Graffiti, Tattooes, and Piercings

BeccaT, I’m not attacking you or anyone else for their life style, it is your choice, just as it is mine to refuse service from what I see as a form of mutilation to my eyes that makes me physically ill. Some people don’t like snakes, others spiders, for me, it’s facial piercings. I’m being tolerant of your life style, but tolerance doesn’t mean that I have to accept it nor do I have to agree with it. It’s my choice where I stand in line to pay for services or food, I’m not there to justify your life style, I’m there to eat and the piercings kill that real fast for me.

I was once young and rebellious, I needed to assert my differences and set myself apart from the crowd and then one day, someone said, “I see you are trying to be you, look at me! Terminally unique, just like everyone else.”

An article on employability of tattoo and piercing owners.

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Originally Posted by grotto

I don’t get it either, maybe it’s my age, but I prefer the beauty of simplicity over the aggrandizement of excess. To each his own, so I guess that makes me a minimalist. I am so repulsed by pierced lips and eyebrows that I won’t even go through a check out line with a cashier who has them.

Tattoos don’t bother me, but I do wonder why. I had one once on my hand and it so embarrassed me as I got older that I had it removed. Body adornments have fickle life spans in fashion, tattoos go through generational fads and what do you do 20 years from now when they are looked down on as you attend your child’s graduation or seek that job promotion with a spider or dragoon up your neck? Something to think about and I think in ten years, plastic surgeons are going to love all the work they are going to have when they fix all of those stretched out ear lobes.

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I'm a bit minimalist when it comes to things, even my tats, but I've little worry that they'll be looked down on. Tattoos and body art as a whole are increasingly gaining acceptance, even here in the uber conservative USA. I think it IS a generational thing, but the simple truth is that each generation becomes a little more accepting not the other way around. My grandparents were appalled when I came home with a tat, my grandpa viewed it as self mutilation. My dad considered getting one himself, though he's never acted, and my boyfriend/soon to be husband (at that time) traced it with his fingers admiring the intricacy of my Celtic Knot.

Now it's been 7 years since I've gotten it, and there is no regret. It is art, and the only problem I've ever had is in determining how I would like to expand on that art. I take quite seriously all that I do to my body, and I have to agree with Becca that regrets are for the people who don't stop to really think it through. If you have doubts that you'll like a modification in 20 years, it's not likely a good idea to do it. If you are certain and commit, there are no regrets only good memories.

It is amazing the things in your life that things like piercings and tattoos can be tied to and what memories they hold. As for me, I've finally solidified that I would like to add to my back in such a way that honors my journey as an individual, mother, wife, and eventually my descent into old age and all that comes with it. Often the symbology is called the "Triple Goddess". A representation of the maiden, mother, and crone. I'll add to that my own loves in life and things that hold meaning to me such as the sea and literature as well as a possible quote. There is no shame, and I imagine that my kids will do much the same as they do now. They'll trace the designs and know that they too are carried within a portrait of all that is important in my world.

I've only got one piercing on each ear lobe. My parents didn't allow me anything else, saying I would regret it later. (Of course if I went out now and had it done there really wouldn't be much they could do about it... On the other hand they could yank the metal out....)

I wanted a brow piercing a while back, and a few additional piercings by the ear... Some of my friends have gotten their bellies done. I've been thinking about it but I figure I should work on my midriff first ;)

I wonder if I'll ever actually get to having them done. :D

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Originally Posted by kasie

Look - I know I'm Old and Grey and therefore Not Keeping Up, but will someone please, please explain to me the attraction of piercings. I cannot for the life of me understand the attraction of bits of metal stuck in any part of one's anatomy, the very thought of some revolts me.

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I think I quite share most of your sentiments about this whole piercing-thingy, but I think I understand how piercings can be attractive for some people while they are not so for me...

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

An article on employability of tattoo and piercing owners.

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Just interviewed three young engineering prospects right out of college at work this past week for a job. All three very respectable candidates, dressed well, solid grades, gave good, articulate interviews. None had visible piercings or tattoos. If they had I can tell you I would not have hired him.

I guess it depends on the job, but if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or an engineer or whatever position of responsibility, you got to present yourself as a person of respectability.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Just interviewed three young engineering prospects right out of college at work this past week for a job. All three very respectable candidates, dressed well, solid grades, gave good, articulate interviews. None had visible piercings or tattoos. If they had I can tell you I would not have hired him.

I guess it depends on the job, but if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or an engineer or whatever position of responsibility, you got to present yourself as a person of respectability.

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Uh. I worked a summer at a courthouse, doing all sorts of respectable things, with all my piercings intact, my hair all shaved off, and my knuckle tattoos. I still know every single lawyer and real estate agent in the area, and I was asked to continue working for them full time. I cleaned it up and dressed respectably and kept my hair (well, bangs) an acceptable color, and despite the way I looked (which has nothing to do with abilities on anybody's part, you can be the cleanest looking person ever and still be an absolute, undependable moron), did a great job. I'm not going to change my looks to get a job: I don't need to, and smart people know that. You can look respectable, reponsible, and intelligent, but still have body modifications. They're becoming more and more prevalent in the world, and too soon, you WON'T be able to discriminate by that factor, because everybody will have them... (p.s. not hiring somebody due to piercings, etc, is illegal ;)

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Originally Posted by BeccaT

Uh. I worked a summer at a courthouse, doing all sorts of respectable things, with all my piercings intact, my hair all shaved off, and my knuckle tattoos. I still know every single lawyer and real estate agent in the area, and I was asked to continue working for them full time. I cleaned it up and dressed respectably and kept my hair (well, bangs) an acceptable color, and despite the way I looked (which has nothing to do with abilities on anybody's part, you can be the cleanest looking person ever and still be an absolute, undependable moron), did a great job. I'm not going to change my looks to get a job: I don't need to, and smart people know that. You can look respectable, reponsible, and intelligent, but still have body modifications. They're becoming more and more prevalent in the world, and too soon, you WON'T be able to discriminate by that factor, because everybody will have them... (p.s. not hiring somebody due to piercings, etc, is illegal ;)

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Well I'm happy for you. Doesn't mean that's typical. Who says anyone actually lists reasons for why they pick one over the other.

Plus I don't know what job this was for but it's not an engineer or a banker or manager. I don't think anyone is going to discriminate on this for a blue collar job, but in a corporate world it's disconcerting. I'm not saying one tattoo is going to sink you if it's modestly placed, but can you imagine a CEO having tattoos on his face? Or a piercing across his nostrils like a cow? Can you imagine the President of the US or the Prime Minister of Canada having such things?

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Can you imagine the President of the US or the Prime Minister of Canada having such things?

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I'd like to see that :D

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Originally Posted by BeccaT

They're becoming more and more prevalent in the world, and too soon, you WON'T be able to discriminate by that factor, because everybody will have them... (p.s. not hiring somebody due to piercings, etc, is illegal ;)

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People who love to discriminate will then find other things to use against people. For instance people like me, then, wouldn't be able to get jobs because they haven't got any piercings/tattoos!

Rejecting an able candidate just because he has/he has not got piercing doesn't sound very cool to me anyway. Discrimination just isn't and shouldn't be acceptable in any form (no offence specifically meant to you Virgil, just speaking generally :))

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Well I'm happy for you. Doesn't mean that's typical. Who says anyone actually lists reasons for why they pick one over the other.

Plus I don't know what job this was for but it's not an engineer or a banker or manager. I don't think anyone is going to discriminate on this for a blue collar job, but in a corporate world it's disconcerting. I'm not saying one tattoo is going to sink you if it's modestly placed, but can you imagine a CEO having tattoos on his face? Or a piercing across his nostrils like a cow? Can you imagine the President of the US or the Prime Minister of Canada having such things?

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Sure, why not? I certainly wouldn't respect them any less. I just don't get why having mods affords a person less respect. People need to be judged based on their abilities, not on their appearances. I don't want to destroy friendships, so I'm done arguing this. But JMO.

As it is, people have a tendency to divide potential employees into two categories: those with mods, and those without. The categories need to be: those who are capable, and those who are not. If you really feel the need to judge by appearance, leave out the mods, and look at cleanliness. Does this person have good personal hygiene? Are they clean? Hell, the way most people feel about mods, do they have track marks?

*ripping out hair here*

This is ridiculous. I'm sorry. I'm gone

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Originally Posted by Pensive

People who love to discriminate will then find other things to use against people. For instance people like me, then, wouldn't be able to get jobs because they haven't got any piercings/tattoos!

Rejecting an able candidate just because he has/he has not got piercing doesn't sound very cool to me anyway. Discrimination just isn't and shouldn't be acceptable in any form (no offence specifically meant to you Virgil, just speaking generally :))

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No offence taken. Descrimination of one's ethnicity or religion or race is absolutely wrong. But there are requirements of presentation. If someone came in filthy or in sexually suggestive clothing or spoke with language that had a curse word in every sentence, no matter how smart and capable that person is, he does not meet requirements of presentation. Same thing with tattoos and piercings.

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Originally Posted by BeccaT

Sure, why not? I certainly wouldn't respect them any less. I just don't get why having mods affords a person less respect. People need to be judged based on their abilities, not on their appearances. I don't want to destroy friendships, so I'm done arguing this. But JMO.

As it is, people have a tendency to divide potential employees into two categories: those with mods, and those without. The categories need to be: those who are capable, and those who are not. If you really feel the need to judge by appearance, leave out the mods, and look at cleanliness. Does this person have good personal hygiene? Are they clean? Hell, the way most people feel about mods, do they have track marks?

*ripping out hair here*

This is ridiculous. I'm sorry. I'm gone

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Not sure I know what you mean by mods. But you can read my reply to Pensive. There is a requirement of presentation. One doesn't work in a vacuum at a task. One has to work with many types of people and bosses and customers. A person making a presentation with a cow ring through one's nose is ludicrous and doesn't carry credibility. I'm sorry that's reality. Perhaps in another generation these things will be common and won't carry these associations. But my guess is if it happens then the youth of that day will move on to something else that's shocking. If you dress to shock, then don't be surprised when people get shocked.

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Originally Posted by BeccaT

Sure, why not? I certainly wouldn't respect them any less. I just don't get why having mods affords a person less respect. People need to be judged based on their abilities, not on their appearances. I don't want to destroy friendships, so I'm done arguing this. But JMO.

As it is, people have a tendency to divide potential employees into two categories: those with mods, and those without. The categories need to be: those who are capable, and those who are not. If you really feel the need to judge by appearance, leave out the mods, and look at cleanliness. Does this person have good personal hygiene? Are they clean? Hell, the way most people feel about mods, do they have track marks?

*ripping out hair here*

This is ridiculous. I'm sorry. I'm gone

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While I'm there with you the truth is that there are still a great deal of old timers in the business world who have the perception that mods = malcontents. I'm still amazed at the level of prejudice I see in industry in the day and age. I've worked with guys that don't see a problem using racial slurs when speaking about others, or the guy on the county commision who still thinks of women as coffee getters and note takers.

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Originally Posted by BeccaT

(p.s. not hiring somebody due to piercings, etc, is illegal ;)

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Actually, if the company is a private one, they can hire however they like, they're not obliged to give an official justification as to why they didn't hire you.

If you're applying for the public sector, well, apparently it depends. Personality rights apply, so usually appearence wouldn't be grounds for dismissal. However, in certain jobs (where a dress code is required, for example) the hiring entity may be justified in not hiring you. Virgil gives some of the reasons why this is so:

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Originally Posted by Virgil

[...] there are requirements of presentation. If someone came in filthy or in sexually suggestive clothing or spoke with language that had a curse word in every sentence, no matter how smart and capable that person is, he does not meet requirements of presentation. Same thing with tattoos and piercings.

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This, of course, only applies for certain jobs. Decisions are made case by case, except if it's a private company, in which case there's no issue.

[this according to the Portuguese law, by the way]

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Originally Posted by mkhockenberry

No trouble with piercings for me, but I do have a love a tattoos. I'm plotting my back piece, but I think I'll be finished after that. I think the biggest reason I'm not more 'addicted' to them is the simple fact that I want a career in Corporate America. I don't necessarily wish to work for a big company, the small one I'm at is fine, but I do want to go far and be successful. Unfortunately, that is much harder if you have too many visible piercings and tattoos. So I'll content myself with covering my entire back in artwork, and that will be the end of it. I think it is a shame they are such a stigma, since I love mine, and I want more, but that is reality and I must live in it.

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Me too :)