Issue date: 6/30/05 Section: The Verge

David Thill/Editor in chief

In today's society there are so many ways to express one's individuality.

Many people do so through fashion, hairstyle, tattoos and, my personal avenue of choice, piercings.

According to a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, a 2004 poll by Harris Interactive showed that 16 percent of adults have at least one tattoo and the numbers rise in younger people.

The point is that with body art and piercings on the rise, many employers are having to adjust their more traditional standards of what is acceptable in the work place.

Personally, I have one barbell in my left eyebrow and a ring through the left side of my bottom lip and I plan on getting more.

Many times people ask me why I enjoy my piercings. They ask why I got them, if they get in the way, why would I put something like that in my face.

I have them because I enjoy the way they look. I have a personal preference and I feel happier with them than without and many people I have spoken to whom also have piercings or tattoos have told me the same. Many of them say they feel more like themselves after they got their piercings/tattoos.

More than anything else, though, I hear: "You know you are going to have to take those out for a job."

Not necessarily true.

As an article in The Seattle Post Intelligencer explained, many employers are becoming more accepting of body art. The article states that too many employers are struggling just to find qualified employees as is. So to disregard someone who may very well be qualified for the job simply because of a little ink or placement of jewelry is ludicrous.

The times are changing and with them so are the social mores and taboos that people may have once thought unchangeable.

When people comment about my need to maintain an air of professionalism in being a journalist and then go on to point to my piercings as an example, I merely wave it off.

In my opinion, if someone is going to judge my ability solely on my appearance then I don't want to work for that closed-minded a person anyway. I am aware of the ability I possess to do my job.

Tattoos and piercings are on the rise and I highly doubt it is going to stop anytime soon.

I have been approached by several people who have commented on my piercings. Some have been positive remarks, other have not been so kind. However, I am yet to come across someone who has run away in fear at the sight of a few pieces of metal in my face.

I have performed my job as a journalist so far without any comment from people I have talked to for events I may be covering.

The point is that, while it is more popular in younger people, piercings in general are not going to go away any time soon. Perhaps people should just try to deal with it rather than instantly writing someone off at the first sight of their chosen path of self-expression.

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