<p>Well, I for one, as a hen, have always loved to get the roosters feathers ruffled. But of course I have also found the rooster always crow louder. hehe … but hey, I just sterotyped didnt I.</p>
<p>And I do love a strong discussion… 
Thanks all for always keepin’ it lively! I will gladly do my part.</p>
<p>Here’s to gecko tattoos and strong young women! God knows the USA needs them (the women not the geckos).</p>
<p>atrmom-
I knew the rules and followed them to a T. I don’t feel that I evaded any either. In fact, I took the USNA and USN regulations as to where I could put my tattoo and so it will not show up while in a uniform or in a bathing suit, thus it follows rules. I find nothing subversive about that at all. I don’t see how a tattoo. I made an informed decision that I knew would not jepordize my appointment and so I will be able to keep and enjoy my tattoo for as long as I want.</p>
<p>Another reason is the rule exist for tatts is the threat of blood borne viruses --HIV and Hepatitis. The infection rates in countries that were behind the iron curtain are pretty high. For many years, children immunizations were given over and over without sterilizing needles or disposing of them. There many folks in eastern Europe that have viruses and they don’t know they have them.</p>
<p>I suppose stereotypes don’t offend me because of the tendency for stereotypes to be true. For those that don’t fit the stereotype, more power to you. Wonderful! You’re a great person!</p>
<p>Just realize that many, many more people do fit the stereotype and you, regardless of whether you like it or
not, whether or not you deservie it or not, will be categorized among the larger pool.</p>
<p>Hey Glitter you still have to report it to USNA AND take a picture of it to send in with your permit to report paperwork.</p>
<p>And I quote: “3. Each Appointee shall also attach a photograph of any body alteration to this form and submit with their Certificate of Acceptance of their offer of appointment. For the sake of modesty and privacy, only close-up photographs of body alterations normally covered by a competition swim suit shall be submitted for review.”</p>
<p>So now it will become part of your permanent record….what you thought was a private matter will be very public in the eyes of the Navy! </p>
<p>Girl, what you did was not think, not think of any and all repercussions. I truly am for living on the edge, but think before you leap. </p>
<p>Congrats on the appointment, can’t wait to meet you and mom.</p>
<p>While a great many, perhaps most, of the stereotypes are not reflective of those being stereotyped, as Bill is revealing, it doesn’t matter what reality “realy” is. Perception is all too often reality, so the lesson is to guard both who we are AND how we are perceived. </p>
<p>And for those who might think, “I don’t care how ‘they’ perceive me!” … Well, that’s ok until it matters … in that job interview when that lovely rose becomes a question of “tell me about that”, or the question of “what do you think of tattoos and do you have one” become awkward at best or lies at worst (no matter WHERE the 'too is), in the USNA Brigade, in the sack with someone other than gothic-printed “George”, in the old folks home when that sleek little speed boat has become a heavy cruiser that’s just been sunk, or your granddaughter is asking you “granma, why do you have that ‘Sexy Girl’ on your left cheek” as she’s helping you dress @ the senior citizens home and is followed by “I don’t know why mom won’t let me git one. Would you say something to her for me?” or that 64 year old woman trying to explain that’s not a gang-member ID or a red pumpkin on her badly water-swollen ankle, it’s a lovely rose and it “means a great deal to me” as the orderly chuckles, muttering, “Ain’t we heard that one before, Joe” …</p>
<p>Ok, so I’m out there. But I just have to laff when I hear someone trying to tell me about the “art” and the “meaningfulness” and the “beauty” of these things. For most it simply says, “what the bleep was ol’ Mrs. Jones thinkin’ or that codger Mr. Wilson musta been nuts when he was young” lol</p>
<p>Man, the big brother shrinks out there in cyberland are having a field day. This thread is going to be fodder for a Ph.D. thesis that might win a Nobel Prize in psych … or tattooology. :eek:</p>
<p>I know you’ve got me laughing! Gotta love a Sunday afternoon in Cold January when we do not have enough to do but watch the XGames and make one another think outside the box and chuckle occassionally! AINT LIFE GRAND! :)</p>
<p>I am trying to decide if I were to get a “tatt” or “Too”,as you called it, what I might get. Any suggestions? HA … I know Glitterhairdye is dying to chime in on her mama’s thoughts of foolishness.</p>
<p>An Anchor or Bill the Goat!</p>
<p>Go Navy!</p>
<p>Punxsy Phil, of course. And with my “body type” poor sucker’d NEVER see his shadow. Sun never reaches deep valleys among high mountains. :eek:</p>
<p>The good news? It’d be summer all year round. Speaking of round … 
</p>
<p>Sorry WP, she is from Georgia so it would need to General Beau Lee. Us southerners have to have our own groundhog, can’t be relying on a northern one!</p>
<p>Wow, such strong opinions.</p>
<p>Hey Bill, why all the posts? Don’t you have some ambulances to chase?</p>
<p>Next fall might bring a new game to the Males of the Academy Class of 2011. Be the first to find the gecko!</p>
<p>I’m actually wondering if poor Bill got hit by an ambulance. I’m agreeing with him way too much. </p>
<p>Maybe I got hit by one and don’t know it. 
</p>
<p>Tacky Tacky Loonie! ****-a-doodle doo … Oh I hear a rooster</p>
<p>If you are an adult I would expect a more mature comment, If you are a child I will pray for you that you become a mature adult at some point. Would be nice if we could keep our mind of the gutter. More than that what would YOUR mother think of such a nasty comment about a young woman willing to serve her country? Personally I am disgusted.</p>
<p>However, I do feel the need to point out the following tidbit:</p>
<p>
I disagree. The Boomers are responsible for starting our decline, and my generation has either a) been too wrapped up in what Christina Aguillera is wearing (or not wearing) this week, b) been out there trying to undo the damage done by the Boomers, or c) adding to that damage.</p>
<p>
Right up until the 60’s. Guess which generation was making all the noise back then?</p>
<p>
Amen. Guess who are the ones to rip your head off first these days when you bring that point up? Hint: They’re in power now.</p>
<p>
And those policies were put in place by which generation? You guessed it…</p>
<p>
Sorry. No dice. That notion ended when the rebellions of hair, drugs, sex, and rock n’ roll began, and continues to this day.</p>
<p>
Yep. Interesting who the PARENTS of this generation are, though, eh?</p>
<p>This country began to slide into the crapper when the 60’s generation started “thinking” that they knew better than everyone else in the world. They succeeded in turning the United States into a writhing cauldron of social change and even managed to get us to lose a war for the first time in our history. Now the hippies have grown up, shaved their beards, cut their hair, and put on bras, and are walking the halls of power continuing to push this nation toward the crapper with such wonderfully inane and failed ideas as universal healthcare. Oh yeah… they’re managing to get us to lose another war, too, just like the good ol’ days.</p>
<p>As for my generation, I’ve noticed that we are divided into three basic camps: Those who ferociously love this country and its traditions, those who loath the same, and those too clueless to care one way or the other. I am proud to be able to count myself among the first group. The last two groups are where you find most of the “ME FIRST!” mentality so prevalent among the Boomer crowd, only now with all the comforts our society and technology provide us, it’s even easier to sit on your ass and pretend you can solve problems with sit-ins and bumper stickers rather than rolling up your sleeves and getting into the problem to SOLVE it.</p>
<p>I once asked my mother (just out of curiosity) what she would do if I came home one day with an earing. She looked me straight in the eye and told me point-blank, “No problem, but I can’t guarantee you’ll still have your ear when you next leave the house.” Getting a tattoo has crossed my mind only in passing, and it would be either a picture of my daughters, or my USNA class crest (both of which are things of great value or which I have EARNED). But then think of the stupidity of it. Decorating my body in no way adds or detracts from my accomplishments, and all it does is scream “LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!” I don’t need to prove anything to anyone but myself anymore, and I’ve already done that, so what use would a tattoo do, not even counting all the other issues that come with it?</p>
<p>One thing I’ve always found funny about those who dress punk, or goth, or get tattoos, or body piercings, or any of that foolishness is how they ALWAYS give their reason for doing so as “I want to be different!”. Really? It seems to me you look just like all the other losers who dress punk, or goth, or get tattoos, or body piercings. So how are you different?</p>
<p>You want to be different? Then ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WORTHWHILE. Graduate from a Service Academy. Become a leader. Excel at your chosen profession. Be the best parent you can be. In other words, LOOK INWARDS instead of decorating your body so others on the OUTSIDE can see them. Who cares what they think, anyway?</p>
<p>Do I know people with piercings and tattoos who are NOT the stereotypical loser who does such things? Yep. Plenty of them, in fact. I also know a bunch of otherwise clean-cut individuals who are absolute filth. However, the odds are what they are. I still believe that it reflects a certain mindset, either now or sometime in the past, that is less than attractive. </p>
<p>Back to painting… :(</p>
<p>I usually just read the posts over here on the USNA board because my son is a West Point prep, but I just couldn’t stop myself from commenting on this thread.</p>
<p>I am perfectly fine with people having different opinions about tattoos. If you don’t want one or don’t like them, fine with me. I am not okay with attacking people who have one by implying they are stupid, low class, single mothers, have been in prison, etc.</p>
<p>This makes me feel sick to my stomach…
Bill0510:
</p>
<p>Why does this make me sick? People who believe stereotypes to be true just perpetuate racism and sexism in this country. Bill, your comments about your Hispanic employees also made me ill. Those things may be true but they are individuals who made those choices for reasons we know nothing about (possibly poverty, abuse, stupidity), it was NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. </p>
<p>At least this thread has opened my eyes to those who post here that I will give no credibility to in the future. </p>
<p>Personally I don’t care if the person defending my freedom has a tattoo or not. To all of you that have served or will serve your country, I say thank you!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Madam,</p>
<p>My mother would have thought the same thing. It is one of the consequences GHD will have to live with for her decision. It doesn’t mean it’s accurate, it doesn’t make it right, nor even fair, but that’s the way it is.</p>
<p>You know those tattoos that are so popular now among the ladies, the ones across the lower back? I wonder if those girls know that most men think of those things as landing lights rather than as decorative and expressive body art?</p>
<p>Please do not interpret my comment as a slam to your daughter. I do not know her and can only draw conclusions based on what she has posted here over time, none of which gives me any reason to suspect she is anything but a fine upstanding woman who, as you correctly pointed out, is willing to serve her country (You can thank her on my behalf, BTW). However, she will have to now learn that actions have consequences, and one of the consequences of telling people about a supposedly private tattoo is that some will draw conclusions based on what has been a generally accurate stereotype for decades. </p>
<p>As for the boorishness, well… It takes all types to make a world, I suppose. Another thing missing from the current generations is a sense of tact, oftentimes glaringly so.</p>
<p>If she wanted it, fine. If she likes it, again fine. But I can’t help but wonder if she really thought it all the way through before doing it?</p>
<p>Loonie-</p>
<p>I find that comment completely distasteful and rude. I sincerely hope if that’s how you normally think and that’s the type of respect you show to other people, than I hope you won’t be a future classmate of mine.
I sure hope you grow up soon. Otherwise, I don’t think you’ll make it very long in the real world before you get slapped or worse.</p>
<p>Zaphod -</p>
<p>I don’t take it personally, and I did think my actions through quite well. I got the idea several years ago and did run it through my mother, just not right before I did it. That is another reason why I didn’t get one of the lower back (we call those tramp stamps here in GA), I find those trashy. I like my tattoo and I have no problem if the Navy knows I have it and where it is. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my ability to work or is a distraction than it is in a completely tasteful manner.</p>
<p>This is all that I will have to say on the subject. I realize that people on this board are fairly conservative and it is probably against most of their beliefs to have a tattoo. I didn’t even tell me grandparents because I know that they wouldn’t like it. That’s all fine and well that we all have different opinions about who should and should not ink their body and whether or not it is appropriate for an officer in the US military to have one. But the fact is, my tattoo is within regulations and therefore no one has to even see it unless they are going through my permanent record. I hope that this make anyone doubt my ability to serve in the military, but I really don’t care, because if one is basing it on my tattoo, than that person is entirely too closed minded for my taste.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Logan</p>
<p>Will be interesting to see if any of you all will actually defend the honor of a soon-to-be midshipman? If not I will certainly stay off the threads as perhaps they are not what I had thought they were … for fun and information. And indeed God bless you all in the future.</p>