[kempster]

I remember my grandfather got a tattoo in 1917 of a panther on his forearm when he was overseas in World War I. He spent the remainder of his 94 years wearing long sleeve shirts to hide it. Had an effect on me and I never got one. I don’t condemn anyone who has them but I would not hire someone who had an in your face kind of tattoo or piercing.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Lorne Howden Sr., owner of the Tat-2-U tattoo parlor on Elida Road, said the majority of his clients work in professional fields, such as law enforcement and health care.”

“I’ve seen it go from sailors … to professionals,” he said.

Sailors aren't "professionals".

[allendale]

They are accepting because they don’t want to be sued if they openly disapprove. However young people should realize that prominent tatoos and piercings are not likely to enance their employment prospects and careers. It may not be politically correct to say, but a significant percentage of the population (often employers and managers) view tatoos as the indelible mark of the lowlife.

[Colonel_Flagg]

"“It wasn’t in his place to say something to me about my tongue ring.” "

If he's arranging an interview for a private employer who has a policy regarding such things, it certainly was in his place.

[pgkdan]

“The newer thing is to have a tattoo,” he said. “Society just need to be more accepting of it.”

Bull. If I can see a tattoo I will end an interview. I'm not hiring some side show freak to represent my company. Same goes for body piercings...only more so!

[Lou L]

I was in the Navy for six years, back in the 1980's, and got out in 1991 with no tattoos. There was never once even a remote chance where I might've been drinking and said, "hey, I'm gonna go get a tat!"

To this day, I just don't understand the need to "express one's self" through the use of a (somewhat) permanent tattoo. The passing follies of one's youth, the quotes and images you identified with...why would you want to carry that into middle and old age? Why would you want to explain why you thought some random lyrics from a 90's grunge band were important enough for you to prominently etch them into your skin? I don't get it. I wouldn't hold it against someone in a casual passing, but I can see why businesses wouldn't hire someone with some major work.

[CodeToad]

All employers I know of accept them but nothing says, “Me, too!”, like a piercing or tattoo. Nothing original about the person. They are likely to go along with whatever fad comes their way. I want individual thinkers for employees, not sheep.

[Dead Corpse]

I didn’t get my tattoos to “fit in”, “stand out”, “be cool”, or “reject societal norms”.

My reasons, now as then, are my own. If you don’t want me around, don’t hire me. Easy-peasey...

[ArtDodger]

I got as far as the ‘coy’ fish tattoo. Journalists who don't know the difference between coy and koi are giving away a lot about their lack of worldly experience..

[Buckeye McFrog]

1) How many Under-30 types are totally lacking in ink and piercings? When your choice is between circus freaks and NO employees, whatcha gonna do?

2) Under the current regime one runs a very high risk of being accused of RAAAAAACISM if applicants with tats (and particularly facial jewelry which, after all, is of African origin) are summarily rejected.

[Lazamataz]

Along his left arm, there’s a tiger and cherry blossoms on his forearm, and a coy fish on his upper arm.

A coy fish.

Perhaps they meant KOI.

Will copy-editors EVER be hired for major news organizations?

[cherry]

my father had a grand US NAVY tattoo on his arm....and that was the last tattoo I respected or appreciated....

as for me,if I go someplace to eat and the staff have nose,eyebrow, etc piercings,I just won't come back..

[onedoug]

Also non-Biblical.

[Sloth]

Does Disney still prohibit facial hair?

[sickoflibs]

Yuk, definitely a turnoff.

[OrangeHoof]

I still find them repulsive. I wouldn't date a girl with one. As for hiring, it depends what type of business and how much lemming-like behavior self-expression is allowed but personally, I'd rather not see it and generally think it diminishes a person.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

We went to the water park on the 4th of July. It seems that nearly 70% of the people I saw had tattoos. Nearly 90% of the blacks I saw had tattoos, at least 70 to 80% of the hispanics I saw had tattoos, at least 50% of the whites I saw had tattoos. In fact, it seemed easier to count those WITHOUT tattoos. They all look disgusting—like graffiti-—. I don’t get it. I never will. I don’t know how these people find jobs and why they waste so much money looking perfectly disgusting. Some people had gang insignia for their tattooes. Others had a boyfriend or girlfriend’s name as a tattoo. I kept thinking to myself: what are you going to do if you end up breaking up with your boyfriend or your girlfriend and you are stuck with that tattoo? What really fries me is in the supermarket. Watching people pay for their groceries with food stamps and they also have tattooes. Somehow they managed to find money to pay for their tattoos but they use taxpayer money to buy their food. And the young people in this country are in for a rude awakening when they discover that their tattoos don’t age very well and look even worse on on wrinkled and sagging skin. This country is sinking to new lows with each passing day IMHO.

[RingerSIX]

Tattoos on women are plain old ugly to me. Tattoos on men look stupid to me. Might as well wear earrings and primp/preen in the mirror all day, because that’s the first thing I assume you do if you’re sporting anything other than an ugly old “I got drunk in the Navy one day” tattoo.

[Resolute Conservative]

Pure BS. Maybe in fast food...

[Vaduz]

“It wasn’t in his place to say something to me about my tongue ring.”

Who would hire someone with that logic.
So much for getting a job as a speech teacher.