MetaChat - Sigh

Well, he's well within his rights to do so. And every last one of his patients is well within his rights to go somewhere else, which I imagine (and hope) a number of them would do.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 27 February | 17:38

In this case it really seems as thought the "Christian" bit in the headline was an intentionally inflammatory red herring.

posted by pieisexactlythree 27 February | 17:40

He may be within his rights, but it's a violation of the spirit of his Hippocratic oath. It itks me even more since he's denying a child treatment (however briefly) over something as trivial as tattoos. Dumb motherfucker probably thinks he's taking some kind of stand, although for or against what I have know I idea. But I love seeing self-righteousness ridiculed.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 17:43

What a sad, misguided, close-minded man. Does he think Jesus would shun tattooed and pierced people?

posted by deborah 27 February | 17:51

Deborah FTW!!! I couldn't have said it better!

posted by pieisexactlythree 27 February | 17:57

Do doctors still take the Hippocratic oath? There are a few things in it many wouldn't agree with these days. (wikipedia link)

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 17:58

In this case it really seems as thought the "Christian" bit in the headline was an intentionally inflammatory red herring.

Why?

For Dr. Gary Merrill of Christian Medical Services, that means no tattoos, body piercings, and a host of other requirements—all standards Merrill has set based upon his Christian faith.

If he were denying care because the parents ran over his dog or something, yeah, it would be out of place, but his religion is the whole reason his name is in a local news article.

posted by cmonkey 27 February | 18:07

That's his excuse for not tolerating people whose aesthetic choices he disaproves of. But then again, one could say those assholes attacked NYC because of their Muslim faith. Both statements would be equally valid (or not valid, as it were).

posted by pieisexactlythree 27 February | 18:10

If I were his pastor I would definitely be talking to him. And it wouldn't be to say "attaboy" either.

This totally goes against and everything Jesus taught.

One day the Lord Himself will have a little chat with this guy. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

posted by bunnyfire 27 February | 18:13

Ps-again, if I were his pastor I would insist he repent. If he didn't I'd tell him to find another church as he was bringing dishonor to the Lord.

posted by bunnyfire 27 February | 18:14

Testify, bunnyfire, testify!!

(seriously, this chump is using religion as an excuse to be a jerk to people that he dosen't care for, for trivial reasons)

posted by jonmc 27 February | 18:17

So sad. I wonder how it went down. Did the receptionist ask them to leave? Did they make it back to the examination room before being shunned?

posted by LoriFLA 27 February | 18:25

What was it Gandhi said about liking Christ but not Christians, who are so unlike Christ? Yeah -- this blinkered jackass is the poster boy for that quote.

posted by Atom Eyes 27 February | 18:29

Well, you already know that everyone is within their rights to be a close-minded, uncharitable arsehole. He's just exercising that right.

A lot of people don't realise this, but almost all large hotels, theme parks etc (in Australia, anyway) have a very strict "no visible tatoos or piercings" policy for staff. You know that guy that Guy at Seaworld who always seems to have a cut on his arm? That dressing doesn't cover a cut, it covers a dagger piercing a bleeding heart. You know that girl with the bandaid on her nose? That's not to hide a pimple, it's covering a stud.

posted by dg 27 February | 18:41

This totally goes against and everything Jesus taught.
Unfortunately, it has been a long time since "Christianity" had anything but a passing similarity with the teachings of Christ.

posted by dg 27 February | 18:43

A lot of people don't realise this

Really? I thought it was common knowledge.

posted by mullacc 27 February | 18:45

So did I, but apparently it is one of those things that, unless you work in the industry or someone who does mentions it to you, just doesn't occur to people.

posted by dg 27 February | 18:56

A lot of people don't realise this, but almost all large hotels, theme parks etc (in Australia, anyway) have a very strict "no visible tatoos or piercings" policy for staff.

Hell, I used to work in a bookstore, a place where you'd expect to see a lot of piercings and ink, and the new boss lady made my co-worker Fred put a band-aid over his eyebrow ring. People are weird.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 19:01

My step-daughter has her eye-brow peirced, and she applied to Six Flags/Great Adventure here. They told her she had to take out the brow piercing and put in some sort of clear plastic hoop. And she wants to be one of those characters in costumes, where no one could see her face.

I have to admit it was a bit disconcerting speaking to a service person at a auto supply store who had numerous piercings, huge "gauged" ear lobes, and tattoos coming up his neck. But he was considerate, polite, and knew his stuff. Plus he was hawt.

(I have tattoos too, but they're usually pretty well covered by clothes.)

posted by redvixen 27 February | 19:12

I have to admit it was a bit disconcerting speaking to a service person at a auto supply store who had numerous piercings, huge "gauged" ear lobes, and tattoos coming up his neck.

you see that stuff a few times and you get used to it and even start to appreciate it. It wasn't long ago that long hair and bears could rouse people to violence. But nowadays it barely registers. Same thing'll happen with body mods over time. Plus it'll be neat to see in the old folks home in 2035.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 19:23

It wasn't long ago that long hair and bears could rouse people to violence.

I usually just handed over my picnic basket.

posted by mullacc 27 February | 19:29

Yeah, I'm generally MORE comfortable around pierced and tattooed people than around people who aren't. They are my tribe, although they don't know it, since I'm no longer pierced and I'm not tattooed. (Because I'm a rebel, that's why.) ((Also, I'm cheap.))

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 19:32

mullac: the ranger isn't going to like that. but screw the ranger, he's a pain in the ass.

s_r: in places like New York or San Francisco, there dosen't even seem to be any fuss made at all anymore. I've walked around with a King Tut length goatee, 9mm bullet casings in my ears, hair halfway down my back, and a heavily-zippered and buckled leather jacket...and small children still wave and giggle at me and little old ladies still ask me directions. Rednecks still buy me beers. The squares are difficult to shock.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 19:38

It wasn't long ago that long hair and bears could rouse people to violence

society is never geared
towards people who
grow a beard
or little girls with holes in their ears
(Mimi & Richard Farina, I think)

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 19:39

though I first I thought you were talking about the Mr S Leather and Fetters USA sorts of bears

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 19:40

society is never geared
towards people who
grow a beard

which is odd since all the truly badass alpha males: cowboys, pirates, Indian warriors, outlaw bikers all sported long hair, beards, earring, tattoos or some combo thereof.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 19:42

in places like New York or San Francisco, there dosen't even seem to be any fuss made at all anymore

Pretty much the whole coastal northwest, in fact- even the smallish towns.

I can't speak for anyplace else since I haven't spent time there recently.

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 19:43

Those would be the people for whom society is NOT geared.

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 19:43

yeah, I guess you're right, even though they're venerated in myth and legend.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 19:58

I'll be in to write something, but I dunno what yet. It kind of sounds like folks are thinking along the lines of beat reporting, almost...is that the idea?

Frankly, this is the case for most major cities nowadays. In Dallas, it's commonplace to have waiters, bartenders and well, anyone else with quarter or half sleeves and various piercings, even at your local beer based sportsbar chain.

I guess maybe at places like Bennigans or TGI Fridays this may not be the case (I dunno, I live in a big city so I don't have to go to places like that), nor in someplace like Highland Park (which is the equivalent, I guess, of the Hamptons around here), but I don't know many people under the age of 50 that would be fazed by it so long as the service was adequate.

Austin, Houston, even Tulsa, it may not be the norm, but it's not exceptionally rare.

posted by ufez 27 February | 20:17

Gah! Quoted the wrong thing. Stupid tabs. Meant to quote s_r's I can't speak for anyplace else since I haven't spent time there recently.

posted by ufez 27 February | 20:18

I was getting confused about the "bears" comment and wondering when BoringPostcards would address it.

posted by matildaben 27 February | 20:41

*sigh*

somewhere Yogi and BooBoo are blushing. or something.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 21:19

So... exactly how are tattoos anti-christian?

Sounds like someone has their head up their bum hole

posted by edgeways 28 February | 02:24

I grew up around G*d-fearin' Xtians who couldn't abide men with long hair, beards etc. and got really pi$$y if you mentioned the illustrations that showed a (typically Euro-looking, for a Jew from Nazareth) bearded Jesus with flowing shoulder-length locks. One of my students was a Coptic Xtian with, you guessed it, tattoos.

I have my own problem with the tattoos-and-piercings thing ever since guys started with the earrings back in the day ("Look at me express my individuality...just like every other guy!"), but I try not to let my taste (or lack thereof) get in the way of expressing my faith. Most of which comes down to how I relate to people around me.

This guy's a wanker with an MD. I'll pray for him though:

May G*d turn his heart.
And if He won't turn his heart
Please turn his ankle instead
So I'll know him when I see him limping.

posted by PaxDigita 28 February | 09:40

I have my own problem with the tattoos-and-piercings thing ever since guys started with the earrings back in the day ("Look at me express my individuality...just like every other guy!"),

or they just like wearing them.

posted by jonmc 28 February | 11:18

exactly how are tattoos anti-christian?
I think it is more along the lines of putting people who have those things in an "un-christian" pigeonhole because, as we all know, good christians would not dare to deface their body in that way. Or have long hair. Or listen to rock music. Or drink alcohol ...

posted by dg 28 February | 17:31

exactly how are tattoos anti-christian?

As is so often the case, the answers can be found in Leviticus.

posted by box 28 February | 18:06

Well tattoos may be anti-christian, but slavery isn't, according to Leviticus 25:44-46.

44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have––from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.
45 Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property.
46 And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor.

Whenever I hear someone quote the bible in support of their anti-gay and supposedly pro-family views, I try to remind them that the bible has all sorts of other progressive guidelines in there that they should consider uncritically following.

posted by danf 28 February | 18:23

27 February 2007