 former staff member of BME's QOD. |
Legislation
Legislation is a double-edged sword -- a chance to make positive change in the ways that things are run, but also a chance for conservative, micromanaging bureaucrats to meddle with things that they neither appreciate nor understand. In some respects, legislation has positively affected body modification, with enforced standards for health and business practices. It may keep back-alley shops out of business, or make sure that the autoclave at your favorite studio is really getting tools clean. However, it goes both ways. At the same time that legislation is helping one community, there is other legislation being proposed and passed that is outrageous. Bans on specific procedures and school dress code restrictions were two things faced in the US in 2004; while society may be moving toward more open-minded acceptance of modifications, lawmakers are making bigoted decisions about what we can and cannot do with our bodies. Laws do have the power to make positive change -- they're not always the "enemy" -- but they can (and do) wreak havoc.
 mod enthusiast, involved with the Om Summer Solstice Festival. |
Division Within
The elements within the modified community that make us want to eat each other. It seems that the community is bitterly divided over ridiculous issues like what makes a person hardcore enough or how many suspensions you need to do before you're enlightened. We're all in this together, let's not turn on ourselves.
 former leader and webmaster of the Young Modders Alliance. |
Studex
I would have to say that my personal choice for this category would be Studex. Because of the money involved, laws continue to disregard that piercing guns create piercings too. The fact that they go entirely unregulated means that less customers are going to reputable shops.
 former staff member of BME's QOD and current BME columnist, moderator of the BME mailing list, piercer at Cottage 13 in Hamilton. Interviewed on Modified Mind. |
People Trying to be Cool and a Health Inspector
Anybody who refers to their tattoo or piercing as a "mod" or "modification." Keith Alexander said it better than I, but stop trying to be cool. It's not working. I know we have many talented, extremely intelligent and articulate people in this community, and I'd love to see more of them speaking out on our behalf. Also, my health inspector, who has no idea what she's talking about, and isn't interested in learning.
