings. I don't want piercings.

NEON Cactus Kid wrote:I don't have piercings. I don't want piercings.

And that is perfectly okay. Being decoratively stabbed is not for everyone.

Dazchan wrote:

NEON Cactus Kid wrote:I don't have piercings. I don't want piercings.

And that is perfectly okay. Being decoratively stabbed is not for everyone.

I prefer to dye my hair

I can relate to the AN, especially when I'm a person suffering from Tyrpanophobia, or in more simpler terms, the fear of needles. I'm also somewhat extremely squeamish, I wouldn't even stand getting poked in the shoulder, let alone in the ears. I would also state that I don't really like earrings, they give me goosebumps when I think of or see it.

Arpasia wrote:I can relate to the AN, especially when I'm a person suffering from Tyrpanophobia, or in more simpler terms, the fear of needles. I'm also somewhat extremely squeamish, I wouldn't even stand getting poked in the shoulder, let alone in the ears. I would also state that I don't really like earrings, they give me goosebumps when I think of or see it.

I understand. I’m actually afraid of needles myself (though not so severely that I’d call it a phobia in my case). I was shaking like a leaf when both times I had my eyebrow done, and when I got my ears done.

Dazchan wrote:In all my time on these forums, I don’t recall ever having an in-depth discussion on body piercing, so here it is!

I can remember precisely one discussion even adjacent to the issue. However, I have no idea how much, if any of it, was true because the poster in question was impersonating... I think it turned out to be a pornstar or something ridiculous. In any case, the gist of it was that the impersonated individual had a stretcher, which got pulled out. These were quite popular at the time so I actually mentioned it to a friend of mine at school, who (unless I'm very much mistaken in my recollection) had one.

I was going to provide a link but I see the nation in question was recently refounded, so I won't.

So, NSG, I ask you: where have you been pierced? What was your motivation? What pearls of wisdom would you share with others?

I have not got any piercings and can't say that I am interested in acquiring any... I'm just here for the anecdote.

Forsher wrote:

Dazchan wrote:In all my time on these forums, I don’t recall ever having an in-depth discussion on body piercing, so here it is!

I can remember precisely one discussion even adjacent to the issue. However, I have no idea how much, if any of it, was true because the poster in question was impersonating... I think it turned out to be a pornstar or something ridiculous. In any case, the gist of it was that the impersonated individual had a stretcher, which got pulled out. These were quite popular at the time so I actually mentioned it to a friend of mine at school, who (unless I'm very much mistaken in my recollection) had one.

Stretchers don’t appeal to me, but to each their own. I have a friend who was quite proud of his. Ended up taking them out and having surgery to reverse it in an effort to become more employable. It’s a shame that society is so shallow.

Body piercing is something that I wish to do someday, but I probably will not, my older sister recently got Earings, but I don’t think that I would want anything like that, maybe just a Nose Ring

I used to have a belly button piercing before it got accidentally ripped off during a conveyer belt accident.

Piercings and tattoos are a huge "No" for me, and I lean towards wanting to ban both nationally so my eyes won't have to be subjected to that from other people, but am on the fence as to how practical prohibiting it can be. I'm a huge fan of Japan's stigma against tattoos of any sort, as being a sign of Yakuza membership.

Whatever can be concealed under most clothing is less offensive to me and I'd perhaps let that slide.

Not my thing. Don't understand the appeal, either.

Earrings, sure. Maybe belly-button and eyebrow piercings. Anything else? Weird.

But to each their own I guess.

I don't remember when my ears were pierced, I've worn earrings so long when it started is purely a haze. I like them well enough though I'm somewhat averse to needles so I'd likely not get them pierced now if I had to choose.

Forsher wrote:the poster in question was impersonating... I think it turned out to be a pornstar or something ridiculous.

Incredible.

Saiwania wrote:Piercings and tattoos are a huge "No" for me, and I lean towards wanting to ban both nationally so my eyes won't have to be subjected to that from other people, but am on the fence as to how practical prohibiting it can be. I'm a huge fan of Japan's stigma against tattoos of any sort, as being a sign of Yakuza membership.

Whatever can be concealed under most clothing is less offensive to me and I'd perhaps let that slide.

Or maybe recognize it's your problem and don't look at people who have adorned themselves if you find it so abhorrent.

Saiwania wrote:Piercings and tattoos are a huge "No" for me, and I lean towards wanting to ban both nationally so my eyes won't have to be subjected to that from other people, but am on the fence as to how practical prohibiting it can be. I'm a huge fan of Japan's stigma against tattoos of any sort, as being a sign of Yakuza membership.

Whatever can be concealed under most clothing is less offensive to me and I'd perhaps let that slide.

I'm not sure why you'd think that you have the right to dictate what other people do to their bodies. My having earrings and an eyebrow piercing doesn't harm you in any way.

Terminus Station wrote:I used to have a belly button piercing before it got accidentally ripped off during a conveyer belt accident.

Good God.

I've never had a personal interest towards body-piercing, but I do appreciate when people can do it subtly. What I don't appreciate is an entire face full of metal. Earrings, nose studs, and eyebrows I can get behind. Usually more than that is a turnoff.

Of course, those are my personal attraction preferences. If you want to do the whole deal, go ahead. Some people can pull it off, and it's honestly pretty impressive if you can.

NEON Cactus Kid wrote:I don't have piercings. I don't want piercings.

First reply, someone stating that the topic doesn't apply to them. Classic.

My piercing reflects the casual and evolving homophobia of my youth. I have a single ear pierced, the left one so that people won't think I'm gay because gay people get their right ear pierced.

Have I ever seen a gay person with a single ear pierced and on the right? No, no I have not. Did the internet as we know it exist at the time where I could look up what orifice people were pulling this from? No there was not. Did I do it that way because I wanted to pierce my ear but I didn't want to get a lot of grief about it? Yes I did.

Decades later I still have it with a small gold colored loop in that I don't have to worry about, otherwise I would have let it close long ago.

It was an impulse run. I was out with a couple of friends and my brother and we passed a piercing kiosk and decided in the moment to all go for it except my brother who was under 18 at the time and living with my dad who we were pretty sure would go through the roof if we brought him home with a pierced ear (and, more importantly, he didn't seem into it).

My girlfriend at the time got me a bigish saxophone earing that I wore for a little bit before I decided that women who wear big heavy earings are batshit insane, but it did give me one my best off the cuff moments. I was a ticket taker at a movie theater 'cause I got job skills (also, young.) and someone came up and went, "Is that a saxophone in your ear?" and I was able to respond without hesitation, "No, I'm just happy to see you."

Cannot think of a name wrote:My piercing reflects the casual and evolving homophobia of my youth. I have a single ear pierced, the left one so that people won't think I'm gay because gay people get their right ear pierced.

Have I ever seen a gay person with a single ear pierced and on the right? No, no I have not. Did the internet as we know it exist at the time where I could look up what orifice people were pulling this from? No there was not. Did I do it that way because I wanted to pierce my ear but I didn't want to get a lot of grief about it? Yes I did.

The same thing about gay people being pierced on the right went around Australia in my youth. Like you, I've never seen anyone, gay or straight, pierced only in the right ear. Every boy I've seen is pierced in the left or both ears.

Katganistan wrote:Or maybe recognize it's your problem and don't look at people who have adorned themselves if you find it so abhorrent.

Every would be tyrant has something that annoys them which they ban if there is ever a "their way or the high way" situation. I don't have the power but I can dream. I have a platform of values and a new order to enforce should I get the chance.

Cannot think of a name wrote:My piercing reflects the casual and evolving homophobia of my youth. I have a single ear pierced, the left one so that people won't think I'm gay because gay people get their right ear pierced.

The straightest look of all, is no earrings or piercings. But it is more boring perhaps, because it is the default and there is no fashion statement or "swag" to it. But the Mr. Clean mascot does indeed have a left earring. So, if you did get a piercing, you were perhaps on the right track?

Saiwania wrote:

Katganistan wrote:Or maybe recognize it's your problem and don't look at people who have adorned themselves if you find it so abhorrent.

Every would be tyrant has something that annoys them which they ban if there is ever a "their way or the high way" situation. I don't have the power but I can dream. I have a platform of values and a new order to enforce should I get the chance.

Cannot think of a name wrote:My piercing reflects the casual and evolving homophobia of my youth. I have a single ear pierced, the left one so that people won't think I'm gay because gay people get their right ear pierced.

The straightest look of all, is no earrings or piercings. But it is more boring perhaps, because it is the default and there is no fashion statement or "swag" to it. But the Mr. Clean mascot does indeed have a left earing. So, if you did get a piercing, you were perhaps on the right track?

The absolute last thing I'm interested in is your approval.

I don't feel like getting piercings. Piercing your ears or another body part just never appealed all that much to me.

If I do get a piercing, I'll probably get my ears pierced, but I'm staying away from nose piercings, tongue piercings, or other parts of the body.

I had a pierced ear with a small gold ring, but it got ripped out accidently a couple of times, after a while I stopped putting it back in. I occasionally see piercings that make me think "that is going to hurt if you are ever in a car accident".

Currently, I'm down to just 11. Lobes (both), conchs (both), forward helix (both), nipples, (both), navel, and 4mm flesh tunnels in my outer conchs/flats (both).

I've also had in the past: Daith, transverse lobes, lip, surface tragus, eyebrow, and tongue web.

I found out earlier this year that my body won't let me have transverse lobes which really sucks.

I like having eyebrows but they only last 10 months. I've had my brow pierced 4 times and each time I lost it after 10 months, it's really weird.

Right now I'm symmetrical and I think I'll keep that up. I think I'll get a septum next and then consider other possibilities for my nose. I might try stretched lobes. And one day I hope to get a coin slot. Probably will do my septum next month. I'd do it now but I think my piercer is on paternity leave.


Here is a pain ranking of every piercing I've had on a scale of 1 to 10 for whoever is curious:

Tongue web: 1
Lobes: 2
Lip: 3
Transverse lobe: 3
Navel: 4
Daith: 5
Eyebrow: 5
Forward helix: 7
Conch: 7
Surface tragus: 7
Dermal punch (outer conchs): 8
Nipples: 9

Page wrote:Currently, I'm down to just 11. Lobes (both), conchs (both), forward helix (both), nipples, (both), navel, and 4mm flesh tunnels in my outer conchs/flats (both).

I've also had in the past: Daith, transverse lobes, lip, surface tragus, eyebrow, and tongue web.

I found out earlier this year that my body won't let me have transverse lobes which really sucks.

I like having eyebrows but they only last 10 months. I've had my brow pierced 4 times and each time I lost it after 10 months, it's really weird.

Right now I'm symmetrical and I think I'll keep that up. I think I'll get a septum next and then consider other possibilities for my nose. I might try stretched lobes. And one day I hope to get a coin slot. Probably will do my septum next month. I'd do it now but I think my piercer is on paternity leave.


Here is a pain ranking of every piercing I've had on a scale of 1 to 10 for whoever is curious:

Tongue web: 1
Lobes: 2
Lip: 3
Transverse lobe: 3
Navel: 4
Daith: 5
Eyebrow: 5
Forward helix: 7
Conch: 7
Surface tragus: 7
Dermal punch (outer conchs): 8
Nipples: 9

You know how I said I had no interest in piercings? That is true. But just reading this is making me cringe so I don't think, if I was interested, I could get any (outside the lobe, I suppose).

I would've thought anything to do with the tongue would have hurt more?

I have a nostril piercing, it's a small, silver stud, nothing too out of the ordinary. I got it when I was in 12th grade, to celebrate finishing HS, as my parents finally let me have one. I originally considered doing it, because my best friend at the time, wanted me to, but when things eventually soured with them, I still did it because I had a lot of good memories of them, and HS in general, so it's a congratulatory piercing, I suppose?

The pain wasn't 'awful' but it wasn't great either, and I have to deal with issues that pop up at times, but it is entirely manageable, and I think it looks nice, albeit it's simplicity.