The music part being that I woke up this morning with an urge to spin a bunch of the punk music I listened to when I was a teenager, namely, H20. I love that band, and it has been far too long since I did a little rocking out to them. I have no idea why, listening to them always puts me in a good mood. I’d even go so far as to say that they are one of the bands who got me through my early teenage years and the hell I endured for being such a dork but.. that might be a post for another time.
At any rate, I just so happened to listen to some of their newer stuff this morning, and this song in particular came on: “Heart on my Sleeve” from the album Nothing to Prove.
You see me on the street,
there is no need to explain,
I’m not what you think I am,
I’m just like you, but with tattoos!
Cuz I wear my heart on my sleeve,
my appearance may be deceiving,
it doesn’t matter what you think,
because the truth is in me!
This is the life I chose,
this is the only thing I know,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
The places that I’ve been,
forever written on my skin,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
You see me walking down the street,
and you grab your kids and cross the other side,
looking me like i’m a fucking criminal a degenerate lowlife,
you got me all wrong!
Cuz I wear my heart on my sleeve,
my appearance may be deceiving,
it doesn’t matter what you think,
Because the truth is in me!
This is the life I chose,
this is the only thing I know,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
The places that I’ve been,
forever written on my skin,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
You know you can’t judge a book by it’s cover,
you know you got me all wrong,
and I know my appearance may be deceiving,
but I feel…
I FEEL IT ALL,
SO DON’T PASS JUDGEMENT ON ME!
This is the life I chose,
this is the only thing I know,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
The places that I’ve been,
forever written on my skin,
so don’t pass judgement on me!
It doesn’t matter what you think,
because the truth is in me!
This was a little amusing to me because I threw a brief temper tantrum yesterday at some of the absolutely idiotic questions and remarks I get about my tattoos and piercings. Maybe I should just get used to it– after all, it was my choice to do this, and by the reasoning of some, I am openly inviting it by choosing to appear in public looking like I do.
I say that’s horseshit. I have absolutely no problems engaging in intelligent, thoughtful conversation about my body modifications. With people who have honest questions, rather than just a snarky remark. I am all about upholding a positive image of the modded community because too many people do have the idea that tattooed and/or pierced people are just social deviants, hellbent on recruiting small children into our army of chaos or.. you know, something equally ridiculous. People fear what they don’t understand. That’s a natural human response. On the flip side of that coin, you have the people who don’t even try to understand. And these are the ones who tend to ask the rudest questions. In keeping with upholding that positive image, I am never rude in response. I feel like a have sort of a responsibility, first of all. And second of all, I am a nice person who is accepting of people and their differences. :)
All the same, it gets infinitely old to hear “OH MY GOD, DIDN’T THAT HURT?!” Well of course it hurt. Its needles penetrating your skin, one way or the other. Doesn’t having children hurt? How is that any different? It’s a lifestyle choice either way. I wanted my mods, and so I got them, at the expense of putting myself through a little discomfort. And besides, most of the people who ask this question never believe me when I tell them “No, not that badly” anyway, so why ask if you aren’t going to accept my answer? My other favorite is “You know those are permanent, right?” … Yes. I was aware. This one might aggravate me even more than the “Did that hurt?” question because this is purposely sarcastic and condescending. If I had a problem with them being permanent, I wouldn’t have gotten them put on my body. It’s been almost 8 years since I got my first tattoo and I haven’t regretted one of them yet, thank you very much.
And lastly. Just because I have decided to permanently alter my appearance in such a way does not give anyone permission to just come up and touch me. I am still a human being, for Pete’s sake, and am still entitled to the same bubble of personal space that anyone else is. My tattooed skin doesn’t feel any different than my skin that is not tattooed, I assure you. On a very basic level, that is considered to be assault, so for anyone reading who might do this very thing, keep that in mind next time. I am not afraid of being touched, by any means, it’s just when a complete and total stranger thinks for whatever reason that they have the right to do it, that I get more than a little peeved. I have had this happen before and when I protested, the response I got was basically that if I didn’t want the attention, I shouldn’t have gotten tattoos. My apologies, that’s not now this works. Make a sarcastic comment. Tell me tattoos and piercings are stupid. Ask me a dumb question. Do all of the above, I infinitely prefer that to having my arm twisted and groped by someone I don’t even know. Or having a total stranger touch my chest, or run a hand up my leg. I mean, really?
Anyhow, that’s enough ranting for today. I just needed to get that off my chest. Modded people are not circus freaks, there for anyone’s personal entertainment. We are daughters, sisters, mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles, aunts.. business owners, writers, artists, employees, bosses, etc. etc. Just because we look different, doesn’t mean we feel different, and no one likes to be stared at. :)
rotting out 