Extreme Sport: Meat-Hook Dangling
Kids nowadays! What will they think of next? Reuters is reporting that a popular new pasttime amongst youngsters in the Florida Keys is to dangle themselves from meat hooks attached to bamboo tripods set up at the beach, and then just hang out that way for a while. Apparently the Coast Guard found "a young woman, her feet brushing the surface of the shallow water, dangled from the frame, hooks embedded firmly in her shoulders." I don't know. I thought I had come across some pretty strange things in my time, but meat-hook dangling definitely took me by surprise. But then, when I was over the initial shock, I immediately thought of the sport of Monkey Fishing, which Slate.com wrote about back in 1996. Monkey Fishing (which also, according to Slate, was popular down in the Florida Keys) involves rowing up to the island of Lois Key which contains a population of wild monkeys, attaching a piece of fruit to a fishing line, throwing the fruit to the monkeys, waiting until the monkeys impale themselves on the hook when they try to eat the fruit, and then yanking the poor animals into the water. Monkey Fishing, of course, turned out to be a hoax which Slate was taken in by. So could meat-hook dangling be the new monkey fishing? Reuters says that the Coast Guard vouches for the reality of meat-hook dangling, but I'd like to see some pictures and get a little more proof before I totally accept this story.Posted By: Alex | Date: Mon Jul 19, 2004 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 48
Category: Body Manipulation, Sports
Category: Body Manipulation, Sports
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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ouch! That's what I say.
Posted by PlantPerson on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 01:37 PM
That sounds a little fantastic to me.
Posted by Ariel on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 02:37 PM
This is absolutely true...it's called a suspension.
I have friends that have been doing it for years.
The thing is that when your skin gets a hole in it, then the stretch from the suspension it produces a natural narcotic in your brain and you feel like you're floating. Everyon I've ever seen it done to or talked about it to have said that it really doesn't hurt after a while.
Here are some pics:
spc.bodymodification.com/.../ index6.htm
Posted by Gee on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 03:27 PM
I have friends that have been doing it for years.
The thing is that when your skin gets a hole in it, then the stretch from the suspension it produces a natural narcotic in your brain and you feel like you're floating. Everyon I've ever seen it done to or talked about it to have said that it really doesn't hurt after a while.
Here are some pics:
spc.bodymodification.com/.../ index6.htm
Posted by Gee... on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 03:30 PM
This really isn't new...it's been around since, well, the first I remember hearing of it was in California in the 70's.
Posted by Gee... on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 03:32 PM
Yeah, looks like it's true. Guess I've just led too sheltered a life. Here's another site about the practice:
http://eye.net/eye/issue/issue_07.15.04/city/hooks.html
Personally I can't even get an injection without feeling faint. All I can think is what if you were a bit overweight and the hooks just ripped out of your back.
I suppose it has the same appeal that flogging and hairshirts have for religious mystics.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 03:49 PM
http://eye.net/eye/issue/issue_07.15.04/city/hooks.html
Personally I can't even get an injection without feeling faint. All I can think is what if you were a bit overweight and the hooks just ripped out of your back.
I suppose it has the same appeal that flogging and hairshirts have for religious mystics.
I don't know about the Florida Keys stuff, but the lead singer of the metal band Society 1 has done at least one show while suspended from meat hooks. http://www.society1.net/ Ugh, I'm a metal fan, but that's even too sick for me.
Posted by Amy F. in Boston on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 04:03 PM
So what, is this some sort of weird self mutilation/body mod/extreme? I've done some weird stuff to get a high (cutting and piercing myself) but that looks pretty extreme . . . ick.
Posted by Ariel on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 07:11 PM
I have hemophilia (bleeding disorder) and I can say that that would definitely give me some permanent scars.
Posted by john in NH on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 08:39 PM
They've been showing this kind of thing on TV for ages. I think the problem is in the reporting... suggesting that it's a fad, and all kids are secretly doing this.
Posted by AqueousBoy on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 11:19 PM
You might remember this sort of suspension was spotlighted as a pastime of the character played by Vincent D'Onofrio in the movie, "The Cell" with Jennifer Lopez.. if this is currently enjoying some popularity, I'll be this movie had something to do with it.
Posted by David in Missouri on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 11:40 PM
The Lakota Indians practiced a sort of ritual suspension during their Sun Dance Rituals... you can see an example of this in the movie, "A Man Called Horse", with Richard Harris.
See here:
http://www.hektik.org/gallery/suspension/DSC05361
for a photo.
Posted by Dave on Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 11:45 PM
See here:
http://www.hektik.org/gallery/suspension/DSC05361
for a photo.
There are certain people in India (and elsewhere) that engage in this practice, sometimes having parades with persons horizontal to the ground suspended by hooks in their backs and the backs of their legs (I've seen a documentary, but that was years ago, so I couldn't cite you chapter and verse). I forget whether or not this is related to their observance of Hinduism or not. Quite unnerving to see, but those doing it seem to be in no pain.
Posted by Chris on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 10:22 AM
EW! That is SO disgusting. I didn't even look at the pictures and I'm having horrific thoughts about people IMPALING THEMSELVES WITH MEAT HOOKS. What's wrong with people?!
Posted by Rita on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 10:30 AM
I agree with AqueousBoy. It's the reporter's problem
Posted by john in NH on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 12:32 PM
Been there done that.
There is no "impaling" going on. The hooks are not stuck through any mucle or interior tissue, it's simply through the skin. Each hook/skin section can hold up to 80 lbs easially.
If you check out http://www.bmezine.com/ritual/susp-faq.txt
It tells you all about the process and such.
I've done a 6 hook (8 gague hook) suside suspension. (that is the upright format.)
The pictures fomr the key west incident can be found here:
http://www.bmezine.com/ritual/suspanim001.html
enjoy
Posted by anne in dirty jersey on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 02:41 PM
There is no "impaling" going on. The hooks are not stuck through any mucle or interior tissue, it's simply through the skin. Each hook/skin section can hold up to 80 lbs easially.
If you check out http://www.bmezine.com/ritual/susp-faq.txt
It tells you all about the process and such.
I've done a 6 hook (8 gague hook) suside suspension. (that is the upright format.)
The pictures fomr the key west incident can be found here:
http://www.bmezine.com/ritual/suspanim001.html
enjoy
let's get this on the pop list
Posted by john in NH on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 09:25 PM
congratulations: we are on the pop list!
Posted by john in NH on Tue Jul 20, 2004 at 09:30 PM
I actually know two of the people involved with this incident reported in the news. (Anne's bmezine link is them.) A really nice couple, who just happen to be into odd body modification stuff. I've seen enough pictures over the years that it's lost all shock value. (You'd never talk me into doing it, though.)
The press is reporting this as something kids are doing when, as you can see from the pictures, they are much older. Also, the husband has been a professional piercer for years and certainly knows what he is doing.
Posted by D.C. on Wed Jul 21, 2004 at 03:01 AM
The press is reporting this as something kids are doing when, as you can see from the pictures, they are much older. Also, the husband has been a professional piercer for years and certainly knows what he is doing.
Its real
I know the people who are doing this one - they have been doing it for months and all of a sudden somone gets prissy and calls the cops.
The cops get annoyed as its not agasint the law and the press picks up on it.
+ there where no teenagers there on the day - most of the people where actually in their 20, 30's and one quite a bit older than that...thats lousy press for you dont bother to check the facts.
Posted by Bob in Hawai on Wed Jul 21, 2004 at 03:02 AM
I know the people who are doing this one - they have been doing it for months and all of a sudden somone gets prissy and calls the cops.
The cops get annoyed as its not agasint the law and the press picks up on it.
+ there where no teenagers there on the day - most of the people where actually in their 20, 30's and one quite a bit older than that...thats lousy press for you dont bother to check the facts.
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