This is too all the piercers that look down on the teenagers who are looking for their first piercing or a new experience. They are potential clients and should be treat with as much respect as the most pierced person who walks into your studio, if not more so. They are scared and fearful without you being patronising and disinterested.
At A Glance Author Millie Contact [email protected] IAM MilllieB When N/A A piercing is a scary experience weather you've done in 200 times or twice, it is scary. Don't forget you started out somewhere; it was you getting your first piercing at one point. The worst thing I have yet to encounter at a piercing studio was the arrogance of the people working there; they were obnoxious, incompetent, disrespectful and vile. They had no respect for there clients or their potential clients. This has got to stop.
How many times do the "rock stars" of this industry moan about modifications not being socially accepted, you are one of the causes of its non-acceptance. A lot of the general public see modifications are nasty, naughty, dirt and full of attitude, to make this industry better you have to lose the attitude to those who don't have piercings and those who come in for their first piercing. If the modified and the modifiers are nice and pleasant to speak to then there is a better chance that people will alter their pre-conceptions of you.
Do you want the industry to be in the same situation in 10 years from now? The industry is far from accepted. I have viewed more than 20 studios in order to find a place where I would be safe, happy and comfortable to obtain piercings from. The average teenager who wants to fit in will not have done this research but this does not give you the right to take advantage off them, you should be there to inform them of the positives and negatives of a specific piercing. If you are not willing to put the time in to do this you are not an asset to this industry. A piercer is not someone who pushes needles through a person's skin; they are someone who a client can rely on for good quality aftercare, check ups and reassurance. A piercer is also somebody who is informed about anatomy, cross-contamination, proper sterile technique, not somebody who says "hey I can push a needle through your skin, I'm a piercer".
People get pierced for many different reasons and you have to have the integrity to respect their decision, weather it's the 16 year old who wants a standard ear piercing or the 40 year old who wants a genital piercing.
The piercing industry lacks competence and information. Over roughly the 20 studios I looked at I met one piercer possibly two who I will/would allow to pierce me. I think it's highly inappropriate that some people in this industry act like rock stars. Do you want to damage this industry for good? Don't forget the industry doesn't stop when you quit.
As for the people who think they are competent enough to pierce after a 3 day training course, who are you trying to fool? If you honestly believe that you are trained enough after 3 days then you are more foolish than the "rock stars" of the piercing industry. Piercers grumble about bad studios messing with the industry, then why don't they do everything in their power to change that studio into a good studio?
How many times have I walked into a studio and walked straight back out again? Countless, the state of some studios today disgusts me. How can you as a piercer justify piercing a 14 year olds genitalia? This is sexual assault on a minor. How can you explain piercing a 12 year olds navel? They are still growing and have a good chance of having a rather nasty looking navel in a few years time.
As a young person with a passion for this industry I endeavour to inform those less informed than myself. Some will say it is not my place to educate people but with some education the piercing industry could be a better place for everyone involved. The modified of today are the education of tomorrow they are the ones who can actively change the industry for the better.
Education of the misinformed piercers and the education of the general public are mandatory. Piercers especially should be informed enough to know that they can't act like "rock stars" around the general public as this bringing their negative preconceptions of the modified and modifiers to light. If you behave in an inappropriate way towards them then they are going to walk away with a negative perspective with a modified individual. Do you really want to be part of the cause of the public's non-acceptance towards Body Modification? Do you want be the cause of the negative effects of the misinformed piercers? Or do you want to help this industry move forward in away that paves the way for people who aren't as fortunate as we are. Treat your clients and potential clients with respect and no doubt you will get their respect in return