Body Modification.

Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:36 pm

i have recently come to a conclusion that people being looked down upon for streatching body parts (ear lobes, lips etc.) , sub-dermal implants and tattoos. are still being looked down on by society. Views on this?

I stretch my ears and have a facial peircing, and plan to get another. i have dificulty getting a job and being aloud to keep my jewelry, we live in 2011 and the trends growing, why is it still put down? i dont think changing my body to what i want it to be makes me a bad person personally.
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BRAD MONTGOMERY
 
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Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:49 pm

If you're trying to get a job as anything beyond menial labor at a Fast food joint, or a grocery store, you're going to have many many difficulties finding a job that will allow you to wear your facial piercings, and that's assuming they are even willing to look past them in the first place and hire you. Appearances are everything, and professional workplaces do NOT want their company to be represented by someone with metal in their face, tattoos on non-coverable up places, or stretched earlobes, it just sends the wrong message to their clientele(who also don't want to see those things). It's something that is likely NEVER to go away unless more then a minority of people start doing it(I'm talking 20% or more). Either remove them, or resign yourself to a life of menial labor jobs.
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amhain
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:42 am

By stretching your ears, you mean gauges?
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Paul Rice
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:42 am

i have recently come to a conclusion that people being looked down upon for streatching body parts (ear lobes, lips etc.) , sub-dermal implants and tattoos. are still being looked down on by society. Views on this?

I stretch my ears and have a facial peircing, and plan to get another. i have dificulty getting a job and being aloud to keep my jewelry, we live in 2011 and the trends growing, why is it still put down? i dont think changing my body to what i want it to be makes me a bad person personally.

Obviously, if you're making bodily modifications you are a gang-member and those are your gang-markings. :tongue: Though seriously, it's considered a sign of criminality and being a member of the [sarcasm mode] barbaric lower classes. [/sarcasm mode]
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sally R
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:59 pm

We wont see an end to it this generation, me thinks. The next generation will be AWESOME though, me thinks. Me hopes....
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Alexis Acevedo
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:02 am

There are some older social science theories that can be looked at, such as those posed by Durkheim.
Anthropology can also inform individual and societal behavior, and cultural norms.

I agree with you , and it is quite a pickle.

have you searched for any current research on the matter?
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Robert Bindley
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:39 am

I studied social psychology and sociology in the last semester and things are always changing but body modification it seems will always be considered "Social Delinquency " . But a growing Group eventually has to have its place, changing yourself doesn't generally put you in a gang or dangerous affiliation.
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Brian LeHury
 
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Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:39 pm

I honestly don't care what body modification you have and I wouldn't look down on you.
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Anthony Santillan
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:11 am

I studied social psychology and sociology in the last semester and things are always changing but body modification it seems will always be considered "Social Delinquency " . But a growing Group eventually has to have its place, changing yourself doesn't generally put you in a gang or dangerous affiliation.


The problem with that idea is, is while it may be growing, it is still so in the minority it probably doesn't even amount to .001% of the population. In an entire mall full of people the other day, I only saw 2 people that had facial piercings, and those were teenagers who were obviously punk/emo/goth types. Not a small mall either, and it was on a Friday evening, so it was absolutely packed. To have any form of credibility, the body modification crowd(and honestly, i don't consider tattoos to be among that group) will need to account for a much much higher percentage of the general population then it does right now.
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Inol Wakhid
 
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Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:43 pm

When dealing with clients (public or inter-corporate), you're expected to be as inoffensive as possible. Businesses are just as not-keen as you when it comes to losing opportunities to profit just because of appearance related choices. Thing is, your piercings have no value to them, so they have no motivation to acquire/keep them.

Which brings us to the cultural stuff, and I don't feel like putting the effort in right now :P.
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Big Homie
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:25 am

Part of the problem is that the human brain is strongly (and I mean strongly) wired to see and examine faces. It is how we as humans identify one another, as well as how we determine mood and intention from facial expressions.

If I had to guess, much of the reason for people's dislike / revulsion when seeing facial piercing / earlobe stretching is that it, for a brief moment, confuses the senses - if enough facial modification is done, it may no longer look like a "normal" face at first glance, leading to the person being momentarily confused.

Of course, it could also simply be due to "standards" of beauty and all that as well.

But, from my perspective, I try to keep an open mind on stuff like that. I don't necessarily understand it (well, not from a aesthetic perspective at least), however. And anyone with enough (particularly facial) body modification is going to find it very difficult to get a well-paying job in most fields. In some fields it would make it a near impossibility, for certain.
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Jeff Turner
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:05 am

Part of the problem is that the human brain is strongly (and I mean strongly) wired to see and examine faces. It is how we as humans identify one another, as well as how we determine mood and intention from facial expressions.

If I had to guess, much of the reason for people's dislike / revulsion when seeing facial piercing / earlobe stretching is that it, for a brief moment, confuses the senses - if enough facial modification is done, it may no longer look like a "normal" face at first glance, leading to the person being momentarily confused.

Of course, it could also simply be due to "standards" of beauty and all that as well.

But, from my perspective, I try to keep an open mind on stuff like that. I don't necessarily understand it (well, not from a aesthetic perspective at least), however. And anyone with enough (particularly facial) body modification is going to find it very difficult to get a well-paying job in most fields. In some fields it would make it a near impossibility, for certain.


Mostly so far the only thing i am able to land is an internship at artix entertainment, i cant be hired until im 18 but their training me for buisness there until i turn 18, because i want to look the way i want so far ive only got a flash art job.. well will have the job
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Alexis Acevedo
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:51 am

Part of the problem is that the human brain is strongly (and I mean strongly) wired to see and examine faces. It is how we as humans identify one another, as well as how we determine mood and intention from facial expressions.

If I had to guess, much of the reason for people's dislike / revulsion when seeing facial piercing / earlobe stretching is that it, for a brief moment, confuses the senses - if enough facial modification is done, it may no longer look like a "normal" face at first glance, leading to the person being momentarily confused.
{trimmed}

My immediate reaction is to make a John Wyndham reference :P.

Only problems I have with piercing and things are mostly intellectual, regarding long term results/effects and stuff.
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dean Cutler
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:53 am

Only problems I have with piercing and things are mostly intellectual, regarding long term results/effects and stuff.


I use scar cream daily and dont go past any guage size that doesnt downsize.
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Andrew
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:20 pm

it is definately something that would take a lot of time for society in general to get over. and it would'nt be a sudden leap.
If you did good work, I wouldnt care what you looked like. My fear would be that my clients would care and I would lose business. Thats the current mindset I think, and self perpetuates in a circle.

The negative perception is also reinforced in the media. so that's not helping the matter.
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Chloe Botham
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:39 pm

But, from my perspective, I try to keep an open mind on stuff like that. I don't necessarily understand it (well, not from a aesthetic perspective at least), however. And anyone with enough (particularly facial) body modification is going to find it very difficult to get a well-paying job in most fields. In some fields it would make it a near impossibility, for certain.


I can think of at least two right off the bat. Customer Service Representative who deals with the public on a frequent basis, and sales representative. I'll be totally honest and admit that If I were to have someone show up at my door with lots of facial piercings and/or tattoos all over and possibly stretched earlobes and they had a briefcase, I would NOT answer the door, or if I did, I'd have my 12 gauge loaded and sitting next to the door within easy reach. It really is a perception issue. You may be the nicest person in the world, and a diligent/hard worker, but if you look like you are coming straight out of a gang, you're not going to be judged correctly.
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Hussnein Amin
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:00 am

I can think of at least two right off the bat. Customer Service Representative who deals with the public on a frequent basis, and sales representative. I'll be totally honest and admit that If I were to have someone show up at my door with lots of facial piercings and/or tattoos all over and possibly stretched earlobes and they had a briefcase, I would NOT answer the door, or if I did, I'd have my 12 gauge loaded and sitting next to the door within easy reach. It really is a perception issue. You may be the nicest person in the world, and a diligent/hard worker, but if you look like you are coming straight out of a gang, you're not going to be judged correctly.


I still dont get the gang thing
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Kahli St Dennis
 
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Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:32 pm

I use scar cream daily and dont go past any guage size that doesnt downsize.

I applaud your forethought, particularly given your age :) (since teenagers have a justified reputation for having a shortage of it).

And don't get me wrong, I'm hardly going to be marching in the streets to ban any of it, what I said was in the context of dealing with people in person (whether I made that clear or not).
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Jade Barnes-Mackey
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:03 am

One thing we know for certain is that life isn't fair. :shrug:
but, you can make your choice based on what you know, then deal with the consequences. I know, it svcks.
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brenden casey
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:22 am

I still dont get the gang thing

Overlapping subcultures. Tattoos and things are far more common in criminal groups than the general population.
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naana
 
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Post » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:38 pm

Overlapping subcultures. Tattoos and things are far more common in criminal groups than the general population.


MM.. okay i get it now, but what he said above a few posts, the population of the mall in his city or town with stretched ears or piercings are involved in the emo/goth subculture, im excluded from this its not always them i'm a pretty normal person, where i live it seems to be pretty common for about most everyone except for the current advlts and older generation. we don't have a subculture division down here, everyone s just seen as individuals, so i don't see how we can be grouped when we go for jobs
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LuCY sCoTT
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:39 am

i have dificulty getting a job and being aloud to keep my jewelry, we live in 2011 and the trends growing, why is it still put down?

Why is it still..? Because people have been hostile toward those who are different for the entirety of human history?

I still dont get the gang thing

Things like tattoos and piercings are heavily associated with rebellion, and rebellion is heavily associated with people who join gangs so that they can do what they want and flout authority.
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Stacey Mason
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:55 pm

A business that is purely local might not care as much as one that has wider connections. Most business names that are well known outside the community (a community where body mods are generally accepted) might have issues with body modifications. I wouldn't generalize this globally though.
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kevin ball
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:54 am

MM.. okay i get it now, but what he said above a few posts, the population of the mall in his city or town with stretched ears or piercings are involved in the emo/goth subculture, im excluded from this its not always them i'm a pretty normal person, where i live it seems to be pretty common for about most everyone except for the current advlts and older generation. we don't have a subculture division down here, everyone s just seen as individuals, so i don't see how we can be grouped when we go for jobs
I think you're somewhat missing the point. Simply because you don't classify yourselves as part of a subculture doesn't mean that others will be so kind to you. And trust me on this, having to explain that "No, I'm not X" gets really annoying after a while. :P
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Cameron Garrod
 
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Post » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:25 am

i have recently come to a conclusion that people being looked down upon for streatching body parts (ear lobes, lips etc.) , sub-dermal implants and tattoos. are still being looked down on by society. Views on this?

I stretch my ears and have a facial peircing, and plan to get another. i have dificulty getting a job and being aloud to keep my jewelry, we live in 2011 and the trends growing, why is it still put down? i dont think changing my body to what i want it to be makes me a bad person personally.

There's a legitimate bias, and that is, I think, more young advlts being in the "experimenting" phase in a much later age. It's frowned upon in that sense because it's not seen as serious, i.e. formal, and not a sign of stability. If I see someone walking with their ear pierced with a hole that a person can jump through I'm more apt to laugh then take them seriously.

For those who can have these piercing or tattoo's and not go so far extreme with it, the good news is times are changing and business is becoming more informal, following the trend of brands/marketing and more informal work spaces. But then again, socially there will be some people to push the envelope just a little further next generation, making those with elaborate or numerous tattoo's/piercings look like child's play.
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Tiff Clark
 
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