Yesterday, I had a haircut at this hair salon called Charlotte Hair Tattoo. It's run by this couple, who have a cute daughter, Charlotte. The woman Vivian does the hair and makeup and her husband(forgot his name)does the tattooing.

Vivian asked me where I stayed and I said near Vivo City, and she said she and her husband didn't quite like it because it was too crowded. Besides, if the two of them went out, especially with Charlotte, people tended to stare.

Why?

Because the pair are heavily tattooed. And that answer brings about another question in itself, why do people tend to stare if you are heavily tattooed?

I think it all depends on perception, and a few common misconceptions.
1. People who have tattoos are usually criminals, or at least 'pai kia'.
2. These people are deviant from society.
3. Don't associate with these people. They'll lead you down the wrong path.
4. These people went astray sometime ago, and they shouldn't be parents.

Notice anything? These misconceptions are all negative. Many people have negative thoughts about tattoos, and people with tattoos. I wonder why.

Well, I view tattoos as art that is merely taken on another scale and inked onto the body. The art was simply so significant to them that they wanted to be with it all the time. Maybe they thought it represented them. I mean, why does society have stigmas against these people? Then they might as well go against all people with tattoos.

But let's get to the root of the problem. Why do people have misconceptions? Because they don't understand the people the misconceptions are about. Why do they not understand? Because they simply may be afraid of the people, and simply jump to conclusions about them.

What I don't understand is, don't they think about the people they have misconceptions about? Like, I'm sure the tattooed people are aware of the stares they receive. Then, Atticus in 'To Kill A Mockingbird' said, You won't understand a person until you jump into his skin and walk around. Nice analogy. I'm sure we all understand, and are not absolute dimwits. Then, don't they think, if the people who were beign stared at was them, then wouldn't they feel terrible? Like, why the hell are these people staring at me as though I've sprouted a second head or a third breast?!

I think these people who simply discriminate against the others are simply plain bastardly. Why do they think like that? I simply cannot understand their mindset. Discriminate against the different people. A cowardly choice.

I think it boils down to their fear of these people, 'cause they're different, and you think they will suddenly lash out and slice you to pieces with a gleaming parang. HELLO?! Then, if you're really that afraid, you might as well just be a darned hermit! The whole world has them somewhere anyway. Wherever you go, they'll be there. If you're that afraid, because you have no idea what they'll do next, then you should just be just as afraid of everyone, because you have no idea what they're gonna do next either. If you think that they should be criminals, then you're talking bullshit.

Actually, all this is due to phobias and stereotypes. The phobia of not knowing what supposed 'criminals' may do next, and the stereotype that the people with tattoos are criminals.

I don't know how those two things came about, but I think it's all psychological. It's physical barriers that are more easy to break down, and psychological barriers that seem more difficult to get rid of. The mind, after all, controls much of our life, if not all of our life. Whatever it is, I think stereotypes and phobias of different people should be destroyed. Everyone deserves to be treated as a human being, all as equals.

I wish there was some kind of manual, or guide to different types of people. So we can have a comprehensive insight into their life, and understand their feelings, thoughts and theories. We can 'jump into his skin and walk around', according to Atticus. It seems like a fictional character has so much more to offer in real life advice, than so many of my very much alive counterparts. We can get rid of all these stereotypes and needless phobias, and people like homophobes would not exist. Some absolute guide which also includes tips on how to interact with such people should be there too.

In fact, I have the matter of homophobes on my mind, but I think I'll leave it for another day. Enough brain activity for one day.

Adieu. Til' the next post, people.