I had never really considered body modification in a competitive sense until I visited a Guinness Book of World Records event at a local piercing studio. The main piercer at the shop was going to set a brand new world record for "most piercings performed by a single piercer in a single day." He was aiming for 300 piercings in twelve hours, or one piercing every 2.4 minutes. His apprentices, counter staff, and co-workers would prep and mark, and the person would come in with gloves on and a cup of sterilized jewelry to be clamped and pierced. There was quite a line, but I don't know if he made his goal of 300.
At A Glance Author anonymous When N/A I came for the sheer spectacle of the event, and I left disgusted. Is "speed piercing" a desirable record? I certainly would think not, for part of the experience for me (and for many other people I have spoken with) is the setting and the process. Relaxation and comfort can be key for many people. Being rushed through in such an impersonal and hectic situation seems harrowing. But I was even more alarmed by what this competitive record-setting created -- a breach of sanitation and consideration necessary for a healthy piercing. Different people marking and piercing, people handling their own jewelry, inadequate time for disinfection of the piercing areas, crowds of people throughout the store (even behind the counter)... what a ridiculous sacrifice in the name of a silly world record!
I talked a close friend out of getting pierced under those circumstances, and I was really bothered by what I had seen. I witnessed piercer so caught up in a title, in making some sort of name for himself with a record, that he was willing to do 300 imperfect piercings. Then, his record will encourage another piercer to go farther -- to do more piercings, pierce faster, etc. It's a vicious sport, and can be dangerous for a large number of people. More importantly, it's not really a sport at all.
A little while ago, BME featured a Pioneers Contest. This contest was created to inspire people to consider and attempt new viable piercings, in hope of continued imagination and evolution within the realm of body piercing. Only one piercing "won" before the contest was ended. It was pulled because of an extremely important revelation: body modification is not a contest, and should never be.
When I considered this, I began to realize the far reach of this competitive attitude. Body modification has been featured by the Guinness Book as well as the related television show, as well as by Ripley's and other record or spectacle sorts of media. There is a drive to boast the most of something -- most piercings done, most piercings on one person -- or the biggest or longest of something. It becomes important to be one step above and beyond everyone else, and not in the most practical or safe way. These issues are ignored and people do incredible things, like get 50 piercings in one day. I think that's a ridiculous overload on the body. But no one seems to think about that when they're competing for a record.
The competition is even evident on a very personal level. I have read countless experiences in which people got a modification because someone else had one and they just had to be as good as that person -- or better. To me, this is a sad reason to be modified. I get pierced, tattooed, scarred, etc. because it feels right to me and "fits" me. I don't do things for or because of anyone besides me. I don't feel like I'm competing with anyone else to have more holes, more hours of ink, bigger lobes, etc. And this is how it should be. There is no contest. No one wins when people cast responsibility aside and do things for a record.
Obviously, this is just my opinion. I am bothered by this turn toward competitive modification... but perhaps it drives others. There are healthy records as well -- longevity or experience (most piercings or tattoos in a career, longest career, etc), for example. Even being the "first" to do something can be a noble record, as long as that thing is done safely. But otherwise, contests open the door for bad judgement. In a book where people eat hundreds of hot dogs in an hour, and television shows where people hold tarantulas in their mouths while blowing bubbles, we're not seeing the most rational and safe people.
I am proud to have never been modified by a record-setter. I have gotten work from some pretty extraordinary people, but they weren't the ones trying to be faster or more extreme... only better at what they do. And there's no record for that.