Not into body modifications...

[jay]

A comment on mactavish's LJ jogged a discussion I recently had with geekchick about body modifications, such as piercings, scarification and tattoos. Generally, I find them to be turn-offs... I have damage-assessment-filters that tend to react to the presence of these in another person as impairments, not assertions of indivduality, symbolism or artwork. For example, my subconscious interprets piercings as "impaled splinter , thorn or twig" (like someone that fell into a hedge, say) and hence body damage in the person sporting them.

Just as it interprets tattoos as "large mole or skin disease", from a distance... once I get close enough to someone to see design details, conscious thought takes over and I may admire a pretty design, symbolism or novel placement. But even then, I often find myself averting my gaze from the tattoo in subsequent interactions with that person... rather like trying to not stare at a Gorbachevian forehead splotch.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

A lover of mine, a few years ago, had a clit-hood piercing and I was constantly worried about getting it caught somewhere and hurting her.

Facial piercings aside from ears or side-of-nose often distract me from the person I'm talking to, and oral piercings just make me want not to kiss someone. I don't like metal on lips I'm mashing with.

Tattoos usually don't bother me.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

The possibility of injuring someone via their piercings leads me to avoid touching those places... not just oral, but other areas. For example, I try to avoid much touch of earlobes when rings or studs are inserted...