Is Industry Missing Out On Tattooed Geniuses?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28758900

[bhg481]

Not at all mikey - you are, in effect, employing the paramedic at the time.

[mikey4444]

BHG....in the case of the chap that we were debating a yesterday, its unlikely, that he would he been employed as a Paramedic. In fact, I would further and say, that it would have been impossible for him to be employed in such a fashion....that is why your question is daft.

[TWR]

My Granddaughter was refused a job as a beautician on a cruise ship because she had a VERY small heart tattooed near her thumb, it cost her parents in total £1600 which they lost as she tried many ways to get rid of the Tattoo.

[mikey4444]

TWR...that seems a tad harsh, especially when you consider what a immense gap there is between your granddaughter and the chap we were debating yesterday.

[mikey4444]

TWR....Your granddaughters tattoo seems very insignificant but why did she have the tattoo done in the first place ?

[Quizproquo]

You can't have it both ways Mikey, you would either employ a tattooed person or not. You said you wouldn't so that rules out TWR's granddaughter.

[mikey4444]

I wouldn't Quizproquo...I have already said as much.

[jim360]

I can understand people not liking the sight of tattoos, or not wanting one for themselves -- quite easily, in this case, since I actually think this way -- and I can also understand that first impressions are a powerful thing. But it seems -- it is -- completely wrong to make this association that tattoos=dumb (opinion) therefore people who get them = dumb and by default not worth employment.

Of course, this is a choice of the employer. It's just an irrational one.

[TWR]

I was stupid enough to have 2 done when I was 16 Mikey, a thing I have always regretted, young and stupid comes to mind.

[bhg481]

and the paramedic?

[mikey4444]

TWR...don't knock your self about over this !

If those tattoos you have are on your arms, where tattoos traditionally were, then a long-sleeve shirt would go a long away to cover them up.

The difficulty with the chap we were debating yesterday, is the location and huge quantity of tattoos that are the problem.........he can hardly hide them away can he ?

Now, if wanted a job such as a Paramedic perhaps, he has zero chances of obtaining one, along with a long list of other professions, and its that lack of judgement that I am questioning. He only has himself to blame. He can't have his cake and eat it too !

[jim360]

But why is it a lack of judgement? So far as I can see, only because people *think* it is.

[Old_Geezer]

It was a daft question because no one is going to refuse medical help when they need it, but it doesn't mean they'd rather feel anxious about the person offering that help at the same time.

Whilst it doesn't follow that someone with tattoos are inevitably dumb, I've known a few so know that doesn't follow, but I don't accept it is irrational to make that assumption and opt not take an unnecessarily risk. Why employ someone whose judgement tells them to compromise their own skin with ink. If they conclude that is ok what other stuff do they come to poor decisions on. In an interview one only has opinion to make one's decision upon, and visible tattoos give an instant drop in the impression made.

[TWR]

I understand your views Mikey & I agree, what's the old saying? never Judge a book.

[bhg481]

"never judge a book"...Many years agowe were visiting Dover castle when we saw a "punk" - multi-coloured hair in big spikes sticking up (about 6 inches). We had a bit of a chuckle and I even took a photo of him (when he wasn;t looking). Later it dawned on me; he spent far more time and money on his appearance than I did. OK, it might have been unconventional but he did have pride in his appearance.
On another occasion I was in hospital and our ward was on "take" one night (we got any emergencies). We woke up to find a young punk recovering from an emergency appendix operation and were all making jokes "Did they use stitches or safety pins etc" and wondered just what the effect on the ward would be. When he came round he was the most polite person I've come across; a really nice person.

[TWR]

I think that applies on this site at times Bhg.

[naomi24]

Jim, //Of course, this is a choice of the employer. It's just an irrational one.//

It's not irrational at all. It's common sense. The owner of any business presents his business in the best way he can. Having someone 'front of house' who doesn't present that business appropriately is not good for business. If I owned a tattoo parlour I might employ him, but that's it.

[Zacs-Master]

Or any bar south of the river. He'd have to have a beard as well, of course.

[youngmafbog]

Depends on the hard sticker and where it is.

A spiders web across the mush or ACAB across the knuckles absolute no, small one on the hand maybe.

Also depends on the job, it is is forward facing to clients then I would suggest nothing that may put off clients is acceptable (and not justs Tats).

[jim360]

OK, let me try a different tack. Does the tattoo actually say something about a person, or do people merely think it does?

I just feel it's more of a self-fulfilling prophecy, really. Having a tattoo is a choice that ought to be seen as independent of the person's ability to do a job. Excluding tattooed people from jobs is, at the very least, rather shallow.