In my experience, from those times before I had some of the lovely adornments I now bear and those times during which they are now sometimes hidden, I have found that barring the bad day or inopportune moment most people seem to be able to manage a passable degree of civility (even I manage it on occasion). For some reason, perhaps the novelty or unknown quality, these same people lose all sense of the boundaries of civil discourse when addressing someone who has chosen to follow the path of body modification (especially extreme cases). I don't really care why this happens, so much as that when it does happens the person be made aware of it. In many cases this resolves the issue, since for those sufficiently advanced members of our species who can reflect on their behavior with a modicum of self-integrity it becomes readily apparent that their behavior was aberrant and shameful.
I am in no way asking for any increased understanding, acceptance, or endorsement - simply common courtesy, which like common sense is increasingly uncommon. The fact that you may be repulsed or feel that what I am doing is sick does nothing to excuse outbursts like "What the Fuck is that?!" , "What the hell is wrong with you?!" , or "Why in God's name would you do that?!". I see a great many things every day that I do not like, understand, or feel are wrong but I am still able to express these thoughts in a more civil manner. Like most people who have tried some form of modification I have a number of set responses to hostile and what I feel are silly encounters but I try not to use them. If you want to know why or if it hurt then ask sincerely in a normal tone and without the profanity. Then, and almost only then, will you get a non-sarcastic truthful response.
It might even surprise a lot of people that everyone practices body modification. Dentistry, hair styling, nail trimming and polishing are all ways in which we change our bodies to make it fit the form we envision for it. Some of the forms people envision just take a little more work than others. And lets not forget clothing, perhaps the single most common and domineering form of ritualistic skin changing. So, before you ask that nice person who happens to have some tattoos, piercings, or whatever else the mixture of drugs he was partaking of when he got them consider if you would ask that question in the same way to your boss when he wears an ugly tie to the office.
so endeth the lesson...for now