<p>"I dislike tattoos for the same reason I dislike graffiti on the side of a beautiful building or bumper stickers on cars.</p>
<p>That’s how I feel too. It’s really aesthetically based. I also dislike the look of people who bake themselves in the sun to get really deep tans - I think a deep tan is an unattractive look (obviously, someone who is dark by nature - that’s different; I mean a fair person trying to get a deep tan). But that doesn’t mean they aren’t nice and good people - they’re just making choices I wouldn’t. And I make choices they wouldn’t. And I don’t like how someone wears their hair and they don’t like how I wear my hair and the world continues to revolve! </p>
<p>^ There are other people - like a SO who do see your kids naked. Also, I can think of places to put a tatt that the person can see that no one else would - except someone seeing them without their clothes on. </p>
<p>Why bother? Because it is something they want to do - regardless if it is seen by someone else. </p>
<p>I am sure there are many people who have no desire to ever get a tatt - I am one of them. </p>
<p>There are places you can put a tattoo that would be visible in informal clothing that’s chosen to reveal it but not visible in clothing you would wear to work. I’m thinking of the shoulder or upper arm (not visible in a short-sleeved shirt) for men and the leg above the knee for women (visible in shorts or a miniskirt but not a knee-length office skirt). </p>
<p>But even though there are careful solutions to the visibility problem like these, I still don’t like tattoos because of their permanence. Can’t people just get unusual hairstyles instead?</p>
<p>My impression, is that when chosen thoughtfully, a tattoo represents a part of themselves that they want to strengthen or remember more often.
A hairstyle doesn’t evoke the same response.</p>
<p>I have two small tattoos that are covered for work. No one can see them unless it’s a rare hot day in Seattle and I’m wearing very short-sleeved tops or a bathing suit. I am 56 and they look the same as when I got them 25 years ago. They have not sagged. I don’t care if anyone sees them because they have meaning to ME, and that’s what matters since they are ON me. I won’t ever regret them because they mean as much to me as when I got them. I liken them to a ring my mother gave me. It may not always be my “style” but I would never toss it simply because I don’t like it anymore. It has meaning beyond how it looks. The tattoos are the same. Even if I one day get weary of the design, they still come form an important time in my life and will never lose the meaning.</p>
<p>As for people who are control freaks enough to withdraw support of a child who is otherwise a good student, doing well and on tack to be a successful adult because of a tattoo, well, YOU’LL show THEM, won’t you! Make them leave school, scrape by and maybe never acheive their goals because they got a little ink! Good for you then! Smh.</p>
<p>I’m always amazed when people say they would use the power of the purse to coerce their kid into majoring in something that they want, communicating according to a set schedule, or something like that. I’m amazed when people say that if their kid has some poor grades they will immediately pull them out of school and force them to come home and go to CC.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if I were sending my kid generous spending money–beyond tuition and room and board–and found out they were spending it on $300 tattoos, I could certainly understand figuring that they didn’t need that much discretionary $$ from me.</p>
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<p>Why be coy? Tell us what prejudices you suspect we are carrying around. We can let you know if you are correct in your suspicions.</p>
<p>" It seems so surface to judge people so strongly just on a tattoo. "</p>
<p>So let’s say we had a CC meet-up, and someone on this board walked in the room and had … oh, let’s say the makeup of Tammy Faye Bakker or Mimi (the heavy lady from the Drew Carey show) - bright and garish makeup.<br>
Or dressed like the 1970’s junior-high-music-teacher couple from Sat Night Live - fashions stuck in the past, very outdated. Or if they wore a prissy business suit and blouse buttoned up to here when the occasion was a casual meet-up at Starbucks. Or was clad in “obvious” multiple designer logos from head to toe. You think people don’t judge others on their aesthetic standards / tastes all the time? How is this any different? All of these people could be kind, good, smart people. But they are making certain aesthetic decisions about how to “display” or portray themselves. </p>
<p>What Consolation said. Cutting off “petty cash” allowance to a kid who spends the parent’s hard earned money on tattoos, fancy shoes, etc. is only fair to the parent. The CC advocates for social justice who are clearly anti-entitlement but are ok with kids frivolously spending on tattoos, please tell me why tattoos should be funded by the bank of mom and dad. :)</p>
<p>Note to self: wear my priciest Louboutins when I go to a CC meetup. I love to be judged. </p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with parents cutting off “petty cash” if they believe their kids are spending money frivolously. But there are places on your kid’s body to put a tatt that you would never know about So, if they really wanted one and knew there would be monetary consequence of you found out - they would probably get the tatt in a place you would never see. </p>
<p>How do you even know what your kids are spending the money they get from you on? Do you all make your kids submit receipts for all the purchases they make with their allowances? </p>
<p>There were also several posters who said they would cut off tuition. Personally, I think they are just blowing smoke. And those kids could get one in a place their parent would never see, either. </p>
<p>Is ruining the relationship one has with their child(ren) over a tatt worth it? </p>
<p>I am an anti-entitlement person.
I don’t think parents should give ANY “allowance” money to their children after the age when they can start working. I think that college students should earn ALL their pocket money including gas, tattoos, etc. </p>
<p>With that said, at least one person was talking about cutting ALL money including tuition, etc. That’s where I think it’s way over the top. Again, I don’t think money should be used as leverage (in general- I included a few caveats to that in previous posts and I’ll also add failing classes, etc)- that’s just my opinion. </p>
<p>So I have a question for all the people who are so anti-tattoo, no matter what.</p>
<p>The Vietnamese woman who does my manicures and pedicures every two weeks has her eyebrows tattooed in. She told me this when I asked her one time what she uses to fill in her brows because they look so good. While they don’t exactly look like real eyebrows (very minimal hair, which is why I’m sure she had them tattooed), they look respectable.</p>
<p>After I thought about it for a while, it occurred to me that she obviously shaves a lot of time off of her makeup regimen in the morning by having these brows filled in with tatts. </p>
<p>Do you all object to this kind of tattoo? Even those of you who admit you think less of people who have tattoos?</p>
<p>I don’t really “object” or “not object” to tattoos on other people - it’s just not my concern. The only “objections” I’d have would be on my spouse or my children. So Teri - for the lady you’re referring to - assuming it doesn’t look fake and she’s happy, I say rock on. In fact, I say that for anybody who isn’t my spouse or children – you want a tattoo, great - you do you, as the kids say. </p>
<p>Even so, now that my kids are of age (though still on the bank of Mom and Dad), what would most likely happen is that we’d razz them over it for a while, and then just let it go. </p>
<p>I think a potential analogy here is smoking. I don’t monitor my kids’ allowances or spending in the least. But if I found out they were smoking, I’d be upset and make my objections clear, and if I found out they were using my hard-earned money for cigarettes, I might figure I was giving them too much money. </p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that I walk around “objecting” to other people who smoke - I don’t like it, but it’s not my concern or business, really. </p>
<p>“But there are places on your kid’s body to put a tatt that you would never know about So, if they really wanted one and knew there would be monetary consequence of you found out - they would probably get the tatt in a place you would never see.”</p>
<p>While I see your point, PG, there is a big difference between smoking and tattoos IMO. Smoking negatively affect you AND those around you (health-wise). Tattoos do not. </p>
<p>For what its worth, we do not give our D any spending money. She earns it herself, from summer jobs and work study. It’s her money to do with as she sees fit.</p>
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I love to be judged. </p>