So if you have tattoos, piercings, dermal implants, stretched ears, brands, or any other equally awesome mods, you’ve probably been asked silly questions by a stranger at least once, especially if you live in an area where body modification is less than prevalent. But how do you deal when people that you don’t even know start getting annoying or invading your space? That’s the fifty million dollar question.
There’s basically two options here: get mad, or get awesome. Getting mad won’t do anyone much good, and may even further the negative stereotypes that are often wrongfully associated with modified persons, so that really leaves just getting awesome. There are three main things you can do to diffuse a potentially nasty or awkward situation.
1. Kill Them with Kindness
If somebody goes out of their way to say something less than friendly to you about the way you look, you can squash their bad attitude with a friendly smile and a compliment. Why be nice? Because if they get rude with you and you get even ruder back, you’re playing right into their hand. That person wants you to be mean or rude so that they can feel better about having a negative opinion about you based on something so superficial. Show them that you’re a way better person, and they’ll have no choice but to reconsider.
2. Handle it with Humor
When things get awkward, sometimes the best way to handle it is by showing off your funny bone. Get everybody laughing together, and there’s an instant sense of warmth and calm; it’s even proven by behavioral science. Sharing a joke is a great way to build a rapport with those who may seem very different on the surface. So the next time somebody pulls out a gem like, “Did that hurt?,” get creative and say something like, “No, it felt like a Swedish massage.” You might even make a new friend.
3. Push it When it’s Personal
We’ve all seen it happen, even if it wasn’t to us. Somebody comes up to a younger, modified woman, and says something way too personal for a stranger to say. Something like, “What does your mother think about that tongue piercing?,” or “How will you ever get a job looking like that?” It’s rude, it’s hurtful, but sometimes the best way to handle it is to take them by surprise with a reply that’s equally personal. “What does your mother think about that tongue ring?” “She loves the fact that I’m so fearless.” “How will you ever get a job looking like that?” “My boss says that my intelligence and talent are way more important than how I look.” Show them that their misconceptions about how you look and how you live are all wrong by giving them the heartfelt, realistic, personal truth.
Modified men and women are just as smart, thoughtful, and passionate as anyone else, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that everyone else knows it. Lookin’ good, beautiful.
