Tattoos are everywhere. On people, on Pinterest, on my Facebook feed...literally everywhere. I just want to know why. Why in the world would a person commit to having something permanently inked on their body? Don't get me wrong, I have seen some cool tattoos, I just don't understand the desire.
First of all, what if you no longer like your tattoo after some time has passed? I know this question is asked a lot of people with ink, but I'm being serious. People change, and they can change pretty quickly at our age. The thing that is of the utmost importance to you today, could be completely different next week, and definitely next year. Even a quote or a bible verse which means one thing to you now, could be completely turned upside down for you as time goes on or by something major that happens to you. Call me a commitment-phobe, but I can’t imagine agreeing to make an image a part of my body for the rest of my life.
So what do you do if you don't like a tattoo anymore? I guess you could have it removed by laser, or covered with another tattoo, but that takes time and money, and is probably going to be painful. That's another thing about it--the pain. I'll admit that I have a pretty intense fear of needles and a very low pain tolerance, but still. I hear people talk about how painful it was to get their tattoo, or which places on the body hurt the most, and I can’t understand why a person would choose to do anything painful. I just really don’t think that “no pain, no gain” applies to tattoos.
My next question is this: what about covering tattoos for interviews and conservative businesses? I know a lot of people that carefully choose the location of their tattoo because of this, but I also know a lot of people who don’t. Honestly, I think asking a person to cover tattoos and piercings qualifies as discrimination, but the fact is that some businesses do. Plus, isn’t the point of a tattoo to be art, and to express the things that are important to you? If you can’t do that for most of your time each week, then what’s the point?
I suppose a person with tattoos would tell me that the requirement to cover up can’t change the personal meaning of a tattoo, and that they can still show off their pieces when they’re not working. Personally, I don’t see why a person couldn’t find another way to express themselves. Do it through your clothing, your online presence, or just by talking to people. I would honestly rather meet a person and have them talk to me about their favorite things in life or their favorite bible verse, than read it on their skin. It’s nothing against your art, it’s just that I don’t think tattoos are the way to get to know someone.
So there you have it: my opinions on tattoos. While yes, tattoos can be expressive and beautiful, I simply don’t find them necessary or desirable. In the end, choosing to get tattoos is a personal choice for everyone to make. I just choose not to get them.
