Body Adornments and a Career? 174
termilitor asks: "I was thinking about decorating myself with a tatoo. The only argument that holds me back is whether this will affect my career of a mathematician / computer programmer negatively. I would like to ask readers of the Slashdot if they have such experiences, including other types of self decoration, like body piercings and dyeing hair." It's always important to look professional when in the work-environment. The big question, of course, is how many of you believe such things are mutually-exclusive. Wearing a tattoo is a non-issue with the right clothes, but what about piercings and hair coloring? Can a happy medium exist between self-expression and the professional environment?
no (Score:5, Insightful)
most employers take a dim view of self-expression. at least this is true in most of corporate america.
If you're a woman... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:If you're a woman... (Score:3, Interesting)
My experience. (Score:2)
Think long, think hard. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:3, Informative)
Spoken like a true bigot. You obviously [internatio...tooart.com] aren't [newmexicotattoo.com] looking [dasilvaphoto.com] very [sanctuarytattoo.com] hard [eurotattoo.co.nz]
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:4, Insightful)
Spoken like a true bigot.
Ah. So now one must have a politically correct sense of the aesthetic, or one is considered a bigot, a moral degenerate who has no part in civilized society? Thank you for opening our minds to this startling, revolutionary insight. We are now liberated.
Ha.
He just expressed an opinion. If you can't take other people's opinions, you should avoid the Internet.
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:4, Funny)
That's just your opinion.
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:3, Interesting)
There are 30-60 year old people everywhere with fading ugly blotches on the skin that they thought were great when they got them.
A tattoo just screams insecurity. "I've gotta do something permanent to my skin, to show that I'm really serious about 'whatever' culture that I'm involved with right now."
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:3, Funny)
"If you want to be individual, don't get a tattoo!" --- Ozzy Osbourne
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
So, what you're saying is that if the...erm...workplace is a getaway car, tattoos would be a hinderance to your career?
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2, Insightful)
With the possible exception of smoking...
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
There's nowt so strange as folk, as they say.
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
I agree wholeheartedly. The tattoo/piercing thing is purely about taste.
It appears that a predilection for "body modification" is specific to (or else rapidly defining) a particular subculture. People who are into these things are usually into a whole lot of other things I don't like (eg. promiscuous sex, drugs, the clubbing scene).
The people I usually associate with don't really belong to that subculture either
Re:Think long, think hard. (Score:2)
I'm sure there are good looking tatoos, on good looking people, appreciated by people with artistic sensibility. You've managed to prove that this simply isn't always the case.
I heard it said... (Score:4, Funny)
Well... (Score:4, Insightful)
Both my tattoos and my piercings are concealed easily by business clothing. I *did* have a tongue piercing for a little while, but got rid of it.
People were always amazed that I had tattoos and piercings when they found out....I guess most people assume that people who have them will have them somewhat visibly.
I guess part of your question revolves around how you carry yourself, too. I've always been a little 'larger than life'...I think if you're not prepared to put yourself 'out there', then you might be right thinking that you could get some negative feedback.
-psy
A happy medium (Score:5, Insightful)
I mean, DUH.
Re:A happy medium (Score:5, Funny)
Is your tattoo going to be easy to conceal? I mean, a swastika on the forehead, almost certainly a bad idea.
nice ink, grandpa (Score:5, Insightful)
Now imagine that they are permanent.
That being said, if you are good and have a good manager, then it won't matter. However, you may have to leave an otherwise satifactory job because of other's stupidity.
"professional" really bugs me (Score:3, Insightful)
This whole having to look "professional" thing really bugs me.
I really don't see the link between dressing in a suit and being *competent*. I don't comprehend it. And while I don't like tattoos and piercings, I can't understand that someone with a full body tattoo and a green mohawk is automatically considered incompetent and useless.
But in the corporate world it seems to be the way things are.
It's a sick world.
- Muggins the Mad
Re:"professional" really bugs me (Score:5, Insightful)
In life you have an Image. This Image is how you conduct yourself and how you are perceived by others. Many factors including how you dress, how you smell, how you behave, and how you look all come together to form your Image.
In life, it is one of the most important things that you will carry with you everywhere. It is the first thing that people who meet you will grasp about you. The so-called "first impression" that someone gets of you is based on your Image rather than your abilities.
There isn't any way to neglect your Image. Every action you take shapes it and molds it, so even if you stop taking showers (for example) you have only shaped your Image towards that image. You can "improve" your Image by doing things that impress other people like combing your hair or brushing your teeth or wearing a suit. Likewise you can "damage" your Image by putting giant piercings in your ear or not showering for weeks. The "improve" and "damage" are in quotes because it is up to the individual as to what kind of Image he wants to project, these examples are only using the most general attitudes as a basis for determining Image bettering and Image damaging.
So when a business looks at a person who has "damaged" his Image, it is easy to make a quick judgement call about the person. He does not have enough willpower or drive or ability to take care of one of his most important possessions, so how can he be trusted to control some part of the company (someone else's important possession)?
If you decide that your Image should show that you are a slacker (through uncleanliness) or that you wish to separate yourself from the mainstream (through piercings or extravagant and obvious tattooing), then you must prepare yourself for rejection when attempting to enter the world of business where these things are generally frowned upon.
The only way around this is to build a reputation so that people can have a preconceived notion of your abilities even before they meet your for the first time. A good reputation is many times better than a good Image. However, a good reputation is many times harder to create than a good Image.
Re:"professional" really bugs me (Score:4, Insightful)
But I don't think a 'reputation' in the conventional sense is the only way to get around this. I also think confidence and a good self-image help a lot too. I know I can meet people for the first time, totally cold, and usually sway them over to trust me in my field -- because *I* know I know my shit, and I know I can convince them of that... so before we even start an interaction, I've already decided on how I want to be seen. If I waver in that conviction, then my chances of being able to be Myself and also be the person they want me to be (Super Professional Man) go way down.
So, my best advice -- love yourself deeply, and convince yourself that you truly are All That, and you will command the respect you desire. It's all very Dale Carnegie... you think a salesman relies on a previous reputation? He can't, he's always meeting new people he has to make a good impression on from the start. So just sell yourself!
Re:"professional" really bugs me (Score:2)
Re:"professional" really bugs me (Score:2)
Re:"professional" really bugs me (Score:2, Interesting)
The happiest medium... (Score:4, Funny)
Of course. But then, she'd better be a well paid psychic if she's truly going to be a happy medium.
Why all the wierd ask slashdots lately?
-Adam
Re:The happiest medium... (Score:2)
Re:The happiest medium... (Score:2)
Using people who claim to see the future, or get visions, to determine your payrolls is NEVER a good idea. :-)
Self Expression (Score:5, Insightful)
In other words, everything in their life revolves around their tattoos or piercings. It's all about how society doesn't understand me because I've got "body art". Or I didn't get that job, or get a date with that girl/guy, or, oh my god my life is complete shit but at least I'm expressing myself because I've got body art!
Anyways. I also know quite a few people who do have simple tattoos or piercings that dont get in the way of a normal social life (yes, i'm making an assumption about the definition of normal). You don't have to have "FUCK YOU" tattooed across your forehead.
If the tattoo you are wanting makes you concerned that you won't get a job at IBM or Sun (much less SCO), then you may very well regret it later in life.
Re:Self Expression (Score:5, Interesting)
I worked for an IT company that was sold to IBM, with all employees becoming IBMers.
A large portion of our firm, including me, were young and "hip". I had a nose and eyebrow ring, others had dyed hair, wild haircuts, or tattoos.
We stuck out like a sore thumb in IBM, a company that suits the description of borg-like grey drones far more than MS does.
After around 2 years it became clear people with less talent but better suits were getting promotions we should be getting.
Most of us started to clean up our image to get promotions, the ones that didn't ended up in dead end jobs blaming society rather than their inability to wear a long sleeved shirt to cover up their tats.
Self expression is a great thing, as long as whatever you do can be covered up, or will heal when you get bored with it. Many companies don't care what you look like, many, especially bigger blue chip corps do care. At some point you may want to work for such a company even if you don't now, so don't do anything too drastically permanent to your appearance
I really can't see how a tattoo can affect your career, unless showering with the CEO is mandatory, or you're planning to decorate your forehead or hands with neo nazi slogans.
Re:Self Expression and IBM (Score:3, Insightful)
A long time ago, I had a chance to work with a former-salesman turned development-manager at IBM about the dress code in the company. To set the image in your mind, IBM had announced that it was relaxing the dress code a bit for employees who did not meet customers on a regular basis (i.e. the people he was managing), yet he was still wearing the white shirt, suit and tie.
He reason for sticking with the suit and tie made perfect sense to me (paraphrased version because it has been 14 years since I had thi
IBM (Score:2)
I work for IBM. Right now I'm wearing jeans, a Paul Frank T-shirt saying "I'm not a beaver, I'm an otter", and I have black titanium circular barbell earrings with pointy "devil horn" ends. I've seen worse around here, too.
Head down to IBM in Austin and you'll see people wearing shorts, sandals and hawaiian shirts.
Now, on the other hand, if you work for IBM on Madison Avenue, or even go there to visit, you're expected to wear something at the smarter end of business
How to deal with it? Maybe ask Stalkingcat (Score:2)
My wife and I know him. By every definition, eccentric, but overall a pretty cool cat.
Feynman painted his diagrams onto his family van (Score:2)
Instead of worrying... (Score:2, Insightful)
Acording to my parents (Score:3, Funny)
In all seriousness though, a tattoo shouldn't be a big deal as long as it is easily concealed by standard business atire.
Moronic (Score:3, Insightful)
Even if you never grow up mentally, time and gravity will take it's toll, and your tatoo will turn into a black and blue smear. Tatoo removal people will be rich when all the girls putting giant butterflies on their backs and ass turn 40.
Why don't you "express" yourself by coloring your hair purple or something. At least dye washes out eventually.
Re:Moronic (Score:3, Insightful)
Uh, pardon my French, but who the fsck cares? And besides, in my experience, one tends to gravitate unconsciously towards crowds that share common interests and mores -- not all my friends have tattoos, but somehow they all seem to be people who don't care one way or the other about other people's body ar
pi (Score:2)
Re:pi (Score:2)
If you're going to put something on your forehead, especially any letter from any alphabet, why not put an "H" on the center of your forehead and when you get interviewed, tell everyone your name is Rimmer and you can't touch anything because you're a hologram?
Yes, but (Score:2)
Seriously, while many girlies might think that a hunting-cat tat makes a guy look sexy, I think they'd find pi a little disattracting.
Oh, and try to avoid tats with names too, unless you plan on continuously dating girls by the same name should the existing relationship break up. Getting one of those "mom" heart tattoos, but replacing "mom" with "my boss" might just help your job
Forever is a long time... (Score:3, Insightful)
Perhaps there are better ways of expressing yourself. I mean, what does dying your hair or getting a piercing say? Everybody is going to interpret it differently, and many of them will get the wrong meaning. If the idea is to make yourself look a certain way, then I suppose it works. But if the idea is to communicate something, you probably could find a more effective and accurate way to do it.
No Prob (Score:3, Funny)
Anything more is a tool to help you filter out companies you wouldn't want to be a part of, anyway, without wasting too much time talking to them. Likewise potential mates, potential mates' parents, bands, river-rafting clubs, condo associations, military academies, supreme-judicial internships, churches, university faculties, and diplomatic appointments.
Never had a problem (Score:4, Informative)
NEVER. EVER. EVER.
Don't listen to anyone at all who disses this. They underestimate how much people will put up with if you are confident and very good at what you do. I rate the confidence as more key than anything else. If you don't treat it as strange or unusual, people will put up with quite a bit.
Just expect to always be singled out as 'the strange one' in the department. For me, I never cared... either way. I don't get in people's faces with something assinine like "oh! look, look, I'm *different*". Especially since at this point I'm more part of the general crowd than anything
Now, a few cautions:
1) If you get a tattoo, get something you *can* cover up or play down if you are so inclined. Facial tattoos are only for those who really, really don't mind standing out and making compromises due to people's narrow viewpoints. You probably will find you'll prefer it this way anyway... better to have something you can *choose* to share with the crowd at large, because there are times where you'll want to *not* make the tattoo the focus of attention.
2) You will encounter dumb people. You may even encounter personal or career set-backs from this. It's always a chance. Assume that anything that happens like this is meant to be, and that you're better off not around those people or in that situation. If it's your mother crying over this, I suggest flowers and a hug and reassuring her that you're sorry you marked up the body she kept from harm all those years, but you were just expressing the creative side she always told you you had
3) As noted above, plan to be exceptional and very professional in your career. That will overcome any silly preconceptions most people might have. And yes, you can plan to be exceptional... It's pretty rare to be exceptional without putting some effort into that goal
4) Ask rec.arts.bodyart about this if you don't believe me. Tattooed, pierced, and otherly modified folks abound there. Many of them are very successful professionals, including my favorite librarian (hi Kate! I bet you're reading this!)
ciao!
Re:Never had a problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Did you feel comfy?
Were you okay with the looks (if any)?
Try it a few times in different places and see how you feel.
I applaud your desire to make an informed decision, but if you can't carry it off yourself it will ALWAYS stand out in a negative fashion.
Further more, as a programmer/analyst, I can say that the circumstances vary as to how appropriate it would be. The law firm I
Re:Never had a problem (Score:2)
Or for first officers on starships lost in the Delta Quadrant.
Re:Never had a problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't listen to anyone at all who disses this. They underestimate how much people will put up with if you are confident and very good at what you do. I rate the confidence as more key than anything else. If you don't treat it as strange or unusual, people will put up with quite a bit.
Fair enough. But if this guy is asking the slashdot crowd for feedback before getting body modification, I'm guessing he's not exactly oozing with self-confidence.
GMD
Earrings are more acceptable (Score:2)
IMHO, you can pierce yourself anywhere you please... but some things such as those *huge* ear spacers just give me shudders. And frankly, something like this [excite.com] is likely to get you an interview with an exorcist as opposed to a second job interview.
And yeah, when my gramma looks at a
Think of it this way.... (Score:3, Insightful)
I look at it this way: What are the chances it will affect your career positively? None, right? So, what your considering is a move that will, at best, not torpedo your career.
The last time that choice wasn't obvious, I was 15 and did not yet know the sorrow of unemployment.
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
I mean, damn. People are too scared now of unemployment. If this guy knows his shit in his field(s), both of which are known for being a little 'out there', I think he has nothing to worry about.
I can't believe you used the word 'torpedo'. Like his career hangs on whet
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
People bloody well should be scared of unemployment. Not making money in a capitalist society is not usually a pleasant ride unless you're in the clergy (even then, a great many members of the clergy have to get day jobs). Add into that the fact that the majority of people will eventually be married and have kids. Unemployment isn't a real option if you've got to pay for rent/mortgage, utilities, etc. and then maintain the expense of children on t
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
Most of us would not want to be unemployed. Of course that is true. However, I see too many people now who are giving up too much, fearing too much, and knuckling under to "The Man" just because they are full of this fear.
Look at the post I replied to. The poster implied that this guy is going to *ruin his life* if he gets a tattoo. That level of hyperbole is ridiculous. It just is not true... and to point to unemployment levels as a justification for this fear is ju
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
It depends on what they want for themselves. In any of the companies I've worked in, there's a ceiling to the level of responsibility you can have if you don't fit the corporate mold. I think if you just want to keep your job and get your yearly wage increase, you can probably do fine with many (but not all) employers.
Then, if you loose your job, and want another one, I think you'd be just about crazy to go interviewing
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
If everything you do has to be a means for furthering your career, think about all the things you miss out on. I bet going to that [insert favorite band here] concert doesn't affect your career positively... Playing [insert game] a couple of hours a week? Eating that extra large McMenu? Drinking those 10+ beers every friday/saturday night? Hooking up with that gir
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
As for getting a tat boosting one's self esteem: As someone who spent close to a decade working in residential
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
Nobody said anything about needing a tatoo, but that doesn't mean it couldn't do something positive to your attitude. And as with so many other things it is important not to overdo it. Getting a
Re:Think of it this way.... (Score:2)
I didn't take the time to pull out quotations, but there was a reference to "If you need a tattoo." That's where my comment came from.
But, obviously I'm wrong, since you are clearly analyzing this at a MUCH deeper level than I could ever hope to.
Of course you can (Score:2)
programmer's tatoo (Score:5, Funny)
(of course there's always the danger that Senator Orrin Hatch would find out and attempt to blow up my body, but I'm starting to think that danger was always there)
Re:programmer's tatoo (Score:2)
Oh. you can begin making jokes about how it would take a morbidly obese
In My Company (Score:5, Informative)
Personally, I think putting something on your body that will fade and look ugly in one's later years, or could be something that simply does not fit your personality after you grow or mature (and I'm not saying tats are immature) is, at the least unwise. It makes no sense to me (but neither do piercings -- even pierced ears on women) at all -- and I'm not exactly known as a conservative.
However it's not my job/business to judge your personal life. I want to know if you can do the job I am hiring you for. (And, from what I've seen in talking to other small business people, if you get a boss/interviewer as open minded as me, you're lucky!)
If you come into my office to interview for a "frontline" job where you're dealing with clients (or working in the storefronts when we have them open) and you have visible tats or piercings other than "normal" ear piercings on women, you won't get a job. It doesn't matter what I think. It matters what customers and clients think. I'm not going to take a chance on offending or bothering a lawyer client or a retail customer who may be a fundamentalist or a member of any other group with prejudices against non-conformists. As said elsewhere, it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what others (customers and clients) think. I'm not going to let my business lose money because an employee wants to "express" him or her self.
On the other hand, if you're applying for a backline job, like programmer, sys admin, video editor, or even as camera man for our in-house productions, I don't care if you're The Illustrated Man. If you can do the job and interact well with the other employees so then can work with you easily and everyone does a good job, then you're hired.
Just the opinion as a business owner.
As a general person, my thought is tats and piercings may or may not hurt your career, but there's no reason to expect it to help. Why put the effort into doing something that may create problems in the long run?
Re:In My Company (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not going to take a chance on offending or bothering a lawyer client or a retail customer who may be a fundamentalist or a member of any other group with prejudices against non-conformists. As said elsewhere, it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what others (customers and clients) think.
What about clients with prejudices against black, female and/or homosexual people? Do you also support those prejudices for the sake of business?
I expect you don't, although you may as many do. If you don't
Re:In My Company (Score:3, Insightful)
First -- contrary to what some people think, there's no way you can tell someone is a homosexual unless that fact is directly communicated to you (and, since you seem to like to find "loopholes" in what people say, that includes what one may see).
As for drawing the line: If someone has a problem with an employee of mine due to race, gender, religion, handicap, skin d
Re:In My Company (Score:2)
What about clients with prejudices against black, female and/or homosexual people? Do you also support those prejudices for the sake of business?
For the most part, those 'features' that you are presenting can not be decided via self choice (although homosexuality is debatable). Body "art" is entirely your decision, and thus you must accept when you make that choice that not everyone will have the same views and beliefs as yourself.
Body art is very similar to dress sense, we all have it, we all make c
Re:In My Company (Score:2)
There are many ways to have
Re:In My Company (Score:2)
Entirely. If you are a religious based company that is. Lets face it, the vast majority of business people do not view body art in the same manner as those who partake in body art. If they visited your company and spotted all these people with multitudes of facial tattoos, facial peircings, and stuff, then it has the same effect on their business relationship as if your trading premises were a rundown bedsit in the local redlight district.
Now with religious discrimination, if you are a religious company
It will hurt some (Score:2)
So you may have a little bit harder time finding a job, but once you settle in there is no reason to think it will put you on the chopping block or hurt your promote-ability. I would still say that you are probably best off not getting facial piercings or hand/lower arm tattoos or you are probably cutting your pool of employers by 25 to 50 percent. Onc
think about what you want (Score:4, Insightful)
The last corporate office that I worked at was an engineering and microelectronic firm. Noone knew about my artwork for almost a year before I saw someone after work and I was wearing something more reveiling. As long as my tattoos weren't seen, there was no issue in having them. The piercing wasn't seen at any time.
When you do decide to get a tattoo, ask around. In most cities there are some great artists that are very skilled at what they do. Same for piercing salons. Ask other people that have tattoos where they got their work done. They will give you a suggestion of whom to go to and whom to avoid. In the Phoenix area, Halo Piercing is one of the best and there are several excellent tattoo parlors - Club Tattoo, Blue Dragon and Artistic Tattoo to name a few.
As another poster mentioned, as long as it's not seen while wearing business attaire, it shouldn't matter about having body art or not.
Good luck in making the decision and take your time in finding what you what as a tattoo, that way you won't regret it. I don't regret mine at all!
Step #1 (Score:2)
Before you get one, at least learn how to spell it! It's tattoo. =)
Tatu? (Score:2)
Dude, be careful! Too much crazy Tatu [google.com] stuff will get you fired! ;)
Covered or open? (Score:3, Insightful)
Is it blatently, "offensively", openly, in-your-face visible?
Does it scream "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!"?
Will it say to the boardroom "I shouldn't be here... I don't take anything seriously... please latch a dog leash to this ring in my nose and connect it up to my eyebrow while you're at it"?
Ask yourself a similar (but more common) question that women ask themselves each day before work: "Is this skirt too short / blouse too open / etc."? In other words... Is it appropriate for anything, anywhere, 'cause that's where you'll be wearing it!
Just before I moved to New Zealand, I put a Canadian flag on my upper arm, just above the short-sleeve cuff. I haven't had a problem... but I'm not throwing it in anyones face.
mindslip
If you are careful, you can get away with it... (Score:4, Interesting)
I also got a tongue piercing, and it took a week for it to be noticed by my employers. They didn't seem to mind, and I was still allowed to meet clients because it wasn't obviously visible. I ended up taking it out (after a year) because I didn't want to chip my teeth.
I also dyed my hair black (from dark brown)... it wasn't a big change and my employers didn't mind.
If you do get something done, don't make a big deal about it. Get it done for personal reasons, not to impress your colleagues. Don't go to extremes, be subtle and decorate a location on your body that is hidden by business clothing, but not by recreational clothing (if possible).
PS: Don't EVER get a girl's name on a tatoo... If you want to impress her, get a heart tatoo and write her name across it every day with a permanent marker. You *will* thank me one day.
Re:If you are careful, you can get away with it... (Score:2, Funny)
Something you could have brough to my attention YESTERDAY. Or possibly 2 years ago.
Re:If you are careful, you can get away with it... (Score:2)
And I've got just the idea how!
*imagines tattoo with "BladeMelbourne" on it*
Re:If you are careful, you can get away with it... (Score:2)
(ps. for those who need it, the above is not meant to be taken seriously)
before you get a tattoo (Score:3, Interesting)
you should find some older person whose tattoos are
a couple decades old.
take a close look at that 20-year-old tattoo.
really. you want that?
it may look fresh and lovely when it's new --
but it's not always gonna be new.
Re:before you get a tattoo (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:before you get a tattoo (Score:2)
Who cares? (Score:2)
Crossing some initial barriers (Score:2)
Works for me .. (Score:2, Interesting)
I've got several large tattoos - 6 in total which are all covered by my normal clothing. I'm fairly certain that most of the company knows these exist after drunking nights out - but I've never really shown them at work, and nobody has every commented.
Piercings are pretty much the same. At the moment I have 12 piercings, and I see a colleague across the other side of the office with a lone eyebrow piercing.
I guess if I had a customer facing position things would be different - but hiding around in the
Corporate Goth website disscusses this (Score:2)
Try the Corporate Goth [waningmoon.com] website.
Its a site set up by fellow Goths discussing the best ways of addapting something of an alternative lifestyle (lots of peirced and tatted Goths out there) into looking respectable in the corporate bussness world. (We all need a job to fill the space between the nights, to pay for the drugs, the motorcycles and the pointy boots)
The site has many discussions you may find usefull.
My opinion?
If you refuse to employ/talk to me beause of the way I look, then quite frankly it was
It's not a big deal, if... (Score:2, Insightful)
Two things. (Score:2)
One, give it a try. Have the design done in magic marker, and wear it to work one day.
Two, does it really pass the sarcastic old man test?
For those who don't know, to determine if something's a good idea, phrase it in the most sarcastic way possible, then ask your self with an old man voice.
Hey! I've got a great idea! Lets inject dye into our skin, then shove splitners of metal through our fleshy bits! As a fashion statement!
If it still appeals to you, great. More power to you.
Well, I get away with it... (Score:2, Insightful)
1. Look neat and professional at your interview with non
Self expresion? (Score:2)
Revolting (Score:2)
If I have you in for a job in
Tasteful and artful (Score:2, Insightful)
I have a full armband, but I got it below the elbow rather than on the bicep, which means most times it is visible at work. I've -never- had a person give me a hard time about it. Even my grandparents (who are much more anti-tattoo than any boss I've met), once they saw that it was well done and not obscene, said they didn't mind and sort of liked it.
That actually is often the
And you're getting this tattoo... (Score:2)
to compensate for what perceived inadequacy?
Instead of permanently mangling yourself, figure out why you think you 'need' a tattoo or other body modifications. You'll probably be happier in the long run without it.
IANSF (I am not Sigmund Freud)
Re:And you're getting this tattoo... (Score:2)
first thing I'll grab in a fight (Score:2)
... is a piercing. Yessir. I'll rip that out to fare thee well. So, if you're sportin' one, don't pick a fight with me.
Piercings (Score:2, Funny)
Tattoos don't age well (Score:2)
And so will you...
but isn't it illegal (Score:2)
joking aside, what's really important is that you show prospective employers that you are not your tatoo; that your tatoo is you. in other words, if you act like you are is supposed to say something for/about you and they are supposed to figure out what it is, chances are they will assume that you got it to be "different" (antisocial) and that you are probably not a good person to have on the team. instead, if you understand that people will have that reac
No. (Score:2)