why does the trend continue?

[chief ten beers]

I think it borders on self mutilation. I am still not sure why I find it to be such a thorough 'turn off'.
I'm referring to body peircings and tattooings.
Recently, a thread was started by a gl er who seemed to be esp fascinated with a young rockers tattoos/piercings.

Is this just a fad of our youth? What is wrong with the young people today that they would emphasize such a thing?

Am I just getting old? or does the pursuit of tattoos/body peircings seem 'flabbergastingly' shallow to anyone else here?

And how can I become more 'modern and open minded' to this crap?

[VinnyQ]

go pokes hole in your face.

"if you can't beat them ..."

[Huey]

Ask me about the "Jacob Ladder"!

[Will]

anything but the jacob ladder

[The Ktulu]

Here is why the trend is continuing, and will continue: even non-conformity has become a trend. In fact, non-conformity is the biggest trend. It's sad, really. All these people are wanting to seem like they are being non-conformists, but at least a third of these people are doing it because it's "in." They want to be accepted among the growning popularity that has chosen not to go along with the majority. And body piercings and tattoos are a way of expressing this pseudo-non-conformity. I'm not saying everyone that gets body piercings and tattoos are fakers; many of them are probably not, as many non-conformists are probably true to it and are not fakers; but several are. Everyone says they want to be an individual, they don't care what people think, they want to live their own life. But the truth is, they want to fit in with the group, they do care what people think, and they never want to live their own life.

This is only a bit of the ramblings I could go on about this subject.

[Aarondalf]

Ok, here is a question to the older people who find all this stuff pathetic and such.

Why did you all act like knobs when you were young? Sure, some of you might not have (esp GLers) but there were just as many wankers back then as there are now. Its more pathetic, in my opinion, to complain about the youth of today and compare us to you old people. You are just as big a bunch of dicks as we are. We just express it differently.

And what the hell is wrong with caring what other people think? Hmmm? I can live my own life and still give a shit about what others think of me.

I think an eyebrow ring might actually look good on me, and some others think the same (and some dont) so maybe I will get one. But wait... older people say its WRONG! Well then I better not get one then! *rolls eyes* Either way, I will doing what somebody thinks is good. Oh no!

Instead of complaining about current trends and such, get a life and do something usefull.

Example: In said thread, people complained about Billy from Good Charlotte's hair. What the fuck? Maybe you purged your mind of disco? Talk about a fashion statement! Anyone who even remotely took part in the disco era is just as much a tosser as some guy who wears his hair like Billy.

[VinnyQ]

woa ... down boy, down

[LOL]

I hope you are deliberately baiting us old farts, Aaron.. or is this a rolo attempt as devil's advocate?

[VinnyQ]

aaron, you sure you want an eyebrow ring with the future proffession you are aspiring to be in? ... those balls fly at you pretty fast ...

[chief ten beers]

[Qirat]

um... if a person posts his or her own buisness on this site, or tell people on this site about it and do not expect nor ask for strict confidence, it's a relative given to assume that he or she does not mind reference to said business. Who cares if VinnyQ tells the GL what Aaron wants to do in the future? Certainly not Aaron.

If you don't want us to talk about your plans for the future, don't tell us, or if you do end up telling someone here, tell them not to say anything about it.

I find it hard to take you seriously when you complain about such things as this...

[chief ten beers]

Geeze.
Can't you take a joke, wordcross? I know Aaron can. Stop being such a tight ass.
Are you just resentful because you didn't get full price for the beaver pelts?

[chief ten beers]

and btw, Aaron plays tennis.
Again, GEEZ!

[wtf?]

"you can roll a Rolo to your friend!"
"chocolate covered caramel from end to end!"[/ir]

[jesternl]

Well, I don't know if I'm considered old or not, I'm 33 (ina few days) and I have my tattoo for about 4 years now.. I though long and hard about doing it, and I mean long as in more than two years.... And I am happy with it still, no regrets at all...
Sol old people do have body modifications as well..

[Hitchhiker]

Well, I think piercings can be attractive, even though I have none myself -- not even pierced ears. Nor do I plan to in the future.

I don't think I have ever done something "to be in fashion." When I wear something fashionable, it's a total coincidence that it happens to be in fashion. And I will continue to wear it after it stops being in fashion. That's just how I am.

As for the guy in lum's thread, I honestly think he's butt-ugly. But to be fair, if you took out his piercings and gave him a better haircut...he'd still be butt-ugly. *shrugs*

[Dairy Faramir]

This has nothing to do with the topic...but Hitchhiker, the GL guys are begging you to post GL pics (of you!).
~begs~

[The Ktulu]

*-joins in the begging-*

[luminous]

Bah. I hate it when older people tell us we're stupid and weird and such when all it is is that they don't understand us. I don't like tattoos or piercings because they're in fashion, I like them because I think they look good. Shrug. Same goes for the multicolored hair and you people thinking it's for attention. IT'S NOT. It's because I like the fun colors and it makes me amused to look at myself in the mirror each morning, I like the way it looks.

And MEH. Billy is hot. I like his hair. GC's video just came on. Very rowr.

[Antrax]

Um, luminous, not to be offensive, but you've already admitted that you like the attention. THAT's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Tot all people who get piercings get them to draw attention (some like the look; some want to make a drastic change for whatever reason), but even if that's the case, I fail to see why it's so sad and pathetic to get the attention you crave. What next, making money to buy things you want will be considered sad and pathetic?
Antrax

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"If it comes down to a choice between being unloved and being vulnerable and sensitive and emotional, then you can just keep your love." -Victor Mancini, "Choke"

[chief ten beers]

[Antrax]

It's not THAT painful. If it's the pain that upsets you, you can rest your mind at ease. Your point seemed to be it's "pathetic" to draw attention, though.
Antrax

------------------
"If it comes down to a choice between being unloved and being vulnerable and sensitive and emotional, then you can just keep your love." -Victor Mancini, "Choke"

[Death Mage]

So, basically, what The Ktulu is saying is they want to be unique, just like everybody else? What is being "non-conformist" about doing something every other so-called "non-conformist" is doing? Isn't that conforming in it's own right? If you really want to be a "non-conformist", then do something NEW, not something every other Joe Blow moron is doing.

I still say genetic minuplation is the way to go. What better way to say "I'm unique" then growing a third arm, or a snake-like tail?

[Qirat]

[Pablo]

Originally posted by Aarondalf:

---

Why did you all act like knobs when you were young? Sure, some of you might not have (esp GLers) but there were just as many wankers back then as there are now. Its more pathetic, in my opinion, to complain about the youth of today and compare us to you old people. You are just as big a bunch of dicks as we are. We just express it differently

---

This paragraph is beneath you, or so I would have thought. You younger people "like the way piercings and multi-colored hair look", right? As simple as that, right? You're not making a statement or trying to be different or fit in, right? Why can't you just like it without being accused of something more sinister?

Fair enough. I think it's repulsive, ugly, distasteful. It offends my eyes and my senses. Period. I don't know and I don't care if you're trying to fit in, rebel, make a statement, or just have fun. Matters not to me, I just simply don't like it. Why can't I just not like it? When you mutilate yourself, you know perfectly well that some of us will be offended at the sight, yet you do it anyway. So why act all surprised and hurt when you get the exact reaction that any idiot could have predicted.

I don't express my reaction publicly. I recognize these kids' right to dress and "adorn" themselves as they choose. They're not breaking any laws nor are they violating any of my rights, so I'll accept the displeasure I feel gracefully, and know that in 10 years, most of the piercings they value will long since be gone, and they'll laugh at themselves as they look at old pictures.

Enjoy your stupid piercings and your ridiculous hair. I don't. Meanwhile keep your fargin grades up. That's much more important.

[luminous]

Antrax, maybe I do like the attention, but I didn't get it done FOR the attention. There's a difference.

And yeah, you guys are saying it's weird to you. But we don't get them done so we can ask your opinion on them...so shove off.

How is it offensive to you, Pablo? We aren't doing anything to you, per se...we aren't tying you down in the metro and making you stare at our ungodly piercings and hair...so what's the deal? Maybe I'm offended by the sight of people like you, eh? Stare into the paper on the bus or wherever it is you see us and don't make a big deal. It's not hard. And we aren't suprised at all. We know perfectly well there are closed minded people out there, and we ignore them. Fun fun.



[This message has been edited by luminous (edited 12-24-2002 12:33 PM).]

[chief ten beers]

Great post, Pablo. I wish I has written that one.

[chief ten beers]

[chief ten beers]

[luminous]

Oooh, ouch. Rip out my heart and stomp on it, why don't you? Excuse me. Let me run off and sob in the corner.

Sure, you're entitled to one. But I mean, they're our bodies, hair, and money towards it, so really, there's no point in even expressing it. We're going to keep doing it regardless of what you people think and don't understand, so might as well just wander off to complain about something else.

[This message has been edited by luminous (edited 12-24-2002 01:56 PM).]

[chief ten beers]

[luminous]

We happens to be the people at the heart of this thread- the tattooed, pierced, and dyed.

Duh.

[This message has been edited by luminous (edited 12-24-2002 01:58 PM).]

[chief ten beers]

[PuzzleProdigy]

quote:

---

Sure, you're entitled to one. But I mean, they're our bodies, hair, and money towards it, so really, there's no point in even expressing it. We're going to keep doing it regardless of what you people think and don't understand, so might as well just wander off to complain about something else.

---

Please, enlighten me (This isn't meant sarcastically). You say you get it done becasue it looks nifty (which I don't understand, I think it looks horrid, but you can't explain you sense of aesthetics in words, so I'll let that point go.). You also claim you like the attention. This, you can explain. Why do you like attention?

[chief ten beers]

Hostility is often a sign of frustration caused by tattoos and blue hair.

[Antrax]

Do you think we could keep the bickering and self-offense level down? This is hardly an arguement that calls for such arguing techniques. Basically I think everybody agree it's not a "bad" thing to do, regardless if they'd do it themselves or not. If I'm reading the thread correctly, some of the people are wondering WHY someone would choose to undergo such a procedure, seeing as it costs some money, pain and potential infection. The answers vary, from "I think it looks nice" to "I want to draw attention", and I don't think any answer is illegitimate. As a person who bleached his own hair (soon for the third time), I can tell you it's pretty much the concensus I look much better as a blonde. So that's my reason. Saying "yeah, but your coloured hair makes you look like a clown" is your own problem, much like some people might say "you're fat and I think that's disgusting" or "you're arrogant and I think that's hideous". As long as you realise it's your own opinion and not something that binds anyone, we're in the clear. So unless anyone wants to suggest a law against piercings/coloured hair, I really fail to see what the big fight is about.
Antrax

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"If it comes down to a choice between being unloved and being vulnerable and sensitive and emotional, then you can just keep your love." -Victor Mancini, "Choke"

[chief ten beers]

I personally like dyed hair (but not my own). The clown comment was a tongue and cheek response to Luminous' snotty defensiveness. If someone's snotty, they might be needing a good noogie (even if it means getting hair dye all over my clothes, etc)

Antrax, Luminous has copped and attitude and needs a good spanking. Why are *you* taking this so personally?

[Antrax]

Why are you trolling? I'm not taking anything personally, and I'm not surprised some people are defensive, given the tone of discussion. Repeatedly stating how one is defensive belongs in mafia games, not in discussions. It's fruitless.
Antrax

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"If it comes down to a choice between being unloved and being vulnerable and sensitive and emotional, then you can just keep your love." -Victor Mancini, "Choke"

[chief ten beers]

Antrax, the point of this thread was for enlightenment, fun and to ventilate. Luminious has gotten snotty (Aaron too) and it doesn't seem justified. What is your issue?

Why are *you* trolling? You posted a schpeil about your blonde hair - as if to compare it to dye job of multiple unnatural hair colors (hence the clown analogy) and I think there is a big difference between Rainbow man and what you did. Big difference.

If you don't like the lacking potential for ripening fruit, then pluck off.

[Antrax]

Originally posted by Antrax:

---

Why are you trolling?

---

Originally posted by chief ten beers:

---

Why are *you* trolling?

---

Can you feel the maturity?
For someone who's out for "enlightment", you sure don't seem to care much about knowledge, and more about personal attacks. Knock yourself out. I'm outta here.
Antrax

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"If it comes down to a choice between being unloved and being vulnerable and sensitive and emotional, then you can just keep your love." -Victor Mancini, "Choke"