I’ve just posted another in my series of interviews on lip plates, a modification which I find absolutely fascinating because of how far it pushes facial aesthetics past our cultural norms. This time I talked to G.C. from the UK and Duff from Russia (both her and her husband have lip plates) for some additional viewpoints to the ones raised by Toph in the previous interview on the subject.
Click through to read the interview and then come on back here to comment!
Comments
152 responses to “Interview with GC and Duff Posted”
“No, I’m saying that that people should have some fundamental level of respect and support for each other…”
“As far as I’m concerned, when GC has very clearly discussed the “life restrictive” issues, then you bringing it up is whining.”
saying that people are whining seems incredibly disrespectful to me. is it just me or has shannon changed a whole lot ever since the whole being banned from iam, etc.
has anyone stopped to think that the age thing might be cultural? she’s also married, so obviously has decided on a way of life.
i also remember when i was 16, i knew what i wanted in life, and my thoughts on mods haven’t changed. i started stretching my lobes when i was 13. needless to say i also did a bunch of other risky self-piercings and even a prison-style tattoo, but i don’t regret any of it! they’re part of me.
duff mentioned that she is getting them done professionally (at least the eyebrow, but i’ll assume she still is) which is much better than i can say for almost ANY of the younger kids i know.
and for those of you flaming shannon, i don’t believe i’ve ever read an article that i felt didn’t address the possible downsides of more drastic modifications, and i don’t think the articles are prejudiced. i feel they’ve been greatly informative on things that people like me wouldn’t ever learn about since they’re not commonplace where i am. i’ve always wondered how eating/drinking and whatnot works with a lip plate.
paleblue-
the issue isn’t your opinion, it’s the fact that you are so constantly and blatantly disrespectful. you try to target and insult whomever you’re arguing with (in this case shannon) with these immature little “stay classy” and “fuck you” comments. once again, you are NOT just voicing an opinion. your first comment, that was fine. but whenever someone challenges you because they disagree, you spin out of control in this pathetic little attempt to make yourself seem bigger. just stop. it’s really, really annoying. discuss like an adult or leave. (now, bring on all the “fuck you”s and whatever else you need to call me to make yourself feel good.)
Now for the reason I really came to comment: I loved the article. Really insightful and interesting for those of us with not so extreme mods. I feel like I have the same attitude (and many other people do as well) toward modification, but I wonder what creates “the line” in different places for different people?
Why all of you swear? It in fact is wrong.
Yes, me of 16 years, and anything terrible in it is not present, development of people is defined not by quantity of the lived days, and on reason
Its amazing to see how even the body modification
community has issues concerning lip plates? isnt
self expression the reason BME was created? im sure
as time goes on lip plates will lose their shock
value such as ear plugs and nose rings did.
GC and Duff are just stretching the horizon even
further for others to follow.Who is to say whats to
big or to extreme` for we all have our own conception
of Beauty” so Beauty can not be the same to everyone.
As a artist i find Lip Plates Beautiful): and im very
happy to see Shannon bringing light to lip plates in
greater depth on BME.
I find it a bit odd that some people thought that Duff was cool and all that, until they found out that she was only 16. And then suddenly, her life choices and actions are labeled as stupid and irresponsible… I have to agree, that yes, most people aren’t their maturest at 16, but there are exceptions. And age or even experience doens’t always bring wisdom, because there are plenty of stupid adults out there who make bad choices.
But in her case, I have to say I’m a bit worried that she’s studying, but not liking it, and not really thinking about her future (employment).
I liked the interview though.
brandenlouis – I’ve always had a problem with people who attack or want to see restriction in the rights of others to express themselves. To suggest that this is something new is shortsighted, and to suggest that this is something “disrespectful” is ridiculous. It’s like getting angry at blacks who speak out against racism.
* * *
It’s been my experience that people who push their lives to extremes rarely regret it. The people who regret it are those that “dabble in it” — play with the aesthetic, but don’t really want to live the life. There’s nothing wrong with that, if it weren’t for the fact that they all too often then feel the need to go after those who are actually happy in their decisions.
If there’s a common thread in the personalities of the people I’ve interviewed on these subjects it’s that they’re by and large happy and love-filled people, independent and self-defined, and not those that need our pity or protection. I wish that our victim-obsessed society could wrap their head around the reality that people can be happy living very different lives, and I wish that THIS subculture could learn to support itself a bit more.
fireship – It’s nice to see that you’ve been following me and what I’ve been saying. However, you should note that I very rarely use the kind of “immature comments” that you mention, unless I’m just amusing myself. I’m not sure how you equate “disagreeing with someone and telling them so” with “spinning out of control” etc. If you can’t handle a heated debate, I’d suggest that it’s you who should leave, not me.
Ok, my opinion, if it’s worth much.
I’m really not convinced with lip plates, lip stretching or nostril stretching. I just don’t like how they look at all to be honest.
I happen to think Duff was far more attractive WITHOUT the lip plate, she had such a pretty smile. I hope when she is older she doesn’t regret making such a huge change to her appearance. Fuck, when I was 15 I got a shitty tattoo done which I thought was great at the time, years later I had it covered. You change so much the older you get!
I’ve watched people with lip plates eating on video clips and it just looks horrible when they take the plates out and start drooling food and saliva down themselves. Surely, the novelty of making these ‘funny’ clips for people to see will wear off?
I understand it’s their choices, but I wonder how many have actually thought these choices through properly, and how it will effect their lives in the future.
Bob – Sorry missed your comment on my post — Well, to give an example of another poster who often is quite critical of the way I have presented material: Giles. Giles, however, I think is intelligent and thoughtful in his debates, and respectful of the people involved and the validity of their lifestyles, and I enjoy his comments and criticism even when I disagree.
it takes a lot to actually decide on going through with a lip plate. a stretched labret is one thing, but when it starts flopping down then i consider it a plate and didnt consider mine one till id did that, i dont regret anything, and i dont think they do either. honestly you can make all the negatie comments to them you want, its not gonna stop any of us from doing it 🙂
Cool Interview…both there lips plates look amazing & very healthy.I agree with G.C. fishing is very grounding & peaceful & one of my favorite things to do as well.I think this interview definetly shows people who are modified are not just into one thing,I hate that misconception about myself.People think just because you have alot of tattoos or piercings that thats your main focus &all your friends do as well, but thats not the case with me either.Anyways jsut wanted to make that point & also who cares what Duffs age is I’ve said this before & I will say it again… in many ways starting at a yong age will help them rather than hinder them.I’m saying this because the mind transforms with the body & if you begin modifying at a young age you can learn quicker how to deal & adapt with a society who disagrees or doesnt accept you for the life path you choose.I do honestly believe a postive attitude can carry you further than anything.Thanks for the interview!
Actually shannon, the community isnt attacking itself from within, its attacking YOU.
You should let this comment through, or I’ll tell everyone how you were completely fine with todd bertrang using the old BME chat system to lure children to his house to be genitally mutilated.
The fact is, Shannon, your support of this sort of thing borders on the criminal, and you’re such a self-important fuck that you have not one consideration for the people who’s lives you’ve absolutely ruined–and continue to ruin.
Just as I said to you in your hotel room, just up the street from the Carnegie deli (despite your claims that we’ve hardly ever talked and that you hardly know me), you are a GOD to a lot of these poor motherfuckers, and they’ll do anything that they think you approve of–specifically because they’re *children*.
You have a grave responsibility that you’ve been shirking for years, that will, make no mistake, eventually come back around and bite you in the ass.
Hard.
Another rad interview, keep em coming! 🙂
also I loooove the look of Duff’s plate, the oval sort of shape really suits her, looks fantastic…. I like that it allows some amount of “natural” shape of her lips to be retained even though it’s still huge! Very cool.
Its nice to see chicks with large labrets, you don’t see that often (outside of tribal women).
As for the age thing, 16 is pretty damn young to be modifying yourself in such a way not just because of maturity level, but also because of the challenges ahead of her that she may not fully understand. However, seeing as I do not know her personally I can’t really judge. I hope that she continues to love her large labret and that stretching it at such a young age doesn’t prove to be a mistake.
Donna: I’d like to think that most people who actually take on stretching their lip, certainly to the point of it being a lip plate have definitely thought about how it will change not only the way they look, but how they are treated and perceived by the rest of the world. Its cool for you to not find them aesthetically pleasing, everyone has their own view of beauty. I hate beards, but plenty of chicks totally love them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder my dear.
I don’t know how you guys can get so heated over an interview being posted. The whole point of publishing an interview is to spread the word about a person’s thoughts. If you disagree with something Duff says, why is it shannon’s fault?
also it was very excellent to read an interview with a lady, I gotta say.
Just chiming in with the few who seem to be maintaining an intelligent and considerate perspective here: being young does not make you mentally retarded or under-developed, or incapable of rational thinking. That is SUCH a common misconception in this community. People simply cannot speak for others, just because you may have been stupid at 16… that doesn’t translate to every 16 year old on the planet. How arrogant would you have to be? And for those who would argue that there is ‘science’ to prove this – just think about where that information came from. Read up on neuroplasticity/mental force and realise that we really don’t know enough about the brain to go making any statements like that atm. Furthermore, perhaps it might be nice to save the ‘I told you so’s until people regret their decisions. It’s not just this girl, recently people have felt like they have the right to adjudicate and dictate what is right or wrong for people that they have never even met. Opinion, yay. Blatant insults, nay.
It’s really sad from a community that should by definition be predisposed to thinking freely. There is a distinct difference between giving an issue attention and endorsing it indiscriminately. To borrow a F. Scott Fitzgerald quote: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”
Blaming BME is a little silly when the person being interviewed says that they were already well on their way with these activities before discovering BME.
Cobalt Chemistry – To borrow an Orwell quote:
“The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them… To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all this is indispensably necessary.”
Most of the comments seem to be fairly positive,…itaa just the same people who keep being negative over & over again & its tireseome..jsut 1 ? why are you on BME if you feel this way about the community & what it represents? jsut go away of you dont like it.You may think you look really smart or know better than everyone else but your really just being an asshole.Have a little respect for the people who take the time to do these interviews & stop thinking you know how everyone feels about Shannon.Sorry but most people dont consider him a God that I know,personally I consider him a friend & a nice guy whos openminded & provided a place for us to all interact & thats about it…all these negative comments just show how miserable you are.Its fine to disagree but I dont see the reason to talk shit about Shannon or ask him to take responsibility for anyones actions, thats just ridiculous.
oh & i misspelled some words wrong to rom typing to fast & my grammer sucks as well,booo hoooo!
Essentially it’s all about how opinions or attitudes can change overtime. I think with bodymods you can often get caught up in the rush of the moment and do things you might as well regret later on. So I’m not sure that it’s a good idea to get serious modifications at a young age.
Awesome!
You know your modblog entry is truly extreme when THE DREADED YTTRX comes out!
Andy – I’ve seen adults make mistakes too, and I’ve seen many older people say “I only wish I’d had the courage to do this when I was younger.”
I’d say that the key to these decisions, and life in general, is “know yourself”…
I personally find lip-plates to be appealing on some but for the most part I think they take to much away from the persons natural appearance. I prefer them in a natural position not flipped down.
I think that at 16 I was foolish in some aspects and intelligent in others. I COULD of gotten tattooed and all of that illegally. I chose not to on my own because I wasn’t sure I wanted it. Duff may regret her decisions later in life and in all honesty she most likely will. Alot of teen’s regret things. She also might live a happy life with her changed appearnce and husband. Is it likely in this world? No. Would it be a great thing? Yes. I personally am happy that she’s happy at the moment and I don’t even know her. She’s made a decision that makes her happy and being truly happy with the way you look is something so rare that I’m willing to ignore logic and just smile.
Ok, so I didn’t read all the comments on this post because frankly all the petty squabbling gets mind numbingly boring. But I want to give my two cents on the issue of this girl (possibly) being 16 years old. When I was 16 I had a job, had been in college for a year, and didn’t think or act any differently from how I do now. Every mod I wanted at 16 I either now have or still plan to one day get. In fact, the only thing that has changed is that I want more mods then I did at that age. None of you know this girl, so how the hell would you know whether or not she is mature enough to understand the long term implications of what she is doing to HER body? Just because she’s young doesn’t mean she’s stupid.
To both paleblue and Shannon:
get each other’s phone numbers and bitch at each other there. This community, if it could be called that anymore, was once a place where people could come together, find like-minded people, see some great modifications, and, for many of us, get really turned on. Watching every moderately subversive post or comment turn into a pissing contest is one of the most ridiculous and sad things I’ve had to see in my short life. No one except the two or three of the ‘instigators’ seem to enjoy watching this shit.
And no, I’m not whining or attacking anyone’s opinions.
the answer to that is that SOME people who use modblog are very conservative in their thinking and its always the same people,everybodies entitled to their opinion but is there really such a need to be so negative about it…
My phone number is in the book…
shekaste – IAWTC. The funny thing about it is, I’ve seen empty threats to ‘take the truth, the whole uncensored truth over to my webpage’ by these people. I wish they’d just do it. I can’t help thinking it’s just attention seeking more than anything else, because of course, nobody looks at their webpages. We’re here to see interesting mods. Presumably.
“You know your modblog entry is truly extreme when THE DREADED YTTRX comes out!” -fuus
Fantastic!
It hard me laughing till tears.
😉
haha! stuff I forgot to say earlier!
Paleblue: from what I’ve read over the past few weeks in your comments, it seems like your problem is that Shannon doesn’t spend enough time talking about potential ramifications of these modifications, ie, work, public opinion, possible health problems. I might be wrong on that, and please correct me if I am.
I went through high school. In fact, I’m technically still in high school (I’m 16 and in independent study). I’ve never met a single person, “scene” or not, who would look at anything like a lip plate and think to themselves that they need/want that, regardless of the ramifications.
Most “scene” kids, and most teenagers in general, seem to be more attracted to the ‘lightweight’ piercings because they’re considered temporary. Kinda like having a mullet — you can be as cool as you want on Friday night, but when you go to work or grow up, you can still look professional. Most people who aren’t already thinking ‘fuck, fuck I need a really big hole in my lip!’ aren’t going to look at this entry and think to themselves that they gotta get one of those. It’s not transient enough for anyone who isn’t in it for real.
All of that, of course, is in my humble opinion.
Did I read the words “sixteen year old girl” correctly? Um, I definately have a problem reading about sixteen year old girls that have stretched or cut themselves to a point that can’t be undone (the lip plate and a split tongue?!!), little lone a sixteen year old girl that is MARRIED.
Do none of you have any kind of problem with this? It’s all well and good that she’s a mature thinking, liberated and informed young girl, but the fact remains, she is a YOUNG GIRL. I don’t even agree with sixteen year olds getting genital piercings, the fact that she has had her tongue split shocks and disgusts me. That is a full on procedure, changing the physiological form of your body, for life…. And it makes me fucking angry for the negative light that sheds on proffessionals that do these procedures and that have enough good sense to only perform this shit on the over 18. Not to mention the negative light this sheds on anyone with a split tongue or any involvment with modifications and/or the industry.
Even more so, I’m disapointed that the so called informed and mature people of bme, including Shannon(who I respect and think is amazing obvisouly, for starting this positive, informative site) are not even slightly touching on the moral maybes of this child having such extreme things done to her DEVELOPING body.
x
I respect GC for what he’s doing and pushing the boundaries, but it’s just not my thing but it totally suits him aesthetically and as a person.
Why is it everyone can ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ when some one like LANE JENSON gets a fucking set of tits in his leg and when a 16 year old gets her lip scalpelled and stretched it ends up being an endless flame war?
Just remember one thing – it’s their body and they can do as they please with it.
#84 – I missed you’re post lucky, but are you even serious?
As far as I know tongue splitting is reversable (to the point of joining the tongue back together) and even things such as full length subincisions can be repaired (impgrin article, anyone?)
What are the moral maybes of these extreme things? At 16 you are in charge of your own body and it is when you cross territory into adulthood. It’s okay for a girl to get knocked up or married at 16 but not okay for her to change her appearence to what she feels is the right decision in her life?
Get a grip.
The 16 year old married all thing is disturbing me enough without even having to wonder about the lip plate and the maturity that has to come with heavy bodmod etc…
Archetype- tongue splits and all these things are very extreme, even in bme land. anything that involves surgical reversal is pretty full on in my opinion, im all for loving knowing and doing what you want with your body, but in my opinion, you should allow yourself to physically and at least a little mentally grow into your skin, before you start really changing it. 16 is young. i definately do not think its ok for a 16yr old girl to fall pregnant or get married, not sure why you assume i do. let me repeat, 16 is fucking younh.
moral maybes, ill start and finish with the practitioners of this work. every proffessional mod artist ive ever met, wouldnt dream of scalpelling a 16yr olds tongue. they just wouldnt. 18 for a tattoo, 18/21 to drink but 16 to slice n dice? come on.
would you let your 16yr old daughter get het tongue split?
I don’t usually agree with the run of the mill bitching that I read on most of these extreme posts… However..
Today I can relate to the concerns about Duff being only 16 and having such heavy modifications done to her body.
Lets face it at 16 you’re not fully matured physically and far from it mentally.. even though at 16 we all thought we knew everything.
It does scare me to think that someone out there performed a tongue bisection on a girl under 18.
I understand that the split as well as the lip can be surgically turned back. She is however a minor and that reflects poorly on the modification practitioners out there that are performing these types of procedures. What kind of nasty press stories would happen with this if it were in the United States?!? People would be fighting battles in court or in jail.
I’m not saying anything bad about Duff as a person I’m only talking about the fact that 16 is WAY to young to be having heavy modifications done.
I searched all over the web trying to find the legal age for piercing in Russia and couldn’t find it because I thought maybe it is myself that is wrong..
This actually bothers me and I couldn’t help but post my two cents.
Wow – all of this over a number. If Shannon would have left her age out of the interview – would it still matter?
Okay – so she’s 16, she’s married and has started on the road of a BIG facial mod. Does that mean it right for everyone? Of course not! But she’d been there and done that – there is no amount of words/arguements/bad mouthing that can “turn back time” to make her the “normal” 16 year old.
And this couple is already out in the open with their ages AND with their lives, even BEFORE the interview. Shannon didn’t force them to do the interview nor did he lure them into do something that was wrong. 16 is young for alot of things but that doesn’t mean that 16 year olds follow those rules/laws.
I liked the interview – it’s not something that I would do but then again my life took me down a different path. Take the interview as an eye opener/information/interesting read and stop making it about Shannon – because that is not what he intended.
Lucky – Everyone physically and mentally ‘grows into their skin’ at different times, just like how people tend to be ready for sex different than other people, some younger some older.
I never assumed you thought it was okay for a 16 year old to fall pregnant or get married. You should at least think it’s okay for them to get married seeing as it’s the law that any over the age of 16 has the right to consent to marriage with another person.
And yes, I would let my 16 year old daughter get her tongue split. I’d rather she got her tongue split, which is a modification which will NOT ruin her life and neither will the lip plate than to go out and get pregnant and then destroy the enjoyment of the rest of her young years by having to care for a baby.
Would you rather your daughter ruined her life with a child at a young age or got a reversable procedure done on her body? If you choose pregnancy, again, get a grip.
I read the article and I must say I agree with almost everything that everyone has said. The short form of what I think is this. I don’t like lip plates, I think they are unattractive, but I also think people should do what is best/right for them. She is 16 and this does bother me, but on the other hand it seems to me that she really knows who she is and what she wants in life. When I was 16 and wanted stupid tattoos that I would hate now, I didn’t really want them for me I wanted them to be ‘cool’ and I think that is what a lot of people want at 16. She however doesn’t seem to want to be cool, she wants to be as she thinks she should. The who point in all of this is do what makes you happy!! Maybe she will regret it later in life, oh well she can look back and remember how she enjoyed it and get reconstructive surgery or something along those lines. If there is one major lesson I have learned as a result of BME it is this: Live for yourself, not for others.
would be interesting to see some of these big lip discs made of natural materials like wood or clay instead of the white plastic stuff. native folk in africa and guinea use many natural and organic substances they make themselves. wonder if any of our lip pierced friends have considered this aspect in their stretching process? just a thought.
‘Live and let live’.
doghouseguy – Interesting question… I don’t even know anyone who wears clay in their ears.
What about bat droppings Shannon? Haha, just going by something I recall from Ace Ventura 😀
i just hope that duff isn’t offended reading everyone’s negative reactions here, she is an incredibly beautiful girl with or without the lip plate.
Archetype – when did this become a discussion on having babies at 16 versus splitting your tongue? pregnancy as a youth was never apart of this topic. and let me just say, i garuantee you will feel differently about your 16yr olds tongue when you grow up a little and get to an age where you want to have children. double garuantee it when you actually do have a child.
my whole problem with this is the reflection it has on practitioners, as someone else mentioned, that do procedures like this. shit like 16yr olds with surgically split tongues, gives the modified community and artists alike a bad name.
How does it give them a bad name?
I await your answer.
wow, he has a very thin earlobe.