# Body Modifications -- Next Step **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002 "2002-08-21T22:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/1 "2002-08-21T22:59:48Z")
Okay, maybe not outre enough for some of you. But has anyone here been branded? I have seen web pages showing it being done with what looks like a soldering iron, which doesn’t interest me all that much. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has had the “strike” method done. Chrome ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/2 "2002-08-22T13:49:05Z")
I knew a guy who branded himself, but with a Zippo. I mean, he did it on purpose. He had balls, and I don’t mean just because of that. Then again, I could question his stability… ---
**Author:** ![crazy4chaucer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@crazy4chaucer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazy4chaucer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/3 "2002-08-22T16:03:40Z")
He had balls? Where did he brand himself, that he no longer has them? (sorry, I couldn’t resist) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/4 "2002-08-22T17:12:02Z")
What ever method be prepared, I hear its agonizing. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/5 "2002-08-22T17:26:49Z")
I am branded. Young, drunk and stupid. Red hot metal just sizzzzzzzeling into my upper arm. Wheeeee! It’s a heart shape and fortunately, it’s faded quite a bit, although it’s very visible when I’m tanned. I used tin snips to cut the heart out of an old tin can, held it in the flames on the burner of the stove ( with tongs ) until it was red hot, put it on a hot pad and then pressed it onto my arm. Ain’t alcohol wonderful? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/6 "2002-08-22T21:00:01Z")
Man you are weird. I heart branded into your arm? lol ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/7 "2002-08-22T23:35:50Z")
This isn’t anything new. My dad was branded by his fraternity at Brown and that was back in the 1950’s. My new favorite “I choose to look like a fucking idiot” body modification is when they slice open the skin and then insert metal _underneath_ and then close the skin back up. Looks like you got some really fucked up warts on your face. ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/8 "2002-08-23T05:31:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*I am branded. Young, drunk and stupid. Red hot metal just sizzzzzzzeling into my upper arm. Wheeeee! It’s a heart shape and fortunately, it’s faded quite a bit, although it’s very visible when I’m tanned. I used tin snips to cut the heart out of an old tin can, held it in the flames on the burner of the stove ( with tongs ) until it was red hot, put it on a hot pad and then pressed it onto my arm. Ain’t alcohol wonderful? \*\* Yeesh. Gives knew meaning to wearing a heart on your sleeve, no? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/9 "2002-08-23T10:03:23Z")
Branding? I thought [split tongues](http://www.bmezine.com/spc/galleries/other/forked/) were all the rage these days. I’m just waiting to get my [wings and tail](http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,665328,00.html) grafted on. ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/10 "2002-08-23T10:30:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*I’m just waiting to get my [wings and tail](http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,665328,00.html) grafted on. \*\* That’s what the thread title made me think of… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/11 "2002-08-23T22:21:16Z")
Wow, it’d be pretty cool to have wings, but they’d be hell to take care of. Fleas! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/12 "2002-08-23T23:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*Branding? I thought [split tongues](http://www.bmezine.com/spc/galleries/other/forked/) were all the rage these days. I’m just waiting to get my [wings and tail](http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,665328,00.html) grafted on. \*\* A penis that has been split down the middle is know as a “butterfly”. In case you wanted to know. There was an article about the wing guy in Harper’s a few months ago. Interesting idea, but if you can’t fly what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/13 "2002-08-24T01:01:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*Branding? I thought [split tongues](http://www.bmezine.com/spc/galleries/other/forked/) were all the rage these days. I’m just waiting to get my [wings and tail](http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,665328,00.html) grafted on. \*\* A penis that has been split down the middle is know as a “butterfly”. In case you wanted to know. There was an article about the wing guy in Harper’s a few months ago. Interesting idea, but if you can’t fly what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/14 "2002-08-24T11:25:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\*Interesting idea, but if you can’t fly what’s the point? \*\* Looks. Hmm… They might be strong enough to glide with, though. Just be sure to let someone _else_ test that idea, first… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/15 "2002-08-24T13:42:01Z")
good morning friends, at the gym, you can see a wide variety of tattoos, but a couple of weeks ago i saw a guy with a large N burned into his upper arm. the scar tissue was 3/8" or so wide, and the letter was 3" high and as wide. i guess here in nebraska, football fans are serious. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/16 "2002-08-24T14:28:07Z")
One historically black fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, has practiced branding since its inception in 1911 – see [this article](http://www.tcnj.edu/~unbound/lifestyle/old/lifef97/branding/page2.html) for a description. ---
**Author:** ![Rosebud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rosebud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosebud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/17 "2002-08-25T02:20:27Z")
From **Horseflesh’s** link: > [@](#): > > Although no human would be able to fly, they would resemble angels and have full sensation in their new hanging, boned flaps of flesh… Mmmm, hanging boned flaps of flesh. I’d have to beat the boys off with a stick! ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-modifications-next-step/125002/18 "2002-08-25T11:18:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*I am branded. Young, drunk and stupid. Red hot metal just sizzzzzzzeling into my upper arm. Wheeeee! It’s a heart shape and fortunately, it’s faded quite a bit, although it’s very visible when I’m tanned. I used tin snips to cut the heart out of an old tin can, held it in the flames on the burner of the stove ( with tongs ) until it was red hot, put it on a hot pad and then pressed it onto my arm. Ain’t alcohol wonderful? \*\* But what do you _do_ when you’re branded? And you know you’re a man?