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Forked Tongues

Jacob Sullum | 5.15.2003 7:45 AM

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I'm still a bit woozy from contemplating a procedure that Illinois legislators want to ban. As one of them may already have pointed out, it is definitely unbiblical, not to mention revolting. But as St. Louis radio host Paul Harris rightly argues, that doesn't mean it should be illegal.

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Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason.

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  1. Warren   22 years ago

    "unbiblical"! SNARF

  2. david f   22 years ago

    dammit. now i'm moving fer sher. steve -- where are some good places in cheeseland???

    (toldja adam and eve shoulda eaten the snake instead of that apple)

    drf

  3. G.I.   22 years ago

    Better take good care of this body of yours.

    YOURS? Excuse me, your body ain't yours.

    No smoking! No drinking! No eating fat! No running with scissors! No bungee-jumping! Etc, ad nauseam.

    Your body is Public Property. (So you probably don't have to take care of it anyway -- it is Government Property.)

    Ad you thought you owned your own body; your own thoughts; your own life?

    Ha! You've got another think coming -- if "they" let you.

  4. Sean   22 years ago

    Eating shellfish is "unbiblical" too. I'm guessing they wouldn't be embarrassed to eat at a seafood joint though. I think maybe this is due to the old idea of butter making most anything better, even the unbiblical.

  5. Madog   22 years ago

    Getting your tongue split isn't that gross. I came across a website (with pictures) a while back put up by a guy who was splitting his PENIS.
    Now that was gross.

  6. Sean   22 years ago

    Madog,

    I've seen the penis splitting (just in pictures thankfully), it is pretty screwed. But I have to give the freakiest mod award to internal organ piercing.

  7. RS   22 years ago

    100% in agreement that the govt has no right getting involved in these cases.
    But I still have to wonder what kind of parent wouldn't slap their kid in the head and tell him/her to get a grip when presented the permission slip. As so happen oftens, legal me says fuck off mr. govt it's none of your business, the emotional me thinks 'what is wrong with these people?'
    And then I think the same thing about the govt.

  8. Jim   22 years ago

    Seems to me if the legislator in question wants to ban something because it's 'unbilical' then it should be voted down or declared unconstitutional on freedom of religion grounds, post haste. Obviously the better approach would be to sell it as a 'public health' issue - then the liberals will vote for it.

  9. Douglas Fletcher   22 years ago

    Doesn't tongue-piercing make it a little hard to talk correctly? Like pronouncing d's and l's correctly, for one thing.

    Yuck.

  10. Douglas Fletcher   22 years ago

    I meant tongue-splitting.

  11. C.Lingus   22 years ago

    Speaking in tongues is bibiblical.

    So is babbling at the (ivory) tower.

  12. jp   22 years ago

    I'm sure there are zoning laws for the body prohibiting this by now.

  13. The Mountain Goat   22 years ago

    Me think tongue splitting should be mandatory for elected officials, since they speak with forked tongue anyway.

  14. david f   22 years ago

    hey Mark S:

    oh well -- i'm actually half cheezhead -- mom's side is from dodge county...

    and you're right: this bears fan in packer country?? hrumph.

    happy friday,
    drf

  15. Anonymous   22 years ago

    RS, are you REALLY a lawyer, though?

  16. RS   22 years ago

    I wish I guess I'm supposed to say..

  17. Mark S.   22 years ago

    David:

    You DON'T want to live here unless you enjoy living in Wisconsin, a tax hell with a nasty anti-business streak to boot. Unless you think ice fishing and reminicing about Packer Super Bowl victories is entertainment, for God's sake, stay away from Wisconsin.

    IT'S TO LATE FOR US! SAVE YOURSELF!!!

  18. Captain Spiffy   22 years ago

    Damn those Illinois people! How dare they get to handle their own state matters like that! As someone who lives out of that state I think we should impose a law to trump that banning of the tongue thing!

  19. Anonymous   22 years ago

    "I think we should impose a law to trump that banning of the tongue thing!"

    That'll lick the problem fer sure.

  20. matt   22 years ago

    fuck this christian shit i have mine split 5/6" what is satan gonna get me???

    fuck you

  21. Tara   22 years ago

    Read person saying how tongue piercing would make it hard to talk....I had mine pierced for about a year, i couldnt talk for about a week from the swelling- but my talking was perfectly the same as it was after that- you just get used to it in your mouth and it doesnt bother you anymore - eating or anything else.

  22. Maggie   22 years ago

    This is insane. The government is screwing us, royally. I saw an article written by someone who supported making tongue-splitting illegal... It said tummy tucks and face lifts were fine, because they improve physical appearance. But not tongue splitting... What the hell is that? Some people like a heavier man or woman, some people like split tongues. I have a friend who had his done. He has no complications, and talks perfectly. If he likes it, then good for him. We can't ban everything some people think is disgusting. I think girls walking around with their asses hanging out of their shorts is disgusting. Let's ban that too, aye?

  23. stephanie barraclough   22 years ago

    you guys are all fucking stupid. what now?

  24. stephanie barraclough   22 years ago

    you guys are all fucking stupid. what now?

  25. T-Bone   21 years ago

    I think that tongue splitting is one of the coolest things I have ever seen and I am greatly interested. I agree that if the government thinks we shouldn't harm our bodies then they should take more responsibility in giving everyone free medical assistance and stop wasting their fucking time with shit like this. And yes, my email address is a complete jerk-off, fuck Christians and your STUPID illusions that are holding back the evolution of man.

    Good on you guys!!!!!!!!!!

    PS where can I get my cock split?

  26. T-Bone Styles   21 years ago

    Can someone send me some pics of tongue splitting please! I'm soooo keen!

  27. Marek Petr   21 years ago

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  28. sarah   21 years ago

    k i don't know wtf happened here....but i'll post my opinion neways
    by the way i am a christian
    i think it's ridiculous that the government is trying to say whats beautiful or not. I know it's kinda cliche (sp?) but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If someone thinks it looks good, go for it. Personally i wouldn't get my own tongue split but i have no problem with someone who does. I luv piercings and tattoos though, tongue splittings just not my thing

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