Ego Piercing...

I was talking to an online friend (though she insists on us being called stranger). And someway, somehow, the conversation came to Body Piercings. Now i know it is my first post in this blog for this year, and an online discussion is not quite the thing to write about. But as usual, this is not about the conversation, it is about the prevalence of piercings every where i see.

Delhi is a happening place. Though the mumbaikars, may contest this idea; and bagloreans would never agree. But the fact remains that Delhi is a happening place when it comes to picking up the fads, and continuing them to such an extent that one would be forced to think that they existed forever.

And today it is about Piercings, and that too body piercings for the time being. The issue that popped in my mind is why do people pierce their body parts? I know nose and ear piercings have had to do with tradition and cultural beliefs. But you can also see a pierced eyebrow, a pierced lower lip, a pierced tongue, a pierced navel. And many other piercings that not everyone can even look at.

I was told that it hurts a lot. And that for a tongue pierce you can not eat solid food for many many days, and it hurts even while talking, then why do people do it?

It may be a sexual fetish, an accessory for lust. The taboo piercings may serve a purpose, anatomical studies will conclude that they can, but that alone can not explain the extent to what people can go for their piercings. I think it is about making a visual statement. Just like rudeness is a weak mans imitation of strength' maybe piercing is a symbol of machismo. Of the body's ability to endure pain. The insignia of the yang.

More than that, i think it is about ego piercing. A vent to let out the ego. A chance to assert the otherwise battered souls.

But it may also be that people are just being blind, and accepting fads for fashion. Everything said and done, piercing must hurt. And perhaps, that is the price to pay for the extended 15 minutes of fame.