What’s your most controversial opinion?

[InThe312]

People are given an inch, and they take a mile. You will always get someone who, if you say tattoos are fine, will want to make a point. Soe times a valid one. Sometimes an egregious one.
There does need to be a line. And we need to have trust in our elected leaders that they know where to put it.

That seems sadly lacking in a lot of the great nations these days.

And I know I'm moving from how to present yourself at work, to more widespread issues.
But nothing is isolated.

People are scared of change. They feel comfort in familiarity and forget that things actually aren't what they used to be but sometimes that's a good thing.

There is a balance to be met.

I put this into the fuck around and find out category. You decide to push it with your "Fuck You" tattoo you so proudly got this weekend on your neck and the boss asks you to cover it up and you get fired when you don't, that's on you. The world does not come without consequences for your own actions.

EDIT: But I do think if you show up to work with a St. Louis Cardinals tattoo (I could not think of a worse choice for a tattoo) on your neck, the world should be fine with this and ye be ye.

 

[Dirt_in_the_Ground]

Ok …

So tattoos as a specific example. Tattoos with no obvious connection to religion, discrimination, or vulgarity … is there a legitimate reason to have to have them hidden besides “offending” someone?

Doesn't have to be actually offensive. I mean, in a job interview, where someone is trying to solve the riddle of who you are, it could be completely off-the-wall or highly personal: say you walk into an interview sporting a full, exposed sleeve, and the person who's interviewing you just experienced a bad break up with a bf who had one? Stranger things have happened. Wouldn't be a legitimate reason not to hire you, but it would be a legitimate reason for you to hide it if you wanted the job badly enough. Or, on the other hand, a legitimate reason to leave it exposed if you wouldn't want to work in a place that would hold a tattoo against you. Intentionally or not, all our forms of self-expression work to select our tribe for us.

You really never know how other people may take your demonstrations of yourself, or why. My daughter has an eyebrow piercing, and I've never given it much thought. But just because of something I saw on Lit recently, if I were to interview a young woman today who had an eyebrow piercing, I'd be entertaining myself with the possibility that she's into fisting on the first date. Wouldn't prevent me from hiring her (and might even encourage it), but it would probably distract me from focusing on her qualifications.

 

[Deleted member 6568729]

Doesn't have to be actually offensive. I mean, in a job interview, where someone is trying to solve the riddle of who you are, it could be completely off-the-wall or highly personal: say you walk into an interview sporting a full, exposed sleeve, and the person who's interviewing you just experienced a bad break up with a bf who had one? Stranger things have happened. Wouldn't be a legitimate reason not to hire you, but it would be a legitimate reason for you to hide it if you wanted the job badly enough. Or, on the other hand, a legitimate reason to leave it exposed if you wouldn't want to work in a place that would hold a tattoo against you. Intentionally or not, all our forms of self-expression work to select our tribe for us.

You really never know how other people may take your demonstrations of yourself, or why. My daughter has an eyebrow piercing, and I've never given it much thought. But just because of something I saw on Lit recently, if I were to interview a young woman today who had an eyebrow piercing, I'd be entertaining myself with the possibility that she's into fisting on the first date. Wouldn't prevent me from hiring her (and might even encourage it), but it would probably distract me from focusing on her qualifications.

You really can't control people's biases. The same could be said if someone had the same hair color or resembled the person's ex in another way. But things that are universally offensive are a different story. Hell, if I had any tattoo on my face I would think it might be difficult to get my job of choice. But those are the choices we make and have to live with.

 

[Deleted member 6592667]

As I said, the company I work for has recognized the importance of a less strict dress code that also allows for freedom of expression.

We are required to be well-groomed, neat, and clean.
Clothing is required to be clean, free from rips or stains, and not offensive, provocative, or contrary to our mission.
Tattoos do not need to be covered unless they are offensive or contrary to our mission.

It's really not hard to have a policy that gives you freedom to express yourself while also limiting what is offensive to others.

Well said, Indiana. Use common sense when you dress for work. That's it. Period. Nuff said. End of story.

 

[crazychemgirl]

Homeless people aren’t all drug addicts and derelicts of society … they are still humans deserving of dignity.

 

[Deleted member 6592667]

Homeless people aren’t all drug addicts and derelicts of society … they are still humans deserving of dignity.

I agree 100%. Things can happen that are beyond our control to put us there. I speak as someone that was once technically homeless. Shit happens. I learned how easy it is to end up there.

 

[Deleted member 6568729]

Homeless people aren’t all drug addicts and derelicts of society … they are still humans deserving of dignity.

True. And even if they are drug addicts, they still deserve dignity. Also...

 

[crazychemgirl]

True. And even if they are drug addicts, they still deserve dignity. Also...
View attachment 2331307

Very true …

 

[Ciceri]

Homeless people aren’t all drug addicts and derelicts of society … they are still humans deserving of dignity.

Anyone can become homeless. It happened to me after my divorce. I was still working but living in an expensive city. I paid to park in a garage where I slept in my station wagon. I had a YMCA membership and used their showers and no one was the wiser. But I was by definition homeless. I wasn't a bum. I've never touched a drug. I simply hadn't enough money for myself.

 

[LaisDeMarieDeFrance]

To you it might be but to others it isn’t. Although you are saying that everybody should be allowed to wear whatever they feel comfortable in and have tattoos and piercings on display if that defines who they are, in your own mind, you still have lines that you are drawing. You have the sense to have those lines but other people’s lines are different.

Where does the line get drawn?

Most people probably don't know that it is an ancient symbol used in India and other Asian countries still today. I recently watched a Bollywood movie and the name and logo of a company was swastika. There's an Indian actress named Swastika Mukherjee. So it's possible that someone of Asian heritage could have a swastika tattoo, because to them it has spiritual meaning.

 

[StillRain]

Swastikas, nazi emblems and salutes are all now illegal to be displayed in my state. Not sure what’s gonna happen to you if you display one on your chest or ?cheek, but yeah put it out in public the police gonna show up.

 

[lil_jenni]

I'm late to the work clothing discussion, so I apologize for pulling the thread back to it.

I am an elementary school teacher. Not only do we have a dress code to follow (which actually is going to allow shorts this spring... for the few classes left after Memorial Day ), but we are in constant fear of the dreaded parent complaint. It's worse for women, but we had a male teacher a couple of years ago that received complaints over tight pants... seriously.

I don't wear jeans anymore, because I had complaints even in baggy jeans. I don't wear T-shirts because some parents think they look slovenly. I don't wear fitted tops because heaven forbid I have a woman's shape. I don't wear dresses or skirts because they are not practical, but if I did, I'd have to watch both the fit and the length. And there are days I thank the goddess my breasts are more on the small and humble side (to paraphrase Shakira), because it's worse for my larger breasted colleagues. Even a hint of cleavage is going to be a complaint, something I'm guarding against as my pregnancy boobs get larger than expected...

It's not about looking my best or professional. It's about societal norms and expectations so fucking outdated and puritanical they can be for no fucking reason other than tradition...

 

[subdudeme13]

Swastikas, nazi emblems and salutes are all now illegal to be displayed in my state. Not sure what’s gonna happen to you if you display one on your chest or ?cheek, but yeah put it out in public the police gonna show up.

I am curious, what state? If I may ask.

 

[crazychemgirl]

I'm late to the work clothing discussion, so I apologize for pulling the thread back to it.

I am an elementary school teacher. Not only do we have a dress code to follow (which actually is going to allow shorts this spring... for the few classes left after Memorial Day ), but we are in constant fear of the dreaded parent complaint. It's worse for women, but we had a male teacher a couple of years ago that received complaints over tight pants... seriously.

I don't wear jeans anymore, because I had complaints even in baggy jeans. I don't wear T-shirts because some parents think they look slovenly. I don't wear fitted tops because heaven forbid I have a woman's shape. I don't wear dresses or skirts because they are not practical, but if I did, I'd have to watch both the fit and the length. And there are days I thank the goddess my breasts are more on the small and humble side (to paraphrase Shakira), because it's worse for my larger breasted colleagues. Even a hint of cleavage is going to be a complaint, something I'm guarding against as my pregnancy boobs get larger than expected...

It's not about looking my best or professional. It's about societal norma and expectations and showing fucking outdated and puritanical they can be for no fucking reason other than tradition...

this makes me so unbelievably angry. I’m so sorry … the world is dumb. This is why we need to challenge the “norms”

 

[crazychemgirl]

Most people probably don't know that it is an ancient symbol used in India and other Asian countries still today. I recently watched a Bollywood movie and the name and logo of a company was swastika. There's an Indian actress named Swastika Mukherjee. So it's possible that someone of Asian heritage could have a swastika tattoo, because to them it has spiritual meaning.

I can totally understand this… and I’m sure any normal person would.

 

[LaisDeMarieDeFrance]

I can totally understand this… and I’m sure any normal person would.

Any reasonable person. lol
I have to admit I was shocked when I saw it and my husband said "not everything is about European history." Ouch!

 

[RjThoughts]

You are the ace of spades, boo.

Lemmy get in on this, please?

 

[SassySheDevil]

Swastikas, nazi emblems and salutes are all now illegal to be displayed in my state. Not sure what’s gonna happen to you if you display one on your chest or ?cheek, but yeah put it out in public the police gonna show up.

I'm curious if that would stop a Foreigner from being allowed to come into your country?

 

[LaisDeMarieDeFrance]

I'm late to the work clothing discussion, so I apologize for pulling the thread back to it.

I am an elementary school teacher. Not only do we have a dress code to follow (which actually is going to allow shorts this spring... for the few classes left after Memorial Day ), but we are in constant fear of the dreaded parent complaint. It's worse for women, but we had a male teacher a couple of years ago that received complaints over tight pants... seriously.

I don't wear jeans anymore, because I had complaints even in baggy jeans. I don't wear T-shirts because some parents think they look slovenly. I don't wear fitted tops because heaven forbid I have a woman's shape. I don't wear dresses or skirts because they are not practical, but if I did, I'd have to watch both the fit and the length. And there are days I thank the goddess my breasts are more on the small and humble side (to paraphrase Shakira), because it's worse for my larger breasted colleagues. Even a hint of cleavage is going to be a complaint, something I'm guarding against as my pregnancy boobs get larger than expected...

It's not about looking my best or professional. It's about societal norms and expectations so fucking outdated and puritanical they can be for no fucking reason other than tradition...

My ex boss bordered on sexual harassment with his criticism of a couple coworkers' clothes. In cases like yours, it seems like they're reporting anyone remotely attractive. Even if you wore a muumuu I'm sure someone would complain!

 

[lil_jenni]

My ex boss bordered on sexual harassment with his criticism of a couple coworkers' clothes. In cases like yours, it seems like they're reporting anyone remotely attractive. Even if you wore a muumuu I'm sure someone would complain!

Oh, it's possible. And to be fair, the complaints about my jeans were all the same year and probably all the same person (and it was when I was in my twenties). I've been little miss boring clothes ever since -- khakis/chinos and loose polos most days.

 

[crazychemgirl]

My ex boss bordered on sexual harassment with his criticism of a couple coworkers' clothes. In cases like yours, it seems like they're reporting anyone remotely attractive. Even if you wore a muumuu I'm sure someone would complain!

I saw a tiktok where a woman was being reported for not wanting to wear a bra at work … which .. I could never. But like, if you wanna free the titty all the time.. more power to you.

 

[RjThoughts]

I'm late to the work clothing discussion, so I apologize for pulling the thread back to it.

I am an elementary school teacher. Not only do we have a dress code to follow (which actually is going to allow shorts this spring... for the few classes left after Memorial Day ), but we are in constant fear of the dreaded parent complaint. It's worse for women, but we had a male teacher a couple of years ago that received complaints over tight pants... seriously.

I don't wear jeans anymore, because I had complaints even in baggy jeans. I don't wear T-shirts because some parents think they look slovenly. I don't wear fitted tops because heaven forbid I have a woman's shape. I don't wear dresses or skirts because they are not practical, but if I did, I'd have to watch both the fit and the length. And there are days I thank the goddess my breasts are more on the small and humble side (to paraphrase Shakira), because it's worse for my larger breasted colleagues. Even a hint of cleavage is going to be a complaint, something I'm guarding against as my pregnancy boobs get larger than expected...

It's not about looking my best or professional. It's about societal norms and expectations so fucking outdated and puritanical they can be for no fucking reason other than tradition...

Do you work at a private/Christian school, because my daughter's Catholic schools (k-5, day prep 6-12) didn't have those restrictions. When I substituted at them, all I was asked was to NOT wear jeans.

 

[RjThoughts]

Oh, it's possible. And to be fair, the complaints about my jeans were all the same year and probably all the same person (and it was when I was in my twenties). I've been little miss boring clothes ever since -- khakis/chinos and loose polos most days.

Khaki/chinos and polos, welcome to the new IT "uniform" LOL

 

[lil_jenni]

Do you work at a private/Christian school, because my daughter's Catholic schools (k-5, day prep 6-12) didn't have those restrictions. When I substituted at them, all I was asked was to NOT wear jeans.

Nope. It's a public school (charter), but our restrictions are just about clothing with graphics, shorts, and dress/skirt length at this point. Oh, and everything but dresses must have sleeves.

It's actually the parents who have the strict codes...

 

[InThe312]

I can totally understand this… and I’m sure any normal person would.

Any reasonable person. lol
I have to admit I was shocked when I saw it and my husband said "not everything is about European history." Ouch!

I don't disagree about the reasonable person understanding this, but while just Googling around about countries that have laws restricting the display of swastikas, there are tons of stories that indicate that neo-nazis are also aware and have tried to justify their tattoos, paraphernalia as religious. I don't think anyone is having any of it. It's unfortunate that they adopted the symbol.