Dress code,tattoos, and scarification

I saw today on CNN's ticker that they are going to air a report on self mutilation tonight. Paula Zahn's show at 8:00pm ET. When I read it, I thought of this topic.

I'm not sure how extreme the topics they are going to cover are, but they worded the ticker as if the people who do it are hardened criminals or something. Check it out if you can. No doubt it will be unfavorable at best...

Well of course, that's the stupidity you run into. Can you really tell what a person has accomplished or what they're about by counting the holes in their body or the ink under their skin? I think not.

You Can tell that they are weird.Please dont say its personal expression.What I think they are is,exhibitionists.Still, I dont go to CP to study the appearance of the other visitors.I might not even notice, after all this is 2005 and many things formerly unusual are commonplace now.

That's a stupid generalization. Of course some people want to see that. It's not a majority, but it isn't "no one" either.

Ok,I shouldn't say majority,I should say 97% of the population at CP doesn't want to see that. I am not saying they are right,I am saying that being in the public relations business,CP does what they need to do to please the majority of people paying for their tickets. I personally could care less and it won't affect me visiting the park at all,but there is that small population that would be bothered by it, and the park wants every last buck they can get so they will please the vast majority of people to get that buck.

I think the tattoo rule would be the first to be softened a bit, then a piercing or two,but I don't think people with more metal on their head than bone will ever be welcomed by the park,again,it doesn't mean the person with the piercings is any less normal or friendly than the person without,it's just the way it is with society right now.

*** Edited 8/11/2005 2:23:10 PM UTC by MFJedi2***

Allan Birmantas sr said:
You Can tell that they are weird.Please dont say its personal expression.What I think they are is,exhibitionists.

So if Allan says so, it's God's truth? I have piercings, and plan to get more (and my "exhibition" is under clothes, I might add). Am I weird? It's pretty hard to believe that someone your age would be so ridiculously closed-minded.

Jeff, we all know you're weird (just look at your avatar) and it has nothing to do with piercings.

I still have no ink or piercings, due to both not sacking up and lack of money. Hopefully I'll be able to change that at some point. I don't consider the pierced/inked weird, just different (hence my hate for the stupid generic tribal type tattoos).

No Jeff its not Gods truth.Its my opinion,just like what you say is yours.If you weren't a co- owner of this site,Im sure you would be banned for your rudeness.Are the self mutilated the latest "minority"?

As far as piercings are concerned,I dont find earrings weird,but nipple piercings,tongue piercings,eyebrow piercings,any private part piercings I do find strange.I do know several people that have that,and I can be their friends,but I still find it extremely weird.Do I tell them that they shouldn't do that?No I dont,but i am amazed that they would go through that pain just to be different.I expect as they grow up,their ideas of beauty will change and the piercings will disappear.I have never commented on tattoos, as I consider that in a different category.I dont find them weird,just unique.

Jeff, you are a young guy.I dont expect you to agree with me,but you could disagree without resorting to name calling.When you get personal,i.e."narrow minded",you're doing nothing but getting insulting.I dont deserve that.
*** Edited 8/11/2005 3:42:18 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***

I can understand about the tattoo rule and piercings. My question is if someone has their nose pierced or something and don't want to take it out, can they wear the little clear stud? My sister is is Med School and she was doing clinicals and they made her take out her nose stud and wear the clear thing. She made a good point. A nice little diamond stud looks much better than a clear thing that makes the hole through the nostril more noticable. I have 3 piercings myself and am planning on getting more plus some tattoos. I still get straight A's in school and don't cause any problems. Do the piercings make me any less of a person or any less smart. Let me ask you. Would you rather have a person secure you on a ride who had 10 piercings and was smart or a person who had no piercings but was dumber than a block of wood? Not liking something that someone chose to put on their face or body is just like discriminating against someone because they had a beard or mustache, etc. They both chose to put it there for the same reason: They think it looks good.

And on another subject. Why should scarring matter? Some people on here just don't get it. People who cut themselves don't do it for attention. They're like people who are anorexic. They try to hide it and do it for themselves and for their own satisfication. Earlier this year I fell into a deep depression for months and starting cutting myself. Now at most times I regret it because of the scarring but other times when I get really down I'll cut again. Most kids I know do cut themselves. You'd be surprised if you counted all the kids who did. Even the most straight laced and smart kids I know have carved things into their bodies. It doesn't make them any different. Some people can't help it. One girl I know got her heart broken and cut the first letter of the guys name into her wrist. Now some people who cut themselves regret the scarring. People can't help that they do it. Was it my choice to get depression? Say one of them wanted to work at CP and were denied. Are they going to be discriminated against for the rest of their lives for something so petty and stupid? *** Edited 8/11/2005 3:45:37 PM UTC by matt1027***

As an individual I don't particularly care what anyone else does to their bodies. My brother has tatoos and piercings in odd places but so be it. However, his earrings did get in the way of some jobs earlier in his life and he had to deal with that.

As an employer I do care how my City is perceived so we do have some standards we ask employees to follow. If they choose not to follow them they are welcome to seek employment elsewhere. We are up front with prospective employees during the interview phase.

Our standards would not completely eliminate employees' ability to have certain tatoos, piercings, etc that were not visible.

Again, once you open up the option of having visible tatoos then you get into the whole midset of what is and is not appropriate. A dolphin on a woman's ankle may be no big deal but a naked woman on a man's arm might pose some problems. So, why would we want to put ourselves in a position of being judge and jury over what is and is not appropriate? Thus...no visible tatoos.

Even in the year 2005 I still think that is fair and reasonable.

And Alan, when did Jeff call you a name?
*** Edited 8/11/2005 4:05:34 PM UTC by Chief Wahoo***

Being called "narrowminded" I consider rude Chief.

He actually called you "closed minded" and it is probably a more accurate term. I actually don't mind being called closed-minded because on many topics I am. It doesn't faze me.

Nowhere does it say you have to ACCEPT anything. You don't have to ACCEPT someone else's choices and can have your own opinion about them (whether its base on preconceived notions or not). You do have to TOLERATE them, but that doesn't mean you have to like them.

Don't go anywhere Allan, you've brought a good amount of color to our discussions and a perspective that only 70 years experience can produce.

It's not about you Allan. If you feel attacked every time you post an opinion on the Internet, I'd stay off the Internet.

The discussion I think has moved away from Cedar Point's rules and into an area about what is "weird" or whatever. Bottom line is that you can have your opinion, but just because it isn't for you doesn't mean it's weird/gross/immoral/whatever.

I remember when Stephanie first got her nose pierced in '97 I think it was, people thought that meant she was stupid or whatever, and as I mentioned she has more education than most people I know. Not to mention it has been an acceptable part of Indian culture now for hundreds of years.

But here in the U.S., allegedly the most developed (and certainly richest) nation in the world, ridiculous generalizations are made about people based on their appearance. That's a really stupid way to be. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since this is the place where people are still judged by the set of genitals they have or their skin color. Developed my ass.

I personally have no problem with tatts., piercing, body mods., etc. However a family oriented place such as Cedar Point or any amusement/theme park, or restaurant is not the place to showcase these while working. A place like "The Underground", "Spencer's Gifts", or Bourbon Street is going to be a better place to work.
No one can decide what is tasteful, or tolerable for everyone, thats why companies have policies that do not permit things that some people consider inappropriate, while other people could care less. It all comes down to, for the most part, is what does the general public want?, and what does management want? Generaly speaking this means "clean cut and wholesome" looking employees.
Will this change? Only time will tell.

Ok, I worked at CO this past season and here are my two cents on the subject. I had three tattoos while I was working there over the summer and for the most part they were covered by the uniform. The one on the back of my neck was a little bit tricky, but I managed. To me tattoos are a way of expressing your inner personality to the outside world. In my case every tattoo I have means something. I have a cross on the back of my neck to represent my faith, I have vines and leaves on my right foot to represent growth, I have a dragon holding a ying-yang on my right shoulder to represent control and balance, and (a recent addition) an ankh on my left shoulder to represent strength. If you have ever heard the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover" then I want you to consider this, I am just trying to enhance what my cover is saying to people. Unfortunately, i have noticed that certain people don't look at the cover long enough to see the deeper meaning and symbolism all they see is ink.

ok I menat CP

Shoot my typing sucks.

And that's why there's an "edit" link next to every post.

My wife wanted a Tshirt withe the phrase "Coaster slut,any coaster any time" on it.The operator said that she couldn't wear it at the park,yet I see hundreds of girls with their B...s hanging out, some with wet T shirts and there seems to be nothing against that.To me,that lacks consistency.

i like that. it does lack consistency.

okay true considering someone might have a flower on there arm then someone might have a naked lady with her legs spread.................. lol just thinking. hahahaa

It was a little difficult to hide the tat on the back of my neck cuz even tho i used the cosmetic makeup, my collar was always rubbing it off.