Tattoo Hatred

[ViolynEMT]

This is off the subject.

However, human evolution and history are rife with conflict. Humanity is fraught with civilizations annilihating one another since the dawn of time. We can be civilized for a little while, until we become the conquered or conquerors.
It is simple - eventually someone has to win.

First of all, I was being sarcastic. I agree that there will always be conflict. I do believe, however, that some conflicts will never be resolved. There will never be a winner. I'm not the type that goes around wanting everyone to stop fighting and cry out for peace o'er all the land. I think it is wise, however, at times to recognize that some things will never be resolved, agreed upon, and "won". It is a matter of realizing that you can't change someone's mind if they are absolutely set in their opinion. And that's ok. We are all entitled to our opinions That's what makes the world interesting. I think it's futile to go on trying to do that, though. There comes a point when one realizes that a particular conflict is going to end with no clear winner. Not every conflict will have or has to have a winner. And that's ok, too.

 

[Rin]

the Puritan/Republican part :/

@Rin - I like your post, what do you think about rainbow colored hair on an EMS professional? Or old ratty shirts? Im just wondering where we would draw the line. For me it is easier to just set the bar high and not allow anything beyond "normal" (i quoted that because I don't want to start a whole new argument about what normal means, you know what I am talking about)

Ratty uniforms fall under "grooming and hygiene" for me. You should appear and smell clean at work. I personally draw the line at discriminating against a person's body, altered or not.

Why is this such an arguement? Really, it's an easy concept to understand.
...
Today there is a large segment of the population, likely the majority, that will automatically view someone who has tattoos as a lower quality of individual and/or criminal/dirtbag. There is a large segment of the population that just finds tattoos distasteful.

I have a different point of view. As I pointed out earlier, there are many segments of the population that are viewed as inferior (females, homosexuals, people of color) by the "majority." That increased acceptance of diversity "in 20 years" you speak of will never come if we're fighting to maintain the status quo. That's a fight I can't support.

 

[Carlos Danger]

I have a different point of view. As I pointed out earlier, there are many segments of the population that are viewed as inferior (females, homosexuals, people of color) by the "majority." That increased acceptance of diversity "in 20 years" you speak of will never come if we're fighting to maintain the status quo. That's a fight I can't support.

It isn't your point of view that matters, though - it's the point of view of the person you are trying to make the positive impression on.

I can think I'm hotter that Vin Diesel and wittier than Chris Rock all day long but if the chick I'm hitting on just sees a drunken, sarcastic fat dude......what I thought I saw when I passed the mirror matters little.

 

[triemal04]

I have a different point of view. As I pointed out earlier, there are many segments of the population that are viewed as inferior (females, homosexuals, people of color) by the "majority." That increased acceptance of diversity "in 20 years" you speak of will never come if we're fighting to maintain the status quo. That's a fight I can't support.

I agree. But...there are situations where changing the status quo needs to happen in other areas first before changing in all areas. EMS, and the medical field at large, are in that type of situation. We as a whole need to keep the confidence and faith of the public at large, AND are viewed with more scrutiny and with a more strict sense of what a professional appearance is. As tattoos become more widespread and passe and the public at large starts to lose previous beliefs about them, that will pass on to all groups, including medical providers, and it won't matter anymore.

But we aren't there yet.

This just isn't the time to be at the forefront of change.

 

[STXmedic]

It isn't your point of view that matters, though - it's the point of view of the person you are trying to make the positive impression on.

This is the only thing keeping me from tattoos. I like them. I think they can be very well done and not appear trashy at all. But I also understand that many people view tattoos negatively.

Where I work, we don't have to conceal tattoos. We have guys with sleeves, tattoos on the hands, even on the neck. One moron even has a clover leaf "tear drop"... Luckily in South Texas they aren't forced to cover them. I'm not going to be a field paramedic for the rest of my life though, and I'm not going to put any future higher-up positions in jeopardy because said employer does not think my tattoos appear professional enough. I'm also not going to wear long sleeves in Texas year around... If you want tattoos, go for it. I'm jealous. But also understand that not everybody has the same opinion, and that won't change any time in the near future. People just need to have some foresight when deciding on what, or more importantly where, their next ink is going to be. Like Remi said, just because you don't think it looks bad doesn't mean somebody else will agree with you.

 

[teedubbyaw]

A big issue is that those people making silly comments about tattoos are those who have never seen a good tattoo and are use to seeing dated, generic ink that everyone has. So, here, enjoy a few good tattoos I pulled off my feed real quick. The ink world has changed a lot in the last decade.

 

[Jim37F]

@teedubbyaw I think those look awesome, well done and all that. There is also a significant chunk of the population we serve that think any and all tattoos regardless of quality and artistry are tacky and unsightly and every bit as unprofessional as having an untucked ratty uniform shirt.

 

[teedubbyaw]

@teedubbyaw I think those look awesome, well done and all that. There is also a significant chunk of the population we serve that think any and all tattoos regardless of quality and artistry are tacky and unsightly and every bit as unprofessional as having an untucked ratty uniform shirt.

Few and far between. Like I've said, I've had old ladies and old dudes stop me and say they hate tattoos but love mine.

 

[BlueJayMedic]

No one at work can see this, back of my right calf. Awesome artist in the falls. Not every one is a facial tear drop or a naked woman on the neck. I hope that swing to appreciating them as art work instead of something unprofessional happens sometime early in my lifetime!!

 

[Rin]

We are not required to cover tattoos in my workplace. In my observation from working with tattooed partners, most patients don't even notice or care, unless they're inked themselves and want to strike up a conversation about it.

I'm talking about elderly patients, patients from all over the world, going in and out of one of the top hospitals in the nation.

I draw more more negative attention for who I am, despite being clean cut. There's no point in worrying about offending people with your appearance. They are in the wrong, and it is not beneficial to anyone to validate their prejudice.

 

[teedubbyaw]

View attachment 1789
No one at work can see this, back of my right calf. Awesome artist in the falls. Not every one is a facial tear drop or a naked woman on the neck. I hope that swing to appreciating them as art work instead of something unprofessional happens sometime early in my lifetime!!

Love it dude. Did you or an artist do the design?

 

[DesertMedic66]

Few and far between. Like I've said, I've had old ladies and old dudes stop me and say they hate tattoos but love mine.

Do you not understand that areas are different? There are some areas that tattoos are perfectly acceptable and others where they are not.

I work in an area that is mostly >60yrs old. There are some people in this older population who are fine with tattoos and others who are not. Now if I drive an hour away to the town where the only thing there is 20 tattoo shops and a marine Corp base tattoos are common place there.

A lot of tattoo art is very well done, however they are very expensive and people may not have the money to pay for an extremely nice one or drive to an amazing artist. Or better yet they let their buddy do a tattoo in their white van as they are going down a dirt road. What if they have a reaction to the ink used or don't follow the care instructions after getting the tattoo and it looks like ****?

What if the patient views something in the art as offensive? What if the patient finds a hidden swastika that no one noticed?

You need to realize that how many people in your area react negatively to tattoos may be far and few in between but that is not true for other areas.

The last thing I want to see as I'm having a massive STEMI is a flaming skull and crossbones.

Get all the tattoos you want. Spend all the money you want on them. Get "Mommy" tattooed on the small of your back. Get your last name tattooed between your shoulder blades. Get "DopeSWAG420BlazeItYOLO" tattooed on your arm. Don't complain if employers force you to cover it up. You made the choice to get the body modification done to you (hopefully) so if you are offended that a company forces you to cover them up just remember it's your fault.

 

[BlueJayMedic]

An

Love it dude. Did you or an artist do the design?

Thanks. An artist for sure I can't even draw a properly proportioned stick figure on an incident report, nevermind something even close to that haha. Ever travel to Niagara Falls he's worth a look up.

 

[CALEMT]

"DopeSWAG420BlazeItYOLO" DesertEMT66 - 2015

 

[Rin]

It isn't your point of view that matters, though - it's the point of view of the person you are trying to make the positive impression on.

We should not be attempting to make a positive impression on patients with our bodies. By that token, we should also discriminate against overweight or unattractive people.

I agree. But...there are situations where changing the status quo needs to happen in other areas first before changing in all areas.

...

This just isn't the time to be at the forefront of change.

As a profession that aims to be perceived as "the good guys," heroes even, we should comport ourselves as such. That is part of that "higher standard" we hold ourselves and each other to; to act as the good guys, not just pretend to be the good guys.

We should be the first profession without discrimination, not the last.

 

[Jim37F]

All I heard was blahblahblah, I didn't read a thing teedub said and I'm just trying to sound like a badass, because everything I'm saying is what teedub already said, and blahblahblah hear me run my mouth because teedub definitely said he was offended that his agency allows him to show his tattoos but he chooses not to but I'm going to say he's offended because blahbityblahblah.

That's me sounding like you, in 3rd person that's in 1st person, but kind of in 2nd person.

Actually I'm getting more of that vibe coming off of you, not off Desert. What he (and I) are trying to say is that in your area tattoo's may be no problemo and you can rock your ink in uniform and on duty and get nothing but compliments. Great, awesome, I'm slightly jealous.

The little old lady at the nursing home may not mind, but the 40 something business owner or hiring manager who's standing behind you in line at the Starbucks? In my area, he's viewing your tat's about as professional as showing up to a job interview in a Hawaiian shirt, coveralls, and socks and sandals. Which is why here, pretty much every EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter, etc are required to cover up any visible ink either with a long sleeve uniform shirt or one of those neoprene compression sleeve things (or my service taking it to it's logical extreme, any visible tattoo in a short sleeve uniform shirt and workout shorts is an automatic, no questions asked disqualification, and getting one is grounds for immediate termination. Clearly the population we serve has a vastly different outlook on tattoos than your service area.

Tattoo's are a fashion choice. Just like one business' view on employee fashion may be extremely lax (sweatpants and a wacky t-shirt? Why not?), the one across the street may be strict (You're not wearing a tie today? Is it Casual Friday?) Where you live, the local fashion views allow you to wear your tat's visible for all the world to see a-ok, exactly the opposite of the local fashion views on what is and isn't professional.

 

[teedubbyaw]

I really don't care. I don't show my tattoos on the job and I don't care if you show yours off on the job. So, why are we arguing about this? When old people see my tattoos, I'm off duty, so it doesn't matter. Have a beer, it's Friday.

 

[DesertMedic66]

I really don't care. I don't show my tattoos on the job and I don't care if you show yours off on the job. So, why are we arguing about this? When old people see my tattoos, I'm off duty, so it doesn't matter. Have a beer, it's Friday.

People are expressing their view points on why tattoos should be or shouldn't be visible during work. Off duty has nothing to do with the topic that has been brought up (unless I am mistaken).

 

[teedubbyaw]

Everything I've said about my tattoos has been in reference to when I'm off duty. My opinions of on duty tattoos has been stated. Maybe somewhere along the way two topics got merged. Then again, I've said numerous times that my tattoos aren't visible in uniform.

I'm teedub and I haven't eaten fish sticks in 11 years.

 

[DesertMedic66]

Everything I've said about my tattoos has been in reference to when I'm off duty. My opinions of on duty tattoos has been stated. Maybe somewhere along the way two topics got merged. Then again, I've said numerous times that my tattoos aren't visible in uniform.

I'm teedub and I haven't eaten fish sticks in 11 years.

And all of my posts have been about visible tattoos while on duty. So that may have been where some of the confusion is.