It's things like this that make me wonder why people choose to remain uneducated and ignorant. I mean this is your body, you can do what you choose to it, but you still have to take care of it. I hear a lot about how you only got this piercing because it's a fad or that's a 14 year old for you, but I think this is one of those times when the lines blur.
At A Glance Author J. Love Contact J. [email protected] When A month ago Artist Don't really know Studio In a bank Location Virginia I, for one, have spent the last 5 years trying to properly educate myself in the various areas of body modification, infection control, and the various other things that go along with it and I've never been shocked or speechless before. Never say never. Now to explain my title...
I've become accustomed to the many questions that one gets for piercings, tattoos, scars, etc., so it's never really bothered me. I go to my bank, which I have used for quite some time, to do bank things of course. The teller politely asks me, "Did that hurt?" referring to my inner conch. I replied, just as nicely, with "no."
That's the point where the conversation usually resorts back to banking and other finances but that day it didn't. Given, I may be taking this a lot harder than most would, but this is me.
She pulls her hair back to show me her tragus...that was pierced with an piercing gun. At first I didn't think that's what it was, so I asked. Yep, it was a gun. For a moment I just stood there, then several other tellers pointed out that they had all had theirs done that same day. A woman that did her banking there and had a hair salon had came in and offered to do it, so I guess they all jumped on the bandwagon. There's something about it that just screamed non-sterile. As I said though, I was shocked, I didn't know what to say or even where to start.
I, however, did recover enough to express my thought about it. I explained to her what I had learned about piercing guns and why her ear was still throbbing and red and swollen and all that other wonderful stuff that goes along with it. But, I did it politely, not rude or judgemental, just simply and to the point.
Maybe this is too long of a rant, but a lot was covered in this short banking experience and it's left me with some questions. I don't understand why people don't try to learn something about body modification, it's risks and proper procedure. It would save a lot of people a ton of pain to just read.
Another thing is I don't blame anyone, the tellers for example, for this, nor do I blame the woman that did it. I blame those of us in this community for not doing more to educate. Some people have developed this, "it's just a fad why waste my time," attitude with these people and then bitch when they do something like this. I hate to sound like a mother here, but kindness will get you somewhere.
I'm not arguing that some people do it for fashion or friends, but some people are just never told a better method and I think that's where some responsibility lies with us. Instead of whining about how some 17 year old got his tongue pierced now when it's on a broader scale and you did it 20 years ago when it wasn't acceptable, talk to the damn kid. Tell them to make sure they know procedures, tell them this is altering your body and should be taken seriously, not as a trend. Whether you choose to accept it or not, what one person does can screw it up for all the rest of us. Complaining will not stop that bad tattoos or the piercing guns, you have to do something about it.
BME has been a great educational tool for me. I found boundless information on several of my piercings and tattoos that if I hadn't known how they were done or the risks and aftercare I wouldn't love them as much as I do. And I know that a lot of people have put their opinions on here and their experiences, and true or not, I've learned a great deal from those. To all that contribute, I thank you, because everybody makes an impact.
As for the question that are asked of us, accept it, we chose a lifestyle that breeds curiosity in others. I know that at times it can be aggravating and such, but take it as an opportunity and a given. These things are going to happen and you never know when one day you'll go into your bank and find yourself asking, "Didn't that hurt?"