Like I said, with each passing year, I am becoming my dad. Old school, traditional with one foot in the distant past. Curmudgeonly.
The girl above is Megan Joy, a contestant on this year’s American Idol. She wasn’t the best singer, she got eliminated this week after Simon Cowell ripped into her for some flaws in her ‘range or song selection,” I forget what exactly.
What he should have told her, or asked her was: “Megan, what the hell were you thinking when you got that Gawd-awful arm tattoo? That alone might have cost you a hundred thousand votes.” But nothing was mentioned about it.
I am sure Megan is a nice girl and all. But if she had a job interview with me, I’d have to ask her if she often made decisions like this one, with such little awareness of future consequences?
BTW, my dad hated the Beatles. Long hair.
Hat TIp: Toby
13 users commented in " Someone Should Say It, So It Might as Well be Me "
I don’t know – I think the singing might have been more of a problem than the tattoo
One would hope that she wouldn’t interview in a sleeveless dress, but I suppose anything goes nowadays.
Louise,
Granted the singing was not as good as the others. But that one red haired girl got embarrassed because of the way she dressed. Just sayin, individuality aside, the whole arm tattoos won’t get you many jobs that don’t make you wear a hat.
Ejly–if she wouldnt cover it up on national TV, I am betting she wont in job interviews. I understand that Megan will not be faced with that reality, but somewhere today, some young girl is saving up for a Megan-type tattoo.
There’s a scene in the old classic, The Philadelphia Story, where Katherine Hepburn’s little sister is playing the piano, singing about “Lydia the tattooed lady.” I guess tattooed ladies were pretty rare back then.
To her credit, Megan color-coordinated the dress and the tattoo… I thought the tattoo was a sleeve until I read your third paragraph!
Let me first say, I don’t watch American Idol but some of the news trickles down to me. While Megan’s tattooed arm may not go with her tall, lanky, blonde image to others, I can’t find fault with it.
Many years ago, I worked in a leather clothing store and found that some of the nicest people I’ve ever met had tattoes; men and women! One woman in particular had a huge blank panther that wrapped around her neck, down her shoulder/back. It was beautiful and she was a very sweet person.
It opened my eyes to not have such a narrow view of people. You know, the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” It’s the “normal” looking women who are stealing from you!
So, I wonder: American Idol. Is that title for an old stereotype of what we see as the boy or girl next door (sans tattoo?), are they looking for not only talented but wholesome? Or are they looking for real talent no matter what the look? And does wholesomeness market more successfully than individualism? Which definition do you/they use for wholesomeness? or the term “American Idol”? What traits are they actually looking for in an American Idol, really? And which ones hold priority? Makes you think, doesn’t it? Just my two cents.
Lisa….I know one should not judge a book by its cover or a super nice, otherwise beautiful girl by a stoopid decision she made when she was younger. I might even like Dennis ROdman were I to meet him, but his nose and mouth lip piercings turn me way off.
I was just trying to make younger people realize that eachdecision of their youth may have longer consequences than if mom or dad like their new tattoo.
good comment as usual…thanks for stopping by.
My then 37 year old son was in England on a six month assignment last year. When he returned he had tattoos on his arms, upper back and one wrist. His reason, one of his English mates was a tattoo artist who promised to make him look hep!
When he wears formal clothes, nothing shows, but at home I still find it weird when he is in his singlet!
It’s not that Megan is a “bad person”, it’s that tattoos are still somewhat looked down upon in business. Tattooed people can talk circles around it, but it is what it is. I don’t know of once single executive client of mine that would hire someone (in a professional position) if they had visible tattoos. I am 38 (certainly not that “old” yet) and got one when I was 20…. luckily it is small and not visible to the public. But I knew, even at 20 and in college, that I probably wouldn’t be able to get a good job with one showing.
Recently I was at a restaurant and noticed the young waiter had those big ear things in his ears and arms full of tattoos. I watched the people who sat at his tables stare at him and snicker after he walked away.
I remember my mom telling me, “just make sure it is something you can live with until you are 80 and you won’t be embarrassed with it when it is on old saggy skin”.
Tattoos are fine if they are discreet, or if you are in a profession that accepts or embraces them. However, to most hiring folks they are a turnoff.
Just my .02
Rummer….I think men can somehow get a pass somewhat.
Erin…well said. Your mom and you sound pretty wise.
[...] where GL Hoffman wrote the interesting post, “Someone should Say it, so it might as well be me”. [...]
[...] I recently commented on the ‘What Would Dad Say’ (jobdig) website where GL Hoffman wrote the interesting post, “Someone should Say it, so it might as well be me”. [...]
Naked with body paint on, would have been better! Then there would be no guessing!
[...] love reading blogs’ mode. I still remember the first post I stumbled upon of his about Megan Joy, the American Idol contestant covered in [...]
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