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Tattoos

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Original poster

Can someone please explain the fashion for tattoos?

117 replies

speakout · 01/07/2022 19:07

I don't get it.
I am an older mum, with two young adult kids. They both have tattoos.
Doesn't float my boat, and they know I am not keen, but they also know I support their choices- their bodies, not my place- so noconflict there at all.
Truthfully I don't understand the appeal, the motivation.

Can anyone explain why tats are appealing?

OP posts:
mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 11:02

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/12/2022 10:22

The sheep comments don't make sense. I have never seen any tattoos I have on others. They were drawn up for me and me alone.

I don't see someones tattoo and think I'm going to get that one on me

Pretty sure the poster just meant people are sheep for having tattoos.

Go anywhere where there are a lot of young(ish) people and almost all of them will have tattoos. No individuality at all.

ThatEdgyFeeling · 15/12/2022 11:08

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 11:02

Pretty sure the poster just meant people are sheep for having tattoos.

Go anywhere where there are a lot of young(ish) people and almost all of them will have tattoos. No individuality at all.

Show quote history

So all those that don't are sheep too?

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/12/2022 11:09

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 11:02

Pretty sure the poster just meant people are sheep for having tattoos.

Go anywhere where there are a lot of young(ish) people and almost all of them will have tattoos. No individuality at all.

Show quote history

But everyone wears clothes too. But they're all different. People have tattoos for completely different reasons. Not because others do

elQuintoConyo · 15/12/2022 11:11

BECAUSE THEY LIKE THEM. HOW VERY DARE THEY!

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 11:22

ThatEdgyFeeling · 15/12/2022 11:08

So all those that don't are sheep too?

Show quote history

Well hardly as we were all born without them!

Once they were fairly unusual now it's unusual if you are under about 30 not to have at least one although most seem to have loads.

Whichwhatnow · 15/12/2022 11:23

I don't have any tattoos but both my siblings are tattooists and I can definitely appreciate the beautiful work they (and others) do. Some are really meaningful (memorial portraits etc) and some are just beautiful pieces of art.

I will admit that some tattoo requests my sibs get are a bit ridiculous - eg "I want a quote or a poem, something really meaningful... do you have any suggestions??" 😆. And there are some that really are just following the crowd - eg every second girl in the alt/punk scene around here seems to have a single black line tattooed from the middle of their bottom lip all the way down their neck and chest (actually looks pretty good usually, but so unoriginal!). But generally I'm a fan!

MouldyChristmasPud · 15/12/2022 11:38

Actually alternative people that I know tend to not want to be alternative. When I was young tattoos were alternative now they are very mainstream.

Thighlengthboots · 15/12/2022 12:40

Go anywhere where there are a lot of young(ish) people and almost all of them will have tattoos. No individuality at all

Unless they are getting the exact same tattoo this is utter nonsense. By that rationale, I see lots of elderly women with the same blue rinse hairstyle, I suppose they are sheep too are they? I know plenty of young people who dont have tattoos- are they all sheep following each other?

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 15:44

Thighlengthboots · 15/12/2022 12:40

Go anywhere where there are a lot of young(ish) people and almost all of them will have tattoos. No individuality at all

Unless they are getting the exact same tattoo this is utter nonsense. By that rationale, I see lots of elderly women with the same blue rinse hairstyle, I suppose they are sheep too are they? I know plenty of young people who dont have tattoos- are they all sheep following each other?

No, it's not nonsense. When I was in my 20's I literally never saw anyone with a tattoo. Over the years they have become more and more common.

On a summers day when lots are wearing shorts, skimpy tops etc by far the majority of the ones under about 40 have tattoos. Lots of them are covered in them - their arms, legs, chest, boobs etc.

Why are they so popular now? Just almost everyone jumping on the bandwagon

Mintleafcocktail · 15/12/2022 16:12

Why are they so popular now? Just almost everyone jumping on the bandwagon

So what? fashions come and go- punks were in fashion in the 80s, as did the 60s, 70s and 90s have their unique fashion trends. I dont see whats the huge deal about this, I cant imagine getting so worked about tattoos. Good grief.

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 15/12/2022 16:34

Verbena87 · 02/07/2022 15:00

Massively what @MsOllie says.

And @fantasmasgoria1 I’ve got a Breton top and several pairs of brown brogues AND tattoos. Am I a hopeless case?! 😜

More of a lost cause I would say..... 😂😂 (only joking!)

SirenSays · 15/12/2022 16:42

It's art. Humans have always liked art. They have them for the same reason you have art on your walls. You like it and no one is calling you a scumbag or criminal for having it.
Now there's less stigma and shame more people feel comfortable getting them and choose more obvious locations for them.

daisyjgrey · 15/12/2022 17:19

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 09:31

I hate tattoos. Some actually make me feel physically sick. Leg tattoos are vile for me as are ones on the chest.

Also why on earth would someone have a tattoo where they can't even see it like on their back or back or their neck?

You're a delight...

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 15/12/2022 17:25

So what? fashions come and go- punks were in fashion in the 80s, as did the 60s, 70s and 90s have their unique fashion trends. I dont see whats the huge deal about this

Each to their own, of course, but unlike the things that made up the fashions of the 60s-90s, a tattoo is permanent; or, at least, expensive and painful to remove. I can understand getting one that is deeply meaningful to you, but I don't think they work as a 'fashion statement' because they can't change with the fashions.

thefamous5 · 15/12/2022 17:29

I have eight.

Why?

Because I love them. Every time I see them they make me smile

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 17:30

daisyjgrey · 15/12/2022 17:19

You're a delight...

Show quote history

Didn't answer my question though as what on earth is the point of having them where you can't see them.

People compare them to art. Who buys a picture then puts it in the loft where they can't see it?

thefamous5 · 15/12/2022 17:32

I also don't care if they look bad when I'm old. If I'm privileged to get to an age where they're wrinkled and look bad, they'll bring a smile to my face remembering them looking fabulous and making me happy

Branleuse · 15/12/2022 17:34

The appeal for me is partly the way it looks, and partly the pain and commitment

EmergentThoughts · 15/12/2022 17:34

It's not a fashion trend, its been around for as long as humans have!

I work in a skilled professional role and I would guess at least 60% of us have tattoos. It's completely unremarkable though. Nobody cares.

Itsthewhitehat · 15/12/2022 17:38

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 15:44

No, it's not nonsense. When I was in my 20's I literally never saw anyone with a tattoo. Over the years they have become more and more common.

On a summers day when lots are wearing shorts, skimpy tops etc by far the majority of the ones under about 40 have tattoos. Lots of them are covered in them - their arms, legs, chest, boobs etc.

Why are they so popular now? Just almost everyone jumping on the bandwagon

Show quote history

Or maybe there’s other reasons.

Many cultures have tattooed going back throughout human history. Do you consider that to be jumping on the bandwagon?

In the UK, tattoos used to be socially unacceptable. My uncle had a couple and he usually kept them covered. No one was embarrassed about judging people with tattoos. It was also socially acceptable to turn people down for work with tattoos. Also tattoos were not usually amazing quality, so not some going people looked at and wanted.

As people have a got a grip and realised that, actually, tattoos are not indicative of wether people can do a job or not, as it’s become more socially unacceptable to openly judge people for their appearance and because they are (generally) better quality more people want them.

Who knows how many people would have wanted them before, if they were more acceptable and better quality.

It’s impossible to say definitively. Because there’s so many influences and variables. We can’t say what people 50 years ago would have chosen had there been the same social impacts.

Odetta4 · 15/12/2022 18:08

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 15/12/2022 18:28

I wish this was one of my biggest problems

It’s a choice- simple either like them or you dont

daisyjgrey · 15/12/2022 19:48

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 17:30

Didn't answer my question though as what on earth is the point of having them where you can't see them.

People compare them to art. Who buys a picture then puts it in the loft where they can't see it?

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Presumably when you have your hair done the hairdresser doesn't just do the front?

Also, things that people choose to do with their own body that literally have no impact on anyone else generally come under the heading - None of Your Business.

mydogisthebest · 15/12/2022 20:10

daisyjgrey · 15/12/2022 19:48

Presumably when you have your hair done the hairdresser doesn't just do the front?

Also, things that people choose to do with their own body that literally have no impact on anyone else generally come under the heading - None of Your Business.

Show quote history

Not the same at all. Your hair is seen by everyone that you see do they see the back.

Most people who have tattoos in places that they can't see also wear clothes that cover them so no one at all sees them except their partner.

As I said, like paying a fortune for a lovely painting then hanging it in the loft. More money than sense I guess

Branleuse · 15/12/2022 20:33

Davethecat2000 · 05/07/2022 12:59

My style has always been gothy/alternative, however my morher had such a visceral aversion to them tgat I never dared to get one when young as it just wouldn't have been worth the grief.

Had my first finally at 29, my mum made her feelings known but as I was almost 30 wasn't much ahe could really do about it but send me to Coventry for a bit.

Had a couple more in 2016 and had a largish forearm pieve done this May at the grand old age of 49 which I love and will be extending up my upper arm when finances allow.

I'll cover up when I see my mum because I don't want to upset her, but tbh over the years she has made it clear that she has and will do what she wants on various things, so I no longer not do what I want.

So in summary, as far as I'm concerned, I was put off for years as didn't want to upset my mother, haven't regretted my tattoos and think they suit my style/personality.. not arsed about following fashion or what anybody else does.

Similar for me. Im always getting comments from certain relatives. I know they dont understand or like tattoos, and think i was so much prettier without, but what annoys me is that I just dont care about their opinion on my body and i cannot rationally explain the appeal of a lot of things I love. It gets really boring. I am trying to make my body look nice, and i like having cool art on me.