Just Say No to Forked Tongues

August 24, 2007 10:39 AM

Top 10 Physically Modified People-- A list of those who have gone to extreme lengths to modify their body for decorative purposes. Let the squeamish beware (especially the videos embedded in the page).
posted by fallenposters (68 comments total)

I have a friend who's pretty big into the whole BME thing, he's got piercings, implants, split tongue, all sorts of stuff. But these people make him look positively vanilla! Crazy stuff.
posted by scalefree at 10:58 AM on August 24, 2007

And where are The Enigma and Katzen?
posted by ColdChef at 11:00 AM on August 24, 2007

Awww, Stalking Cat. Glad he made number one with his nice new tiger tail.

I remember reading something years ago about someone wanting to get their tongue forked and having such problem finding a doctor who would do it. And that the first time it was done, the tongue automatically grew back together in time so it had to be repeatedly separated.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:01 AM on August 24, 2007

The guy that pierced my nose had his tongue split and he could move the sides independently.
I will hazard a guess that tongue-splitting is popular for more than one reason.
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 11:01 AM on August 24, 2007

I haven't read the links yet, but just reading this phrase:

And that the first time it was done, the tongue automatically grew back together in time so it had to be repeatedly separated.

is more than enough for me, thankyewverymuch.
posted by jason's_planet at 11:06 AM on August 24, 2007

I wish I hadn't seen that.
posted by caddis at 11:06 AM on August 24, 2007

GET IN THE CAR!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:07 AM on August 24, 2007 [7 favorites]

Was anyone else expecting more of a Pamela Anderson/ Michael Jackson angle?
posted by small_ruminant at 11:07 AM on August 24, 2007

Stalking cat is watching you...
posted by triggerfinger at 11:10 AM on August 24, 2007

[Stalking Cat] says he’s been going through these procedures for the past 20 years because he grew up in a native american tribe and his belief in their customs drove him to transform into his totem animal - the tiger.

Well, two things: 1)What tribe in the Americas had a tiger, an Asian animal, as its "totem"? 2)Doesn't he know that indigenous people claimed to be actually able to shapeshift to and from animal forms using only their magic?

Besides the obvious shock value, these people seem to have not much going on inside. Boring, really.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:12 AM on August 24, 2007

1)What tribe in the Americas had a tiger, an Asian animal, as its "totem"?

Native American Tribes and their totems:

"Mississippi Algonkin Tribes | Pueblo Tribes | Seminoles - Wind, tiger or panther, otter, bird, deer, wolf, snake, alligator."

posted by ericb at 11:20 AM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Man, deputy dog has gotten pretty solid lately.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:21 AM on August 24, 2007

A Seminole Legend: The Life of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper.
posted by ericb at 11:21 AM on August 24, 2007

What? no nullos? (NSFW, or anyone who like their penis)
posted by TedW at 11:21 AM on August 24, 2007

ericb: FYI there's one entry there for Seminoles...the Seminole tribe is largely an 18th century innovation, not so much an indigenous Native American enterprise.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:23 AM on August 24, 2007

"The Seminole word kotza (panther) is translated either as lion or as tiger..."^*
posted by ericb at 11:24 AM on August 24, 2007

Seems to be a lot of hate in the comments on the blog for these people. I don't have any tattoos or piercings or any particular inherent respect for those who do, but it seems like a pretty harmless hobby. Would I prefer that these people devote all this time and energy and money to curing cancer? Sure. But it doesn't seem any worse of a hobby than model railroading. Some of the comments on the blog reminded me of the friend I had in high school that was obsessed with the idea that I should cut my hair, because having long hair was just wrong.

I grew up in a small town in the South, I am not 80.
posted by ND¢ at 11:34 AM on August 24, 2007

By not clicking on any link in this FPP or in the comments, I have qualitatively improved my day.

Next, I'm going to not click on the OMG-I-found-porn-on-my-BFs-computer links and my day will just get that much better.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:41 AM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

WHEN YOU SEE IT, YOU'LL SHIT BRICKS
posted by Dr-Baa at 11:47 AM on August 24, 2007 [6 favorites]

I'm really impressed that I can't watch that tongue video. I thought I was hardcore.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:00 PM on August 24, 2007

I sometimes forget how many earlobe piercings I have (for the record, 5 in each ear). I can't imagine how some of these folks keep track of all the foreign objects in their body.

"1, 2, 3 ... 12, 13, 14.... Hmm, weird, I thought I had 15 anal piercings, not 14. Oh well."
posted by lychee at 12:15 PM on August 24, 2007

The tiger guy is just sad. He reminds me of the "otherkin" people.

...what kind of life would make you so desperate to be something else? Looking at him is like standing at the edge of the edge of madness, watching someone else hang on with their fingernails, losing their grip one snapped nail at a time.
posted by aramaic at 12:33 PM on August 24, 2007

Etienne Dumont is the real standout here for me. Those tattoos are just gorgeous — amazingly rich color, and a really classy, well-put-together design. I'm always especially impressed when I see good designs on facial tattoos. Too many of the people who get them seem to just be looking to prove that they're hardasses — c.f. #8, #5, etc....

(On the other end of the spectrum, those stretched nostril piercings upset me more than I've been upset by a body mod in years. Looking at the surface of someones's septum just seems wrong. I guess this must be how other people feel about genital piercing.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:34 PM on August 24, 2007

Oh, and on post-view, that tiger guy makes me really fucking happy.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:38 PM on August 24, 2007

I think #5's facial tattoos are pretty traditional, actually.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:43 PM on August 24, 2007

Well, it ain't for me but it seems like the very definition of personal freedom. I mean, is this all that different than using a laser to modify your eyes for better vision, or wire to bind and move your teeth for a prettier smile? More extreme, sure, but it's part of the same continuum.
posted by mosk at 12:58 PM on August 24, 2007

It's great that there are people finally thinking beyond the merely human. It sucks that the only methods of working toward that goal are so crude and ridiculous. These people are hacking the human body (snark away, Lore), but it's worth noting that hacking comes from the German for "someone who makes furniture with an axe." I hope I live to see some real posthuman advances, but I'm saddened by the doubt that I'll ever see it treated as anything but a sideshow.
posted by darksasami at 12:59 PM on August 24, 2007

What, no mention of Jocelyn Wildenstein?

I'm disappointed.
posted by mephron at 1:25 PM on August 24, 2007

That shit is fucking fucked up.
posted by sneakin at 1:33 PM on August 24, 2007

I think #5's facial tattoos are pretty traditional, actually.

True. But the overall effect in that picture — not just of the tats but of his piercings, the look on his face, etc — is still "don't fuck with me." And in the places I've lived, at least, that's the effect that most folks with facial tattoos seem to be going for. There's nothing wrong with it, I guess, but it's not my style.

Dumont's, on the other hand, are positively playful looking, and I don't think I've ever seen such an extensive facial tattoo in that style. That's what I was trying to get at.
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:36 PM on August 24, 2007

His glasses, oddly enough, are what sealed the deal on his style (for me).
posted by aramaic at 1:39 PM on August 24, 2007

Are the people who have amputated their genitals still required to wear swimsuits at the beach?
posted by fandango_matt at 1:54 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I like to think of Etienne Dumont's glasses as his superhero disguise. Like, when he has them on, he looks totally normal but then he takes them off in a phone booth and OMG ITS TATTOO MAN! Dah dadah DAAAA!
posted by Riki tiki at 2:01 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

It is OK to read the comments without opening the FPP.

It is OK to read the comments without opening the FPP.

It is......
posted by notreally at 2:11 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Dumont's, on the other hand, are positively playful looking

In fact, that's precisely his intention, as he explains (and contrasts with the overearnest in most american bodmod) in this interview.

Ambrosia V: that tongue video? I had to look away too.
posted by progosk at 2:12 PM on August 24, 2007

I'd like to see some detailed pictures of Julia Gnuse (aka the illustrated lady), I suppose if I had a condition that caused my skin to blister regularly, I would consider tattoos as well.

Some states have outlawed tongue splitting, and now only outlaws have split tongues.
posted by Sailormom at 2:26 PM on August 24, 2007

The link appears to be metafiltered. Thank goodness.
posted by craniac at 2:51 PM on August 24, 2007

So, what do these people have other than tats 'n mods?
posted by Burhanistan at 2:52 PM on August 24, 2007

BEEEEEEEP!

...Sir, step out of the line please...
posted by Smedleyman at 2:57 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Stalking Cat visited my church a while ago; not to speak, just as a plain ol' visitor. (I'd guess that the average age of a church member, to give some context, is at least 50. It's all very Pete Seeger.) A guest minister later talked about the way he was welcomed just like any other visitor -- with a name tag and an invitation to stay for coffee -- as an example of what makes our church pretty dang cool.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:20 PM on August 24, 2007

mephron: What, no mention of Jocelyn Wildenstein?

I'm disappointed.

Well, the writer specifically references the #1 entry, "Stalking Cat"/tiger dude as looking like a cross between Jocelyn Wildenstein and the beast.
posted by hincandenza at 3:23 PM on August 24, 2007

Harry "the Guy With the Snake on His Face" is no Rick Genest, but he did have a lot of connections.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:24 PM on August 24, 2007

Wow great post, but methinks these folk lack commitment when compared to this
posted by HappyHippo at 3:31 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm just wondering what it's like to have a cold when you have giant holes in the sides of your nose.
posted by penguinliz at 3:52 PM on August 24, 2007

lightweights.
[NOT SAFE FOR ANYWHERE - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED]
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:52 PM on August 24, 2007

(and I fully disclaim: vronsky is to blame)
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:55 PM on August 24, 2007

lightweights.
[NOT SAFE FOR ANYWHERE - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED]

God damn people are weird.
posted by Mr_Zero at 4:01 PM on August 24, 2007

And where are The Enigma and Katzen?

When I worked with The Enigma on the sideshow, his two tattoo "themes" were being covered in puzzle pieces and becoming blue. Thus all sorts of double entendre one liners came into play. My favorite was "Did the tattooist make your brown eye blue?"
posted by Tube at 4:34 PM on August 24, 2007

I'd hate to be around that Unstoppable dude if he sneezed. I'm just saying. Also those larger guage eyelet lobe piercings look cool (the non-hockeypuck sized ones) when they're in, but when they're out, they look..nasty.
posted by jonmc at 5:11 PM on August 24, 2007

Shocknife!
No, wait, I mean - Splitcock!
(obviously NSFW)
posted by Smedleyman at 6:54 PM on August 24, 2007

(No seriously, it's really pretty bad)
posted by Smedleyman at 6:56 PM on August 24, 2007

Here are some fancier "body mods" the treatment of which would cost many times less than the money our ten "enthusiasts" here have paid out to their modifiers.

I'm all for people doing what they want with their bodies, but anyone whose satisfaction could be met by giving money to help modify other people's bodies back toward the way they'd like them to be has quite a lot more of my respect. I mean, all of it.
posted by gum at 7:09 PM on August 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Stalking Cat's Livejournal. Apparently, the guy is unemployed and soon to be homeless.
posted by MegoSteve at 7:23 PM on August 24, 2007

these people seem to have not much going on inside. Boring, really.

Personally, I didn't find quite enough evidence to judge what's going on inside many of them.
posted by the other side at 8:05 PM on August 24, 2007

Stalking Cat's Livejournal. Apparently, the guy is unemployed and soon to be homeless.

I'd like to read his resume.

"Here under the Skills section, you've simply written 'Be a cat.' Can you give a bit more detail?"

"Rawr."
posted by ColdChef at 8:33 PM on August 24, 2007 [6 favorites]

There are several links in these comments that I am not clicking on. Ever.
posted by lazaruslong at 9:06 PM on August 24, 2007

People are dumb.
posted by blacklite at 2:43 AM on August 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Holy christ... I can't believe no-one picked this out of the comments. Identical twins who have started swapping body parts...
posted by twine42 at 3:27 AM on August 25, 2007

twine: It was a joke.
posted by blacklite at 3:41 AM on August 25, 2007

It's amazing that Stalking Cat invested so much money and pain into altering his face but never saw the need to do a few sit ups. Fearsome kings of the jungle usually don't have udders bigger than Dolly Parton's, s'all I'm saying.

I have a lot of respect for body modification, in theory. Huzzah for turning your flesh into a representation of your inner world. It's too bad most of the bodymod community member's inner worlds look more like Iron Maiden album covers than something beautiful and regal.

Give me more Etienne Dumonts and less skullfaced cretins please. I'm sure that seemed really fukkin wikkid when you first thought of it, ten years old and blasting the Misfits full volume on your boom box while hammering frogs to death in the backyard, but actually going through with it? I hope that 15 minutes on the front of BMEs blog was worth it. You're so 138, dude.
posted by bunnytricks at 6:49 AM on August 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was actually on the #80 bus with the skull-faced guy this spring, in Montreal. The hilarious thing is is there was some drunk punk asshole who kept trying to sell everyone hash who had apparently decided that skull-face was his spiritual brother. He sat down with him and kept talking to him, and it was hilariously clear that skull-face just wanted to ride the bus in peace.
posted by 235w103 at 7:13 AM on August 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Okay, so I was caught, but still... it was a hell of a read...
posted by twine42 at 9:50 AM on August 25, 2007

split his own tongue using dental floss

I have to go cry, now.
posted by dirigibleman at 11:35 AM on August 25, 2007

That second photo in the article of Pauly Unstoppable (the one with the sort of bug-eye glasses) is a more recent one; I believe he's allowed his nasal stretchings to shrink down a bit. If that helps the squeamish amongst you. :)

If you don't mind looking at people getting their eyeballs tattooed, Pauly took part in an experimental procedure where blue ink was injected into his eye...did this along with Shannon Larratt and another friend named Josh. Check it here.

I'm a frequent ModBlog reader, even though the extent of my body mods is a tattoo and eleven ear piercings. I think it's neat that folks have such specific visions of how their bodies should look and they go for it.
posted by angeline at 12:19 PM on August 25, 2007

There was a guy posting on here a few months ago who had gotten an eye tattoo, forgot his name though. I remember him because he got mad at me after I had said that eye tattooing just wasn't my bag. Thing he didn't realize was that I was actually trying to really hard be polite when I said it wasn't my bag, though. See, what I really wanted to say was... "GAAAAHHHH!!!! TATTOOING EYEBALLS??? GAAAAHHHHH!!!!" and put my hands over my tightly shut eyes.

Honestly, I can't even wear contact lenses or get a glaucoma test without freaking out.
posted by miss lynnster at 4:47 PM on August 25, 2007

You know, often the technician forgets to take the super sharp, barb tipped cleaning rod out of the glaucoma tester. Happens all the time. It's a like a tiny blowgun--"TSSSCHHK!!" right in the cornea. Try not to think about that next time you're in for your yearly eye exam.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:13 PM on August 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

With the obligatory high pitched screaming, of course.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:15 PM on August 25, 2007

Do you think that the leopardman goes to bed worrying that it will only take one weirdo and he won't even make the top 10 any more?
posted by biffa at 5:17 AM on August 26, 2007