Latest Piercing Rage: Tongue Splitting

[Cathryn Crawford]

Latest Piercing Rage: Tongue Splitting It's called tongue splitting and involves slicing the tongue right down the middle to create a forked look. Those who do it, call it body modification. Many others call it body mutilation.

Either way, it's not for the squeamish.

Why would anyone split his or her tongue? The Associated Press interviewed several people who did it, and there were three reasons typically cited:

The shock value is enormous. Some actually find the experience spiritual. They just like the way it looks and feels. While tongue splitting is edging up in popularity, it's still relatively uncommon. By some counts, about 2,000 people worldwide have done it, but curiosity is growing fast.

AP interviewed 19-year-old James Keen, pictured above, and asked him why he did this. "When I first saw it, I thought tongue-splitting was the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life," he said. When he couldn't find a surgeon to do the deed, he enlisted a body piercer from his hometown, Scottsville, Kentucky. The cost? $500 with no anesthetic. "People are very curious about how it feels." Keen says he can move both sides of his tongue independently of the other.

What are the side effects? Infection from bacteria in the mouth is quite possible. In addition, tongue splitting almost always forces people to learn to speak all over again and typically causes a lisp that may not ever go away.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers are so outraged by the procedure they are using the power of their office to make it illegal. One such person is Illinois state Rep. David Miller from Chicago's south suburbs who has authored a bill that requires tongue-splitting to be performed only for medical reasons and only by a doctor or dentist. AP reports that the bill passed nearly unanimously in the Illinois House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Miller is fully aware of individual rights and personal freedom, but he told AP, "But I'm not sure the people getting this done understand the risks. We're choosing safety over cosmetics." Those who oppose the bill say it will only force people who want the procedure to go underground and that could mean unsafe conditions.

In addition to lawmakers' efforts to stop the trend before it really takes off, several branches of the armed services have banned the practice. The Air Force gave one young airman a choice: Get his tongue sewn back together or be kicked out the Air Force.

[Dan from Michigan]

No way for me. I don't know the stereotype for forked tongue. I do know the stereotype for pieced tongues though.
Chris Rock said it best - If a girl has a pierced tongue. she'll..uhh I can't mention it here...... If a guy has a pierced tongue.....can't mention that here either.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Thought-provoking.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I guess I should be thankful I don't have a pierced tongue. However, to be fair, a pierced tongue has absolutely nothing to do with it. :-)

[ValenB4]

You were right about what you said. The LoN is in full force tonight.

[Cathryn Crawford]

LoN?

[Cathryn Crawford]

But of course, the LoN! LOL

[Aric2000]

That is just SO disgusting.

Body mutalation is right.

But to make laws against it are ridiculous.

Let the bozos do it, Darwin will deal with the situation.

Kinda like seat belt laws, it's no wonder we have so many stupid people.

The gene pool needs a good cleaning.

[Minutemen]

A "beautiful" look for the mentally unstable, whose goal in life is to attract another viper!

[EGPWS]

I think I'm going to get this done. What do ya'al think?

Well, the forked tongue look has done wonders for Hillary's popularity.

[Drew68]

Do you support the seat belt law in your state?

No. I wear my seatbelt whenever I am in a vehicle but I do not support it being a law.

[American in Israel]

Bringing new meaning to the phrase "speaking out your ass".

[WellsFargo94]

Is there a link to the article?

[KneelBeforeZod]

there's nothing cooler than making yourself look different by doing the same thing everyone else does to look different.

"Is that your real hair?"

"what do you think?"

"I think you're trying to get back at your parents, that's what I think."

~~ Back to School

[Cathryn Crawford]

Shocking. I thought I was the only one who didn't support the law.

[Northern Yankee]

I assume you're in jest about this, Texas darlin?

I can't imagine why anyone would inflict this upon themselves, and then pay for it?!!!

We work too hard to keep ourselves in shape, and staying healthy. To do something like this, and then run the risk of creating another avenue for infection just seems insane.

Stay healthy, and live free!

[Northern Yankee]

Just saw the sarcasm...

Stupid me!

Southern Belles are too smart to create havoc on their bodies. (At least most are...)

[metalboy]

Wow! Tongue splitting!! This sounds cool! I`m gonna split my nuts to the top of my head next!

[Cathryn Crawford]

LMAO - can I watch?!

[Cathryn Crawford]

I only jest, I only jest. It's so much fun to jerk people's chains and watch them squirm - except for yours, of course. Shocking that you thought I would. I understand, of course.

[ValenB4]

The tongue heals fast anyway. Go for it.\8