I think perceptions go a long way. If your tatted up and wondering why everyone looks like a punk....don't be suprised, I don't care how mainstream it is. Is it wrong...YES, does it happen...YES, so, be aware of what your actions reap. Now, I have a full shirt, not one square inch on skin is left from my hips to lower neck, maybe 15K last I checked, and when I go to church or anything serious...meetings, work, so on, I wear a button down shirt and youd think I was back on leave it to beavers block. At the water park with my kids....I get allot of looks, but hell, they don't pay my bills or my salary, so I don't care. What I do care about, is that I fit my employers needs, and if they are paying me, I care about what they care about, and if that is my appearance, then so be it, if I want a paycheck, I play along. Who is to draw the line as far as what is acceptable? I mean, one day, if you got a tat, your either a con, biker, sailor so on....next thing, your some underappreciated poet working at a starbucks who is missunderstood and needs his moms love and as an act of defiance, get all modified.....Just my .02, and only mine, not criticizing anyone at all in any way shape or form, but you go stretching out your lobes, or your face sets off a metal detector....don't wonder why the hell folks look at you strange, theres a reason why most don't look like you. I'm all for ink, don't get me wrong, but in my rational mind...I know some are going to veiw that in the negative, and thats cools, it's expected, and I adjust, cause I'm not gonna change the world anytime soon, so be it. At some point, there comes a time, if your big into getting inked up or whatever, is that do you do it for yourself, or for others. And if for yourself, or for others for that matter, every action has a reaction.

 

Well, I have a bunch of tat's, 2 1/4 sleeves in process. Right side; celtic tats (with the exception of my H.D. tat on the chest). I have a couple more tats to add before I through in the modern tribal. Right side; still need to start; Native American, will start with a cover up with a Raven, then I am still looking for Cherokee art work to through in to fill, and complete with modern tribal to "match" the Celtic side.
Had tongue pierced about 10 years ago, had been out for about 2. Nip pierced 15 years ago, out about a year. I plan on re-piercing it to get rid of the scar tissue, letting it heal, then piercing correctly.

 

Well at least his friends have taste.

 

hey krash, i have to disagree with your statement about not getting a good job with stretched ears or facial piercings.. i worked for a software company(as a temp yes, but i still worked there and got paid damn good) doing oracle work, database stuff, and other computer stuff. i had my ears gauged, nipples pierced(the boss lady even asked to see them). these type of things are getting more mainstream, and slowly begining to be accepted.

 

But remember, you aren't "in the public eye". And their should be a disclaimer on the "good job" comment, it should say "unless you learn a skilled trade".

 

Well, what kind of "good job" are you going to get without learning a "skilled trade" I get paid very well doing my "skilled trade". I do take my earings out as soon as I get to work, just out of courtisy,nobody has ever asked me to. but when I'm off work.....im off work. I don't wear my septum ring to work, and well, don't really do anything about my tats. I do know about the "perception" people have of people that look like me, been dealing with it since I was about 14 (no body mods at the time, just clothes and funny hair) and I counter with a big smile, a door held open and a great attitude, wich almost always negates any preconcieved notions people may have of me. Anyway, the holes in my ears are for less wind resistance when I'm street racing in my white t-shirt and no helmet! but hey, to each his own, I have friends that still cant fathom the fact that I would ride a "Jap Bike", how's that for preconcieved notions?

 

There are plenty of sales jobs out there, corporate jobs, etc that you WILL have doors closed to you. Just the way it is.

 

I have my nipples pierced, a tattoo that reads "LIBRE" (the Spanish word for free) tatooed over my heart, and a skeleton wearing a sarape and holding a bottle of tequilaon my right shoulder. I think there is still a stigma associated with tatoos and piercings in the public's eyes. I may not have the same opportunities and careerif everything were visible. Oh yeah, I have four piercings on my left ear, and two on my right, but they are all closed up now.

 

damn am i the only one here with neither? im missing out i guess,

 

I have 11 tats lip piercing and one earring in each ear. Jester on my left shoulder tribal face under my jester tat, axe murder on my left inner forarm tribal skull around tribal flames outter left forarm, tribal skull left wrist., letter DG between my pointer and thumb on my laft hand did it my self on a drunken night awhile back i hae to say it looks good. Now right arm Big tribal face outside of my wrist, Two tribal eyes outside of my right forarm , Inner forarm tribal skull with tribal wrapping biggest peice i have, Life/Death words one way says life other way says death i think its called a wordgram or something of that nature tribal lettering and then finally black panther on my right shoulder it was my first one i ever got. I tried to put some pics up but it did not work will try it later.

Were i work no matter if its 90 deg outside i have to were long sleeve shirts can't wear my lip piercing but im allowed to wear my earrings but i also go into peoples house and its a customer orintated job.