Personal Expressionism and Body Piercings - Why The Stigma?

The other day, I was at Starbucks and I noted that there was a gal sitting in the corner with body piercings. I'm sure you've seen this before with the nose ring, and other ornamental pieces pierced through the skin. She indeed also had some rather interesting tattoos, and other folks in the Starbucks didn't know what to make of her, as there was an older couple sitting across from her that would even look over.

Since the gal was alone, I decided to start up a conversation with her. Apparently, she was waiting for her boyfriend to come, and when he did he also had body piercings. Okay so let's talk about this for second shall we?

Some might assume that those folks that have decorative body art have low self-esteem, and perhaps that's why they went and did this. Some might think that they are quirky or a little off. Some people might even consider it weird, disgusting, and totally socially unacceptable. Still, I ask; why the stigma? There was nothing wrong with this girl, she was quite pleasant, and so was her boyfriend, and they enjoyed the personal expressionism that came with their attached art. It is their body, no one else's, therefore it's no one else's business, and we should applaud their individuality, not condemn it.

After all, in the United States we are allowed freedom and liberty, and they are thoroughly enjoying theirs, and why shouldn't they. Now you might say it is socially unacceptable, and they can't work in a corporate office, or do a lot of other things because of how they look now. But if society makes those rules to avoid them, chastise them, or cast them out, then society is the one with the problem, not the individual who decides to express themselves - oh and a little FYI here as I am writing this, I do not personally have any tattoos or body piercings, and I'm just approaching this from a psychological and philosophical level.

You might think that they wouldn't have very many friends, but they are bonded by their expressionism and body piercings with other folks like them, and it is a counterculture, and their group is much tighter than the overall society, or all of your friends on Facebook for that matter. Next time you see someone with body piercings, why not just go up and say hi, I think if you do and you talk with them for a few moments, you'll begin to see exactly what I'm saying here today. Don't be so judgmental. We are told not to judge a book by its cover, and yet in society we seem to do every single day; why? Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.