To try and persuade DD to not get a tattoo?

[TurquoiseSeal]

DD plays a video game (a lot) and is almost 19. She wants her first tattoo and has had a design done which is literally a character from the game. As she's so young, it might seem cool now, but I really think it's the type you're going to regret, she won't play this game forever. She plans on using the birthday money from us (she is a uni student so doesn't have another way to fund it really) so I'm slightly reluctant to now give money on her birthday. AIBU to have these feelings and persuade her or?

Tattoos are already going out of fashion.

Bullshit.

His tatts look as shit as everyone else's

They actually look much shitter than most. Like "my mate did these with a biro, a needleand a lighter when we were drunk" kind of shit.

My trendy North London teens and their mates regard tattoos as unspeakably naff and middle-aged Family. Too many of their parents date-stamped themselves in the 90s with little dolphins/Japanese symbols/Celtic patterns/"meaningful" quotes etc.

Why are people so judgemental of other people’s choices? “They’re awful/ugly/gross..fresh clean skin is more beautiful”?! Not in my opinion, I think people heavily tattooed are more beautiful, but I don’t judge people with “clear skin.”
(Also no one does it to be unique, and the how it will look when we’re elderly argument is silly, if skin ages awfully as people say, no one will look good will they. )
My mum hates tattoos, so I’ve just hidden mine for years. It didn’t make me not want one, it just meant I have to hide my real self from her.

Ask her to stick the design somewhere she has to look at it several tomes a day, every day.
If she still loves it in March she will know it's the right one.

Two tattoos I had at 18 have been covered up as my tastes have changed. The others I made sure I could live with them and I still love them. Including the ones I've had covered I've now had 7.

My trendy North London teens and their mates regard tattoos as unspeakably naff and middle-aged Family.

Your kids sound hideous.

My trendy North London teens and their mates regard tattoos as unspeakably naff and middle-aged

Gosh I’d be embarrassed if my child was so openly unkind and judgemental.

They're lovely actually. They just view tattoos in the same way I viewed flares when I was a teenager.

Notumbongo you are very direct and not in a pleasant way. Do you have teenaged children? It may be impossible and probably ill-advised to try and stop her from doing something she may regret, but that doesn't stop a parent being sad about it, and not being too keen to fund it, A son of mine got one when he was 18 and I was upset. I still hate it and he is 40.

They're lovely actually. They just view tattoos in the same way I viewed flares when I was a teenager.

They don’t sound lovely - they sound judgemental and snooty. But then, having a parent who describes them as “trendy North London teens” would have an adverse effect on anyone.

@FamilyOfAliens well said

You're right. I've failed as a mother. Mine are the only teenagers in the history of the world to laugh at what their parents thought stylish.

I travelled from the South to a studio in Sheffield for mine, no regrets!

confusedbeetle that’s your problem not his.

Most people who get tattooed are under 30, so while some North London teens may think them uncool, there are clearly plenty of young people who don't.

The fact that they're more widespread in general is probably a bigger contributor to why somebody trendy would look down on them. It's never cool to do what lots of other people do, after all.

Rafinha

The “trendy North London teens” in question are reported as saying they think tattoos are “unspeakably naff and middle-aged”, not uncool.

(Still tittering at the thought of someone who uses the expression “unspeakably naff” criticising someone else for being “middle-aged” )

That's my middle-aged translation of the local slang, Family, not a verbatim quote

The “trendy North London teens” in question are reported as saying they think tattoos are “unspeakably naff and middle-aged”, not uncool. Surely the uncool part goes without saying?

@Craft1905

I have tattoo’s. Am a professional.

Clearly not an English teacher though.
🤣🤣🤣

My trendy North London teens and their mates regard tattoos as unspeakably naff and middle-aged

Your "trendy North London teens" (fucking hell that's hilarious, by the way) and their mates sound like judgemental arsewipes, hun.

Things may have changed somewhat since I was a teenager, but I remember them all being pretty judgemental tbh! I don't think the 'trendy North London teens' are unusual in that regard.

Touchy much, tatt people?

Touchy much, tatt people?

Nah. Just cringing for you

Why shouldn’t teens think tattoos are naff? These things go in cycles.

I agree with SchnitzelVonKrumm

In the very near future we will see a change and "clean " skin will be fashionable and valued.

If unmarked skin is a rebellious thing to do then it will happen.