Many with multiple tattoos can't find work

Many with multiple tattoos can't find work

TAMPA - You could call it his body of art. Every line, every design on
his body says something about Russell Parrish's life.

"My first tattoo was after my father died," he told FOX 13.

He was 15. Over the past 14 years, he amassed quite a collection.

His tattoos cover his right and left arms and hands. There is a spider
in a web crawling up his neck.

On the inside of his elbow the scripture, 'If thine eye offends thee,
pluck it out.'

"It means if you can't stand to look at me, don't," said Parrish.

But don't let him fool you, what people see when they look at Russell
bothers him.

"We walk through stores and people grab their purses and wallets. You
go for jobs and most times they won't give you an application. They
tell you don't even bother, you have too many tattoos," he said.

That's his other struggle. With a wife and dreams of kids on the way,
he wants a career. He's looked at theme parks in Kissimmee, home
improvement stores down the street in his hometown of Lake Wales, even
straight-laced coat and tie jobs. Everywhere he went, he said, "I got
a door shut in my face."

Russell says in the last two months he's applied for over 100 jobs. In
almost half of them, he says he was denied because of his tattoos. He
says that's discrimination.

John Campbell is the managing partner at Constangy, Brooks, and Smith
in Tampa. His firm handles labor and employment issues for companies
all over the Bay Area.

Campbell said it's not discrimination.

"He has marked himself in such a fashion that he may have made himself
undesirable because of his appearance. Appearance discrimination is
not illegal - may not be fair - but it is not illegal," Campbell
explained.

He said tattoos are not protected under Florida law, federal law even
local law.

But Russell's trying to change that. He's organized a small grassroots
advocacy effort called 'Tattoo' with friends Shaun and Tiffany Blayer,
local tattoo shop owners, and others to get change.

"I want it to be where people like me, good people who deserve the job
and are qualified - more qualified in some cases - can get the job,"
he said.

He's tried the EEOC and the Department of Labor with no luck. Now he's
turning to local lawmakers

In the meantime, Russell refuses to make apologies for his choices.

"I don't regret any of em - I wouldn't go back and not get any. A
person's gotta be themselves," he said.

On the inside of his elbow the scripture, 'If thine eye offends thee,
pluck it out.'

"It means if you can't stand to look at me, don't," said Parrish.

But don't let him fool you, what people see when they look at Russell
bothers him.

"We walk through stores and people grab their purses and wallets. You
go for jobs and most times they won't give you an application. They
tell you don't even bother, you have too many tattoos," he said.

That's his other struggle. With a wife and dreams of kids on the way,
he wants a career. He's looked at theme parks in Kissimmee, home
improvement stores down the street in his hometown of Lake Wales, even
straight-laced coat and tie jobs. Everywhere he went, he said, "I got
a door shut in my face."

Russell says in the last two months he's applied for over 100 jobs. In
almost half of them, he says he was denied because of his tattoos. He
says that's discrimination.

John Campbell is the managing partner at Constangy, Brooks, and Smith
in Tampa. His firm handles labor and employment issues for companies
all over the Bay Area.

Campbell said it's not discrimination.

"He has marked himself in such a fashion that he may have made himself
undesirable because of his appearance. Appearance discrimination is
not illegal - may not be fair - but it is not illegal," Campbell
explained.

He said tattoos are not protected under Florida law, federal law even
local law.

But Russell's trying to change that. He's organized a small grassroots
advocacy effort called 'Tattoo' with friends Shaun and Tiffany Blayer,
local tattoo shop owners, and others to get change.

"I want it to be where people like me, good people who deserve the job
and are qualified - more qualified in some cases - can get the job,"
he said.

He's tried the EEOC and the Department of Labor with no luck. Now he's
turning to local lawmakers

In the meantime, Russell refuses to make apologies for his choices.

"I don't regret any of em - I wouldn't go back and not get any. A
person's gotta be themselves," he said. /copy and paste from
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/p...Y&pageId=3.2.1
aka http://tinyurl.com/yt4fxh

--
Curt

On May 31, 6:51 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Many with multiple tattoos can't find work

And many with multiple tattoos are gainfully employed.

So what IS your point?

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
>
> > Many with multiple tattoos can't find work

Technically that shouldn't be "Curt wrote" as it - see http://tinyurl.com/yt4fxh
- was copied and pasted.

> And many with multiple tattoos
> are gainfully employed.

Not the author's focus, however.

> So what IS your point?

Priapism!

--
Curt

KavinTaylor@gmail.com wrote:
> On May 31, 6:51 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Many with multiple tattoos can't find work
>
> And many with multiple tattoos are gainfully employed.
>
> So what IS your point?

Next up: people who behave like complete and utter assholes expect to be
treated with love and respect because really, nobody should be stretched
by their outward appearance.

Nina
--
C'est les microbes qui auront le dernier mot.
Louis Pasteur
http://www.chaotropic.net

On Jun 1, 10:47 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Kavin Taylor wrote:
> > So what IS your point?
>
> Priapism!

See, now you can admit it.


Kavin

On Jun 2, 8:59 am, Nina Baltes <chaotro...@gmx.de> wrote:
> KavinTay...@gmail.com wrote:

> Next up: people who behave like complete and utter assholes expect to be
> treated with love and respect because really, nobody should be stretched
> by their outward appearance.

Only God is allowed to be stretchmental.


Kavin

KavinTaylor@gmail.com wrote:

> Only God is allowed to be stretchmental.

That's a bit of a judge, don't you think?

Nina
--
C'est les microbes qui auront le dernier mot.
Louis Pasteur
http://www.chaotropic.net

On Jun 2, 3:10 pm, Nina Baltes <chaotro...@gmx.de> wrote:
> KavinTay...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Only God is allowed to be stretchmental.
>
> That's a bit of a judge, don't you think?

Just gauging the room . . .

Kavin

(burp!)

Anyway, multiple (three for me) has never hampered my work.

My shaved head and 2 gauge lobe holes didn't prevent me from being
hired and my 00 gauge lobe holes have not prevented me from
maintaining that employment.

Appearance does count, I'm certain, however attitude and ability are
just as important, if not moreso, when it comes to being selected for
a particular job.

--
Curt

On Jun 2, 9:50 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:

> (burp!)
>
> Anyway, multiple (three for me) has never hampered my work.

Multiple what? Idiocies? Episodes of ill-manners -- like your burp?

> Appearance does count, I'm certain, however attitude and ability are
> just as important, if not moreso, when it comes to being selected for
> a particular job.

Oh, you mean multiple run-ons.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
>
> > (burp!)
>
> > Anyway, multiple (three for me)
> > has never hampered my work.
>
> Multiple what?

Read the Subject line much, Kavvy? Ahhh, I'll forgive you (more likely
give you the benefit of the doubt) in your attempt at wit.

> Idiocies?

Hmm. Who DID offer that dances-with-pigs quote? Perhaps it is a case
of multiple idiocies at that. Ours is a dance of pig and pig? You've
certainly muddied yourself by your participation in boorish back-and-
forths. Well, some might say. And, hey, maybe *boar*ish would be more
apt.

> Episodes of ill-manners

If so then I'm not alone, imo. ;o)

> like your burp?

Oh, you sensitive widdle thing.

> > Appearance does count, I'm
> > certain, however attitude and
> > ability are just as important,
> > if not moreso, when it comes
> > to being selected for a
> > particular job.
>
> Oh, you mean multiple run-ons.

Whatever.

How about multiple /tasks/? ;o)

I'm watching the special features for Flushed Away. They're making a
little Play-Doh-like slug right now. Great movie and some really cool
extras.

Oink! Oh, excuuuse me.

--
Curt

On Jun 3, 9:51 am, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Kavin Taylor wrote:
> > Curt wrote:
>
> > > (burp!)
>
> > > Anyway, multiple (three for me)
> > > has never hampered my work.
>
> > Multiple what?
>
> Read the Subject line much, Kavvy? Ahhh, I'll forgive you (more likely
> give you the benefit of the doubt) in your attempt at wit.

And as I said, multiple what? The examples you gave were of lobe
piercings and a shaved head. Were those the "three" you were talking
about? Because one shaved head and two lobes equals three.

Se what happens when you live in your muddled world?

> Hmm. Who DID offer that dances-with-pigs quote? Perhaps it is a case
> of multiple idiocies at that. Ours is a dance of pig and pig?

I've explained why I do what I do. And I still wonder why you think
it is a good thing that you "can't" remember who said it. Did you
forget how to Google?


>You've
> certainly muddied yourself by your participation in boorish back-and-
> forths.

You're opinion, which is worth nothing.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
[...]

> The examples you gave were of lobe
> piercings and a shaved head. Were
> those the "three" you were talking
> about? Because one shaved head
> and two lobes equals three.

Kavvy, are you being serious? No. The Subject line includes the word
multiple - "Many with multiple tattoos can't find work".

I wrote:

"Anyway, multiple (three for me) has never
hampered my work.

My shaved head and 2 gauge lobe holes
didn't prevent me from being hired and my
00 gauge lobe holes have not prevented
me from maintaining that employment.

Appearance does count, I'm certain,
however attitude and ability are just as
important, if not moreso, when it comes
to being selected for a particular job." /copy and paste

And so, yeah, multiple would refer to tattoos.

You, especially, having spent a goodly amount of time scouring my web
pages, know that I have three tattoos. I mentioned appearance as it
relates to employment and so included a mention of the shaved head and
punched lobes.

But enjoy yourself. You're entertaining.

> Se

Se? heh

> what happens when you live in your
> muddled world?

Like I said, you're entertaining.

> > Hmm. Who DID offer that dances-with-pigs
> > quote? Perhaps it is a case of multiple
> > idiocies at that. Ours is a dance of pig
> > and pig?
>
> I've explained why I do what I do.

That's nice, Kavvy.

> And I still wonder why you think it is a good

Good? ;o) It's not good or bad. It just is.

> thing that you "can't" remember who said it.

Because I can't. Not something that stuck in my mind for whatever
reason. The image of someone dancing with a pig obviously stuck. Funny
stuff.

> Did you forget how to Google?

Ever hear of a rhetorical question? Let's - you and me - review, okay?
I wrote: "Who DID offer that dances-with-pigs quote?" Rhetorical, Kav.
Obviously, I can Google with the best of 'em, so that wasn't the point
- who wrote the quote or mentioned the pig. The point was - get your
notepad and pen - as much as you complain about my posting, well, a
reasonable person would assume that you'd ignore or avoid me and my
posts. Lubbert Das much? Or who was it that commented, something like,
on my using you as a punching bag. If I'm the pig then you're getting
muddy, pal.

> >You've certainly muddied yourself by
> > your participation in boorish back-and-
> > forths.
>
> You're opinion,

You meant to write "Your opinion," right? Slow down. Think about
context or if you're simply yanking my chain then know that it's not
working.

> which is worth nothing.

Perhaps to you.

--
Curt

On Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:50:44 -0700, Curt <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote:
>(burp!)

Excuse you...

>Anyway, multiple (three for me) has never hampered my work.
>
>My shaved head and 2 gauge lobe holes didn't prevent me from being
>hired and my 00 gauge lobe holes have not prevented me from
>maintaining that employment.
>
>Appearance does count, I'm certain, however attitude and ability are
>just as important, if not moreso, when it comes to being selected for
>a particular job.

I believe that also, but I think the majority of people don't.
My tattoos, 8-10 at the time, did not at all stop me from working for
the college as a teacher's assistant. Yeah, it was a dinky job but
"professional".
Marie

Marie wrote:
I belched:
> >(burp!)
>
> Excuse you...

Oh, excuse me!

Hmm. Actually, Marie, some might say there's NO excuse for me. ;o)

[...]

> > Appearance does count, I'm certain,
> > however attitude and ability are just as
> > important, if not moreso, when it comes
> > to being selected for a particular job.
>
> I believe that also, but I think the majority of
> people don't.

You're probably right about that, unfortunately.

> My tattoos, 8-10 at the time, did not at all stop
> me from working for the college as a teacher's
> assistant. Yeah, it was a dinky job but
> "professional".
> Marie

Well, at the elementary level, I really don't see too many adults.
When I wear "professional" clothes the students ask if I'm going on a
date, to a funeral or a wedding (aren't those last two the same
thing?) and the adults either tease with something like "Well, don't
you look nice today?" or ask if I'm interviewing somewhere.

Did you have to dress professionally or could you wear casual clothes?
Fridays are dress down days, but otherwise I'm in khakis and a polo
shirt.

I didn't wear my tunnels to school this year, but did wear them to
basketball games. The glass plugs don't cause as much excitement or
curiosity as the tunnels.

--
Curt