Tattoos are the thing of the last twenty years. I wonder constantly, “But why?”
I remember my father’s generation coming home from WW II with their forearms inked with anchors, girls, snakes, and assorted emblems. It seems to be a sign of bravery, speaking without words they had been to war for the country.
Then came 2000, and trending piercings and tattoos. I thought that when they were in their 70s and 80s, the wrinkled version would be less admired. So true.
My son, grandson, granddaughter, and assorted family offspring have now permanently marked their body with something. I asked my grandson the reason, and he simply said, “It is a reminder of my life.” I simply do not “get it.”
Me, I’m still using a journal daily to remind me of my life.
No tattoos.
Any explanations for your tattoos? Or, are you a virgin like myself?
When I was working I found it very difficult to accept a team member who had tattoos when we were going to working at the client site. For me, they look unprofessional and frankly ill-considered. Not the look or image most clients expect.
Outside of work, I’ve not seen many tattoos that do not look awful. They seem to be either excessive, a complete sleeve for example, or patchy bits and pieces set here and there.
Mostly though, I’ve a suspicion that people get tattoos to make themselves look cool and interesting - when the truth is, if you need a tattoo to achieve that, then you are neither.
@realspeed , I worked with the New York State police ten years before retiring.
About once a month, I was asked to come to the room downstairs to confirm, witness certain tattoos of those suspects being arrested with mug shots taken.
Believe me, they marked themselves with unique identifying marks, much more than any scar previously noted on their skin!
After two decades of tattooing, it’s neither cool, interesting, or unique…actually, it’s wearing out it’s welcome even to ask what the tat is representing, if anything.
I have never seen the attraction so no, none for me. What gets me are people who show them off, as in displaying them to the world. Never understood that either. What makes them think the world is interested in seeing what they have on their skin?
I never could stand them and would never think of having one. I really don’t understand why some people want to scribble on themselves, especially young women which does nothing more than spoil their looks.
Makeup isn’t permanent and comes off, nor is it used to hide identity as a manner of course. To me, tattooing is a form of permanent scarring that looks ugly and cannot be erased too easily. It looks worse when it smears and blurs with time and turns into a stain under the skin.
Absolutely Not. A Virgin
Tattoos are. “Skin Deep”. Amounting to.
Superficially Shallow.
Not as you are. More what you want others to believe you are.
Despite popular belief. Proven many times in the Navy.
And after event regretted.
Wen I was a kid we used to go to the Epson race course on Derby day as we lived only a few miles away. At the same time there was a huge amusement fair with boxing booths- flea circus- coconut shys -etc. Among all this was a rare sight of a tattooed lady as part of the attractions also bearded ladies. How things have changed since back in the late 1940s early 1950s era.
I have them on my arms and one on my leg. Do I regret having them done… yes I do! Something that I’ve noticed recently is that facial tattoos are becoming more popular. Some of them are not particularly subtle and discreet either. I saw a young girl in town yesterday with several of them plastered across her face.
Maybe it’d be a good time to set up a tattoo removal practice assuming that you have the necessary qualifications
My take is that it has to do with group pressure and one’s own identity.
Those who have tattoos communicate with their peer group. They want to be accepted by them. Within their community they then want to stand out by having more tattoos or unusual ones. Young people have to resolve the conflict between parental dependence and autonomy, and tattoos can support this process of detachment from the parental home as they indicate the power of adolescents to shape their own bodies.
On that subject, haven’t you seen the deep black eyeliner, stenciling, lipstick and pan make-up on those of the masculine persuasion??
Women have used make-up since the days of Cleopatra to enhance their appearance! Seems to me it has its benefits even to this day! I would bet a few of the ladies using make-up have caught your attention, versus the plain Janes without benefit of putting their face on before going out shopping?
No, we don’t use make-up to hide our identity. It’s called enhancing. Kind of like you men going to the gym for workouts to enhance your biceps and abs?
