This is sort of a response to this blog-post, but it goes a bit beyond responding to the post itself. It's more of an extension to my comment on that post.
I am not a person who is particularly fond of tattoos. Or other forms of permanent body modifications for that matter, but I'll stick with tattoos for now. I have no interest in them myself, and I'm mostly neutral to other people's tattoos. I do, however, feel I need to talk a bit about why some peoples tattoos make me react negatively.
A tattoo, to me, is something that should have meaning. After all, it's something you'll most likely have on your body for the rest of your life. And when I say meaning, I mean real meaning, something that you will have a relationship to for the rest of your life, not just something that have meaning to you right now. I have a good example of what I mean;
My sister and her husband both have tattoos of their children's names. That is more than okay, as they will always have some kind of bond to their children, no matter what happens. Even if they have some kind of falling out with one or more of them at some point, they will still have a certain bond with them. So the tattoo will never lose it's meaning or relevance.
They also have tattoos of each others names. While I can sort of understand that, as they clearly love each other and are obviously determined to stay together the rest of their lives, I don't approve of those type of tattoos, as you can never know what will happen. They will always be connected in one way or the other, because of the children, but there's no guarantee that they will stay married the rest of their lives. There might come a time when they no longer feel there's a reason to stay together, and then find someone else. I know I wouldn't want to have an ex's name permanently attached to my body.
The same arguments apply to tattoos based on bands, organizations, etc. Even though you might care very passionately about it right now, there might come a time when your opinions about it, or the thing you care about itself, might change at some point. A band you absolutely love right now, you might hate in a few years. An organization you support now might disband or change their cause to something you strongly disagree with at some point.
People are, of course, free to do with their bodies as they will. I'm not gonna try to deny someone to get whatever tattoo they want. I just want people to think about what tattoo they get before they get it. Is this something you'd still want to have etched into your body 5 years from now? 10 years? 20? 40? 60? And yes, there is the possibility of laser-removal. But that's expensive, it can be very painful, and it might not even work.
I do not have any tattoos, and I highly doubt I will ever get one. But if I ever decide to get one, it will be carefully chosen and represent something that has a real meaning to me.
What is your opinion of tattoos?
If you have any tattoos; Do they have a real meaning?
If you don't have any; Would you get one, and how would you choose what to have tattooed?
Am I just being ridiculous?
jeg har 2 stk, det er vell egentli ikke sånn ordentli mening med dem, ulvhodet jeg har, den hadde jeg lyst på i rundt 5år før jeg tok den, og jeg liker ulver og har alltid gjort det, så tviler på at jeg kommer til angre på den, edderkoppen jeg har på håndleddet tok jeg egentli bare for morro skyld uten noe som helst mening, men har hatt den i noen år nå og angrer ikke enda ihvertfall, ligger minner i den fra den dagen jeg tok den og sånt selv om motivet ikke har noe med de å gjøre i det hele tatt, men jeg elsker tattoveringer og kunne ha tenkt meg mange flere, men de koster mye, så det blir nok ikke så mange på meg med det første, men det viktigste vis du vill og skal ta tattoo er å sjekke hvem som klarer å lage den type tattoo man skal ha sånn at det blir bra ihvertfall, og ikke bare går til en som er billig fordi det er billig, for greier ikke artisten man er hos å gjøre en bra jobb som kommer man garantert til å angre, og det er greit å tenke på om man virkelig vill ha det i et års tid, sånn at man er helt sikker, ihvertfall vis man ikke har noen fra før
ReplyDeleteI won't get a tattoo simply because everyone and their mother has one. I have considered it, some symbols or art that is meaningful to me, but the fact that it's become so popular makes it feel pointless.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against them, and I have a certain level of respect for people who choose to tattoo themselves to such a great extent that it covers most of their body. People who tattoo their face, for example. I think that's cool, to go to such lengths to express oneself.
But in the end it's a personal thing. People have different reasons and different tastes. "It looks good to me" is good enough for most people, and I don't see a problem with that when it doesn't affect anyone but them.
maD_mAN: Vel, hvis du er komfortabel med det, så skal jeg ikke si noe imot det. Og du virker ikke som typen til angre på sånt, egentlig. =P
ReplyDeleterzr: I don't see the point in refusing to get a tattoo, if you really think it has meaning, just because "everyone has one". You seem to be a bit too focused on what's mainstream and what's not from time to time. No offense.
And sure, if people want to have a tattoo just because "it looks good", i don't mind. It's the people that get tattoos that represent something, that is most likely temporary, that I want to reach with this. I just want people to think about what they're doing. =P
Yeah, I don't know. I'm not actively refusing it, really. The urge to get one has simply never been that strong, and along with the fact that having tattoos isn't that special anymore has just removed what was left of that interest.
ReplyDeleteIt's been many years since I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo, and the one I wanted was even supposed to be ironic (barcode on the lower back of my neck to represent that I'm just another guy), but the novelty of that wore off quite fast as well once I saw that the idea had been done quite a few times.
You know me, I don't like bandwagons so I keep off them as much as possible. I hate feeling like a sheep. I want to be a sheppard, not a sheep, so I don't associate myself with things I consider "sheepish". I don't think I'll ever be a sheppard, but I will at least aspire to be a black sheep that gives the sheppards a hard time.
rzr: Ah, yeah, I remember you talking about that. I can see why that particular tattoo would seem a bit pointless now, yeah.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I know that. And I have no problems with that, really. I just sometimes get the feeling you're abandoning things you previously agreed with or liked just because it got popular, and I feel that is a bit ridiculous. P=
Sorry if I'm wrong.
Er veldig glad i tatoveringer og har selv tre stykker. De har alle en betydning for meg. Jeg har også lyst på flere, men alle skal bety noe. Har blant annet lyst på et portrett av vår avdøde familiehund. Å ta en tatovering bare for tatoveringens skyld synes jeg virker ganske dumt. Er også helt enig med deg når det gjelder å tatovere navnet på kjæreste/samboer/ektefelle. Det er sikkert kjempeflott når de sitter under nåla sammen, men ikke fult så flott den dagen de (eventuelt) går hver til sitt.
ReplyDeleteI have three tattoos, and each and one of them has a meaning to me. At least right now. For some they may be a waste of money, but not to me. I try to not think of the future much anyways.. Sorry if my english sucks. :P
ReplyDelete