Somewhere I have an excellent essay by a doctor named Favazza that talks about how self mutilation, piercings, self imposed starvation, serious weight lifting, tattoos, permanent makeup and a number of other things can all be considered body modifications in a socio-anthropological perspective. Interesting stuff, really. On one end of the spectrum we have very superficial things, llike clothes and hair dyes and make up. On the other end, plastic surgery, piercings and such. I find the psychology of the whole thing fascinating.

But none of those kids has a decent, thought out reason for doing what they are doing. It's fear and cultural bad wiring and such things. There's a hell of a difference between a woman who is slender because she fasts for spiritual reasons on a regular basis, and this sort of thing. They're doing stuff without any thought about the consequences or the dangers. Idiots.