people slicing themselves

Hey, all. New here. Maybe I'm an old fart, but even when young I didn't get self cutting (or whatever it's called). I see pics of people in their profiles showing their cuts. Is this a recreational thing? Drugged out thing? Or a depressive thing? Just didn't know it was that common....are people doing it because they're into it or because they can't stop themselves but wish they could? I guess that's my real question. Thanks.

tattoos and body piercing got passe'

the truly cool amputate.

you can go to mexico and get unlicensed surgeons to do amputations.
there's a medica term for it. like when you feel that you're not yourself until a limb is removed.

i cant wait till were all at the william gibson level of body mods. fuck cutting! graft a prehensile tail on my ass! old folks today bitch about tattoos and piercings. my kids gonna come home with crab pinchers grafted to his wrists.
"crab pinchers!? how are you gonna get a job now? you cant even hold a pencil!"
depression cutting will seem like a nice dream.

self-mutilation group

I know that the few times I've done it were because of frustration caused by a variety of things, but in each case it seemed like pain was the only way to find any immediate release. Lord knows it's not the best way to go.

[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by chuck]

I hate responding with just this, but... HAHAHAHA that's the funniest shit I've read in a while!

I assume you are referring to those that are called 'cutters' and not scarification...It is a psychological coping mechinism...the pain helps these people to get past the things that deeply upset them and acts to shift their focus somewhat to something other than what troubles them...it is similar to the satisfaction a bad alcoholic gets by taking another drink to 'take the edge off'

Wait a minute, isn't this the same guy who started the thread looking for women who want to have sex with a gay guy? He is off to a very auspicious beginning indeed.

the tecnical term for it is Body Integrity Identity Disorder

A former girlfriend's sister regularly "cut" herself; when I tried to get my ex to tell her sister to stop or seek help, she merely shrugged it off-very, very sad and lamentable that I did not do more to help.

Pound of Flesh! A Pound of Flesh!

Kinda sexy?

I used to do it. It feels good if you do it right.

You have two types of cutters:

Type A generally cut to relieve stress and depression. Often they don't want anyone to know about their habits, so they tend to keep it to themselves.

Type B is the kind of kid that cuts and shows them off because he's sooo "hardcore" and "dark." Gotta get attention from somewhere, eh?

Body Integrity Identity Disorder is the proper name for it.

Hey now - you also have Type C, who do it for artistic (as well as psychological, spiritual, or other) reasons. See, there's a whole group. Examples that come instantly to mind are Roxy's leg and Fergs' back, both quite artistic and lovely.

I've known too many people that cut

I used to do it because I was severely depressed, and no one found out for years. When some 'friends' finally figured it out, they were more than happy to tell everyone and anyone else, because 'they were a friend of a cutter', and being a friend to someone so needy (and they figured showering me with constant attention would 'help') was awesome. Of course they didn't actually help me, just enjoyed trying to get the spotlight while I withered away even more because of it.

I'm better now though and I'm glad it never went too deep, otherwise my chest/stomach and wrists and thighs would look terrible. The only really visible scars I have are actual accidental things which are hilarious to think about now because I'm a doofy klutz.

I'm glad I went through that phase and did that to myself though, otherwise I never would have learned everything I know now, and those things are shaping me into a pretty awesome person.

I didn't put that under the category of cutting because usually cutting doesn't involve any artistic expression. Just random slices. But if done right, scarification can be pretty nifty

it's different for everyone i think...my arm is severely scarred from it and it's not a thing i plan on doing ever again because i am reminded every day of how shitty that part of my life was. i also strongly believe that cutting is often a trigger behavior, if someone else is doing it then you might also be inclined to. Anyway I think cutting yourself to release emotions is fucking stupid, but scarrification is a form of tattooing in my opinion.

I meant this in regard to amputation. Overly simplified, it's the feeling that part of you doesn't belong.

I dated one girl who considered knife play erotic. Being cut turned her on.