I don't really have an opinion on the them one way or another.
When I was growing up the only place you saw them were on old ex military guys. They had eagles with American flags or a heart with a knife through it. Some were so old and faded out you didn't know what they were supposed represent anymore.
Instead of the twenty dollar tattoo spent on shore leave, now people are spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on them.
I do fine this rather new fad quite fascinating. I say fad because as beautiful as these works of art if we fast forward forty years I think it's going to be a different story. Grandma in her seventies with her two full sleeves of sagging flesh and the giant Koi fish swimming down her back towards her tramp stamp will look quite different in a few years.
Just like the old sailors that are long gone most people will wonder if grandma was totally toasted the night she decided to turn her body in a canvas so she could stand out or look more different than everyone else. She certainly stands out now with sagging flesh and distorted tattoos. Has much as a fad as it was by the time grandma's grand children are around my guess they will say no way to this strange primitive activity of permanent skin discoloration.
The pendulum will then swing hard in the opposite direction.
My daughter got some tattoos. Her second ex husband who was not a JW had some tattoos too. In fact he had 80% of his body tattooed. He had FULL facial tattoos. nose, neck, cheeks, ears. He was a sight to see. In fact I'll never forget the time we all went to Hawaii. He and I were walking through the airport and all eyes were on him for sure. I had never experienced anything like it before in my life. If he was wanting to make a statement, he certainly did. Of course it was really hard for him to get a job looking like that. That was fine with him anyway he preferred to stay at home and play video games, while my daughter worked two jobs. I have no judgement about his tattoos. His many excuses to sit at home and not look for employment is a different matter.
I saw my favorite tattoo of all time in Portland Oregon in 2006. It was brilliant! This girl was sitting on the curb in front of Whole foods. She was wearing a sleeveless blouse and was talking on her cell phone. I couldn't help but laugh my ass off when I noticed her arm. On the very top of her arm was the name "Steve" that was crossed out. Below Steve was "Mike" that was crossed out too. Under Mike was "Tom" which was crossed out also. Under Tom was "Jason" Jason had not been crossed out yet. She had loved these men so much she was willing to put their names on her arm in permanent ink. On the other hand she was in complete disclosure. She was telling the world "Yes I love you. However I have loved others also, you are not the first and you my not be the last." Bravo!
Anyway I do enjoy seeing them on other people. They're just not for me. There is no picture or statement I want on my body for the rest of my life. Nothing I want to share with the rest of the world.
In fact the Buddhist believe nothing is permanent. Does this mean tattoos too?
Have some tattoos send us a picture!