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 <lani@lava.net>.

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 <reid@pa.dec.com>, and 
has nothing to do with the TV rating people.--Allen Leibowitz 
<leibowa@aa.wl.com>]


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 <ardvark@infi.net>.

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 <pirate@indy.net>, 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 <lani@lava.net>.

--------------------------------------------------------------

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 <cpstone@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu> 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 <lani@lava.net> 
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 
<lani@lava.net>. 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 *