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[Emaline]

I know it is really naive and dumb of me to think this way, but why not fight those 'non-accepting of tattoos' corporate jobs by just...you know....not getting them?


Like I said I realize it is a pretty naive idea, and kinda dumb, but I just don't see how someone could like working at a place where they were allowed to be themselves. When I was looking for jobs, anywhere that told me that I couldn't have my piercings or tattoos showing, I used their applications as scrap paper, and didn't waste my paper by giving them a resume. It's just not worth it. Now I work at Hot Topic, and yeah everybody thinks that's lame, but shit. This job is the most fantastic job I've ever had. I love all of my coworkers. I get cheap hair dye, and jewelry. The company actually listens to what its employees have to say. Seriously. We say that we should carry something and it gets put in the store! It's wonderful. And I can be the most tattooed and pierced person out there. And if I want to move on from the store to the corporate headquarters, I can totally do that.


What I'm saying is, yeah there are corporate jobs out there that don't like tattoos but there are also ones out there that do. Go work for those ones.

[Ballard]

If I had a better idea of where I'll end up in four, five years, that would be easier. As it stands, I'm just now looking at colleges and various career paths, and I don't want to narrow my options for employment later on.

Although I disagree with anti-body-modification sentiments, I can understand where they stem from. The corporate elite are of a different generation, one which didn't grow up with body mods as a widespread cultural phenomenon, and I don't think it's possible to re-educate them. The best that we can do is wait it out for another few decades until our generation and the previous one are in power, at which point I predict the rules for piercings and tattoos in the workplace will become significantly more lax.

I'm probably getting a real tattoo soon anyway, so this is largely theoretical talk, explaining other people's motives which I can relate to.

[ackblom12]

What I'm saying is, yeah there are corporate jobs out there that don't like tattoos but there are also ones out there that do. Go work for those ones.

Well, I wouldn't encourage someone who's 18 and not sure where they're going to end up job wise to get tattoos in all honesty. It entirely depends on what field you can get into as to whether visible tattoos are a realistic venture or not.

On the other hand, I wouldn't encourage them to get a sub dermal implant (such as the digital "tattoo") either, something that's got the potential to be much more dangerous.

The only reason I wouldn't be okay with a tattoo is the idea that I'd eventually get tired of it/regret it, regardless of how well thought out it was. I can avoid getting that I <3 BLINK-182 tattoo but priorities and tastes change over time.

Yeah, I won't deny that this is something I can't relate to in any way because the idea that I will not like it one day is of no concern to me. If I don't like a tattoo, I'll get it covered up with another, hopefully better tattoo at some point. Maybe removed via laser or whatever other crazy future tech we eventually get sorted out.

I can appreciate the fact that people want to seriously think about what they want for their ink, as most folks who are a fan of ink do, but it is an oddity to me to not do it because you may change your mind in 10 - 60 years.

Also, unfortunately, body modification discrimination is still rampant in the corporate world so I have to plan for that.

My only real issue with this reasoning is that I can't think of a single corporate job that wouldn't be able to cover up your tattoo with clothing unless you got hand, knuckle, wrist, neck or face work. I think in those cases pictures of you drunk or the like on Facebook (even if they aren't posted by you) are much more likely to get you fired or on the no-hire list, and that's a much much harder to control environment.

[Papersatan]

My only real issue with this reasoning is that I can't think of a single corporate job that wouldn't be able to cover up, or be forced to depending on what they even allow you to wear, your tattoo with clothing unless you got hand, knuckle, wrist, neck or face work.

[/quote]

For women the clothing choices are much more limited if they have foot, ankle/lower legs, chest or arm work.  Even if you just have a "tramp stamp" many women's lower backs show when the move about in noraml clothes.  It is possible to hide them, yes, but you have to be aware of them in every clothing purchase you make. 

Like I said I realize it is a pretty naive idea, and kinda dumb, but I just don't see how someone could like working at a place where they were allowed to be themselves. When I was looking for jobs, anywhere that told me that I couldn't have my piercings or tattoos showing, I used their applications as scrap paper, and didn't waste my paper by giving them a resume. It's just not worth it.

I will not change my hair color for a job.  Unless they pay me something outrageous it is not worth it to me.  I went to college and changed my major twice to avoid ending up with a degree I couldn't use unless I changed my hair. (Arguably I have one that is useless regardless of my hair) I have run into problems in the past.  I worked at a grocery store for 8 years and while my hair was not officially a problem it did hold me back.  I was told un-officially that it was a big part of why I was unable to get any of the full-time positions I applied for and that I should change it.  I was mad as hell, and frustrated, but it is not worth it to me to change my hair. I went back to school instead. 
I am currently looking for a decent job and it is daunting to know that, with un-employment so high and my piercings, tattoos and hair I am at an extreme disadvantage. I interview well though, I am qualified and I am ready to defend myself at interviews. I truly believe that any company with a "diversity statement" that only diversifies their workplace in the ways mandated by law anyways needs to reconsider they purpose of their diversity statement.  And as Emiline said, I see it as not great loss if they are unwilling to see my potential past my hair. 
That said, this is not realistic for a lot of people and it depends on your attitude about life.  I don't have children to care for.  I have Stephen for a second source of income.  I don't have expensive hobbies (except body modification).  I am happy with clothes that aren't as nice, and a crappy car and so on. 

Also I don't understand arguments about not wanting a tattoo later.  Many life choices you make are permanent or have permanent effects: starting smoking, which major in college, who to marry, which job to accept... It is all a part of the journey.  Your attitude will change, but that butterfly on your butt will still be a part of who you were, which will still be a part of you even if you remove it.  Also, as Stephen said it is easy to get it covered-up if you really hate it. 

[Thomas Edison]

I've been pretty lucky when it comes to work and modifications so far. I'm nearly 19 and I have a 16mm lobe and two tattoos on my lower arms. I work at a conference hall in a short sleeved t-shirt where I end up dealing with anyone from 14 year olds from down the road to 90 year old ladies from India. But my tattoos haven't caused me any issues, the only time someone has commented on them is a week or so after I'd had them done. One of our senior management even has Celtic bands on his arms (although he does wear a suit jacket at the fancier conferences to hide them), but neither he or any other managerial staff have pulled me aside for a word. It helps that I am now a big part of a family business which has supplied a good trade to the conference centre for five years near, but I can't even imagine my tattoos or piercings holding me back.

I'm going to university in September to start a film production course, and I'm not exactly sure what the climate about tattoos and such is in that industry, but I don't imagine it will be anything I can't handle.

[Lines]

Honestly, you have to decide which is more important to you - your career or what you have on/in your body. I love tattoos and I want to get a few down the line, but would I go out and get sleeves? No. I want to teach and not all schools are cool with having visible tattoos. You can still have tattoos and body mods in places that aren't visible. Do I want to give up my gauges? No, but really, they aren't that big and are easily looked over by other people, which is why I've decided not to stretch them. (I would have more things done, but my metal allergy prevents this and it's not worth it to me to fight with my body.) But they are still important to me, but I want to teach art more than anything else. I do not want to work in retail anymore, even though the art store I work for doesn't really care about what body mods you have. In a few years when it's us controlling big companies and the like, things will change. But if say your hair or your mods are important to you, then find some career that still makes you happy that is more lenient, but don't judge those who choose the opposite.

[Ballard]

Guys do have it easy with regard to clothing covering up ink. My issue is that my ideal spot for tats is on my arms below the elbow, and I just don't want to have to keep my sleeves all the way down and buttoned up around my wrists or even have to be conscious of that all the time.

How easy exactly is it to get a tattoo lasered off? I was under the impression that it's expensive, painful, and leaves scarring.

[Rizzo]

I appreciate that New Zealand doesn't really have this obsessive anti-mod business culture. Of course, there are some jobs where you're expected to cover tattoos or whatever but mostly they're shitty jobs you wouldn't want (call centre, casino etc). I've always followed the theory that your skills and qualifications should speak more than your appearance. This isn't always the case of course but I've managed to convince employers in the past that my skills benefit them positively more than my appearance does negatively.
As with anything, you essentially have to prove you're more than your outward image.

[elizaknowswhatshesfor]

I wear a wig & longer sleved shirts to my job. It's hot & itchy, but it serves both purposes.

 But then I didn't start getting larger more visable things until I was 25 & before that I worked it pubs that encouraged it. I'm glad I didn't get myself covered in stuff when I had a job that let me, because then I wouldn't have got the jobs inbetween that didn't.

And I have seriously been treated like shit in jobs just because I looked a little different & that's when I thought I'd toned myself down. And no I couldn't just quit that job, I had to find another.

Saying you will just get a job where "You can be yourself" unrealistic & actually pretty childish. We all gots bills to pay & unless your pretty lucky we are all going to end up doing McJobs. It's a global recession kids & your CV doesn't mean shit to anyone.

[Ballard]

(For those keeping score at home in America, CV means resume)

[Lines]

(Actually it's more extensive than a resume.)

[Barmymoo]

Really? What goes on a resume? My CV has my education history, my previous work experience, relevant skills and (unless it's something properly formal like an internship) interests. Oh, and contact details.

[Ballard]

Sounds about right.

I've been googling for ten minutes to find you a good sample resume but apparently all sample resumes on the internet are either complete overkill or have wacky MS Paint graphics on the letterhead.

[Jimmy the Squid]

Saying you will just get a job where "You can be yourself" unrealistic & actually pretty childish. We all gots bills to pay & unless your pretty lucky we are all going to end up doing McJobs. It's a global recession kids & your CV doesn't mean shit to anyone.

Ooh, big chip on your shoulder right there, can you see it?

There are jobs out there where body mods are acceptable. Granted, these are few and far between depending on what sector you want to go in and what culture you are part of. No one here is unaware of that. No one here is even being particularly whiny about it (except for you).

Even where body mods are not acceptable, there is a significant portion of your body that you'll have to cover up anyway so it's not like there isn't stuff you can do. Furthermore, if you are actually that interested in the whole body mod thing then having to hide, cover or otherwise conceal any mods that you do have will seem like a small sacrifice. Not to mention the fact that very few people who are into body mods are attracted to jobs where they are frowned upon, chances are, if you have lots of very visible piercings and such that can't be hidden, covered or otherwise obscured than you won't want to be working in a bank or a law firm or any retail job that doesn't allow for some measure of freedom of expression.

Of course, there are some jobs where you're expected to cover tattoos or whatever but mostly they're shitty jobs you wouldn't want (call centre, casino etc).

Call centre? Really? Outside of certain "hip" and "funky" retail chains I've found that call centres are one of the industries most accepting of body mods, mainly because the public can't see you.

[ackblom12]

How easy exactly is it to get a tattoo lasered off? I was under the impression that it's expensive, painful, and leaves scarring.

That's fairly accurate.

The scarring is not as much of an issue as it used to be since the procedure is being done more often now days. More clients, more skilled lasering professionals etc etc. I've seen quite a few results whee there was next to no noticeable scarring. Helps quite a bit when the intent is to fade the tattoo and then cover it with another tattoo rather than remove it entirely.

The cost depends on if you want it completely removed, what colors you used and all that though. sometimes they charge by session, sometimes they charge by hour. The price varies drastically from practitioner to practitioner though.

From what I gather of the folks I know who have had it done, it's hurts like a bitch. I mean, it makes sense since the current method is to boil the ink so that it breaks down into materials that your body can absorb. I know they are working on ways to ease it and make a lasers more accustomed to this specific job, but for the moment it's a bit of a bastard.

Saying you will just get a job where "You can be yourself" unrealistic & actually pretty childish. We all gots bills to pay & unless your pretty lucky we are all going to end up doing McJobs. It's a global recession kids & your CV doesn't mean shit to anyone.

I actually have to disagree to a certain point. It 100% depends on what job market you're in as to whether it's a realistic venture or not. I mean, no matter what the market is (unless you're actually in the body modification industry) you do need to prioritize what mods you are and are not willing to cover, remove, hide with retainers/makeup and the like, but it's part of the deal. Some doors open, some close and most people into body modification are quite aware of this.  

I have chosen not to accept jobs that break certain personal principles/morals I have. I have also been fired from at least one job for having piercings after being there for a year of them not being a problem. It certainly didn't happen at a good time for me, financially or emotionally, but I don't think this makes me childish. Hell, I still have have certain requirements for a job that include them letting me have facial hair and long hair. How I am allowed to present myself outside of my workplace is a very important to me and many of the dress codes dictate what I can and cannot do outside of the workplace. I realize what this means for me when looking for work and I make decisions accordingly. If worse comes to worse, I might change my priorities depending on the situation, but that's life.

Calling someone who has accepted these kinds of terms, and works with them, childish is fairly ridiculous.

I'm all for discussion in this thread, I'm quite happy when it happens. The problem is, I think you're bringing up good points in the thread, but your posts (particularly the one I'm responding to) have had a rather inflammatory and dismissive tone to them. I find this doubly odd since I've never noticed this attitude in other posts you've made in other sections of the forum.

[Papersatan]

I wear a wig & longer sleved shirts to my job. It's hot & itchy, but it serves both purposes.

Saying you will just get a job where "You can be yourself" unrealistic & actually pretty childish. We all gots bills to pay & unless your pretty lucky we are all going to end up doing McJobs. It's a global recession kids & your CV doesn't mean shit to anyone.

I disagree that it is unrealistic and childish.  It depends what you mean by "being yourself".  It is unrealistic to walk into a company with a conservative corporate culture with green dreadlocks a giant septum ring and hand tattoos and expect to be hired. But it is not unrealistic to expect to find *a* job.  It is a matter of compromise.  Which companies can I work for, which industries will I have the best luck in, what is my earning potential v. what am I comfortable living on?  These are the mature decisions that adults make, regardless of their modded status. 
The idea that a visibly modified person can't find gainful employment is common; I had a manager once tell me he didn't understand why people with piercings and colored hair thought they were going to find full-time work.  The fact is people who are modified are not all living on government checks so they are finding employment somewhere. We may have to rely more on networking, so that people can give us great references and recommend us to people they know, we may have to compromise on how we appear at work, we may have to settle for lower paying jobs and for less traditional routs to "success", but it is possible.  If you have a realistic view of it, and understand what you are getting into it is no more childish than retiring a mod is "selling out".  They are both compromises that adults make. 

Not to mention the fact that very few people who are into body mods are attracted to jobs where they are frowned upon, chances are, if you have lots of very visible piercings and such that can't be hidden, covered or otherwise obscured than you won't want to be working in a bank or a law firm or any retail job that doesn't allow for some measure of freedom of expression.

I disagree with that.  Lots of people into body mods are attracted to jobs in industries that are not mod friendly.  Either they give up their career goal or they give up their mods, but it is not because they didn't want both.  I wanted to be a teacher.  I changed major because I realized it would be too hard to find work as a teacher with my mods. 
There are also a lot of modified people who, like elizaknowswhatshesfor who compromise and hide their mods at work.  You'd be surprised how many men with full body suits work in a conservative field where they just wear long sleeves and pants all day. 

[iamiam]

i actually get where eliza is coming from, even though her wording maybe could use some reworking.  i don't think she is saying anything about how easy/difficult it is to cover up tattoos in order to fit in at the work place. i think she is responding to the sentiment of 'why would you work in a place that won't accept your visible piercings/tattoos'.  which i honestly think is kind of a silly statement.  there are lots and lots of reasons why people with tattoos want to work for corporations which don't allow for body mods!

i have pretty clear ideas for what i want to do in my life.  right now i am getting licensed to teach and eventually i'd like to work for the UN.  this means: no tattoos, no facial piercings, no hair color. i'm already struggling when i have to attend fancy luncheons... why can't we go back to the victorian era high collared dresses??  i have to get real creative with trying to cover up my few tats.  

i don't regret my tattoos one bit.  but the idea that i would change my career path over them is just not an option!  i love that i can wear whatever the hell i want when i am working at urban outfitters.  but quit my office job & deciding not to teach because they won't 'accept me' and choose urban as a long-term career instead?  no way!

some people don't care where they work as long as the bills get paid, so might base job choice based on dress code rather than the actual work.  others are lucky enough to want to work in a field where body mods don't matter.  still others might be so smart/talented/experienced that they can get away with having body mods because their skills are hard to come by.  if any of that is the case for you, then that's great!

i really, really wish i could just "be myself" at work.  it would be fantastic if i could find work at a small nonprofit where appearance didn't matter.  but as eliza pointed out, this is not the friendliest economy for being so picky.  so unless i am willing to give up all my goals (and move back in with my parents) in order to stick it to the man, then unfortunately wanting to be accepted for who i am in the workplace is an unrealistic sentiment.


(to be fair though i feel like that i have to point out that as a person who still believes in unicorns, i find it impossible to fit in professional settings with or without tattoos)

[iamiam]

btw i think we all actually agree with one another but are just saying things in different ways.

[Barmymoo]

I DO NOT AGREE BODY MODS ARE STUPID AND CHILDISH YOU SHOULD ALL GO WORK IN GARBAGE COLLECTION

Wait. Did I just say that out loud?


Seriously though, I was absolutely furious when my school made me take my nose piercing out in order to take my exams. My mum has, throughout my life, told me that various things will mean I can't get a job (most hilariously, bisexuality will apparently make me unemployable) and a nose piercing was one of them.

I've had several teachers with pierced noses. Clearly they managed to get what is generally considered to be one of the more conservatively-dressed jobs, and it didn't affect their teaching at all, unless you count the fact that it usually caused me to develop a crush on them and as a result pay more attention in class.

[Ptommydski]

(most hilariously, bisexuality will apparently make me unemployable)

PICK A SIDE.

STICK TO IT.

[Drill King]

Oh hey I'm getting a tattoo tomorrow!

[Emaline]

For the record, one of the head guys at our genome center that tattoos, piercings, dreads, and was a burner. He regularly posted on his facebook about legalizing marijuana, and Burning Man. He recently quit so he and his wife could travel. But.... he was a big boss at the genome center. As in big fancy science workplace, regularly getting published in big fancy science magazines.


Also, my boyfriend isn't super goth, but no one has cared when he has worn eyeliner to work. And I know there is a girl who works there who goes to work all gothed out.


These are people working in offices, and labs, btws.



So it is completely possible to find work in a Big Fancy Corporate/Office Environment© and be tattooed and pierced and have crazy hair.


Saying the economy is too much in the shiter to have priorities and stick to your guns is, I think, kinda ridiculous. I mean, if the economy is so bad, should I completely disregard everything I've believed in and start prostituting myself? I mean, fuck, you can make some fantastic money that way. And shit, judging by the whistles and cat calls I get walking the three blocks from my house to my bus stop/the grocery store, I'd be making some decent money.

Yeah, I'm currently working a (corporate)retail job, in a "hip" and "funky" environment, but it's the most amazing job I've ever had. I've never felt so loved. I feel like they are really grateful that I'm working there. And like I said, I could go work at corporate if I wanted. THERE ARE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE IS DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOU LOOK.


Also,  "Be the change you want to see in the world"

[iamiam]

did you really just compare hiding tattoos to prostitution?

anyways, you work retail.  at a hot topic.  i've been working at urban outfitters for a year and still earn min wage there.  like i said, i love the fact that i can wear whatever i want to work.  but i have a BA and i do not like earning minimum wage for a corporation that in many ways represents a lot of things i don't believe in.

there are many jobs i would like to do that would mean that i could get more tats and piercings.  i'd love to work for a small nonprofit with no dress code, or own my own business, or eventually have so much experience that i could work for WFP or Doctors Without Borders or FAO and have them not care what i look like or what i wear because i'm so brilliant.  and hopefully that will all happen for me.  but right now i have no delusions - these are not things that will happen anytime soon, so i have to take what i can get. 

so yeah, i guess i technically chose to work in an office with a dress code rather than at urban outfitters.  but i make twice as much here as i did there, and i'm actually gaining relevant experience.  the fact that i'm willing to compromise now in order to fulfill long term desires (and ok, be able to afford a certain standard of living) isn't exactly on the same level as working street corners.

[Papersatan]

For the record, one of the head guys at our genome center that tattoos, piercings, dreads, and was a burner. He regularly posted on his facebook about legalizing marijuana, and Burning Man. He recently quit so he and his wife could travel. But.... he was a big boss at the genome center. As in big fancy science workplace, regularly getting published in big fancy science magazines.

From what I have seen scientific and academic careers are lax because they are based on results.  They are based on research and knowledge not interactions with the public.

Saying the economy is too much in the shiter to have priorities and stick to your guns is, I think, kinda ridiculous. I mean, if the economy is so bad, should I completely disregard everything I've believed in and start prostituting myself?
...
Also,  "Be the change you want to see in the world"

I think the point some people were making about there career choices interfering with their ability to have mods was that they are sacrificing them to be that change.  It is not selling out to give up one thing you want for another thing you want.  Linds wants to be an art teacher, to touch a generation of children (not inappropriately I hope) and inspire them to love art.  She might not be able to do that if she gets a facial tattoo.  Someone also said they want to work for the UN, it's not selling out to give up having visible mods to get that. 
I love my hair, it is an integrated part of my personal identity.  It has been pink for more than 13 years now.  When I dream about myself, my hair is always pink.  I will not sacrifice it for a job I am not in love with.  Money is not enough for me.  But if I got an opportunity to do something I really loved and was passionate about but I had to sacrifice my hair for a few years, I would.   

[Emaline]

Saying you will just get a job where "You can be yourself" unrealistic & actually pretty childish. We all gots bills to pay & unless your pretty lucky we are all going to end up doing McJobs. It's a global recession kids & your CV doesn't mean shit to anyone.

I was mostly responding to this, guys.


I understand that its a choice, and I'm not saying anyone is making The Wrong Choice. I'm just saying its totally completely 100% possible to get a totally awesome high earning job that you love and still have tattoos and piercings. On top of that, why should I degrad and disregard who I am in order to have a high earning job? I have bills to pay, yes, but I am have some self respect and to me, in my own opinion in regard to myself, taking a job where I cannot fully express myself by showing of my tattoos is completely out of the question. I understand that some people choose and think otherwise and that's there thing. I don't judge them differently, and I never met for any of my posts to seem that way. When I felt attacked, which is how I felt in regards to Eliza's post, I responded negatively. Do I really feel that taking a job where I must keep all my tattoos and piercings hidden is on par with becoming a prostitute just because the economy sucks so bad? ...not exactly. If it is just so terrible I will just get two part time jobs at "hip and funky" retail places where I will earn minimum wage(well, actually I'm currently earning more than that, but whatevs).

I just feel like I personally can find a decent job doing something that I love and that my body isn't going to hold me back. If I became super serious about doing charity stuff for a living, I'd already have an in to that. In this shitty economy, I just raised $5,000 for charity(at parties I did not partake in, the average was $500). Our economy is so crappy I got somebody to spend only $1,000 on a poster! If I wanted to get serious about graphic design, I have an in to that as well. I know a number of local graphic design companies looking for people, and I have a friend who is super close to a number of the people who work there. Same deal with art.

Why am I not persuing those careers right now? Well, I'm be perfectly honest and blunt and say I've just now started to build up enough confidence in myself to actually consider them. I'm looking into going to college for business to persue that charity job.

If someone told me that I wouldn't be able to do a certain job that I wanted to do because of my body art, not only would I show them that not only can I actually do the job, but do it better than anyone who has done it before.

No I don't recommend that 18 year olds go out and get that tattoo of Bowser surfing while smoking a bong with a big pot leaf in the background tattooed on their face. But I also wouldn't recommend that they get that tattoo of their deceased grandma's favorite flower tattooed somewhere where disecretly. What I do recommend is that they take the time to find what is right for them, and plan for it, and even then wait longer before they get something tattooed on them forever.

[Metope]

please?

No

[Emaline]

Is it so wrong to have a discussion?


Anyway, in regards to my last post: TL;DR you do your thin, I'll do mine, and we will both become sucessful!

[Lines]

But I also wouldn't recommend that they get that tattoo of their deceased grandma's favorite flower tattooed somewhere where disecretly.

What's so bad about doing this kind of thing? If it has personal meaning and they really want it, who cares, it's their body. It's not like they're randomly picking something off of a wall with no thought to it.

Really? What goes on a resume? My CV has my education history, my previous work experience, relevant skills and (unless it's something properly formal like an internship) interests. Oh, and contact details.

That is a resume. A CV lists EVERYTHING. A resume you have a little bit more leniency on what you put on there. For example, I leave off a few of the jobs I've had. I don't want people calling places I worked as a teenager and I don't list jobs I absolutely hated. (There's only one in that category and it closed down anyways, so whatever.) On a CV, it records your entire work and education history. Like for artists, they list every single show you've ever been involved in. Resumes tend to be about 1-3 pages, but I've seen some CVs that are over 20 pages long. (It belonged to a professor who was a working artist and she shows a LOT.) Essentially they're the same thing, but the major difference is length. A resume can't be a CV, but a CV can be a resume.


ANYWAYS. Andy, what kind of tattoo are you getting?

And no, Kat, I don't want to touch children inappropriately.

[Ladybug]

I think the term usage depends a lot on where you live. In Norway, we only do CVs, and they're usually not more than 2 pages long. A lady from the Thales Group who held a course at school on how to write a good CV, said that the CV should be 1 or 2 pages, and if you went on to page 2, you better have done a lot of exciting stuff (it's not uncommon to leave off irrelevant jobs you've had way back either). Judging by the Wikipedia article, the British version of a CV is something similar, and since Thales is an international company and the woman said that the guidelines she laid out were common all through the corporation, I'm guessing it's common in a lot of other countries as well.

[Emaline]

But I also wouldn't recommend that they get that tattoo of their deceased grandma's favorite flower tattooed somewhere where disecretly.

What's so bad about doing this kind of thing? If it has personal meaning and they really want it, who cares, it's their body. It's not like they're randomly picking something off of a wall with no thought to it.

I'm saying, I wouldn't tell an 18 year old to go out an get a tattoo ASAP. I'm saying take time to consider something that is going to be on your body forever.

[Jace]

I would. But I like to troll people in real life. That being said, I always urge people to get tattoos all the time.

[Thomas Edison]

I got my first tattoo at 16 because I was infatuated with them and wanted one ASAP. It's not my favourite tattoo, it's not even well done, but I certainly don't regret getting it. It took 45 minutes, was done by an old guy who had sleeves so faded it looked like his arms had been dipped in black paint and has actually scarred quite a bit and become quite raised, but it was my first experience with tattoos and it didn't put me off getting two more done two years down the line. I know it's going to be on my body forever but I'm cool with that, because there's a story to it and it's a reminder to what I was like when I was 16.

Also, I'm with Jace. I think everyone is prettier with tattoos.

[Zingoleb]

I like the idea of tattoos. I might even get one someday! But it's more of an issue of "I don't know what I'd be willing to put on my body FOREVER" than anything else. If I figure that one out I'll do it.

Anyways I have a problem mod thread.

As I've posted elsewhere before, I have a pretty big problem with needles. I still want to get my ears pierced, though. Can someone tell me I'm just being a pussy reassure me it ain't so bad?

[Metope]

I've never been afraid of needles so I might not be the best person to take advise from, but seriously, it doesn't hurt at all and it's over in less than a second. I've only pierced the lobes though, so I don't know about other places in the ear.

Maybe this will help: A friend of mine who is terrified of needles (she fainted twice in the nurses office when we were getting vaccines in school) was getting her ears pierced, and she was just sitting there closing her eyes and holding on to the chair really tight, and when the needle went through she didn't say anything and just continued sitting there. The woman who had pierced her ear went "that wasn't so bad, was it?" ans she just went "huh? did you do it already?". That's how bad it is.

[Ballard]

When I got my ear pierced, I had a similar experience. I am not afraid of needles in particular but I have a low pain tolerance. I think it's because the clamp that they put on before they stick the needle through hurts more than the actual piercing, so you get surprised with all sorts of sensations and then before you can figure out what's what, it's over.

[Eris]

I got mine pierced with a gun when I was 5 and again when I was 12. I would think that a needle would hurt less than the gun, because they are designed to pierce things, rather than just forcing an earring through your ear lobe. Your ear lobes are basically just skin anyway, so it's not going to hurt that much.

I am not a very big fan of needles, so when I got my nose and my lip pierced I just kept my eyes closed the whole time. I do that when I get blood taken too; it works pretty well. I think ultimately if you really want to get your ears pierced you have to suck it up in terms of your needle fear, the piercing is done pretty quickly and the pain goes away quickly and you forget about it. That is my stance on it; if you stick it out then you will end up with something cool, be it a piercing or a tattoo or whatever. Pain is just fleeting and forgettable anyway.

[Boro_Bandito]

My ears hurt like a bitch, but it was because the guy was a friend doing it in my bathroom, and it was at an awkward angle and various stuff but it only hurt for a couple seconds and afterwards I didn't have any pain of any kind. But like, I don't know bite through the pain. I had a fear of needles when I was younger and I'm a total bitch when it comes to pain, but I still let him do the other ear. You gotta want em man.

Also I got my blood taken a couple weeks ago and forced myself to watch. I used to have a deal with, erm, fainting, at sight of significant amounts of blood(real blood, gory movies are fine, yes I know it's inconsistent) and I'm still strugglin' a bit with that phobia.

[sean]

i had a 10g needle shoved through my ear. the first one wasn't bad. the 2nd sucked.

but then its over and you move on with life. get on with it.

edit: honestly the only part that was painful was the stretch to 8g right away. the needle didn't really hurt at all.

[Lines]

I first got my ears pierced when I was about 8 and it was with a gun. From what I remember, it hurt like a bitch.

Fast forward to my 23rd b-day and I get them re-pierced with a 10g needle. My first lobe had more scar tissue and she was piercing around it, so I barely even felt anything. Second earlobe had no scar tissue and is a bit thicker than my other lobe, so I felt a little prick, but that was it. Mostly all I remember feeling is the coolness of the glass when she put the single flares in. (It's rather a rather pleasant feeling, actually.) But I think the breathing exercises my piercer had me doing helped a bit, too. But yeah. It doesn't hurt. The only thing that hurts is if someone accidentally hits your ear somehow. Owww...

[Jace]

When I had my ears done to 12g a couple weeks ago it didn't really hurt that bad, but that is pretty subjective I guess, since I've had 5 tattoos done in various locations including the inside part of my elbow (the artist called it the divot of death) and my ribs. My septum didn't really hurt much either, its at 14g and although there was a crunch sound, the pain subsided pretty quickly.

[ackblom12]

(I would have more things done, but my metal allergy prevents this and it's not worth it to me to fight with my body.)

Before i forget again! You should totally look into using Titanium jewelry for initial piercings if you are interested in getting more work done. If you have a metal allergy it's because of the nickel content in most jewelry metals. Titanium has it, but it's fractions of a percent and shouldn't cause any reaction at all.

[Lines]

Interesting! I'll look into it in the future if I have money for Fun Things.

[Drill King]

chickcabuck I got two new matching tattoos. Yeah!

Ear stretching progress has one ear at 10 and the other at 8, it's slow going. I have a question though, is a bit of crusties okay for new stretches? I'm reading the internet and that's telling me that crusties are bad but I don't really understand why(given that they're a normal occurance for other work)

[ackblom12]

Crusties are really only normal for still healing piercings and certain types of long term problem spots like cartilage and nipples.

For the piercings it's not normal, crusties usually indicate lymphing, which indicates possible tearing in stretching. Little tears are posibly forming and basically causing small amounts of scarring, which can make future stretching more difficult. It can also crust if you get sick and you're body is producing a particularly large amount of oils and skin shed.

Basically, in this case it's likely a sign you're stretching too fast.

http://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-a-Piercing

[öde]

That was fun!

[Rizzo]

chickcabuck I got two new matching tattoos. Yeah!

Ear stretching progress has one ear at 10 and the other at 8, it's slow going. I have a question though, is a bit of crusties okay for new stretches? I'm reading the internet and that's telling me that crusties are bad but I don't really understand why(given that they're a normal occurance for other work)

Two things: It should never hurt, and it should almost never crust. You should be taking approximately 2-4 weeks per 2mm/gauge to stretch. Everybody is different though so some people can do it faster and others have to take longer. For instance it took me a year to go from 10 gauge to 00 (10mm). However it only took me a week to go from 10mm to 12. And only 2 days to go from 12 to 12.5mm.
So if they're crusting you're stretching too quickly most likely. How are you doing it? I stretched my by purchasing increasingly larger acrylic spirals and pushing them through over the course of a week. Other people use a taper and do it in one go. That can cause a lot more damage but is typically fine. I've always been recommended to use a spiral/crescent/whatever and do it over a week or two.

[elizaknowswhatshesfor]

I like the idea of tattoos. I might even get one someday! But it's more of an issue of "I don't know what I'd be willing to put on my body FOREVER" than anything else. If I figure that one out I'll do it.

Anyways I have a problem mod thread.

As I've posted elsewhere before, I have a pretty big problem with needles. I still want to get my ears pierced, though. Can someone tell me I'm just being a pussy reassure me it ain't so bad?

I'm super scared of needles & have to sack it up. It's completely worth it. I've got 12 tattoos & had somewhere around 57 different piercings at one point. All of these things required needles. I went sheet white & looked like a big wet blanket everytime I got something done. But after it's all adreneline & YEAHS!

Also to adress something I said on the previous page, yes I have a chip on my shoulder, I'd never deny that, also I'd like to apologise for my extremely harsh phrasing, there is a thread here for taking stress & anger out on the internet & this is isn't the one. I know I didn't really offend anyone as no-one should care what internet strabgers think of them, but I will still say sorry for using strong words when I could have put my point across better. This shouldn't be an angry thread, my bad.

[David_Dovey]

Oh shit guys I think I am gonna do it I think I am gonna get my ears stretched oh shiiiit

(it is mostly because of all the pretty jewelery but also because I figure if I've ever got the chance to do something silly like this, it's right now! So uh if I happen to find myself in an impulsive mood and near a piercing place real soon...)

Basically what I am saying is it is all your fault, you bastards

EDIT: Dude just came in with stretched lobes and I asked what size he was at to get a feel for what the numbers mean in real terms (i.e; I know how big 6mm is, but what does it actually look like in an ear), and I think my target size would be about 10mm?

[Zingoleb]

I blame them, too, the reason I want a piercing is to get my ears (slightly) stretched, too.

Obviously something I've seen before but in all honesty I actually hadn't seen spirals until I spent some time in Meebo and those made me go "ooh. pretty."

[sean]

dovey join us! o/