Boy Suspended Over Rosery Beads.

[Red Panda]

There's a pretty clear distinction between cutting or branding. If a person carves "South side 4ever" into their arm its probably not because they are hurting inside.

[Hyena Dandy]

There's a pretty clear distinction between cutting or branding. If a person carves "South side 4ever" into their arm its probably not because they are hurting inside.

I said we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, not that we shouldn't throw out the bathwater. Barring all visible scars wouldn't work, even artistic visible scars. If a gang name is cut in, then obviously its gang related. But if there's, say, a celtic cross design, or a smiley face, those could be gang related, but I have a formerly suicidal friend who cut both of those into her arm, and she wasn't in a gang.

[fireheart17]

This is a battle schools will never win unless they develop a dress code so strict that it involves exactly how someone's hair is to be styled and what jewelry is allowed. Otherwise, some overly paranoid administrator is going to associate anything and everything with gang activity.

Believe it or not, both of these have come up in some high schools and in the case of the former, two all-boys boarding schools I'm aware of have that rule in place: if the hairstyle is not an acceptable one, the student will be sent to have their hair cut and the cost is charged to the students account.

[DrFaroohk]

Believe it or not, both of these have come up in some high schools and in the case of the former, two all-boys boarding schools I'm aware of have that rule in place: if the hairstyle is not an acceptable one, the student will be sent to have their hair cut and the cost is charged to the students account.

I don't like this. I'm all for dress codes if its really really necessary, but I also think the responsibility should fall on the school to provide said dress code. If they're the ones who want it that way, they should buy the clothes, supply "code friendly" makeup, and pay for the stylist themselves.

Oh gee whiz, we just discovered dress codes aren't that important!

[Red Panda]

I said we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, not that we shouldn't throw out the bathwater. Barring all visible scars wouldn't work, even artistic visible scars. If a gang name is cut in, then obviously its gang related. But if there's, say, a celtic cross design, or a smiley face, those could be gang related, but I have a formerly suicidal friend who cut both of those into her arm, and she wasn't in a gang.

The Celtic Cross is a symbol for the Aryan brotherhood so it shouldn't be allowed because of that association, both because it is innapropriate but also to protect the student who doesn't realize the brotherhood will kill them for showing the symbol if they aren't a member

[Kimmik]

The Celtic Cross is a symbol for the Aryan brotherhood so it shouldn't be allowed because of that association, both because it is inappropriate but also to protect the student who doesn't realize the brotherhood will kill them for showing the symbol if they aren't a member

While yes the Celtic cross/ Odin's cross is used in the Aryan movement. It is not generally a tat that one has to earn, like the spider web. It also depends heavily on the stylization of the cross and any numbers and or words that may be tied in to the Cross. Also the Cross that is used by most Aryans is one where the arms do not go past the circle which is also referred to as the Sun cross.

Sadly any tat can be used for "not nice" purposes. But those in gangs and gang like groups.. tend to have tats that are not likely to be misconstrued as oh hey look this is cool... Now if the the celtic cross also was tied in with 777 then I would worry that the person was going to get their butt kicked if they were not white.