*Disclaimer: Nothing stated here is to be considered legal advice. If in need to any legal clarification seek the advice and assistance of a lawyer.*
At A Glance Author Steph Contact [email protected] IAM sweetcheeks When N/A Ignorance is pure bliss.
Is it really though? Some people look at ignorance in several different aspects of life and the same could be said about body modification as well as a whole. Some people are ignorant as to why we do certain things to ourselves to make us happy with the person that we are. However a deeper ignorance is most evident when people simply don't do their research. It's been said a thousand times. Most professional body modification artists can't stress it enough. What about ethics and morals?
Body modification as a whole is largely un-regulated in some places and totally illegal and subject to underground culture in others. However some artists abide by the age old un-written golden rules that come into play when it comes to certain things. Some people choose to cross that line for whatever reason unknown to most of us. Some are in it for the money; some are just people that love to administer pain, some are just perverts. There is of course the elite few that do it because it's what they love. This isn't about the good artists out there, it's about the ones that you need to avoid. The ones that don't follow the code of ethics and morals and choose to violate it instead.
How many cases like this one are out there? How many people has this particular individual violated? No one will ever really know and we know he's not the only one to do such a thing. Picking an artist is tough, knowing what you're walking into is even more difficult. There's no way of knowing what this person is really like. It's not as if you can do a criminal background check let alone figure out how old certain people are in the pictures you happen to be viewing either. The only thing that anyone can do is know their rights: Piercee's bill of rights and tattoo client bill of rights.
In this day and age, not to mention the vast amount of resources that is out there is no real excuse for this re-occurring anymore. Daunting situations, sexual predators and illegal practices could be avoided if people actually invested their time in finding as much information about their modification of choosing. Although some people think that the few places that have laws and regulations that are in place are merely over kill. How ever how much is too much when it comes to protecting yourself let alone your rights?
Most reputable places won't even go near anything that can be considered sexual if you're not of age. So why is it I still see instances of younger people getting genital and or nipple piercings? Why is it that these individuals are so in dire need of getting such a modification that they are willing to put themselves at risk. Maybe its rebellion, maybe it's the need to get something that is considered to be taboo by some. Some of it is related to getting something that their parents wouldn't be aware of. Where are the laws than? Is there no moral or ethical bone in these individuals' bodies? Its one thing to seek out such modifications when you know you're underage, but it's the responsibility of the studio to know better and to steer clear of such situations and send you home.
Your standards can never be too high when it comes to dealing with your body, so why is it that things like this continue to happen? There's no need for such ignorance anymore. Back in my day I freely admit that I was ignorant and did no research other than asking the few scant people I knew with a particular piercing that I happened to want at the time. I was fortunate that my body modification artist of choosing took the time to inform me about what I was doing to myself. Otherwise I had no clue and perhaps if I did some other instances of things gone wrong when I stepped outside of my comfort zone ( going to another studio) some of the piercings and tattoos I have wouldn't have been botched. I'll never know, perhaps I wasn't meant too.
Being a member of BME's review team I stumble across far too many instances of individuals saying things like " I should have left", " I didn't feel comfortable", "the artist creeped me out" and related things like that. Yet they stayed and got something done. I too am guilty of this in one instance as well which left me with some dire long term consequences. Even sitting in a studio on one occasion and a young girl had arrived to get her nostril pierced. The artist realizing that she was nervous said to her in a joking manner okay take of your shirt and she just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights. It wasn't until I pointed out that he was only teasing her to break the ice and help ease her nervousness that she visibly relaxed. Even he pointed out to her that if anyone asked her to remove her clothing to do a facial piercing she should walk away.
However if this particular girl was desperate enough to get her nostril piercing who's to say she wouldn't have taken her shirt off thinking that it was required? When you choose a studio you're walking in there under the impression that whoever the artist is actually knows what they're doing. However that always isn't the case. That's why doing your research, getting referrals and shopping around is exceptionally important. We all know this but yet people continue to feed off of ignorance, ignore their gut instincts and follow through with the procedure because their options are limited, they're underage, too afraid to say anything, or there just desperate to get a modification no matter the cost. However taking some time out of your day to do your research can save your health, not to mention your dignity.