posted
Hi Heads. Last evening, I went to a concert where I was seated next to a young lady with numerous rings, earings, chains etc. that had been attached to her lip, eyebrow. tongue etc. I estimated her age to be about 19 or 20, and even without all this extraneous metal attached to her features, she would be quite attractive.
Perhaps it's a generational thing, but I just don't get it. Why would a normally attractive person choose to pierce their body to attach this stuff? Are any of you or your youngsters into this practice? If so, what is the reasoning behind such self-immolation? Is this somehow related to things like "cosmetic surgery" or breast implantation?
Would you consider doing this sorta thing to your body, in an attempt to make yourself " more attractive" to those who are into this sorta thing?
As a teenager, I can recall seeing photos in National Geographic of African tribes who's customs included such practices...rock thru an earlobe, etc. For some reason, I thought this to be some sort of "primitive practice", but here we are in the electronic age, and I'm beginning to witness a proliferation of these kinds of practices in our so-called "enlightened society".
Do you understand this practice, or find it to be "image enhancing" in some way? If so, please explain it to me, so that this poor older ignoramus can grasp the meaning and intent of this "trend".
Ps: While this topic may be unrelated, I sense a tenuous connection to the "trend of the day" within society. In font searches on the net, there are a growing number of "Grunge Fonts", and also "Grunge Fashions" and hairstyles as well. Back in the mid to late '60's, the same sort of thing occurred with the Psychedelic Posters, and the emergence of Peter Max as one of the popular designers of that era. Posters promoting certain bands appearing at the Filmore Auditorium began having an influence on Ad Agency artists, and some advertisments began taking on a psychedelic flavor.
Perhaps this trend will also begin to have an influence upon how society begins to communicate as well?
------------------ Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail kjmlhenry@home.
Some days you get to be the dog....other days, you get to be the fire hydrant.
[This message has been edited by Ken Henry (edited July 15, 2001).]
posted
heard about someone who had a ring in their ear, eye brow, cheek, nose, lip and nipple hooked together with a chain and started sneezing and tore them self up.
------------------ Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 164 Poplar Rd. Commerce, Ga 30529 706-335-2348 Fax 706-335-3378 icq#11718273
Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ken my daughter hangs with those types.....a little unnerving to look at them...I want to ask them if it hurts.....she has her belleybutton pierced, but won't pierce her ears. Go figure!
BTW...thanks again Ken for all your help at the walljam meet A
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'on chat
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So, Jimmy....sounds like that kind of adornment is probably not recommended for people with allergies!...Another thing along the same topic line that never fails to confuse me is why some people shave their heads! What's that all about, anyway? Guess it takes all kinds to make up a world.
------------------ Don Coplen aka "SaintPete" Coplen Designs St.Petersburg, FL dcoplen@mindspring.com
Co-Conspirator (with Bill Modzel and Dave Sherby) of the unofficial Letterville Adobe Illustrator Support Group & coffee house.
If any Letterville Adobe Illustrator users need any help, feel free to email any of the three of us and we will help out as best we can.
posted
"She had rings on her fingers and bells on her toes and a bone in her nose, ho ho".
Ray Stevens.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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A couple of my sons friends have either green hair or blue.....several piercings. When I first met them....I just said "nice hair". They walked away amused. I heard them say "Does your Mom really like my hair??" My son said "Yup" [I think most kids do it for attention. They probably don't get enough from home.] As long as they aren't hurting anyone....I guess it is just 'their style'.
------------------ surf or MoJo on mirc Cheryl J Nordby Signs by Cheryl Seattle WA.....! signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
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Ken , it's definately a generational thing. You're not supposed to get it. Same as older folks didn't get it back when we were hippies. It's perfectly OK Ken, I don't get it either, nor do I most of the "new" music, especially Rap, and just what the hell are they all so damn mad at anyway. Whoops, I'm gonna stop now, I'm starting to sound like my Father, hahahahaha, remember those days? "Well I'll never say those kinds of things to my kids!!!" hahahaha.
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ionictech.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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A side note.................Some of you know my son is a guitarist, "par excellence", Classic R&R specifically, but also Jazz. Since age 10, when he began his music career, he has always had hair down to his tailbone, thanks to my wife and daughter. Five days ago, (he's nearing 21 now) he asked me to "buzz" his head! He even had brought the clippers to town. Wincing at the thought of my wife or daughter walking in, I did it quickly and was immediately flooded with guilt and apprehension, though I'm not sure why.
He seems to have the perfectly shaped head for this kind of haircut. He looks great! My wife agreed, and so did Rosemary after the tears stopped. It seems the Jazz society members that saw him yesterday have breathed a collective sigh of relief. Funny how that kind of schtuff can be so important to acceptance by your peers.
BTW.........my daughter actually buzzed me too about three hours later. You'll see it when Barb posts my picture. Ear rings??............cool. Nose rings?............Buy a hog instead.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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1st thing Ken, what concert were you at where there were teenaged pin cushions as well??
When I turned 18(the very day), I went to my local tattoo parlor and got a tattoo. When you are young you do stupid "eye catching" stuff. Kids feel immortal still and have no problem mutilating themselves to turn heads. People in general do many things that make me wonder. Stealing, lying, doing drugs, beating spouses...why? It's like that old tootsie pop commercial....... "Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the middle of the tootsie pop? The world may never know."
------------------ Corey Wine signCONCEPTS Airdrie, Alberta, Canada The ex-Californian Canadian signconcepts1@home.com
"I cooked a meatloaf recipe that I downloaded off of the internet. A day later, I got a stomach VIRUS....Coincidence?"
posted
I myself have mutiple piercings (as well as many tattoos). You will see some of them when Barb posts my picture. I have my earlobes stretched, two lip rings (I take them out while I am working), and some other assorted piercings. I don't know the particular reason behind my desire for these modifications, it is just decorating your body, the same as wearing nice clothes or jewelry. No different than the common ear piercings, just in different places. I started getting tattooed when I was 17 and pierced when I was 18, and I still travel all over the country to get tattooed by excellent artists, though I haven't had a new piercing in a couple of years. Guess this doesn't really explain it, it's just a desire I have.
------------------ Tyler Malinky
A Step Above Signs Cleveland, Ohio 440.479.8129 440.842.1894 fax
www.astepabovesigns.com tmalinky@astepabovesigns.com or exmayors@aol.com
Posts: 190 | From: Parma, Ohio USA | Registered: May 2001
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Those are just the usual things kids do to find their place in society.. basically like trying to find their identity..
It's a phase and it will pass..
It's just like muscle cars, greasy hair, leather jackets, poodle skirts, and yuppy sweaters in the 50's and 60's..
or bellbottoms, ripped jeans, long hair, tye-dyed clothes and peace and love in the late 60's and 70's..
or big hair and back to the leather clothes in the 80's..
Then in the 90's bellbottoms, tie-dye, and the grunge thing came back..
Now it looks like reeeeeeeaaaaalllly baggy pants/shirts, leather, piercings, flamed clothing and underwear in public are what's hot..
Personally I've always been a social outkast.. I just march to my own drummer and do whatever the heck I feel like doin.. Like right now I'm wearing flame orange board shorts (shorts made of microfibers so they dont absorb water, good for jetskiing and wakeboarding) and an intense blue t-shirt.. and I aint afraid to walk out in public like this..
I dont have the desire to pierce myself or do any of that kinda stuff to define who I am cause 1.) I know who I am and Im not changing for anyone and 2.) I really don't care what other people think.. if they're gonna judge me by the amount of metal stickin outta my face or the clothes I'm wearing, I dont want any part of it.
On the otherhand, when I was 14 or 15 years old I did dye my blonde hair BRIGHT orange, just for kicks.
Sometimes it's fun just to get a reaction.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Oh oh. I saw a picture of us on one of my posts. I just counted earrings! She appears to have three on each ear. I have to pay more attention.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Although I can't offer any enlightenment as to why young people do this, I can say that I am glad I missed that one. I'd rather have had the long hair, bell bottoms, parachutte pants and funky hair do's. Because as styles change, so does your hair and clothes.
But as to poking holes where they don't belong...well let's just say I wouldn't want my piercing ( which I would not have..thank you ) to get caught on my zipper some day when I was in a hurry in the men's room. Kinda reminds me of an opening scene in " Something about Mary"
I remember being in line one day when a cashier had more metal in her face than my 1995 ford pick up, As expected I was staring and she looked and said " what are you looking at" I politely and bluntly said " You" I have never scene a human with so much metal woven into thier face before."
It could be an attention thing, it could be an expression thing, it could be a generation thing. But one thing is sure, I'd like to be the doctor that makes a killing off of repairing and doing the cosmetic surgury this generation will need when they grow up and decide that maybe it wasn't a good idea to strecth thier ear lobes down to thier knee caps.
Hey that gives me a good idea, we could all make money making personalized ear plugs, I might just look into that. WOW lightbulb just when on.
Print little logos on the edge and voila!
------------------ Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA bob@creativesignworks.com
"Some people's kids"
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I would think it's like owning a Harley Ken. If you have to ask you wouldn't understand! I've got a friend who pierced his tounge,ears,nipples and this is the clincher his penis and several tattoo's. He also loving showing it to people especially ladies. The management of a local restaurant threatened to throw him out because he was in the corner showing it to the waitress's, GO FIGURE! (true story)
posted
Was at tha club the other nite & after a few(maybe a few too many hehehehe),Billy walks in,...well Billy has his earlobes stretched with some heavy duty rings & holes inside his ears where most of us have skin,not to mention art all over his arms from a stint in tha navy.I couldn't help myself just had to ask him if those holes whistled when he rode down tha road with his car windows down. He just smiled real big & said only on tha window side,....
------------------ fly low...timi/NC is,.....Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC http://artistsfriend.com/signs
posted
It's a little bit of a few things- expression, peer pressure, attention getter.When I was younger, I had my ear pierced. But, I seemed to grow out of that. Actually, I stopped wearing it when I cut my hair short.{used to be shoulder length) My tattoos are something different. I've got six in all, but have had four of them reworked. One was o tatt with my name and I added my three boys added to it. Another has had my wife's ( of thirteen years) name added with a cover up of an old girlfriend( Now, THAT was being young and stupid) I don't care to wear an earring anymore, but I don't regret and am even proud of my tattoo work. It's a part of my life that I can share with others or just a small testiment to myself. Sotrry if this confused you more than helped, but that's the way I see it.
------------------ Bob Elliott SouthPaw Signs Dingmans Ferry, Pa. 570-828-8909 southpaw@pikeonline.net
May be left-handed, but still not in my right mind.
Posts: 35 | From: Dingmans Ferry Pa. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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I know this one! Kids have to psychically<--(emotional and psychological) separate from their families, especially their moms. They have to show that the body they walk around in belongs to THEM, and not to mommy, even tho it seemed to for so many years previously. This is why every generation has something that it can "upset" the older generation with. I know lots of kids with piercings, and my daughter in law is thinking about her second tattoo. As long as they are smart enuf to pick a "good lookin'" tattoo.. I don't see a problem. What someone does with their body is their business... maybe they don't like the way your hair looks or they might think you need a nose job... do You care? Of course not, and neither do they care what your opinion of their choice of expression is. Except they may enjoy your discomfort. Primitive is a matter of opinion. Archeologists tell us that "primitive" hunter gathering societies had to spend 3 hours a day "working" to sustain life... how does that compare to YOUR work day? Who's primitive? LE
------------------ LazyEdna in RL known as Sara Straw from southern Utah 5 National Parks within 3 hours drive Red Rock Heaven
Posts: 776 | From: Aurora, Utah, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I agree that tattooing and piercing CAN be a phase or an act of rebellion, but that isn't to say that it is that way for everyone. I have a genuine love of tattooing, I love the history of it, photos, tattoo convetions, travelling and getting tattooed. I actually plan trips just to get tattooed, like last week I just got back from Los Angeles, the other side of the country from me, just so I could get tattooed by a particular artist who I thought was so excellent, I wanted a piece of his artwork on me for the rest of my life. And next month I am flying out to Chicago to get tattooed on my birthday, which is something I do every year. Being heavily into tattooing is not for everyone, but I could definately say it is one of my passions, right up there with graphic design and sign making. As for piercings, it is also something I enjoy, though not nearly to the extent of tattooing. I have two facial piercings which I have had for years, and I don't even wear jewelry in them except around the house and at night. I am not looking for attention nor am I rebelling, it is simply a lifestyle I happen to live. When I meet new customers, I am sure they notice and may have opinions about my tattooed arms and large earrings, but it doesn't interfere with our business relationship because they know that I am not some low-life, because that is not the kind of image or attitude I portray. In fact, only once since I began making signs, have I had a potential customer not deal with me solely because of those things. And thats fine, it was her loss, she probably ended up getting mediocre work done at some quicky-sticky shop. I am willing to deal with the choices I have made (and continue to make), and am definitely not one to be generalized into the group of someone going through a 'phase' or doing something because it is trendy. And thats my two cents.
------------------ Tyler Malinky
A Step Above Signs Cleveland, Ohio 440.479.8129 440.842.1894 fax
www.astepabovesigns.com tmalinky@astepabovesigns.com or exmayors@aol.com
Posts: 190 | From: Parma, Ohio USA | Registered: May 2001
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next time you see a gal with a tounge pierced....ask them to tell you the real reason for it....amazing....and you thought you knew all there was to know about sex....hahahahahahaha...i never had a tattoo, or my ear pierced...when i was young doctors had to hold me down to give me shots...as a young man, any one come near me with a sharp object..put their life and body at risk....still the same albit a lot slower now....heheheheheheh rode with bikers thru the early 70's..still no hole no tattoos...when i was in hawaii i had thought about getting a samoan arm band tattoo...but never found a samoan tattoo artist...
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I have a young friend who recently did a study project (mini-thesis) on body modification. Modern primitives and other western "tribal" movements.
You wouldn't believe some of the photos she had! maybe you would. Honestly I don't know how some of them could function. Some of the penis's were so full of metal, they were contorted out of shape. Permanently disfigured and mangled. This extreme edge of body piercing is really gross.
I do know the desire for making a personal statement, as I'm sure most of us have in some way or another. I first got an ear pierced 25 years ago in high school. I'd always take it out when I was at home for fear of my parents reaction.
posted
My tattoos actually revolve from the kind of work I am into. My right arm is sleeved using a dragon with a chromed under belly and 59 Caddy tail fins which goes to the dragons arm displaying an airbrush and a pinstriping brush on the other one, then the tail reverses up to my elbow with a pair of Megs blowing flames. On my left hand I have a wrap around Von Dutch flying eyeball, in memory of and this coming week will add a "RatFink" for the same reason. I have others which I don't discuss in public but all in all have never regretted any of my tattoos and more then likely hopefully will collect alot more before leaving this planet. To some persons, tattoos and piercings are an expression for whatever reason but for persons who have none, they could never understand.
At one point Steve Shortreed wanted to add tattooists to Letterville, what happened who knows!
I guess persons are all just different and I thank God for that......
------------------ HotLines Joey Madden,47 years in the Classic Art of Pinstriping Grants Pass, Oregon Learn something...... http://members.tripod.com/Inflite
posted
I have to agree with most of the above post's. It is probably a generational thing. When I was in school it was long hair and guys getting one ear pierced. I waited till collage.
I have 2 tattoos and would like to get more and one of them covered over. My son Stephen(10) has sometimes stated he wanted an ear ring, but this usually fades away until he meets a new friend that has one.
My Daughter, Megan(7) wants her belly button pierced, but my wife says she has to wait until she is at least 16.
I do not wear an ear ring anymore because my wife does not care for them. I do not understand piercings all over the body or in "Different" places but I try not to be judgemental of those who do like it. It is a very personal thing, I feel just like tattoos.
I seen an interesting sign in one of the Tattoo shops I was in once, It said...
"What is the difference between tattoo'd people and non-tattoo'd people.... Tattoo'd people do not care if you Don't have a tattoo"
As far as raves go, I pray my children will never get into that scene. I have a step brother who is 22, and he has been to several and told me all sorts of horror stories.
------------------ Troy Haas "Metal_Leg" on mIRC
SAM Signs "At old Hose House No. 8" 931 W. Columbia street Evansville,Indiana 47710 812-437-5367 Home of the: "Brush Fire at the Hose House" Letterhead Meet April 27-29th,2001
"Chaos, panic, disorder - my work here is done."
Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Well, do you want the opinion of a teenager on this matter? Well, I've died my hair blue, red, purple, orange and yellow... I've tie dyed a pair of my jeans all the colours of the rainbow... and worn them in public And.... wow.. I got my ears peirced.
To me, it's all a matter of expression... Hey, I dyed my hair blue! I wanted to be seen, and for people to say wow! OK... and the fact that I needed a change
To tell the truth the idea of having a few rings around my face and body doesn't appeal to me in the least... although my cousin has gotten her belly button done, 5 times (body rejected it over and over), her ears done in quite a few places, and her tongue done twice... first was off centre!! so she got it done again...
I'd like to get a tattoo... but no peicings, thanks
------------------ From Katie Wright, 16 year old professional signie wannabe from Aus.
"Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint on it that you can"
Posts: 530 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
ive had my ears peirced a few times but since i hate the tought of having things even on my person i have more holes in one ear than the other devo has a few in one ear for a while my older kids had a bit of a compertition going i think, son got his nipple peirced so daughter got her eyebrow done, son then got his tongue done so daughter got more in her ears, son has now had his other nipple done and im reallly concerned what the 'girl one' will do next! all of our kids get a tattoo from there dad for their 18th birthday i figure with all the scars i have i dont need any more markings to make me look different i would agree completly with LE that identity and ownership of the body they have is a driving force for most young folk, that and the fact that beauty and art are most definatly in the eye of the beholder
cheers gail
------------------ on chat T2
Gail & Dave NSW Australia
taurus@kooee.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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