Tattoos Redux

Colleges & Universities United States Naval Academy (USNA)
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<p>Bill, when you get bored, you‘re like the Grand Duke of Stir it Up. I proclaim this “Flog Bill Day”. To celebrate, lets all get a tattoo of Bill in an esteemed place of honor on our rear. Bill, happy hour is at 4 today, not 5 so show up on time cause its your turn to buy.</p>

<p>This is risky, but I’m gonna do it anyway & take cover when I get hammered. I’m putting on my hard hat now. Look, I’m no big enthusiast of tattoos on the academy kids either but GHD is within the rules & regs. This thread went way beyond that particular issue. Everyone knows that she’s one of many many academy kids who have gotten them or will get them whether we like it or not. We’ve all watched GHD come ahead through this last year with her great leaps forward in her desire to serve our country & I just want to send her all of my best wishes. She got pretty beat up in here, along with her Mom, with everyone‘s beliefs & thoughts on the matter. Wonder how many of these kids we look upon and admire for being in their uniforms, doing what they do, & aren’t aware that they might have a big ‘ol USS Constitution sailing where the sun don’t shine. I’m still gonna claim the kid as one of the good guys. </p>

<p>Can I be Loonie’s Mom for the day? Loonie! For your own self preservation, go to your room & don‘t come out until you can apologize in a truly humble manner! <em>THUMP</em></p>

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<p>U R right, Jamzmom, she is a good kid. I agree with you and take off your hard hat; it flattens the hair.</p>

<p>And no, you cannot be Loonie’s mom right now. Take a #. We’re all in line to set the little bugger right. What a nasty boy!</p>

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<p>Lemme try my hand at winding up this meandering diatribe. :confused:</p>

<p>You know, both Logie n Loonie goofed up. And throw in young Spiderman, too. Screwed up, they have. </p>

<p>But everyone of 'em has the valid excuse of youthful stupidity. I don’t know what mine should be. :mad:</p>

<p>So I say … give 'em all a pass, and a pat on the tattooed backsides for the bigger recognition that they may have some goofy notions, words, and actions, some forgettable body art, and most of all some wonderful hearts that they hope to be brave one day. And I hope they will, too.</p>

<p>But all too soon, they’ll be given a pass on nothing. They’ll be doing pushups till the cows come home on the Severn. And beyond those days of pushing up? They’ll be putting their very lives, tattooed bods and all, on the line for us and our kin to come. Taking the literal flak for all of us. Thank God for them. </p>

<p>Can we all agree and give these 3 3 big cheers and let 'em up for air? :cool:</p>

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<p>Not that I agree with anyone to get a tattoo but show me someone who has not done something similiar?.</p>

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<p>Ya’ll don’t know it but I’m sitting here with a purple mohawk. :smiley: </p>

<p>3 cheers! HIP HIP!! HOORAY!!</p>

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<p>You’ve merely and clearly confirmed all suspicions! Do you look like this … :eek:</p>

<p>Feared so. In the words of the dyslexic rabbi … YO! :confused:</p>

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<p>Amen!</p>

<p>May this thread RIP!</p>

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<p>OK, I’ll bring it full circle. This thread could have/should have ended after post 8. I was asking for info about regs and procedures. I didn’t ask for anyone to pass judgement on my son or my parenting. If you and your kid are morally superior, goody for you. Spider did something dumb, something of which I did not approve. He will pay the price in pain and in cash. That’s life. That’s growing up. One dumb choice doesn’t make him a bad kid nor does it make me a bad parent. Please.</p>

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<p>Just had to stir it one more time, huh? We already acknowledged that yours in an ace. Of spades, i.e. :eek:</p>

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<p>I don’t think you are a bad parent and I don’t think Spider is bad. He’s a kid. Kids do things. This is a personal statement, but when they get to this age, you have to look at what is really worth getting upset over. I don’t think a tattoo is (needle cleanliness, and it’s a nursing thing, is what scares me) worth having a thrombo over.</p>

<p>I think you have a lot of guts to bring it here and I could spout a book of “dumb kid” things my son has done. Taking his dad’s remote controlled model airplane for a spin that broke it beyond repair is the most recent. Did I mention he didn’t have anyone’s permission to do it AND they don’t make replacement parts for this anymore? All his younger brother said to him was, “You shouldn’t have done that.” Really? </p>

<p>I just hope mine never find out ALL of the dumb things I did when I was their age. Ouch!</p>

<p>Nurseypoo</p>

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<p>Spidermom - I bet you regret making your original post. I have always enjoyed the discussions and different opinions of friendly and intelligent posters on CC. Not this one - surely showed the true & surprising personalities of a few people I used to like reading posts by. Racism & sexism are alive and well in the USA and on this board. Who’d have thought a post about tattoos would cause so many true natures to reveal themselves. I am sorry you and your son have been personally attacked by a bunch of people who are obsviously perfect and have perfect children - if you ignore their racism, bigotry that is.</p>

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<p>We have used this thread (opening the door) as a reminder to our child there are things that can throw a monkey wrench in ones dreams. Also things like driving drunk, pranks, and become a parent early can ruin a dream.</p>

<p>Have tried to make no judgements about tattoos, just getting one in a foreign country. Having just gone through a State Department course on European “issues” spread of blood borne dieases is a problem. The life expectancy in Russia is now 55 and dropping.</p>

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<p>swimcatsmom:

</p>

<p>Anyone who is serious about attending a serviec academy should realize that they will be held to a higher standard. The rules and regulations concerning “body art” are very clear. Any candidate for a service academy who decides to get tattoos or body piercings is guilty of “failure to use good judgement” and “failure to pay attention to details.”</p>

<p>Both the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy delineate their policies in the Admissions dicumentation. From the Air Force Academy:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>If you are from an older generation (i.e., an old fart), and don’t appreciate body art, according to swimcatsmom you are a racist and sexist.</p>

<p>The Navy is still an all volunteer force. If you don’t like the rules go somewhere else; UC Berkely or San Francisco State come to mind.</p>

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<p>Racism? :confused:</p>

<p>Bigotry? :confused:</p>

<p>Oooooooooooookay… :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>now Z… *breathe deep… inhale slowly…count to 10…exhale…feel your body relax…let the tension go… repeat from * 10 times… go to another thread… picture yourself on a secluded beach…</p>

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<p>LOL. :D</p>

<p>Nah. Takes a lot more than being called names to spin me up anymore. </p>

<p>Besides, I’ve been called worse by people I respect more. ;)</p>

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<p>oh, please . . . racisim and sexism. You derive that from the comments made herein? </p>

<p>If you think the comment made by [the kids who made the comment about the gecko] does not represent exactly the kinds of comments that 18 - 22 year old boys [and a few old men that still can laugh about such things] make when they are together then you have much to learn about boys and men.</p>

<p>My comment at post #9 [if I can remember back that far] and #11 were relatively neutral. I intended them that way. I also knew that some would take them in a negative way and run with it.</p>

<p>I am still curious as to where were the parents? Was the tatooee under 18 when he/she got it? If so, who gave permission for the tat.
Tats are an indicator of what kind of person the bearer is. Whether its an indication they are good or bad was left for the reader to determine.
The fact that most of my employees are Hispanic [a fact, not a matter of opinion] who have tatoos does not make me a racist. [Particularly, when I am Hispanic too.]</p>

<p>Let’s see, I have been called an “officious jerk” for making the posts that I did. Make you feel better? Boy, that really put me down.</p>

<p>If you didn’t want any comments, don’t make the post. Somebody said this forum used to be fun and interesting. You know what, this has been fun and bit more interesting than some of the other topics. [By the way, the Marriott is closer to USNA than the Lowe’s but that’s a different topic altogether.]</p>

<p>It’s a discussion forum. You surely didn’t expect any authoritative answers on what to do next; did you? You want authoritative answers, call the Academy. Its the government for crying out loud; it has a regulation or instruction for everything. You already knew to contact the medical officer; what else did you expect.</p>

<p>Nobody knows your sweet, wonderful, outstanding kid. [Or at least I don’t.] Do I make a judgment about him or her? No. The fact is I will never meet him [unless it is next summer, which I doubt, when I am at the Academy for some training] Do I care whether he takes it off or not? No. No skin off my back.</p>

<p>You bet racism and sexism are alive and well in the USA and on this board. That’s what I think everybody has been saying in one way or the other: whether you like it or not, judgments will be made about actions such as getting a tatoo. You know what, it may not be fair, but that’s the way it is.</p>

<p>Beside, it should now be evident that tatoos *[especially on women because we are basically a bunch of sexist pigs who think only “fun” girls you wouldn’t take home to momma have tatoos; even though we wouldn’t want to admit it to our wives, who also think we are misogynistic, chauvinist pigs but have been married to us for too long to make a change and beside I don’t let her out of the house anyway because she too busy makin my dinner and cleaning my clothes] *elicit strong responses. Isn’t that what most bearers want?</p>

<p>AND YES, JAMZMOM, I WAS GETTING A BIT BORED WITH THE RETURNING SWALLOWS. YOU KNOW YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY!</p>

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<p>oh my Bill…it’s going to be a long week till “tgif” time!!!</p>

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<p>A very… interesting thread nonetheless, however I hope Spidermom realizes that the people posting have been very truthfull and clear of their opinions of such action, not the normal face-to-face “civility” that hides the true thoughts. Given that this board is fairly representitive of USNA, it allows you to know what people really think, much better than false hopes.</p>

<p>To some of the people who claim that this is sexist, (amoung the other random mud-slinging), I advise you to visit any other college in America in which you will find FAR more obnoxius and crazy lifestyles.</p>

<p>Frankly, every choice we make impacts our perception (for better or worse) to others around us, however since no one is perfect, is is only a matter of striving to be the best you can be. Just like the WPM admissions, every area of your life is considered, so a mistake can be counterbalanced by another positive action (such as getting into USNA).</p>

<p>Just my thoughts…</p>

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<p>Are we going to life support or can we let this thread die?</p>