Butterhorn spoken here!
I could be the mom of most of the people I work with now. A young mom [even a hot young mom, she thinks hopefully], but still. I got a good 18 years on all but two of ’em.
So I pride myself on being able to converse freely with them about most topics. Music? Hey, I’m down. I love Mumford & Son, and don’t even flinch at Macklemore lyrics. Politics? I get ’em from The Daily Show and Colbert like most 20-somethings. And of course since we’re all working at a bakery, we share the universal language of FOOD.
But recently these whippersnappers my colleagues have begun discussing tattoos. One of ’em’s about to get one–a barn owl, if you’re interested–and everyone else is chiming in. And I’m hopelessly out of it.
It’s not that I wouldn’t consider getting a tattoo. I would…if someone very close to me died suddenly, and I thought s/he would appreciate that kind of remembrance. Or if I had a radical mastectomy and wanted to beautify my chest. Other than that…not feelin’ the tattoos so much.
I’m also not anti-tattoo. I’ve seen some beautiful ones, and I understand, with my rational brain, why some people want one. But I have to admit, this wholesale dive by so MANY people into an inky, painful, expensive sea leaves me a little baffled.
Doubtless there’s a story behind this… (courtesy cellar_door_films, WANA Creative Commons)
Is it generational? I’d love to hear from some representatives of different age groups how they feel about tattoos. Personal, private remembrances only? Body-as-canvas? I wish I could take a survey, but this will have to do. Tell me how you feel about tattoos, and why.
Wing's World 
For me, no. But, some of them are beautiful. I have said for years that I wish the NBA, as a charitable fund raiser, would prepare a coffee table book of photos of all those tats on NBA players. You never really get a good look at them as they zoom up and down the floor so fast! And their clothes cover up a lot.
I am over 40 and I have a lot of ink, while most of my friends are ink-free. I think it’s very personal and not age-related, although it seems more socially acceptable now than when I was a teenager.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my ink and love to admire the art of others…
It sure seems to be a lot freer now…I mean, less baggage attached.
What a COOL idea.
I was recently showing my boss my temporary tattoo, which I plan to make permanent someday soon. I work in a Fortune 500 bank and was surprised to hear him perk up at that and start talking tats. It was kind of cool. I think whether you choose to have them or not, it’s simply an acceptable choice now.
Yup, the stigma seems to be fading…unlike the ink. 🙂
I’m a 45 year old with ink and love it. I think it’s about expression. The same as coloring your hair, just a whole lot more permanent. 🙂
Hm, I never looked at it like that.