Body Modification

The lecture on body modification was really interesting. I could'nt believe the indurance and pain some religious cultures and tribes went through as part of their ceremonies. For example the maasai tribe of kenya stretch teir ear lobes and then pierce a huge hole when the men reach puberty, in other cultures they tatoo their head, but it is tattooing in a different way they cut out their skin in the shape of a pattern and then insert ink into the pattern with a sharks tooth (this is done on their head), The Giraffe Women of Burma and Thailand insert rings over their head and are placed on their neck for every year they live, even children are made to do this. http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=giraffe+women&hl=en&um=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=title

In the lecture we were also shown images of body modification, some were of genital piercings, i cannot understand why people would have this done, they either enjoy the pain of having it done or they pleasure it bring.
regarding Tattoos i cannot understand why people would want to cover themselves in them. Ive have 2 tattoos myself and i think that is enough. My cousin is a tatoosist and he is practivally covered in them, but refuses to have one on his head and wrists, as they cant be covered up. I asked him why do people come for you for tattoos and they said that it simply looks nice, for fashion or for memorial decoration.
http://www.bmezine.com/
http://www.bmezine.com/scar/A70417/high/bmepb504998.jpg