h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why's the fear of needles so widespread (to regress a page or so), I don't know, I just know I'm petrified of the things!

I was fine when, in year 7 or so of school, we had the mass measles immunisation programme. However, that injection hurt quite a bit, and for some reason when it came to the TB one I completely freaked out, and I've been really bad ever since. It's not the pain, because the last few I've managed to face up to haven't hurt, it's the concept of a big metal tube being stuck into you for the purpose of deliving Goddess-knows-what into my body... uck!

When I had my wisdom teeth out they gave me some kind of tranquilisers by mouth, because I couldn't stand the idea of them putting a needle into my hand for the anaesthetic, and wouldn't let them.

Of course, they didn't help when they suggested that they could leave it in afterwards in case I had to have anything else injected. A better way to make me pass out I cannot imagine!

Sorry to drift the topic a bit there.

So the pain isn't a problem - for necessary stuff anyway. I wouldn't want to go through it for the sake of a cosmetic piercing, but then I kind of like my body the way it is. Especially since some people seem to make clothes in my shape now

*whispers*

I hate needles too.

But the tattoo needle isn't like that. It is scraping, not injecting which is much nicer...

Wouldn't matter to me, it's the principle. I wouldn't object to a tatoo really - in appearance that is. What puts me off is the way in which one gets them, and the difficulty in removing them if you should happen to wish to (I like things with ways out).

*nods*

Ah. Not a commitment person then?

Why not get one of the temporary tattoes? not the transfer type but the vegetable (?) dye ones. they last 3-5 years and fade away eventually but provides enough of an idea as to whether you would like one permanantly or not, or i guess you can even just keep getting it repeated the same way.

i have been tempted for years but but then found out about temporary tattoes, now i just need to decide what i actually want - a celtic symbol was top of the list then everyone got one and it put me off as i like to be unique, so until i decide of something amazing i will wait.

(apologies if this has been mentioned in the backlog already)

Still involves the same method of being applied though, right?

And I can commit to some things, but permenant alteration of my physical appearance is not something to go into without a lot of serious thought.

No, it's not the same process. If it were the same process, then it would be permanent. Like Mort said, they *aren't*...they can only last up to a few years.

I gather (from vague, idle research, mostly with the aim of convincing folk that temporary tats are *not* the way forward, 'least not for me) not many places do them.
However you might/would be surprised at how easy it is to have them removed, now. In Cov. there is a daft 'altern@ive' shop that does them.

One of my friends has her lip pierced and she's experimenting with taking it out, just in case she has to for a job,and she's come up with this neat trick of being able to squirt people through the hole with whatever she's drinking. She can get you from about 3 or 4 feet away now. No-one sits near her anymore.

That's utterly disgusting!!!!!!

But quite funny...until it's your turn

i sneezed once and my nose stud fell out cos it wasnt one of the spirally type as i could never put them in - i was mortified but since me and everyone else was it was soon forgotten!

Nothing is more disgusting than picking your tattoo scabs out of your bedding in the morning.

Especially when it's a black/grey tattoo. Black scabs!

Yuuuuuuuuck!

Sat. That's just...ewww

Tattoo scabs, lovely...

And I've seen the squirty water trick done a fair few times before...

The worst part is that you *really* need to pick them off too. But you have to sit there, and FEEL the scabs slooooowly peel themselves away...

The itching's a bugger, I'll have to admit. I found myself trying whatever I could to scratch without scratching the scabs off before they were ready...

ooo i cant wait!!

Same here... You sort of rub it, in the hope that scab will come off...