Tongue-splitting ban slices its way through Legislature

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | May 1, 2003 | BRYAN SMITH

[sarcasm]

Lawmakers have been known to split hairs.

Splitting tongues, they're not so crazy about.

So David Miller, the state representative from Calumet City and a practicing dentist, is serious when he talks about recent legislation he's introduced.

Miller, a Democrat, is sponsoring a bill that would all but ban what has become the latest craze in "body modification"--slicing the tongue in half to create a reptilian appearance.

It's a practice akin to body piercings and tattoos. But detractors like Miller say it carries risks of infection and even death if not performed by licensed medical people and surgeons.

That's why Miller wants to ensure that only physicians perform the procedure, and for sound medical reasons.

If properly done the procedure isn't necessarily harmful, he acknowledges. Still, it's a trend he'd rather not see catch on.

"You know how fads are," he said. "You just never know what's going to happen. We just thought we'd be pro-active."

According to a Web site devoted to the practice, as well as other procedures such as body piercings and tattoos, tongue splitting is the "central bifurcation of the tongue, so as to achieve a 'forked tongue' appearance."

Some people have split their tongue by getting a large number of tongue piercings, stretching them, and then cutting between them, said Shannon Larratt, who runs www.bmezine.com, and had his own tongue split in 1997.

Others have turned to oral surgeons or tattoo parlors. An Albany, N.Y., doctor did his, Larratt said, and he encourages those who want their tongues split to seek a surgeon, too.

But many medical professionals highly discourage the practice.

Among the risks are striking an artery or the tongue becoming so swollen the patient can't breathe. Massive tongue hemorrhage, edema, abscess formation, tetanus and nerve damage are other reported complications, doctors say.

Larratt doesn't deny those risks. In fact, he said, the danger of people seeking poorly done "back alley" jobs are precisely why it should be legal.

"A lot of these laws are worded in ways that make it very difficult for a doctor to do it," he said. "What that means is that the qualified practitioners and doctors don't want to risk losing their licenses. So the only people left doing it are hacks that shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

The bill, also endorsed by state Sen. James T. Meeks and similar to legislation in Michigan, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

"There's really no reason someone should be splitting his or her tongue," Meeks said. "We are simply trying to keep people from hurting themselves."

Larratt sees it differently. "We don't question a person if they want to go in and get just about every other procedure," he said. "Why target this one in such an extreme fashion?"

[meyer]

OK, let me be the first to say that I think splitting ones' tongue is stupid - very stupid. But does the government - at any level - really have to try to outlaw stupidity?

[T'wit]

This article is written with one tongue in each cheek, right? Right?? Please assure me that this is a spoof? Please? Oh, dear.

[Cheapskate]

Imagine that.Our beloved pols under the yoke of Governor
Daley, want lock on them being the only onesable to speak with forked tongue!

[tet68]

When stupidity is outlawed, only democrats will rule.

[sarcasm]

Tongue Splitting

What is tongue splitting?
Tongue splitting is the central bifurcation of the tongue, so
as to achieve a "forked tongue".

What are some of the risks related to tongue splitting?
Initial bleeding and infection can be a risk. In a worst-case
situation the tongue can swell and block the airway. As far
as long-term risk, there may be minor changes in some speech
sounds, but this rarely happens.

How can I split my own tongue?
Some people have split their tongue by getting a large number
of tongue piercings, stretching them, and then cutting between
them. The cutting is usually done by tying off using sutues
(or dental floss). While this is a slow method, it can be
gradual, allowing you time to adjust. However, it can also
mean weeks of discomfort.

Where can I get my tongue split?
Contact an oral surgeon for references if you want to have it
done professionally. Dr. Lawrence Busino in Albany NY has done
more than any other doctor in North America, but any oral
surgeon that uses a laser should be able to do it with ease,
if their ethics allow it. There are also some private
practitioners willing to do this procedure using cautery
tools.

How much does it cost?
A doctor will usually charge between $500 and $1000.

How long does it take to heal?
The lasered procedure takes a week or two for primary healing,
with full healing in about a month.

Can one talk normally after getting a tongue splitting?
Yes. There may be a negligible effect that is only noticeable
to those who know you extremely well.

Can the two halves be used separately?
For most people, yes.

Can the procedure be reversed?
Yes. By abbraiding the inside of the split, the tongue can be
put back together. This can result in a slight shortening of
the tongue due to scarring.

[kcvl]

Called body modification...

Corset piercing

Branding

These people are totally NUTS!

[kcvl]

Why?!!!

David models a porcupine quill in his septum.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Oh man, those pics make me want to puke.

Thanks, I think.

[sarcasm]

Pics HERE.

[kcvl]

[not-an-ostrich]

Self-mutilation is a mental illness.

[laredo44]

"You know how fads are," he said. "You just never know what's going to happen. We just thought we'd be pro-active."

Who are these people? The ones whose first thought after, "That's disgusting!" is "I need to ban it."

[kcvl]

This is SO SICK!!!

[kcvl]

I hope these people understand that it won't be easy getting a job unless it's at a FREAK SHOW after mutilating themselves.

[Ronin]

Anyone who dies undergoing, or as a result of, this procedure is doing the human race a favor by removing his/her Darwin Award Winning genes from the gene pool.

I thus oppose this unnecessary and counter-productive legislation.

Certain forms of stupidity SHOULD be fatal.

[Diverdogz]

Nothing like multiple weird piercings and a forked tounge to help you compete in a tough job market.

[Diverdogz]

...you beat me to it.

[mhking]

Unfortunately this isn't something from "The Onion". There are actually people out there who mutliate themselves this way.

I'm not going to post a photo from this page; as far as I'm concerned, it should come with a warning that it's not for the squeamish: http://www.bmevideo.com/tonguesplit/

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[kcvl]

Tongue Lengthening

What is tongue lengthening and how is it done?
Tongue lengthening is the freeing of the tongue by the cutting of the connective tissue underneath the tongue so that the tongue appears longer (and as far as anything outside of your mouth is concerned, it is longer!).

What are some of the risks related to tongue lengthening?
Outside of standard tongue surgery risks (as with tongue splitting), there are rumored risks of tongue swallowing, but these are probably urban legend.

Can I lengthen my own tongue?
This is not at all recommended, but it may be possible for a SMALL lengthening to rinse with oral xylocaine and then snip the frenulum with a small pair of surgical scissors. It is very important though NOT to cut any blood vessels, which can be quite prominent in this area. In most cases this cut will simply heal closed. Note that this only works if the frenulum is very pronounced. Stick out your tongue as far as possible -- if the frenulum is now stuck between your lower incisors, this procedure will help you.

Where can I have my tongue lengthened?
Oral surgeons and some dentists can perform this relatively simple operation. It can be done at the same time as a tongue splitting, often at no or neglible extra cost.

[hotpotato]

Self-mutilation is a mental illness.

Yes, it certainly is. And there's always a doctor ready to help....

A New Way to Be Mad, an article in the Atlantic Monthly not for the squeamish but fortunately, not grim photos either, about individuals who desire to have limbs and body parts amputated. It very much describes the same sentiment as those seeking sexual reassignment surgery.

[chance33_98]

[alloysteel]

Why do these people do things like this?

Rather like a dog licking its private parts. Because they can. Some people have so little perceived control of their circumstances, that they turn to the one thing that they are sure they are mostly in control of - their own bodies, up to and including the perception of pain. Thus we have plastic surgery phreaques, bulimics, anorexics, gross obesity, even homosexuals, who "cannot" help being what they are. This is their only outlet for self-expression, and if you take that away, they lose their only justificaton for existence.

[AppyPappy]

The government has the right to decide who can perform the procedure because the government may have to pay to clean it up.

[trebb]

When stupidity is outlawed, only democrats will rule.

Kind of ironic - no?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I would treat them like reptiles!

[Loyalist]

Good Lord, man! Those photos are too graphic! How much does a man have to hate himself to mutilate himself like that?

[StriperSniper]

because the government may have to pay to clean it up.

And under what Constitutional authority have they been given that right?;-)

[AppyPappy]

And under what Constitutional authority have they been given that right?;-)

Irrelevant. They now have it.

[Dante3]

I do not want to ever split my tongue. If my kid did it, I would do anything I can to stop it. However, I find a scary tend of the government more and more controlling everything about our lives. Of cameras following us in many places. Of private information about us kept in files.

Freedom means also the freedom to do stupid things, the freedom to fail, the freedom to chose our associates on any basis of any criteria, the freedom to dislike others.

[BigBadWolf]

All fork-tounged freaks will be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.

[Dante3]

Yuk! Where did you find those pictures? I hear the body modification is growing, has been an underground movement for decades (since Kogelhoffer or whatever that artists name is who cut off a part of himself).

[kcvl]

Type in "body modification" and GOOGLE it...


http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=body+modification

[fml]

I like to be able to sort out the freaks I want nothing to do with by sight. It's much easier than trying to figure their politics before deciding they're losers.

[verity]

The gene pool must be cleaned.

[Dante3]

I must say I greatly recent having our tax money used for "cleaning up." People who do stupid things should take you responsibility for their acts.

[meyer]

When stupidity is outlawed, only democrats will rule.

But to be a democrat is to be stupid. They'd outlaw themselves. Reminds me of an older Star Trek episode. "I am Nomad. I must destroy imperfection."

[You Dirty Rats]

Yes, the government SHOULD outlaw stupidity. That would make Teddy Kennedy Public Enemy #1.

[meyer]

Self-mutilation is a mental illness.

In which case I have to take back my initial commentary - people like this aren't capable of taking care of themselves. Having seen some of the pictures, I can say that there is an infantile mentality that would cause one to mutilate theirself to the extent I've seen here. Perhaps there is some need for oversight, much as a parent needs to look after a rogue child.

[meyer]

The government has the right to decide who can perform the procedure because the government may have to pay to clean it up.

That's a very good reason to get and keep the government out of the insurance business!

[Dante3]

Good point!

[Skooz]

Yeah, like I really needed THAT this morning.

For cryin' out loud...........

[laredo44]

This is their only outlet for self-expression, and if you take that away, they lose their only justificaton for existence.

Care to analyze those that want to ban these things?

[laredo44]

government may have to pay to clean it up.

Government doesn't have to do any such thing. The lie, however, will give those seeking to impose their standards on the rest of us the figleaf they desire as they enact bans.

[kcvl]

Parents...

[OldPossum]

The question I have is: how do they sound when they speak?

[mr.pink]

Where did you find those pictures?

He probably got them at www.bme.freeq.com

And believe me, he posted pretty tame stuff relative to some of the bizarre stuff these folks are doing. It's mind blowing stuff.

[laredo44]

I hear the body modification is growing, has been an underground movement for decades (since Kogelhoffer or whatever that artists name is who cut off a part of himself).

Didn't Van Gogh cut off his ear? Or is that just an urban legend? Oedipus poked out his eyes, but that, of course, is fiction.

[unixfox]

The government has the right to decide who can perform the procedure because the government may have to pay to clean it up.

And who would that said government be?

I don't think the "government" has ANY business telling me or anybody else what they can or cannot do to themselves. If they (the government) can pass laws outlawing this, how long will it be before they outlaw ear piercing. My guess, not very long.

[Consort]

But....but....do we want to return to the days of back-alley tongue splitting?