Freaks.

Freaks. What on earth does this term actually refer to? For every culture and set of customs, there are going to be people labeled as "freaks." Such a label is carelessly applied to both the voluntarily and involuntarily different, as the recognition that someone is indeed (according to one's society) freakish is always second nature. As modified individuals, we have learned to cope with the stares and ignorant comments, as have all other freaks in history. We actually have it pretty easy these days: "In the beginning of Rome, Romulus forbid to kill abnormals and disformed children but the introduction of the 12 tables changed all as it stated that any monstrous child should be killed instantly. More generally it was a rule for most abnormal beings to be brutally executed, most often at birth." Sheesh.
In any case, this subject was brought to mind recently after watching a movie on TLC (pop it on...you might learn something interesting) entitled "The Man Whose Arms Exploded." It's about a professional bodybuilder named Gregg Valentino who, as the title might imply, pumped and injected his 27-inch biceps until one of them developed a haematoma and burst. Even people in the weightlifting and bodybuilding communities deem Valentino a freak, but he seems not to mind: "I'm not trying to be symmetrical. I'm trying to be a freak, you know what I'm saying?" Haha, great guy. After seeing his pictures, you might wonder what could possibly motivate him to risk his health to gain a pair of excessively large biceps. Although he has his reasons, ("I've got small man complex, Napoleon complex, whatever it is. I'm only like five foot five and a half. I mean, a guy with 27-inch arms who's only 5'5" with a 27 inch waist…it looks ridiculous. But then again, if I can't grow taller, then I'm going to be the biggest freak I can be. I don't give a shit about symmetry."), so what if he didn't? I feel like every time I show a plainskin some BME pictures, they want to know why why why someone would want to do that to their body. And when the procedure to achieve the particular mod is dangerous, my blank-canvased friends are taken aback even further. We need to realize that the term "freak" is relative. Society is not always right. So basically...if it makes you happy, keep it up. Anyone who tells you you're wrong is missing the point.