So far this morning I've done, well, very little. I went up to my bank and dealt with a few bills (paying off my old Datapipe hosting debts for when IAM was still hosted with them). I went to the post office to pick up some packaging so I can send out the BBQ DVDs (I'm sorry, I know I'm a week past due, but they are done now), a book for Jerome (and if you're in the Montreal area, make sure you go and see his body modification photo exhibit), some books for Ed, and a variety of other goodies.
I'm getting a lot of complaints about the current BME cover from the mundanes. You know what — to me — is one of the things that makes BME special? That it doesn't make judgments as to one mod versus another. So you may see a navel piercing one week, and a tongue splitting the next. If you don't think you can handle that, stick to one of the light piercing-only sites. I'm not going to tell tongue splitting that it's “too gross” to be on the cover any more than I'm going to tell eyebrow rings that it's “too boring” to be on the cover.
Anyway, here are some letters to the editor I've gotten on the subject. They're not all bad (except the first one) and definitely bring up valid points so I don't think I'd call this a funmail entry — I definitely appreciate constructive feedback even if I don't agree with it. I understand why people would make this request, but they have to understand that I really feel strongly on this issue (that it's important that we not rank mods either by “coolness” or even “public acceptability”).
From: CANADASFINEST101@aol.com
Subject: what ??????????????????would you please remove the picture of the girl that freshly got her toungue split. it is absolutely horrid and disturbing, i almost had to run to the toilet to vomit. no sarcasm intended. thx.
From: "Melanie Neely"
Subject: Tongue Splitting on Main PageI was referred to your site from a friend who had just gotten her navel pierced. I would like to have mine done too, so I came to your site looking for some "real" information on body modifications. I was appalled to see the picture of the tongue splitting on your front page.
I understand that your site contains some controversial content and that you have made every effort to display disclaimer links on your main page, but I find it hard to justify putting a graphic image like that on the entrance to your site. I have no problem with you providing information on a procedure like this, in fact, I think the consumer should have access to this information, but please don't make everyone have to look at it! Some people have come to your site to look up information on something as simple as ear piercing, and that picture is disgusting. I find it quite offensive, and I really wish I wouldn't have seen it. The picture needs to be placed under a sub-category inside your actual site, not on the main URL.
You have wonderful, practical information on body modification, and now I really want my navel done! Thanks for providing the best information on the entire Internet.
From: "Hans H"
Subject: Main page pictures...Dear oh dear,
It's bloody once again.
Picture main page: tongue splitting. Picture hard pages... Scrotal exposure...
And I'm not into blood at all.
Can you please avoid pictures like these on the main pages...
If people are into bloody things, let them go to the appropriate pages, but please don't confront people who are definitely not into bloody scenes with pictures like that.
Further I'm very happy with your magazine!
Greetings,
Hans
(Emphasis added by me.)
Thank you to Hans for writing, sort-of-thank you to Melanie, and no-thank you to “Canada's Finest 101″ for the fine words of encouragement. It's late in the day, so maybe everyone has already read the news elsewhere, but I'll quick-link to a few stories before I get to work.
- Laminated commercial flags forced on homes by “Patriotic” realtors.
- International support for a US strike on Iraq is growing — because the US is offering mega-bribes to foreign micropowers.
- Bush wants Iraqi attack within “days or weeks” and says it's highly doubtful that the attacks can be avoided.
- Russia vaguely supports America's attack on Iraq, but only because it wants UN permission to launch similar attacks on Georgia.
- Mutually assured destruction and terrorism — an essay on why terrorist reprisals are not a deterrant to politicians.
PS. I think there's a dead hobo in my laneway. My entire house smells like piss, and after first checking myself, I realized that the stench was coming from the air conditioner. Not a nice atmosphere.
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