"In a perfect world I would fucking kill you."
When I first started posting pictures and interviews about body modifications on animals, I got a lot of hatemail and threats about it, and continue to. But I seem to enjoy getting that kind of mail…
Among other justifications, I explain that it's not my job to moralize on BME (although I'm happy to do so here in this blog) — it's my job to document as objectively as I can what's happening in the world of body modification, especially on the fringes that other media are afraid to cover. One of the common retorts is “what's next? are you going to start posting pictures of children with piercings?”
In the attached forum I'm very interested in hearing people's feedback. Should it be permitted? How old does someone have to be to give consent? How would your life be different if you'd gotten your first piercings at age six? What if everyone you knew had as well? How would society and your life change? For better, for worse? What laws should there be? Should I allow it on BME?
72 Comments
I think that it should be at the parents digression until they are 16. Piercings just aren’t a big deal. I think it looks great and if I could get it done for my children, I would.
i dont know how to comment to this…….. if the child is of a more proper age and the parent is serioiusly crazy like me then go for it but nothing likt the nipples or anything going out of boundaries
i just think its horrible to pierce or tattoo animals.. they have no say whether they want it or not yah cows an stuff get eaten thats life. but dogs and cats… thats horrible. i just think its very selfish on the owners behalf
ok this is wrong for 2 reasons.
1. if children are under the age of 16 they require parental consent to get piercings and
2. children under 10 are, under no circumstances, allowed to get piercings except for their ears. its the law. wtf are these mothers thinking letting their kids get these done. also, these children are still growing and while they are still growing it is extremely dangerous for them to get piercings ESPECIALLY on their face because as they grow older their muscles and nerves are developing and if they have a piercing in the spot a nerve is currently growing their entire face could droop. its wrong and very illegal. these mothers are idiots.
That is awesome! Lucky kids, I’ve wanted piercings since I was 8!
los padres de l@s niñ@s son unos iresponsables¡¡¡
By the age of thirteen I had fifteen piercings -including a nipple piercing.
I think it depends on the kid. Some kids are more responsible and know themselves more pretty well at that age.
Those kids look pretty happy, and they can always take them out.
Its like getting a pet…only if the kid can take care of it, far as I see it. Not sure many parents would see that though, and think a lot of parents would see their kid having a piercing as a reflection (negative) on their parenting…shame. Kids are individuals too.
im so mad my mom won’t let me get 1!!
I cannot believe this. I know that I am young. I’m 16 I got my first piercing at 15. Goodness these girls look no older than 12.
Never mind. They are 6 and 18. I agree with Nichole. It is against the law!! that is like a 14 year old getting a pot leaf tattooed on their ass come on!!
uh, like the posting says in italics, it’s not illegal where it was done.
i think under 10 is a bit much. afterwards…i think it’s based on good discussions between the parents and the child. the seriousness of what could go wrong and impending pain should be made completely obvious.
I got My Belly Pirced When i was 12 & i got a Tatto On my lower back when i was 14 & im still alive it’s really not that big of a deal …. I see it like this if the kid can take care of it it’s ok…
umm wow. that’s not even fair. im thaa biq Onee two; && i qot a belly rinq. wantinq my lip soo badly. i think thaa it should be discussed about warninqs & takinq caree of it. Otherwisee why let a child under 16 yrs of aqe qet a piercinq.
i got my nose pierced when i was 10 n iv continused too get more and more each year =] n got my first tattoo when i was 16, i think it depends on the child, n as long as it dusnny go infected and the child is mature anuf then it is ok.
i think its okay..
as long if they dont
get to much..
i love piercings and im only 14 and have 3 facial piercings yeah fair enough kids will want things if they like them but i draw the line for kids and piercings i know im a kid myself but i made a life style change and im happy with my piercings and i dont think ill ever take them out except from skool and my parents were very mad when they came home from holiday and found i had my nose pierced dont do it kids you might regret it!!!!!!!!!!
oh yeah btw i have 5 piercings all together i lover them all
I believe the age 6 is a bit extreme as a mother i would not let my 6 year old or 8 year old child get a piercing or tattoo yes you can take the piercing out but why would a child get it to look older? to be like someone else? to me a piercing is your choice but not a childs!!!! the parents should be smarter then that
lol Im 15 and i have 5 piercings lol all by my choice iv wanted em since i was 5 also here is a secret…hole close after time=] so if the kid doesnt want them…he/she can take them out and look “normal” again
this is not safe not only could this mess up there body and change how they grow this is irresponsible even with parental consent any parent who allows this should be ashamed and the piercer should have more common scence
I Think this is wrong. I agree it is a child’s decision but I do not think that a six year old is competent to decide whether or not to defile their body/face. I am 17 and have wanted piercings since I was six (and now have them)- however it would have been utterly irresponsible for my mother to let me do any harmful thing to my body at that age. Piercings can reject- the child’s face or body may be permanently scared. I think a six year old would be less likely to think of this then someone older.
i am talking i am personally a piercer my self i have 11 piercings Ive wanted all my life i am now 15 and have the ones i want under parental consent and ii wated till i was 14 cause i was already a teen i was a lil kid still
15 with 5 piercings ,you have to realize it can cause damage to the body as far as them still growing there little kids
you know.. its all up to the parents anymore.. most parents get there baby girls ears pierced when there infants.. and with the amount of people out there now a days with piercings and tattoos its not uncommon for a younger kid to want them.. because “everyone else has them” holes close.. tattoos don’t go as easily.. so if i had to choose i would rather them have the piercing then the tattoo. But that is everyones own opinion..
Why not?
I Think it’s ok to pierce a child too, if the parents and the child want it.
The right girl looks nice with the lip ring.
ok i am 15 1/2 and i have 7 percings and like just like every body else percings close but tatoos dont so like if they want it done then let then do it gezz guys its there body let them fuck it up damn
It has just been made illegal in australia/victoria (im not sure wether its country wide) that noone under the age of 16 is aloud to get a body piercing other than ears… I dont like this… i would love to get another piercing.. but now i cant.. and i got my first done (septum) a couple of weeks before it passed… and im 15.. and i dont think it fair that my younger friends have to wait years…
Well, I am totally for it. I have alot of friends with kids, who love their kids to have mohawks and what not, and as soon as they get old enough, they want to get them peirced (old enough, meaning when they can really decide for themselves if they want them). I currently have 21 piercings in my face alone, and I love everysingle one of them. I also have tattoos, and love them to. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with children getting pierced at any age, but I do think that they should require parental consent until at the very least the age of 14 and like under 18 for certain types of piercings (some can be dangerous if they are not done properly and not everybody’s body reacts the same way to the piercing and-or jewlery). I think that the parents should just make sure to check out the rep of the shops and the piercers and what not before they take their kids there. I mean, I would suggest not going to anyone who has like less than 8 years of experience with body piercing and or modifications of any kind. Just go in and check out their shop, they will let you. They want your business, so if seeing their establishment is what yoou want to be a customer of them, then they will let you.
Anyways, I will quit rambling about this. It’s just something that I am very passionate about. I believe that body modification is another form of art, and it’s beatiful.
I think it’s great, it teaches kids something about pain but also teaches them about self expression and individuality. I also think that piercings truly aren’t that big of a deal. After all, you can always remove them and let the hole close on its own. Plus I wish I would have gotten some of mine when I was younger. I had gotten my eyebrow and my nose pierced and even though they didn’t hurt, I still had to take them out for work and the piercings closed up, but if I had gotten them sooner, they would have already been healed. So I encourage piercings.
it’s horrible!!! i love piercings but it’s not good for children!
ok when i was little i always wanted a piercing but i had to wait untill i was 15! and i’m glad that i had to wait because when you are little you always want everything… but when you have a piercing on that age you will regret that
Iv got 7 piercings and im 19, wish i could have afforded them earlyr! Apart from ear piercings i think no piercings shud be dun under 10 yrs and parental consent for under 15 yrs cause most kids are 2 immature and wont piercings for stupid reasons. and tattoo rules are gud i think cause i regret 1 of mine ahwel s*** happens, its a free world
Well i think that if the parents let them they should do it. Many people and kids over 10 have them whats the differents of age. i mean their 4 years younger. As long as they have their parents with them. the hole will close.
This is too young to get peirced.
I got my first two piercings at twelve, but come on? SIX?! I’m 14, and I have double monroes, snake bites, a septum peicing, and my cheeks peirced, but then again I’m 14. I think that any age after 11 is aceptable, but younger than that, no. I would never in my life let my daughter get a body peircing at that young…
Parents pierce babies ears.
This is just the same except a different place on the body.
Infact, this is better because these are most likely done professionally with a needle instead of with a crappy piercing gun at a shopping center. Btw i’m 16 with 11 piercings (used to have 13)
Had ears since 10, others 13 +
I can see both sides of the argument, but my main concern would be my child’s health. Someone brought up the damage a facial piercing could cause a young child, which worries me. I believe in self-expression and had I been allowed to get a piercing at that age, I would have done it without regrets. If my child came to me and asked me if they could get a piercing and they knew what they wanted, why they wanted it and they had thought it through, I would make them wait to make sure they really wanted it. Eventually, I would allow them to get it.
I’m against piercing animals, because unless your cat comes up to you and says she wants her ears pierced, you don’t know.
I have no problem with kids, though, as long as they want it. Kid wants a lip ring? Let them get it.
It’s not like you can’t take it out.
I’m 16 have 13 piercings and 8 piercings by the time i was 12 (belly button, tongue and ears x6 ). Now i also have my nipples, eyebrow, nipples x2 and clitorus. My mum disagreed with me getting them done but she took me to have them done because she accepted that i wanted them, therefor i agree with this as long as it is done properly and well kept =]
Piercings have been used for thousands of years in every corner of the earth. Each nation of people has their oown reasons for doing it. Some pierce there ears and lips as signs of respect……..because they value speech, and hearing so much.. and thats the way its been ….people take im for granted….me getting my traditional tribal nacochtli, tentetl piercings…which were traditionally pierced when a boy or girl turns 5, until the Europeans came and changed everything
nicole row there r like no nevrves in your lip iv had my done for 4 years now and im only 16 and my fave isnt drupy iv had my eyebrow done for 4 years as well and that hasnt droopd your just a concervative bi**c
i dont think its right at all that parents are letting kids at that age get piercings no fuking way would my parents ever let me get any piercings before 16
Im 15 myself and I have 9 piercings all on my ears nd I desperatly want my eyebrow done. People think because Im still quite young it means I have a bad mother but she brought me up on her own from when I was 3 and she is brill. Dont judge the parents from what the kids want and it is thier desicion, although 6 is a bit extreme for a lip piercing.
I got my first piercing when I was 15. I’m not 17, and have 3.
Personally, I wouldn’t want my 6 year old baby sister getting pierced, just because I think she’d be too young to understand the pain and responsibility to come. But, if she wants it and my mother’s okay with it, then more power to her. :p
My opinion is that it depends upon the local culture. Yes it may seem odd that a 6 year old is getting a lip piercing in the UK, USA, Australia etc but those childern were in Chile, perhaps its totally acceptable there.
Me personally I got my ears piereced at 5 because I wanted them done, I got my navel pierced at 11 because I wanted it done and I was willing to look after it. I think it does depend upon the child and how responsible they are. I now have many more piercings which I got throughout my teens.
I’m not horrified by this but equally I do see why people could be. At the end of the day holes will close especially on young skin because it is still elastic. It will be a lesson for them in many ways.
If my child wanted to get a piercing at 6 or 7 I would take the time to talk to them and explain the concequences and what could go wrong. I wouldn’t just say no based upon their age.
i dont see what the big deal is, its legal in that country for a reason and at the end of the day its a tiny scar if they ever wished to take it out,its done hygenically so its not like gonna really harm them :s
Why does so many think that a facial piercing differs that much from getting ears pierced? Parents decide that they want to pierce their baby’s ears and nobody seems to be disagreeing (personally I think THAT’S wrong because the kid has no possibility to say anything), but if parents are letting their kid to get a facial piercing there’s suddenly a whole lot of people WHO KNOW BETTER.
Usually ear piercings are dun with a percing gun, and that’s a lot more harmfull method than piercing with a proper needle, by the way. Law isn’t the same as wrong or right, it’s just what has been thought as acceptable behaviour amongst the people making the law.
I think it’s totally fine, with parental consent. Because honestly, babies get their ears pierced right? Whats it matter if it’s an ear or a lip?
I think they stopped using piercing guns.
okay, so 6 is a little extreme, im 18 and started with my piercings at 16. but like it says in italics, it is legal in that country. and im my personal opinion, if the child is old enough and responsible enough to learn how to keep it clean then there is nothing wrong with it. i have a latino backround, i am brazilian, and in brazil, its not unusual to see a young person/child with facial peircings. and if the parents agree to letting the child get them, then whats the big issue, the peircer has parental consent.
I am 14 and i have three piercings and i think that if kids want them then go for it! i want my lip done and my tounge but my mum wont let me because she is over protective and she thinks that i will turn into a slut… but come on if the kids want it done then just let them!
I have 6 piercings myself, and at 14 years of age, it was myself and my parents who decided when was the right time. I think some facial piercings are inaapropriat for kids. (I mean, 6? 8? Come on.) But other than that, holes will heal. And it has always been my parents rule that I could have most any piercing I wanted, as long as I dodn’t think about tatoos, because they are permenate.
This is pure ludicrous…honestly i think if my step mother ever pierced sisters lips or anything of that sort i would consider her crazy
Ithink its ok ! Igot my 1st lip percinq at aqe of 12 and at aqe of 13 got my other side of my lip percinq.When iwas 10 ihad my nose perced ithink its ok as lonq ass they wont it !Its their body’s!
My daughters are 8 and 10 and they desperately wish to be pierced. They’ll get crazy, if they see this pics O.O
Here in Germany, it’s a crazy legal situation: It’s allowed to shot earholes with a piercing gun, but it’s forbidden to use a piercing needle until the child is 14, nevertheless the gun destroys much more tissue than a needle *eyesroll*
I think, it’s a question of culture. Why else are earholes allowed at babyage whereas nose- or liprings are forbidden? In other cultures, f.e. India, noserings are quite normal.
My daughters want noserings and snakebites and i would allow it, if it only would be possible. bzw, do you know other countries besides of Chile, where the piercing of children is allowed and possible? Perhaps we must change our plans for vacancy :D
My 11 year old sister has piercings all over her face. She got her tongue & labret pierced on her 7th birthday, & from then on, she got addicted & wanted more….
I don’t think there’s really much wrong with this.
Everyone’s freaking out because they’re lip piercings. Do we all seem to be forgetting the ear piercings little girls (and boys) as young as 1 get?
I do think they are a bit too young, though, especially the 6 year old. Many kids that age are really indecisive and have fleeting fancies. 8 isn’t too bad of an age, but still, they are young. I say somewhere around the age range of 10-12 would be best, but only with parent’s consent.
Also, lip piercings are kind of high maintenance and many kids barely brush their teeth as is. Now they have to brush every day, usually after eating, use mouthwash and watch how they eat and how they play.
When you’re young you just don’t pay that much attention and it’s really easy to get hurt. I’m not saying that teens don’t, they’re just old enough to realize and can take the blame for it, lol
The fact of the matter is this, they are too young…(ie)They are still growing which means their piercings WILL migrate it’s a fact! The person who pierced them should have explained that to their parents,so If they keep them in,it’s a given that before they are done growing the placement of their piercings will not be the same as when they were done,and anyone who disagrees with that should never push a needle through another person because they do not understand the fundamentals of body modification what so ever!
personally , i think giving a child a piercing at any age is freedom of their expression, we cant take away that right from them, im a 13 year old girl, and i have my lips done , my cheeks pierced, and i have a full back tattoo of a heartagram. Its our right to be who we want, and more people should be open to body modifications (:
So what if they are young! Im 14 yrs old, and i have 19 piercings. And i love them. I got my first piercing when i was 9.
I Think Any Younger then 11 is WAY too young im 13 when i was 11 i asked to get my lip done my mom said no so i went in my room took one of my earrings out and pierced my own lip. i put it in everynight and when imm around parents or ppl that will tell my parents i take it out. my school allowes it. i want too get dobble monroes snakebites and my nose. im determined too get them done. 11&older should be allowed!!!
isnt it obvious what is going on when a father will let his 6y0 daughter get her lips pierced …
I think that it dosent matter what age you are, i mean- babies get there ears peirced when there just a cuple months, as long as the CHILD and PARENT and at justice and they booth are ok with it there isent a thing wrong- the only thing is the AFTERCARE, little kids are very prone to infection and it could seriosuly damage there health, because they dont have proper aftercare, aslo in one of the pictures i see there using a clamp. CLAMPS ARE SO TERRIBLE, you should be using a sterilize needle FREEHAND, clamps are SO INFECTED with germs as are peircing guns ( even on ears) Any age is fine to get a peircing as long as your going to understand the responsibilities that follow. ( an no im not talking about new-borns getting facial ones, because there not concenting to it,)
these comments are all crazy. i think this kid should of waited. i didnt get my ears pierced to i was thirteen, my mom wouldnt let me till i was. these parents should of waited. i think face fiercing should be done at age 14. i find that age old enough to think for your self. i want a lip piercing but my parents, being old school wont let me. i would do it my self but there ARE nerves in ur lip along with vains, hit 1 is a free ride strait to the hospital. also i sttches in my lip so i wouldnt be able to anyways :((
Dasm is disturbingly ill informed.
I have loved piercings as far back as I can remember. When I finally got enough courage I pierced my own lip when I was thirteen because my mom wouldn’t let me get it done professionally. I could have seriously screwed myself up. So what would you rather have: kids who are so determined to have a piercing they risk serious complications by doing it them selves or having a HIGHLY trained professional explain to the child the risk, the upkeep, and if they still REALLY want it then have the professional do it. It is no different from getting your ears pierced. I really don’t understand why piercings have such a negative reputation? People act like its as bad as underage sex or drug use. If done professionally the only way that piercing can have a negative effect is from the negative attitudes of others!
Wel it’s there life im 12
Nd I’m getinn my nose pierced on July but I didn’t decide my anty did she What on July wen we go. To. Greece. I’ll gt ur nose pierced for u denn ill gr u a real gold stud and I just sed ok. Because it ws my dream to hav a nose pierce since I. Was two years of age I personally think it’s the child desition and no one can. Change that
I want snake bites so bad!!!!!! I’m 13 years old and my mom wont let me, its not fair! I think 6 years old is too small tho, but i’ve wanted piercings since last year n my mom wont let me get them till i’m 18, i mite not want them when i’m 18! they always say “enjoy your childhood” “have fun” “dont let people get in the way of ur dreams” how can i enjoy myself if i cant do what i want how can i have fun if i CANT HAVE FUN how can i not let ppl get in the way of my dreams if MY PARENTS ARE GETTING IN THE WAY!!! gosh i’m pissed-_-
i’m all down for it! i’am 12 almost 13 and have 9.and about to get another one!! every peircing i have got my mom said okay to but i mean some kids have parents that dont let them so ya know they have to get them behind there back. which is not okay… they should always be done by a professinals.
I think at the age of 16 its ok but it shouldn’t be alright for little kids to get it done they don’t kno wht they want
I think children should be able to if it’s cultural. I grew up in parts of Mexico that had kids with piercings running around. Aztec people should be able to practice their spiritual beliefs. Some get piercings for similar reasons. These girls are from Chile. They must have their own reasons.
That is cool.I want one too.My parents won’t let me and my mom got her nose pierced at age15!It’s just not fair
Im 13 and have 7 piercings, With 12mm stretched ears. But i do disagree with piercings like this under the age of 10
No Person is actually able to make wise decisions until they are adult. Especially in puberty, where many guys are flipping out while the brain reforms.
There many guys who regret their decisions in their youth while many others have no Problems with it. As a state, I’d prohibit everything concerning BM until they are adults.
Kidz wouldn’t normally Chose to be pierced.
I’ve seen so many Kids beeing groomed to at least reluctantly agree to piercings, while actually not liking it, but aren’t too Young to speak their minds, especially to determined parents, who don’T give their kidz breathing space.
Ist a very difficult issue to talk about, concerning what’s good and what’s not. I guess it’s best just to acompany and protect kidz through the childhood instead of pressing the own attitudes and adornment wishes upon the minor.
And of course it’s not a measure what others do: Would someone really jump of the cliff while all the other Lemmings do? Switching on the own brain is the solution.
There are too many children on the world being shaped instead of growing up.
This is what happens when the parents force their wishes upon their kidz while the minor doesn’t actually want that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpypL_Tzhss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8cIasRn9RM
By the way: Manipulating a kid at any way at ist belly button is considered a paedophile act and is punishable.
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