"My being different to you still makes me a man."

[Justin]

This thread is about being "different." I'm going to cover some specific areas--ones that pertain to me, for example--and I'd like you guys to discuss those areas. However, feel free to expound on being "different."

Include things that affect you, or people that you know.

What is your experience with people with body mods? How are they generally treated? Is that right, or wrong?

By "body mods" I mainly mean multiple tattoos, obvious and abnormally placed piercings, tongue splits, facial implants, stretched piercings, and so on.

Now, if any of you were to meet me in person, you wouldn't be thrown off by some side show freak with facial tatts, or horn implants. Most of my ink is well concealed by normal clothing, unless my hair is pulled back you can't see my ear size, and I have a very good flesh tone stud for my nose when I'm not in a casual setting.

But do you think it's right that I should [i]have[/i] to go to those lengths to be considered a reasonable young man?

How would you judge me, say, if I did have facial ink, a one inch tongue split, 1 inch gauges, a septum ring and the like? Would it be different than the appearance I described before? Is that justified?

See, now, I know a lot of people with a lot of body mods. A lot of those people are good people. They are sound-minded, generally gainfully employed, non drug users, non violent, and very sociable people.

So, while I understand the apprehension of people not raised around that, I just want to see your thoughts on the subject. How do you see these kinds of people?

This can extend to anything. Homosexuals, various religions, social views, you name it. All I want is some discussion.

-Justin

PS- Anyone who can guess where my thread title came from will get sweet Modprops.

[Rachmaninoff]

[quote name='Justin']What is your experience with people with body mods? How are they generally treated? Is that right, or wrong?

By "body mods" I mainly mean multiple tattoos, obvious and abnormally placed piercings, tongue splits, facial implants, stretched piercings, and so on.[/QUOTE]Not a lot since I don't run into it very often. As to how they are treated... It's a mix, sometimes it?s no big deal and others are judged on their appearance, in a negative fashion. Is it right or wrong? It depends on the culture really. Even if I think tattoos or piercings are up to the individual it doesn?t change the fact that for some, that?s considered a contradiction to how they were raised. Though that brings up the question of tolerance towards different beliefs. In general, I think it?s a mistake to judge someone so quickly.[quote name='Justin;805785]Now, if any of you were to meet me in person, you wouldn't be thrown off by some side show freak with facial tatts, or horn implants. Most of my ink is well concealed by normal clothing, unless my hair is pulled back you can't see my ear size, and I have a very good flesh tone stud for my nose when I'm not in a casual setting.[/QUOTE]I won?t lie, initially I would be thrown off. Because I?m not use to really seeing it. It doesn?t bother me, but it does take getting use to because I really don?t run into it a lot. I wouldn?t judge you over it though.[QUOTE=Justin']But do you think it's right that I should [i]have[/i] to go to those lengths to be considered a reasonable young man?

How would you judge me, say, if I did have facial ink, a one inch tongue split, 1 inch gauges, a septum ring and the like? Would it be different than the appearance I described before? Is that justified?[/QUOTE]Depends on the context, everyone has to do things to fit in with society and covering tattoos is one of them. A lot of jobs require it. Do I agree? *shrug* I just know it?s expected, though for me that is not an issue. I couldn?t say if it was right for the simple reason I do not have enough information to know if a mod really is disruptive in a work environment. As for your appearance, it would perhaps earn a startled look, I won?t lie. But that?s not the same as judging someone. I really prefer to judge someone based on actions rather than appearance. [quote name='Justin']See, now, I know a lot of people with a lot of body mods. A lot of those people are good people. They are sound-minded, generally gainfully employed, non drug users, non violent, and very sociable people.

So, while I understand the apprehension of people not raised around that, I just want to see your thoughts on the subject. How do you see these kinds of people?[/QUOTE]I wouldn?t say apprehension, but for someone who has never seen it, I could understand that. I?ve long gotten past that stage, of being outright startled by it. But in general, I see them as people like anyone else. [quote name='Justin']PS- Anyone who can guess where my thread title came from will get sweet Modprops.[/QUOTE]Considering that you started the thread on Metal and were quite active in posting. I can only assume that the title is part of some lyrics from a Metal song. Something that a little research indicates it is by Rob Halford, Forgotten Generation. Though that?s assuming my guess is actually correct. :p

[pooperson]

[COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"][SIZE="1"]I'm modded!

It's really interesting to see people's reactions to my tattoo... and when I tell them that the minute I turn 18 I'm getting more.

Sometimes people absolutely HATE me for it. One time I went to a Catholic church for a youth retreat, & some of my own friends wouldn't even LOOK at it. So I'm going to Hell, & that's just nice.

Then there are the people who think it's basically the coolest thing in the world. They make my heart smile. :] I'm oftentimes told that it's a really brave thing to show my faith in that way.

Really though, the reactions aren't important. I'm able to defend my reasons for getting it, & if people hate it, all I say is that it's too late now anyway.

And of course I'm no less of a person for it... that's just silly.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[font=Arial]Generally speaking the reaction to modded people is of mild interest, but more so of general distaste. Is this right? No. But you have to understand why people think it's bizarre and bad-looking.

Humans gravitate towards that which they are most familiar with. They like what they consider "natural" and "normal". A tattoo is not the societal standard, nor is it natural, and as a result, people will think it's strange/weird/bad. People with massively gauged ears deviate from the norm (at least within western culture) and will be judged as outsiders.

In the workplace, I would say it's reasonable to request people to cover up tattoos/piercings. When you work a job, you become a representative for a company -- an entity larger than yourself, and as such you should conform to the image they're looking to present. You wouldn't wear jeans and a t-shirt on Wall Street, and it's the same general principle regarding tattoos.

Either way, though, it's simply not alright to discriminate against the modded. To call them criminal or evil or bad is ridiculously blind and foolish, imho.[/font]

[[Sound_Nin]]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]One inch gauge? I've seen much, much larger.

Well, I have to say society on the whole is a lot more accepting towards any kind of body modification.
With my small amount of piercings, I hardly ever get second looks. Occasionally someone will asked if they hurt.

Of course dramatic modifications will get stares. If you can't handle the attention, don't do it, I guess.

People shouldn't be judged on looks alone.
I don't have much to say on this subject, sorry.
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[Justin]

Of course, there are much bigger than inches, but I just didn't want to get into metric measurements. :)

I agree that these things should be covered in the work place. I wish they didn't have to be, but because society is the way that it is, they should be out of respect for others.

My main beef is the fact that society [i]is[/i] this way. I know that the taboo stems as much from the natural appearance and association with that as from certain religious stigmas; but these things shouldn't cloud one's judgment of the individual.

This communicates into lots of issues. As I said, homosexuality, religious differences, political leanings, cultural behaviors...blah.

Regardless of whether you agree with someone, I do feel that the disagreement itself is not a basis for prejudice.

In our hodge-podge culture, the are many exceptions to almost any combinations of rules.

-Justin

[timotheus]

Justin: First let me say that I am mod free, though I don't see anything wrong with that. Tattoo's don't really phase me at all, nor do most of the other mods available. Some intense studs or piercings cause me to double take, but that's just because I don't see it often.

I would argue that 'mod discrimination' (yay, I made a term up!) is different from racism in that you weren't born that way. You made a decision to be that way. I think the reason older people have troubles with modded people is they can't understand why anyone would do that. Since they can't comprehend the reasons, in their minds the people who do it are weird/unstable/zany.

Once the older generations die off, we'll live in a world where pierced and tattooed people aren't pre-judged, and live in harmony with the unmodded groups. Of course, both groups will wonder what the heck those kids are doing implanting scroll marquees under their skin. :)

[Nomurah!]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]I don't fit in with the mainstreams... I guess. Because why? I'm casual. I don't need to be in a abercrombie society, because I like to just dress in casual clothes that aren't particularly "preppy". I'm in with the scene kids, because I don't go out of my way just to make everyday a photoshoot for myspace, and rainbows. I think that people that just insist on wearing black all the time are posers, and are just as worried about their image as preps and scene kids.

I wear my hair long, just BECAUSE, I like to hide my face. Sometimes I feel shy, and I'm not just saying that because I'm secretly conceited (scenexcore)...

I believe... you could call me GRUNGE.. Ooooo Grunge. Gee.

I'm kind of different. At least, down here I am. Maybe somewhere else, I'd be a normal teenager with normal interests, like hanging out with somebody besides preps and rednecks.. I think mods are cool. Not too many though... and I don't like split tongues, sorry, but that wouldn't stop me form talking to someone with one...

So down here, I'm kind of different. But my real friends love me. In Ashville, North Carolina, I'm different, cause I don't try to be goth, or whatever you call it (me and friends went there not too long ago, and to the hot topic as well... it was pretty funny). But everyone was really nice there... Well the girls were, anyway.

I have no mods. The only mods I want, I'll get in a few years.

oh and one more thing.

YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON IF YOU DISCRIMINATE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES.

that pretty much clears up what I think. go me.
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[Claire]

[FONT="Arial"]I'm fascinated by tattoos and piercings. I can't even fully explain why, other than they "look cool." How lame am I? Hah.

I'd love to have some body mods in the future, but I don't really have any good ideas with any good reasons. The only piercing I've been wanting for a while would be in my lip, to the right of center. The only reason being that I like how it looks.

I wouldn't mind having a tattoo of a rainbow colored nautical star, either, but only because I love how the different colors look. I can't figure out where I would place it.

I don't want to just get a tattoo for that reason though. I'm too young right now, anyway, but I figure if I still think it's a good idea by the time I'm eighteen I might consider getting it done. I wish I was creative enough (and had important things to represent symbolically!) to design something meaningful for myself.

However, some body mods really freak me out...like horn implants. Those are the worst, in my opinion; they look like those cartoon bumps growing out of someone's forehead. Just looking at pictures of them give me a headache.

Surface piercings are pretty creepy, too. Especially when they're gauged. Guuuhh. Some places just don't need to be pierced, like your cheek, or your back. :[

I don't understand the appeal some people find in those kinds of mods. If I ever met someone with such, I wouldn't express any discomfort outwardly, but they'd definitely be hard for me to be around.

It's okay to be "different," but why does that have to be synonymous with "creepy" sometimes?[/FONT]

[Nomurah!]

[quote name='Clurr'][FONT="Arial"]I'm fascinated by tattoos and piercings. I can't even fully explain why, other than they "look cool." How lame am I? Hah.

I'd love to have some body mods in the future, but I don't really have any good ideas with any good reasons. The only piercing I've been wanting for a while would be in my lip, to the right of center. The only reason being that I like how it looks.

I wouldn't mind having a tattoo of a rainbow colored nautical star, either, but only because I love how the different colors look. I can't figure out where I would place it.

I don't want to just get a tattoo for that reason though. I'm too young right now, anyway, but I figure if I still think it's a good idea by the time I'm eighteen I might consider getting it done. I wish I was creative enough (and had important things to represent symbolically!) to design something meaningful for myself.

However, some body mods really freak me out...like horn implants. Those are the worst, in my opinion; they look like those cartoon bumps growing out of someone's forehead. Just looking at pictures of them give me a headache.

Surface piercings are pretty creepy, too. Especially when they're gauged. Guuuhh. Some places just don't need to be pierced, like your cheek, or your back. :[

I don't understand the appeal some people find in those kinds of mods. If I ever met someone with such, I wouldn't express any discomfort outwardly, but they'd definitely be hard for me to be around.

It's okay to be "different," but why does that have to be synonymous with "creepy" sometimes?[/FONT][/QUOTE]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]ahhh... Horn implants are just weird. But I still wouldn't mind having a friend like that as long as they didn't purposely creep me out with their different mods... "Snake people" creep me out even worse... Argh...

If I get a tattoo, I'd probably get something like... hot pink or cyan, coming up my happy trail from inside of my jeans... None on my.. private parts though. That's creepy and slightly chilling as well.

I'm okay with cheek studs... As long as they're not really huge, on girls it's kind of cute.

I did at one time have two peircings... Just snakebites on my lips, if anyone remembers. But I took them out like... a month ago for risk of infection in one, and if I was to only have one, I'd just take out both... So. Now, I'm modless. Darnit.
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[Mr. Maul]

[quote name='Justin']How would you judge me, say, if I did have facial ink, a one inch tongue split, 1 inch gauges, a septum ring and the like? Would it be different than the appearance I described before? Is that justified?[/quote]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DimGray]First, I don't judge (usually).

Second, you just described about four or five of my friends. Even my ex-girlfriend had a septum ring, as well.



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[Zombie_Nosh]

[FONT="Courier New"][COLOR="SeaGreen"]For the most part, stuff like tatoos, piercings, and dyed hai don't bother me. I've even been know to dabble myself (very briefly). It's about individuality, and that's fair enough.

However, when I DO see somebody in the street with all the extreme mods- horns, excessive piercings, those huge hoop things in the earlobe, I instantly think [I]"Ah, man, get a hold of yourself! We recognise your existance and your right to be different, but this is going too far, this is practically begging to be noticed."[/I] How needy must that guy have been to have done that to himself?

I guess it's sort of like the guy who uses the [FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="4"][COLOR="Magenta"][B][I]size 4 font, Comic Sans, in day-glo pink[/I][/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]. His imput is as valid as the next mans, but why oh why must it be made that way?

Perhaps that's pretty narrow minded of me, and I'm sure that's probably not the case a lot of the time, but I'm just a guy, and that's just how I think. There's a difference between telling the world "This is me", and screaming at the world "THIS IS ME, THIS IS ME! ACKNOWLEDGE ME! PLEASE?!"[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[quote name='Justin;805785]This thread is about being "different." I'm going to cover some specific areas--ones that pertain to me, for example--and I'd like you guys to discuss those areas. However, feel free to expound on being "different." [/QUOTE]I would say this thread is about [I]looking[/I] different, not really [I]being[/I] different. [QUOTE=Justin']See, now, I know a lot of people with a lot of body mods. A lot of those people are good people. They are sound-minded, generally gainfully employed, non drug users, non violent, and very sociable people.

So, while I understand the apprehension of people not raised around that, I just want to see your thoughts on the subject. How do you see these kinds of people?[/QUOTE]I do think it?s wrong to judge based on appearance, however, I won?t lie. I?ve been raised to think such modifications are not appropriate. I have also lived in an area where it?s not seen a lot, so naturally it draws a lot of attention.

Is there any apprehension? No, I simply don't care for it, nothing more.

[[Sound_Nin]]

[QUOTE]I would say this thread is about [I]looking[/I] different, not really [I]being[/I] different.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]Some would say that presentation is the basis of personality. And it's an expression of what's inside, and since it becomes a part of who you are... well, I'll stop there.

However, I was raised around it. And I'm definitely proud of my liberal, accepting upbringing.

I remember one of my mom's friends having a nearly full-body tattoo. Another of her friends had about 25 piercings and different coloured hair every week.
People are people.
I don't even notice these things, is how used to them I am.
People are going to have to start changing with the times. Get used to it.

I'd also like to mention these things have been around longer than the Bible.
So it's nothing new at all.
Just getting more elaborate.
[/FONT][/COLOR]

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Although I respect each person's right to do what they want with their body, I do think people have to be realistic.

The fact of the matter is, there are circumstances where a full body tattoo just isn't going to be appropriate (at least if it's visible even when clothing is on).

I used to have an eyebrow piercing, which I kept up until about the middle of last year. It was starting to grow out a bit and it was frustrating me, so I decided to just take it out.

Although I never had any negative comments about it - mostly because I was otherwise very well presented - there was no question that I was lucky to be working in a more liberal office environment. And there's also no question that the presence of that eyebrow piercing could have hurt my chances at getting certain jobs.

So although freedom and individual expression are important, I think it's also important to respect other people's views. I could go out into the city and walk around naked because it's "how I express myself", but there's no question that a lot of people around me would feel uncomfortable with that.

It's not just a question of expressing yourself, it's also a question of paying due respect to those around you. Anyone can walk into a room with a million tattoos. Yet I think it takes a more enlightened person to retain certain limits, with the aim of making people around them feel comfortable.

Ultimately you're right - what you wear and how you represent yourself also says a lot about who you are. But if you are perfectly willing to make people uncomfortable simply for the sake of individualism, what message does that send about you to others?

It's definitely worth thinking about.[/font]

[Solo Tremaine]

[COLOR=#503F86]I think, in England at least, there's generally a certain kind of person that'll go in for body modification, and as such, all the ones I've known and met have been very similar (in background, tastes, education, etc), so to me it's individual expression in much the same way that lots of other people express themselves individually in exactly the same way :p

And, in the way James said, it goes present a certain image to other people, social stigma or not. Certainly if you're into body modifcation, you're not likely to become a receptionist or somebody who has to work closely with the public and give an impression that needs to appear friendly and welcoming. If you're into creative expression and work by yourself than it doesn't really matter but whether or not you take pride in your own appearance, other people will always see you differently. But the brunt of it is if it means that much to you to express yourself through tattoos or piercings, then don't let other people stand in your way.

Personally I'm not into body modification. The most I'd get (and I have thought about it a few times) would be a small tattoo, perhaps on my upper arm of the back of my shoulder. But piercings have no appeal for me. I'm fine with other people having piercings, but while people with heavy body modifcations I'm sure are prefectly nice people for the most part, I just find it difficult to identify with them because I'd never do that to my body.

And, perhaps the bain of being raised by a psychopharmacologist and a psychiartrist as my parents, I just wonder about the physical aspects of it. Lip/chin piercings wear the enamel off your front teeth, for instance. Bigger piercings need a lot of maintenance to make sure both they and the body around them stay as they're supposed to. A tattoo will fade eventually and, as I get older, will become a floppy mess that I'll need lasered off if get fed up with it. That's not to say I can't get a decent 20-30 years out of a tattoo if I wanted one (I should hope, anyway), but those things always niggle in the back of my mind.

Hair dying is much less extreme, as far as I can see. I've considered bleaching my hair, dying it dark red... and I think it looks very nice on others. A little fleck of blue or pink in someone's hair, something more subtle like that, can often be a better display of individuality than something huge. After all, if you are going to get a huge tattoo that you only have to hide with your shirt all day anyway, is it worth the expense getting it in the first place?[/COLOR]

[Inculta_Bellum]

Tatoos are fine on most people. But there are certain exceptions. I'm not going to take my doctor seriously if he has a dragon down the length of his arm, simply because that doesn't look professional. He could be the best doctor in the world for all I know, but that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't look like it. You have to present yourself in the manner that you want to be perceived.

Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't considered one or two body mods. I wouldn't get a tatoo are piercing, but I would love to have my tongue split like a snake. That would be the most awesome thing ever. And no one would have to know except my dentist. It may seem like a waste if no one else can see it, but I'd be doing it for my own benefit anyway. Split tongues are awesome!

[[Sound_Nin]]

[quote name='Inculta_Bellum'] I'm not going to take my doctor seriously if he has a dragon down the length of his arm, simply because that doesn't look professional. He could be the best doctor in the world for all I know, but that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't look like it. [/quote]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]Oh, wow. I can't relate. I would LOVE to have a doctor like that. I'd be more comfortable talking about things with him, because he'd seem like a real person, not some cold professional type.
I repeat, that would be AWESOME.


[/FONT][/COLOR][QUOTE]I wouldn't get a tatoo are piercing, but I would love to have my tongue split like a snake.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]That seems like... something people would consider MORE odd than a tattoo or piercing.


Anyway, I think piercings are the most reasonable. Take 'em out and no one will ever know, unless they get real close to your face and whatnot. And people that would get THAT close are creepy. Very creepy.
Tattoos have the Superman aspect when hidden under your shirt. Wear a suit... and you melt into the crowd. Whip that shirt off, and BAM.


Sorry, I'm hyper.
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[Sara]

[quote name='Zombie_Nosh'][FONT="Courier New"][COLOR="SeaGreen"]I guess it's sort of like the guy who uses the [FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="4"][COLOR="Magenta"][B][I]size 4 font, Comic Sans, in day-glo pink[/I][/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]. His imput is as valid as the next mans, but why oh why must it be made that way?"[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE][font=trebuchet ms]I get what you're trying to say, but I disagree on this point.

Input made in Comic Sans in never valid.[/font]

[[Sound_Nin]]

[quote name='Sara'][FONT=trebuchet ms]I get what you're trying to say, but I disagree on this point.

Input made in Comic Sans in never valid.[/FONT][/quote]

[COLOR=Lime][SIZE=3][B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]Oh I don't know about that one. I think this makes my point far more valid than anyone else's because I'm awesome enough to use neon green, bold, Comic Sans, and a bigger font.[/SIZE]

[/FONT][/B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]Yeah. Annoying. Majorly effing annoying.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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