# Scarification. Thoughts? Experience? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516 "2016-07-21T19:33:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/21 "2016-07-22T14:40:50Z")
Honestly I don’t see any difference at all between this and tattooing. Both are unattractive and silly, IMO, but they’re among the many dumb-shit activities I wouldn’t want curtailed by government regulation. Only by common sense. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/22 "2016-07-22T14:43:58Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > That is so awesome to hear. This will be a memorial for my husband, so I want it to be outstanding. Thanks for a little insight on how it may look afterwards. Is it your first? Two of my tattoos are memorial pieces. They mean an awful lot to me. I hope all goes smoothly for yours and brings you as much meaning as mine have brought me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/23 "2016-07-22T14:44:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Those of us who know him will know the background. Once it’s healed, do you really think strangers will approach him and ask? If you see a stranger who is missing an eye do you ask, “hey, what’s up with the eye?” > > And I think he “earned” the scar. He sat still in a chair while someone carefully cut out a piece of skin. No anesthesia. Slow and precise. He told me it was (especially the cheek section) ten times worse than any tattoo work he has had done. I’m 100% sure that at least some strangers will ask, some out of curiosity, some because they are expecting/hoping some awesome story about a crazy fight he was in. People ask inappropriate or awkward questions all the time. I’m also guessing that some strangers or acquaintances won’t ask him, but once he’s stepped away or otherwise out of earshot will quietly ask people that know him what the story is there. It might be different if the scar was on his arm or somewhere else, but since it’s on his face, I’m guessing it will be prominent and inspire curiosity. I don’t think he hasn’t “earned” it or anything, or that he shouldn’t have done it necessarily; people of sober, competent mind should be allowed to do what they want to their bodies. I just think it’s strange, I’ve never heard of someone doing something like it. I do sincerely hope that he’s happy with his scar and it helps him with his past pain. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/24 "2016-07-22T15:35:29Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > I do sincerely hope that he’s happy with his scar and it helps him with his past pain. That’s my point of view as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/25 "2016-07-22T16:56:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While I’m not personally interested in any sort of body art, I can get the concept. And I can also get the concept of proudly wearing and displaying a scar gained in a fight, accident, or act of heroism. But deliberately getting a scar in a controlled situation, that’s designed to look like an act-of-bravery scar, feels sort of dishonest to me. Sort of in the boundary area between tattoos/piercings/body art in general, which are obviously artificial modifications for aesthetic purposes, and cosmetic surgery, which is supposed to make you look like you **didn’t** do it on purpose. I don’t know if I’d call a deliberately-acquired but accidental-seeming scar “dishonest”, any more than I’d call surgically enhanced boobs “dishonest”, but in both cases there seems to be an element of calculation about one’s self-presentation. The superficial impression it’s designed to give, whether it’s _“I just happen to have this great rack”_ or _“I just happen to be the sort of daredevil tough guy who’s had some exciting dangerous experiences”_, is rather deliberately crafted. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/26 "2016-07-22T17:52:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > He sent me some pics! > > Ouch, ouch, ouch. He said it really hurt. It’s a line that rins an inch or two down his forehead, through his eyebrow, then continuing down his cheek. Very nice placement. > > But wow. I’ve got one of those, 130 stitches. Is was not voluntary. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/27 "2016-07-22T18:32:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When I first heard this, I figured it would be some sort of pattern or design, like a tattoo. While I’m not personally interested in any sort of body art, I can get the concept. And I can also get the concept of proudly wearing and displaying a scar gained in a fight, accident, or act of heroism. But deliberately getting a scar in a controlled situation, that’s designed to look like an act-of-bravery scar, feels sort of dishonest to me. One suspects that the motive behind lifting weights is to make your body look like you’re out saving damsels in distress and fighting lions in your free time, rather than sitting in a desk job, snacking on pretzels all day. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/28 "2016-07-23T13:33:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Boyo Jim** : > > Honestly I don’t see any difference at all between this and tattooing. Both are unattractive and silly, IMO, but they’re among the many dumb-shit activities I wouldn’t want curtailed by government regulation. Only by common sense. To be clear, I absolutely don’t think that this should be illegal. I’m uncomfortable enough with stolen valor laws, and that’s for something that is absolutely unambiguously dishonest. I just sort of vaguely disapprove of this. And while looking heroic is probably the original impetus behind bodybuilding, nowadays people lift weights to look like a guy who lifts weights. And to be honest, while it’s a lot rarer nowadays to need to fight lions, someone who regularly lifts weights probably would be a lot more capable of it, should the need arise, than the typical desk pretzel-snacker. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/29 "2016-07-23T13:38:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > To be clear, I absolutely don’t think that this should be illegal. I’m uncomfortable enough with stolen valor laws, and that’s for something that is absolutely unambiguously dishonest. I just sort of vaguely disapprove of this. > > And while looking heroic is probably the original impetus behind bodybuilding, nowadays people lift weights to look like a guy who lifts weights. And to be honest, while it’s a lot rarer nowadays to need to fight lions, someone who regularly lifts weights probably would be a lot more capable of it, should the need arise, than the typical desk pretzel-snacker. And a smart lion would skip the bodybuilder (who would be tough and stringy) and go after the tender desk-sitting pretzel-snacker. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/30 "2016-07-23T13:44:15Z")
Got a text from Tony Montana this morning. Healing is going smoothly, the wound is much less painful today. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/31 "2016-07-24T11:27:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Those of us who know him will know the background. Once it’s healed, do you really think strangers will approach him and ask? If you see a stranger who is missing an eye do you ask, “hey, what’s up with the eye?” I wouldn’t, but to answer your question - yes, a percentage of strangers and near-strangers will. I have facial scarring (non-voluntary), and while most people don’t ask, lots and lots do. And even more ask my friends later (so I’ve been told). Some people see no reason not to ask. Or rate satisfying their curiosity higher than any other factors, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/32 "2016-07-24T11:49:55Z")
> [@Essured](#): > > I wouldn’t, but to answer your question - yes, a percentage of strangers and near-strangers will. I have facial scarring (non-voluntary), and while most people don’t ask, lots and lots do. And even more ask my friends later (so I’ve been told). Some people see no reason not to ask. Or rate satisfying their curiosity higher than any other factors, I guess. I hope you’ve developed a perfect comeback. I was once in a really shitty mood, sitting at a bar drinking. A loud, brassy babe kept trying to get me to talk to her despite my attempts to ignore her. Eventually she smacked my arm and said, “so, what do you do?” “Mostly I just mind my own business.” She relocated. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516/33 "2016-07-24T12:05:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Is it your first? > > Two of my tattoos are memorial pieces. They mean an awful lot to me. I hope all goes smoothly for yours and brings you as much meaning as mine have brought me. No. I also have a memorial tattoo for my brother and other assorted tattoos in general. The former, despite not being that great, does mean a great deal for me and I’m assuming this one will mean even more. I can’t wait to get it. And thank you for the kind sentiment. It’s incredible to have a constant reminder of just how much love there was between you and a departed SO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarification-thoughts-experience/760516.md?page=1)