I love that you can see Marco’s tools in the background after his DIY thumb removal… It’s something I’ve always been interested in, but since the surgery on my leg I’ve been wanting to do a minor amputation more and more — my surgery caused some nerve damage so I have no feeling in part of my lower leg, and observing the different ways that my brain interprets it is just fascinating. I guess sometimes one is driven by fetishism, and sometimes by curiosity.
That said, I like having long opposable thumbs, so for me I think I’d go with a finger, probably the ring finger (I think Steve Haworth told me some time ago, when we were implanting the magnets, that if you’re going to mess with a finger, that’s the one to do because it’s the weakest, and even if you lose it completely it does not have a major impact on your ability to use your hand).
Comments
217 responses to “Chhhhhhop!”
JH – Actually, amputation drives of this type fall into that category… Large parts of the medical community agree that while they don’t know what causes people to desire to be amputees, they do know that once those people do it, they become “normal” and the drives to self harm go away, etc. because they have achieved their goal/body image… For a brief period there was a hospital in Scotland doing it to patients, but the politics of it scrubbed the program after a while.
At least they have that release afterwards. I deffinately don’t understand it, but if it’s what they want, then hell, go for it.
I’m really impressed with the cleaniness of the pic, it looks so unreal. and the mental strength to go against what you’ve been taught and what is purely instinctual (that if it hurts, don’t do it! and not to loose parts of your body). amazing transformation i’m sure.
Shannon, you are talking about a minute percentage of the world population. That is what the Nazis did to the jews, what Mengele did in Auschwitz. I doubt many people would do that willingly.
I suspect you are far more learned on this topic, Shannon, but most of the accounts I have read about self-amputees do not include having the urge fade after the removal of the offending limb. The one that sticks out most in my mind (although it was the first such account I ever read, so that’s probably why) invovles a man who removed his left leg, was happy for a time and then began talking about removing all his other limbs. I’ve always wanted to know more about this subjects, though. Educate me, professor Shannon. Are there any good sources for learning about this… er… mindset?
the thing is, House frau, these people ARE doing it willingly. there are no Nazis involved.
Fascinating… perhaps on some level a tad disturbing but still quite interesting.
Well painted lady, I find that very sad.
It has me in awe, though I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m glad for the opportunity to see it, but I would have liked a little more warning :/ It’s funny how images of perfectly nice genitals get the censoring mosaic but bloody stumps are absolutely fine. Not blaming you, Shannon, just western culture.
i don’t understand it at all. but heck, to each his own. i’m not going to say, “he must have had balls” because clearly it was something he wanted as opposed to had to convince himself to do.
is it wrong that i sort of want to see the little piece he cut off?
I’m just trying to figure out what’s what. Can’t tell the bone from the fat from the miscellaneous tissue.
Malice Alice – Oh, absolutely there are people for whom the fetish is amputation, not the final body image. I doubt they would make it through the psyche screening required by doctors….
I’ve read both counts about voluntary amputation, the ones where it actually helped the person mentally and emotionally into doing what they wanted to, and the ones where it wasn’t enough and they had to keep going (never read it go to all limbs though). But so far (and I might just be mistaken) I have never read to this day people who regretted it since they have been thinking of the procedure for most of them, even since childhood. I personally do understand the attraction to amputation and I couldn’t explain why either.
Whats he gonna do with the thumb? He should make a key chain out of it.
1. The world is not over populated.
2. I wouldn’t do it to myself, but I certainly don’t think it’s wrong.
3. I’d like to learn more about fetishist doctors.
4. House Frau is sad. Who cares?
hahahaha, I couldnt agree with you more about your 4 points. No, it isnt wrong, I would also like to know more, and no, I really cant say I care.
Hysterectomies without anesthesia? Is there a URL, ‘cos that’s… yeah.
For amputation, if you google around “wannabes” “devotees” you’ll find some links.
Not that I would ever do it, nor do I find it particularly cool, but I guess it takes all kinds.
How did this guy get that to heal, anyway? Cauterize it, or what?
Way to bring the fucking Nazis into it. Isn’t that the best sign that an argument has gone to the point where nobody’s going to learn anything?
I know two people personally who have amputated/had amputated a part of their bodies. They are intelligent, well-adjusted people, and they are not constantly hankering for their next amputation “fix.” Though I’m sure that happens (considering humans will fetishize anything), it’s really fucking unfair to lump all voluntary amputees together like that.
Hmmh, that said, I was really mesmerized by this picture. What certainty it takes to actually put a chisel on a joint and go for it. As mentioned above, I’d love to read a personal account every time I see a picture or video like this; the motivations are fascinating.
Personally I wouldnt of done anything like this, though I say personally, I know its all perspective. I must say Im not on either the side of the critics of this, who banter on about how wrong it is, nor am I on the side that says you should do what makes you happy. Many serial killers do it because its an inner drive, the simple reason that people thing differently doesn’t support anything to be practiced in support of diversity. This is only self harm, and so is something that in the end is the choice of the person receiving it, Im just saying, dont write people off one way or another. If anyone would like to discuss this, just email me at [email protected]
i really wish i could come on to modblog at least once and not have abunch of ignorant comments left on things they easily could have just skipped over
can people no learn…..if you dont like it dont look at it, if you think its gross ok fine thats your opinion, you dont have to come and vomit your hate speech and closeminded comments on a community you obviously dont enjoy
Ooooh I just noticed that this person seems to have maybe plastic (?) holding around the thumb which is very smart to make a neater/cleaner cut with minimizing the tissues moving around during the cutting… it’d be nice to read an interview with this person.
akibare – There’s at least one experience on BME and it includes photos if I recall correctly.
i find it odd that someone who is willing to take part in the vouyeristic pleasures of this community would be so quick to judge. its just odd to me that some people can be so hard against something they know very little about, and have only their personal aesthetics to blame. but oh well…onto the correct subject.
i love this picture. its just great. and the mod is interesting. im curious to see answers to some of these questions.
shannon, new interview?
I’m still looking at the cross section trying to work out which bit’s which. I assume that’s a chisel in the background that he used to slice through? Wow, I wish I could keep my tools that sharp…
Incidentally, the set-up & sharp tools and so-on sort of make me think “DIY enthusiast”… hah, OK, that was unintentional but it’s staying in the edit. Anyway, they make me wonder if he has carpentry-type hobbies. I’d really miss a thumb for practical tasks, same as a typist would miss… well, any finger, I assume!
So, yeah, I understand why someone would want to – I just wonder what walk of life the guy’s going to be treading without a thumb, just to get a better image of how not having it impacts on his day to day life. Losing a thumb isn’t a big deal, that’s just the fall – the “landing” is the abilities it may cost you, and once he’s through the initial pain, that’s the sacrifice I find more fascinating.
Ring fingers have all the strength, man!
Check out Squirt101: the “spiderman” technique make the girlies cum quickest. And THAT is a beautiful thing.
You’ve been going too easy on us, Shannon…
I was actually expecting a slow day. \m/
Or would that be \n./ ?
wot with the amputation and all..
I clicked on my ModBlog bookmark just now thinking, “I probably shouldn’t be looking here while I’m eating tomato based sauce.”
Well, I was right.
This is disgusting. Why would you intentionally limit your ability to hold objects/use you hands?!
That’s it, people — I am not reading this website again, this is too much, it’s glorifying mental illness.
i really don’t see the difference between an amputation and a piercing or tattoo. if it improves your appearance IN YOUR EYES then its none of my damn business to say you are wrong.
When I read the thing about Nazis, I laughed. Why does it always end up dissolving to Nazis?
A long time ago, I heard about voluntary amputation, and I couldn´t believe it happens! Then I´ve read about a case, and thought it was extremely rare.
Thanks to BME now I know that it happens much more often than I could thought.
I don´t think he likes to play videogames… And I become amazed to imagine for how long people who amputates wonder how life will be after amputation, to be sure that´s what it wants.
[If someone find the BME post about the fettishist doctors, please, put it here!!!]
Great picture!
I’m repeating others, but I love how cleanly it is cut! and I’m also supporting Lore’s suggestion of an interview, I’d love to know more about the whole process!
heh, house frau and spacelab made me laugh. Isn’t it ironic that such close-minded people frequent BMEzine? yeah, it might change its way of life a little bit. yeah, it’s kinda weird. so what? circumsision is amputation of a body part on the place that counts the most for a man. and there are still more people than I can count getting circumsised voluntarily.
kinda makes you wanna dig a spoon in there. if only they made spoons that small.
Sugar spoons are that small, I believe. 🙂
Wow, this is one of those very few entries that bother me. Still though, it’s awesome!
This will seriously impair his ability to play video games.
yeah it’s settled, i’m mesmerized by the difference in tissue within the thumb.
B Squared, He could always just get a Wii. No thumbs required!
is it wrong that i sort of want to see the little piece he cut off?
Posted by painted lady on March 6th, 2007 at 1:14 am
i giggled when i read that, cause i couldn’t agree more.
oh yes, this is soo cool! How fucking deluded and sick do you have to be to applaud this behavior instead of helping these people to get some serious psychiatric attention? Good job, encouraging the mentally ill, Shannon!
holy crap, people. this person did not whack off their thumbtip with an ax or something. they obviously know what they are doing, otherwise they would be at the hospital, getting yelled at by people like you.
Video (different person, from the BME movie, which is in perpetual production it seems, so please don’t ask when it’s coming out)
I love when people brand these types of modifications as being “sick” and saying that the person who does this stuff needs “psychiatric help.” More fucking power to them.
I agree with what #27/Squibbles said – for some reason, I just didn’t expect the inside of one’s thumb to look like that, haha!
90/Luxuria – Trust me, right or wrong, you’re barking at deaf ears because I not only believe in the ABSOLUTE right to ones own body, but I also believe that doing these things is much more often a positive than a negative act in terms of the entirety of its consequences.
This is one mod that I simply do not understand. Can somebody please explain to me the reasoning behind it? Assuming that he did think it out fully, I’m really curious to hear what those reasons are.
All I thought was ‘That would make guitar playing difficult’.. I have a one track mind.
I dig the idea of amputating a digit or two but I need pretty much all my fingers for guitar. Hmm.. maybe my right pinky could go.
Well I think that what people do to themselves is their personal business and honestly you can’t claim a person is mentally ill because what they are doing is not considered norm in society.
way cool anyone know what he is going to do with the part of the thumb he took off.
I don’t understand why people come here to see body mods and then bitch about them. Hi! This is ModBlog. This is not Bath & Body Works. What do you expect to see here? BODY MODS!
Eesh.
Anyhow, f the haters, that is a beautiful mod. What an amazing DIY job. I’ve seen less clean surgical sites. Very well done. I am impressed and very jealous as I would so love to remove the tip of my wedding ring finger as I never wear my wedding ring, due to my job/employment being rough on precious metals/diamonds. My husband may not agree with my wishes, but even he doesn’t bring Nazi’s into the picture.
Grow up or leave. Geesh.