Sturm: Who are we to judge?

The Aspen Times (CO) ^ | September 12, 2013 | Melanie Sturm

[Aspenhuskerette]

On a glorious springtime visit to San Francisco — where the “if it feels good do it” culture is reflected in the bumper sticker “Your body may be a temple, but mine’s an amusement park” — I was struck by the tattooing trend, as if body art is the modern version of big shoulder pads or miniskirts, not a sign of rebellion. Personally, I prefer art on a canvas, not a human chest, though in healthy societies, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Then I encountered a scantily clad, tattoo-festooned woman on whose neck and jaw was emblazoned

[GraceG]

The first amendments gives us the protection to criticize people who wish to become walking freak shows by using our inherent right to free speech.

[Founding Nephew]

a scantily clad, tattoo-festooned woman on whose neck and jaw was emblazoned the ultimate gotcha question: “Who are you to judge?”

(I thought maybe the excerpt should give the key fact of the story).

[svcw]

The started laughing when I read that dibble dribble dribble article.......good grief what pap.

[AppyPappy]

Who are we to judge Washington because their mascot is called the Redskins?

Wait, did I get that wrong?

[mountainlion]

We can expect more articles like this now that more states are pushing legal drugs.

[Paladin2]

"Melanie Sturm lives in Aspen"

There's a judgement right there.

[Bon of Babble]

Article wouldn’t load : (

[Louis Foxwell]

Nice Jewish girl with a great smile and a head full of sensitivities. I love it.

[Red Badger]

Sounds like Ellsworth Toohey in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.............

[Venturer]

Perhaps we shouldn’t Judge people by what they do to their bodies, but we do.

No: do not try to say we do not or you do not.

A tattoo of Mother or some other innocuous thing is one thing, but to cover ones arms with what they call “sleeves “ is just plan ignorant.

Tattoos on the face, Tattoos on the breasts and buttocks, these are sign of trash to me. Piercings are even worse.

Do not judge me because I Judge them.
Ho stupid is it for a girl to spend $75 on a tattoo on her ankle just so she can say she has one? It looks dumb, because it is.

[Steve_Seattle]

"a scantily clad, tattoo-festooned woman on whose neck and jaw was emblazoned the ultimate gotcha question: “Who are you to judge?”

(I thought maybe the excerpt should give the key fact of the story)."

Actually, that excerpt doesn't reflect the point of the story. I read the whole thing, and the author's main point about the woman with the tattoos was to ask why the woman chose an inevitably polarizing message rather than a positive one. The author points out that in a vast, impersonal society many people grasp at any way to establish an identity, and having tattoos is one of the ways that some people choose. But the author wonders why the woman in question found it preferable to send a hostile, challenging message rather than a more benign one, one that would not gratuitously raise people's hackles.

[Socon-Econ]

When we get rid of welfare, I’ll do less “judging.” The problem with the libertarian approach is that, under our current rules, if somebody exercises his libertarian right to make a mess of his life, he can vote himself into my pocketbook to pay his bills.

[Maceman]

“Who are you to judge?”

I always liked Captain James T. Kirk's answer to that question: "Who do I have to be?"

[rey]

“The author points out that in a vast, impersonal society many people grasp at any way to establish an identity, and having tattoos is one of the ways that some people choose.”

Because it is easier to get a tattoo than truly make one’e self into a true individual that means something.

[BitWielder1]

How can we NOT judge when we meet people who deliberately uglified themselves.
It says something about THEIR character and judgment.
See if you can avoid judging someone with a swastika tattooed on his face.

[Mastador1]

Sturm: Who are we to judge?

We are Human Beings, it’s what we do. We may try not to, or at least give people an opportunity to change our first opinion, but you can’t change human nature.

[NRA1995]

How stupid is it for a girl to spend $75 on a tattoo on her ankle just so she can say she has one? It looks dumb, because it is.

But Ma, I just want to be different like everybody else!

[KrisKrinkle]

Then I encountered a scantily clad, tattoo-festooned woman on whose neck and jaw was emblazoned the ultimate gotcha question: “Who are you to judge?”

Who are you to ask me that question? Will you judge me by my answer? If not, why ask?

Don’t we judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin — even when it’s multi-variegated dragons or flowers?

Unlike the color of the skin with which one is born, the color one intentionally adds to their skin may indicate character, e.g. prison tats vs a Navy Seal tattoo.

[Revelation 911]

i dont think making a mess of ones life is in anyones platform, and you're frankly dick-ish in stating such - particularly with regards to the pocketbook - which any friggin libertarian will tell you is your own money and no one elses

In fact - as it sit here - my jaw slung open in total amazement to your misrepresentation, I'm struck by the total thread hijack you posit merely to promote your disdain for the ideology

Its much akin to - reading a something about cheese and being told about a moose - totally inconsistent with the conversation, but a means to raise ire against the moose

but please continue to enlighten us - so lets stop talking about the article and continue with your axe grinding