# Conservative Dopers- would this bother you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938 "2011-06-10T02:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/1 "2011-06-10T02:52:59Z")
Long story short- I am planning to get my nose pierced. My kids go to a “Christian with a small c” private school, and my husband is worried that other parents might be freaked out. If you are Christian or otherwise conservative, would it bother you if the mom of a nice kid at school had a pierced nose? Would you let your kid be friends with him? Understand, for myself I don’t really give a damn what people who aren’t my friends will think about it, but it’s not just my life that I have an effect on- my kids are part of this too. So I’m hoping to get a “feel for the room” if I can. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/2 "2011-06-10T03:16:47Z")
Member of a fairly conservative church here. I’d be surprised, I can’t deny that. I will even go so far as to say that I might be a little more wary of you than of the average mom – I don’t mean that in a bad way; more kind of “Huh, this person is an unknown: not in the cookie cutter Molly Mom mold,” and so scrutinizing you a bit more than I would the average mom to see if you were my type or not. And perhaps I’d hang back a little on the playdates until I figured that out. But it wouldn’t take long, and might actually be a good thing rather than not; I find people who don’t fit Molly Mom stereotypes more interesting in general, as I tend to have more in common with them. In my (liberal) area, I would definitely be on the conservative side with that reaction (even among christians). And even people more conservative than I in my area have had it drummed into them that we aren’t supposed to judge on appearances God looks on the heart yadda yadda. That being said, I’ve certainly llived in places where the reaction would be substantially more negative. What is the place you live in like in general? That’s going to inform the christian population as well as the secular one. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/3 "2011-06-10T03:19:42Z")
I wouldn’t care personally but I’d think it very hideous and unbecoming of a civilized human being considering we are not some obscure tribe in the Amazons. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/4 "2011-06-10T03:33:14Z")
I think part of it going to depend on your over all “look” as well. Most people do a just fine job of getting their nose pierced and wearing a small stud that doesn’t make it look like they’re trying to make a statement, something like [this](http://media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/tpaZPy-cJTqs9hR1QWzfzQ/l). Think about it like makeup. Most people put on eye liner and if they do it right, you don’t even notice it. OTOH, some people just don’t quite have the knack for it and even though they seem to put it on in the same place, they still end up looking like a raccoon or a bat. Basically, IMO, small stud, barely noticeable, I doubt anyone will care. But if you get a big 14g hoop with a captive bead, yeah, it’ll probably turn heads. Keep it tasteful and I’m sure you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/5 "2011-06-10T03:36:25Z")
> [@Moirai](#): > > Long story short- I am planning to get my nose pierced. My kids go to a “Christian with a small c” private school, and my husband is worried that other parents might be freaked out. > > If you are Christian or otherwise conservative, would it bother you if the mom of a nice kid at school had a pierced nose? Would you let your kid be friends with him? It would bother me. Piercings like that are indicative of psychological problems. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/6 "2011-06-10T03:38:24Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It would bother me. Piercings like that are indicative of psychological problems. Do go on. I’d like to hear more about this theory. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/7 "2011-06-10T03:43:17Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It would bother me. Piercings like that are indicative of psychological problems. I think it’s more likely that opinions like that are indicative of psychological problems. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/8 "2011-06-10T03:44:24Z")
I’m only slightly psychologically off then, probably, as I didn’t pierce my ears until my 20s, and did it myself, too. Hrm, wonder what THAT says about me…besides the fact that if I’m going to have extra holes in me, I’d better be the one to put them there! ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/9 "2011-06-10T03:48:21Z")
It is worth noting that Qun and Clothy are among the most line-item conservatives on the boards here. So I think you may find that the more far-right people at the school might take visceral offence at you. I think it would be worth it to drive their blood pressures up, but you have your kid to think about. ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/10 "2011-06-10T03:55:30Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It would bother me. Piercings like that are indicative of psychological problems. Umm… Do tell. IMHO, thinking that a piercing indicates a psychological problem says far more about you than it does about her. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/11 "2011-06-10T04:11:16Z")
It would bother me on anyone, man or woman, of a certain age. I’ll say tha age is roughly 22. Facial piercings and tattoos are a turn off for me in general. I think at a certain age it shows a lack of maturity. What adults wants such a thing on their face. What job does such an adult work at? Not a corporate one. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/12 "2011-06-10T04:13:55Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > What job does such an adult work at? Not a corporate one. You can be a mature adult and not work in a corporate setting. I assume you’re aware of that, right? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/13 "2011-06-10T04:14:12Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It would bother me. Piercings like that are indicative of psychological problems. What? ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/14 "2011-06-10T04:15:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You can be a mature adult and not work in a corporate setting. I assume you’re aware of that, right? Yes, but I really wonder what place would employee someone with body art on their face? Not one I’d want the parents of the classmates of any future children I have. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/15 "2011-06-10T04:17:06Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > It would bother me on anyone, man or woman, of a certain age. I’ll say tha age is roughly 22. Facial piercings and tattoos are a turn off for me in general. I think at a certain age it shows a lack of maturity. What adults wants such a thing on their face. What job does such an adult work at? Not a corporate one. I work for the Federal Government, actually. The responses to my nose piercing have ranged from “Oh, that’s cool!” to “Wow, I didn’t even notice it, when did you have that done?” (after I’d mentioned in an offhand way that the piercing was itching one day). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/16 "2011-06-10T04:19:03Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > Yes, but I really wonder what place would employee someone with body art on their face? Ummm, lots of places. Are you seriously saying you’ve never seen a person with a nose piercing AND a job? Hell, the bank one of the banks I go to has one or two tellers with nose piercings. It’s not nearly as unacceptable as you seem to think it is. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/17 "2011-06-10T04:20:29Z")
I’m not even conservative, but I don’t like nose/tongue/lip piercings. I wouldn’t tell my child not to play with yours, but I’d likely decline a social invitation with you. Facial piercings are like orange mowhawks. They’re for rebellious kids, not grownups. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/18 "2011-06-10T04:22:53Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Ummm, lots of places. Are you seriously saying you’ve never seen a person with a nose piercing AND a job? > Hell, the bank one of the banks I go to has one or two tellers with nose piercings. It’s not nearly as unacceptable as you seem to think it is. Where I live (on the East coast), you can’t get a professional job with facial body art. Even high end retail jobs will not hire you. Maybe in other parts of the country it’s different, but not here. I don’t consider bank teller to be a great job, but you can’t do that either here. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/19 "2011-06-10T04:24:48Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I’m not even conservative, but I don’t like nose/tongue/lip piercings. I wouldn’t tell my child not to play with yours, but I’d likely decline a social invitation with you. Facial piercings are like orange mowhawks. They’re for rebellious kids, not grownups. You’re comparing [this](http://www.qpiercing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nostril-piercing-procedure.jpg) to [this](http://www.mynewhair.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/07-mohawk.jpg) in terms of rebellion? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938/20 "2011-06-10T04:25:58Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > Where I live (on the East coast), you can’t get a professional job with facial body art. Even high end retail jobs will not hire you. Maybe in other parts of the country it’s different, but not here. I don’t consider bank teller to be a great job, but you can’t do that either here. So what you’re saying is that “where I live” you can’t get a corporate job with a facial piercing. Perhaps sweeping generalised statements aren’t the way to go. Hmmm. And you may not consider bank teller a “great job” but it’s still a corporate job in a traditionally conservative area. Most banks still have quite strict dress codes including uniforms, and suits for higher-up salespeople and managers. Incidentally, I also knew a guy who was a rocket scientist for the Defence Science Technology Organisation who had facial tattoos too. Interestingly the government thought his ability to, you know, work on rockets and defence projects was more relevant than what was inked on his face. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-would-this-bother-you/584938.md?page=2)