[I posted this prior but it seems appropriate with the topic being
discussed again. -- TR]

Being conservative, I'm often shocked at what people will do to their
bodies in order to show how anti-establishment they are. Case in point:
Once upon a time, a young lady in front of me ordered a hot soy milk
drink. (YUCK!)

At some point, she was quite pretty -- I'm sure -- but with all that's
been pinned, painted, and pulled that's now a moot. I'm not sure if
"Goth" is in anymore but the dress was very similar -- black (spandex,
leather, cotton). She'd pinned herself in some very visible and some not
so visible places (but it was cold outside). A triad of steel pins
protruded from the lower lip to just above the chin. Two diamonds were
pinned through the right nostril. A steel horseshoe was run through the
nose ridge between her eyes. Two diamond studs replaced her eyebrows.
Her ears had also been pieced multiple times. There were, uh, two other
noticeable rings, too (reader's imagination required). [All I can say to
this is "OUCH!!" There isn't enough single malt whiskey to give me the
courage to pin myself this often.] She was painted: wrist and ankle
carried Celtic designs, the back of her neck (sun god/goddess), and
cheek carried some tear drops. Her hair was chopped short, dyed deep
blue-black, and spiked.

All I could think of at the time: Why? Doesn't she realize what she'll
look like in 20 years? Pinholes /might/ close, hair can grow back, but
those tattoos are there for life (even if lasers are used to remove
them...)

Oh well... Not my daughter-unit, not my worry.

The Ranger
--
It's no longer fashion when an obsessive-compulsive disorder takes hold;
it's a mental health issue.