Body Mod Discussion

[Turbo2Liter]

I've been pondering for the last few days about posting this, just because it may seem like I'm bashing, but I'm not. I'm really just curious.

I've been raised in a household that is strongly against tatoo's and piercings. My little sister has one hole in each ear, and that's all she will be allowed to get while she lives at my dad's house. My dad made the comment once that if I got my ears pierced, I better move out too. Even after moving out, there just seems to be a stereotype in the business world against people with body modifications.

When you get tatoo's and gauge out parts of your body, it is obviously more than just a hobby. Foster mentioned that he has dedicated that last 7 (or so) years of his life to this. This is kind of directed at Foster, since I know he has done a lot of work, but also a question for everyone that has any tatoo's or extra piercings: What plans do you have for your future, and more specifically, do you think that any of the changes you have made to yourself will inhibit your future opportunities whether it be a promotion at work or whatever else comes your way.

On a side note, I've done some work with a guy from IBM who is into this scene. He has several tatoo's (one very large one) and several piercings. He puts on a suite everyday and walks around with all his artwork totally hidden, and then at the end of the day, can live in the other world.

[Bren11]

I have six piercings: two in each ear, my tongue, and belly button. I too was raised in a household where I was told I was never to even double pierce my ears. Well now that I've done it my parents don't really care either way, my dad just said that he's glad "i'm experimenting while i still can". my mom tried to be mad but she too thinks it's funny.

Yes, I know that eventually I will have to take my tongue ring out, i.e. when i get a real job. The reason I got it done was because, subconciously, I wanted to prove to myself that I would go through with it, since i'm a huge wuss. a large part of it is being able to say i have my tongue pierced, at least for me. (and yes it is a myth about tongue rings making oral better) I figure why not have it while I can.

As for the belly button, I know that I will also have to take that out when I get older, i.e. pregnant or not lucky enough to look passable in a bikini when my ass is way too lazy to go to the gym. That was my first piercing other than ears, and it was more of the "hehe i'm doing something i'm not supposed to", since i got it done by the fairdale lady b/c i was still 16 and didnt' have a parent with me.

Tattoos. I don't have any, and I don't have anything against them. A few of my friends have them, and my boyfriend has one. I prefer them to be smallish and meaningful, but it's not my body so I can't and won't judge another person by it. For example: my best friend has the chinese symbol for water tattooed on her bikini line, which is extremely meaningful for her, as she has been a swimmer all her life, is now a lifeguard and swim coach, has spent almost every summer weekend at her family's lakehouse on rough river, and is a beach/ocean addict. I would have no problem with getting a tattoo like that, but I honestly don't have anything that means that much to me that I would want permanently inked on my body. I've thought about getting a tribal design, flower, star, or something general like that, but decided not to because I would like it for a few years and then regret it after that.

my .02

[darkside]

none of my artwork as ever hindered me in getting a job. if it does, that is the other parties fault. whether you have 1 or 100 tattoos people should not look at you any different than if you had none. i don't like at people without tattoos and stare at them like they do me. it's all a personal preference. i love art, i always have, that's why i'm a fine arts major.

like i said before my tattoos are for my personal reasons, they're reminder of my past and things i've gone through. whether it be a lost loved one or a girl that really hurt me. every tattoo i have has a reason and a story behind it (all 35+). to me the hours i'm being tattooed is like an escape from the normal chaos that surrounds me. it's like i'm free from all worries, no bills are due, i don't have to be at work. it's my freedom.

my current profession i am in, i am very happy with. i love doing what i'm doing. if i get burnt on this i will go somewhere else. worse case scenario i can go back, get a job at a shop and start piercing professionally again. but as for now, i'm happy with who i am and what i have done to myself. like i said i am in this for me and noone else.

my parents are in agreement w/ me 110%. my mother has 1 tattoo, my dad has none. my mom took me to get my first tattoo when i turned 18. they tell me, it's my body i can do what i want to it. everytime i get a new piece my mom is usually the next person to see it, after kara of course. but they have no problems w/ anything i've done body mod wise.

well taht's my .02, fell free to ask anyother questions...

[auto180sx]

i had like 3 pierceings in each ear, al had been gaged out, and did feel that it did inhibit some things, i would get stared at and watched when i went into a store, and were i work, i ould get alot of odd stares. i did take out most of them, so now i only have one in each ear, but they are both gaged. i dont look at it as a hobby, there just there, i barley even notcie them any more. when i do decide to take them out, they shoud grow back to were they were, if not, the holes should be unnoticeable. so they should not inhibit furture things

[Slo AMG]

I have several piercings and tatoos, they have never hindered me in getting a promotion or a job that was offered to me. Alot of people on this site that had ever seen me, doesn't even know i have these. If i wear a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt, you still wouldn't be able to see a single ttatoo or piercing of mine

[Clutch]

I'm guessing darkside posted that last one under heather's name...

edit: owned by self-deletion

[darkside]

i have full arm and leg sleeves, a tattoo on my throat. my ears are 1 inch each. hahahaha clutch caught me....

[girliegirlracer]

I work a "grown-Up" job in a corporate office...I was the CEO/presidents secretary for 3 years and now I work in the international department bringing in mad crazy powerful people and my art has never affected my job...I have 4 tattoo's and my tongue and belly are pierced..everyday i sport the little business suit and stillettos, and when I get home, its a whole different story...

No one cares what you have done....all they care about is that you get your shit done and do it professionally.

My dad and I went for our first tattoo's when I was 16 and haven't stopped since....I agree with darkside...every one has a story behind it...just as long as it means something to you is all that matters....do me a favor though - if you do go get one - please don't get like cartoon characters or anything like that....hehehe...

[96Z28]

I had 3 ear piercing and I have 3 tattoos. I got rid of the ear piercing because I didn't want them anymore, but no one ever said anything about them. The tattoos I have can be hidden with a t-shirt and nobody would know I have them unless I wanted them to know.

I work for the GTech Co. which controls computer systems for State and Government Lotteries world wide so it is a very professional setting and I have no problems with anything.

[Bren11]

i agree, as long as they have a story behind them, it's ok and sometimes even beneficial. I will be the first to say that i completely disagree with my bf's latest tattoo b/c right now it sure as hell doesn't hold up to the meaning it could posess.

[The Dev]

I have two tattoos, one on my back that's just below the collar line of a shirt, and one on my ankle... I plan for more on my shoulders/biceps. I also have two piercings, eyebrow and tongue. I don't feel the need to put in clear jewlery or flesh toned, or cover up my tattoos for exceptance in the work place or in society. Maybe I'm too optomistic, but I feel that the work place is becoming more exceptant of body modifications on employees. Employers are finally growing into society and learning that it's not what a person looks like, but their drive and ability to perform that matters.

[darkside]

i hate tattoos, all mine are fake anyway

[Girl Mechanic]

my reply to the part about the future and waht i want to do.

Thats why i commited my self to just get my whole back done and maybe parts of my arm done (which i know what i want to get anyways) my goal in life is to become a lawyer, which where i want my tattoos they will be covered up so i did think of my future