VANITY: Tongue Piercings, Pros and cons

A concerned mother

[republicangel]

Would you hire an otherwise nice looking intelligent college girl for the summer if they have their tongue pierced? Major conflict going on here at the homestead.....

[HairOfTheDog]

I think it looks gross, what are you hiring her to do?

[republicangel]

I think it's gross, too. It's my daughter and we are having major problems here at the homestead.

[riley1992]

It depends entirely upon the position. If it is a customer service related one where she has continual contact with the public, probably not. Otherwise, I would give her the job if she was qualified.

[HairOfTheDog]

It is your daughter? Has she done it already? - or is she trying to get you to agree with it?

Well, tell her to never expect to get a decent job or to be threated like a lady. She will look like a young slut. (being harsh for her benefit, not to offend you) Find out about the origins of why tongue piercings started, if you don't know.

[republicangel]

Thanks for your response. She's hard-headed. Can't imagine where she got that from ;-)
I've told her how I feel....I can only hope she thinks this through.

[republicangel]

My daughter. Having it done Saturday . No offense taken. I've already said these things to her, trust me.

[Savage Beast]

I probably would not. It suggests everything I would not want in an employee.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Health

Tongue piercing 'can be fatal'

Tongue piercing can be dangerous, say dentists

Tongue piercing is bad for your health and should be avoided, say dentists.

BBC News' Toby Sealey reports from a body piercing centre

The practice has become increasingly fashionable in recent years and has been made famous by stars like Scary Spice and the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips.

But the British Dental Association (BDA) says tongue piercing can cause infections, speech impediments, breathing problems and broken teeth.

It says piercing always carries a risk of infection, but that risk is greater with mouth piercing because of the closeness of the airway.

Infection can cause the tongue to swell, blocking or restricting the airway.

In addition, bacteria under the tongue often spread quickly and can lead, in extreme cases, to the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome or blood poisoning.

If piercing equipment is not sterilised, there is also the risk of infections like HIV and hepatitis being passed on.

Allergy danger

The BBC's Jonathon Kent finds dentists' reservations not shared by customers at an Oxford body piercing shop

The BDA says studs can come loose and can be swallowed or inhaled, leading to breathing problems.

And accidentally biting a tongue stud can cause teeth to crack.

There is also the possibility of a person developing an allergic reaction to a stud if it is not made from gold, titanium or surgical steel.

Scary Spice - Mel G - is one of a growing number of people to have their tongues pierced

Other potential dangers include deep cyst formation, scarring, damage to veins and nerves and neuromas - overgrowths of nerve tissue.

Some orthodontists refuse to do any work on people with pierced tongues because of its effect on muscle position and the possible risk of encouraging speech impediments.

Dr Geoff Craig, chair of the BDA's health and science policy group, said: "People having tongue piercings are putting not just their oral health, but their general health at risk - and we strongly advise people not to."

But a spokesman said: "We have to live in the real world and realise people do have their tongues pierced.

"If they do, they should make sure it is done as cleanly and hygienically as possible."

Cleaning advice

The BDA says people should ask their dentists for advice on oral hygiene while the piercing is healing.

This includes advice on brushing to avoid inflaming the tongue and the need to use mouthwash to clean the bits of the mouth which the brush cannot reach.

Dr Craig said they should also ensure that their piercer sterilises equipment properly, using a device called an autoclave.

This costs at least £1,500 so the BDA says some piercers may not use it.

The association says anyone can carry out piercings, although those who operate premises should be licensed by local environmental health departments.

The European Professional Piercers' Association (EPPA) runs a voluntary register of about 450 piercers.

This monitors standards and trading in piercing and can be contacted on 0117 9603923.

The BDA says little research has been done into the cases where tongue piercing has gone wrong, but a member of the EPPA said she thought problems were not too widespread.

One case which was published in the British Dental Journal concerned a 25-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital after her tongue swelled up and she had difficulty swallowing.

She was found to be suffering from a rare condition called Ludwig's angina which did not respond to antibiotics.

The stud was surgically removed, but the woman later collapsed. She left hospital eight days later after further treatment.

[republicangel]

Thanks for the info. I'm emailing this thread to her. If she will just read it.

[Rightwing Canuck]

If she wore it to the interview, no way in heck would I even take the interview seriously, let alone hire her. If the candidate can't show the proper respect to the employer under interview circumstances, then I wouldn't be able to trust her with my company's affairs (whatever they may be in relation to the business). Same goes for clothing - I've seen many young people lately show up in jeans or shirts hanging out, and some girls looking like they just turned tricks. Not exactly the best impression.

[HairOfTheDog]

So she doesn't live with you? Must not I guess... I was wondering why what you say doesn't rule. I misbehaved as a kid, but only in ways I may not get caught. The thought of my folks, or worse, my nice old grandmother seeing it would have stopped me from such a thing. When she is older she will realize how dumb it is. hopefully the hole grows in.

[Dan from Michigan]

The first thing that came to my mind was the old saying about girls with pierce toungues.

One word - Lewinsky. I don't think that is the reputation she wants to have. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, and I do not know her, but that is the first impression of a pierced tongue.

[republicangel]

Unfortunately, my mom cursed me with the mother's curse.

"I hope you have a child just like yourself"

The more you say no- the more likely they are going to do it anyway.

believe it or not- she's a college republican , dean's list, no drugs or smoking and stuff like that. ( I hope this is the worst there is)

we love her so much. We don't want her to make things more difficult for herself.

[HairOfTheDog]

She is older than I was picturing. Surprising. I thought this kind of stunt would be more along the lines of a 16 year old. Good luck.

[republicangel]

Thanks so much for the help.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I wish I could find the thread I did last year about tongue piercing deaths. Tongue piercing is just so awful. It will effect her speech, her health, her future for employment, and Dan is right, you look at a girl with a pierced tongue and you know it's a Lewinsky thing. I really hope you can talk her out of it, it's her future.

[frmrda]

Dan is right. The main reason girls get toungue piercings is to give better "Lewinsky's". Not to say everyone, or your daughter is doing it for that reason, but that is the main one. And Dan, from a guy's point of view - it does make a difference.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Don't forget tongue cancer. I read one news story where the guy had to get his entire tongue removed.

If she won't listen to you for personal image reasons, try the health stuff. Is she willing to take the risk?

[supercat]

The only 'pro' I can see to having a tounge piercing is if a woman wants to look like a whore, or if a man wants to look like a pervert or drug addict. I would ask your daughter if she wants to look like a whore, and if so, why?

[Djarum]

Another thread on this topic

[Bikers4Bush]

We had a higher level manager (late 30's) where I work who had one and I didn't even realize she had it for about 9 months.

As long as your daughter doesn't go around sticking her toungue out and showing it off she shouldn't have a problem.

[Bikers4Bush]

The other aspect to consider is that girls who have them are not genreally deemed to have the highest morals.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Presuming she can speak clearly with a foreign object in her mouth!

I think this practice is just disgusting and makes the girl look like she's "on the make". Is she trying to pick up extra cash as a hooker?

Around here, a lot of places would not hire anyone wearing this extra hardware. Restaurants that I frequent make the girls take these things out or cover them up. I see one young waitress who always has a bandaid on her eyebrow. I asked her about it and she told me that the manager makes her cover up her eyebrow stud when she's on duty. Another restaurant I knw makes a young waitress remove her nose stud when waiting tables.

You'd think these kids would get the message.

[MotleyGirl70]

There's is only one reason why people get their tongue pierced! Need I say more? I'm no prude but I would question her motives. If she is an adult and she wants to mutilate her body, by all means let her do it. Personally my dad would have kicked my ass even if I was 25 or 30 years old and got my tongue piereced.

[MissouriForBush]

Over here in Germany, where I live right now, the tongue-piercings, eyebrow-piercings, nose-piercings, etc. are very much in vogue. The Germans are VERY conformist and all ages of people -- male and female -- do this. Now that I have said all that, here is my opinion on piercings (in places other than the female ear lobe): by all means do it if you want to exude a cheesy, tacky, trashy image.

[irishjuggler]

If I were you, republicangel, I wouldn't focus on the idea that the tongue piercing will stop your daughter from getting a job. It won't. I see plenty of pierced teens working in places like record stores, supermarkets, and the like. You should be concerned about the image your daughter is trying to project. There's about a 99% chance that she wants to present a "bad girl" image. If this doesn't worry you, it should.

[riley1992]

I have never thought a girl looked like a 'whore' for having her tongue pierced. I think it looks tacky as all hell but there are many more socially acceptable behaviours that say 'whore' far before a tongue piercing does.

[republicangel]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts on the subject.
She is going through with it. I've decided it has to be a generational thing. Everyone young (under about 25 or so) seems to think it looks nice. Everyone older thinks of it in "Lewinsky " terms or that it is just gross. I wanted to take the employment approach because I thought it would make her think. Believe it or not, she is very logical normally.

[WFTR]

Unfortunately, in many companies, the "diversity" policy would result in a manager being severely reprimanded for refusing to hire someone because her tongue was pierced. If she seemed like a nice person who would treat the other employees with respect, I would probably have to recommend her being hired if she were otherwise the best candidate for the job.

On a personal note, I don't even like pierced ears much less any other part of the body. The only good thing about a piercing over a tattoo is that the piercing can be removed and never worn again. As tattoos go, I don't mind an occasional ankle ring, but I don't like anything else.

WFTR
Bill

[Rudder]

Ask her why she pierced her tongue. Her answer will likely convince you NOT to hire her.

[KneelBeforeZod]

Tongue piercing 'can be fatal'

"You can get killed walkin' yo' doggy"

That being said... Tongue piercing is SO 1999.

[jouellette2004]

Now wait a minute!! You mean to tell me that just because a person has their tongue pierced you are going to be stereotypical and label someone as a slut. That is ridiculous! How stuck in your ways can you be? I mean just because a person want to express themselves differently then you might like doesn't give you the right to make judgments on them! Come on now it is 2004 and things are changing no one is going to be exactly how you would like them to be, and I for one think it's stupid how people will judge a person before they even know them. I myself am going to get my tongue pierced with one of my friends and I think that it's great. It's a way of expression and there is nothing wrong with that, and you can think what you want about people with tongue ring but if you to judgmental and wont see past the little things then I don't think you even deserve the right to know some of the best people around. So you can stay stuck in you little stereotypical world and keep you judgments to yourself because there are some great people out there that don't need to hear you judging them. The world is tough enough as it is. So have a great life because while your there judging everyone we are out here living life the way it should be.

[jouellette2004]

Now wait a minute!! You mean to tell me that just because a person has their tongue pierced you are going to be stereotypical and label someone as a slut. That is ridiculous! How stuck in your ways can you be? I mean just because a person want to express themselves differently then you might like doesn't give you the right to make judgments on them! Come on now it is 2004 and things are changing no one is going to be exactly how you would like them to be, and I for one think it's stupid how people will judge a person before they even know them. I myself am going to get my tongue pierced with one of my friends and I think that it's great. It's a way of expression and there is nothing wrong with that, and you can think what you want about people with tongue ring but if you to judgmental and wont see past the little things then I don't think you even deserve the right to know some of the best people around. So you can stay stuck in you little stereotypical world and keep you judgments to yourself because there are some great people out there that don't need to hear you judging them. The world is tough enough as it is. So have a great life because while your there judging everyone we are out here living life the way it should be.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hmmm....

[mandeec]

OMG you seriously think that a tongue piercing has anything to do with the quality of a persons work? If you that hard up and you just wont hire her tell her to buy a retainer at hot topic its an invisible barbell that you CANT see... as for me i have 15 piercings. I have 2 snake bites which is 2 sets of two piercings on either side of my tongue and i also have my tongue forked which means its split down the middle and i work at a very nice place called Arbor Lodge in Nebraska City Ne... your really uptight arent you?

[HairOfTheDog]

No pros, it makes a girl look like a slut.

[HairOfTheDog]

This is really trippy.

This mandeec of the forked tongue just woke up this old thread, I saw it in latest posts, replied... and I was the last poster on it before!

Who's interested in old thread trolls?

[Darksheare]

Really trippy, they signed up.... tommorrow.

Wow, a resurrected thread from 2004.
And their first post is a bit of a flame too, that's a bad sign.
Hair, I think you found something, so I'll ping the 'rest of the eyeballs' here to take a look as well.
This is.. interesting.

Maybe their subsequent posts will tell us more?
*???*

[HairOfTheDog]

If you look up thread, the prior poster was also a "sign up and flame" type...

[cyborg]

I had a tongue ring. What's the big deal?

[Darksheare]

Yeah, Joulette whateverits..

[Petronski]

It thould be: Tongue Pierthingth: Proth and Conth

[F16Fighter]

"One word - Lewinsky. I don't think that is the reputation she wants to have. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, and I do not know her, but that is the first impression of a pierced tongue."

Lol, well articulated.

[Darksheare]

I get the feeling that you've been here before.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's an old thread...

I do wonder if she got it.

[cyborg]

Wow I just responded to a thread three years old *LOL*

[Petronski]

And I just pinged you to it. LOLOL

[Darksheare]

Old thread resurrected at post 36.

Troll, sign up and flame type at post 36 to be exact.
Seems they maty have done it before, posts 33 and 34 as well back about a year ago.

[Petronski]

Petronski: PWN3D!