Body modification has been around for thousands of years. Several cultures have practiced (and still practice) the arts of tattooing and piercing for various reasons, including, but not limited to, religion, sexuality and social status. These forms of body modification have certainly become ingrained in our culture, as well.

I mean, it's 2016. As time goes by, more and more people of all ages are piercing their body parts and tattooing colorful pieces of artwork into their skin. It's nothing new, yet, despite how normal it's become for our society, it's still somehow taboo.

Many people, even if they themselves have tattoos and/or piercings, tend to criticize others based on their own body modification and think differently of them, as if their outer appearance has anything to do with who they are on the inside.

A common example of this regards professionalism and the workplace. You are more likely to see a tattooed/pierced individual in more creative fields of work rather than, for example, in an office, court or as a doctor.

Why is that? Why are those who have chosen to express themselves through body modification usually taken less seriously than others?

To a degree, I believe that some people may look more professional than others and that there is a "specific time and place for certain things." However, no tattoo or piercing changes a person's abilities, skills, intelligence or personality.

Although as time goes by, body modification is becoming more accepted in various fields of work, there is still much oppression toward people with tattoos and piercings.

People are constantly getting tattoos and piercings in places that can be hidden (or not getting anything at all regardless of how much they may want to) in hopes of being able to get a "good job."

In my opinion, this is problematic because people are not as free to express themselves and live to their full desire. Sure, it's just a tattoo or piercing, and people can express themselves in other ways, so what's the big deal, right?

Well, it's a big deal for those who are truly passionate about tattoos and/or piercings. They're very creative forms of expression, their own arts, just like music, painting, writing, dancing -- you name it.

Many people may not see it that way, but many do.

Many also tend to argue against tattoos and piercings in terms of regret and their permanence.

Well, piercings can be taken out, and with makeup as well as new laser techniques, tattoos can be covered up or removed; tattoos are not as permanent as they once were.

And regret? While there may be many who regret a tattoo or piercing, there are many who do not. Many people carry their forms of body modification with them for life, remembering why they chose to do it and the meaning behind it. This is a representation of a specific time in that person's life, another chapter in their story. And to most people, that's extremely meaningful to them.

This is what I wish more people understood.

We all have our passions, hopes, dreams, desires -- things that make us happy and make us feel like we're truly living a life worth living.

Tattoos and piercings are a passion to many, a way to be creative and express oneself. While they may represent a part of who a person is, they do not define a person. Who someone is on the inside is entirely separate from how they appear to the outside world, and they certainly don't dictate one's intelligence, skills or how they treat others.

Don't get me wrong; I don't want to make it sound like I think people who don't necessarily like or support tattoos and/or piercings are critical, wrong or simply don't understand, because I know that many do. People have various reasons why they may disagree with body modification, and that's okay. Everyone is free to believe what they want to believe and to act on those beliefs accordingly.

I simply question why, on this day in age, people with tattoos and piercings are often less accepted than others, and I hope to combat any negativity toward them.

Tattoos, piercings, both or none at all, we are all human beings with the right to express ourselves by any means and to portray ourselves to the outside world however we want to be seen. While judging others is part of human nature, we should be trying every day to become more accepting of one another and remember that the outside does not dictate the inside.

So, before asking someone, "Aren't you afraid you won't be able to get a job?" Or, "How will that look when you're older?" Don't. Appreciate that person as a whole, as who they are, and accept their choices of expression. Being different is a right we all have and just another reason to love one another.