<p>garland, I agree with you. Tattoos are ubiquitous these days, and not only with the younger set. I know several adults who have them, many professionals, and I’ve only ever heard one of them express a regret and that was only because her mother-in-law’s constant criticism. Personally, I would have told the MIL to mind her own business. :)</p>
<p>Instant judgments made about individuals with tattoos really says more about those making the judgments than it does about those with the tattoos.</p>
<p>Here is my funny little “tattoo” story from when my children and I were much younger.</p>
<p>We have an atrium at work where many people walk for exercise during their breaks. I was out walking in it one day when I could sense that the women walking behind me were staring at me and talking about me. I turned back to look at them, and they said they were admiring my tattoo and were surprised that someone as conservative as me had a tattoo on her calf. I looked down at my calf and then retreated to the ladies room to remove my “tattoo” - a Chuck E. Cheese window sticker that had gotten stuck to my leg inside my pantyhose.</p>
<p>I…admit that I don’t understand people’s strong negative reactions to all tattoos. Maybe this is a generational thing. My dad hates them too.</p>
<p>There are certainly <em>some</em> tattoos that I don’t personally like. But I don’t see them as immoral or low-class. And a small, inoffensive tattoo done by a reputable tattoo artist…what is the big deal?</p>
<p>I think, though, that getting one where it can be easily covered by clothing is wise, to avoid problems in a conservative workplace. Clearly, as this thread illustrates, there are a lot of people who still care for whatever reason. And yes, because of the permanence, people should consider whether they are likely to appreciate the thing in the future - getting a tattoo of a girl/boyfriend’s name when you’ve been dating them for a month is not the best idea.</p>
<p><i>Tats are so commonplace now that I think that only ultra conservative people and very narrow minded people give negative second glances to or think poorly of people with tattoos.</i></p><p>Perhaps where you live but tats here are still uncommon enough to get stares from a wide variety and age of people. That’s not saying people don’t have them but they’re not usually in public view. Even teens here will usually make faces when they see them. </p>
<p>As another poster pointed out, if it’s for the pleasure of the tatoo-ee, then why place them where they themselves can’t see them. No, much of it is for public attention. The professor with the shaved head is proving the point. She certainly can’t see it but she put it there for everyone else. Freud would have a time with her. </p>
<p>As for 80 year olds not having beautiful bodies, well, that’s a sad thing. Have you told your grandmother that? Every wrinkle and crease is history and experience and contains more knowlege than you have in your little finger. It’s not something artificial like a mermaid, it’s life.</p>
<p>Perhaps we should start a thread on which tattoos are appropriate for various professions and/or lifestyles. Frankly I’d be nervous signing a mortgage contract with a banker displaying a skull and crossbones tattoo. A bus driver with a tattoo that bragged “3 DUIs” might be cause for concern.</p>
<p>Maybe she just likes the aesthetics of a shaved head? Maybe she likes the feeling of the wind on her bare scalp? Maybe making assumptions about people’s motivations is as likely to turn up wrong answers as right, and tends to reflect the bias of the assumer?</p>
<p>Not 15 years ago. And not among business school professors at an eastcoast Ivy league school. That was my point. Just like wearing pearls and a sweater set in a different crowd would stand out as cool and edgy. Its the juxaposition that makes it work.</p>
<p>What a mean spirited thing to say. It’s not public attention, it’s public appearance. No different than anyone else.</p>
<p>Why do you bother to get the back of your hair cut? </p>
<p>For that matter, do you look in the mirror a lot? I assume by your statement above that unlike this woman in the example, you only dress and care for your appearance so you can enjoy the pleasure of seeing yourself. THAT might qualify for a trip to the couch.</p>
<p>I do not my cleavage a poor aesthetic choice simply because I feel comfortable with a low cut blouse in a social setting but think the same would reflect poorly on me in job interview (well, I suppose it depends on the job.)</p>
<p>Also, I consider it a sign of good mental health that Freud would have a time with some of my life choices.</p>
<p>I think tattoos are disgusting and tacky. Sorry. </p>
<p>I’d do almost anything I could to prevent my kid from getting one. What would work, is the question. How about a viewing of An Officer and a Gentleman, where he goes to lengths to hide his tattoo from the world?</p>
<p>I wonder whether the next generation will consider them old fashioned becuase all their parents have them! They will have to find something else to shock their parents.</p>
<p>I thought I wanted to get a tattoo when I was sixteen. I decided I was kind of crazy, but started thinking about it.</p>
<p>When I was eighteen, I found an image that had great personal significance to me and started considering it more seriously. I drew up a design that I like and stuck it on my mirror. It stayed there for two years and I looked at it every single day - I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something I was going to get sick of.</p>
<p>When I was twenty, I started considering placement seriously. It was something that was important to me, but I recognized that like an ugly top or a bad haircut, people might judge me based on it. The difference was that this was permanent, so I wanted it on my body, but in a place where it would never show unless I actually tried to show it to someone. That way I could have something deeply important to me on my body, to remind me of a certain experience, but I wouldn’t be forcing that aesthetic onto anyone else, or requiring that anyone else accept that tattoo in order to accept ME.</p>
<p>I chose a place. I got the tattoo. Everyone who’s ever seen it has called it tasteful, it doesn’t show when I bend over or roll up my sleeves. It won’t be visible in a wedding dress or at the office, unless I am working at an office where very little clothing is worn. </p>
<p>I still love it. I can’t imagine a time where I won’t love it. It’s deeply personal, deeply significant, and has not affected those who deal with me one iota - they don’t see it, because it is MINE and I get to choose who sees it and who doesn’t.</p>
<p>I’m very liberal about most things, but I think many tattoos (not all) look dirty (smudgy, gray, I’m not sure why). I don’t mind a tiny, unobtrusive butterfly, heart, etc. I think almost any tattoo larger than a quarter is unattractive. What people put where I can’t see it is absolutely fine, but I have problems with extensive or very visible tattoos by foodservers, medical personnel, and salespeople. I know a young lady who has a large plant tattooed on her shoulder & upper arm (H swears it’s a marijuana plant). She often dresses up and wears jewelry & heels, but it just looks dirty to me and detracts from her otherwise quite attractive appearance. People, myself included, judge others on first impressions based on things such as how they dress, cleanliness, carriage, and yes tattoos, as much as what they might say or their personality. </p>
<p>If this person is going into the medical profession, she might want to consider putting it in a place where it will seldom be visible (stomach, ankle, shoulder blade, inside of wrist, etc.), because whether she likes it or not, people (teachers, mentors, colleagues, patients) will react, and probably not positively. I would much prefer that people react to my bedside manner or competence than my tattoo.</p>
<p>A young woman I work with told me and another older female coworker about the tattoo she just got on her lower belly. The coworker and I looked at each other and immediately thought the same thing - pregnancy and stretch marks are not kind to tattoos.</p>
<p>No worries–that wasn’t the argument being made.:)</p>
<p>Rather, it was: it will be unlikely that tattoo-wearers will face the same kind of kneejerk condemnation in the future, especially among their own generation, since they are becoming ubiquitous.</p>
<p>It was clear the first time, and I hate to tell you this, but there are plenty of people in that generation who think tats are ugly, tacky, cheap, whatever, and just because lots of people have them doesn’t make them less ugly, tacky, cheap, whatever. IOW, tattoo-wearers will still face kneejerk condemnation in the future, even in their own generation.</p>