Taboo USA|美国禁忌异域

by Marcus Maurice

What is taboo to you?

　　Celebrities are getting plastic surgery all the time. News of facelifts for singers or breast implants for actresses is gossiped about frequently. In Taiwan, it seems as though cosmetic surgery clinics are opening up on every corner. People here want their eyes or noses fixed, not to mention liposuction to help them be skinnier. These aesthetic procedures, while costly and strangely addictive, are somewhat routine.

　　How would you feel, though, if a medical professional told you that you could be six centimeters taller? What if you had been called short your whole life and now you had the chance to look others directly in the eye? Would this type of plastic surgery be taboo to you? This month on National Geographic Channel, Taboo USA looks into the odd world of strange medicine. One man in Florida has completed 15,000 leg-lengthening operations. Is making someone's legs longer good for people or even safe? Another man swears up and down that he is healthy because he has been injecting snake venom into his veins for the past 20 years. In New York City, there lives a man who claims to be a certified leech therapist, and he believes these terrifying water-dwelling creatures can help his clients get rid of allergies, fix infertility, and cure other ailments.

　　In another episode, Taboo USA looks at those who get tattoos all over their bodies, have piercings in strange places, and even take pleasure in having hooks inserted through their skin. These people definitely push the limits of what is acceptable in society, with many others looking on these bizarre body modifications as taboo. Take a look at Taboo USA and see what you think of these unusual procedures.

 

 

对你来说，什么是禁忌呢？

　　名人们总是不停地接受整型手术。歌手整容拉皮或是女演员隆胸的新闻都是人们经常谈论的八卦内容。在台湾似乎到处都开设了整型诊所。上门的人想要整他们的眼睛或是鼻子，更不用说是动抽脂手术来让他们看起来更瘦一些。这些美容手术虽然要价昂贵又很不可思议地会让人上瘾，但已经变得有点普遍了。

　　不过，假如一位医疗专业人员对你说你能增高六公分，你会有什么感受呢？如果你一生中一直都被叫做矮子，而你现在有机会可以与他人平起平坐呢？这类的整型手术对你来说会是一种禁忌吗？这个月国家地理频道的《美国禁忌异域》系列会带你深入了解这项奇特医学的古怪世界。有一位住在佛罗里达州的男子已完成了一万五千起增高手术。把某人的腿变长，这对他们有好处吗，甚至这安全吗？另外有个人信誓旦旦说他很健康，因为他在过去的二十年中持续注射蛇的毒液到自己的血管里。还有一位住在纽约的人，声称自己是个经认证过的水蛭治疗师，而他也认为这种令人恐惧的水生生物能帮助他的病患摆脱过敏、治疗不孕症以及治愈其他的病痛。

　　在《美国禁忌异域》系列的另一集中，我们带着观众来看看那些刺青布满全身的人、在古怪的地方穿洞的人，甚至是那些享受钩子穿过他们皮肤而得到快感的人。这些人肯定在挑战社会对他们的接受度，因为有许多人会把这些奇怪的身体改造行为视为禁忌。收看《美国禁忌异域》系列，来看看你对这些不寻常的手术有什么看法吧。