Tattoos

Insert : I was actually going to put this in the General section, but it might fit better here.

I haven't seen a thread like this before, so I decided to search it up and couldn't find a thread about it. Tattoos are an interesting topic, so here we go :

What are your opinions about tattoos ? Do you think people should be inking their bodies or not ? Do you think there should be a minimum age on tattoos because a lot of younger people are now getting them ? Do you think that individuals think about how they'll be perceived with tattoos before getting them or should we stop judging people based on ink ? (We all know there's a bit of a negative bias surrounding people with them.)

Basically, tattoos are becoming more popular with my generation and there's a lot of tv shows promoting getting inked like : New York Ink, LA Ink (That last one is done now, right ?) ect.

So what are your views on the subject ?

 

I personally like tattoos as well. They're my greatest fascination at this point in time which is what led me to this thread. I find they're a great way to express who you are and what you consider to be important. I only have 1 tattoo right now located on the back of my neck, but what it is shall remain a mystery. I love art, I draw in my spare time and I appreciate the work of others. In my opinion, tattoos are a work of art on your body. They can tell stories about who you are, what you believe in and what you hold most dear to your heart. I like them and I support other people who get them because it's a big commitment.

One thing that bothers me though is when people get tattoos because "All of their friends have one". Isn't that the worse reasoning for one ever ? I mean, you have to live with your tattoo for the rest of your life (actually there are other alternatives now that I'll mention later.) I think that people should have a purpose for a tattoo, I don't agree with getting one because you think it's 'cool'. That's a superficial reason that you may regret later on.

As for whether you should be inking yourself in the first place, I think it's more of a personal choice. Don't do something you'll regret later on, if you apply that rule, then you'll definitely make the right choice. Tattoos are serious in my point of view so I wouldn't make decisions like this lightly. People will judge you if you have visible tattoos, we live in a critical world like that, so just be aware of it.

I actually think there should be a minimum age on when you can get a tattoo. I find that several younger teens get tattoos for pointless reasons, but then again it's their decision to make. I wouldn't complain if you had to be a certain age for one, but I wouldn't fight for a minimum age law either. It's something that would be useful and I'm sure parents would support it, but young teens should be responsible for their actions too. (However, I don't think many are; I sure wasn't reponsible when I was 14 and under.)

Final thing, if you care deeply about what other people are going to think about you if you get a tattoo, then you probably shouldn't be getting one in the first place. It's a rule of thumb that I was taught

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Ohh on a side note, what do you think of laser removal when it comes to tattoos ?

 

-_- Uh huh. Before you know it, the 12 and 13 year olds will be wanting them and then the 8 and nine year olds will be wanting tattoos and they will end up being influenced. I say no. You do not need any tattoos in order to express your own emotions and individuality. You may also have a reaction as the tattoos is being created on your body and, depending on the tattoo artist and their skill, you may end up catching certain kinds of ailment. Sure, it may look good on you at your present state but watch what happens as you get older. Your tattoos will be sagging on your wrinkles. XD

Now that we are on the discussion, I would love to put up this funny episode from Sister Sister between the mother and daughter when the daughter got herself a tattoo.

Sister Sister - Season 2 episode 8 "Tattoo" 2 of 3 - YouTube

 

-_- Since when did tattoo was called an art? I bet none of them knew that tattoos even came from prison but they sure do accept it. The same way the men out on the streets tend to sag their pants way below their waist but they do not realize that it came from the prison and if you sag your pants in their, that means that you are gay and that you want some. But who cares?! Let us compromise! We do not want to hurt anyone feelings! We do not want them to get the wrong ideas. God might accept that and blah blah blah. If you start pushing yourself back and do not stand up about it, then all you are doing is making it harder to stand up for the facts. Just because society accepts it as a practice DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD ACCEPT IT! Tattoos can be expressed in negative ways. The sagging the pants is a WHOLE different discussion so I am just going to shut up on that part.

But anyways, back to the tattoo part. I have seen people who had tattoos marked on themselves with the cross of Jesus and have the name "Jesus" on their and all. It is understandable that they want to show that they love God but to me, you do not have to buy yourself a tattoo to show that. Oh yea! Let one of us know how much it cost to remove that tattoo. I bet you would not like that. Some people do not have to judge but some people can just tell you why you do not need a tattoo without judging at all. Now, those who do not judge, we are there to warn them about tattoos. I don't care if it is religious or non-religious reason when you warn them, it is better to tell them the consequences. At least those who tell you are not condemning those who are considering in getting one.

 

Tatas are a form of expersing who you are...if people want to scar themselves to show their trueselves I ain't gona stop them...

 

First off, I am not here to judge/condemn a person, even if the person themselves had the tattoo. I am here to speak against why you shouldn't have tattoos. There is a BIG difference between judging SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG vs. JUDGING A PERSON. ??? And just because you disagree does not mean that you are calling the other person an idiot. You can look at them and wonder "Why did they had their hair shave like that?" and ask them or if someone says that they are going to do something, unaware of the danger that it brings and you tell them and disagree as to why they should not do it, that is not judging. Now, if you look at them and go in your mind "LOOK AT HIM! So dumb! His Mohawk is making his neck long." Now that is what I call judging. -_- And the "First couple of seconds" part is more like jealousy when you say it Legacy. I do go against tattoos and I am against it but does it mean that I would also condemn the person who has it? God forbid. The person can have the tattoo but they can also be a kind person.

As for those who do have tattoos, maybe you don't know Legacy but there may be some who end up regretting of getting a tattoo in the first place. Tattoos do not have to be a physical risk. It can also be a emotional or a mental risk too. " There are not too many consequences if you are careful". Oh really? It may take a role on your life when you look back on it and you may end up growing to hate the markings that you accepted on your body.

Now what I want to know is why do you want a tattoo? You do not like how you look like the way you are now?

 

well I know for me I want a permanent reminder of something that was important to me in my life or something that shows the world who I realy am under the niceguy rutine...

 

I now know what you are talking about but when I was thinking of judging, I was merely thinking of it as a negative aspect. Now the way you are saying the definition of "Judging", you are using it as though it is a "Justice" type or to give a definite opinion on what should have happened and what route should not have taken. As for the "Both are judging but one is positive and one is negative", if what I am saying is judging, yet I am positive, then why should the person with tattoos yell at me and say "Stop judging me! Why do people judge?!" when I am merely just giving them advice, encouragement and reasons when it is merely not negative at all? Otherwise, those who keep on singing that same old hymn, "Do not judge me!" need to stop.

I am not contradicting myself. Well, let's just say I am not the type of person who hurts others when I actually tell them the truth or what my opinions are. I guess I am that "Parent telling and disciplining the child what is right and what is wrong part". I tell them why it is wrong but with love... which is a positive judging from how you are saying it. But back onto the subject.

@Desifer I still do not believe that you need something that can have a negative effect on you to express yourself. It is like what Legacy said, tattoos should not be an expression of who you are. Otherwise, people killing others are expressing themselves, those who continues to bully others are expressing themselves, those who call people like me bigots and continue to deny the facts are expressing themselves of ignorance and those who decide to smoke, take drugs and join gangs are also expressing themselves. XD And I am so sorry Desifer but you cannot take anything of the natural realm with you when you die. No video games (Which would suck for me but I would rather leave that behind than to lose my soul for it), no KHPlanet, computers, money, tattoos, nothing. There is nothing that takes on the form of a earthly or natural object you can bring with you once you die. And I wonder... who ARE YOU under that nice guy routine I wonder.

That may sound mean but sadly, it is true and every single one of us will have to experience (Unless the Omnipotent and Almighty Jesus who I love very much allow some of us to transcend death but that would require something very BIG from us I am assuming). Otherwise, forget it. Your tattoos will express nothing and no one at your funeral will not even think about your tattoos. All that matters is what you did in your life and what kind of a person you truly are. Your tattoos may just end up being removed while they are doing an autopsy on you.

 

I'm quite neutral on this but I believe that as long as people know how the tattoos might affect them in the future it is quite okay. Now, there is one story of a man who came to homeboy industries tryng to get a job, he was a good worker but unfortunately, had the words fuck you tattooed across his forehead this I believe is one of the circumstances where tattoos take a negative effect on one's life. On the other hand I believe self expression is an important thing to the individual, I love creating quotes and that is why I have the quote "We are all slaves of utopia." tattooed on my right arm.

 

I have only one tattoo on my left arm's wrist that looks like a Fairy Tail guild mark.
I will say, this tattoo will be my only one and I will never get a new tattoo. The pain is the reason. It hurts.
But not really on my arm.

 

You can't bring something now a part of your body when I die?
Well, that's just okay. At least in Heaven, there will be no problems and God will take care of it.
I'm a little religious, but I prefer to stick to good moods.

 

Actually, my views are not only based on religion by itself. I am more based on research and especially based on my own opinion. But anyways, since you want to challenge me, I will take it. First off, you are not telling someone not to do if you are telling someone why you, yourself, think that it is wrong to have a tattoo. Now that you are actually helping me know what is actually judging and what I am doing will still be judging, let me go on and apply this:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." -Matthews 7: 1-5

How in the world can we tell people what is right and what is wrong to God when we are doing the same thing ourselves? That would make us hypocrites.
"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” (Jn. 7:24)

That is the standard that I always apply to myself. Ok. Now tattoos do appear on the person but even so, I would really not going to judge them by their appearance but I would just go and tell them with a kind heart why it is wrong. Besides religious reasons Legacy, I do know that tattoos will cause illness or a type of disease. That and you do not know the skill of the artist. Besides, there are some jobs (I am merely assuming) who are not for accepting employers who shows their tattoos, meaning that you will have to cover them up. Now you want to say that those who tell people why someone should not have a tattoo is trampling on their freedom but yet you have jobs who said that you MUST cover up your own tattoos so that you will not disappoint any customers. Freedom can only have such an extent.

I will get back to the religious part later now thatI told you my non-religious reasons.

 

I feel as though somebody has to stick up for tattoos, so here I go.
Being a person with a tattoo, it only makes sense.

Murder has nothing to do with tattoos, both literally and comparison wise. Tattoos are a form of expression of individuality (or atleast they should be), murdering somebody is a hate crime. There's a difference between the two. The reason to murder is not the same as the reason for a tattoo, they wouldn't be stimulating the same part of your brain. To commit murder you have to get to the point where if doesn't matter if you're taking another person's life; Normally it's because you've snapped and during the vulnerable phase you take matters into your own hands. Murder, to me, is an act of insanity because you've thrown political socializing out the window; Tattoos, however, wouldn't have the same affect. It actually is an art, I can post the definition of what art is if you like, and it doesn't affect the lives of those around you. By killing somebody, you have completely altered their was-to be life and the lives of their loved ones, but by getting a tattoo the only person you're directly affecting is yourself. Why does it matter what an individual does if it's not hurting others. Simply put, it doesn't.

As the saying goes, you can't add apples with oranges.

True, but why does it matter what your tattoo will look like when you die ? Last time I checked, tattoos are to remember your own life when you're living. To remember what's symbolic of who you are and to be proud of it. We're all going to die, but I prefer to live for the moment. Your skin will naturally degrade, why does it matter if there's ink on it ?

Couldn't have said it better. People who worry about what their tattoo will look like when they're old and wrinkly shouldn't be getting them in the first place.

Shouldn't this comment be more so applied to me since I'm the one with a tattoo ? I personally enjoy expressing myself on both the inside and outside; but thanks for your concern. I'm not worried about my tattoo and the afterlife, I'm just taking it day by day.

Going on the religious boat first : when does God say we can't have tattoos ? I don't recall it in the bible. Why do you think it's wrong to get a tattoo and judging the concept when God's the ultimate person that will judge me ? By telling me why it's wrong to get a tattoo, you're judging the concept of getting one in the first place and are in turn, judging me. And tattoos aren't going to give you a disease or illness necessarily, it just depends how sterile the needles are and if it's a professional salon.

 

So true; Hating your tattoo would suck because you'd either have to live with it, or use laser removal. Laser removal is usually 3 times more than the tattoo itself, not to mention it leaves scars. Talk about a waste of money and time.

Well in today's society murderers and inmates aren't the only people who have tattoos. I see several people with them because our generation is opening up to the concept. Admittedly, back when my parents were younger the only people who had tattoos were those who dealt with underground operations, if you catch my drift. I'm sure some nice people had them too, but it was initially more commonly found on people who were involved in bad/illegal things. However, it's not that way anymore; Anybody can get a tattoo anywhere. Besides, inmates get in trouble if they get tattoos while in jail.

But "tagging" marks up government property. That is illegal. Tattoos mark up YOUR body, that's not illegal. Two different concepts. You don't have the right to mess with other people's things, but you can do whatever you want with yourself, so long as it doesn't hurt another person. It's the basic principle of John Stuart Mill's Harm Principle. (I can quote that too if you like; our society functions on it)

Are you poking fun at me Tattoos are art. It's body art.

But it's highly unlikely, unless if you're getting your tattoo in somebody's basement. You never know if they sterilize their needles. When you go to an actual good quality tattoo shop, you'll be fine.

Name me an example then, I don't see one.

Yeah, but we refine 'political socialization' based on the concepts of the country you live in. In Canada and America (using them since I come from one, you the other) it is against our society to murder or enslave people. Why ? Because we realized that it's bad. Tattoos, however, are not against our "political socialization" since they're not terrible. Am I saying that everybody should get a tattoo ? No, I don't believe in getting tattoos that aren't symbolic. In my opinion, tattoos should represent something greater than "I wanted one because everybody else has one."

That reminds me of the grilled cheese Jesus that was on eBay. But yes, you could consider that art. Art is simply anything created by a human using their skills or their imagination; That's why people interpret art differently.

I had my parents consent. I don't agree with doing something behind your parents back. If you can't tell them you're getting a tattoo, then you probably should reconsider it. My mom actually has tattoos too, by the way. Also, I don't have a tattoo in a noticeable spot (unless if my hair is up, which happens are rare occasions.) It's not necessarily the best thing to have a tattoo in an eye catching spot because we live in a "monkey see monkey do" society. However, to each their own. As for the disease part, as I stated earlier, so long as the needle is sterilized and you're getting it done by a professional, you'll be fine.

Also, I stress the concept of getting it done professionally if you do intend to get a tattoo. Don't let somebody with little experience approach your body with that needle. You may regret it later on.

What ? It's a basic math expression !

I'd like to say yes, but I don't think I got it ¬¬

Well if you go to somebody who knows what they're doing, you'll be fine. If not sue.