Tattoo discrimination in UK?

So today, for the first time in ten years, I received a rude comment about my tattoos in UK.

A female came out of nowhere next to my face on the bus to say that my middle finger tattoo is satanic (pentagram). It took me some time to understand what she said because she had a thick Eastern European accent, but she repeated herself.

I was taken aback, because how the fuck did she even manage to see it from where she was originally sitting?
And also, who the fuck does that?

I responded that it's not satanic and then got off the bus. She kept on saying that's how she knows the symbol, as part of satanic imagery. As we were walking away from the bus I was telling my partner 'who the fuck does that!' -in regards to the rude woman, and then she approached me again, to say I should have had a cross (!) tattooed instead.

I told her that since I'm an Atheist there's no point in me getting a cross tattoo and kept on walking noticeably irritated.

Usually, I respond quite aggressively to these kind of unsolicited comments, but it's always in Greece this happens to me, so I was shocked to have someone make such an anachronistic and rude comment in London.
Even more surprising was that the woman was no more than 40/45, so a young person.

I get my tattoos for me, they're not public property to be commented on. People need to mind their own business.

Black Dahlia Tattoo in Athens

In 2013 I went to one of these 'Piercing Events' they had and I paid 20 euros for a microdermal.
Funnily enough, the piercer told me he didn't have the right size jewelry for my piercing, but what he had would do (other people heard him say it too).
The result was that due to the jewelry being too short the piercing was healing the wrong way. I actually had to pull it out by myself, as the piercer was not there any of the times I called to ask for help with that piercing.
4 years later, I still have the scar.
I've been pierced over 40+ times, had all sorts of piercings, so I know how to take care of my piercings. So I kindly ask you to refrain from blaming this on me.
I have friends who had piercings done there and never had an issue and love the place, but I also have friends whose experiences were negative.

I would personally never step my foot in there again, and if I ever saw that piercer I'd give him a piece of my mind.

2nd Athens Tattoo Expo Review

On Sunday the 8th I decided to visit the second Athens Tattoo Expo. I've been to the International Tattoo Convention before, so I had high expectations.

The event took place at the Music Conservatory of Athens, on the 7-8th of October, and it cost €10 to enter.


 The facebook page didn't have much information on the program, times etc.
You had to visit their official website to get a better grasp of what was going to take place during the Expo.

The price wasn't mentioned on the website until the week before the Expo would take place. Same goes for the program.

I didn't really pay attention to the website, and so I wasn't aware of the program and the times of the Expo.

 On Sunday, I decided I wanted to go, since Sunday was the 'Black and Grey' day.
I procrastinated all day, and around 7pm I thought I should get going.
I messaged the event to ask if it was worth it going this late, but I didn't receive a response.
I went anyway.

Upon entering I asked if I was too late, and the people at reception said I wasn't. They said I was just in time for the last 'Black and Grey' competition.
When I went downstairs they had already awarded the person who was on stage.
I decided to walk around and look at shop's portfolios.
I noticed a barber shop that offered free haircuts for men.
I also noticed a Vans room, where there was a movie on a big screen, presenting Vans creators and four shoes on display.
Outside the room was a huge Vans shoe you could draw on. There was barely any space on it, so I drew a little heart.

Inside the room I also noticed there was a laptop (unattended).
I was quite surprised anyone would leave such an expensive item unattended at an Expo.

I also noticed there was a 'Make a Wish' booth, where you could get a star tattoo for €20 which ςασ donated to the NGO. I passed the booth several times and I saw at least five people who had gotten star tattoos. Some looked better than others.
You had five or six designs to choose from.

Next to the booth were some shops booths like Monsterville, a sunglasses shop, a hat shop and a Monster (the energy drink) booth.


Overall, the space wasn't great. The tattoo shop booths were tiny, and I'm surprised people had enough space to tattoo. Also, the room where the Expo took place was underground, with no visible windows. And to get out you had to climb a lot of stairs.
I saw there was an option for wheelchair access, which is a first for Greece, and very positive.

I personally found a few tattoo shops that attracted my attention due to their portfolios. But due to the place being so crammed there was no space or time to make connections with any of them.

I definitely think that paying the full ticket, even though shops started closing within 30 minutes of my arrival was unfair. I would have rather receptionists told me the truth, that there was no point in me entering, rather than take my money and leave me with a sour taste in my mouth.
Another thing they could do would be to reduce the entrance fee towards the end.

I understand my opinion may be biased, as I didn't see any of the shows that took place, due to arriving late. However, had the Expo been more organised and published a flyer with the program of each day early on, things would be a lot different.

I personally don't think I'd pay to visit this Expo in the future, unless there's a lot of changes in the way they promote and manage it.

Ελευθερία έκφρασης

Πολλές φορές μεγαλώνοντας αναρωτήθηκα γιατί κάποια άτομα με τα οποία δεν είχα καμία σχέση προσπαθούσαν να μου αποδείξουν ότι οι στυλιστικές επιλογές μου ήταν λάθος. Πόσες φορές μου έχουν πει "Μα γιατί έχεις σκουλαρίκια και τατουάζ μια χαρά θα ήσουν χωρίς αυτά!"
Αυτά τα άτομα προφανώς και δε συνειδητοποιούν ότι το θέμα δεν τα αφορά· δε συνηδειτοποιούν ότι ο κάθε ένας/μία έχει δικαίωμα να κάνει ό,τι τον/την εκφράζει στο σώμα του/της.
Πέρα του ότι είναι απίστευτα αγενής ο τρόπος με τον οποίο οι περισσότεροι σε 'συμβουλεύουν'.
Συνάμα δεν μπορούσα να καταλάβω γιατί στέκονταν στην εμφάνιση και οι 'συμβουλές' τους δεν είχαν να κάνουν με τη συμπεριφορά ή την προσωπικότητά μου.
Δεν μπορούσα να καταλάβω γιατί ενώ εγώ σέβομαι το ότι είναι διαφορετικοί από εμένα δεν τους κατακρίνω, ενώ εκείνοι κατακρίνουν εμένα.

Και ύστερα κατάλαβα. Θεωρούσαν το πώς είμαι 'μη φυσιολογικό', 'μη αποδεκτό' επειδή δεν έβλεπαν άτομα σαν κι εμένα στην τηλεόραση (τη θρησκεία του Νεοέλληνα).
Θυμάμαι πριν 4 χρόνια που μια φίλη μου που σπούδαζε στην Πάτρα είχε ξυρίσει το μισό της κεφάλι μια γιαγιά της είχε πει "Αυτό το χε κάνει κι η Βίσση!"
Είναι λυπηρό.
Είναι απαράδεκτο επίσης, ειδικά για τους νέους ανθρώπους να περιορίζουν την αντίληψή τους.
Γιατί πολύ απλά αυτό το μικρό κουτάκι το οποίο αντιπροσωπεύει τις αντιλήψεις τους δεν είναι το φυσιολογικό. Είναι αυτό που κάποιοι βάφτισαν φυσιολογικό για το συμφέρον τους. Για να ευνουχίσουν τη σκέψη, την ελεύθερη επιλογή. Ώστε να σε αναγκάσουν να μπεις στο μικρό κουτάκι τους για να μη γίνεσαι αποδέκτης/τρια bullying.

Αν αντί να ασχολούμαστε με το τι φοράει ο διπλανός, με το αν έχει τατουάζ ή σκουλαρίκια καθόμασταν να διαβάσουμε τι συμβαίνει στον κόσμο· αρχίζαμε να αναπτύσσουμε κριτική σκέψη και να βελτιωνόμαστε σαν άνθρωποι ο πλανήτης αυτός θα ήταν ένα πολύ καλύτερο μέρος για να ζεις.