Subject: rec.arts.bodyart: Welcome & Netiquette FAQ Date: 18 Dec 1995 23:43:15 -1000 Expires: January 22, 1996 Summary: This posting contains information about rec.arts.bodyart and etiquette (netiquette) for the newsgroup. Anyone who wishes to read/post to the newsgroup should read this first. Archive-name: bodyart/netiquette Posting-frequency: Semi-monthly --==*-< >-*==-- Welcome to rec.arts.bodyart! We're glad you're here! Please take a moment to read this file, as it will help you (and other RAB readers) understand the standard etiquette (netiquette) for this newsgroup. This file is posted twice a month. This FAQ, as well as the Tattoo FAQs and Alternative Bodyart FAQ are all formatted to be html-friendly. That means that most news readers will allow you to jump to the next subject by pressing ^G (control-g). Information provided in this file: o What is rec.arts.bodyart? o What's new in the FAQs? o What types of readers do we have on rec.arts.bodyart? o How popular is rec.arts.bodyart? o Is there a mailing list, archive site or listserv for this group? o Where can I get the FAQs? o Netiquette on rec.arts.bodyart o How to title your message o Acronyms and vocabulary o Trimming postings to save on bandwidth o Using attributions and quotes o Related newsgroups o Delurking (or "coming out of the cpu") o Posting binary files on RAB o Posting anonymously on RAB o Minors accessing RAB -- A word of caution to minors -- Advice for concerned parents -- Suggestions for working with disapproving parents o Getting advice from RAB o Advertising on RAB o Tootin' our own horn o A brief history of RAB -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: WHAT IS REC.ARTS.BODYART? Rec.arts.bodyart (RAB) is an unmoderated Usenet newsgroup for discussing "bodyart." Bodyart here refers to tattoos, body pierces, brandings (on humans; not on animals) and cuttings, although other modifications that involve some *permanent* form of body alteration for decorative purposes also qualify. While temporary tattoos and standard jewelry may be discussed here, they would be discussed in the context of permanent bodyart. Most importantly, RAB offers a community and sense of belonging for those interested in bodyart. There are many regulars on RAB with various personalities. Most of all, those on RAB are living, breathing, ALIVE people who love to celebrate their bodies through decoration. Welcome! What makes RAB unique, IMHO, is that it allows lay people to learn and discuss the topic of bodyart. While there are some readers who are professionals or shop apprentices, this is one of the very few open forums in the world where bodyart enthusiasts can speak openly about the subject. There are *NO* commercial interests or ulterior motives in RAB. If you would like to discuss bodypainting, please post to alt.sex.fetish.fashion. The exception to this is the discussion about henna, which stays on your skin for a long time. Some people assume we discuss bodypainting because "bodyart" *can* include bodypainting by some (i.e. _Body Art_ magazine in the UK covers this subject). Since rec.arts.permanent-bodyart is an overlong and clumsy title, the founders of this group chose the simpler newsgroup title. Apologies for any confusion--however you will find like-minded spirits on a.s.f.f. (vs. opposition here). It is STRONGLY recommended to read the various FAQs prior to posting a query. Your question may already be in the FAQ--in which case you look like a novice just asking it again. Both the tattoo and piercing FAQs carry a list of (recommended) shops in different geographical areas. Check to see if your area is represented. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: WHAT'S NEW IN THE FAQ? I am finally in the process of revising Section 5, the artist list. Instead of a regular listing, this FAQ is a listing of reviews. I will be eventually pulling off all unattributed inclusions in this section, and ONLY listing reviews that are attributed, or for which I can personally vouch for. I have now also completely removed the state laws from section 5, an moved them to the Misc. section of the FAQ. I am *always* looking for artist reviews for section 5. If YOU had a good (or bad!) experience with a shop, please email me at . Upcoming tattoo convention list in the Tattoo FAQ updated. If you hear of a tattoo convention not on this list, please email me. The convention section has been completely overhauled and revised, and now has a big section about how to get a tattoo on the road. I will also be including a new section in the Alternative Bodyart FAQ about henna, hair coloring, and other types of temporary bodyart. While this does not fall under the charter of the group, queries regarding these topics crop up often enough that they should at least be addressed in the FAQ. I will continue including these in the FAQ until there someone directs me to a more appropriate newsgroup in which to discuss this. Please note that discussions about body painting should *still* be directed to alt.sex.fetish.fashion. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: WHAT TYPES OF READERS DO WE HAVE ON REC.ARTS.BODYART? The majority of RABbits are related to university institutions, or to computer jobs or companies. This means that most of its readers do not fall under the standard old-fashioned stereotypes. There are very few "bikers" or "convicts," for example. Many of the readers are either in college or have already obtained their degrees. Many are white-collar professionals, including librarians (such as myself). While the RAB reader may not represent the general bodyart population, it just shows that the old biases against tattooed or pierced people no longer really hold true. The next time you have your computer upgraded or check out a book, see if you can see a tattoo or nipple pierce under the person's starched white shirt. It is impossible to determine the average age of our readership. We do have some minors, while many are in college. However, there are quite a few readers who are in their 30s and 40s, and older. Basically, age is a non-issue on RAB. The fact that our traffic decreases significantly in the summers means that we probably have many students. There are, however, some groups associated with certain types of bodyart. Some pierces (nose, cartilage) may be common among the younger "grunge" set. Navel pierces are the height of hip for the trendies. Cuttings have been popular among lesbians, while body piercing has been popular with the gay/les/bi population. For this reason, RAB is *very* GLB-friendly. There are now a number of professional tattoo artists who read and post to RAB regularly, or at least have email access. We also have some tattoo shop apprentices. Remember that the purpose of this newsgroup however, is to provide a forum for the general public, and not specifically for artists. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: WHAT IS THE PRIMARY PHILOSOPHY OF THIS GROUP? The primary philosophy in this newsgroup is that you have control over what you do with your own body. Others should not tell you what you can or cannot do with your own body. Many a thread have discussed problems with partners who do not approve of one's desire for bodyart. What you choose to do should be your own choice, neither forced on you by others, or rejected by those whom you love. For many, treading this fine line means learning how to compromise and work within relationships. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: HOW POPULAR IS REC.ARTS.BODYART? The following statistics are according to Arbitron, as was posted in the news.lists post: USENET Readership report for May '95: [Arbitron, in this case, is the name of a program generously written and run by Brian Reid of Digital Equipment Corporation , and has nothing to do with the TV rating people.--Allen Leibowitz ] Ranked #416 out of 3237 groups. Way up from January's rank #642! Estimated # of people worldwide who read the group: 68,000 Actual # of readers in sampled population:.............296 How many sites receive this group at all:................67% Recent traffic (messages/month):......................1,954 Recent traffic (kilobytes per month):................... 3.6 Crossposting percentage:..................................0% Cost ratio: $US/month/rdr:................................0.03 Share: % of newsrders who read this group:................0.6% New feature: A comparison to other related newsgroups: +-- Estimated total number of people who read the group, worldwide. | +-- Actual number of readers in sampled population | | +-- Propagation: how many sites receive this group at all | | | +-- Recent traffic (messages per month) | | | | +-- Recent traffic (kilobytes per month) | | | | | +-- Crossposting percentage | | | | | | +-- Cost ratio: $US/month/rdr | | | | | | | +-- Share: % of newsrders | | | | | | | | who read this group. V V V V V V V V 19 200000 1081 55% 4812 9.6 14% 0.02 1.9% alt.sex.bondage 419 68000 296 67% 1954 3.6 0% 0.03 0.5% rec.arts.bodyart 967 41000 328 36% 751 2. 13% 0.02 0.6% alt.sex.fetish.fashion -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: IS THERE A MAILING LIST, ARCHIVE SITE, LISTSERV OR WEB PAGE FOR THIS GROUP? - No mailing lists. - No listservs. - Archive sites only have the FAQs. ==================================================== THE PARTNER WORLD WIDE WEB PAGE OF REC.ARTS.BODYART: The Body Modification E-Zine Maintained by Shannon "Glider" Larratt, BME's URL is: http://www.io.org/bme.html It has pointers to many of the regulars you'll see posting on RAB and is a good place to start. Shannon has the most comprehensive web page on body modification, and goes far beyond the parameters of RAB's charter. Please visit his page for nice graphics of the bodyart we discuss here. ==================================================== There is no bodyart listserv. Most news sites expire their articles after a week or two, although some are even shorter than that. If your site doesn't allow you access to the rec.* usenets, or you do not have a full Internet gateway, you will not be able to participate in the discussions. If this is the case, we suggest you look into private online companies that provide full 'net access. The past year has seen an explosive popularity in [add echo here] <<<"The Internet: The Information Superhighway">>>, with major carriers such as Delphi, Netcom, America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy now offering full Internet gateways. If your site does not allow access to RAB, you *do* have some options You are STRONGLY URGED to become familiar with the Usenet environments if you are are new to them. [The following information provided by Andy "Ozric Tentatcles" Dwyer.] Those who do not have regular Usenet access may be happy to know that there is a Gopher site in the UK that gives access to Usenet News articles as gopher menu choices. The number of groups available are fairly wide, but the number of current articles is not always that great. Still, for those without direct Usenet access, it can be a way to read a little of RAB or whichever group. The following is the specific info on the address, port number and menu level of the Usenet portion of the gopher server: # Type=1 Name=USENET News Path=1/Usenet Host=gopher.bham.ac.uk Port=70 URL: gopher://gopher.bham.ac.uk:70/11/Usenet -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: WHERE CAN I GET THE FAQS? This "Welcome & Netiquette FAQ" file is posted semi-monthly (twice a month) on rec.arts.bodyart, and monthly on rec.answers and news.answers. The tattoo FAQs, alternative bodyart FAQ and body piercing FAQs are posted monthly in RAB, news.answers and rec.answers. If your system doesn't retain posts in RAB, check in news.answers or rec.answers. If you are reading a printed copy of this, or are reading this in any format other than in the original posted in rec.arts.bodyart, news.answers or rec.answers, this may not be the most recent copy. The FAQs of the rec.arts.bodyart that are retrievable, and the information provided in each: o Alternative bodyart FAQ (brandings, cuttings) o Piercing FAQ 1--Introduction o Piercing FAQ 2--Piercings & Jewelry o Piercing FAQ 3--Getting a new pierce o Piercing FAQ 4--Professional Piercers o Piercing FAQ 5--Care of a new pierce o Piercing FAQ 6--Problems and hazards o Piercing FAQ 7--Healed pierces o Piercing FAQ 8--Misc. info o Piercing FAQ 9--Resource List o Purple Pages Directory FAQ (Professionals on the 'net) o Tattoo FAQ 1/9--Introduction o Tattoo FAQ 2/9--Getting a tattoo o Tattoo FAQ 3/9--Sanitation o Tattoo FAQ 4/9--Conventions o Tattoo FAQ 5/9--Artist list o Tattoo FAQ 6/9--Care of new tattoos o Tattoo FAQ 7/9--General care/removal o Tattoo FAQ 8/9--Misc. info o Tattoo FAQ 9/9--Bibliography o Welcome & Netiquette FAQ The Piercing FAQs are all maintained by Anne Greenblatt . You can retrieve all FAQs via anonymous ftp from the MIT FTP server: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/bodyart The monthly postings now have an expiration date on them that last a month; we hope your sysops will honor these dates and keep them in your system for the entire length, until it is replaced by the next month's posting. If "ftp" sounds like alphabet soup and it doesn't mean anything to you, there is another way to retrieve the files. Simply send an email message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu, subject ignored, with the body of your message saying any or all of the following: send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/alternative-faq send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/directory send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/netiquette send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part1 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part2 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part3 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part4 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part5 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part6 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part7 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part8 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/piercing-faq/part9 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part1 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part2 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part3 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part4 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part5 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part6 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part7 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part8 send usenet/news.answers/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part9 The FAQ files are also accessible over World Wide Web at http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/text/faq/usenet/bodyart/top.html This web archive, maintained by Thomas Fine (fine@cis.ohio-state.edu), won "the Best of the Net" award from O'Reilly and Associates. His software updates the archive on a daily basis, so you can be assured that the latest version of my FAQs will be available there. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: NETIQUETTE ON REC.ARTS.BODYART If you are new to usenet newsgroups in general, read news.announce.newusers for proper net behavior, or "netiquette" before you consider posting at all. Rec.arts.bodyart is generally "flame-free" and most "flames" tend to be aimed to specific people (usually RAB regulars) and are more humorous in nature. Hate-ridden or ignorant "everyone with tattoos or body pierces will burn in hell" types of posts should be ignored. NEVER FORGET THE POWER OF SARCASM AND IRONY. These don't translate well in this bland world of ascii text--*many* things are said tongue-in-cheek. Be prepared to get some nasty email if you: -Post an empty message 'cause you don't know what you're doing. -Post the same message more than once because you don't know what you're doing. -Do not provide the basic quotes you are responding to (an easy error to make using the software from America Online). -Post a message in all caps (because caps are usually reserved for use with acronyms and for emphasis, when you post with the CAPS LOCK key on, it looks like you're screaming). -Post a "personal classified ad" to pick up other people. This newsgroup is devoted to discussion, not personal ads. Post personals in appropriate alt.personals.* newsgroups. -Post a question that is already answered in the FAQ (frequently asked questions) files. -Post private email to somebody over the entire newsgroup. -Flame someone else on RAB without knowing who the other person is (e.g., there may be an inside joke you're not familiar with yet). -Post something nasty about somebody else who posted on RAB (when private email would do just fine) Be prepared to be heavily flamed if you: -Post a commercial message from an .edu address (this violates some cardinal Internet rules so this isn't just with RAB). -Post a commercial message with very little relevance to RAB -Post messages that contain various "isms" (i.e. sexism, racism, homophobism, religinism, and otherisms.) because of ignorance, stupidity, or malice. Roasted flamebait tastes the same regardless of purpose. In particular, threads on "left vs. right earlobe piercings and whether one means you're straight or gay" types of posts can get heavily roasted, especially if you emphasize that one is better than the other simply because of your sexual orientation. There is a lot more useful information available on the usenet network which is not contained in this FAQ that are available in the news.announce.newusers newsgroup. If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to read these postings before posting any messages. In particular, the following postings in news.announce.newusers are especially useful for new users: A Primer on How to Work With the Usenet Community Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Emily Postnews Answers Your Questions on Netiquette Hints on writing style for Usenet Rules for posting to Usenet What is Usenet? If you cannot find these topics in the newsgroup, you can get copies of them via email by sending a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu containing any or all of: send usenet/news.answers/usenet-primer/part1 send usenet/news.answers/usenet-faq/part1 send usenet/news.answers/emily-postnews/part1 send usenet/news.answers/usenet-writing-style/part1 send usenet/news.answers/posting-rules/part1 send usenet/news.answers/what-is-usenet/part1 Other good sources of usenet information are the newsgroups news.newusers.questions (be sure to read its weekly FAQ before posting a question yourself), and news.announce.newusers. Also, news.answers contains most of the FAQ's posted to each newsgroup, including the rec.arts.bodyart FAQs. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: HOW TO TITLE YOUR MESSAGE If you want to post a query (instead of replying to one), try to be as descriptive as possible in your subject heading. A subject like "Tattoos" and "Body pierce" don't help readers, since RAB *is* mostly about tattoos and body pierces. A better heading might be something like "Need a piercer in Atlanta, Georgia" or "Infection with eyebrow pierce--help!" -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: ACRONYMS AND VOCABULARY People save bandwith by using acronyms for oft-used phrases. There are some terms you may encounter on RAB that you may not see in the "real" world. :) The colon and close-parenthesis characters are used to show a smile (tilt your head to the left and read sideways. Other smileys include ;) :-) 8-) AFAIK: As far as I know BH: Butt-Head or Better Half BTW: By the way FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions. Most newsgroups have FAQ files to help lessen the amount of traffic. FWIW: For What It's Worth FYI: For Your Information ga: Short for "gauge", measurement of the thickness of jewelry. IDTS: I Don't Think So IMHO: In my humble opinion IMNSHO: In My Not So Humble Opinion JTYLTK: Just thought you'd like to know JTYMLTK: Just thought you might like to know MOTOS: Members of the opposite sex, as in soc.motos MOTSS: Members of the same sex, as in soc.motss Ob: Short for "obligatory." A person who posts something remotely related to a newsgroup topic may add "Ob..." at the end of their post so they put in an obligatory word about the pertinent subject. OTF: On The Floor OTFL: On The Floor Laughing OTOH: On the one hand; or, on the other hand. PA: Prince Albert. A pierce through the urethra of a penis. For more info on PAs, please refer to the body piercing FAQ. There are many terms specifically regarding body pierces but this one seems to come up most often. ROTFL: Rolling On The Floor Laughing RTFFAQ: Read the *friendly* FAQ. SO: Significant Other SSS: Stainless surgical steel. One of the more inert metals used for body pierce jewelry. TAFN: That's All For Now TTFN: Ta-Ta For Now TTYL: Talk To You Later YMMV: Your mileage may vary. Celtic: A style of tattooing that incorporates the delicate knotwork designs of the Celts (pronounced with a hard "K" and not a soft "S" as in the basketball team). Conch: The "bowl" of your ear. Flash: Tattoo designs that you find stapled to the walls of tattoo studios. The opposite of this would be a custom design you bring in on your own. Frenulum: The web of skin that connects your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Frenum: A specific type of piercing on the penis. Gun: Either a tattoo gun (modern tattooing machine) or piercing gun. In RAB, tattoo guns are good, piercing guns are B-A-D and are used only for earlobes. Lurk: Lurking. Reader of RAB who doesn't post. The act of "delurking" involves a reader who posts for the first time, or once in a great while. Niobium: A type of metal that is "electrified" to produce any number/combination of rainbow hues. Also an inert metal used for body pierce jewelry. Septum: The tissue between your nostrils. Site of a pierce. Squick: Verb: To gross out, feel revulsion. Alt.sex.bondage has been cited as its origin, and comes from the sound made when one copulates with the space between the 2 halves of a brain after a hole has been bored into the skull (trepanation or trephination). Tat: Short for "tattoo" Tragus: The knob in the front of your ear. Site of pierces. Tribal: A style of tattooing that is sometimes confused with Celtic. Sometimes called "blackwork," involves geometric primitive designs. Uvula: The little dangly piece of flesh that hangs down the back of your throat. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: TRIMMING POSTINGS TO SAVE ON BANDWIDTH Some people pay for their online time. If you are posting a response to another person's posting, try to trim down their quote. This gets worse as people quote upon other people's quotes, and so on and so forth, until the quotes alone fill up a few screens. The reader can go back and read the original posting if s/he wants to. Posting a response to someone else's long posting, with just a short "I agree entirely!" is a waste of bandwidth. Refrain from posting something like this unless you have something more to contribute to the discussion. But if you MUST, then at least delete the bulk of the quote. Try to indicate that you are omitting parts of the post by using the mark of ellipses, etc. (i.e. [...], [extraneous stuff deleted], [snip snip]). Please delete other people's signatures. And keep yours to around four lines or less; this is standard netiquette. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: USING ATTRIBUTIONS AND QUOTES If you are publically responding to someone else's post, please include the name and email address of the person you are referring to, as well as an appropriate amount of their post to which you are responding. America Online's software used to automatically give users the correct attribution, but you had to cut and paste, then add the standard ">" (caret) mark at the left margin of each line manually to show that it was a quote. This resulted in AOL users posting resplies with attributions and no quoted material--leading others to think your words came from someone else! America Online recently "fixed" this problem by doing away with automatic attributions altogether, and thereby cut off the foot for an ingrown toenail. AOL users now have to manually add the attribution and the quoted material both. This is somewhat akin to AOL coming up with their own measurement system, and insisting that the rest of the world accept it when everybody else uses a different standard. | As of July '95, the *NEWEST* softwe version of AOL apparently | fixes this problem, allowing AOL users to post with correct | attribution and caret ">" marks pre-inserted. Whether you are from America Online, Prodigy or any other commercial carrier, please follow the standard courtesy of telling us who you are quoting, as well as the quoted material, with the ">" mark at the left of each line. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RELATED NEWSGROUPS alt.sex.bondage: The 12th highest rate of readers of ALL groups. alt.sex.fetish.fashion: Discusses topics including latex, rubber, high heels and corsets. Also a discussion site for temporary body painting. soc.bi, alt.sex.motss, and other gender orientation groups. As a result of these related newsgroups, we get some occasional cross-postings. If you are posting a response to such a cross-posted message, please make sure to delete cross-posted newsgroups should the discussion move to a more specific topic belonging in one group. When posting about an inquiry specific to a geographical area, please be aware of your distribution setting. The default for many sites is "world." If you want to know about a good artist in Arkansas, for example, at least limit your post to "usa." -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: DELURKING (OR "COMING OUT OF THE CPU") As the statistics indicate, there are apparently tens of thousands of readers of RAB. With only an average of 50 posts per day (many by the same people), the number of "lurkers" who read but don't post, is very high. You can "delurk" by the simple act of posting a message, whether it is in response to a thread, or an introduction (telling us who you are and what bodmod you have, or what you JUST got or will soon be getting). If you mention that you're delurking, you'll be welcomed into the RABbit community by others, including Nick Baban , who changes the subject heading to read "Welcome, was:..." There was some debate as to the benefits of these welcome postings. The consensus is that it helps to keep our family spirit. However for those who have no desire to read such posts, please include this subject heading in your killfile. NOTE: You don't have to be pierced, inked or otherwise poked to participate in RAB. In fact, a lot of people with virgin skin visit us out of curiosity, and find themselves getting poked afterwards! :) -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: HOW COME WE CAN'T POST GIFS ON RAB? Many sites now carry a group called alt.binaries.pictures.bodyart. Please post gifs there. If your site doesn't carry it, talk with your sysadmn about getting it. Even if you have been refused, you should not post gifs to RAB. If you would like a detailed explanation why gifs should not be posted here, please email me at . -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: POSTING ANONYMOUSLY ON RAB Some people post anonymously to RAB. While we generally discourage anon-IDs (we don't consider bodyart to be shameful or embarrassing), if you feel that the integrity of your personal or professional life would be in jeopardy should your participation in RAB become known, then by all means remain anonymous. If you choose to post anonymously, you will be treated with respect if you are sincere. Those who abuse their anon-IDs by posting undesired messages are not welcome on RAB. Chris "The Scorpion" Stone says: Some people have to post through the anon.penet.fi site because they are not allowed to post from their home sites (I really don't know why some places are like that)... There does exist an e-mail -> usenet reflecter at U Texas. Also, some others have net.personas from other groups they wish to keep intact, and they can only post to those other groups through an anon account for personal reasons. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: MINORS ACCESSING RAB While rec.arts.bodyart is not in the alt.sex.* hierarchy, there is a need to address this because of the subjects discussed here. First, note that in most areas (at least in the US), professional tattoo artists and body piercers will not allow serve minors. However, because there is no national law regarding this, each area has its own regulations. I've tried to add information about this, but it is still your responsibility to check the laws of your area. In addition, because of the subjects covered in RAB, we often discuss specific body parts *explicitly* (the majority of body pierces are done on the nipples or on the genitalia [of males and females]). The fact that we cannot control who reads RAB makes it impossible to monitor which of our readers are minors who aren't yet of legal age in their community. In fact, we can't even tell who the minors are unless they announce this to the newsgroup. Since teenagers will often do what they want to do, regardless of what they are told, the general consensus on RAB is that it is far better to help minors make an *informed* decision about what to do about their bodies (preferably after they turn 18), rather than deny information to them and risk damaging their bodies permanently. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: A WORD OF CAUTION TO MINORS Unmoderated Usenets are completely open. We cannot control who participates. Just as you can participate in RAB, so can opportunistic adults who prey on minors. Although the numbers are very small, adult pedophiles and child molestors may be lurking in newsgroups waiting to develop budding friendships with you. Use some common sense in protecting yourself. -Do not give away your home phone number or home address. -Do not give people personal information that will help them track you down. -If a person wants to have a get-together with you, meet in a public place and do not go alone (The actual advice is "Go with your parent," but that's unrealistic for many). If you are in high (secondary) school, you might already feel pretty mature. Unfortunately, the law does not agree with you. Please be aware that if you reveal your underaged status, then ask for information about "adult" pierces, some people on RAB will decline to help you! Don't take this personally--we are all being very careful not to tangle with the government laws regarding information access (which unfortunately, differs greatly for minors than they do for adults). -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: ADVICE FOR CONCERNED PARENTS If you are a parent, please not be alarmed that your child reads RAB; it is a good arena in which your child can obtain some factual information about a subject not readily available. If you do not want your child to have access to RAB, please discuss this with your child's account system administrator. We cannot take responsibility for your child's actions. Please read the above about some of the dangers of going online. There has been a lot of exploitative press coverage lately regarding "cyberporn" and the availability of adult material on the Internet. The 'net in itself is its own world--and just as it is YOUR responsibility to protect your child from visiting the red light district, you must also be responsible for protecting your child from inappropriate adult material on the 'net. The easy (but incorrect) answer is to censor everything from everyone so no one will have access to anything. Obviously, this is neither realistic nor desirable in our information age. Please consider learning about the 'net with your child, and helping your child learn *why* some areas are not safe to visit. Taking away things from your child without education or explanation will simply make your child want it all the more. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SUGGESTIONS FOR WORKING WITH DISAPPROVING PARENTS If you are a minor interested in getting bodyart, and are living at home with your parents (or guardians), the general advice you will get from regulars on RAB is as follows: --If your parents are open to the idea, have them take you to a good professional person to do the work. --If your parents are uncooperative due to lack of information, provide them with some articles currently available in the mainstream media. Remember--if your parents weren't hippies in the '60s or they are somewhat sheltered from today's youth and alternative culture, the idea of contemporary tattoos or body pierces is a very frightening thought. Just remember that until about 15 years ago, the concept of men piercing their ears or women getting two sets of pierces in their earlobes was considered radical. --If your parents are against your getting bodyart because they think you are going to suffer permanently from a passing fad, come up with a compromise with them. Make sure you pay for it with your own hard-earned money (not allowance), and wait a while (six months). While this may seem like an eternity, it may also be long enough to convince your parents that this is a serious desire on your part. --If your parents are dead-set against it, and counter you with threats (kicking you out of the house, losing financial support for school/college, being disowned, etc.), then the best thing to do is to wait until you are at least 18 and out of the house. Your parents either think you're too young, or consider bodyart so horrible, that doing it anyway (behind their back) will only cause more (and serious) problems in your family relationship. From those with personal experience on RAB, the advice is--"it's not worth the grief--just wait a couple more years." -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: GETTING ADVICE FROM RAB While RAB offers a forum for discussion, many of the posts are originated by people who have specific questions. Most on RAB are not professional tattooists or piercers; their advice usually comes from personal experience or shared information. If you have a serious medical concern, you may want to see a medical professional. The advantage to posting on RAB regarding a medical inquiry is that there are many here who have already gone through the same problem, and may be able to suggest a bodyart-friendly doctor in your area. Don't forget that professional, experienced tattooists and piercers are also good sources for queries regarding infections. If you need to do a school paper on bodyart, your most important step is to go to the various libraries in your community. I have done numerous bibliographic searches on tattoos and body pierces, and have retrieved so many citations from recent media articles that I can't even list them in the resources FAQ anymore. Basic questions about the history of tattooing, etc. should be done on your own at the library. Start with the major encyclopedias. Before you post a "survey" to RAB for your class paper, please think very carefully about the validity of such a survey. Unless you are studying the behavior of bodyart enthusiasts in an electronic community, you will be obtaining your data from a very skewed population. DEPENDING ON THE THOROUGHNESS OF YOUR DATA, YOUR PROFESSOR MAY NOT CONSIDER IT VALID. Remember that regular readers of RAB see quite a few surveys posted here--most people are pretty jaded because posters don't follow up by posting their findings, or make their papers available online via email to the survey respondents. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: ADVERTISING ON RAB If you are a bodyart professional, please contact me at about the Purple Pages Directory and/or an explanation of why you should not post an advertisement here. In the meantime, please refrain from posting ads in RAB. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: TOOTIN' OUR OWN HORN Ever wonder what the rest of the world thinks of us? This section contains a list of publications cite that RAB If *you* catch a mention of RAB in print that's not mentioned here, please email me at . Note: Older citations will be moved to the Bibliography section of the Tattoo FAQ. --The current issue (#44) of _PFIQ_ (Piercing Fans International Quarterly) published by Jim Ward/Gauntlet has a major feature article on rec.arts.bodyart. If you ever wanted to see what Anne Greenblatt (ardvark) or I look like, this is your chance! Will include citation information here when ready. --The August '95 issue of _NetGuide_ reviews the Tattoo FAQ. Don't bother--it's a attitude-filled sarcastic review ("CyberGuide" p. 93) To quote: "We all know you've got to suffer for your art, but this is really pushing it. If we want to achieve a new, aesthetically pleasing effect, we'll visit the beauty parlor--not the tattoo parlor... "...Ways to care for your new tattoo include the 'pat-with- Listerine method.' What price beauty? Ouch." They are factually incorrect--reporting that the FAQs are only posted to RAB (they are also posted to *.answers). NOTE: The same issue reviews Shannon Larratt's "Body Modification Ezine" as well as Sabina's Bodyart Pages. The review for the latter is much kinder, and even mentions, "We especially liked an impressively pierced computer science student's illustrated Web page tribute to his girlfriend--a librarian--and her alphabet-tattooed back." AND WHO COULD THEY BE, me wonders? ;> Sadly, they don't mention Ardvark's extensive Piercing FAQs. Boo hiss. --_The Internet: The Official Book of Public Television's "The Internet Show"_, by Paul Hoffman. IDG Books. Page 121 takes direct quotes (uncredited, mind you) from the Tattoo FAQ as an example of helpful usenet FAQs. The passage they quote is the section about how to look around a tattoo shop. --_The Usenet Book_, by Bryan Pfaffenberger. Addison-Wesley. pp 284-285 reviews RAB, gives it a 3-star rating (out of 5). Says RAB "is not for the general reader, but if you're into bodyart you'll find plenty of support and discussion here." In particular, Pfaffenberg commends the group for its advice to newbies, and says "unusually extensive FAQs should be consulted before posting questions to the group." --"Other Interesting Stuff..." column in _Tattoo_ magazine, issue 69 May '95, page 17 has a short&sweet write-up by Purple-Pager Michelle DeLio on RAB Nice to see she points readers to the FAQs. --"Fetish On Line", by Andy Mackay, _Skin Two_ magazine, no 15, page 12, [August 1994]; rates RAB as one of the best fetish newsgroups. Andy told me: "I know RAB isn't one of the 'standard' fetish newsgroups but I wanted to include it in the Skin Two article because it's one of my favourite newsgroups - it is also (I think) an extremely good example of what a newsgroup should be. What RAB does, it does really well - good FAQ, v. little rubbish, helpful replies to the silliest newbies, no binaries, boy brent etc. etc." --_The Point: Official Newsletter of the APP (Assn of Professional Piercers), vol 1, issue 2, Jan '95, page 17, has a letter from from Piercing FAQ maintainer Anne "Ardvark" Greenblatt about RAB. --_Body Play_; (most recent issue--will get citations) article by assistant editor Liz Henry describes RAB as a comfortable environment for her in which to learn about bodyart. --_Wired_ magazine; Netsurf from an issue in Dec. '93 mentions the RAB Tattoo FAQ, retrievable from rtfm.mit.edu. --_Digit_ newsletter (University of Colorado at Boulder Computing & Network Services), May/June 1994, vol 29, no 3, p 23-24. The article, "Lydia, Oh, Lydia: Have you seen Lydia? Lydia, the tattood (sic) lady." by Bonnie Burton, UCB student, School of Journalism, discusses RAB in-depth, and uses RAB as an example for how to read usenets in general. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: A BRIEF HISTORY OF RAB [To conserve space, I have hacked Chris' original post, entitled "Reflections,"--and by doing so, have taken out much of the emotional impact it had on me initially.] "Reflections," from Chris Wayne (cwayne@unm.edu): RAB is now over four years old--I never thought it would last this long. In 1990, I got on a primitives mail-list, which a gay friend pointed me toward. I wondered why most on the list seemed to be gay (I am straight and a Christian). I wasn't really sure what "Modern Primitives" was. While I noticed the ritualistic aspects, my interests lay more in the actual art of tattooing (not yet piercing). I do have an open mind and being a tattoo enthusiast, I guess my friend thought I'd fit in. I was curious why the GLBs should have all the fun. Why was there no primitives newsgroup? Karl [MacRae] said there wasn't one because it would probably open people up to unwanted attacks and stupidity--but I thought I'd give it a try. Karl gave me his blessings. In November I called an RFD [Request For Discussion] (now a CFD [Call For Discussion]) on creating a new group. What came of the few responses was a name (rec.arts.bodyart). I wanted it to be apart from the primitives mail list, which included all the different permutations--with focus on the actual art and not necessarily the ritual, and general enough to have a wide appeal still fit into the philosophy of Modern Primitivism. I was looking for acceptance and education, to teach people that it's OK to accept those that are different, and that tattooing is not disgusting. The CFV produced a close vote, but in March 1991, RAB was created. At first, those on the prims list were cautious for fear of getting dumped on--but there hasn't been any of this bashing on RAB Here's an open forum that doesn't care what your color or orientation is, or even if you're not tattooed and can share in a common passion on neutral ground and have no fear of being bashed. I wanted someplace to hear about all aspects of tattooing without having to worry about someone harassing the people. I think that this group is a beacon to the rest of the Internet, showing that there's nothing sinister or evil in tattooing and that criminals, queers and bikers aren't the only ones that get tattoos. Being tattooed does not make the person; getting tattooed reflects who the person is--good or bad. Karl, Jeff, Lance, Ray & Barb and many others no longer here, migrated over from the prims list and became the local experts. They were willing and capable of answering any question. Mostly, only those that had tattoos would post questions, but eventually as word of this group spread, those that were just curious were reading and posting questions. Interest grew. "Where can I get tattooed?" "Where can I get pierced?" "What should I look for?" "How much will it cost?" And of course "Does it hurt?" The Internet was being introduced to Modern Primitives and being educated that tattooing is not a fad or trend, but a commitment (a conscious decision) for life, the courage to be different--to stand out. Then came Lani and Ardvark and their FAQs, which are posted on other important, mainstream groups. These FAQs even help some people along the three steps of acceptance in getting a tattoo :-) 1) I never want one! 2) It looks good on someone else, but I still don't want one. 3) I want one! There isn't a session that goes by that I don't see someone asking about getting their first tattoo or where the nearest shop is, what questions to ask and what to look for. There are also RAB socials, get togethers at conventions, and even a wedding invitation! There are discussions on why we get tattooed and how a tattooed person is perceived by the public. People are now getting tattooed because they're getting more familiar with this art form, and the fear of an unknown is removed. Their inhibitions and preconceptions are being changed. People are understanding what it means to be tattooed. I guess there are still those that think that getting a tattoo is a fad or kewl (cool), but that's their problem. If everybody is getting tattooed--that's not the reason to get tattooed. Everybody eats and makes love, but that's not the reason we do it. I don't think anybody would call sex a fad--I believe that getting tattooed fills a basic need. If you're a lurker out there that still aren't sure about taking the 'plunge,' just do it. If you've repressed the urge for years, just let go. Plan for it first, but do it. It is an experience not soon forgotten. Probably the best thing to do is to get one that can easily be covered up, so that you can get used to the idea of having a tattoo and you can show it off whenever you want. Then you can decide how to go from there. Many people will suggest going 'large & bold', but remember, you're the one that makes the final say. It's a decision that you will be living with for the rest of your life. Hopefully, it won't be the only such decision you make for the rest of your life. Unlike most groups that are for just discussion, RAB is also a support group with a sense of community. Truly, one can find Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations in this group. -------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: REC.ARTS.BODYART LYDIA AWARDS For more information on the beginnings of the RAB Lydia Awards, please go to Lance Bailey's Lydia web page. The URL is: http://lydia.bcu.ubc.ca/html. His email address is zaphod@bcu.ubc.ca. The 1995 Lydia Awards will be held in conjunction with the Seattle RAB Munch, to be held on Saturday, October 14, 1995. The Awards/Munch will be timed with the 1996 Tattoo Tour convention. Read the Tattoo FAQ section on conventions for Tattoo Tour registration information. WINNERS OF THE 1994 LYDIA AWARDS: FOUNDERS AWARD: o Barbara MacRae o Ray Shea o Karl MacRae: Karl and Jeff get special mention for adding to o Jeff Dauber to the general grumpiness of the group. o Chris Wayne: He gets special mention for submitting the original Call For Votes on the group BEST HANDLING OF A RUDE COMMENT AWARD: Goddess Inga Nation for her question: "Did I go out of my way tell you I think your shirt is ugly?" BEST SIGNATURE QUOTE AWARD: boy brent for two of his quotes: "If I follow you home you can keep me" and "It's not just a body -- it's an adventure." YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES AWARD: Lani Teshima-Miller for her cover snap on *Best of Skin Art* and pictures in Tattoo Expo MOST LEXIGRAPHICAL TATTOO AWARD: Janet Ingraham for her alphabet tattoo. [and much apologies for forgetting her lydia at home] WE ANNOYED LYDIA AWARD: The law firm of Canter and Seigel for using and abusing the Internet to their own advantage. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the wonderful world of rec.arts.bodyart. "Poke around and think ink!" --==*-<*>-*==-- This ends the rec.arts.bodyart "Welcome & Netiquette FAQ" file. -- * This is Lani Teshima-Miller, posting live from Honolulu, Hawaii on LAVA * * We paved paradise, put up a parking lot--and now our state govt's broke * * lani@lava.net--fun stuff; teshima@hawaii.edu--work stuff, tax-supported * * Rec.arts.bodyart Tattoo FAQ maintainer...FDC Walkaround Mr. Potato Head *