Aids HIV FAQ

a RAB-based slant on the industry

Question:

I’ve been doing some thinking lately (ouch) about the industry (piercing in particular – since I have more varied experiences there) and how we perceive it.  Particularly how we perceive a "good" practitioner from a "not-so-good" one, and from a "bad" one. Being a member of RAB I have learned a lot about piercing.  Being an informed customer of piercing establishments has really opened my eyes to many things.   Also, being part of RAB, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people from around the country (USA in my case) and world. RAB has raised the bar, in my eyes.  Knowing what I know now, a piercer whom I may have considered "good" before is now "not-so-good".  Having been worked on by two of the best and absolutely imeccably cleanest piercers in the country, (one whose name gets said enough here, and one who – while having pretty much left RAB – is the city of Brotherly Love’s best little secret) I know what to expect — from their level of quality.  I had the (mis?)fortune of watching a procedure that was not up to this par recently, and it was disturbing. Now that I know what to expect from "the best", it is not possible for me to accept less from a piercer.   I guess my point is that RAB makes informed customers, and informed customers raise the bar for the industry.  All the mediocre piercers are now substandard to me, and everyone who is lucky enough to have similar experiences as I have had. Thanks RAB and all the people who have made it so much better for me, and taught me what I know. Tim — Angry men don’t write the rules and guns don’t right the wrongs.         — Stephen Sondheim, "Assassins" —

Response:

>RAB has raised the bar, in my eyes.  Knowing what I know now, a piercer whom I >may have considered "good" before is now "not-so-good".  Having been worked on >by two of the best and absolutely imeccably cleanest piercers in the country, >(one whose name gets said enough here, and one who – while having pretty much >left RAB – is the city of Brotherly Love’s best little secret)

*** GODDAMNIT. k e i t h   a l e x a n d er www.modernamerican.com a  p  p     n  y  c – e n d   o f   t r a n s m i s s i o n –

Response:

> Thanks RAB and all the people who have made it so much better for me, and > taught me what I know.

I completely agree with you.  This forum has been my only source for such useful information as the dangers of piercing guns and the importance of autoclaves. Most of the information on bodypiercing in the mainstream media (television, newspapers, magazines) either says pierce this it is a cool new trend or if you pierce this you will contract AIDS and it will fall off.  There should be more of a focus on how to get pierced safely. The people who get nasty infections from their piercings make the whole industry seem more dangerous than it actually is.  Maybe if these people had internet access they would be better informed about where to get pierced and how to heal. Not everything written here is accuarate, but if you are seriously searching for information it is the best comprehensive source that I have been able to find. That is it for my Usenet plug, Kristina

Response:

>The people who get nasty infections from their piercings make the whole >industry seem more dangerous than it actually is.

I was talking with a local piercer, a guy who probably knows what he’s doing (I’ve only bought jewelry from him), and he said that the young chicks who get their navels pierced because it’s kewl or sexy almost always get a nasty infection; they *won’t* follow the aftercare instructions. It reminds me of a guy I knew 15 years ago who got a nipple pierced and a week later announced "it’s healed so I don’t have to be careful with it any more." Ha. Two weeks or so after that he was in the doctor’s office having a nasty abcess drained. Evidently, it’s hard to get the message through these pea-brained types that these are wounds that take a long time to heal. Is there a known cure for stupidity? — Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Response:

>Is there a known cure for stupidity?

*** A loving, caring, kind, gentle approach to teaching the person so deemed. Or a flame thrower. No stupid questions, only stupid people. k e i t h   a l e x a n d er www.modernamerican.com a  p  p     n  y  c – e n d   o f   t r a n s m i s s i o n –

Response:

>Is there a known cure for stupidity?

retro active abortion, I am all for it. Chumley The Happy Clown Master Piercee BMSGU Chicago Charter I am from Chicago, but I am not a contingent. To reply via E-Mail remove the <tumor>

Response:

> Is there a known cure for stupidity?

probably not. i think it’s a virus, and name the viruses for which there are cures… heidi

Response:

> >Is there a known cure for stupidity? > retro active abortion, I am all for it.

Sigh…don’t any of you read your Heinlein?   I think it went something like, Stupidity is a capital crime.   There is no appeal, and the sentence should be carried out swiftly and without mercy.   I know that’s not exact, but the sentiment is there.   The only cure for stupidity (not ignorance) is death. Have a nice day! :> Anna L. Bunce

Response:

> Is there a known cure for stupidity?

It’s like the common cold.  No cure but it usually goes away when it’s good and ready to do so.  Then there are the folks who get booster shots DRichard — | The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official | | position of my employer or the organization through which the     | | Internet was accessed. (My employer’s policy on Internet use.)    |

Response:

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