Tattoo Culture

It would seem that we are at a time where having a tattoo is the norm, everywhere you look young and old are all having tattoos.

I personally do not have a tattoo and if I am honest, I really do not like them. I can never understand why you would want to have something etched in your skin for the rest of your life. Saying that I do not condemn people who choose to have them, as I realise everyone has the right to do what they wish with their own bodies.

Now before you get upset and start telling me how wrong I am, this blog post is just my opinion. I do not have any negative thoughts about people who have tattoos; in fact, most of my friends have tattoos, as do some of my family. My sister in law used to be a tattoo artist and is looking to tattoo some of my family. What I am saying is tattoos are not for me.

Tattooing is not a new thing and has been practiced for centuries, but the practice has changed over the years from an act of deviance and criminality to the current day form of expression. People have them done to express themselves and generally have meaning and for some are classed as an art form.

I find it very difficult to give an honest opinion on a tattoo if someone wants me to look at theirs; I find it difficult to get past the fact that they have permanently had an image etched into their skin. Saying that I have some friends with some stunning tattoo images.

Now before someone comments on that tattoos can be removed by laser treatment, I know! The only reason I have written this blog because a friend of mine on Facebook has decided to have two removed by laser treatment from his neck, the fact I found interesting was that he said the pain of the laser treatment was far worse than the original tattoo.

The other thing that has always baffled my about having a tattoo is the thought of having it until you get old and retire, what if your tastes and views on life change or what happens when your skin starts to wrinkle or sag? The funny thing is I worry about this, plenty of grandparents have tattoos in their later years, usually with the names of their grandchildren worry a lot less than I do!

I always find it strange that when people who get their partners name tattooed onto themselves, after only knowing them for a few weeks seem to forget they are difficult to remove. Now I know I sound like a cynic and we all fall in love and expect to be together forever, but surely having something etched onto your skin which is hard to remove is slightly mental.

I think the tattoo culture will carry on for some time, celebrities like David Beckham & Cheryl Cole have made tattoos popular, most towns have a tattoo parlour, and websites like eBay make tattoo equipment easily available, allowing artists to start tattooing from home. Of course having a tattoo done from someone’s home carries its own risks to health and quality.

The big thing I do not understand is why many people choose to cover themselves in tattoos; I really do not understand why you would want a sleeve tattoo. I might be wrong but I am not sure you can have that type of tattoo removed. I really do not like tattoos on faces and think that is a step to far.

I was doing some research for this blog and I came across an opinion that totally confused me. In the post a person was expressing his opinion and saying he could not date a girl with a tattoo, everyone has a right to his or her own opinions. I must admit there are some tattoos on women I find sexy and if a woman I was interested in had a tattoo it would not be an issue for me (unless it was he ex’s name!).

As the saying goes do not judge a book by its cover, so before you judge someone who has tattoos remember it is their choice, after all if someone has a tattoo it says nothing about their character it is the person inside that matters.