Are face tattoos Still taboo

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

So the next question is are face tattoos still taboo? Well.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

What is your opinion on face tattoos? I like them. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

I do too.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Well, I'm glad you do because it's a good idea. Because it's got me for bloody life.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

So right, I went to a UK tattoo fest this weekend and I felt not tattooed enough because so many people had so many tattoos all across their face and they all looked so cool and I loved it. So what do you think? Would you ever get your face tattooed? Um probably not. But short You can say you hate how it looks, you can say anything because like for me, I am very, I'm very thick skinned, right? It's taken me a long time to get there. And I know people judge it, but it's like I love my face tattoos. Yeah. So if someone's like, I hate them, oh my god, go for it. That's fine.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Yeah. I yeah, I mean I don't know. I don't think that they would look right on me. Do you think? I think. But I don't know why. But it's your personal preference. Maybe because my tattoos are all one massive, great big piece of artwork.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

And that would then mean that I would probably have to have my whole face tattooed. And I quite like symmetry. Yes. So if I had something coming up here, I'd have to have it coming up here, and then if it's and it would just be a little bit more.

SPEAKER_02 1:44

Yeah, I wish I did a look like Amy Winehouse.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

But yeah. Yeah, so I don't know. So it's not for me. So I mean, this is a little bit off topic, but you know, this is the the wonderful world of ink and tattoos and everything. It's just how individual everybody's are. So I have loads of friends that have individual like stamp tattoos. Look absolutely amazing. Colour, some just black and grey. It's pretty much mine, yeah. Looks fantastic, looks great on them, but it's not my thing. No, me. Because it's because I like, yeah, I like the art and the grey and the black and it almost being more like a painting as a place.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

I loved when I looked, so when you've you first applied to be my co-host, obviously at absolute FBI doom scroll to him was oh my god, oh my god, she's so cool, oh my god, oh my god. And I love how all yours look, and again, it's that yours is art and it all flows and you can see that symmetry. Yeah, whereas mine is just oh, I like this, I want this, I like that, I want that. And I love that it's flash day, I want that, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

And it's like, you know, people go on holiday and they just get like a little stamp from their holiday because and I think, yeah, it's absolutely fantastic, but it's not for me, on me. Yeah, I'm not saying it's not for me, because I love it. I love pretty much all ink that I say, I love it, but yeah, so but would I look at you and go, oh my god, she's got a face toe and not talking to her.

SPEAKER_02 3:03

No, of course not, because I do get that though, and I forget, do you know what? I forget. So I first I first got I've got a little Casper, I don't know which side it is, but a little Casper, and then a little homage to my very first cat, Edgar. I've got nine cats now, but this is the OG, my little Edgar, and I got those because I thought, oh okay, well, I can I can hide it if I wanted to, yeah, and then I got my spider webs, and again, because my fringe, I was like, okay, well, I can hide it if I want to. And then I was like, why do you want to hide it? I was like, why? And I realised I was doing that because of how I would be perceived. So I know that I'm very heavily tattooed, but I forget it a lot of time. It's just you just you do, and then when I get a funny look or anything like that, I don't understand why. And then I twig and then I remember, but yeah, you know, and then I thought one day, do you know I was like, do you know what? I'm just gonna go get a moth on the side of my face, and it was done by uh Phil, and he's a gentle mix, and he's the most oh loveliest, loveliest guy. It's like an older guy, he's like a proper burly big biker, and he's just so gentle and lovely, and it was just a it was lovely that he did that for me. I was going through like a really big like transition like in my life, and it was almost something that I kind of reclaimed a bit of me back, and that's what that means to me. And so I think if someone looks at it and judges me in a certain way negatively or anything like that, I I really don't care. No, but as going as far as going as if there's still to be I don't know. See, obviously, I don't know if I could walk into a job and get a job now.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

I know, and it's sad, right, isn't it? Because I always say it doesn't matter, like I'm the same person, obviously not the same person that you know when I was born, but I am the same person. It hasn't changed my personality. Every tattoo I get doesn't mean that I suddenly changed or turned into someone evil or you can't turn up in time or you can't do your job.

SPEAKER_02 5:08

It just it's you know just means you shouldn't be given large quantities of money. But it does also mean it does also mean that you can book an appointment, attend that appointment, and sit very, very uncomfortably because they do buddy. Let's let's not like you know, and you can do that, but but yeah, at the convention I was at this weekend, there were so many people with face tattoos, it's completely normal, and it's just and I think I surround myself like obviously like the the work that I'm in and kind of my space that I'm in, it's all kind of alternative people, so it's that's my community, that's my that's my safety, that's my home. So I forget a lot of times maybe face tattoos are still to be, or I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 5:51

Maybe I don't know. Is it a generation thing? I don't know. I think I'm getting into a later generation, but I certainly would not look at someone and think, oh my god, and think the worst of them. And I think that's what kind of oh, I don't know, stepping off topic a little bit. But do you I know you're a bit younger than me, but there was the big outcry about the air stewardess work for British Airways, I think it was, and she had a crucifix on show and she was told she wasn't allowed, so she had to take it off or hide it. And I think that's almost the same, isn't it? Because you're judging someone by whatever their their religion, their beliefs, or how they look. Yeah, but you don't know that person.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

No, and so what so who are you to make that judgment on it's like you were judging somebody, every judgment that you make as an individual is based on your own story, your own life, your own everything. So, whatever you think of somebody else, that's purely your own projection. You know, I'm coming off the train to get in here, I've got so many looks, and I'd and maybe it's because I noticed it, maybe it's just that's the day that I've noticed it, and I'm looking around. Maybe I was looking around to make sure I didn't get lost, even though I've been here before. But you know what I mean? Maybe I was just very hyper-aware. Yeah, but I feel that anyone who does have their face tattooed, I think you go into it knowing what you're going into, let's be honest, and I think you have a level of you don't care. But I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has a judgment on someone who has a face tattooed and why.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

Absolutely, I'd be really interested to hear from well, they probably wouldn't come up and say, would they? Because they'd be being classed as discrimination, but would you not employ someone based on the fact that they've got a face tattoo? Oh, I like that. Yeah, and why? And why I want to know why. Because it doesn't change you, your personality, your commitment, your whether you're good enough for the job or not, you just have a piece of art on your own.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

If we've got on the next episode, the topic that we've got is tattoos in the workplace. So that would be really good to cover. But yeah, I'd really like to know that actually. And again, though, is to actually listen, even though I think it is wrong to not employ somebody who has tattoos or tattoos on their face. I'm also open to listening as to why somebody else would be like, no, I never would. And to understand. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

Yeah, because we can become a bit enclosed in our own bubble. Because we love it, don't we? So we love it.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

So don't see what's wrong. I I think I'm right because of my lived experience. My brain says to me, This is right. Yeah. You know, you you think you're right because of your lived experience and what you think is right. But then someone to us can have a completely opposite outlook, yeah. But to them, they're right. And so, yeah, I'd really I'd really like to I'd really like to hear from somebody who would say, Nope, I would not employ someone with tattoos and have that conversation, not out of hate or anything like that, just genuine understanding. Yeah. Yeah. So if there is anyone out there who's listening, although if they hate tattoos, they're probably not listening to a podcast about tattoos, but who knows? Because there might be a closet tattoo. Literally and silence of the lambs, and you know it's that thing is looking at big dragons on his That's them. I love it. We want to hear from them. Yeah, if anyone, yeah, but I I don't think face tattoos are taboo. I just think they're not seen. They're not, you know, my little bubble, yes. But I don't agree that they're taboo.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

No.

SPEAKER_02 9:43

I don't think someone looks at someone, I don't think someone looks at someone face tattoo and be like, oh, like for me, that's what taboo is. Taboo is all I don't know if that's okay or not. Yeah. That's for me what taboo is. Is that I don't think that's all right.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Yeah, I like I say, I don't think it is, but I yeah, I think there is gonna be. I I don't know. I think there's a whole generation that will think it is, and then a whole generation that thinks it isn't. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:08

So let's hear from those. I want to see what Reddit thinks. So have a look what Reddit. Okay, so what does Reddit say about face tattoos? So face tattoos have long been a subject of controversy. Controversy? Controversy. All are correct. Whatever, and stigma. While tattoos in general have become more accepted in many societies, face tattoos remain particularly sensitive topics. Oh my god, why do I love my face tattoos even more now? I said that. Here's a breakdown of the current attitudes towards face tattoos based on insights from Reddit. Okay, cultural significance. In some cultures, face tattoos are traditional and respected. For example, the Maori people of New Zealand have tamoko tattoos, no, tamoko tattoos, which are a significant part of their heritage. Yep. Yep, fair. In Western cultures, face tattoos are often seen as extreme and associated with rebellion or non-conformity. I was expecting the word prison to come up there as well. My mum always said I'll either be a CEO of a company or the leader of a prison gang. I'm neither, so I can still train those ways, right? So professional settings. Face tattoos are genuinely frowned upon in professional environments. Many employers still view them as unprofessional, which can impact job prospects. But why? But why? Why? But why? We need to know why this is why I work for myself, clearly. So social judgments, people with tattoos, face tattoos often face social stigma and are sometimes unfairly judged as being involved in criminal activities. Yeah, I do feel like sometimes I get looked at like I'm a criminal. And you know what? The um it was a good few months ago now. I was at my other half, and he is, you know, he's got tattoos and his head's all tattooed and tattooed in his face, right? The loveliest, kindest, kindest man to do anything for anyone, right? And he held the door open for a couple of old ladies, okay, and they went into the out the other door. And I was just like, but you know what? Nine times out of ten, other people wouldn't do that. He literally he walked over to the door to open it, wasn't just walking through and held it. He walked over to the door, and his his manners are impeccable, and it's like he'll always open the car door for me, like like it's impeccable. Like sometimes I forget to say please and thank you to my brain is thinking, and he always says please and thank you. And so I just look it in.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

I just says it all, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_02 12:48

It's just that yeah, so yeah, I think social judgments again, but then it's that whole talking and education and seeing someone as a person and just sitting down, rather than having those judgments, those off-the-cuff judgments, sit and talk to somebody. Oh my god, I would love to do a thing where we get like a really heavily like tattooed, like someone who really looks like a thug to sit with somebody and they just have a conversation with someone and see what happens. I would love that, breaking down barriers. Yeah. So there is an increase in acceptance. So while face tattoos are still taboo in many circles, there is a growing acceptance of tattoos in general. Yes. Some industries, especially creative and tech fields, are more accepting of visible tattoos. Someone has said I work as an IT engineer for the news, and I have a full neck sleeve and haven't had any problems with work, actually have been complemented on my work by higher-ups. Oh, see, I don't like that by higher-ups because all of a sudden it's like, yes, okay, you have your hierarchy at work of your boss, whatever. But their opinion doesn't mean anything on your artwork. That's how my brain someone else's opinion is nothing on my tattoos. No, I'm not like, oh my god, you're above me in my job, but you accept my life choices, yay. No, 100% not. No, it shouldn't be based on that. Maybe that's a problem. Like when people, when everyone I think wants some sort of praise somewhere or some sort of a not an acknowledgement but an accepting of their life choices.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

I think so. And you know, there's nothing nicer, is there, than someone saying well done, or no, we all like that, and a compliment, I get that, but I think she gives who you are as a person. And not saying that this person is, but if you're going out to get compliments from people above you on your art, whatever that may be, then are you doing it for the right reason?

SPEAKER_02 14:53

Yeah, that's very true. Or what are the right reasons to get a tattoo? Yeah, that's true. I mean, I've got some dodgy I've got right on here. Hold on, where is it? These are really old.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

I love the fact that we don't know what we've got on our own bodies and where they are.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

These look like balls, they're skeleton keys. I don't know if you can see it on the camera. He's I can't, I don't bend that way, but basically they look like balls. And I'm like, but you know what though, it's hilarious. But if someone's looking at it and be like, pick it apart, yeah, you should get tattoos for you. Absolutely get tattoos for you. So there is a generational shift. Younger generations are more likely to accept tattoos, including face tattoos, as a form of self-expression. However, this acceptance is not universal, nothing is universal. Not no you're gonna find everything anywhere. So mixed reactions, individuals with face tattoos often report mixed reactions from others, ranging from admiration to outright discrimination. Yeah, I can vouch for that. I was gonna say, I can't vouch for that. No, I can vouch for that. I again it's a tattoo convention, it was so weird. So there's an Asda next to the Milton Keating Stadium. So if you think you're in this bubble of everyone's alternatives, the freaks and the weirdos, and it's great. And then you go to Asda and it's like families there. And I remember I was at the till, my other half-son, he was like, that family keeps staring at you, and I looked, I literally, it's just like this little girl, like probably about I don't know, five, whatever, it's like like that.

SPEAKER_01 16:30

The dad was like like that, and the son was like people don't need to say anything, do they?

SPEAKER_02 16:37

It's just like I wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't seen it, but it was like I traumatised this little family in Astor, and I'm like, I'm so sorry. But yeah, it's just but again, it's based on whatever your lived experience is. I don't know, maybe maybe the dad got mugged by someone who had face tattoos. Maybe. Do you know what? Like it's I don't know, do you like I don't take that into my soul personally, but I do see both sides of it, absolutely. All parental concerns. Some people, especially older generations, strongly disapprove of face tattoos and would discourage their children from associating people with people who have them. I think face tattoos are gross. They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but most books these days have a multi-million dollar team of people to design that cover. Oh, what a bitch!

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Well, I have no rights for that person.

SPEAKER_02 17:32

Right? Who are you? Let us know who you are. Come and have a chat in sumo suits in a wrestling ring and see who wins. Yeah. No, I I no, I think that is I will like this is a hill I will die on, okay, as a parent, right? As a parent, I've got three children, right? And I would never tell my children, judge someone what they look like. And I think I would much rather say if they're in danger to go to somebody who has tattoos and in a business suit, but that's just again my lived experience. But it's a you should judge people on what they bring to your life, how they make you feel, and who they are on the inside, and not how they look on the outside, and not how they look on the outside. I think that is kind of human nature 101. Like, yes, you can look at somebody, and I think again, it's that whole thing of we have two thoughts. So you have the instant thought you have, which is an instant judgment that your brain makes. Yeah, and then you have a the thought that you choose.

SPEAKER_00 18:35

Absolutely, and you can't control that instant thought sometimes, or how your brain internship is. You can't do that, it is 100% normal. And we do it all the time, don't you? You think of here we are on a podcast, but we are being filmed so you can see us. I'm sure if it was just our voices, you'd already be interpreting how we look, and we would be either a surprise or oh my god, I didn't think they looked like that, or whatever it may be. So you're automatically making that judgment without even seeing someone. Exactly. So when you see somebody, you've actually got more of a chance to process that and not make that snap decision.

SPEAKER_02 19:16

So I would say how I would round off that question is if you see someone with face tattoos and you are more than you are more than entitled to your opinion, you are more than entitled to your judgment. I would say see where that judgment comes from. Work out where it comes from because I know I mean I could be a bloody idiot sometimes and I know I can really get things wrong, but if anyone needed help, I've got them. Yeah. Anyone needs anything, I've got them. That's nothing to do with my face tattoos. That's to do with my inept need of people to make me.

SPEAKER_00 19:49

It doesn't change your internal being or your personality. So it just means I saw something, thought it looked pretty, and wanted it on my face. Yeah. And if we want a lineup of baddies, I think there's more out there with out tattoos than there are with tattoos.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

Did you see what video I did of that?

SPEAKER_00 20:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:04

Yeah, just to say Epstein didn't have one tattoo before that we know of. Neve did Prince Andrew.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

Oh my god, we could do we could do a lineup of people who didn't have face tattoos and people who do. Yeah. And the ones that haven't been banged up and the ones that have. Right. We made it for episode one. We've made it for episode.