Good point, but lets just look at this objectively. Are Christians constantly branded as being "those who crucify themselves" and is this a ritual of theirs that a significant portion of Christians perform? The answer to both of those questions is "no." Just type in "Shia" https://twitter.com/Rozx313R/status/1282917056019443712

on the internet for example, and what will you get? Just picture it, a person is interested in Shia Islam and happens to google Shia Islam in order to learn more about it. He is then immediately bombarded by grotesque pictures of full-grown men (and babies) drenched in blood.

This person would most likely come to the conclusion that this is a barbaric group of people, as I would despite the fact that I'm very used to blood. Moreover, this ritual occurs rarely more than once a year. And among the Shias who do deem it halal, not all of them perform it.

Our enemies are using this (well-intended) ritual to brand us as barbarians and it is working. I will conclude this thread with this hadith by Imam Jaafar Al Sadiq (AS): "Become an ornament for us (the Ummah), do not be a disgrace for us."

Excellent video, highly recommend if you're interested in the subject:

I'd also recommend http://www.tatbir.org