I wanted to bump this entry up to the top with a “GREAT NEWS, EVERYONE!” update to it. Not that it dissolves the issues below of privacy violation, but the police have wrapped up their investigation of the case below and decided to not file any charges. So that’s a good day for body modification and general consensual human rights! (And a bad day for the asshole that tried to create a problem, haha!)
Original entry continues below.
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Some of you have already seen the recent story about an investigation into surgical body mods in Canada (specifically labial reduction in this case), including this story I was quoted in, talking about how rights of ownership of your own body are the primary human right from which all other rights stem — and pointing out that this is still way less dangerous than high school sports, which implies that this is not about safety, but is instead about pushing conservative mainstream morals onto people’s (admittedly kinky) private lives. Jesse, Russ, Joan, and others have also chipped in with a variety of views, including pointing out that it’s all well and good to say these are “medical procedures”, but when doctors won’t do most of the procedures (tongue splitting and nipple removal for example) it means nothing. Joan pointed out to one reporter that it’s also a women’s rights issue — why can a non-doctor mutilate a non-consenting baby boy’s genitals at home, but consenting adults can’t do the same to an informed adult woman?
Anyway, you might be thinking that the reason they’re talking about this case is that after Andrew Niland in North Bay died before his case (he was being charged with aggravated assault — even though as far as I know there was no complaining “victim” — over implants and other body modification procedures) could fully move through the courts, they wanted to test out the law on someone else… Thus someone else is picked to investigate. Unfortunately the reality is much, much more messed up.
What happened is that someone dropped off at city hall, the health board, and the police, a letter claiming that the studio where the procedure was done was regularly performing surgical mods on customers (a false allegation by the way — the procedure was being done non-commercially by one employee on another, and isn’t something that they ever do on customers as far as I know) — and to make matters worse, included an hour long DVD of the procedure being done, including audio of all the people there talking (including, ironically, the person filming saying that it would be bad if the footage fell into the wrong hands). So this was not something the police or anyone else would have gotten had a person with an agenda to harm those on the tape hadn’t gone out of their way to try and hurt them.
But it gets a whole lot more disturbing!!!
(There is lots more to this post after the picture)
The video in question was shot four or five years ago by Phil Barbosa for BME. At the end of the procedure, he brought the footage back to the BME office (at my house at the time), where Roo edited the footage for posting, removing the audio and editing it dramatically to remove anything identifying or otherwise potentially troublesome (a normal thing for BME to do to protect its contributors). After BME went into Rachel’s control, this footage presumably made its way to her, via the original media that Phil had, because I went to lengths to delete any digital copies of it I could find before handing over the computer because the person in the procedure testified on my behalf during the divorce and there was a lot of bad blood between them and I didn’t want to put her at risk. But anyway, the list of people who had this footage — the full, unedited version of the procedure — is extremely limited and should only be Phil, Rachel, Roo, and myself, assuming none of us passed the footage around for who knows what reason to other people — I know I didn’t.
So yeah, extremely disturbing that material that BME held in confidence was handed over to the authorities and media with the intent of attacking body modification. Whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves. Even if they despise the people on the tape who they tried (in vain by the way) to hurt, this has the potential to do damage to the very community they profuse to care for, and sent a message to the police and media that the body modification community is on the edge of destroying itself from within. For my own role, I feel terrible for my part in allowing this footage to fall into the hands of someone who would use it against the community in this way, and I offer my sincere apologies.
If anyone knows anything more as to how this happened please let me know.
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Edit: Since Rachel has posted a follow-up entry to this on ModBlog let me follow-up since I’m not sure whether my comment there will be permitted.
NOTE: This has since been removed, thankfully.
First of all, I’ve never said that I know who gave the video to the police and media, nor have I gone through people one-by-one accusing them (other than trying to create a list of everyone who had potential access, because I think this is important and worth investigating and getting to the bottom of). There was some suggestion that it was Stephanie/PokeMe, but even if it was, that leaves out the much more important question of how she got the video to give to the police/media at the start of March. The fact remains that no matter how the courier got the tape, the fact is that they got confidential BME materials shot by a BME employee. This is the question that needs to be answered — how did the tape go from BME to the police/media? What is the chain of custody?
Second of all, there’s no “legal proof” whatsoever regarding the location of this tape, and frankly, I don’t see how there could be one way or the other. It just doesn’t seem possible to put such a thing to paper, and even in what Rachel has posted, it boils down to people’s word, not proof… Phil has told people that he gave the tape to Rachel. I have no way of confirming whether that’s true or false, let alone setting it in stone via contract. So it remains a mystery. There is however a small enough group of people with access to this tape that I know that the people/person responsible is part of a very short list.
And it all remains a mystery, accusations flying back and forth or not. However, the very real fact remains that somehow, BME materials were handed over to the authorities and the media with the express purpose of hurting the body modification community.
* * *
Edit/Update: Jen, “BME’s Girl Friday”, who has shown herself to have rabid and unquestioning loyalty to Rachel, has abrasively chipped in with another BME staff opinion. She first accuses the client, saying that they obviously have a copy of the tapes, something which I believe to be false (ie. they don’t have a copy and never did) since Phil brought the masters straight home that day and she was never sent a copy, something that was confirmed this past week both by Phil, Roo, and the client. So the remainder of Jen’s attacks on the client are moot since they’re built around the idea that they somehow let the masters slip into the wrong hands.
The remainder of her post is a sort of “how dare you accuse BME” rant, and then shoots the messenger, saying “This attack isn’t just an attack against Rachel, it’s an attack against this community because you were all dragged into something that had nothing to do with you when a finger was pointed at YOUR community, at BME.” This is the wrong stance for BME to take, Jen. Instead of attacking me for saying “there’s a serious problem here”, what you should be doing is working hard and fast to get to the bottom of the problem. No amount of “how dare you speak ill of BME” ranting will change the fact that this material that only BME had access to was leaked to the media and police. That’s a problem, a big problem. And I’m sorry, but when the private information on BME members is not being adequately protected, then it is everyone’s problem.
I am now concerned that the official BME response so far is a secondary problem that’s starting to show the attitude that allows these issues to fester and get worse. Please guys — Jen, Rachel, etc. — sleep on this and think about whether there might be a better way to resolve this, and to give the public some confidence that it won’t happen again.
* * *
Another edit. I just commented with the following on BME, but since nothing else I’ve posted has made it through moderation, I don’t suppose this will either. But here it is:
I’m really bothered by the fact that because of BME’s response of “look at Shannon slandering Rachel” that this has been turned into petty Internet drama, diverting from the real problem of serious privacy violation that has nothing to do with “Rachel vs. Shannon”. I was deeply dismayed when I saw the BME response, but there’s still time to save it. Let me humbly suggest to Rachel that she might want to consider a post along these things:
“Sorry, my emotions got the better of me and I responded in anger before considering the issues. Here is what I meant to say:”
“I am deeply concerned about the privacy and member trust violation in which confidential BME submissions were somehow leaked to the police and media in what seems to be a personal vendetta. Because this particular recording was made some time before I took control of BME, it will take me some investigation to understand the chain of custody of the video and gain an understanding of how this could have happened, but rest assured, I am taking this seriously and am investigating it. In addition, I am thinking about the methods BME has in place to protect member privacy, and how we can improve this, especially in light of the new BME.”
“Please write me if you have any information — or suggestions — that would be helpful. Thank you, and please accept my apologies from BME for this having happened.”
See? That would have been a lot better, don’t you think? There’s still time to change this into a more reasonable response. It will seem a little disingenuous to some I’m sure, but don’t you think that ANYTHING makes more sense than continuing down this current path?
128 Comments
That’s horrible! :(
I really hate to say it, but I had a feeling something like this would happen one day, after I saw how she took the site. Still, I feel bad for how violated the people in the video must feel.
Thank goodness there’s the bme legal defense fund to help out whoever gets charged in this case.
Oh, the irony.
Just to be really clear — I’m not accusing any one person and I don’t know who did it any more that knowing that the “chain of custody” of the video is very short, which makes the possibilities quite small, although a leak beyond those people is certainly possible (but even then the people on the shortlist, myself included, are not absolved).
I’m not accusing, either. I’m just saying that it happened under her watch.
This makes me want to cry, seriously. I just can’t even wrap my head around it right now to even make a comment.
I’m just extremely saddened by all of this.
Shannon: It’s fairly pathetic to make a post like this when you have already confirmed that it was PokeMe who did this.
It happened 4 months after Phil left BME. Roo has been gone for a year and I have legal proof that I have never had a copy of the video tape. The only copy that exists is the one that is on the website and has been available with a membership since the video was put up on BME. The first I heard of this was when Phil called me freaking out because he had no idea how it got sent out.
The Eternal: This had nothing to do with me or any BME employees. The only thing this would do would be to bring legal repurcussions onto Phil so it makes no sense that he would do it.
Shannon was the last person to have this tape as I’ve said, I have the inventory list of the tapes that were given to me and Joan’s was not on it as Shannon specifically didn’t want to turn that tape over. I also never had a digital copy other than what was on the site. Shannon is the last person confirmed to have a copy of the tape.
I’m sure this comment won’t be published because I am never allowed to defend myself but I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
As far as Caitlin’s snide remark:
The fund is being developed to help practitioners in need and as soon as it raises money, which I doubt it ever will, there will be an application process.
In the meantime, I have donated money to anyone who has asked as well as have been working on legal/zoning issues in the modification world.
The irony would be if someone like Joan, who has done horrible things to me, applied for money. If she was in need, I would help her. She did nothing wrong by having the procedure done and doesn’t deserve to be lynched for it, regardless of what you may think.
I haven’t confirmed that this was PokeMe, she’s just who was suspected, but the problem is, how did she get the video?
There’s also no way to legally prove that you do or don’t have the video — obviously that’s impossible. Only Phil knows where the tapes are, and he’s said that he sent this particular tape to you. That’s straight out of his mouth.
In any case, the “only copy that exists” is obviously not just the one that was posted by Roo. Obviously, since the police and media were given a copy of the original unedited version at the beginning of March. As in the footage that Phil shot that he said he gave to you.
is this a modcon video?
Candace, no, it was not a ModCon tape.
I’m not sure if it’s even worth replying to, but since I think I’m getting accused in that comment (#6), I think it’s pretty obvious that I didn’t hand this tape over to the police and media. Outside of this being done by someone who has a problem with the people/person on the tape (rather than having a problem with BME), which I don’t, I have absolutely nothing to gain from this in any conceivable way, and the whole idea of doing it is completely reprehensible to me… I feel bad enough that it happened at all, and feel awful that I betrayed the BME community’s trust by not doing more to protect their content and secrets and privacy.
I posted this in Rachel’s entry: “I also wish, Rachel, that rather than thinking I’m attacking you, which I’m not (unless you did this, and I’m taking your word that you didn’t), that you’d take it as seriously as I am, that you’d take at face value the information I’ve tried to share with you, and that you’d work hard to get to the bottom of this. I think it’s important and I wish you would too.”
Once again, I’m impressed with Shannon’s calm and logical viewing of the matter… and really not suprised by the spaz-tastic reaction of others. I know that this wouldn’t have happened with Shannon running BME, and I still regret that he no longer does. It’s a loss to the whole community that still hurts.
I agree with piggy, shannon has once again shown as calm and cool head, while others have freaked out. and have decided that censoring questions of authority is the only way to go. there is no doubt in my mind that the attacks by rachel well quickly be proven wrong by the powers that be or at the least we can only hope that the community notices what is going on and makes the informed decision on who to support. truly I believe it would be a great justice and very solid business move to see shannon back at the head of bme, surely it would at least increase the quality and amount of modblog posts and the site on a whole. that is if hed ever take the position back
rachel i think its fair to screen your posts since shannons name is practically word filtered on modblog
not to mention the practice of deleting iam pages that were in support of shannon…. just saying
acting mature is always cool.
props to piggy
Tagging the post on modblog as “drama” is entirely correct, so why was it posted it to begin with? The concern of the community should be focused on the fact that the footage was released. Not on the nonsensical details of old grudges. Once again, I am blown away by Shannon’s ability to remain cool headed in the face of these theatrics. As far as Caitlin’s comment is concerned, that’s hilarious.
Yeah, all through that newspaper article (which I read first before the rest of the post) I was wondering who the anonymous informant was. Regardless of who it was, all I can say is that it was a singularly gutless thing to do: whatever happened to having the courage of your convictions?
The unpleasant reality is that despite defensive counter-accusations about who was responsible and whose fault it was, what needs to happen now is that a convincing assurance needs to be given that it won’t – and can’t – happen again. Otherwise no-one will ever be able to trust that a video of their “illegal” procedure (or a copy of it) won’t at some point in the future fall into the wrong hands, and the supply will simply dry up. Which isn’t in anyone’s interests.
on a side note. Whos that picture of, and who took it. its pretty cool.
scratch that i just saw it was link
i’ve gotta say, BME went down hill FAST after rachel took over, and with the loss of phil and roo, i dont see a point in going back really.
it seems, as usual, that shannon has a calm, rational appraoch, while rachel jumps to conclusions, and has her drones to stir the embers for her.
thats just me throwing two pennies on the table…..what the hell do i know right “>?
PS Rachel – if you’re REALLY that antagonised by Shannon, why the hell are you still (ab)using his surname?
https://news.bmezine.com/author/rachel-larratt/
I must say, I’ve never visited your blog before, but I think I will a lot more often now. I hate to ‘take sides’, but Rachel seems to be down right insane. I hate what ModBlog and BMEZine in general has become. I grew up looking at the website, when it was ran by a reputable human being, and now that I’m an adult I just can’t believe that it’s regressed rapidly rather than progressed as I always hoped it would. The context, staff, drama, one-sided opinionated posts, it’s all just too much. Too much suck.
Shannon: Thank you again for being concerned for the community. Even tho those at the helm now try and cover the real issue with some immature drivel. I wish they had half the passion and concern for bodmod community as you do. This is a real issue that should be a priority for BME. However some people like to hide behind “Legal” veil. The truth always prevails.
It absolutely shocks me how cavalier Steve Peace was by saying what he did. Just because someone chooses just to tattoo doesn’t mean the extremely talented artists in the piercing community aren’t capable to do exactly what it being done. Shannon I feel truely terrible for what happened to your friend. I wholeheartedly hope you get to bottom of all this! As for the state of BME and Rachels lack of maturity, there isn’t much bitching about it can do. She knows she cannot handle the responsiblity and is too petty to realize it. BOTH of you have some major health problems, but you should be allowed to help keep BME what it once was. It is rediculous that you can’t even have your own bodmod site! Sorry for my rant but seriously!!!!!
I just commented with the following on BME, but since nothing else I’ve posted has made it through moderation, I don’t suppose this will either. But here it is:
I’m really bothered by the fact that because of BME’s response of “look at Shannon slandering Rachel” that this has been turned into petty Internet drama, diverting from the real problem of serious privacy violation that has nothing to do with “Rachel vs. Shannon”. I was deeply dismayed when I saw the BME response, but there’s still time to save it. Let me humbly suggest to Rachel that she might want to consider a post along these things:
See? That would have been a lot better, don’t you think? There’s still time to change this into a more reasonable response. It will seem a little disingenuous to some I’m sure, but don’t you think that ANYTHING makes more sense than continuing down this current path?
Meagan – As I understand it (and I might be thinking of the wrong Steve), that guy is a competitor and former employee with a grudge that is speaking with an agenda to do harm here…
well said shannon! the grown up and proper thing to do would be to discuss how to safeguard BME submissions. i dont want to submit photos, videos, or experiance of sensitive nature if bme cannot assure me that they will only be used for the betterment of the community, and not as a grudge, revenge, political, legal tool.
shannon would you like someone to post your comments on there for you?
I’m a throwback in this community – absent for some years. I found this drama as I was browsing to spend some money in the BME shop. Not anymore. BME stopped being special/important/amazing when it lost you Shannon. This again validates that feeling.
Wow, that is like a bomb falling onto BME. I have not even thought about people using it as source for personal revenge or police using it vor investigations against practioners. Maybe because I’m stupid, but also because I used to feel it is safe. It is no longer, so r.i.p. BME.
And I certainly don’t see why Rachel is making this total serious situation a pissing contest against Shannon. It is her responsibility as the owner to make BME safe for the people who pay her good money and more important, who TRUSTED her.
@27 i feel the same way. how can anyone feel safe submitting hard content or any content really anymore.
it was a bme video regardless of if it came from an outside source BME should still just make sure that the people who submit are safe in doing so.
Quoted from ModBlog:
“This site has become a joke, after more than 6 years of visiting it almost daily I find myself removing it from my bookmarks, and yes I do believe things started going downhill when rachel took over, It is really hard to argue otherwise. I’d be interested to see the traffic and how it must have completely tanked over the last 2 years.
Anyway, Grow the hell up, or hand the site over to someone more capable because clearly the current team of people is not.”
Was the video on the BME Video section at any point?
If it was couldn’t anyone take that video, convert it to DVD and sent it to the boys in blue?
Shannon – you were a great strength to me when I was young. I was a kid when I first started reading BME and your articles and, more importantly, your UNDERSTANDING of what I was feeling and going through were huge. Thanks to you I was informed and safe – I’ve done many of the things that I wanted to do, including having my tongue split, in a Safe and Informed manner. You may not still be able to blog about it, but your influance on the community is still felt and wonderfully appreciated. Mostly… I really miss reading your take on things. Your delight in showing us new things and introducing us to interesting people. You’ve been a hero of mine for a long time.
Guy J – No, the unedited with-audio version has never been made public.
Piggy – Thank you.
@31, i’ve submitted genital mods in picture format before, with the understanding that it was to share experiance and further ideas among like minded people. if that content went into the wrong hands i would want an EXPLINATION instead of a flame war!!
to se it happen to someone else makes me sick. it makes me think of how i would feel if the same was leaked about me.
Nikk, feel free, since it seems like my comments are being censored as they’re still sitting in moderation — which serves no purpose other than to make this seem like petty drama and fighting, distracting from the serious issue that should be discussed. I don’t know if that’s because of conscious effort to distract from what occurred, or if it’s just more of the same old “a woman scorned” drama that responds to everything with unthinking rage…
@36 i agree totally. this makes me concerned for the body play pictures i’ve submitted to the hard portion of BME.
Maybe its somewhat cowardly of me, but im not very open about it in my every day life, and I would honestly be horrified if this happened to me and it was used to hurt someone, would make it even worse.
shannon none of my posts made it through. sorry
Haha, had to go to some effort figuring out the filters they use to stop my name from being mentioned I suppose? I can’t believe those haven’t been lifted…
I see your post on modblog Nikk, so it did get posted.
are they the ones that i reposted shannon’s comments that are showing? it shows me they are still awaiting moderation.
i keep trying to find all the filter words for you. i know glider zentastic bodytwo all the main stuff related to you is filtered.
I’m truly sorry that you lost the website and now, on top of everything, having to face that kind of drama is simply stupid.
Your site and insights gave me the courage to start on the bodmod route, even if its nothing “hard”, being a woman with a full back tattoo is nearly unheard of in Perú.
Best of luck
P.S.
English is my 2nd language, sorry for any mistake.
Jen = Squealer.
To Rachael- I was wondering what you got up to when you wern’t using your ex husbands name to further your own status and running a well built site into the ground! Now I know, you hang out on HIS blog page to try claim even more of HIS fame. give it up:(
What do you mean? What did she squeal on?
Nikk, I read a post from you on Modblog that said, (And I copy and pasted it)
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.
this is posted from S H A N N O N S blog.
https://www.zen tastic .com/blog/2010/04/03/body-modification-investigation-in-canada/#comments
thats the link. its from the comments section.
Sh-an-non wrote:
I just commented with the following on BME, but since nothing else I’ve posted has made it through moderation, I don’t suppose this will either. But here it is:
I’m really bothered by the fact that because of BME’s response of “look at Sh-an-non slandering Rachel” that this has been turned into petty Internet drama, diverting from the real problem of serious privacy violation that has nothing to do with “Rachel vs. Sh-an-non”. I was deeply dismayed when I saw the BME response, but there’s still time to save it. Let me humbly suggest to Rachel that she might want to consider a post along these things:
“Sorry, my emotions got the better of me and I responded in anger before considering the issues. Here is what I meant to say:”
“I am deeply concerned about the privacy and member trust violation in which confidential BME submissions were somehow leaked to the police and media in what seems to be a personal vendetta. Because this particular recording was made some time before I took control of BME, it will take me some investigation to understand the chain of custody of the video and gain an understanding of how this could have happened, but rest assured, I am taking this seriously and am investigating it. In addition, I am thinking about the methods BME has in place to protect member privacy, and how we can improve this, especially in light of the new BME.”
“Please write me if you have any information — or suggestions — that would be helpful. Thank you, and please accept my apologies from BME for this having happened.”
See? That would have been a lot better, don’t you think? There’s still time to change this into a more reasonable response. It will seem a little disingenuous to some I’m sure, but don’t you think that ANYTHING makes more sense than continuing down this current path?”
It says at the top of your comment that it is awaiting moderation, but clearly it is posted or I would be unable to read it and I am currently NOT logged into to IAM.
Jen = squealer as in “Four legs good, two legs bad“
I wouldn’t be suprised. Steve has quite the reputation around Calgary as being a bit of a drama queen! I, personally, would never trust him with any part of my body. But back to the topic at hand. It is pretty sad that the whole situation has veered to a smear Shannon vendetta instead of what it really should be. This is an extreme violation of privacy! And as a fully consenting adult in the situation, no one should face ANY charges.
All I said was that we did NOT have the tape in question. Phil did not have the tape despite allegations that he did.
The “chain of command” on the tape (which we just have to take your word on it) stops at you.
I don’t know what posts you’re talking about that Jen has posted but you’re saying that I had the tape when I NEVER DID. It’s that simply. You’re making a huge personal attack about something that simply isn’t true.
I posted a link to this blog post where it is implied that BME or myself had the tape and I posted a rebuttal to that allegation. I am not blaming you. I am not defending BME either other than saying that I did not have this tape or access to it and this is a dispute between the people involved with the tape. It has nothing to do with me.
I didn’t post anything “in anger” because there is nothing to be angry about. You said I had the tape last. I posted that I did not.
@ Rachel – why dont you just stop acting like a high school student and get off shannons blog?
you dont allow him to comment there so why the hell should you even bother coming here?
its so pathetic that youve gotten the mod community involved in your own personal shit.
i dont care who had a tape, or when. i do know, however, that when people flame their ex’s on a web site, im done with the site.
i also know that the more you open your mouth the more people you lose following bme. you lost me- as well as 90% of the people i know- a long time ago.
continue to run bme into the ground. maybe someday youll do the right thing and hand it back to its rightful owner.
until then, keep your personal business your own god damn business because no one cares but you.
kthx. :-)
Phil has said since this went public that he gave the tape to you. AFAIK the people who have had access to the tape are, as I said above, me, Phil, Roo, and you/Rachel.
hmm anyone up to guess at what has been removed from modblog…seems once again, people assume face can be saved by removing something that had well over 70 comments which is saying something in the current climate of modblog as most posts get like what 30. I’ve said it before and Ill say it again, Shannon is so much more then just the founder of BME he was the heart and the soul and some could argue to figure head of this cultural revolution. I can personally say i would not be half the person, spiritually or intellectually if not shannon, his opinions and some of the people he talked to and introduced the community to, thank you shannon for being a truly powerful and effective spiritual leader, and when things are made proper and you take control of BME, I know I for one well return there.
I’m staying out of most of this mess, but I seriously have to make one comment about an aspect of internet communication-
At no point does Shannon type in all caps to get a point across. He uses words and logically formed sentences.
On the other hand, in the few posts above as well as in personal communications with her, Rachel uses all caps to emphasize and bring a sense of importance to her words. It truly comes across as a temper tantrum and argument from a small child.
For someone who says she hates drama, she sure manages to stir up a ton of it.
Shannon, I sincerely thank you for being such a great resource and inspiration for me. Thank you.
I don’t know why it’s been removed from Modblog, but there are plenty of precedents for posts being removed when the overwhelming majority of responses were negative, as they were in this case.
We can but hope sanity has prevailed and an attempt will now be made to get to the bottom of this and to reassure everyone that their incriminating video material is safe and that it won’t happen again – but in that case why not just say so?
In times like this, it is important to remember that the most efficient way of defeating a demon made of sawdust is to hit it over the head with a piece of waterlogged bread. Cheers all, be excellent to each other!!!!
First of all shame on you Rachel for showing yourself to be the liar you are. Phil has told me himself you have the originals. I NEVER had a copy
second and most importantly, I have not once come out and mentioned thus anywhere on any blog accusing anyone or admitting it was me having the procedure, but you took every oportunity to out ne by name as the recipient, on here and on modblog. It just shows how very little you value my or anyones privacy.
Third, the day after the DVDs were dropped at the police, media, city hall and health unit the edited video on bme of the procedure became the feature; after almost five years up! Sounds like a pathetic little girls way of bragging and trying to rub salt in the wounds.
Fourth, this was done to try to hurt ne personally, but I am the one person not affected legally by this because in the laws eyes (stupidly) I am a victim, but the saddest part is an innocent person may go to jail for upwards of fifteen years thanks to bme under the helm of Rachels “leadership” releasing the masters in a childish revenge plot.
You can rant and rave all you want and try to proclaim your innocence Rachel, but your own exemployee has told me the facts and they differ greatly from your version as usual. You are the worste excuse for a leader of what once was a beacon for the modified community. Congrats you have finally shown what you are made of
Rachel please put a bit more effort into your lies, it’s getting to the point I’m starting to be embarrassed for you
you claim above that you “never had the tapes” and neither did Phil. Phil filmed it for BME video and left with them. Roo edited them and posted them where they still sit. Phil sent you the only copy of the master specifically, which he himself has told me.
And for you to try to play the good person by stating that if your sorry excuse for a legal defense fund could, it would even help me. Please Rachel, anyone not fooled by your game of wagging the dog has got to be bright enough to see how you use BME for weilding your own personal wars, you even removedy shop from BME411 for purely personal reasons
I’d respect you more if you just once took responsibility for your own actions rather then always ponying the finger of blame at everyone else possible.
Admit what you did and why, and try your damndest to fix the problem, although I am not sure you can fix what’s damaged in you, but at least try
and to all those asking, yes, this is a HUGE violation of my privacy. It’s the worste kind of betrayal
I just wanted to re-post what was removed by Rachel on Modblog yesterday so people know whats going on.
If you don’t want it posted here Shannon, please remove the post or delete it.
Rachel’s Modblog Response-04/04/10
Drama drama everywhere but not a drop to drink.
By Rachel • Apr 3rd, 2010 • Category: Editorial, ModBlog
If my day wasn’t going poorly enough, I have to receive emails from people asking about the situation in Ontario. Shannon has implied on his other blog that BME staff or specifically myself may have given a tape of a labial removal procedure to the police. This is simply not the case. I received an upset phone call alerting me to the situation. I spoke with Shannon shortly after and reminded him that it was specifically documented in our legal proceedings that I did not have a copy of the tape in question. Shannon then went on to confirm to me via email that he had learned who had delivered the tape to the police. He wrote that it was Joan’s former apprentice who allegedly is responsible for this entire investigation. I have no idea what the purpose of that post is other than to try to damage BME’s reputation.
I would never put BME, the community or it’s members at risk by doing something as horrific as this.
I also have legal proof that I have never had a copy of this footage. Shannon has subtly attempted to lay the blame on myself, Phil, then Phil’s girlfriend as well as Roo and all other present/former BME staff. We have NO REASON WHAT SO EVER to put BME at risk by doing something like this.
The tape in question was not turned over to me when I took over full control of the site. When the transfer finally occurred, a box of tapes, along with an inventory specifically stating that the tape in question was not included is in my lawyers possession. After BME got the tapes, Roo spent months making sure everything we had was turned into a digital copy. Once finished BME made sure that all of the tapes/originals were destroyed.
In order to make this absolutely clear, the last person to have possession of this tape was Shannon himself and this is legally documented. I have nothing to do with it, nor do I want anything to do with it.
I have absolutely zero desire to complicate my life or even engage in drama such as this. It is clear that some kind of falling out happened between Joan and her apprentice but neither BME nor it’s staff would ever put themselves at risk. The people that Shannon goes on to accuse would be in trouble themselves and bringing on problems is not something that they (or I) have any interest in doing.
I am sick and tired of having to defend myself against these childish accusations but as I have said and will say until I lose the ability to type, I had nothing to do with this. I have never had a copy of the tape and I wish that Shannon had something better to do than to write a long post attempting to lay the blame on BME’s door step.
I hope that nothing comes of this investigation and that the people involved in it are not charged with anything in connection with the consensual procedure done between friends. If it comes up that they are, just as in the Niland case, BME will be here to help.
Joan, question towards you.
Do you think you can take legal action against Rachel for what she’s said on Modblog and here, the fact that she’s posted personal information about you, slander and has attacked you on a personal level?
In addition to, possibly, finding legal recourse if she is proven to be the person who handed the tape over to the police?
Shannon, please take over BME from this insane, incapable bitch. She is ruining everything that thousands upon thousands of modified citizens have looked to BME for. I don’t understand how it got to this point. I obviously don’t know the story of how she ended up as high queen bitch of BME, but please create a time machine and never hand over the magic key to her. I am extremely saddened that this is what the modification community has come to. The leader of a cult-favorite site is a drama filled, bitchy, stupid cunt who deletes anyone’s account who has one negative thing to say against her, or one positive thing to say towards you. I just want you back. WE ALL WANT YOU BACK.
I agree with Meep, BME has become worse then Myspace or Facebook with nothing but drama filled forums. People are literally creating forums that are specifically for making fun of other people’s lifestyles, looks and choices, which is the foundation of why BME was created, as a safe haven away from society.
I myself have dedicated over 8 years to BME, I was there from the start and she’s taking everything you created and shitting on it.
This just can’t happen, it can’t be possible, it’s almost like a nightmare unfolding before my eyes. All the hard work I put into news articles, all the pictures I submitted, everything so this bitch can ruin it?
I’m fucking pissed off and I want you back god damn it. This is bullshit and I hate it.
Elephant, exactly. I grew up looking up to BME, respecting it GREATLY, and now I laugh at it. Now I mock it. And it all stems back to a person like Rachel running the site. She bickers with community members, ModBlog has sucked MAJORLY in the past year or more and is full of one-sided posts, posts with the writer’s favorite artists and friends instead of submissions of every-day non-’elite’ members, and posts supporting and mocking things like statutory rape, showing people with huge disgusting blowouts but not mentioning that this is NOT something you’d want to strive for…it’s just not the educational tool that it used to be. Now it’s just a bunch of douchebags posting their friends on ModBlog. Not to mention the BMEShop is pathetic and the galleries are NEVER updated. And where is this ‘new’ BME that we’ve been hearing about for what…MONTHS now?! The site could be SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IT IS, and it’s not progressed AT ALL since she’s been queen bitch. “Oh woe is me, I have so much on my plate and you guys ask so much of me and blah blah stop being so mean” STOP WHINING and hand the site over to someone who can actually lead it in the right direction, instead of the direction that it’s heading, which is in the history books for being the demise of the Body Modification Community.
I grew up in a small town in southern Ontario of 400 people. When I started to figure out who I was, what I liked and wanted to do I because the weird kid that the old people crossed the street from, that all the neighbors talked about. BME was my home. Away from all the people judging me for essentially just doing what made me happy. Then the coup d’état and it all went to hell. And I think to everyone now BME is a place that we look back to with fond memories but we no we cant go back to. Its never going to be what is once was without Shannon. But we dont need to go back, we just need a new home for the community.
I think certain people need to learn a little maturity. I am embarrassed that a grown woman can act so childish. Arguing over the internet is a greeeat way to fix clearly important problems. Stop trying to place the blame and try to fix the real problem perhaps?
What really gets me Mel is that not only has she reduced herself to a whiney, drama filled woman that posts personal attacks on Modblog, but she actually deleted it and all the comments attached without any type of response.
Like, if it dosn’t exist, it’ll go away type of shit. And what pisses me off even further is that a place like Bodymod.org is so entranced by her ownership of BME they can’t see through anything else and it just makes them look like a bad groupie.
Instead of embarking on a “BME World Tour” with a bunch of people from BME that will do your work for you, why don’t you concentrate on finishing your Pre-Made, Pre-Programmed, WordPress, “NEW” Bme website and marrying guys you just met and then divorcing them a month later, or spending time answering “Drama” filled questions (As you put it) on Formspring.
I mean, how many fucking directions can you go at once and expect to follow through with all of them? Plus deal with supposed health issues, a child, inter personal relationships and personal finances.
I think that instead of failing at one thing, the object of the game is to begin tons of projects and never see them through, that way, in her mind, it isn’t failing? Because she never finishes them???
I’ve kept my mouth shut for a very long time now, and the gloves are off.
This is posted in the comments section of the Modblog Post “The Elephant in the Room”, this post was put up directly after Rachel’s Drama Rant and this is Jen refering to the Rant:
“20.Jen on April 5th, 2010 at 10:26 am:
Anyway, this post was scheduled to be put up yesterday at the same time I wrote up the other post, from the airport, on Friday. Let’s not take away from Fabrizio’s great work because I really do love his work.”
Am I reading that wrong? “this post was scheduled to be put up yesterday at the same time I wrote up the other post, from the airport, on Friday.”
Is she refering to Rachel’s Rant? I am confused, Did Jen or Rachel write that Rant? Or is Jen and Rachel the same person?
Rather than slam Rachel (at tempting as it might be for me, I’m trying hard to break some bad habits) I can say this:
When I was growing up, BME was a source of education for me. I loved it. I always felt welcomed, and even if I did have some stupid ideas someone always politely guided me in the right direction. It was a safe place.
Now I have abandoned all connections to it. I’ve stopped reading it. I wish I could removed my submissions from it. I’ve deleted my IAM account. I no longer feel comforted, safe, or even welcomed there. The overall feeling is one that I am uncomfortable with. One of my friends became associated with a BME-linked business venture and soon developed a similar attitude to other personalities in its administration. It hurt to walk away from that friendship, but she and I have different paths now.
I’m content to walk away from the site and community and let it turn into whatever it becomes, but I sincerely hope that no one is ever put at risk again by submitting their experiences to the website. Even if the video was not turned in by someone associated with the site, the potential for that to happen is momentous in its potential to shake one’s trust.
Elephant – Looks to me like Rachel was logged in to Jen’s account and forgot to log out before posting. That post you quoted under Jen’s name was clearly Rachel. Not sure why she’d be logged in as Jen though…
Edit: Caitlin says I’m reading it wrong and it’s referring to the Sunny/Philly post, not the “drama” post, and is Jen not Rachel.
Not that I am coming to either person’s defense.
Not even remotely.
I didn’t take it that way, I read it that she was refering to Rachel’s Drama Post on Modblog, which was the Post directly above “The Elephant in the Room”
Lol @ Caitlin, I have a lot of respect for you as well, to have tolerated this situation for so long and stuck by someone that truely loves you.
And just to be clear in a society where it seems all words, as clear as they are in the dictionary are somehow misunderstood, I have always had the utmost respect for you Shannon.
Bottom line:
Is there any way to save BME? To perhaps persuade Rachel into finally realizing that she just isn’t cut out to run the site, that really only the people working for her take anything she has to say seriously or respect her in the slightest, or will the effort be in vain since she never seems to listen to the community that she is supposed to be a ‘leader’ of anyway? And if she does finally realize that CHOOSING to have all of these things on her plate, then complaining that everyone is asking too much of her, who would be up for the challenge of leading BME into a new revolution? Shannon, I’m sure the masses, including myself, would be OVERJOYED to have you back, but you may have moved on in life, which is respectable.
Either way, if BME is to survive, Rachel just has to go. There’s no other way to save the site that made most of us who we are today. I wish she would stop trying to be King Shit on Turd Mountain and realize that she’s ruining everything that so many people have worked so hard to achieve.
Meep, as serious as this situation is, your King Shit on Turd Mountain reference made me spew soda on my moniter.
I wish Rachel would just turn BME into whatever vision she has for it. I really hate seeing the old site decay while the beta keeps stalling and disappointing. BME, the BME that formed in the 90s and had a lot of the ethos of that era, to me seems dead and beyond resurrection. So Rachel has to create her vision, or just let it die. It’s all in the endgame now, so I think in the next month or two we’ll know which… it can’t keep running on empty much longer.
As to me running a site that brings back the energy that I miss and I think many others miss as well, a big part of me would love to, really really love to, but being realistic I don’t know. In 2012 I can legally make that decision, but to be honest I have pretty morose predictions for where my health will be in 2012 so I might not be the right guy for the task except in spirit. I also value the free time I have because of not doing the site… especially if my days are numbered, it’s really wonderful to have the time to spend with my daughter (and Caitlin also). That said, maybe it would be a good time to finally recreate BME as a true community run site that can live forever no matter what.
Time will tell.
Shannon, I do agree, BME needs to be turned into SOMETHING, I haven’t seen much progression in the way the site works in general since I started viewing, but ESPECIALLY not since Rachel has been in control. There’s been a lot of promises of what the site will become but no real progress shown….at all.
We would love to have you back, but your health and family must always come first and I’m sure everyone respects that. Rachel just isn’t the right person for BME and I don’t think that she really has a vision for it besides a communist version of a website where exercising free speech is rewarded with the deletion of your account without warning…oh wait, that already happens.
Either way, this is totally depressing. The end of an era. It was a good run for a while.
Perhaps it’s the end of childhood… I think for me, and a lot of people, BME was a very important part of growing up. I really hope that people see it that way… That it helped make them who they are now, as adults, and that while they miss it, they remember it fondly and are happy with where it helped take them… That’s how I feel about it, and it helps a lot to think of it that way when I’m feeling down about what’s happened to it since.
I do feel that way, Shannon. The site ran by you made me the person I am today and I am eternally grateful. I’ve been looking at the site since I was literally 12 or 13 and have never actually tried communicating with you directly, and I feel greatly honored to do so. I really wish that BME was still a place that I felt comfortable, but it’s just not and it’s something that we’ll all have to accept sooner or later.
I feel horrible for those who are the age I was when I started viewing the site, looking to BME for answers and seeing all of the dramatic bullshit that the current maintainers bring to the table.
Thanks so much for everything you’ve done, Shannon, for all of us.
I agree with you Shannon, the way you look at it. But part of me, even in adulthood, still wants to fight. Stand up for what I believe in, that dosn’t and didn’t change as I became an adult.
Shannon – just to echo everything that Meep said – BME made me the person I am today – and I think that’s certainly a good thing. I’ve never communicated with you either, but I have been a quiet reader of your many blogs for just over 10 years. Thanks for giving my teen/young-adult self (way back then) a home and a place I knew I fit in (and lots of helpful information that kept me safe and having a good time).
If you or anyone else here starts a body modification blog/site I will eagerly read it.
It’s ironic really, because when I read on Thursday that BodyMod.org had bought out BME and that Adam was the new owner, I was overjoyed.
Until I realized it was all an April Fool’s joke. You wouldn’t believe how disappointed I was!
I felt the same way Don and Shannon, if I had a fraction of your intelligence when it comes to programming, I’d start a new website.
I wouldn’t be satisfied with a WordPress pre-programmed Community. *cringes*
Shannon, would you ever do something like the old Bodytwo?
At this point it’s not about the site, it’s not about the childish finger pointing and bickering, it’s not about who hates who, or he said she said, it’s about a fundamental trust being shattered.
The fact is the video was filmed by a BME employee, I NEVER received a copy. The only full un-edited master master is in the possession of Rachel, as I was told directly by the former employee of BME Phil who filmed it for BME
The procedure was not offered to any client ever, it was done on myself by a trusted employee and friend. We did not have a falling out and my only concerns are now fighting to defend her so she does not wind up in jail
The fact is Rachel is claiming she would NEVER do anything like this yet on her own site and here she continually released my name as the recipient of the procedure, another violation of trust and privacy. She does not now or ever have the respect for the community. I worry for the fate of anyone that is foolishly placing trust in her to maintain their privacy and protect their identity if god forbid they upset her or don’t play the kiss Rachel’s ass game as Jenn plays so well.
I was banned from iam for defending Shannon in court and for telling the truth when she chose to pick a fight with me on my page.
It’s not important to me to vilify her for he person she is, I do however find it heartbreaking that a video that was made for her site has been released in an effort to hurt me and only wound up putting at risk a good person who did nothing wrong. We researched the procedure for almost a year and consulted with a doctor. It went off without a hitch, healed beautifully and made me very happy.
Rather then kick and scream like a child and point fingers and try to claim innocence do the right thing, the noble thing, try to discover what exactly happened. Face the issue and own up to your failure to ensure respect and privacy of a former member. Rather then post drama filled modblog posts to only later delete them when the tide of public opinion does not go your way. Then only to later try to pretend it didn’t happen
Again, I am mainly and foremost concerned with the fate of the person who did my procedure. Not with who should run BME, I think it’s nice to wish things were the way they once were but sadly that is not to be. I would hope that one day Rachel will grow up and try to be the person she tries to pretend to be, but people rarely change for the better, but we can dream I suppose
Shannon, I would just like to say that you are one of the most insperational people I have ever had the good fortune to, well, meet isn’t exactly the right word, so I guess “observe”. BME has been one of the greatest influences in my life, and zentastic is so wonderful to read. You give me hope for being a good and encouraging father, something I didn’t have before reading this site. Please stay strong through your troubles, knowing you have the thanks of me and I’m sure countless others.
I agree with your posts so much, Joan. I said on the modblog post that I was disgusted with the fact that BME material was being lost and that I would not be submitting any more. No one else really seemed to pick up on how important this aspect of the debate was, though. And I kind of understand it… everyone is very fed up with her and when emotions run high it’s hard to focus sometimes. I noticed at the time that Rachel was name-dropping with you and I was really, REALLY horrified by it. It was also obvious that she had some sort of problem with you, which didn’t make her look any better. I didn’t know anything about you until this, but now I and everyone else who read that know much more than you would’ve liked us to know. It’s wrong and a violation of you. Nothing can take that back, can it? I wish there were some way that you could take legal action against her, but I don’t know anything about law and always assume that these things are more effort than they’re worth.
And like many of you… I too feel that BME was an integral part of my childhood (you’re almost 10 years older than me, Shannon and I’ve been following your site since it began). But like an old fmaily home – it was more the people than the location that made it so good. They say that you can “Never go back home” and in this case I feel that it’s true. As I said much earlier in the comments, Shannon was a guiding light for my modification journey when I was young and dumb. His knowledge and understanding kept me safe, grounded and informed while still helping me to look further than what I thought was possible. He helped me to understand and accept people nd practises that were new and startling to me. He gave me the confidince to persue my own apprenticeship and now I do my best to teach others all of this. It’s the cycle of life, isn’t it? When something is that important to you, you share it. Even if all I can share is the love of modification and the joy I get from it… well, that’s enough for me.
Man, but I’m mouthy today. It’s obvious why the ModBlog post was deleted – no one was agreeing with her and it made her feel and look bad. One hissy fit to start it all and one to finish it (in her mind). I’ve always though it interesting just how much you can get to know someone from their online interactions.
I was just looking around at various websites and came across one of Rachels personal blogs (I think she has like 3 or 4 in addition to BME, but I read this post of her’s and it kinda puts her thinking and reactions into perspective:
“That’s how everyone pronounces the URL. BM A ZING?! And I think to myself. It’s BMEzine.com. Like B then an M and then Ezine. Like magaZINE. But people on the phone think it’s bmemazing. I think to myself maybe that’s why they’re telemarketers or telephone operators and I let it go. Then I think, woah.. what if it is amazing to BME?! The marketing kicks in, the kids go crazy and suddenly I’m like Supreme, lining kids up around the block to (I’m not sure what they do while in line) but then I stop and tell myself it’s almost 1am and I should be in bed.”
I just had to laugh.
How karmic it is that the very website that got me interested in piercing at the age of 17 would turn around and bite me in the ass 10 years later.
I spent hours, days, months, YEARS, learning everything I could about body mods, piercing and the industry before eventually getting a job with Joan, where I continued to learn and was lucky enough to get the opportunity to learn to pierce and have a very successful career for over seven years, and the opportunity to train others. (Does that still make me an apprentice?)
Now ten years later, a site that I learned so much from and contributed to, in the understanding that it was all a safe environment, has somehow, BY SOMEONE’s hand at BME, through direct or indirect involvement, caused me a great deal of trouble, in my personal life, with my family and my new professioinal life, as I am no longer in the body mod industry BY CHOICE.
I cannot guarantee who supplied the tape to those who had ultimately turned it over to the authorities, but I can guarantee that I WOULD NOT DO THIS TO MYSELF. To suggest that is completely ridiculous.
The day this all became public, Shannon offered me his advice, which I greatly appreciated and has served me well. I have no doubt that he had nothing to do with this whole mess.
Six months ago, if someone asked me what I thought of BME, I would have told them it was a very informative site, though it’s had its own personal rough patches. Now, I wonder if maybe I’d have been better off without it. Such a huge part of my life, a part I really treasured, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
anyone else find it interesting that the post that outed joan and exposed a leak in the privacy of the site happened 2 days before she’s leaving the country? for someone who is in debt, and facing lawsuits, its afully convenient that she’s leaving the country. and the tour is taking 5 weeks in australia but no hotels booked and no shop interviews set up? i feel bad for the friends that she rigged the contest for. they’re going to be stuck in another country wondering where she went and how they’re getting home.
shannon- you mentioned in 2012 you can make the decision to start another site. i guess that means that was part of the settlement?
either way, if i had enough interest i would start a mod based blog. if everyone helped make it big and contribute their time/photos/stories its be something id be interested in.
of course id need your expertise and support to do such a thing.
with what crystal said, I’v tossed around the idea of starting a podcast, to take up the torch of where both BME radio and modified podcast left off. but with such a feat I’d need the some sort of support system and community to rally under. if you shannon could offer any help or anyone could it would be much appreciated.
I’m legally forbidden from doing anything but enjoying what you create unfortunately, so for now, that’s all I can offer.
That said, I might be allowed to become involved in a podcast project… I’m not sure whether that’s covered or not.
jordon
shoot me an email: crystal.c.morris@gmail.com and lets do this! well see if we can get people to bite :-)
I’m an iam member, and I look at ModBlog frequently. This shit is just out of control and ridiculous. I think someone should start some sort of petition to throw Rachel off her throne. I guarantee that more than 70% would not rule in her favor. I don’t think it would ever make a difference though. Lets face it, BME is dead.
I’ve always been of the opinion that the best way to express dissatisfaction in the way someone is doing something is to go out and do it better oneself… Fighting on the other hand tends to be wasted resources all around (so if you’re winning in terms of having a lot of resources, tricking your opponent into fighting rather than building is a great way for established businesses to block newcomers.”
In many arenas cost makes this an unrealistic challenge, but the wonderful thing about the Internet is that it’s a remarkably level playing field.
Sometimes, all I can do is shake my head…. I wish I could be less naive to the way the world works, and understand why people purposly try to hurt other people constantly.
You can’t take back words or actions (especially on well visited websites), so why don’t people think a bit more before making a decision?
drama drama everywhere…. and i’m not even thirsty anymore
I have been interested in starting a new online community project since Shannon lost BME. I am familiar with various types of web design and coding and will finally have time to work on a concept site in a month or so. If others are interested in helping out, let me know. Shoot me an email at nae @ naemorris.com
Nae, aren’t you one of the BME people who are going on the “World Tour” with Rachel?
Or coincedental same name?
Shannon, how did it work when someone deleted their IAM account? Was everything truly gone or were there bits and pieces unlinked floating around? I wouldn’t want anything I posted to come back to haunt me.
Other than what existed in the backups, it was really gone. Sometimes errors occurred that caused bits and pieces to remain (thus oddities like ownerless forums), but the intent was complete deletion and it’s fair to assume that if you deleted your page, it and its content are gone.
I find it amusing that modblogs latest update is about the despicable theft and copying of tattoos.. They are all saying how horrid it is, such a disrespect yet it’s ok for BME to hand over to the authorities, a full uneditted video of a private and illegal procedure filmed by them and entrusted to them for it’s safekeeping.. Amusing and sad
Good news, just left the police station..the entire investigation is completed and NO CHARGES will ever be laid..
Congratulations! I’m so happy that this is resolved in a positive way towards the modified community.
Awesome news!
I’m just so happy that an innocent person did not have charges laid against them for doing a 100% informed and consensual procedure.
It’s still aggravating and sad that people in our own community tried to hurt us. It’s not just an attack on me and my friend, it’s an attack on the community as a whole and all we stand for including the right to make informed choices about our own bodies
to those that did this, we kmow what you did and karma never forgets, neither do I
And a huge thank you to Shannon, Caitlin and everyone for all the support and kind words of support! you are all the best
Joan, you’re very welcome. Oh, and please stop flirting with my fiance.
aw Caitlin, haven’t you heard the old news? I wanna “bone” him..It’s hard to resist…You should be proud it’s you he loves ;)
This is great news and a sign of relief for all in the community.
I can’t say how relieved I am, for you Joan and the pperson who did the procedure, and for all of us in the mod community. Wonderful news.
it’s crazy, the police we were dealing with were actually very respectful and very nice. They seemed genuinely happy to be giving us the great news as we were leaving the police station, my friend who did the procedure turned to me and said “holy shit, I’m the first person to legally get away with this in Canada”
lol
Maybe the tides are starting to turn in our favour, to have ownership and the right to consent to what we do with our own bodies…Or maybe the cops here were just to freaked out about having to use the word “labia” anymore..they blused a lot haha
As an “old school” practitioner (pre internet – all underground) I am distressed that such a thing as delivering a tape to the authorities could ever happen. The confidentiality of clients and participants is of the highest importance, even to the extent of taking jail time to protect others. Who ever did this is violating a trust of the first order. That said, I am pleased that no charges were laid and I hope that none are in the future. Perhaps a close call for some but a good chance to examine how we view others well being and privacy.
make that blushed lol
“I wish that Shannon had something better to do”
-Rachel “Larratt”
He does have something better to do, blogging about Body Modification via BME.
give it back!
Ha, yeah, because I somehow created this situation…
I’ve been doing my best to email her advice on how to best handle and resolve this situation but I really feel like I’m talking to a wall… No, not a wall… more of a rose bush that’s all thorns…
I’ve said this before, but it always bears repeating…I was 17 when I stumbled upon BME and joined IAM back in 2001. The friends I’ve made through the site and the things I learned have truly shaped the life I lead today and continue to have an incredible impact on my life to this day.
I met my best friend on IAM back when I still lived in Boston and she lived in Oklahoma City. She and I now live next door to eachother here in OKC. She met, fell for and married a wonderful man she met on IAM. I have since fallen head over heels in love with one of her husband’s friends. Thanks for starting it all, BME!
We still talk about IAM and the “good ol’ days” and attribute much of our happiness to the site.
I left IAM a year or so before shit hit the fan, but I will always fondly remember the site for what it once was.
Thank you, Shannon.
I just want to endorse Mimi’s comment there, really. I had eleven happy years on BME/IAM which transformed me completely and made me the person I am more than anything else in my life.
I count myself very lucky to have my BME tattoos to remember it all by – and to keep inspiring me to live up to the legacy it left me.
https://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/618056
That’s cool. I’m glad that all worked out “the right way”. And thanks for getting back to me, Shannon. I can rest a little easier now. :)
Joan – That’s so great to hear! Yay! Congratulations that this is all over with now!
Elephant – I am the same Nae who applied for and got a ton of votes in the world tour contest. However, I was “too much of a traditional BME character” and Rachel’s gut told her to not select me. It is a whole other realm of drama that I’m choosing to keep offline, but it has definitely helped make my decision to limit contact with the current BME.
Glad that the matter got settled without any charges. In everyday life you don’t really realise it, but when you hear about these kind of things (referring to the illegality of the bodmod procedure itself), it becomes frighteningly clear how little control we have over our own bodies in the eys of the modern society and law.
I still check modblog for pretty pictures, but then again even those have been lacking with the scarce updates. I’ll always have fond memories of my few (but immensely influential and satisfying) years spent as a semi-silent reader of BME, but it can’t offer me anything more.
Thankfully there are still small bodmod communities and sites that can still offer support and guidance to the old and the young. I myself actively write on a Finnish forum, upheld by half a dozen tattoo and piercing shops, but I’d definitely be interested in reading a new bodmod blog/listening to a podcast. I’d only be able to be a supportive follower though, since I don’t have any mad programming skills or the like.
@Dresden:Stop being so obvious about what you did with bro.
Well, I am very late with this post since diverting all possible drama in my life but must add that I am extremely happy nothing came of this.
One more reason to vanish entirely.
All be well. Kill the beast.
Just wanted to add some support to this thread, BME is not what propelled me into mods, I was headed that way already, but it is certainly what gave me the chance to excel at them.
When I first stumbled upon BME, it was either late 1993 or early 94. I was fifteen, and had been studying my secret stash of PFIQs and Grey’s Anatomy as though they were religious tomes. BME, and in particular the experiences written by Shannon and the interviews conducted by Shannon, made me not just want to pierce, they made me want to scream from the mountains that what I’d wanted for so long could happen. I could be a piercer. Soon, I was.
I started piercing professionally at the age of seventeen. Fourteen years in the business later I own my own studio, have two excellent employees that work under me and we all adhere to those old rules passed down by the masters in those so recent yet so aged interviews.
From Brazda to Cobb to Ward to White, it was a goddamn adventure reading that site. Lowbrets, to dermal punches to holy crap I can pierce a tongue at an eight and then doing it, from every mod I learned about and declined to every new thing I saw and knew I could do and then did, BME was my resource, and though I rarely contributed, I always watched, one ear to the ground, both eyes wide open.
In 1998 I did a pocketing on a client and he ended up being photographed for the SPC and later on BME and he met Shannon and Shawn and they liked the work and I could’ve puked. No emotion I’ve ever felt since then, save for the birth of my daughter or a literary agent almost saying yes even comes close.
I felt so fucking accepted. I still do, and I carry that every day.
At work, when a customer is bitching at me over why our prices are so high and I try and explain about good jewelry and training and they see through me. At home, when my bills are piled like Michigan snow drifts and I just want to pay a bill and I know every other scumbag in town is doing fine because they do shit work with shit steel, I can smile because I know I’m doing the right thing. I learned from a lot of places, but most of all, BME made me what I am as a piercer and business owner. Integrity is near dead in this industry, you not being a part of BME is a big reason why.
wow, this has been heartbreaking to read through but I am glad there is somewhat of a happy ending.
I’d like to echo the sentiments here about the pre-Rachel BMEzine. It was one of the first websites I ever found, back in 1998, when I also found RAB using WebTV, hehe.
Back then and even just before you were exiled, BME and iam were such an important part of my life and the influence still stays with me. I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done, glad you’re making the best of it all and wish you and your beautiful family all the best. Aloha!
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[...] of law enforcement.’ Worth reading and some pondering on the subject, especially in the light of Shannon Larratt’s comment on [...]
[...] wasn’t going poorly enough, I have to receive emails because Shannon has posted on his other blog insinuating that BME staff or specifically myself have given a tape of a labial procedure to th…. This is a OLD FACED LIE. Shannon even confirmed they knew who delivered the tape to the police. He [...]
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