A Starfleet officer should not have piercings

[Starchild]

Tats where they won't show.

But no body piercings, just doesn't look Officer like.

[KODudna]

In DS9 wasn't there a really big hubub about major Kira's piercing thingie?

[Varrangian]

In DS9 wasn't there a really big hubub about major Kira's piercing thingie?

Well there was the TNG issues with Ensign Ro's earrings.

Honestly, this is a game. If you don't want such things, that's fine. Simply don't put them on your character/crew. We all have jobs and limitations in our real lives, some of us like to live in a fantasy world and let those things relax. Again if you don't want them don't use them, but don't infringe on my fun or my imagination in such a way.

[thefrayl]

In DS9 wasn't there a really big hubub about major Kira's piercing thingie?

I don't recall anything like that, unless you are thinking of Ensign Ro on TNG. She got chewed on a bit for wearing her earring in uniform when she first arrived on the Enterprise.

[Blackavaar]

In DS9 wasn't there a really big hubub about major Kira's piercing thingie?

I don't recall anything like that, unless you are thinking of Ensign Ro on TNG. She got chewed on a bit for wearing her earring in uniform when she first arrived on the Enterprise.

That is deifnitely Ensign Ro Laren you are remembering. Commander Riker gave her a nice chewing out when she first came on board, but after proving her meddle Captain Picard decided to allow her the luxury of her traditional Bajoran jewelry. After all, Worf was allowed to wear his Klingon ha'quj (sash), and that wasn't strictly within Starfleet uniform standards.

:D

[mwood1387]

That is deifnitely Ensign Ro Laren you are remembering. Commander Riker gave her a nice chewing out when she first came on board, but after proving her meddle Captain Picard decided to allow her the luxury of her traditional Bajoran jewelry. After all, Worf was allowed to wear his Klingon ha'quj (sash), and that wasn't strictly within Starfleet uniform standards.

:D

Pretty much dead on. There was also Geordi's visor. I know he said he needed it to see but I still think he just wore it because it could get free Skinemax on it.

[KODudna]

Yeah it were Ensign Ro. Mah bad :)

I dunno, depending on what race I go with I may give my character something defining like that (assuming we have the option). On my captain! Ho snap! Regulation-breakage at the top, yo!

[maltzenburgerz]

Yes, while most things of that sort are unprofessional, I think the Klingon sash and Bajoran jewelry would be protected by law as it is a part of thier "cultural/religious" heritage.

[WinterPark1701]

I don't know, most military officers I've known across my eight and half years have had more than a few tats. Nothing like a little ink to make things better.

[Cormoran]

Judging by the shows i'd say this is more of a captains perogative. Picard let Troi go around with no uniform at all wheras Jellico didn't like that, with Ro Picard let it slip by. Chakotay was allowed into starfleet despite having a good portion of his face tattooed.

They may be guidelines but it really seems up to the various commanding officers more than anything else.

[CherryTerri]

I thought the Bajoran ear jewlery had religious connotations? (Same as a person wearing a cross or religious dress nowadays)

[jamzgub]

cant bew stopping peeps uuman rights :S

[Swordopolis]

I thought the Bajoran ear jewlery had religious connotations? (Same as a person wearing a cross or religious dress nowadays)

Quoting from Memory Alpha (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Bajoran_earring)

The Bajoran earring was an elaborate piece of jewelry traditionally worn on the right ear by the Bajoran people as a symbol of their faith. Each person's earring was individualized and bore the symbol of their family. Prior to the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, these earrings also indicated a person's D'jarra (their social caste).

[laladiel]

didnt dr crusher have earrings also?

[Jaymz]

Sure... Let's all focus on a minor issue such as piercing while we totally ignore the elephant in the room...

ffs, when will something be done about Starfleet's policy on "don't ask, don't tell"?

[AloneMordakai]

In my personal opinion I'd have to say that if a Borg cube is about to crush my little ship, I don't care what tattoo's/piercings a Captain has, or how professional he/she appears, as long as they swoop in to lend a helping hand (or torpedo).

Also (imo), I think we (as a race) should be less concerned with who looks professional, and more so with who acts it. Of course people are free to feel however they wish about it, but there are good/bad, professional/unprofessional people everywhere. You never know what they're like until you meet them.

[Suiko]

In DS9 wasn't there a really big hubub about major Kira's piercing thingie?

Yeah, but she wasn't part of Starfleet she was a Bajoran working with Starfleet.

[FaeryFire]

Tats where they won't show.

But no body piercings, just doesn't look Officer like.

Generally, the shows tell us about strict rules like uniforms and all until they decide to ignore the same rules. In both cases for plot or character identity construction.

There is enough examples to counter the idea Starfleet officers should have a strict uniform guideline.

[Napalm006]

Yeah, but she wasn't part of Starfleet she was a Bajoran working with Starfleet.

And she still wore them while she was in a StarFleet Uniform while on Cardassia. Also remember that Bajor is now a member of the UFoP, and I think the Feds would allow Bajor to continue their customs even abord starships now that Bajorans would be more prevalent in StarFleet. As for other races. I could see someone coming up with a custom race that places the same value in tats etc

[pyriel2005]

wow....just wow.

[SeanNewBoy]

In my personal opinion I'd have to say that if a Borg cube is about to crush my little ship, I don't care what tattoo's/piercings a Captain has, or how professional he/she appears, as long as they swoop in to lend a helping hand (or torpedo).

Also (imo), I think we (as a race) should be less concerned with who looks professional, and more so with who acts it. Of course people are free to feel however they wish about it, but there are good/bad, professional/unprofessional people everywhere. You never know what they're like until you meet them.

Here here, your captain can be Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow as long as he does his job. I also wont care if he looks like the blob (marvel or movie), Pigpen, or a main Character from "Up in Smoke", this is a game, dress it however makes you happy.

[Varrangian]

I don't know, most military officers I've known across my eight and half years have had more than a few tats. Nothing like a little ink to make things better.

Damn it! Now I want to go get a new tattoo.

[Tribbler]

Tattoos either. I mean, the Federation has moved past the point where you need to have something engraved onto your skin to make you stand apart from everyone else.

Everyone can see that you are different, you don't need markings to be point yourself out to others. We know your here.

[Varrangian]

Tattoos either. I mean, the Federation has moved past the point where you need to have something engraved onto your skin to make you stand apart from everyone else.

Everyone can see that you are different, you don't need markings to be point yourself out to others. We know your here.

Yeah because that's the only reason people ever get tattoos :rolleyes:

[Phunix]

With more and more planets joining the Federation, some perhaps with funky traditions like wearing headgear or jewelry, its only obvious to me that it will be and more allowed in the Federation.
Plus it fits into Cryptics personalization thing.

[Drexxus3d]

It wasn't just ensign ro, but all bajorans weren't allowed to wear their earrings.

Captain Picard granted ensign ro the special priviledge to wear her earring.

In voyager, when Tuvok started that mini-starfleet academy for the poor performing maquis crewmen, he made them correct their cross code including earrings as well.

Any military organization has a strict dresscode about how they look while in uniform.

There are plenty of ways to customize facial features, color, hair style and color, and so on without needing a nose ring. Starfleet may be made up of multiple planets, but they run off fundamental human beliefs including their dresscode.

Every instance where someone is wearing something special, it's because they were granted special permission, such as with Worf's warrior sash.

I guess hypothetically if you were captain you could grant such special permissions to anyone you wanted on your ship, but honestly it really "removes" the immersion factor when you have virtually every single captain bending and breaking rules like that.

Perhaps there will be a cost associated with allowing special dress items, similiar to when promoting officer's ranks?

[Varrangian]

Any military organization has a strict dresscode about how they look while in
uniform.

And this is a video game. If I want to have strict dress codes I'll deal with those in real life. Just because someone can create a character with tattoos or piercings does not mean you have to. It simply does not infringe on your ability to play the game the way you want, but taking those options away infringes on other people's freedoms to play how they want.

[Peregrine_Falcon]

Any military organization has a strict dresscode about how they look while in uniform.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Starfleet? A military organization?????????

Didn't half of the forum population just blow up all over the forums at the mere implication that Starfleet is an evil military organization? Now you all are saying that starfleet personnel shouldn't have piercings or tats because starfleet is a military organization?

You all need to make up your minds! Is Starfleet military or isn't it? If it's not then what difference does it make if I show up on the bridge sporting a ZZ Top beard and wearing a blue chiffon dress?

While you're at it try to remember that STO is going to be a game, not a 3D simulator. As such if people want their characters or bridge officers to have piercings or tattoos then I suspect that Cryptic is going to allow it.

[Varrangian]

There are plenty of ways to customize facial features, color, hair style and color, and so on without needing a nose ring. Starfleet may be made up of multiple planets, but they run off fundamental human beliefs including their dresscode.

Every instance where someone is wearing something special, it's because they were granted special permission, such as with Worf's warrior sash.

I guess hypothetically if you were captain you could grant such special permissions to anyone you wanted on your ship, but honestly it really "removes" the immersion factor when you have virtually every single captain bending and breaking rules like that.

Perhaps there will be a cost associated with allowing special dress items, similiar to when promoting officer's ranks?

Since you edited your post...

How does it "remove the immersion"? If I create a crew that has piercings and tattoos, you'll likely only ever see them if we group together. How could it possibly remove the immersion for me, if I chose to do it?

I'm sorry, I see this time and again on this forum (more so than any place else). People want to force other people to play according to the way they see Star Trek. As Craig has said, Trek is different to everyone. Worry about they way you play, I'll worry about the way I play. I can promise you I'll never see you on a crowded DS9 and send you a tell - "Your crew is so boring".

Role Playing (which I have been doing for the better part of my 30 years) is about creating characters, their nuances, flushing out their personalities. Sometimes that involves breaking the stereotypes of the setting. To me in many ways breaking those stereotypes is exactly what Trek is about.

[Kinjiru]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Starfleet? A military organization?????????

Didn't half of the forum population just blow up all over the forums at the mere implication that Starfleet is an evil military organization? Now you all are saying that starfleet personnel shouldn't have piercings or tats because starfleet is a military organization?

You all need to make up your minds! Is Starfleet military or isn't it? If it's not then what difference does it make if I show up on the bridge sporting a ZZ Top beard and wearing a blue chiffon dress?

While you're at it try to remember that STO is going to be a game, not a 3D simulator. As such if people want their characters or bridge officers to have piercings or tattoos then I suspect that Cryptic is going to allow it.

Whether Starfleet is military or not (and we've had this debate, we don't need it here), isn't really relevant to whether captain and crew can have tattoos or not. Look at any organization (civilian, commercial or military) and you will find people with tatoos. Look further into Star Trek, the Romulans in the Abrams movie had tattoos...

They can be for religious or ritual purposes, they can be just for fun, but most of all, they are a form of personal expression... and that IS one of the things that Cryptic does best, through character customization.

[CherryTerri]

Quoting from Memory Alpha (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Bajoran_earring)

I was going to put more, but since I don't know if Starfleet is military in nature or not, I'll refrain for now.

[Than]

Tats where they won't show.

But no body piercings, just doesn't look Officer like.

Well tats can have a meaning (i am not speaking of memory x person) So in ST sense no issue there as it is used quite often and Chacotay is a good example of it.

However piercings and such is a different story, to those of you who have never served this is why it is prohibited: facial ones are exposed to weather and i can garantee you that coming from a area very far above the polar circle it will actually cause frostbite if left in under extreme situations.
That is one reason.
So to the rest:
It is simply in the way as running and dragging equipment will cause some issues with something getting stuck or worse..try traversing barbed wire and you are the unlucky *******s who have to act as a bridge so the rest of the squad can run over you to get across it..
It is forbidden because it is in the way, point 2 it will cause collateral damage if exposed to x weather factor, it will cause tear damage and as you know, the face is a place that is not convenient to patch up to the fact is is exposed.

So in a sense, complain all you like about they why it should be there, but it serves no purpose in a uniform.
This is speaking from the past.


From a game point of view...well if cheap and tacky is what sells..well i suppose that is what will happen.

[Drexxus3d]

It breaks immersion because it's not star trek lol

You might as well play a generic space sim game that uses startrek names and models.

For better or worse, starfleet has strict guidelines about dresscode and how they appear in uniform. That is fact, that is canon. You can't simply have all your crew ignore any aspect of federation policy or law whenever they feel like it because that isn't Startrek. Klingons on the other hand can do whatever they want.

And really, if your whole roleplaying experience hinges on whether or not your officers can have noserings or big goofy earrings, then i'd say you weren't losing much in the first place. You can flesh out and make very interesting characters without having all of them disregard protocol.

The "this is just a game" excuse is pretty weak as well. You can use that to justify virtually anything from all players starting as admirals to playing the borg. I mean it's just a game right? WHy not?

It doesn't work that way.

I could care less what your crew looks like personally, in the grand scheme of things your officers are going to be basically like gear you equip. No one is going to notice or care what your bridge officers look like during a fleet battle. I only comment on the issue in the first place is simply because it isn't startrek.

You see the same kind of garbage in Fantasy games all the time... People wanting all these special "unique" characters that are triple classed into different things and do just as well at any role and are basically overpowered. Then they usually have impossible character backgrounds like belonging to a race that would never act like that character acts, and does things totally against that race's beliefs and so on all because the player wants to be "unique". But the end result is every person has that same "I wanna be unique" silliness embedded in them which causes all of them to create such characters which utterly destroys the lore behind the game while simultaneously making it commonplace, killing whatever uniqueness it once had. We call it Drizzt syndrome usually.

Thats why limitations and restrictions are in games in the first place, to keep things status quo so that when something unique or unusual does take place it actually means something. Allowing anyone to just do whatever they want at all times kills the immersion because it kills the lore, story, and everything else.

[Varrangian]

From a game point of view...well if cheap and tacky is what sells..well i suppose that is what will happen.

First no one here has argued that in real life we should change the rules. What has been simply argued is that this is a game, not real life. If you so choose to mimic real life, that is your choice and fine. Others though may rather not, and since they are paying the same monthly fee you are they have as much right to it.

What really bothers me about your post though is the quoted portion. It is condescending. It appears to claim that those who disagree with you are in fact "cheap and tacky". This happens all the time here, and it amazes me given that Trek over the years has attempted to be about "inclusion" not "exclusion". From the diverse nature of the TOS crew to the acknowledgment in TNG that Klingons were not just dumb bloodthirsty barbarians.

The reality is that people need freedom to play the game how they wish. Now if the character creator doesn't have tattoos or piercings, I'm not going to have a tantrum, as hardly any MMO's do provide those options, but to suggest that they don't belong in a Trek MMO seems to me to be rather shortsighted. We've seen three examples of characters in Trek that had non-regulation accompaniments to their uniform, clearly Trek felt that the idea of an individuals choice was greater than the need to enforce regulations, it has that luxury as it is after all entertainment.

[Than]

First no one here has argued that in real life we should change the rules. What has been simply argued is that this is a game, not real life. If you so choose to mimic real life, that is your choice and fine. Others though may rather not, and since they are paying the same monthly fee you are they have as much right to it.

What really bothers me about your post though is the quoted portion. It is condescending. It appears to claim that those who disagree with you are in fact "cheap and tacky". This happens all the time here, and it amazes me given that Trek over the years has attempted to be about "inclusion" not "exclusion". From the diverse nature of the TOS crew to the acknowledgment in TNG that Klingons were not just dumb bloodthirsty barbarians.

The reality is that people need freedom to play the game how they wish. Now if the character creator doesn't have tattoos or piercings, I'm not going to have a tantrum, as hardly any MMO's do provide those options, but to suggest that they don't belong in a Trek MMO seems to me to be rather shortsighted. We've seen three examples of characters in Trek that had non-regulation accompaniments to their uniform, clearly Trek felt that the idea of an individuals choice was greater than the need to enforce regulations, it has that luxury as it is after all entertainment.


Hmm you are right that it can seem like i put everyone that does not have my view in box, i can admit it looks like it. Moreover it is rather due to bad typing of once view, but i am adult enough to say that i did not try to make a statement that others that enjoy it are tacky and cheap.
The statement was more in sales here, but i can see how it can be mis-interpeded when it comes to reading it. So if this offended anyone i apologize as that was not the undertone of my statement.
More that certain ruleset needs to be there to call it ST, or one might call it generic mmo 443 in space with ST uniforms.

This might sound very...hmm conservative yes, but some immersion would be nice to :)

[Drexxus3d]

We've seen three examples of characters in Trek that had non-regulation accompaniments to their uniform

Ensign Ro was allowed that simply because picard saw a lot of potential in her and didn't want to see it goto waste and really wanted her to stay on board. And at the time, she may have been one of the very few bajorans in starfleet.

Worf was the first and only klingon in starfleet, they let him wear that because they wanted to keep him.

Chakotay doesn't even count. He did not have that tattoo while serving in starfleet, it never would've been allowed. He got that tattoo AFTER resigning from starfleet. Naturally it was never an issue in voyager simply because they were stuck with each other at that point. Janeway also never cracked down on all the maqui crewmen's dresscode violations as not to put more stress on everyone's situation, but tuvok finally did in his little training camp.

[Varrangian]

It breaks immersion because it's not star trek lol

And as you admitted Star Trek has several characters with non-regulation uniform accompaniments. It seems that if there is even one character like that then Trek represents the idea that people are ummm unquie.

You might as well play a generic space sim game that uses startrek names and models.

This is your problem. STO is not a sim, it is a game. There is a difference. If STO were a sim and we all started as jeffery tube mopping crewmen I'd be more likely to buy the, "but Starfleet regulation" argument.

For better or worse, starfleet has strict guidelines about dresscode and how they appear in uniform. That is fact, that is canon. You can't simply have all your crew ignore any aspect of federation policy or law whenever they feel like it because that isn't Startrek. Klingons on the other hand can do whatever they want.

And again as we've seen the guidelines are broken on more than one occasion. This goes not just for dress code, but many other guidelines - the prime directive anyone?

And really, if your whole roleplaying experience hinges on whether or not your officers can have noserings or big goofy earrings, then i'd say you weren't losing much in the first place. You can flesh out and make very interesting characters without having all of them disregard protocol.

I have no idea. My character concepts don't involve piercings or tattoos, but I can think of several species that for religions or cultural reasons might want/need them. The issue is that it does nothing to hinder my immersion and really should do nothing to hinder yours.

The "this is just a game" excuse is pretty weak as well. You can use that to justify virtually anything from all players starting as admirals to playing the borg. I mean it's just a game right? WHy not?

It doesn't work that way.

Ah but you picked two examples that are not cosmetic. You picked things that would alter the game play experience on a design level. I'm sure a game can be designed for each of those examples, I would imagine a Star Trek styled RTS would be like playing an Admiral. In fact didn't Cryptic make a similar choice by deciding we would all be in command of our own ship?

I could care less what your crew looks like personally, in the grand scheme of things your officers are going to be basically like gear you equip. No one is going to notice or care what your bridge officers look like during a fleet battle. I only comment on the issue in the first place is simply because it isn't startrek.

But you do seem to care what someone else's character looks like. And again, if it isn't Star Trek then Worf, Ro, and Chakotay are all not Trek?

You see the same kind of garbage in Fantasy games all the time... People wanting all these special "unique" characters that are triple classed into different things and do just as well at any role and are basically overpowered. Then they usually have impossible character backgrounds like belonging to a race that would never act like that character acts, and does things totally against that race's beliefs and so on all because the player wants to be "unique". But the end result is every person has that same "I wanna be unique" silliness embedded in them which causes all of them to create such characters which utterly destroys the lore behind the game while simultaneously making it commonplace, killing whatever uniqueness it once had. We call it Drizzt syndrome usually.

Again you've confused gameplay with cosmetics. There is a huge difference between having tattoos or piercings and asking to be triple classed and overpowered.

As for the "Drizzt syndrome" There is nothing wrong with breaking a mold. Some people prefer their Dark Elves evil because it is simple, some prefer the world that they live in to be more complex. It is like reading Beowulf vs. reading Grendel. Both are wonderful works with different ideas and perspectives.

Thats why limitations and restrictions are in games in the first place, to keep things status quo so that when something unique or unusual does take place it actually means something. Allowing anyone to just do whatever they want at all times kills the immersion because it kills the lore, story, and everything else.

Again we are talking about cosmetic issues. If people were asking for Tattoos that killed Klingons by the dozens and piercings of healing potency I'd buy this argument, but we are not.

[Varrangian]

Ensign Ro was allowed that simply because picard saw a lot of potential in her and didn't want to see it goto waste and really wanted her to stay on board. And at the time, she may have been one of the very few bajorans in starfleet.

Worf was the first and only klingon in starfleet, they let him wear that because they wanted to keep him.

Chakotay doesn't even count. He did not have that tattoo while serving in starfleet, it never would've been allowed. He got that tattoo AFTER resigning from starfleet. Naturally it was never an issue in voyager simply because they were stuck with each other at that point. Janeway also never cracked down on all the maqui crewmen's dresscode violations as not to put more stress on everyone's situation, but tuvok finally did in his little training camp.

Actually the entire issue was brought up in TNG because the writers felt it made a good story. Let's not loose sight of the fact that Trek is a fictional world with many, many contradictions.

The same with Worf and Chakotay and even Troi in her non-uniforms. The reality is that Trek made use of these things for story purposes.

[Varrangian]

Hmm you are right that it can seem like i put everyone that does not have my view in box, i can admit it looks like it. Moreover it is rather due to bad typing of once view, but i am adult enough to say that i did not try to make a statement that others that enjoy it are tacky and cheap.
The statement was more in sales here, but i can see how it can be mis-interpeded when it comes to reading it. So if this offended anyone i apologize as that was not the undertone of my statement.
More that certain ruleset needs to be there to call it ST, or one might call it generic mmo 443 in space with ST uniforms.

This might sound very...hmm conservative yes, but some immersion would be nice to :)

Fair enough, I see the language here on these forums often and it tends to be directed at people who are deemed as not being "true trekkies" by one group or another. If that was not your intent, I apologize for reading it that way.

Immersion is fine. For instance, I like the idea of uniform customization, but I recognize it is a fine line that Cryptic will walk to provide it. I like the idea because it allows each player to live the ST experience they want to live through STO. It would possibly allow someone who wanted to be more of a TOS experience to at least attempt to do so if not actually use TOS uniform models. But I also don't want to see something that doesn't look like it could be a Federation or Klingon uniform (unless it's on a different faction character). So far I'm happy with what Cryptic has put out. I may not love each uniform, but they have enough Trek flavor to make the cut.

[PigUp]

There is a reason for a dress code, you wouldn't want to be crawling around jeffery tubes with long unrestrained hair, that is a hazard. So I think you should be able to customize your BO and avatar with long hair, but while on duty, the hair would be tied up. Same for earrings, on duty no, off duty yes. However, I don't see the point of restricting tattoos, they cannot interfere with any duty (unless your communicating with some species that finds them offensive). My only problem with tattoos is that people would want to make their own, and, like names, someone has to okay them.

[Than]

Fair enough, I see the language here on these forums often and it tends to be directed at people who are deemed as not being "true trekkies" by one group or another. If that was not your intent, I apologize for reading it that way.

Immersion is fine. For instance, I like the idea of uniform customization, but I recognize it is a fine line that Cryptic will walk to provide it. I like the idea because it allows each player to live the ST experience they want to live through STO. It would possibly allow someone who wanted to be more of a TOS experience to at least attempt to do so if not actually use TOS uniform models. But I also don't want to see something that doesn't look like it could be a Federation or Klingon uniform (unless it's on a different faction character). So far I'm happy with what Cryptic has put out. I may not love each uniform, but they have enough Trek flavor to make the cut.

Well it is not out yet, so lets see what they bring when the product is done. And np as it happens
:)

[WarpVis]

I guess when one is looking for a team and they do not like tattoos or piercings they should include that in their team up request.

Sort of like a personal ad or when looking for a roommate.

A simple "Please NO Tats or Piercings" should suffice.

As far as does it correspond to canon? I would have to say yes. It is clear that Captains/Commanders of ships/stations/other have a lot of leeway in dealing with such issues.

[SeanNewBoy]

By the by, someone referred to Starfleet as a human organization, its not. I think it may have been interesting if any of the starfleet crew that were not human had ever been shown, it may have changed this whole conversation. In TOS there were at least vulcan crewed ship and according to some noncanon sources some other races had homogeneous crews. I can personally see removing tattoo's simply because of the tech involved, removing one now is expensive. It should be cheap, easy and quick at that time.

I still dont care what others do with their crews.

[Peregrine_Falcon]

In the original series Nurse Chapel, Lieutenant Uhura and Yeoman Rand all had piercings and wore earrings.

Wouldn't allowing women to have piercings but not allowing men to have them be sexual discrimination?

[overlordthor]

In the original series Nurse Chapel, Lieutenant Uhura and Yeoman Rand all had piercings and wore earrings.

Wouldn't allowing women to have piercings but not allowing men to have them be sexual discrimination?

I think the weairing of peircings and tattoos on starfleet comes down to 2 different issues, one being, how strict the captain of the vessel is(Picard, Riker, and Data, are on the strict side, if Tuvok were captain, he'd be on the strict side), (Sisko, and Janeway, a little more lax, partially because Janeway is halfway across the galaxy). The religious nature of the tattoo or peircing also is a factor, bajorans typically have large peircings, but since they can be removed, a ship might not allow them to be displayed while on duty(stricter captains), Tattoos, like Chakotays, are religious(spiritual based religion/belief) and cannot be removed(without radical medical procedure), so captains might allow them. Another issue, the offensive nature of some peircings and tattoos, like tattoos of naked woman, or radical things, might not be allowed on any starfleet vessels, some large peircings without religious nature might not be allowed.