Full Version: Tattoos and Body Piercing: Trendy or Trashy?
On another community I belong to, the question has come up of whether the age of consent should be lowered for minors who want to get tattooed or body-pierced. It occurred to me that the august minds over here would probably chew quite interestingly on this topic, so I'm throwing it out to the assembly at large.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
(I will post my own answers later.)
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
(I will post my own answers later.)
The second question is hard for me to answer because I see "trendy" as an inherently negative perjorative. The problem with tattoos and piercings is the same as with fashion, all too often people try to mark their own independence by imitating their peers... I can't imagine anything much more ironic.
At the same time, there is something intriguing about the possibility of literally "wearing your heart on your sleeve" so to speak. Of course if my twin sister ever got a tattoo of some kanji script, I'd have to slap her, but the tattoo that she does have, the astrological symbol for Gemini has a certain internal logic to it... even if is a "tramp stamp."
I've also toyed with the idea of a tattoo, which I would most likely put across my chest or back (and would rarely be seen.) It would look like the image below, and translated means:
To each of us will come the end of our life in this world: let him who may earn glory 'ere his death.
At the same time, there is something intriguing about the possibility of literally "wearing your heart on your sleeve" so to speak. Of course if my twin sister ever got a tattoo of some kanji script, I'd have to slap her, but the tattoo that she does have, the astrological symbol for Gemini has a certain internal logic to it... even if is a "tramp stamp."
I've also toyed with the idea of a tattoo, which I would most likely put across my chest or back (and would rarely be seen.) It would look like the image below, and translated means:
To each of us will come the end of our life in this world: let him who may earn glory 'ere his death.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
I have one tattoo, not readily visible to the casual viewer.
I wouldn’t mind getting another one. Unfortunately, the design I want – Epona, the horse goddess in a triskelion Celtic design – would have to be fairly large to capture the detail in it. So, I’m still deciding whether an old broad like me needs to be getting tattoed. 
Piercings definitely aren’t my thing. I find it vaguely primitive and barbaric. And certain (sensitive) body parts just weren’t meant to be pierced…at least mine aren’t!
I think tattoos are trashy when they aren't done well. As well as some excellent tattoo artists, there are also a bunch of hacks out there I wouldn't let anywhere near me with a needle. I've seen some truly crappy tattoos.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Eh, tattoos have been around for centuries. Yes, there has been a huge jump in popularity and there has been somewhat of a change in attitudes toward them, but I think they still carry a bit of social stigma. Anything can be taken to the extreme, but I’d much rather see someone with a complete tattoo body suit than someone with 20 pounds of metal crap (to paraphrase John Travolta in Pulp Fiction) stuck in their face.
Oh, BTW, as for minors getting tattooed or pierced, I don't think so. I don't think teenagers are savvy enough to make sure the shop is reputable, hygienic, etc. and also not responsible enough to make the decision to have some design they are all excited about as a 16-year old on their body for the rest of their life.
I have one tattoo, not readily visible to the casual viewer.
I wouldn’t mind getting another one. Unfortunately, the design I want – Epona, the horse goddess in a triskelion Celtic design – would have to be fairly large to capture the detail in it. So, I’m still deciding whether an old broad like me needs to be getting tattoed. Piercings definitely aren’t my thing. I find it vaguely primitive and barbaric. And certain (sensitive) body parts just weren’t meant to be pierced…at least mine aren’t! I think tattoos are trashy when they aren't done well. As well as some excellent tattoo artists, there are also a bunch of hacks out there I wouldn't let anywhere near me with a needle. I've seen some truly crappy tattoos.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Eh, tattoos have been around for centuries. Yes, there has been a huge jump in popularity and there has been somewhat of a change in attitudes toward them, but I think they still carry a bit of social stigma. Anything can be taken to the extreme, but I’d much rather see someone with a complete tattoo body suit than someone with 20 pounds of metal crap (to paraphrase John Travolta in Pulp Fiction) stuck in their face.
Oh, BTW, as for minors getting tattooed or pierced, I don't think so. I don't think teenagers are savvy enough to make sure the shop is reputable, hygienic, etc. and also not responsible enough to make the decision to have some design they are all excited about as a 16-year old on their body for the rest of their life.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
I don't have any tattoos or piercings at all. Piercings have never really appealed to me - though in my late teens/early 20s I toyed briefly with the idea of getting my ears done, I never quite got around to it, and once the world of work loomed, it seemed less alluring.
As for tattoos, I am quite hirsute, and so if I did get any tattoos, I'd have to wax pluck shave and otherwise depilate to be able to show it off pretty much everywhere on my body, except my face (and the shiny hairless dome of my scalp!). This doesn't really appeal either; the modern (porn-inspired?) fashion for total absence of body hair still strikes me as a bit weird.
But while I'm on tattoos, I've noticed that in the during my lifetime it has shifted form being a primarily male rite of passage to being a primarily female one. In the UK today, about the same proportion of men get tattoos as they always have - outside the military or "alternative" subcultures, harly anyone bothers with them, and even when they do, they are usually limited to a single design on the upper arm.
Among women under about 40, though, they seem almost universal. A butterfly, rose, Chinese pictogram, lip-print, or some other symbol placed on one side of the lower back between the buttock and the waist is the ubiquitous "statement of individuality" that only seems to be unusual or individualistic if it isn't there. I'd say as many as 50% of younger women in the UK now have at least one such "discreet" tattoo, and the trend seems to be growing to the point where, like pierced ears, it will be more unusual NOT to have this type of body modification than to do so.
Now, I don't say this disapprovingly - all of my last three girlfriends have had at least that type of tattoo, with one having rather more than that. And they were not obviously members of any kind of subculture, nor am I unusually attracted to such women - they just seem rather thick on the ground these days.
My only real bother with this phenomenon is that I do wonder how the irony of the universality of such statements of individuality can be lost on quite so many people.
What's more, it seems increasingly common for such young women to have body piercings. Again, all of my last FOUR girlfriends (who aren't punk rockers or goths, and all of whom have had responsible jobs) have had at least one piercing other than ears. One only went as far as a small nose stud (which I find rather fetching). Another had a simple navel stud - again, not a bad thing. One had a navel stud and a genital piercing, and the other (the one with lots of tats) had multiple genital piercings, navel, and nipple piercings.
Maybe it's my magnetic personalilty.
*ahem* I'm here all week - try the fish.
So, to answer the second question, tattoos and piercings definitely seem to be trendy among younger women at the moment, to the point where they may be almost in the majorty one way or another. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, though the cause does mystify me, and I do think that they are going to start thinking of another excuse rather than "expressing my individuality".
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
I don't have any tattoos or piercings at all. Piercings have never really appealed to me - though in my late teens/early 20s I toyed briefly with the idea of getting my ears done, I never quite got around to it, and once the world of work loomed, it seemed less alluring.
As for tattoos, I am quite hirsute, and so if I did get any tattoos, I'd have to wax pluck shave and otherwise depilate to be able to show it off pretty much everywhere on my body, except my face (and the shiny hairless dome of my scalp!). This doesn't really appeal either; the modern (porn-inspired?) fashion for total absence of body hair still strikes me as a bit weird.
But while I'm on tattoos, I've noticed that in the during my lifetime it has shifted form being a primarily male rite of passage to being a primarily female one. In the UK today, about the same proportion of men get tattoos as they always have - outside the military or "alternative" subcultures, harly anyone bothers with them, and even when they do, they are usually limited to a single design on the upper arm.
Among women under about 40, though, they seem almost universal. A butterfly, rose, Chinese pictogram, lip-print, or some other symbol placed on one side of the lower back between the buttock and the waist is the ubiquitous "statement of individuality" that only seems to be unusual or individualistic if it isn't there. I'd say as many as 50% of younger women in the UK now have at least one such "discreet" tattoo, and the trend seems to be growing to the point where, like pierced ears, it will be more unusual NOT to have this type of body modification than to do so.
Now, I don't say this disapprovingly - all of my last three girlfriends have had at least that type of tattoo, with one having rather more than that. And they were not obviously members of any kind of subculture, nor am I unusually attracted to such women - they just seem rather thick on the ground these days.
My only real bother with this phenomenon is that I do wonder how the irony of the universality of such statements of individuality can be lost on quite so many people.
What's more, it seems increasingly common for such young women to have body piercings. Again, all of my last FOUR girlfriends (who aren't punk rockers or goths, and all of whom have had responsible jobs) have had at least one piercing other than ears. One only went as far as a small nose stud (which I find rather fetching). Another had a simple navel stud - again, not a bad thing. One had a navel stud and a genital piercing, and the other (the one with lots of tats) had multiple genital piercings, navel, and nipple piercings.
Maybe it's my magnetic personalilty.
*ahem* I'm here all week - try the fish.So, to answer the second question, tattoos and piercings definitely seem to be trendy among younger women at the moment, to the point where they may be almost in the majorty one way or another. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, though the cause does mystify me, and I do think that they are going to start thinking of another excuse rather than "expressing my individuality".
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
No tattoos, no piercing and I have never serious considered either.
I have a few cousins who are tattoo freaks
and I was invited to a "Tattoo Party" once (which I attended but did not participate 
).
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Tattoos have been around forever. They are certainly more popular now, but I am sure they will continue into the foreseeable future.
Piercings (I assume you mean body piercings) are a fad and an unattractive one at that. How many good looking gals have ruined their body with these things (I particularly don't care for tongue piercings...). Although it is said that a tongue piercing is only good for one thing.
No tattoos, no piercing and I have never serious considered either.
I have a few cousins who are tattoo freaks
and I was invited to a "Tattoo Party" once (which I attended but did not participate ).Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Tattoos have been around forever. They are certainly more popular now, but I am sure they will continue into the foreseeable future.
Piercings (I assume you mean body piercings) are a fad and an unattractive one at that. How many good looking gals have ruined their body with these things (I particularly don't care for tongue piercings...). Although it is said that a tongue piercing is only good for one thing.
Whoa, seems Im in the minority...at least for now. I have both piercings (oh, OK...only one) and many tattoos. Most of my tattoos arent readily visible, depending on what I wear. I have two on my ankles, and most people dont seem to notice, even when I wear skirts. I have one on my back, and sometimes the top part can be seen because it ends at the base of my neck. I think tattoos are great; however, I know that they dont appeal to everyone.
Moving on to piercings, I only have my tongue pierced, and its really been the only piercing Ive ever wanted. Ive toyed with the idea of stretching my ears, but I just dont feel like spending the money on it...Not when I could be buying clothes or something.
I work in a high school, and Ive noticed that a lot of those kids have tattoos and piercings. I find that a bit shocking, since my parents would never have agreed to something like that when I was that age (I am primarily around 14-16 year olds). Things are definitely changing. Im not opposed to lowering the age for piercings and tattoos, especially for piercings because they are not permanent.
Moving on to piercings, I only have my tongue pierced, and its really been the only piercing Ive ever wanted. Ive toyed with the idea of stretching my ears, but I just dont feel like spending the money on it...Not when I could be buying clothes or something.
I work in a high school, and Ive noticed that a lot of those kids have tattoos and piercings. I find that a bit shocking, since my parents would never have agreed to something like that when I was that age (I am primarily around 14-16 year olds). Things are definitely changing. Im not opposed to lowering the age for piercings and tattoos, especially for piercings because they are not permanent.
QUOTE(Amlord)
Although it is said that a tongue piercing is only good for one thing.
For breaking tooth enamel, right? Oh, wait, that wasn't what you meant??
To keep from a one-liner, I'll name drop/brag. The artist who did my tat also did the tattoo on Ralph Fiennes in Red Dragon. He tends toward the dark side. His amazing work can be seen here.
However, my tattoo is much more light-hearted.
no tats or piercings. Never seriously considered them.
Trendy? Maybe. Every time I see a girl with a tattoo on the small of her back, right or wrong, I think the same thing. Might as well have painted a bulls-eye back there.
Trendy? Maybe. Every time I see a girl with a tattoo on the small of her back, right or wrong, I think the same thing. Might as well have painted a bulls-eye back there.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos?
Yes.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Not quite sure what "trendy" means, but both seem to be fairly popular at the moment and, indeed, they always have been. Tattoos have become a bit more "middle class" over the past several years - as in "more socially acceptable" - and I think more people are realzing that piercings are stimulating as well as decorative, depending on where they're placed, so I don't expect either will be going away any time soon.
I tend to think the same thing - when I see men or women with such tattoos. What's wrong with bull's-eyes?
Yes.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Not quite sure what "trendy" means, but both seem to be fairly popular at the moment and, indeed, they always have been. Tattoos have become a bit more "middle class" over the past several years - as in "more socially acceptable" - and I think more people are realzing that piercings are stimulating as well as decorative, depending on where they're placed, so I don't expect either will be going away any time soon.
QUOTE(Just Leave me Alone! @ Jan 13 2006, 05:21 PM)
Every time I see a girl with a tattoo on the small of her back, right or wrong, I think the same thing. Might as well have painted a bulls-eye back there.
I tend to think the same thing - when I see men or women with such tattoos. What's wrong with bull's-eyes?
Well, a little of both- I have five tattoos- all of them custom designs of my own making that represent some major thing in my life.
A black panther- a funny story from the army days- I was a mechanic and worked on vehicles on the side for money for friends and friends of friends in the army. I worked on this totally "ghetto" lincoln continental and had to deliver it to a guy in Atlanta- a totally black nieghborhood. I usualy hung out with the "bruthas" anyone in the military it seemed, so I thought nothing of driving into this very bad nieghborhood and delivering the car- and, in my niave state- did not think about the music I was blaring out the stereo "james brown=- I'm black and I'm proud"- no one could see me through the tinted windows. Everyone at a street intersection was groovin to my "fly" ride, until I rolled down the window and asked directions- then, total shock. One guy says "hey cracker, you know this nieghborhood aint' for you" and another guy says" yo, lay off man, you know who's car this is? Even a pimp gotta have a mechanic now and then- hey bro- get on with your bad self" and gave me directions. After that, my buddies always teased me about being a "black panther prideful black man without the tan" LOL- and I ended up getting a sweet tattoo of one eventually.
And a couple others.
But when middle aged women in the US made it popular- it became a trendy form of personal expression.
And very permenent.
My wife got one recently to cover some very bad stretch mark scaring. I think it looks great.
A black panther- a funny story from the army days- I was a mechanic and worked on vehicles on the side for money for friends and friends of friends in the army. I worked on this totally "ghetto" lincoln continental and had to deliver it to a guy in Atlanta- a totally black nieghborhood. I usualy hung out with the "bruthas" anyone in the military it seemed, so I thought nothing of driving into this very bad nieghborhood and delivering the car- and, in my niave state- did not think about the music I was blaring out the stereo "james brown=- I'm black and I'm proud"- no one could see me through the tinted windows. Everyone at a street intersection was groovin to my "fly" ride, until I rolled down the window and asked directions- then, total shock. One guy says "hey cracker, you know this nieghborhood aint' for you" and another guy says" yo, lay off man, you know who's car this is? Even a pimp gotta have a mechanic now and then- hey bro- get on with your bad self" and gave me directions. After that, my buddies always teased me about being a "black panther prideful black man without the tan" LOL- and I ended up getting a sweet tattoo of one eventually.
And a couple others.
But when middle aged women in the US made it popular- it became a trendy form of personal expression.
And very permenent.
My wife got one recently to cover some very bad stretch mark scaring. I think it looks great.
QUOTE(Wertz @ Jan 13 2006, 09:24 PM)
QUOTE(Just Leave me Alone! @ Jan 13 2006, 05:21 PM)
Every time I see a girl with a tattoo on the small of her back, right or wrong, I think the same thing. Might as well have painted a bulls-eye back there.
I tend to think the same thing - when I see men or women with such tattoos. What's wrong with bull's-eyes?
Nothing is wrong with bull's-eyes. If I was single, I imagine it would make the dating process a whole lot easier.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
I have a labret (lip piercing) and I love it. I also plan to get a tattoo in the near future.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Certainly there are some who get tattoos and piercings based on trends, and there are others who don't care about trends at all. The reasons for getting a piercing or a tattoo are many and varied. Sometimes the reason may be aesthetic and other times it may be functional.
Personally, I appreciate a beautifully decorated body if it's well planned. It's not unlike any other type of art. There are body modifications that are to my taste, and there are some that just look trashy.
I have a labret (lip piercing) and I love it. I also plan to get a tattoo in the near future.
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Certainly there are some who get tattoos and piercings based on trends, and there are others who don't care about trends at all. The reasons for getting a piercing or a tattoo are many and varied. Sometimes the reason may be aesthetic and other times it may be functional.
Personally, I appreciate a beautifully decorated body if it's well planned. It's not unlike any other type of art. There are body modifications that are to my taste, and there are some that just look trashy.
Do you have piercings (other than ears) or tattoos? If you don't, would you consider getting either? Why or why not?
No tattoo's and no piercings except for three ear rings.
I would only consider getting a tattoo if I felt the need to be noticed, but since I'm just about as reclusive as its possible to be without being a total nutcase, then what would be the point a tattoo?
Also, I'm an illustrator (amongst other things) and I have very strong opinions on iconography and there is no way I could choose just one pattern or image that I would be happy with wearing for the rest of my life.
I have, several times drawn custom tattoo's for people who were very specific with what they wanted and the only design I've liked of these is an abstract nordic dragon design I did back in the 90's.
Several of my friends have extensive tattoo's and some look good and others, less so. One of my friends has an incredibly sexy (and still young) body and her tattoo's look fantastic.
I'm not sure how cool she'll lok when she's forty though
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Yes, if they understand their own limitations. Moderation is always the key to success.
I think neutral or abstract patterns are much better than images or pattterns with obvious symbolism because images will age where as patterns and well recognised symbols won't.
Some of those people with tribal or historical patterns look really good.
No tattoo's and no piercings except for three ear rings.
I would only consider getting a tattoo if I felt the need to be noticed, but since I'm just about as reclusive as its possible to be without being a total nutcase, then what would be the point a tattoo?
Also, I'm an illustrator (amongst other things) and I have very strong opinions on iconography and there is no way I could choose just one pattern or image that I would be happy with wearing for the rest of my life.
I have, several times drawn custom tattoo's for people who were very specific with what they wanted and the only design I've liked of these is an abstract nordic dragon design I did back in the 90's.
Several of my friends have extensive tattoo's and some look good and others, less so. One of my friends has an incredibly sexy (and still young) body and her tattoo's look fantastic.
I'm not sure how cool she'll lok when she's forty though
Do you think people who have piercings or tattoos are trendy, or not?
Yes, if they understand their own limitations. Moderation is always the key to success.
I think neutral or abstract patterns are much better than images or pattterns with obvious symbolism because images will age where as patterns and well recognised symbols won't.
Some of those people with tribal or historical patterns look really good.
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