So. This Friday I go and get my eyebrow pierced, just one, a simple curved anvil, nothing flashy or big. So, everyone thinks it looks pretty nice, I like it, etc. etc. and then I go to an interview for a job on campus and they explain to me that they are required to turn away any male or female with a facial piercing, and any male who cannot remove ear piercings. Now, I understand that they want campus employs to look professional, and that many other places are like this, but who is to dictate what's appropriate and what's not? These 50 year old know-it-nothing schmucks who like the Republican Party, Baked Chicken and Apple Pie? The general conservative nature of the "superiors" is just disconcerting. What exactly is wrong with tattoos, piercings, different hair styles, etc.? Why are even the most tastefully done considered inappropriate?

What's the job, if you don't mind me asking?

It was for catering, bring food to football games, cooking, carrying sick trays to people, etc. But the rule applies to every campus job.

It's tradition/stereotype more than anything. Society has always perceived those with body mutations (tatoos, piercings) to be poorly educated individuals. To put it more bluntly, society always treated and realized people who enjoyed body mutations to be scumbags. Employers can't/are not supposed to discriminate, so they require you to dress in proper attire so their customers won't get any ideas when they see the piercings/tattoos etc. Only exceptions are women with ear piercings.

Yeah, it's kinda funny in a way. I've got to wear a massive watch when I go for interviews, cause I have a pretty little tattoo on the back of my wrist. And if it's not covered "zomg" they all freak out

It's stupid, I'm a well-educated, mature female, a parent..but something that I quite enjoyed getting, and think is pretty, they freak out over. Not like I have dead bodies or anything on my arm

I wouldn't hire someone with visible tattoos or piercings, it looks unprofessional. And what it comes down to, is that if you're not willing to look professional, why should someone hire you?

Think about this, why do businessmen wear suits? Because it's non threatening, looks good, and people can relate, it's -all- about relating. If someone's got tattoos or piercings, they just don't look normal enough for everyone to relate to them.

Now, think about the people at say, Hot Topic. Why are they allowed to have these things? Because their audience is similar to the way they're supposed to dress there. People at a biker bar or something, sure, they might have tattoos and piercings as well, but their customers can -relate- to that.

If you're looking to get -any- kind of a semi-professional job, knock of the piercings in general. I work at an insurance company, and from what I've seen so far, out of 200 people or so, two have had nose piercings (the little studs in the side), and one or two guys has earrings. One of our supervisors actually has some pretty kickass tattoos, and looks like a biker, but he's got a very nicely trimmed beard, and he wears long pants, and long sleeved shirts. He doesn't intimidate anyone, and he's very relateable.

I've heard of employers immediately turning down people with visible tattoos and piercings, and to summarize, it's because:

1. If you don't feel like trying to look professional, you're not willing to put forth enough effort to work for us.

2. Customers, and coworkers cannot relate to you.

This is why I love my library. I can have anything pierced I want, and they won't care. Too many other places make me at least take out the eyebrow piercing, and a lot of times I get rid of all my earrings too, just in case. It's incredibly annoying, especially since my eyebrow loves to grow shut REALLY freaking fast, and I have to repierce it so damn often.

That's why I love my job. I can wear what I want, or nothing at all. I can get piercings, tattoos, etc wherever, and no one will care.

Did I mention I'm unemployed? Best job evar.

Yeah, but, aren't you already rich?

We've always considered you to be a conformist anyway Richter. You do realize that every single thing in your argument right there was based off of arbitrary opinion and set in traditions that have been around from the 1950's, when people still lynched black people and distrusted the Japanese.

From the 50's? Try the 1600s boyo.

Ever since Adam Smith wrote his book, business has pretty much had the same view of the world.

Edit: I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on what percentage of people remove piercings or regret tattoos when they get older.

It's hardly fair to insult Richter, because he's perfectly right. If you want a professional job, you have to look professional. If you're dedicated to looking alternative, get a job that allows you to do that. It's your choice.

Define "look professional" please.

34 and planning on getting more actually Well, one more *ponder* Doubt I'll go beyond that one.

Which picture looks like it was done by a profesional and which by someone just starting to learn?



or




Professional normally means that you can visually see that someone put time and effort into their work. Wheather thats a drawing, or a building or the way the shelves are stocked or the way they dress.

I will defend Richter for once. He is perfectly right - in the business world, one must conform. Richter is borderline centrist/right, if my mark is right, which it tends to be. But that's also his environment - he lives with his parents, and works for a big-wig insurance firm.

And Singollo is like-wise right. The business world conforms to ancient standards because that's what these crusty old right-wing religious pricks are used to. They dislike change, and are probably fairly certain that illiterate homosexuals are the only people who get piercings and tattoos, and by refusing to hire them they will eventually die out and everyone left will be concservative right-wingers like themselves.

Who don't believe in any sexual position beyond missionary. Believe you me. These people not only exist, but they are in the highest positions of power. Let's hang Bush, Cheney, all conservatives, and especially the oil companies. The only ones that will be left untouched are those greedily researching alternate fuel sources (like hydrogen), as they are easily swayed to anything that can be made to turn a profit.

In layman's terms:

Richter is right. Business world = conformists. Hot Topic = non-conformists. And that's why I shop at Hot Topic, Aeropostale, and American Eagle. They all allow their sales associates and managers to have various piercings and tattoos. Also, their tight jeans look good on my ass.

But wait. If it took me longer to dress than someone, and I picked out my clothes with just as much care, in fact they look the same, if not more formal, took more time to care for my hair, filed my nails more delicately then by that definition I look more professional professional than them, despite having a facial piercing?

Richter: OMG YOU SAID ASS. DIE. OMG OMG OMG POST-BAN ERION.

I was actually basing that off of several things I've read or watched, not my own opinion (that actually -is- my opinion, but I've formed it from the things I've read or watched).

It was something like from Donald Trump, or some show on PBS. No, I don't remember exactly, and I can't really back it up, but I'd love to see someone actually dispute it, other than by saying "that thinking is really old", because it's not.

And it's not fair to knock me on that. Why do you consider me a conformist anyway? Do you have any evidence to back it up? Or did that idea come to you in the form of a long brown piece of excrement? Conformist? Hardly. If you knew anything about me, you'd realize that wasn't true.

So really, don't post about things you know nothing about. Thanks.

WHA? I never knew Bill Gates was a right wing christain republican, or Steve Jobs, or George Lucas. All well known for their evil corprate activities.