Is it bigoted to be repulsed by body piercings'?

Dana said:
My advice is, if a person "recoils" from anything...do not gaze upon that thing...avert your look and try to find something else to gawk at.

Just to clarify, I don't like piercings or tattoos but to each their own.
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Dana ..I agree and do not continue looking ..mostly because it affects me so I quickly look away but hopefully in time I will change my reaction and just accept it is NOMB and 'to each his/her own'
 

timoc said:
A couple of years ago I was in my local having a pint. The grandson of my friend came up to the bar with his pals and said, "Hello."
I noticed that he and his mates had rings through their noses and lips. I asked them if they were uncomfortable and they replied,"No."
One of the lads told me that he had 3 rings through his 'John Thomas', I laughed and said that I didn't believe him.
He only pulled his 'tool' out and proved that he wasn't lying.
I asked, "When you go to the loo and you've finished peeing and you are shaking the drips off, do the rings play a tune?" :)
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timoc
Yikes...TMI from the kid...
 
Warrigal said:
Revulsion is a human reaction that is not entirely under our control. It is like fear and probably has some evolutionary advantage. Feelings tend to arise spontaneously, caused by some trigger such as something that we perceive though our senses. What we do have control over is what we do about the feeling. You, Serenity, did not reject your hairdresser for her piercings and if you can do that, then you can learn to live with piercings in others.
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TY..I hear what you are saying and I think I do need to control my feelings about it perhaps through self talk
Warrigal said:
I have a niece that I love very much but she has extensive tattoos that I do not like. They tend to trigger a negative reaction when I see them. I've become used to them over time and my reaction now is quite mild. I choose to look past them to the person under the skin. It takes some control to be sure but it is her choice to decorate her skin and it is my choice not to make a fuss.
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That was a very wise and loving reaction..good for you!!
 

chic said:
I find it repulsive, but that's just me. It's difficult to have a conversation with someone who has metal knobs sticking out everywhere decorating their faces and fake horns inserted into their skulls. But this is the idea with people who do this to themselves. They want to create social distance between themselves and others and then say to those others, "hey, if you can't deal with this it's YOUR problem." I feel like, just go away or go see a therapist cuz you're the one with the problem, not me.
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LOL chic..you may be right..I have not really had conversations with people with piercings except for my hairdresser who was really really nice ..but that piercing was hard for me to look at..
 
tbeltrans said:
I think our lives would be much simpler and less upsetting if we didn't concern ourselves with what other people do unless what they are doing causes problems and/or harm to others.

Tony
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tbeltrans..
I hear you but my point was I do not go out of my way to look for piercings, just the reaction I have..which is automatic. And you are right..maybe when/if I 'get over' my negative reaction my life will be improved..:)
 
Happy Joe said:
Is it bigoted to be repulsed by body piercings?
No. If someone wants to make themselves repulsive it is their choice.
Their choices do not require any agreement, or modification in my attitudes or behavior... Reciprocity in all things; IMO.

Enjoy!
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Happy Joe..yes but they do not feel they are being repulsive...and I am thinking l I am the one who needs to change
 
hollydolly said:
I don't recoil at the sight, although depending on the severity... but I do hate those huge holes in the lobes for example.. and tongue piercings... but you're entitled to feel a certain way about these things as they are entitled to do with their bodies what they please...
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Yes, those huge earrings they put in their ears. That has got to be the worst look ever!
That really freaks me out to have to look at that. Good thing we are wearing masks, because I know my facial expression shows the displeasure when I see them.

And, I'm usually pretty understanding.....:)
 
dobielvr said:
Yes, those huge earrings they put in their ears. That has got to be the worst look ever!
That really freaks me out to have to look at that. Good thing we are wearing masks, because I know my facial expression shows the displeasure when I see them.

And, I'm usually pretty understanding.....:)
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dobielvr LOL great point on the masks!! They hide a number of reactions
 
Chet said:
A lot of hard core gang members / prison inmates are loaded with bad ass tattoos and these are clearly anti-social people, so why would the average person mimic their look in even the smallest way?
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Years ago when I was growing up, the only people you would see w/tattoos were the guys in jail or prison. I don't know if the kids today that have them realize that or not. But, it put you in a bad light, people knew instantly where you got them.
Today, I suppose it's more an expression of art and individuality???

Can I just say that what really repulses me are these guys who walk around w/their pants half off their rear ends, what is the deal w/that look?
Now, dress like that in prison, and you might want to watch your back...........
 
Serenity4321 said:
I have a very negative reaction to body piercings. Ear piercings are fine..but I especially react and recoil when I see nose piercings. Also but less so, with tongue and lip piercings I once had a very sweet, talented, hairdresser who had a nose ring and I always had to avoid looking at the
piercing. I never left her until I moved because she was very talented and pleasant and I find it difficult to find hairdressers who I think are really good.
I was recently told by one of my friends I should 'get over it' because I was being too judgmental. Her friend told me I was too prejudiced and biased...so I just wondered what others think. I really do not see a reason to 'get over it'..but maybe I am wrong and should be more accepting of others choices?
But I still recoil at the sight😏
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Merriam-Webster definition of bigot - a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices,
especially, one who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

We are all bigots in certain things according to this definition depending on the severity of our own obstination or intoleration. People make judgements of many things they do not agree with, so by this definition those making judgements according to their own opinions and prejudices are bigots. Your comments show that you are not totally obstinate or totally intolerant towards others who are different. You aren't expressing hatred. You are not so devoted to your own opinions and prejudices that you are unwilling to allow others to be themselves in whatever way they deem appropriate to themselves. You are human and there are certain things you just do not agree with and that is always your prerogative. As human beings we are all in the bigot box at one time or another and those who deny it are in the liar box. For instance, those who totally disagree with my personal opinion and comments regarding this (or anything else for that matter), automatically go into the bigot box.
 
In my heyday, only sailors had a tattoo and women wore earrings in good taste. Regardless of the dictionary's definition, the piercings are absolutely abominable and expressing your opinion about them is ok. One need no be rude in doing so. Takes some diplomacy on a person's part. Of course, were it my kid, forget tact and diplomacy. That's out the window.
 
Lewkat said:
In my heyday, only sailors had a tattoo and women wore earrings in good taste. Regardless of the dictionary's definition, the piercings are absolutely abominable and expressing your opinion about them is ok. One need no be rude in doing so. Takes some diplomacy on a person's part. Of course, were it my kid, forget tact and diplomacy. That's out the window.
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I don't have tattoos and never liked them, and my kids have always known it. But two of them have tattoos. One of them is my daughter! Both of them served in the military, but I'm not sure that had much to do with it.

Maud's is an illustration from her favorite children's book, Peter Pan, and I have to admit, it's beautiful. Grant has no fewer than 18 tattoos, all of them meaningful to him (i.e., his military insignia's, the bust of a Viking, grandkid's birthdates...). Interestingly, you don't see any of Grant's tatts unless he's wearing shorts. Maud's is in plain sight on her arm.

None of their tatts are gang-related or offensive in any way, and they're beautifully executed. They're both very happy with them, so I had to get over it, which wasn't difficult.
 
Lewkat said:
In my heyday, only sailors had a tattoo and women wore earrings in good taste. Regardless of the dictionary's definition, the piercings are absolutely abominable and expressing your opinion about them is ok. One need no be rude in doing so. Takes some diplomacy on a person's part. Of course, were it my kid, forget tact and diplomacy. That's out the window.
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LOL I so relate...I told my daughter to please wait until I die if she is considering a tongue piercing
 
debrakay said:
Merriam-Webster definition of bigot - a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices,
especially, one who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

We are all bigots in certain things according to this definition depending on the severity of our own obstination or intoleration. People make judgements of many things they do not agree with, so by this definition those making judgements according to their own opinions and prejudices are bigots. Your comments show that you are not totally obstinate or totally intolerant towards others who are different. You aren't expressing hatred. You are not so devoted to your own opinions and prejudices that you are unwilling to allow others to be themselves in whatever way they deem appropriate to themselves. You are human and there are certain things you just do not agree with and that is always your prerogative. As human beings we are all in the bigot box at one time or another and those who deny it are in the liar box. For instance, those who totally disagree with my personal opinion and comments regarding this (or anything else for that matter), automatically go into the bigot box.
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debrakay..Thank you you were quite gracious and thoughtful. And I agree we are all bigots in some areas. However, your last sentence/comment was a joke. right? It just doesn't ring true with the rest of your reply..:)
 
Serenity4321 said:
debrakay..Thank you you were quite gracious and thoughtful. And I agree we are all bigots in some areas. However, your last sentence/comment was a joke. right? It just doesn't ring true with the rest of your reply..:)
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There were several who picked up on my last comment and flew off the handle. Then there were a few who realized how we find ways to place place another into a category of our own choosing. Most people on a forum could care less who I am, what I think or what my opinion is therefore I am a bigot in their eyes when they choose not agree with my values, my morals, my beliefs. There are a few who take the time to ask "why?" Today we live in a society that is all words (mostly typed into a computer screen) and very little positive, uplifting action in everyday life and the real world. Today we live in a society where "self" is far more important than "others". Today we live in a very dysfunctional family of human beings. Thank you for asking about my snide remark.
 
I've gotten used to tattoos and piercings as the past 20 years have rolled by and barely notice them anymore. I've been known to compliment someone on a particularly striking tattoo, but otherwise MYOB.

Speaking of being offended by other people's bodies, when I was a child and teen there were plenty in my age group who were totally grossed out by old people. That's probably truer now, given that youth is even more highly prized than it was then.

Perhaps while some of us are judging younger folks by their piercings and tattoos, the objects of our revulsion are shuddering at our crepey skin, sags and wrinkles.
 
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Serenity4321 said:
I agree but not sure exactly how...maybe self talk and relaxation & affirmations

LOL actually I thought you were being serious until you said otherwise...:D
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i guess looking back on this... i was more serious than otherwise. but then my opinions, if you don't like them... that's totally fine with me. things i mentioned... things i don't care for.
 
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It seems everyone is 'afraid of being bigoted'. Why? Isn't it a natural human trait? Do we need to become de-humanised and have no personal opinions at all, about anything?
 
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Lewkat said:
Of course, were it my kid, forget tact and diplomacy.
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Funny! I am totally the same. I try to have good manners with other people, but with my own kid I am so so willing to shake my head over her choices. When we were at her interview for nursing school and they told her that her little nose piercing was okay but for clinicals she would have to remove the tongue piercing and her nails, I was like YAY!!!!! I mean you can't milk a cow if you are wearing those fingernails they glue on these days, so why would anyone want those? Plus you save so much money just painting your own nails.
I grew up seeing people with earrings so I don't mind those and even think they can be cute, and the tiny tattoos look okay, but by golly my kid gets unnecessarily big tattoos, why why why? I have no hesitation telling her my opinion! (doesn't seem to make any difference tho)
At the mall (obviously quite a number of years ago, back in the days of malls), there was one sales guy and somehow we got to talking about tattoos and he showed me his back, the WHOLE back was one giant tattoo, it didn't even look like skin, though it did have a lot of pretty colors. He said it was very expensive. He seemed to really like it and was proud of it.
Another thing that has required me to adjust a couple of times in my life are mustaches. I grew up where they were not the norm, then I moved to a city where most guys had them and it took me a few years to quit thinking they were gross. Then after many years among mustaches I moved to a city without them, and at first I didn't understand why all the guys looked like my brother, then it hit me - no mustaches. Beards I can't decide about, I feel better about them if they aren't too fancy, but if they are a total beard I prefer the smoother ones to the giant bushes. But I try to have good manners regardless of whether someone has a beard that looks like they drew it on with a marker. Did to my shame once join coworkers laughing at another coworker when we found out his one eighth inch beard he was happy about was a whole month's growth. Poor guy.
 

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