Dinosaur asks, Why tattoos?

[deisystar]

Admittedly, I'm old school. And, just old =p
So I can be more 'evolved' on the subject, I'm really trying to understand why people get tattoos.

Everyone I know in your age range has a tattoo (my nieces & nephews) but if I sincerely ask 'Why?' they get defensive and just say they wanted one. Since I can't seem to get an understanding from them, I thought I'd ask your help.

I can't wrap my head around WHY tattoos are so popular?

The logic in my head says, I can't imagine wearing the elephant-bell bottom pants & platform shoes I wore daily in 1980, and then still be wearing them today, nearly 40 years later. After all, I was sick of them 2 years after the fad began, so why would I want them permanently attached to me?

To me a tattoo is a fashion statement. A permanent fashion statement. But I suspect it's different for you.

Do those of you with tattoos ever consider you may get tired of what you've inked into your skin? Or is that kind of thinking only for dinosaurs like me?

Is deciding to get a tattoo more of a statement?
Or, are yours driven by, and an expression of your emotions?
Or entirely something else?

Do you think your tattoos help? Hurt? Or have no effect on your camming earnings?

So, if you care to share, I'd love to better understand the tattoo phenom.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ohmona]

Reasonable questions, I wouldnt get defensive being asked that question but a lot of people simply assume things about tattoos.

Obviously I can't speak for everyone who gets tattoos, but for me they are not a fashion statement. They aren't even located in a place visible unless I remove an article of clothing. I placed them carefully on my body to be hidden from most because they are very personal and meaningful to me.

The oldest tat I have represents my spirit animal and goes back more than 10 years, and I've never regretted it except that it looked lonely on my shoulder blade. So I added another tat full of meaning, telling a tiny glimpse of where I am from and my heritage. To any stranger it just looks like pretty flowers (bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes) but those who know me know the fields were full of bluebonnets in Texas when I was a little girl, and the Indian Paintbrushes aren't found on the prairies much anymore.

The last tat I got is a simple, somewhat uneven cherry tattoo that I copied from my deceased brother. He got it in prison and since I copied it from a photo, mine looks like a prison tat too, except much smaller and with his DOB and DOD within. People who pass judgement about my tats usually beeline for that one.

Long story short, there is meaning behind my tattoos and each one took me years to finally decide on. My place of origin and my brother's passing are things that will never, ever change, and for that reason I don't consider tattoos a fashion statement or fad at all. They are more like colorful, carefully selected scars to represent something I've been through.

I could never represent my entire life, memories, travels, family etc in pics on my body, but I can see why people try.

As for camming, I've only ever had compliments on my tats, but I've had a lot of custies comment that I have the "right amount" of tats or that full sleeves/legs on girls are a turn off. For most guys there is a happy medium, or "conservative tattooers." Maybe the girls that are full of tats lose clients but there's also a lot of guys into "alt models" and the culture.

Thanks for asking your question, hope I brought some insight.