First I want to say that this isn't a “funmail”. I totally understand where this piercer is coming from and appreciate his concern, and it's one I've heard quite a few times before. The reason I'm bringing it up here is that it's something I really want all piercers (and all practitioners of all kinds) to read.
They were concerned because a person had written an experience about them, not saying anything specifically slanderous about them, but just an overall negative experience that didn't speak well for the piercer because of some omissions. I don't have any reason to believe this piercer is any worse than usual, and, in fact, judging by the civilized tone, I suspect he's a really nice guy. Here's an excerpt:
"She kindly forgot to mention the numerous times that I told her the way she wanted to place the multiple tongue piercings wouldn't work due to being extremely close together. But alas... I'm only the lowly piercer and my advice wasn't good enough for her and she INSISTED on the placement that I told her would not look good or work. (Actually, about four other people in the shop told her as well that it wouldn't work)."
I told him the same thing I've been telling everyone:
"I totally understand where you're coming from, but let me suggest something: You are the piercer and the professional and you are far more qualified to know what will work than some customer. If the customer asks you for something that you know is a bad idea, and you still do it, then ultimately it's you that's responsible for that, not them...
You know what I mean? If you go to a plastic surgeon and ask them for a "bad idea" procedure, they won't do it. If they do, they'll be hit with malpractise charges.
(Sorry I don't have something better to tell you)...
Shannon
I'm very serious about this — if you are a practitioner, you may not act irresponsibly on the public without facing the consequences. It doesn't matter if they beg you. It doesn't matter if they offer to pay you extra. It doesn't matter what the reason is. If you believe a procedure is unsound, do not do it. You're the expert, not them.
The sign of a great practioner is not just in the procedures they achieve, but more in the procedures they turn away.
There's a little Canadian movie project called Whale Music (based on the Paul Quarrington novel, but not on the Rheostatics album of the same name, although they did do the soundtrack — just a coincidence) that I quite liked. The main character, Desmond, I have been told by a number of people echoes many aspects of my own life… This morning I bumped into Maury Chaykin, the actor that played him. For someone who should know better, I think I made him feel uncomfortable with my occasional staring (mostly trying to figure out if he was Maury Chaykin or a hobo that looked a lot like him).
Quick news (sorry, you'll have to read the stories yourself, I only have time to write a sentance on them), then I have to open up this machine (at home, not IAM) and pop in a burner:
- US plans on nuking China, Russia, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria (but not Saudi Arabia or Pakistan for some strange reason).
- US expects more losses in war (yeah, because when you put big Delta Force guys above 8,000 feet, in the cold, without experience in the terrain, they're fucked. Hello “Cold Vietnam”.)
- War damages US economy (except the defense sector, who helped put the current government in power, are doing GRRRRRRRRREAT!)
- Afghan Alliance starts to break up (Yeah, big surprise. I don't know who thought this was a good idea.)
- Massive US base expansion internationally (If you want to fix the economy, stop doing this!)
OK, I forgot to turn on the scambots on before leaving, but they're running now. As soon as they're done, I'll get an experience update. Until then, here's a teaser of the work we're doing on my hands:
Also, I know that there are some of you out there “plotting” against a certain sexually indiscrete heavy mods practitioner, trying to invent lies about him to get him thrown in jail, making up fake pictures of him with five year olds and bullshit like that. Stop it. Whatever problems you have with this person, this is NOT the right way to solve it, nor will this do anything but disrupt the lives of a lot of innocent people, most likely including mine.
One of the things you guys probably all know about me at this point is that I have MANY projects always on the go… One of the biggest problems body modification faces as it moves/evolves into medical territory is that people are operating recklessly — let's face it, no matter how much we'd like to be, without 10+ years of med school, we're just not qualified for some of these things!
As such, it leaves us with three choices:
- Go to someone who isn't qualified and take the risk. This is the option most people choose, often with crippling side-effects.
- Don't do the procedure. This would be the logical choice, but pretty much nobody picks it.
- Find a qualified and willing doctor to do it. This is the option I am working to make possible.
My database of extreme-mod friendly doctors is coming along well, and I'm now building up a database of doctors who will do implants, subincisions, castrations, amputations, etc… Soon there will be no excuse for not getting these procedures responsibly.
I should also mention that when going to a doctor, unlike a non-medical practitioner, there is a screening process. If you are clearly mentally unstable, they will not work on you at all, and they will require you to talk to a psychiatrist first to ensure you understand the implications. (This is a good thing).
I know that there are people working to keep these advanced mods in the hands of this community, and as much as that would be nice, it's simply not responsible unless these folks intend on getting the training required. Extreme mods can carry extreme danger, and now they're going mainstream… The rules are changing, and we must work inside these new conditions if we don't want to see a very unpleasant crackdown.
