people for/against tattoos...survey?

1) Doesn't apply to me, as I'm for them. In addition to what you've noticed, I also see an age issue (which plays into the race & class issues) . I suspect it can be mapped in the same way piercings, long hair & other popular trends can be: only a few of older generations pick it up in it's incarnation, while it becomes fairly common in the younger generations. It won't be universally accepted - not all students have piercings and/or long hair - but it becomes less and less unusual.

2) My old advisor had words for people making claims, however outrageous or simple, without backing them up. The words didn't get used much as those with such claims rarely lasted long or did well in his classes, at the university, or even in life. Being the biker that he was/is, Dr. Long's words would likely get bleeped out by YA. Personally, it bothers me on a deep intellectual level when any provocative statement, however much I agree or disagree with it, is made without support.

3) Sadly, it seems the same feelings of community & belonging that see the creation of groups like the regulars here have a dark side. They also allow the support & proliferation of less constructive ideals. I'm trying not to invoke Godwin's Law & hence "lose" the debate, but I think you see the point.

4) Yes, a significance. It has Buddhist origins. I am not Buddhist - I'm an asymptotic atheist - but all major faiths I've looked at closely have something to add to the world (including so far Judaism, Christianity, Islam & a few others - you can all hate me now). This is based on part of what Buddhism has to add, from a personal perspective. The real story is longer & more involved than I'd want to go into here, but the basics thoughts are present and I only want to bore people so much. I also think they look very cool (mine or any good art), but to be honest that's secondary to the personal philosophy reasons.

(WRT the nerd comment: I suspected you had a propeller hat somewhere... :})

(Edited out what might be considered insulting, based on Kristina's request. Apologies.)

Q1. I love tattoo's and anyone that has one or more have an appreciation of art that will always be there.

Q2 Tattoo's were always put together with some one that did jail time or were just a bad egg that is no longer true I know personal friends of mine that are HR personal that have tattoo's and people from every race and creed that have them. People that don't like tattoo's like other things if we were all the same it would be a boring world.

Q3 Small minded people that wouldn't go as far as there front door with out looking perfect or thinking that they look perfect. Surprise no one is perfect.

Q4 I got my first tattoo because I always wanted one and always liked them. I love art and this is another reason I got my tattoo and I'm going back for more once I decide on a design. it's an expression of who you are, well that's what I think anyway.

Well, maybe my first tattoo was an act of rebellion. I was just out of basic training, just out of high school, on my "own" for the first time. So I went and got a tattoo. That little trip fired something up in me. The smells, the sounds, the paintings on the walls. Whatever it was, i was hooked. Maybe I will ask myself "what was I thinking," at some point in my life. For now I can't see it happening. You never know anything until you try it out. I am not low class, never been in trouble with the law, and I get a Father of the Year award every year from my two biggest fans. (My daughters) I now realize that Yahoo! is a smorgasbord of everything from children to elderly, from all walks of life. Good and bad. I am good and if my having a tattoo makes you not like me, oh well, I still like you.

People who insult tattoos and people with tattoos are incredibly small minded. Yes, there are bad tattoos out there, but there are so many more that are wonderful pieces of art. Someone here said "ask anyone with a tattoo." I know tons of people with tattoos and can honestly say I don't know anyone who regrets it. It's not that people aren't happy with their bodies. They do it for themselves to make them happier. Whether it has a personal significance or not. It's not about rebellion or being dangerous. Getting tattooed and pierced is no different than getting an earring, or even putting a painting on the wall. If you don't like them, don't get one. Personally, there's nothing more attractive to me than a woman with tattoos.

Interesting - we just finished this topic in our R.E. lessons at school. I'm against euthanasia because while I understand there are extreme cases where people very much want to die, I think a slippery slope will begin, where people will become looser and looser on who can be a candidate for euthanasia. In Hungary (a country where euthanasia is legal) this is happening. They've gotten to a point where the law will allow disabled children to die using euthanasia. There's also the moral issue of how do you decide whether someone's life is more important/better than anothers? Why could a disabled person not be leading just as happy a life as a perfectly healthy person?

1) I love tattoos, so I have no objection to people who get them and I have no objection to people who would rather not get them. I understand its an individual choice. We all march/skip/dance to our own beat.

2) I know that people of all race, age, gender and 'class' get inked. It should not mean that they are low class or any less of a person than anyone else. We are all rather equal when you look at the basics of our lives (we all eat, groom, have interests, passions, etc) We all just choose different ways to express those interests, passions, feelings, etc and no one should be shunned for that.

3) I don't think tattoos are trashy and I don't think that its fair for people to pass judgment solely on that. I don't call non tattooed people skanks or trash or ugly just because they don't get inked, why is it okay for them to do it!? Oh, wait...ITS NOT

4) I got all of my tattoos for a reason. The reasons are personal and its also a matter that I really liked the art I chose to represent those ideas. But I think its important to put some of your personality and passions into your tattoos and not just pick something and get it. Just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean you should just go ahead and do it.

Looking forward to reading other answers on this one...

First off i think that the idea of tattoos have changed over the years... it used to be the military men, but now it is for nearly anyone. I got my tattoo, a pink, yellow and orange plumeria on my right foot, because i wanted it. I thought about it and researched tattooing for a year before i got it. I'm not going to give some excuse like ..it represents something because i just liked the flower and it has been my fav for years. I do think that tattoos are art, but you have to be ready to commit to that art for a long long time.

I think sometimes tattoos are pretty or interesting and I used to think of them as attractive as in something that could attract me to someone to date them. If I was going to get one it would probably be of a bat, but since theyre an unnecessary expense and I have no money and if I had it I would rather spend it on something more humanitarian I am going to follow the Jewish law of no tattoos, thinking maybe there are spiritual reasons to not get tattoos-for ex sensitivity to ink that is not kosher, pareve or causing a blockage to the development of a more spiritual body/existence-the tattoo being a possibly anchoring factor where there are already so many to overcome

First of all, I would like to say that I do like the way you have outlined your question. Now to answer your question, I am for tattoos, as I now have 5 (just got one last night), and am getting numbers 6 & 7 next week. Out of the 5 that I currently have, 4 of them are tribute tats. I have one of a rose with hearts with my daughter and sons' name, one of a theatre mask frowning and crying with my father-in-law's nickname, one of an angel sleeping in the clouds with my grandmothers' names, and one of an angel holding a double banner with my grandfathers' names. One of the ones that I am getting next will be a heart with a banner going thru it and flowers on the side with my granddaughter's name in it and her date of birth under it.

As far as the remarks some people make about people that are tattooed being low-class or trashy, that is only their opinion. But when people get to the point of putting down others to only bring themselves up, then it's absolutley wrong and pathetic.

I have and will keep getting my tats because I enjoy them and for me, they are symbols of rememberance, honor and self-expression.

Well personally i love tattoos, my first tat was an initiation so to speak i was scared to actually get it (i'm still to this day petrified of drs. needles haha) so i picked a really cute buttefly and put it on my back.

Like blair said it became an addiction and once you get one you just have to have more, the other 4 have significant meaning behind them to me such as my celtic knot is a 3 knot to stand for me my mom and my grandmother joined as one.

They are all very personal to me and frankly i do not care what opinions ppl have when they see my tats..

For the girl that said they are trashy and if we just wanted attention, i guarantee you probably wear more makeup to attract attention then most ppl have to tattoos for the same purpose. def back up your comments before you say them as all they do is make you look dumb.