Would you stay away from an establishment, even if service was impeccable, due to piercings or tattoos on one employee's body?

No.

What a person looks like has nothing to do with who they are for the most part.

No, I wouldn't. Piercings and tatoos are very common where I live and have nothing to do with the service at an establishment. This holds true with me wherever I'm at.

I think it doesn't matter the appearance of a person if the important thing is that you are receiving a good service from him/her

No, I like tattoos and piercings!

Absolutely not!

I wondered how our clientele would react when Mandy started getting a lot of facial piercings a year or so ago. A lot of our customers are older, but it didn't seem to bother them. Some of them asked her questions or made comments, but nothing really derogatory. They liked her before she got the piercings, and they didn't stop liking her after she filled her head full of metal.

NEWS FLASH for those who care -- Mandy removed all her facial piercings and her tongue piercing last week, and is working on shrinking the giant holes in her ears. She got tired of all that metal.

I don't care. Tattoos don't impress or repulse me. Well, some are pretty impressive, but that's rare.

No, I feel that it's acceptable, and one's piercings and tats should not, and I'll stress again, they should NOT reflect upon one's work ethics. Unfortunately, there's still many close minded, and biased people out there, and that's why I will only be pierced and tattooed in locations that can be concealed, because nobody would hire a pierced and tattooed teacher.
(ie - my nipple ring, Triquetra on my chest, and my future Celtic Tree of Life as a back piece)

How do you go about shrinking holes? Is this something that needs to be actively done, or naturally they heal up? My ex is trying to stretch one of her ear piercings so she can put in a bone talon (I think they're called). So naturally, I was wondering what she'd do if she changed her mind about it in the future.

uh, no.

Mandy is trying to do it by putting smaller gauge jewelry through the holes than what was there before. I have no idea if that actually works. She seems to think they'll slowly close up, although the biggest ones (which she could just about put a pencil through) will probably stay pretty big. I'll try to find out more about it when I see her on Monday and let you know.

Sounds good, because that sounds to be about as large as my ex wants to go up to.

Nope not at all!!

Why would it matter?

To what extreme?

No. However, depending on the nature of the business, I might have a negative opinion about the establishment and little things like that could exacerbate my impressions overall.

Acceptable establishments for the employment of the visibly pierced and tattooed:

Restaurants
Salons
Clothing Stores
Automotive Repair
Moving Companies
Landscaping

Unacceptable establishments for the employment of the visibly pierced and tattooed:

Banks
Investments
Real Estate
Automotive Sales
Medical Offices
Government Services
Education

Interesting point. I would be pretty surprised to see tattoos and piercings on people at the places you listed as unacceptable establishments for such things, but I think I might find it refreshing. I guess because I've been around a lot of it, and I have tattoos myself (although pretty well-hidden in public) I feel a certain affinity with those kind of folks. So as long as they behaved professionally, I don't think it would bother me a bit. In fact, I think it would make me smile.

It's funny, as I was typing that up, I was thinking about you and how you might react. After I posted it, I saw that you had posted on the survey and then when I saw that I had a reply, before I scrolled down to see who it was I thought: "I bet it's Sue!"

I'm not saying that I would consciously have an opinion about it, but I suspect that if I was opening an account at a bank, and the teller had a tattoo on their face, it might influence my opinion on a subconscious level. I would probably be more likely to exaggerate any negative impressions I had of the bank.

I doubt it.

I think tattoos and piercings on bank employees would make me smile in surprise, as well. Tell Mandy I said hi...and you're going to have to post a picture of the "new" Mandy!

I understand that a majority of society feels this way, that there should be certain places for it and certian places where they shouldnt be allowed, but i think its wrong...body modification is a growing fashion among many people including business professionals and why should anyone have the right 2 say that just because i choose 2 have visible body modifications that i am limited 2 working at restaurants salons clothing stores and so on...what if i am a master at investing, college grad, and i wanted 2 work in that field...i mean what does body modifications have 2 do with how well someone does their job? in my opinion, people need 2 not look at personal appearance when seeking a professional, but look at other things like attitude, customer service, qualifications, and so on.

Yes, people's attitudes may change over time, but the fact remains that a LOT of people, upon meeting their child's principal for the first time, may be disturbed by seeing multiple piercings through their eyebrows and nose and tattoos on the backs of their hands.

I agree that it doesn't matter, but the fact is that even people such as myself can have subconscious negative reactions which will colour their impressions. This isn't limited to body modifications either. For example, I know that you have created a negative impression on me by misspelling words, failing to properly incorporate capitalisation and using "2" instead of "to". Rationally, I know that this doesn't necessarily mean that you are lazy and poorly educated, there could be some other reason why you do this, but little things like that DO have an effect on people's impressions.

You know me so well!

I totally understand where you're coming from because I used to feel the same way. I thought tattooed and pierced people looked kind of scary and intimidating! Now I realize they're just people who choose to express themselves differently than mainstream society. I think most people feel the way you do, and I'm sure some would have a conscious and even outspoken opinion about it! I'm just a little different.

BTW, it would be interesting to know how many people in those professions you mentioned have tattoos or piercings under their suits that nobody sees while they're on the job.

I will try to get her to hold still for some pictures. She's so skinny these days I'll have to make sure she doesn't turn sideways or you might not be able to see her! You may be able to tell her hello yourself before too long. She is talking about signing up for internet service again. I knew she couldn't stay away forever!

If you are truly gifted in your chosen line of work I don't think tattoos and piercings would be a problem. Someone really talented could probably open their own business and not have to worry about being hired by someone else, or if you're THAT good you could get hired no matter what you look like or dress like. Unfortunately, when it comes to the business world, first impressions can make a big difference, so employers have every right to hire people they think will make a good first impression, as well as doing a good job. I've chosen to have my five tattoos done where they can easily be covered by clothing so that I won't be limited by them if I ever want to look for a new job. Frustrating, yes, but a fact of live.

My most recent tattoo is on the top of my foot, which I thought would be an easy place to hide. I don't dress up very often, so I hadn't thought about the fact that women's shoes (other than the sneakers I usually wear) usually have open tops. Oops! I was getting dressed to go to my uncle's funeral last week and realized my tattoo was not at all covered by my shoe. I thought that seemed a bit disrespectful, knowing my family, so I ran out and bought some black stockings.

But that's completely different. When someone chooses to tattoo their head, neck or hands, they are making a conscious decision to permanently set themselves apart from "polite society" so to speak. I don't think someone can do that and then reasonably complain that they can't get a job as an executive at an insurance company.

True. But doesn't it make you wonder if there are little secrets we're all keeping that are the same? What if everyone secretly likes Barry Manilow? If we weren't all afraid to admit it, we could listen to his music in public and enjoy it together!

What does body art have to do with whether or not the service is good?

Yay! I am so looking forward to Mandy being back online! I should have known she couldn't stay away for long! She is as addicted as we are!!! And hooray for her for being skinny! If I keep up with my diet restrictions like I am supposed to, I just might be skinny myself before long!

Maybe, If it was the food service industry and this person I knew to be the one who prepared my food

as an addition here I have 4 tattoos one of them is a big one on my back of a panther on a rock ,near a lake ,with clouds and a mountain in the background, sun setting............

You're probably right!

I think that everyone secretly wishes we could be completely ourselves in public and act less reserved, but are afraid because so many people are judgmental. We wish we weren't so judgmental of the people who arent afraid to have that kind of carefree attitude, but really we are just jealous. I think if more people were to let loose and not feel so reserved, less people would judge.
Or something like that

Of course not.

I had a 00 gauge in my right ear that I decided to take out (along with all my other earrings) on a whim about 4-5 years ago. The regular piercings that were through cartilage are barely visible. The standard lobe piercing is still there, but it's just a tiny depression in the skin. As for the 00 gauge, which could indeed have doubled as a pencil holder (for one), it is now a smaller hole/fold in the skin that isn't really noticeable, but still at least 3-4 times the size of a regular piercing. You can't really see that it's a hole that size unless you actually flatten out the skin with your fingers.

I don't know how a larger gauge hole would heal. I chose to stop at 00 because I wanted to go as big as I could without changing the contour of my ear, so the lobe itself wasn't stretched out at all - just the hole. I can send you a picture of what's left of the hole if you want!

P.S. I sometimes do miss having my friends drink out of a straw through my ear. It was a great party trick.

Good for you! I'm going the opposite direction. I've gained back the 15 pounds I lost a year or so ago. I'm terribly unsuccessful at watching my calorie intake. I know the real key for me is exercise. I keep trying to get into the habit of walking regularly, but I'm just not making the time for it. I have good intentions though!

Good point, and I agree completely. You first!

That would be a great party trick!

I think Mandy's are 00 gauge. So they will close up, huh? I imagine it'll be a slow process. I take it you have no regrets about having done the stretching?

Well, they won't close up all the way, or even shrink back to the size of a run-of-the-mill ear piercing. At least not in 5 years, in my case. But it does become small enough that it's hardly noticeable. And I have absolutely no regrets. The stretching itself was a fun project for me, and I enjoyed having it while it lasted. The only downside was that I think it made my ear stick out just a tiny bit more on that side because the things I stuck through my ear touched my neck and propped up my ear away from my head a little bit. I haven't checked in the last few years to see if that's still the case, but the fact I haven't noticed it lately says something. Also, I got used to only holding a phone to my other ear because it was more comfortable. No long-term effects from that, as far as I can tell. If anything, sometimes I consider stretching it again - just a little.

If it's not noticeable without pulling on your earlobe then I think that pretty much counts as closing up all the way. I guess our skin is pretty stretchy! I'm glad you don't regret doing it. Life's too short to waste time with regrets.

I've already started my part by not being judgmental.

Well, I've been working on that part for a long time, too. Now who's gonna be the first one to be less reserved and completely themselves in public?

I dunno...... hmmmmm *looking around*

Yeah. I have NO self discipline about diet or exercise. And now, with these new diet restrictions, I just hope I can follow them. It will take some adjustment, and it is a doubly stressful time, too, because we are getting ready to move out of the house I have lived in all my life, and my mom and sister are lying to me about it. They went out and rented an apartment while I was sick, and never even told me. I had to hear it from my cousin. I still don't know when we are moving, and my sister is being really mean to me about putting things behind schedule, and pointing all my faults. Sometimes, I think she wishes the stroke had killed me. I am glad it didn't, of course, but it still hurts. I have not even seen the apartment yet, have no idea when we are moving, and have heard nothing but how I should have been ready to move into it by now. She said we could have packed things up last week, but no, we had to waste our time going to the hospital every day...well sorry for the inconvenience.

no! and i hope none of you would do this, either!

It would really depend on what I was doing there and what service they were providing. If I was responsible for bringing a client into town to meet with my project group I would not want them meeting with someone whose face looked like they'd been attacked by a hardware store..... There's a time and a place and a seperation for business, social, dress, casual, etc....Personally, it wouldn't bother me...per se....

Honey, your sister's a butthead!

Of course not, it would sure seem silly to do, since I have several, myself.

not! it's an interesting question. the hospital i work in put a policy on the books about piercings and tatoos, i think you can have no more than 2 or 4 and none on the face for piercings. i think tatoos have to be covered. i have 6 earrings in one ear and one in the other, i have been waiting for them to say something to me but nothing so far.......... it has never compromised my care to patients and no one seems to mind patient or family wise?! who knows......... i think it is silly!

as long as the piercing doesnt fall out in my food

No, my sister is not a butthead....I think my emotions are just running high right now, what with the move and the worries about my own health and the new meds and stuff. No one resented my illness or visiting me in the hospital, and I know that. I am thinking a lot more clearly today, and it will all work out fine!

Yes. Anything food related.

Okay. I'm glad you're feeling better about it now!

P. S. Everyone's a butthead sometimes.

Why? Does it make you lose your appetite or are you afraid those are the kind of people who would spit in your food?

True! (Well, there ARE exceptions...I am NEVER a butthead. Sue B. is NEVER a butthead. Kate Briley is NEVER a butthead.)

No. Heavily pierced people are more likely to have hepatitis. I also knew a woman who was very heavily pierced and she regularly had infections especially when getting new piercings or when she used copper.

here susan, have some of this banana bread i just baked. what's that? yeah i do have a nose piercing. it's right....oooof. lemme know if you find something unusual in that bread.

Well I dont think i ever want to eat banana bread again now....LOL the thought of your boogery nose piercing in it.... Oh wait, YUMMMMM... I eat boogers lol

hahahahahaha..you are truly the only girlfriend for the big BE

for you

i'm assuming that those stars are covered in golden boogers?

oh why yes, specially for you

awwwwww...::sniff sniff:: you LIKE ME!!! you really really like ME!

u made a typo..... INTSTEAD OF LIKE PEOPLE, it is LICK, I lick her....ok, glad i could clear that up

you win...

That may be true of the two of you, but I know I am capable of being a butthead once in awhile. But I TRY not to be!

Oh. That would only be the case if they were pierced by someone who had hepatitis, right? People who pay a reputable professional to do their piercing would not have to worry about that. They use sterile equipment and wear gloves.

I TRY not to be most of the time, but yeah, I admit it: I am very capable of being a butthead!

It depends on the establishment and the nature of the piercings/tattoos.

Hepatitis C is fatal and pretty easily caught.

No - I have a piercing and I work in a posh shop.

I and at least 5 of the chefs have facial piercings at my work. It's no more dangerous than having an ear piercing.

No...

What about infection rates? Nose piercings are notorious for getting infected.

Not if you look after it properly. And you're not supposed to touch your nose whilst preparing food anyway. If you wash your hands regularly than it should be no more dangerous.

This is a reply to a remark Zang made. No, tattoos and piercings do not reflect the morals or ethics of a person and there for should have no negative impact on a person seeking a job. I am in school to be a High school teacher and I have three tattoos, my tongue, ear, both nipples, and others that i will not mention, and unless I show them to you you would never know that I had them. Both people who know that I have them and people who dont say that they think that Ill be a great teacher, there for obviously there should be no problem with ppl who have tattoos and piercings. We are guaranteed equality, freedom from any type of persecution, and the freedom of self expression. By saying that someone isn't fit to be a teacher just b/c they dont look like you is nothing more than closed minded ppl persecuting ppl that they dont understand, not to mention that is an upright violation of our freedom of self expression and our god given right to be individuals.

If you want to reply to someone, you can use the reply function (the drop-down menu over the comment box).

It must be really painful to have a tattooed tongue

Someone replied to you (other than me).

Fun fun.

You might want to brush up on your written English before teaching kids. Even if you aren't planning to teach English, I'm sure they will expect you to be able to write a paragraph at a level higher than say...fourth grade.

If you look closely at my comments, you might notice that nowhere did I say that tattoos and piercings reflected the morals or ethics of the individual. I simply said that many people are likely to react negatively to such things, whether on a conscious or subconscious level.

If I had a child in high school, and I got a note from their teacher asking me to come in for a conference and the note looked like it was written by a nine year-old and I showed up for the conference and the teacher had tattoos on their face...Can you understand why I might question the quality of the education my child was receiving?

Thanks! I responded, but it appears that southernfreak04 joined up simply to post that comment. I'm not sure that I should expect a response back...

The only things that would put me off are dirty clothes and body odor. Tattoos and piercings don't bother me in the least.