I think they're mostly a sign of youth as that's the time when most people get tattoos. I know some very intelligent, creative people who have tattoos. I'm sure there also are idiots who have them. What I do think is a mark of stupidity is to base someone's level of intelligence on whether or not they have tattoos.
This is exactly why I never got any. Aside from the fact that I've changed A LOT over the last 10-15 years, I know too many people who regret getting them and wish they hadn't gotten at least a few of them. Particularly the people who are covered in them. They have kind of painted themselves into a corner in terms of an identity and no longer have certain freedoms to grow and change. I actually feel bad for them. That has to suck.
Totally agree with you. its just an attention getter. I think that if the people like art so much they should put it on paper or canvas, not on their body. If girls love tats so much, then fine. You have to like me for who I am, not cause I got a cool drawing on my ***!
It starts at home.I know my Parents and every Parent I knew made a big deal out of explaining the nature of Tattoo's. That they are a branding of one's character.And only Losers do it. That to get a Tattoo means one has low self esteem. That our bodies are sacred and not to be painted.It's a mark signifying a lack of respect for both our bodies and our attitude. It's a stigmata.As it should be.Concentration camps used those blue numbers on the wrist to identify the inmates.It took away their humaness.They were no longer a person of worth,of character of individuality.They were merely a number. Look at people who frequent a Tattoo parlor.They are unhealthy looking, kinda dumb looking also,and yet act as if their Tattoo's give them degree of pride.Makes no sense.
Again.One will find it usually starts at home.We learn important things at an early age.If our Moms' spent time putting on their face then their offspring will take to makeup also. But to use TOO much makeup is also handed down. Like those Kardashians.Momma Kardashian always wears too much makeup.It kinda makes her look like a clown. Just like a mother hands down to her daughter her recipes or motherly advice,so to with personal habits.
Viv,... I know I was talking crap -- but that is what I was learned: don't get any tattoos. Anyhow, it's quite the stereotype, but let's be honest here, a lot of "not-so-friendly-folk" have tattoos.
Those people are actually very, very friendly, it's just you who is really annoying. Calm down and stop hitting me, I'm joking for goodness sake...honest, joking. No I know, I don't have any tattoos either, but I have been told by many people and not younger people but my own friends of my own age and older and who are all in respectable professions, that I am wrong in still seeing tattoos in that way as they are now perfectly acceptable and mainstream. They are so popular, they're no longer viewed as scruffy.
Doesn't really always work like that, for practical reasons. Women do share beauty secrets and my mother, sister and I were always inter-grooming, but my mother wore a little lipstick and mascara and perfume if going out and she favoured darker lipsticks. I wear a completely different type of makeup and hate perfume. Only thing we had in common is being very disciplined regarding personal grooming. My mother, for example, was a redhead and her hair was very thick and glossy. She preferred structured styling, short on the sides and full on top and her hair was so perfect we used to kid her it looked like a hat she put on in the morning. I was born blonde, so my hair is very fine and the tools and products she used to style her hair are absolutely useless, it needs daily conditioning to shine and hair straighteners to make it silky and although blondes have much more hair it is a different texture and tends to flop so the style is shoulder length...the hair at the side of your head is thinner than the back so with fine hair you need to keep as much of it as possible. Her skin colouring was quite ruddy and she used green-based makeup to tone that down, I am ok in summer and tanned, but winter skin is Scottish white and I need some colour boost from makeup...nothing she used suits... People with dark hair can wear a lot more makeup than blondes, before it looks like too much, btw. If you are blonde you have to really be careful and keep it natural. Dior products on the face and Aveda on the hair...
Tattoos are examples of vanity, imprudence and immaturity. That is not to say that these characteristics exist solely in the realm of body art; nonetheless they are inclusive to that behavioral characteristic.
You could say the same thing about wearing designer clothing and expensive jewelery, but we tend to look positively on such people.
Vanity maybe, and personally most jewelry to me is gaudy. The main difference of course is that an expensive watch or earrings can be taken off... tattoos are permanent.
How are tattoos vain? One of my friends had Rupert the Bear holding a balloon tattooed on her left shoulder when she was 35. Daft maybe but it doesn't look like vanity. A man I know had his mother's name tattooed on his arm the week after her funeral. Is that vain? There are probably as many reasons as people...I don't see how it can be judged or why people should pre-judge by something like that. Jewellery may be vain, but I like interesting looking rocks and stones (not kidding) and for a period of time obsessively collected jewellery purely because I like looking at the stones. It lasted about a year, now I have an 8 carat Brazilian amethyst and piles of other useless stones besides, which haven't seen daylight for 2 years. It was about appreciating things, not vanity. Now I only collect rocks or semi precious, rather than jewellery stones. I currently like blue lace agate and my all time favourite curiosity is Bismuth. Bismuth (tell me its not amazing) Blue lace agate
You're judging me for having an opinion on tattoos that differs from the mainstream... are you not? Sorry, I'm not following the other lemmings off of the cliff.... Tattoos are characteristic of vanity, imprudence and immaturity. You can bet your bottom dollar that we're all judged on our appearance and in particular by a potential employer...and you'll find most managers of corporations agree with my assessment of excessive visible tattoos. They won't hire someone on that basis often times.
Hogwash. Something being popular, mainstream or acceptable -- doesn't make it any good. Crocs are popular, mainstream and acceptable to wear as regular footwear -- that doesn't make it any less ridiculous. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkz3BxAyFFQ"]Bill Maher On Crocs[/ame]
I don't care for tattoos, but I don't see them as being a mark of either intelligence or the lack thereof. Some people simply like them. What one person thinks is garbage may be another person's art.
I recently acquired a tattoo, a Yin Yang in the form of a guitar pic with rays extending from the Yin Yang. I love it, drew it myself and sat on the idea for quite some time. As for the OP's question, depends on who is doing it, why they are doing it, and what the tattoo is. I personally view tattoos referring to ones beliefs or life story in a better light than say......a Budweiser tattoo on the forearm. :/ That is why you get tattoos that are not visible. Atleast that way the vain and socially/economically oppressive bourgeoisie will not deny you a livelihood based on what you chose to do in your personal time.
I don't know about all this negative stigma in here regarding tattoos... I have two, one of the letter E on my left shoulder, and on my left forearm, my son's name... And I plan on getting my daughter's name on my right forearm... I don't think tattoos signify any lack of intelligence, and lack of maturity, or anything negative at all, unless, of course, they are of gang-related insignia, or something like that... Although I will say, it is possible to go overboard with tats...
I know this guy - these aren't reall tats. He got drunk and passed out, so we shaved his head and drew this on him.
Go to any busy street in Manhattan, I would be willing to bet many more people have tattoos under those $1,000.00 Armani suits than you think. I became interested in tattoos when I was 17 years old. My parents had nothing to do with it, I wasn't influenced by any celebrities or any nonsense like that. I simply saw art on the skin and became fascinated with it. I was just drawn to it. It had nothing to do with being "badass" or "tough." That is just ridiculous. The forever aspect of it also was intriguing to me. I can see the people you have come across with a lot of tattoos were the "look at me" crowd. Granted, they are def. a part of the culture as they are in everything. If it wasn't tattoos, it would be flashy cars or expensive clothes and jewelry. That is a personality trait and has nothing to do with the art of tattooing. Because I want to... lol. Why do people wear clothes in the first place? Why do people spend a million dollars on a ring? Why do people buy huge homes that they do not need. Seriously, I am just infatuated with the art of tattooing. Actually, getting a tattoo really helped me in the healing process after my brother passed. I got the same tattoo, in the same chair, by the same artist - along with my brother and father. Frankly, you can take your pathetic comment and shove it. Everybody heals differently, and for your to judge says a lot more about you than anything. Talk about pathetic. My wife has two tattoos, one on her hip and one on her foot and I love them. My first tattoo was 10 years ago, no regrets. Stop projecting just because you regret yours that everyone else will as well. I have one of those, and I love it. It seems you and your parents are being quite judgmental, and for no particular reason. Care to explain how it is a "lack of respect" for your body? You just seem bitter and old. There are plenty of pictures of myself in my profile gallery, I do not think I look "dumb" or "unhealthy." Seriously, what a (*)(*)(*)(*)ing dumb thing to say.