The last posting of an Achilles piercing here on Modblog generated a number of whiny complaints about how unviable and dangerous it is from conservative piercers**. Now, my feeling is that in what I hope will always remain a rebel artform — rather than an “industry” — that there’s no space for conservatism (or whining), so with that in mind there’s a Mr. Tetanus interview pending.
Mr. Tetanus, a performance artist, wears a self-made 10mm spike through his ankle, behind the Achilles tendon, and has had it now for about twelve years. In the picture below you can see it now, as well as a photo looking through the hole and showing the displacement of the tendon. He doesn’t take it out much because the hole closes up within about a minute, and begins to reseal itself within half an hour.
He uses the piercing in performances, swinging bowling balls and other weights (another performance artist — “Angel” — has actually hung from meat-hooks worn in this piercing), so it can definitely take quite a bit of abuse without crippling him. That said, he emphasizes that he doesn’t recommend anyone else try this, and notes that even after twelve years it’s never truly healed (that said, it’s not as if tongue piercings ever “truly” heal for many people either) and in theory continues to put him at risk.
Risk, Schmisk!!! Anyway, I’ll post the full interview soon, but I couldn’t resist putting up a teaser and a photo of his remarkable ankle!
** Note: Since there are some serious comprehension issues with this entry getting people even whinier, let me be perfectly clear: I couldn’t care less if a piercer feels that they don’t want to do this, and personally I don’t think this should be offered on the walk-in public. Where I have a problem is if people say that no one should be doing or getting this modification (or other heavy mods). Body modification is where it is today because people informed themselves about the risks and tried new things, often with what seemed like serious dangers at the time — and when that ends, body modification begins to die.
Comments
560 responses to “Unlikely but True: Achilles Piercing”
Couldn’t care less, Mike, couldn’t. And paleblue is really warm and fluffy inside.
Couldn’t care less, Mike, couldn’t. And paleblue is really warm and fluffy inside.
miketheshoe, you failed to come up with a relevant counterpoint to my statements, therefore: I detect fail. Also, I would love to hear a man who quotes GZA on his page attempt to tell me why I’m irritating. I mean, I liked Wu-Tang when I was fourteen, but jesus…
See, Rusty knows what’s up.
miketheshoe, you failed to come up with a relevant counterpoint to my statements, therefore: I detect fail. Also, I would love to hear a man who quotes GZA on his page attempt to tell me why I’m irritating. I mean, I liked Wu-Tang when I was fourteen, but jesus…
See, Rusty knows what’s up.
but everyone knows Wu-Tang Clan aint nuthin to fuck with.
but everyone knows Wu-Tang Clan aint nuthin to fuck with.
Sssshhhh… it will hurt my status if he knows that I really cherish my copy of 36 Chambers. 😉
Sssshhhh… it will hurt my status if he knows that I really cherish my copy of 36 Chambers. 😉
I wasn’t making a point to you, I was just talking in general, hence the on-a-side-note portion of my post.
“I detect fail”. Sad, and wow lets attempt to make fun of someones taste in music. Are we still 14?
I just don’t like your pompous attitude which is amplified by the fact that you’ve figured out how to use Thesaurus.com, and you seen to show up everywhere looking for someone to argue with your great opinions. I was looking for a moderately amusing arguement which I baited you for, but you made it boring from the get go.
I wasn’t going to bother with a personal attack, like musical taste, appearance, or other assumptions of someone based upon their IAM page. But I couldn’t resist, your forehead.
nighty night love
I wasn’t making a point to you, I was just talking in general, hence the on-a-side-note portion of my post.
“I detect fail”. Sad, and wow lets attempt to make fun of someones taste in music. Are we still 14?
I just don’t like your pompous attitude which is amplified by the fact that you’ve figured out how to use Thesaurus.com, and you seen to show up everywhere looking for someone to argue with your great opinions. I was looking for a moderately amusing arguement which I baited you for, but you made it boring from the get go.
I wasn’t going to bother with a personal attack, like musical taste, appearance, or other assumptions of someone based upon their IAM page. But I couldn’t resist, your forehead.
nighty night love
oops typo, *is huge!*
oops typo, *is huge!*
Dear Mike,
Not everyone needs to consult a thesaurus to have such an impressive grasp of the English language as I do. More fail here.
You can’t resist my forehead? I hadn’t heard of that fetish, but if it arouses you, I don’t see the harm in it.
Also, if I’d know you were menstruating, I would have waited a week or two.
Love,
Jonathan
xx
Dear Mike,
Not everyone needs to consult a thesaurus to have such an impressive grasp of the English language as I do. More fail here.
You can’t resist my forehead? I hadn’t heard of that fetish, but if it arouses you, I don’t see the harm in it.
Also, if I’d know you were menstruating, I would have waited a week or two.
Love,
Jonathan
xx
Its shine is alluring, and well you prude whats wrong with period sex.
Its shine is alluring, and well you prude whats wrong with period sex.
and thats more geared towards what I expected out of you, jeez, keep the quality consistant
and thats more geared towards what I expected out of you, jeez, keep the quality consistant
why we gotta be baiting and attacking people? Proper debates and discussions are awesome but lets not let the civility of discussions and debates be thrown away to the waste baskets.
The great thing about the internet and humans is general is the ability to have our own opinions and make those thoughts/opinions public…Sometimes we won’t agree with someone but does that make their opinions/thoughts any less valid?
lets all agree to disagree with the peoples opinions that go against what we think, and vice versa.
why we gotta be baiting and attacking people? Proper debates and discussions are awesome but lets not let the civility of discussions and debates be thrown away to the waste baskets.
The great thing about the internet and humans is general is the ability to have our own opinions and make those thoughts/opinions public…Sometimes we won’t agree with someone but does that make their opinions/thoughts any less valid?
lets all agree to disagree with the peoples opinions that go against what we think, and vice versa.
Oh Warren you know me, I’m just having fun, and I think paleblue is too
Oh Warren you know me, I’m just having fun, and I think paleblue is too
Internets: Serious Fucking Business
Internets: Serious Fucking Business
#199: “For fuck’s sake. Where did I EVER say that people shouldn’t be allowed to do this?”
I am in agreement. No where did I say this shouldn’t be done, or that I dislike extreme mods. Too many people didn’t read my comments correctly.
#199: “For fuck’s sake. Where did I EVER say that people shouldn’t be allowed to do this?”
I am in agreement. No where did I say this shouldn’t be done, or that I dislike extreme mods. Too many people didn’t read my comments correctly.
lol paleblue. Srsly!
lol paleblue. Srsly!
Does anyone know how I can get rid of my body thetans?
Does anyone know how I can get rid of my body thetans?
NIPPLE!!!!
NIPPLE!!!!
we all be no-in i iz ALWAYS sirrrrrius!
to serious usually…personally i think people need to be held accountable for what they say on the internet, just like what they say/do when you’re at work, walking on the streets, in the pubs, in the car, in the malls,etc.
an really I just personally believe bickering on the internet is like trying to watch two retards fuck a door knob…sure its funny and somewhat amusing at first…but then you’re like realizing its two retards trying to fuck a door knob and it really sets in…and you’re left in a state of: “why the fuck am I watching this for?”
we all be no-in i iz ALWAYS sirrrrrius!
to serious usually…personally i think people need to be held accountable for what they say on the internet, just like what they say/do when you’re at work, walking on the streets, in the pubs, in the car, in the malls,etc.
an really I just personally believe bickering on the internet is like trying to watch two retards fuck a door knob…sure its funny and somewhat amusing at first…but then you’re like realizing its two retards trying to fuck a door knob and it really sets in…and you’re left in a state of: “why the fuck am I watching this for?”
ps: Shoe…wanna buy me Quiznos and bring it to me? I’m starvins and hankerin for some Quiznos curse this land of kangaroos and their lack of Quiznos!
There’s a moonshine jug o beer in it for ya 😉
ps: Shoe…wanna buy me Quiznos and bring it to me? I’m starvins and hankerin for some Quiznos curse this land of kangaroos and their lack of Quiznos!
There’s a moonshine jug o beer in it for ya 😉
why not a moonshine jug of well, moonshine! Then you have a deal
why not a moonshine jug of well, moonshine! Then you have a deal
i’m too far away from the outback aussie hillbillies to get the ‘shine…but its literally a 2litre bottle of beer lol
i’m too far away from the outback aussie hillbillies to get the ‘shine…but its literally a 2litre bottle of beer lol
warren – #217 – that was seriously the best way to put it. hahahaha. fucking a door knob…siigh.
warren – #217 – that was seriously the best way to put it. hahahaha. fucking a door knob…siigh.
The first thing that entered my mind aside from “ow fuck!” was the part in kill bill when the bride slices through that guys achilles tendon and drops him instantly. I could only imagine getting into a fight and having someone grab ahold of that and drag you around by it.
The first thing that entered my mind aside from “ow fuck!” was the part in kill bill when the bride slices through that guys achilles tendon and drops him instantly. I could only imagine getting into a fight and having someone grab ahold of that and drag you around by it.
Wow! That looks pretty amazing! Must have been a bitch to pierce though, can’t wait till the interview.
Wow! That looks pretty amazing! Must have been a bitch to pierce though, can’t wait till the interview.
“…personally i think people need to be held accountable for what they say on the internet, just like what they say/do when you’re at work, walking on the streets, in the pubs, in the car, in the malls,etc.”
Big Brother?!
“…personally i think people need to be held accountable for what they say on the internet, just like what they say/do when you’re at work, walking on the streets, in the pubs, in the car, in the malls,etc.”
Big Brother?!
I googled Mr. Tetanus because I didn’t know him before and I find him fascinating and happy to have read on his myspace under one of his pix, for people not to try it. If someone really wanted something that dangerous, I hope that there are the qualified piercers to do it out there without having for someone to DIY. Because if the resources are not there, they will. But I will obviously not blame any professionals for feeling like they would not do something like it. I still like the choice though.
I googled Mr. Tetanus because I didn’t know him before and I find him fascinating and happy to have read on his myspace under one of his pix, for people not to try it. If someone really wanted something that dangerous, I hope that there are the qualified piercers to do it out there without having for someone to DIY. Because if the resources are not there, they will. But I will obviously not blame any professionals for feeling like they would not do something like it. I still like the choice though.