I (male) celebrated my 18th birthday with an ear piercing. Size of a little finger ring. I was scared about it so drank like 3 vodka as liquid courage and then I was given a huge shot, which, combined knocked me out real nice. Guy took a photo with my permission and told me I will be the new advertisement of the shop because not many people grin like an idiot while a thick hole is being made in their ear and the rag on their shoulder is soaked in blood. It was a pretty scary photo indeed. I had to had the piercing covered in Betadine for a week to avoid infection. I thought everybody going through that experience - I presume tongues also bleed a lot so you keep spitting blood for half an hour? - has at a bit of healthy cautiousness, even fear about it... I think we are hardwired to get seriously WTFy when we see our own blood and a lot of it, albeit people can overcome that with practice.