<p>I’ve never understood tattoos, personally. Can’t see the point.</p>
<p>NavGirl. Now THERE is a name from the past. Wonder how the superstar, 4.0 [well, actually 4.0+++], NHS [wonder if she had a tatoo], valedictorian goddess who couldn’t make a decision [and wanted everybody to know it] is doing at Harvard while us mere mortals make a living.</p>
<p>Actually, I wan’t even intending to go “after” somebody. I certainly don’t know the circumstances of how [who started this thread?] the son got a tatoo, what age he is, or what kind of kid he is. [I especially like the “responsible parents” let kids this age make their own decision. [I guess irresponsible parents give direction and/or instructions to their children “this age.”] What age, exactly, are we speaking of? 18? 17? 19? I just thought it was interesting [assuming he is more or less 18] that he got a tatoo w/out parental consent.</p>
<p>I’m old-school redneck minority who believes in the maxim: my house, my rules. Old enough to get and/or pay for a tatoo, [or some other assertion of independence with which I don’t agree] then you’re old enough to be independent, i.e. pay for rent, insurance, etc.</p>
<p>I suppose I should add that my father has a tattoo. Two of them as I recall.
Ol’ style Navy tatoos. One w/ a couple of birds circling around a heart. Lovebirds carying a ribbion around heart w/ the family name on it.
The other? I’m not sure I remember.</p>
<p>I also had a couple of uncles that had tatoos: One, was a big ol’ Jesus right across the chest. It was more of prison tatoo; he had been in prison for a bit and had a colorful past. </p>
<p>And there is always the nephew who has the family name tatooed across his arm in Old English. [Why is it, exactly, that Old English script has been adopted by Mexican-Americans as a way to display their family names?] I think he was arrested too–but, you can’t tell anything abou those who have tatoos, right?</p>
<p>Oh, yeah, I forgot my–mostly Hispanic–employees who blow a chunk of their minimum wages on tatoos.</p>
<p>Lets see, there is the kid that tatooed his street adress across his neck.
I think he is the same one who tattoed “f___ you” on the inside of his lip. [Facing out so the person facing him could read it.] The big dollar sign on his stomach and . . .
enought of him.</p>
<p>Then there is the 18-yar old mother of two, who has multiple tatoos.
The 19-year old mother of one, who has multiple tatoos.
The kid who is going into the marines later this year and is having to have some of them removed.</p>
<p>Nah . . . tatoos don’t mean a thing.</p>
<p>Well, actually, they are mostly good kids. A little pot, a little beer, but they show up for work most of the time.
America! You gotta love it!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Testify, Bill! Testify! :D</p>
<p>At our hospital, if you have had a tatoo in the past two years (I’m not sure about the past two year’s significance) prior to surgery, they automatically run a hepatitis panel on you and you are not eligible to donate even your own blood in advance (autologous donation), in addition to being prohibited from donating at all.</p>
<p>The Naval Academy is different than most colleges. A well-qualified candidate who truly wants to attend, owes it to himelf to find out everything he possibly can about his next four years. Where would he start? The USNA catalog. Guess what? The body alterations policy is delineated very well in the ADMISSIONS portion of the catalog. So, what type of candidate would defy what is written in the offical Academy guidelines?</p>
<p>One who doesn’t demonstrate the attention to detail normally expected of candidates and somehow slipped through the admissions “crack”? “Captain, I didn’t read that part of the tactics manual. I guess that is why we are steaming north and the rest of the formation is steaming south.”</p>
<p>Or someone whose parents did all the work? The parents perhaps wanted Junior to get an appointment more so than Jr. himself wanted it? Maybe Junior is a little lazy and mom and dad have to do all the work. Maybe he gets his laziness honestly because his parents were too lazy to read the catalogs themselves and depended on hearsay from some Academy forum to get their information? “Captain, mommy wasn’t here to read the tactics manual for me…”</p>
<p>I would say that in these instances, like Bill’s cigar, a tattoo is more than just a tattoo. Wonder what the percentage of those who leave early with tattoos is in relation to the class as a whole?</p>
<p>I still have my 1965 catalog. Pages are missing and it is held together with a rubber band. And I probably haven’t opened it twice since I-Day.</p>
<p>I agree with USNA69. The regulation is right in all of the materials that I have had since the beginning of the application process. If someone is dumb enough to get a tat after they have applied, whose fault is it that they have to deal with the results?</p>
<p>Bill510, you sound a lot like my dad…lol. Not that it’s a BAD thing. The reputation of kids with tats may not be 100 % accutate, but I think it is correct 90% of the time. My high school doesn’t allow visible tats, and I am very happy about that. I hate them.</p>
<p>That’s because there is a common despondency among older men who see the slow decline of the America they knew. [And the slow rise of China.] </p>
<p>You will not know the America that we knew. As our standards become looser [across the board, in many, many different ways]; as our young become less interested in science, education, or excellence; as parents continue to make excuses for the actions of their children [did you see the story about the family who had to be kicked off an airplane because they could not control their three-year old daughter?]; as the Chinese ascend in all the ways that we descend, I see a cloudier future for America in the next 50 years. </p>
<p>Tatoos are a small, but interesting, example. As they have emerged from the shadows of side alleys to the brightness of acceptability, despite the anecdotal examples that have been offered herein, the argument can certainly be made that those who have tattoos do not, how should it be said, excel as frequently as those who do not. One might liken it to the habit of spitting. I can count on two hands the number of times I have felt the need to spit in public. [That’s over 50 years.] Yet, among the less educated, there seems to be regular need to spit. How is that so? What is it that differentiates their bodily makeup such that they need to spit? While I am sure there are nobel prize winners that spit, it is, nonetheless, an indicator of that person’s overall station in life. [Note that the Chinese are in a massive campaign to decrease spitting in their society in preparation for the Olympics.]</p>
<p>As a shine man once told me: You can tell how a person takes care of their business by the way they take care of their shoes.</p>
<p>My father in law spent 34 years in the navy–Enlisted just prior to WW2, served in the pacific theatre and then was commissioned just after the war. I always wondered how he never got a tattoo throughout all those years, when it seemed like every other sailor (enlisted) I ever met seemed to have one—esp those from the WW2 era.</p>
<p>Bill i do see your point, but the older generation has been saying things like that about the younger generation for years. in the 20’s makeup was for prostitutes, and when “normal” girls started wearing it all the older women went up in arms. in the 50’s it was the beatniks and rock n roll that was supposedly ruining the kids, and on and on</p>
<p>dont worry, although we may have new interests, we have things under control. the future of the country is in good hands :)</p>
<p>Successful single mom here! Daughter has always been top of her class, Best Friend to many, Best at everything she does, Loves God, her country, her family and the USNA. Got two nominations in November, LOA last weekend, Senator called Thurs to congratulate her on her Appointment. AND HAS A TATTOO! SO MUCH FOR STEROTYPES! and THANK GOD all of these kids are not so cookie cutter! GO LOLA! GO NAVY!</p>
<p>But LolaMom … and you know I’m with you … let’s be honest and open about Glittergirl. She JUST got that tatt … which suggests 1. she did not read the catalog 2. she didn’t care 3. she likes living on the edge … sorta like where her tattoo is 4. she didn’t think she’d get anyway 
</p>
<p>So why did she get that tattoo within the past month or so? Do tell. </p>
<p>Lest I failed to mention earlier, I’m WITH you and for our Lola. But I am really curious about this mysterious behavior at this particular time from your young lady, whom I’m sure is NOT like Bill suggests they “all” are. I’m confident that he doesn’t think that either. He just likes to stir the worms wonce in a while. 
</p>
<p>Gotta say, getting a 'too as she’s being nominated boggles the mind. I know I’m old, I’ve seen too many grossly sagging WWII vintage skininks that were no doubt “works of art” in old Hong Kong 30 years earlier, and look forward to some expansion on your previous thoughts above.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m not reading one thing into it about the tattooed. She’s a fabulous young woman. Just trying to fathom, grasp why one would risk one’s dream for such silly nonsense.</p>
<p>My son has tattoos. Hate them personally. But I also wish people would not stereotype because of it. He has never been in prison. Higly unlikely to unless he has a sudden personality change. Is hard working, honest as they come and ready to help anyone who needs it.
When my D’s 17 year old boyfriend was killed in an accident 2 years ago his 2 older sisters got tattoos in memory of him. Not perhaps a choice I would have made (and yes I was thankful my D was too young at 16 to get one without permission) but in the midst of their grief it was something that helped them. Does that make them bad people - I don’t think so.</p>
<p>Of course not. Simply immature, delirious, grasping at some “meaningful” way to remember this friend, and I’d add … and this will light the fuse … not in great communication with those who might advise on a life decision like this one. Especially if they were 1. minors and/or 2. living in their parent(s) home. Otherwise, they’re on their own. Until then, they’re not.</p>
<p>I’m not passing any judgement on the tattooed youngsters. They’re dumb kids. The parental oversight is a whole different issue. </p>
<p>But hey, “kids’ll be kids.” Right? Yea, right.</p>
<p>Let’s be clear of this. This is a LIFE decision, in virtually every case. And it can and nearly always does impact, not postitively, in many ways. Partners, jobs, careers, love life, health, aesthetics, reputations, blah, blah, blah. We can claim that it is none of these, and usually try to rationalize it away. But this is not kids stuff unfortunately, and we’re suggesting it is … simply because it’s become MOMENTARILY popular. Like WWII tattoo era, we know, this too, or is it tattoo, will pass. Then what? Alot of people in denial about this gig.</p>
<p>I’ll add my two cents worth to the fray:</p>
<p>Shogun:
</p>
<p>My father also enlisted in the Navy just prior to WWII under the minor crusie program (enter at age 17 and get out at age 21). He served with distinction during WWII and the Korean War. Like shogun’s father-in-law, my Dad had enough common sense to not get any tattoos.</p>
<p>Loonie:
</p>
<p>The Virginia High School League (VHSL) doesn’t allow visible tattoos, or body piercings, or jewelery for that matter. For example, if an athlete at a swim meet is caught with a visible tattoos or jewelery s/he is automatically disqualified.</p>
<p>Furthermore, our school district keeps a sharp lookout for tattoos because of their association with gangs. Thankfully, our county doesn’t have any gangs (yet) which I attribute mainly to the high presence of marine officers, FBI agents, and DEA agents in the community.</p>
<p>Bill0510:
</p>
<p>My father was wise enough to counsel the four boys in our family against getting tattoos. Girls didn’t need counseling, because they didn’t do stupid things like getting tattoos at the time.</p>
<p>Out of the four boys in my family one got tattoos. And guess what… he’s the guy with a rap sheet that doesn’t stop. He’s done jail time, belonged to motor cycle gangs, and on and on…</p>
<p>Bill0510:
</p>
<p>Amen. I make my kids pay for their own auto insurance and gas regardless of age. If they want the privilege of having a driver’s license, they need to also learn to be responsible. So far, my daughter has avoided paying for insurance or gas by either using Dad as a chauffeur or her rich boyfriend whose parents were stupid enough to give him a BMW 750IL. At least she gets driven around in class. :D</p>
<p>Atrmom:
</p>
<p>Amen again. The standards are higher for Naval Officers, and even higher for Naval Academy graduates. Officers are supposed to set the example.</p>
<p>Although times have changed, these kids need to remember that the old salts (some might say old farts) will be signing their Fitness Reports. Military bearing is a part of the evaluation. Even a male officer having a “discrete” tattoo like “Welcome Aboard” placed on his privates won’t be appreciated, because the word will get around and the “Old Man” won’t be happy.</p>
<p>Spidermom:
</p>
<p>Once I turned 18 and graduated from High School, I was totally independent from my parents. Like Spider, I went to a private prep school before attending the academy. I always used my parenst as mentors; however they always expected me to be independent and act like an adult.</p>
<p>In defense of Spidermom, it’s not her fault that Spider got a tattoo before starting prep school. Spider screwed up, not mom.</p>
<p>I think the parents of the boy who died had other things on their minds than tattoos on their daughters. (who were not minors btw)</p>
<p>I hasten to point out that I personally hate tattoos and counselled my son very strongly against ever getting one for all the reasons mentioned. He was not a minor when he got one. Would I disown him for what I regard as a stupid choice that he will regret later - no - but I do hate them. And I have told my D (learned a little late) that if she gets one while in college our financial support ends.</p>
<p>However I do find fault with generalising by making comments like the one about the single moms with tattoo. I know girls with tattoos who are not unmarried Moms and girls without tats who are unmarried moms. So does that mean I should say - oh if only she had gotten a tattoo she would not be an unmarried Mom. That would be kind of foolish.</p>
<p>But yes I hate tattoos and do know there are many who will pass judgement without caring about the personality of the person. My own Mom thinks only murderers and rapists have tattoos. bet there is many a victim who would like an easy warning sign like that!</p>
<p>Pardon any typos - I have to rush off.</p>
<p>Okay, since y’all are discussing me, I figure I would put my two cents in about my tattoo. I did read the catalog and knew that as long as my tatt was unoffensive, if it was not visible under a competition bathing suit than I could get it. Thus I chose my hip bone, a place where I always wanted it and I knew that when I got older it wouldn’t be visible in my wedding dress or just out and showig when I’m old. But I can enjoy it when I’m young.
I’ve always wanted a tattoo. I started talking about it when I was 14, but for some silly reason you have to be 18 in GA no matter what. When I got to Europe I decided that I wanted to get one and I got it. I wasn’t really going to hide it from my mom, I just didn’t tell her right away. n fact, I really like my tattoo. It’s a gecko and it’s on my hip bone. It’s an awesome tribute to my life before the academy and I’ll forever remember that time in Prague, January 2007 when I got it.
In addition, of my two best friends at school, one has a tattoo and the other is getting one. These are both amazing, smart, beautiful girls and no one thinks differently about them or me. I guess you can’t generalize and like piercings it’s a personal choice that shouldn’t really give a doorway to one’s character. I’m sure there are many midshipmen or future midshipmen that can attest that they don’t love their country or respect themselves any less because they’re inked.</p>
<p>GlitterHairDye,
No that’s true but you also have to realize that you’re getting into a profession where you can’t pick and choose which rules or orders you going to follow and which ones you aren’t because people lives may depend on it. If you had done it and not known the rules, I guess I could understand, but, I do wonder why you would deliberately and knowingly do so. It has nothing to do with how smart you are or what your character is like. That’s just my thought.</p>
<p>Well, ya’ll have gotten way ahead of me.</p>
<p>BR2011. I was thinkg somewhat more globally than your post suggests.</p>
<p>From the greatest generation [born c. 1920 - 1930] through the boomers [1946 - 1964] and even continuing through part of Gen. X [1965 - 1975] this country ascended to primacy in the world order. Unless we as a society re-order our priorities, this will not continue.</p>
<p>Through the 20th century, the U.S. emphasized, more or less, an orderly society. Each generation emphasized to the succeeding one that education, relative equality *[granted the first half of the 20th century was not kind to minorities or women] *, and an upward mobility that is perhaps best represented by the thought that all who wanted to would become an “American.” [I seem immigrant parents from the 60s who assimilated thoroughly compared to current-day immigrants who see themselves first as–take your pick–jewish, palestinian, iranian, mexican rather than American first.] THAT is what made this country stronger than any other in the world.</p>
<p>At the beginning of this century, however, one would be hard pressed to identify a meaningful statistic where America leads the world. [With the exception of military-might and obesity.] We spend more per capita on health care, yet do not lead in such measures as life span, infant mortality, and healthcare coverage of its population. Our education system is tattering around the edges and in areas such as science, our students no longer are competitive world wide. [Examine, for example, the research dollars that are now going overseas as a result of our stem cell policies. Economically, the US is losing the primacy it once had; although the dollar is still a primary currency when it comes to trade, many international transacitons are being priced in euros. The Chinese would not have to drop a bomb on us, they simply need to divest themselves of their dollar reserves to wreck our economy.] Combined with a loss of “Americaness” over the past thirty years and it is a recipe for long-term disaster.</p>
<p>Previous generations, despite youthful rebellions such as hair, druges, sex, and rock and roll, maintained a forward drift that was indisputable. When you look at the numbers of young people today that are disenfranchised, uninvolved, and act without concern for rules, *see the above response regarding tatoos in places that can’t be seen *, then we have a generation that is less concerned with being “American” and more concerned with whatever it is that floats their boat. This level of disenfranchisement is VERY different than what went on in the late '60s or early '70s.</p>
<p>No, you cannot judge all tatooed persons by one standard. A pretty good generalization, however, can be made about those who divert time and resources to this form of art. [Perhaps one that those who get tatoos tend to evade rules?] In the context of this discussion board, as has been pointed out, the rules regarding tatoos are straightforward. If a young person chooses to ignore or otherwise skirt those rules, what other rules would they be willing to shade in their favor because its no big deal.</p>
<p>But, in accordance with modern day standards, c’est la vie. [However you might spell it.]</p>