What do you think about tattoos? Being a person with a couple of tattoos, I am usually scorned for having them. I don't understand why. Tattoos are a way to express yourself and even show that you are artistic and maybe at the same time a little bit different. People use blogs, people use clothing, and some use tattoos. Nearly all adults that I have some affiliation with that see my tattoos seem to hate on me. They ask why I would ruin my body with stupidity. I tell them that the tattoos I have are worth sentimental value to me, and I have them because I never want to forget the meaning behind them.
Honestly, yes I can do without my tattoos, but let me explain further. On my left shoulder, I have my initials: MCU III. I am proud to have the family name, and I consider it an honor. I wanted to make that public. On the other shoulder, I have a bulldog and the initials JYD under it. It stands for Junk Yard Dog. My family owns a scrap metal business, which is basically a junkyard.
My father got the tattoo when he was 35 years old, and my brother and I both thought that since one day we will be running the business, that we both get the tattoo my father had. When my brother and I showed my father, he seemed touched. My brother and I both wanted to express to our father that no matter what happens in the future, we will still be junk yard dogs at heart because the yard is what made our family what it is.
At first I used to think tattoos were for Harley riding bikers, perhaps this is why a vast amount of people have harsh opinions about them. But as I grew I realized the true reason. People get "tatted" up to express themselves and express the things they care about. I know a girl in my English and Psychology class that has some pretty serious tattoos. The colors alone on one of them is enough to surely catch one's eye, and just the design overall. While we were walking to our english class that followed our psychology class, she told me about how excited she was to be going to the tattoo parlor later that night to get a new tattoo she has been dying to get. When I listened to her explain exactly what she wanted to get, I could see a twinkle and sparkle in her eye. People who feel that tattoos are unacceptable, you need to realize why people do it and have respect for their reasons why. Don't be so quick to judge.
SHOUT OUT TO MY PSYCH AND ENGLISH BUDDY.....YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
12 comments:
Awesome post, I had to comment! My tattoos mean everything to me, like yours do to you. It is so exciting and refreshing to see new art work on my body. I know a lot of adults criticize me for doing this. My mom, for example, always says to me "Audra you're so beautiful. Why do you ruin it?". My response is always that this is me. I feel like having tattoos is more beautiful than not. If you had the choice to carry around art with you all day long why wouldn't you? It doesn't make me a hard ass, and I don't do it because I enjoy the pain. I do because I love to look in the mirror and see permanent art. It makes me feel accomplished to have sleeves of some sort, and my chest and back done. Its interesting to hear the comments I receive as well. Some people at SMU appreciate that I am different, while others are intimidated. No one needs to be intimidated by me. I am just a girl who enjoys my individuality to the fullest.
And one more thing I forgot to mention. Tattoos are becoming more acceptable in society. When I first started getting tattooed, my dad didn't understand it until he realized that the majority of people our age have at least one tattoo. This could range from a butterfly on the hip of a sorority girl to someone that is covered in tattoos like my ex boyfriend or best friend, but we all want to stand out in one way, shape, or form. The funniest thing I have heard recently, is that I was worried about walking down in short sleeves to see one of my grandmother's life long friends, but I did it anyways. After I had left to go out for the night, my mom, grandmother, and grandmother's friend all talked about tattoos, and my grandmother's friend had gotten one on her 75th birthday! If someone like that can be open minded, than we can all take time to experience new things.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU
After reading your blog, and the comments on this, I agree with what you have to say. I would love to get a tatoo, but as you know, they will stay with you forever. Its a big decision to get a tatoo, and alot of thought must be put into it. I grew up in a very religious and conservative home. My parents would not enjoy seeing me with tatoos, but that is because of what they believe religiously. Their faith in God, and the fact that he made us who we are, and we should keep it that way, is their reason behind it all. I think tatoos are a way to express yourself, but I think there is a number that is too much. I think that when someone is covered in head to toe with tatoos it is hard for our society to accept that. Whether it be getting a job, or simply walking down the street without getting stares, having your body tatooed is a big decision and some people don't agree with it.
My parents are really religious as well, but they got used to it. They realized it was my choice. When you get ready to get a tattoo, make sure you go to a good shop, and please don't get wall art!
I wanted to start off by saying that I don't have any tattoos. But it's mainly because I'm deathly scared of needles. I cringe when I have to get a shot. Anyways, I have no problem with tattoos as long as there is sentimental value behind it. Some people get tattoos in memory of a lost one or to represent something they are passionate about. There is meaning behind it that they want to be reminded of every day. On the other hand, some people get tattoos because they want to seem cool or they think it will look cute. I find this to be ridiculous! One girl from my high school got a butterfly tattooed onto your top thigh on her 18th birthday. The only thing special about it was that her boyfriend, of the time, designed it for her. But other than that, there was no meaning behind it. She got a tattoo just for the sake of having one. Marking your body just to be rebellious is not a good reason to get a tattoo. In no way is that expressing individuality. I have no objections to tattoos as long as they're there for the right reasons.
Instead of commenting here I decided to wirte about tattoos on my blog.
Jat tramp stamps are one thing, but you don't have to have meaning behind your tattoos at all costs. Most of my tattoos do not have meaning. They are there in respect for my tattoo artist because of what he is, an artist. I enjoy having work on me because no one else has this work in the world. How does that not make me an individual? However, you are not unique because your skin is plain and boring like so many other peoples' in this world. Get a tattoo, then i'll have respect for what you say. Sorry, I just don't appreciate close mindedness. Your probably the type of person that would look at me and my friends as if we would jump you are steal your car if we were all out to dinner having a nice conversation just like normal people. Tattoos making people rebellious? Please! I do know some people that have gotten tattooed for the wrong reason, but in no way were the thinking about rebellion! Tattoos do not mean anarchy sir. They are the essence of individuality. Unless, of course you have a tramp stamp like the girl you mentioned with the butterfly on her hip. I don't have respect for that either. That is definitely one thing we can agree on.
I personally do not have any tattoos but a lot of my friends back home do. They all have put a lot of thought into what they wanted and it is something that is important to them, even if it does not seem to have much meaning to other people. I think that if someone wants to get a tattoo, that should totally be their thing and people should not judge them about it. For me, there is nothing I can think of that I would want to have on my body for the rest of my life. I think that the negativity seen towards tattoos is because some people do use it as a form of rebellion and others automatically find the worst stereotype and think that everyone else is like that as well.
I definitely don't have a problem with tattoos- i think they are art, a way of expressing oneself. I can't say I always enjoy seeing people with their whole bodies covered in them, not to mention how bad the ink it for your body, but a few tattoos that have a special significance to someone are awesome. Sure people say there are other ways of expressing yourself than permanently scratching ink into your skin, but to have something on you forever usually means that it is pretty important and powerful. I have always wanted one, but girls with tattoos don't get the best of looks either. My sister is 25, and got a tattoo when she was 17, and she says that people, especially guys assume certain things about her just because she has a tattoo, and she is actually pretty conservative. Overall, I think tattoos are pretty cool, and even cooler are some of the stories behind them.
I used to think tatoos and piercings were trashy. However, I believe the only reason I might have felt that way was because it is something that is critized in society. At one point I wanted my nose pierced, but I restrained myself because I felt like having something different would hinder my chances of getting a professional job. There are some people out there that don't let this stop them. More power to them. I have many friends that have tatoos and I'm fine with them, even though I would never get one myself. My only thing is that if people get tatoos I think they should have meaning and not just be some cool design.
Also, my little brother called and asked me if he should get a tatoo. My immeadiate reaction was NO. But I back off and realized that it his body and he if wants to express himself in that way then that is his deal. It may not be right for society to judge those that have tatoos, but it seems to be the way it is for some reason
This really has been an interesting thread. I like the many ideas that came out--including some of the prejudices against tattoos and the people that wear them. Many people do see tattoos as a sign of rebellion against social conventions; hence the prejudice that people with tattoos are trouble-makers of some sort. Also, there is an economic class issue: People used to associate tattoos with working class people, and that's another reason people stereotype tattoos as rebellious; it's a sign that you don't care what the white collar crowd thinks of your status. But this thread shows that people with tattoos get them for many reasons, including just because the designs can be beautiful. If there is one thing you have a right to, it is your own body. By the way, when I was growing up, people had similar attitudes to pierced ears. It was seen as not the WASP -y thing to do until the 1960's.
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