Tattoos have become the most popular form of body modification in our society, especially now more than ever. People used to think of tattoos as a sign of rebellion because people like wrestlers, bikers and criminals had them. However, now it seems like every other college student has a tattoo including the most goody two-shoes of people.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for tattoos (in fact, I have one of my own). Mine is on my hip and says the word “believe” with a Mickey Mouse head next to it. I got it because Disney holds a special place in my heart and the motto encourages me to “believe” every single day. But what is so bothersome to me is that more and more young people are getting tattoos just for the sake of looking cool and fitting in. I have seen many people with tattoos that don’t hold any meaning.
People have become more superficial, relying only on physical appearance and material objects to impress others. But shouldn’t the fact that tattoos are permanent be taken into consideration before actually going under the needle? Sure, a star on your hip may look cute, but there is no story behind that. Tattoos should be meaningful. You should always ask yourself, “Would I still like this tattoo in 30 or more years down the road?” Another thing that I can’t stand is that a lot of girls have been getting tattoos like birds, feathers and dreamcatchers lately just because it’s trendy. Why would you want a tattoo that you know so many other people have?
“The reason for getting it [my tattoo] was because of the meaning of it. Half of it is for my uncle who died during 9/11. The other meaning is that it reminds me every day that I can get through anything,” Nicole Simmons said, a freshman sports management major.
Simmons referred to the story behind the tattoo on her foot that says “forever strong” with a heart. “I don’t think there’s a point in getting one if it has no meaning. It is permanent, after all. Otherwise, people usually just end up regretting it,” she said.
With that being said, the perception of tattoos has changed quite a bit. Ultimately, no matter what type of person you are in the world, if you’re planning on getting a tattoo, it should have some kind of significance and remind you of an important aspect of your life every time you look at it.
Madison Irwin can be reached at xoxomaddie2@aim.com
Just because something is mainstream, does not mean it is acceptable in certain career positions. The difference between tattoos and other trends is that tattoos can not be removed. I hire people and I would not look twice at a tattoo person. Too many people do not think of the ramifications of inking their body.
I do not spite people getting tattoos that don’t mean anything to them, it is ones choice. The client decides what the client decides, and nothing should be thought of. Alot of people don’t respect the art because they only think it is “cool” or “hip”, but who are we to start bashing the youth for getting tattoos that don’t mean anything. Look at some of the most famous artists in the world. Alot of there tattoos are just there to look good, and those artists respect the art. I say just let people do what they are going to do, they don’t need us to remind them of future regrets. Thank-you for posting. -Tattoo Artist