The NERVE of Some People! (If you can call them that!)

[Konotashi]

As some of you know, I'm a service clerk at Walgreens. Many of you also know that I have snake bites. (Two lip piercings on my bottom lip).

Today, some guy comes in and I ring him up. When I asked him if he would like a bag, he looks at my lip rings and says, "Who in the h*** would hire someone with those in their face?"
I kind of laughed and said that the manager probably didn't mind it because his daughter also had them. He promptly said, "I don't give a s***; if I was hiring someone to represent my business, that sure h*** wouldn't be acceptable! It just signifies... well, I don't know what it signifies, just BAD."
I refrained from saying anything, other than repeating if he'd like a bag, but he yanked the box of medicine he bought out of my hand.
As he left, I heard him mumble, "Sick."

I have bipolar depression, so he threw me straight into a rage. It was all I could do not to say, "Well I wouldn't want to work for such an ignorant, closed-minded b******!"

It really made me mad, and upset me quite a bit. Do some people not realize that others are humans too?
I know that not everyone agrees with piercings, facial piercings particularly. I've had many people ask me things like, "Why would you do that to yourself?" But we usually just laugh it off and everything's hunky-dory. But this guy - WOW. That was RIDICULOUS.

Then I sat there and thought for a bit. I have had more compliments from people about my piercings than derogatory statements. I get a lot of compliments on how beautiful they are, how they complement my face, etc. So I was able to brush it off, but still. How are there still humans like that walking the face of the planet?

[Falkosmom]

So sorry you had to endure that! There are a lot of rude people out there.

Don't let what some intolerant buffoon make you feel bad.

[CarrieJ]

It never ceases to amaze me that for it's reputation of being "progressive and liberal"...how close minded and bigoted some Californians really are.

My boss gets like that sometimes, but it's more a safety reason. Some of the dogs like to jump on humans and their owners think it's cute/funny and reward the behavior with positive praise.
So, if you have a lip ring and giant yearling fluffy Golden jumps and hooks a toenail in your ring it may hurt. I don't even wear earings, if I do it's studs. We had a girl get her tank top pulled off....Hence no more tank tops.....

The other option is:
"What?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh my god! Aliens have kidnapped me and put transponders in my lips!!!!"
Don't forget to be really serious about not having a clue that you have lip rings. That's important.

[Hrachia]

Really depends on where you work in all honesty. If you were to be a vet tech, or a vet you might want to remove them before a shift. More so for safety reasons, because a lot of animals like to grab a hold of anything shiny. Especially parrots. But besides that, I honestly don't see why people are so uptight about jewelry. Because in the end that's all it really is.

[Discoetheque]

He should have really kept his opinions to himself. I'm noticing a definite lack of tact in people nowadays: a diminishing in the filter separating the brain from the mouth, particularly in people who wouldn't do so well having the script flipped on themselves. He doesn't like it: fine. Go to another line, go to another store if he has to.

It makes me sad, the lack of respect people have for one another nowadays, the lack of tolerance that people have in letting others be themselves in peace and finding the beauty in our differences because the world truly does revolve around all kinds. This is likely the type of guy who just needs to hate on the nearest person in order to make his day worthwhile. If it wasn't you with your snakebites, it would have been the Target cashier with the faux-hawk or the Petco employee with the tattoo on their wrist.

Try not to let those kind of people bother you too much. I'm just plain overly sensitive and just have to remind myself sometimes that the only opinions that matter to me are those of the people who know me the best. That the opinions of strangers that I'll likely never see again don't amount to an anthill in the grand scheme. Some don't see or can't accept that the world is changing, and that which was taboo when they were younger is now acceptable, artistic and meaningful to the people who get it. He is one in a sea of many: a given in our existence but hardly worth getting worked up over.

[AbbyK9]

I think that the comments he made, and the manner in which they were made, were quite abusive. I don't think that anyone in a service-related job should have to put up with customers that aren't just rude, but are abusive to staff. I probably would let the manager know about this exchange.

That all said, I have to admit that I kinda agree with the sentiment.

While I love tattoos (I have seven) and I think piercings are alright (I don't have any currently but had some parts pierced in the past), I think that facial piercings and tattoos on the face, head, neck, or hands, present an unprofessional appearance in a professional work environment. I wouldn't mind it at an alternative store, like Hot Topic, or a tattoo shop, for example, but I think it looks unprofessional if you're, say, a store clerk, pharmacy tech, veterinarian, EMT, etc.

[Shaina]

I have always taken my piercings out for my job even if its not required. Mainly, because work and play are two totally separate worlds for me, and I don't need anybody questioning my authority or my right to be where I am in a professional setting.

That being said, his comments were downright rude and I would have had a hard time not spitting back at him. My dad is the same way though - I have a decent sized tattoo on my thigh, and when I told him I'd gotten it I got a lecture about how ugly it made me, how no man would ever be attracted to me again, what a disappointment I was, etc.

It is in the way people are raised, and I try not to let it bother me anymore than I do peoples opinions about anything else in my life. It is a personal decision.

[ladyfreckles]

It doesn't bother me, though I personally would never do it and prefer not to see it in "fancier" establishments (think expensive restaurant). It depends on the job. That guy was rude rude rude.

[KZoppa]

wow what a freaking jack a$$! That kind of bogusness is why I'm hesitant to get the tattoo's i want on my wrists. All my current tattoos are easily hidden by jeans and a t-shirt. I have my tongue pierced and 98% of people who meet me have NO idea. I also have my belly button pierced. Unfortunately after 2 pregnancies and weight i'm still fighting to lose, I REALLY keep that one hidden.

There are certain environments that some things are fine and other environments its not. If your boss is fine with it, then the customer can go suck an egg. I know if something happens to myself or my kids and i'm relying on an EMT (to use one from a previous comment), i'm honestly not going to care if they have piercings or tattoos visible because well.... they're helping myself or my kids. The piercings/tattoo's dont make anyone a bad person and close minded people cant get past things like that. A lot of people are either pro "body art" or against it. No matter what, the way i see it, the person behind the piercings and tattoos is what counts. But maybe i'm more open because several members of my extended family are pierced and/or tattooed in some fashion and i grew up with it. My aunt and uncle own a tattoo and piercing shop back home. My aunt is covered in tattooes. Doesnt change the person she is... now she's just more colorful!

Just shrug it off and move on. The guy was a jerk and we all know what karma is....

[Jessiewessie99]

That man was plain rude. I probably would have went off in him.lol. When I told my parents that I was getting said that it would hurt my chances of finding a nice guy, getting a job etc. Um...alot of the guys I like have tats or don't care if a girl has tattoos. Also I got my tattoo on my back because of a job.

I think if you are in a more professional way professional job then yes cover the tats and take the piercings out. But at minimum wage jobs, as long as you have good hygiene where clean nice clothes/uniform, your hair is nice, then I see no need to take the piercings out or cover that tats.