Body piercings

[Upsy Daisy]

I agree with what you say say @Larisa .....we have our fair share of piercing here too. Each to their own is what I say, but personally speaking I really don't like them.

 

[Colin]

Hi,

I couldn't agree with you more Larisa; we are all different to each other and when it comes to tattoos or body piercing then I'm with Upsy Daisy because I don't like either tattoos or body piercing; ladies ear piercing is one thing but lumps of metal stuck out of body parts is another.

I avoid contact as much as possible with people heavily tattooed or/and with body piercing; I simply think such things are aimed at drawing attention by people who are in someway distressed or upset or even having a very low self esteem.

I've been married to Bron for 41 years and during all this time I've never worn a wedding ring or wristwatch; I've worked in heavy industry where wearing each of these could have cost me my life. I've never had problems because I'm very open about being married; I don't need a ring. My best friend was killed instantly after being dragged into a mill carding machine.

What people do in their own time is entirely their business and rightly so but what they do regarding work is totally different. Before retirement I worked for a big international company being in charge of three departments. If a customer visits covered in tattoos and loaded with body metal then the customer would be treated with respect but if the same person covered in tattoos and loaded with body metal was in front of me seeking employment I would phone security and have the person safely escorted from the site.

I don't view this as discrimination in any way but I would be concerned about the company image. I've said for years if I were to pile up manure on our front room carpet and declare it the in thing others too would follow my lead. Most people I believe are very insecure and behave like sheep; if one does something others are sure to follow. Would I ever employ a skinhead or punk; not likely. If these people want to be so different then it's their choice but it's also my choice to leave them alone.

Anyone who is a bit "different" often attracts the wrong kind of attention and in a workplace this can lead to many problems; one such person springs to mind; a guy 6' tall visiting our section from the main offices this guy in a ladies dress; I truly felt sorry for him because of all the nasty remarks and comments aimed his way.

I'm old fashioned in many ways but I believe in live and let live as long as I'm not expected to accept something I'm against. Being unable to secure employment because these people prefer to be "different" could possibly be one reason why so many turn to alcohol or drugs having to steal and cheat?

I don't have any answers as to right or wrong but I know I had a lot of responsibility towards the company I worked for and should I have accepted someone so different to work in any of my departments I'm sure I would have regretted it. I would also reject anyone who smells strongly of tobacco or alcohol. Yes I'm old fashioned but my departments worked well. Just a few thoughts and certainly no offence meant nor intended.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Silentrunning]

Colin, as always you make very good sense-but, when did discrimination become a bad thing? Discrimination is the result of discernment. There is and has been a movement in the world that wants us to accept all things as equal. There is no good or evil because no one has the right or authority to decide which is which according to these people. Of course if you look at this logically you can see it is a recipe for disaster. The purveyors of this philosophy pass it off as enlightenment so the masses flock to it hoping they will be thought of as intellectuals. Those of us with both feet on the ground just stand back and shake our heads.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

truly believe that people that "over pierce " and "over tattoo" ( all of which is subjective) is a sign of a deeper psychological issue.

 

[Colin]

Hi,

Well said Silentrunning. I came up against discrimination at work and also racism. We were closing a nearby factory and many of the employees were being incorporated into the headquarter site where I worked. One Monday morning I received two new guys which normally would have been very welcome because the departments I ran were extremely busy and the whole job most stressful. It didn't take long before I realized these two unfortunate guys had been dumped upon me; both were ill; one was so ill he couldn't really do anything so I placed him in my office to answer the phone; this drove me mad; every few minutes he was shouting for me to answer the phone; did I need him when I could already hear the phone ringing; the other had been subjected to open heart surgery so what an ideal place for this guy to find himself in with lots of heavy lifting; overhead cranes and fork trucks plus internal transport all whizzing around at high speed.

These two guys were on the same pay as the other team members the other team members having to graft whilst they watched these two who were unable to carry out even basic tasks so this caused unrest. I had absolutely nothing against these two guys other than they were adding two extra wages for no output so I went to the next guy above me in the pecking order to complain; I was rudely rebuffed and the reason quoted was that I could not discriminate against anyone because of illness; by this time I'd suffered this highly stressful job long enough trying to hold three departments together; I couldn't switch off and couldn't sleep; I went higher up and demanded voluntary redundancy which I was glad to receive; I learned after leaving the guy who had been next above me also had left the company; I bet he suddenly found he too couldn't sleep so he quit; the next guy above him has recently died aged 55; this is rife here in the UK with so many absolutely stupid rules and regulations; the company I worked for was huge having many factories now the product is made abroad and the headquarters still remain but only being used as a small distribution center with lots of the offices sublet; abysmal management allowing unsuitable workers onto the shop floor deserve to be sacked not allowed to run a once highly respected company into the ground.

One of my teams had a pair of identical coloured twins; one was good the other not so good; one made the bullets for the other to fire and if I asked them to do a job I was being racist; I was rather stuck on this because I couldn't at first recognize which twin was which so it took about 6 months before I could; I then called in at Meadowhall County Bookshop and bought a book covering racism; I read the book and left the book in my office until needed; the next time I was accused of racism I ordered both twins into my office; I produced the book and explained politely that if ever they accused me of racism again I would take action against them telling them that I had never asked of them what I wouldn't ask of other team members; this was the only time ever I issued a direct warning; I was always polite to my three teams asking in a right and friendly manner if I wanted something doing; this cured racism for me in my teams but it just added to the amount of stress I suffered. There were strokes; heart attacks and suicides at work; I must have done something terrible in a former life?

The old high standards have long gone and these days anything goes; marriage is now a joke and we've got to be careful what we say in a democratic society; the problems start with the government and work downwards; we have wimps in charge who dare not stand up and be counted; I'm glad to be out of it and no longer bother watching the news on TV because its so depressing. I'm happy though in my own little world with Bron by my side.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Chuck]

Political Correctness is running amok.

 

[MaryMary]

I watched a TV show one time about heavily tattooed and pierced people. It seemed every one of them had had a bad childhood, and was doing it to put what they felt inside on the outside. "No one likes me, so I'll give them a reason" type of thinking.

Most of them were angry, hateful people. Listening to tales from their childhood, I couldn't blame them - but on the other hand - at some point can't you rise above that? Turn your back on it and make your life better? If your family and schoolmates were toxic, get away from them and start over. It seems to me that moving on and being a good person would be more of a way to prove them wrong, rather than accepting what they thought of you, and making everyone feel that way.

At one job, I worked as a cashier, and there was a family that would come in to shop. The man had a large tattoo that said "F*@% the Police" on his right cheek. No, it is not likely that anyone is going to give that man a job. He, his wife, and their four children lived on welfare and food stamps. He was a hateful person, and would stand at the register glaring at me, as if daring me to say anything. Yeah, he made me angry. Because of his life choices, he can't get a job, so now the money I pay in taxes goes to feed him and his children.

But what do you do, and where does it stop? You can't take away his right to have children. You can't let the children starve.

One day, his daughter proclaimed that she couldn't wait 'til she was 18, because she wanted tattoos, too.

I'll be supporting her and her kids when I'm 60.

 

[Becky]

I feel I should step in before this topic gets out of hand...

Several sayings spring to mind here:

1. You cannot judge a book by it's cover
2. Treat others as you wish to be treated
3. Be kind; for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Personally my own outlook is that I try to treat everyone with kindness, even those who have wronged me. Surely those who are hurting are the ones in most need of love...

 

[Esther Knapicius]

been in management since age 25. been with this present company for 16 years, supervising position. My reputation is well known for expecting the job to be done correctly, no matter who it is. Purple hair or green hair etc. .My reputation is I will always have my staffs back, and will do everything I can to make my staff look good. But you lie to me, or show laziness its not tolerated. You will get a very decisive letter of reprimand focused on that specific issue.

Once another manager could not handle a staff person. Actually he was too stupid to understand documentation and how to get rid of someone using that method. So they sent her to me. Organized with the Personnel dept that she would be put back on probation. I outlined in writing my expectations. We discussed all so that she was perfectly clear, and then she signed the letter. Three months went by, of course she messed up on expectations and a few more documented write ups later, she was let go. Its tough for a manager to be on someone like that when you know they are not doing their job, makes more work.

 

[marlingardener]

I certainly didn't intend my post to engender negative feelings about tattooed or pierced persons. I just thought the caption was funny.
My hairdresser has several tattoos, and I love her kind heart and sweetness. Judging books by their covers is not right and I sincerely try not to do that.
Becky, I apologize and will be more careful in future.

 

[Silentrunning]

@marlingardener, I don't feel there is anything negative about expressing various opinions. You have started one of the livelier threads here.

 

[Colin]

Hi,

I thought this was a good thread Marlingardener; as Silentrunning says it's one of the livelier threads covering a subject seldom discussed in the open. I can understand your concerns Becky because such a personal topic can easily get out of hand where a casual comment can cause offence where no offence is intended.

I've been brought up on a life of very hard knocks so I don't take my bat and ball home easily but because of the way life has treated me I can be rather blunt at times. I believe Karen Carpenter died because of a comment about her weight which is truly sad and the loss to the world of a wonderful singer.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Actually in the health care field you have to judge a book by its cover, some of which are vital assessments of the total person.
And if more people got involved with noticing and saying something about a person that "looks or acts" "abnormal" or says "wacky" abnormal things perhaps we could head off school shootings etc. there had to be signs sent out by those people long before they walked in to the schools to shoot innocent children.

 

[Silentrunning]

Actually, I believe the authors want you to judge their books by the cover. That is why so many books have such beautiful art on the cover. If you were not to judge the book by the cover, they would all just have a black cover with white letters or vice versa.

Now how is that for "thread drift"?

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I've been brought up on a life of very hard knocks so I don't take my bat and ball home easily but because of the way life has treated me I can be rather blunt at times.

Me also, Colin. but at least you know where they are coming from. those folks that diddle around with meaningless paragraphs get on my nerves.