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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

Stupid stereotypes

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Dear Editor,

Charming. ["Tattoo removal, 1950s style" (http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1221948.html)]

What an uninformed man you have writing opinion columns for you. I realize they are simply that, opinions, but I was struck when I read this line:

"For some reason I have never considered tattoos, body piercing, lead rings in the nose or other places, the scruffy unshaved look or men with long, greasy hair to be 'cool.'"

For one thing, no body piercing would ever, ever be adorned with lead rings. The very concept is absurd.

All body piercings that are professionally done use stainless steel, gold or titanium ... metal types that are not known to be poisonous (the piercer and client will choose the metals based on the client's known allergies and preferences). I can't even imagine how fast you would infect, and possibly get poisoned, with a lead piece of body jewelry.

Apparently your columnist is also blind to the fact that many tattooed people are professionals (how else would they afford such an expensive procedure? Many highly desired artists charge over $150 an hour for their work) and many are also women.

As long as people perpetuate this stupid stereotypes, people like us (the tattooed) will just have to fight that much harder for respect.

Sara Moore,

via e-mail

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  • Ms. Moore

    While I am not offended by piercings or tattoos (in fact, some tattoos are quite beautiful in my opinion), I would probably get neither. But, your use of the term "stupid", puts you in the same category as those you castigate. And I will NOT respect those who have piercings all up and down their eyebrows, ears, noses, lips, etc. etc. etc.

    -- Posted by doodle bug on Wed, Jul 18, 2007, at 12:05 PM

  • I believe Ms. Moore was referring to the stereotypes against tattooed and pierced people as stupid, not the writer of the article. And that's what all stereotypes are-stupid.If someone wants to have multiple piercing in their ears, as I used to, why does that cause them to lose your respect, (doodle bug)? How does that effect you in any way? The stigma that tattoos and piercings used to have decades ago should be null and void by now but it continues because of misinformed people full of prejudice towards people who do not look or act the same as them. It's time we start treating ALL people with respect no matter what race, sex, or gender they are and regardless of how many tattoos or body piercings they happen to have!!

    -- Posted by Cherrycoke on Wed, Jul 18, 2007, at 1:43 PM

  • Cherrycoke

    your points are well taken and I generally agree. But are you and Ms. Moore not guilty of the same bias when you, more or less, imply that those who disagree with your viewpoints are somehow less enlightened than you? And I stand by my disrespect for those who "go overboard" with their piercings. It lost its shock value some time ago. It's alright to disagree with "the establishment", but try to get a meaningful job when you go overboard with the piercings and see how far you get.

    I noticed that you say you "used to have" multiple piercings.

    -- Posted by doodle bug on Wed, Jul 18, 2007, at 2:18 PM
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