• Soggy@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    From a purely biological perspective

    If you ignore the entire “humans are a social animal” part of it I guess, but that’s an invalid basis.

    People get mild infections from all kinds of normal behavior. Eating food, walking outside, existing near children.

    • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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      11 days ago

      If you ignore the entire “humans are a social animal” part of it I guess

      That’s what “from a purely biological perspective” means, yes. How many other social animals intentionally injure themselves?

      People get mild infections from all kinds of normal behavior. Eating food, walking outside, existing near children.

      Injury from those activities is an unplanned side effect. Injury is the entire point of piercings. Not really an apples to apples comparison.

      • Soggy@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        How many other social animals wear adornments of any kind? And it’s inaccurate to say that behavior is detached from biology which is what I mean by “invalid”.

        The “entire point” of piercings is decorative. Social signalling, personal aesthetics, religious practice, ceremony, whatever the reason. They join the long list of things we do with physical drawbacks but mental and interpersonal benefits. Tattoos, sun tans, restrictive shoes/clothing, smoking, drinking, and so on. You can live your life of bodily purity but don’t pretend like your way is more sane or natural.

        • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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          10 days ago

          How many other social animals wear adornments of any kind?

          None of them. Who’s trying to hand-wave clothing by saying that humans are social animals? I don’t understand where you’re going with this.

          You can live your life of bodily purity but don’t pretend like your way is more sane or natural.

          Don’t strawman me. I don’t give a shit what people do to their bodies. I said it doesn’t make sense from a purely biological perspective, which is accurate. Either engage with what I actually said and stop extrapolating or fuck off.

          • Soggy@lemmy.world
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            10 days ago

            I said it doesn’t make sense from a purely biological perspective

            Which is wrong because social behavior is part of our biology. The specifics differ but the impulses are as much a part of our genetics as habing thumbs is.