Implants & Social Interaction
It’s funny how people react to my implants - I’ve noticed that people are drawn in by my ears, at 40mm they are hard not to notice. The most popular question (yeah you’ve guessed it) did it hurt? Stretching ear lobes is a piece of piss compared to most other mods, it just takes time and patience. Then they notice the implants and the fun begins. . .
The other day, whilst queuing at the post office two teenage girls began talking at me; “wow they are big ears! Did it hurt, must’ve done. My dad has stretched ears. OMG you have implants, do people pick on you, no of course not, they must think you’re the Devil, are you the Devil?” I thought that this was quite funny, especially the bit about being ‘picked on’ - People generally leave me alone due to the fact that I’m 6′ tall and quite broad.
That was by no means a unique experience, it happens quite a bit - people are more interested in telling me all about implants and how they’ve seen it on the T.V. - I don’t mind, it saves me having to do a lot of explaining. Some folks ask if it was painful, I always tell them the truth; “it hurt like a bastard!”
Living in Brighton makes life a lot easier, people tend (I say tend, there are always exceptions) to be more tolerant - I’d hate to be living in my hometown, that was bad enough without the implants. Most of the inhabitants of Bromley were just outright rude*, I purchased this BME T-shirt whilst living there because I got so fed up with their ignorance. (not that it made any difference)
* Typical comments; “Look at that fuckin’ freak!” “Look at that cnuts ears!”
Are you the Devil? That was quite a funny question, I didn’t feel it was the time or place to be engaging in to a dialogue about matters theistic (although the queue was very long, so we could of hammered something out I suppose) - I’m an atheist, so I believe in the Devil about as much as I believe in God; both being man-made concepts. Perhaps the question is just about the bumps; not, am I a representation of all that is evil?
There is always the ‘work’ question; what about work? Yeah I work, why wouldn’t I? I s’pose that answer is a little facile - After all I did have a massive rant many years back about employer discrimination. If you are the best person for the job, it shouldn’t matter what you look like and prejudices are beginning to change, albeit slowly.
The big question always come up; why did you do it? I always answer this one quite glibly, with another question; why not? I don’t feel that my inner motivations are anyones business and I’m certainly not going to justify my actions to a complete stranger. Friends and family (as well as you, if you’ve read enough of my musings) know why I do what I do.
I enjoy interacting with people, whatever their background and if I can shift their perceptions (for the better) of modified people then all well and good.
So if you are considering a highly visible modification, you may want to take all this in to consideration - You will become a spokesperson for all of us, like it or not. So make sure you are the best damn one you can be!
Tags: living with implants