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Everyone seems negative about this article but it struck a chord with me. Particularly: >> It seems obvious to me that if a person feels he has to tattoo hims

Everyone seems negative about this article but it struck a chord with me. Particularly: >> It seems obvious to me that if a person feels he has to tattoo himself in order to “express” his difference from others, he must have some difficulty in individuating himself, perhaps indicative (when this difficulty is on a mass scale, as it clearly is) of an individualistic society without individuals. Young people are almost always the ones who get tattoos. I think because they want to define themselves. One problem is that it is a pretty superficial way to do it. I never thought someone was thoughtful, artistic, caring.. etc. because of their tattoo. The other problem is that you often outgrow how you see yourself as a teen. There is something to be said for being comfortable in your own skin. But hey-- if you have a tattoo I have no problem with that.

pmontra 7y ago
> Young people are almost always the ones who get tattoos. I think because they want to define themselves. Wait until all the old people have tattoos, young people won't tattoo. My father told me that old guys wore one earpiece when he was little (Milan area, Italy). It took 100 years to become acceptable again. Women had two and still have.
ericmcer 7y ago
I got a bunch when I was 18-21 and it was for exactly that reason, confusing time, trying to find acceptance and identity etc. I am in my 30s now and don’t regret them but would never get a public facing one again. Private/easy to cover ones I still consider though, modern humans rarely recieve scars or injuries to mark our life experiences, but we still suffer and go through transformative events. I do like tattoos as reminders of these times, even if the content of the tattoo is unrelated to the event.
bluntfang 7y ago
>if you have a tattoo I have no problem with that. You literally said there were 2 problems, even using the word problem, with having tattoos in your previous paragraph. It's ok to have an opinion, you don't have to add in this shit to try and make people feel better or to make you seem worldly, open, or woke.
- georgeecollins 7y ago
  I meant I have a problem with tattoos for me. Not everyone agrees with me and I am often wrong about things and change my mind. So while I have my own opinions about tattoos I don't hold it against someone who disagrees.
noir_lord 7y ago
I got mine when I was 19, I haven't for a moment regretted it (20 years later) as it serves as both an anchor point in time and maturity, these days I wouldn't get a tattoo* but young me absolutely would, in that sense it's a visible reminder that I grow. * - The one thing I'd consider is "Vincit qui patitur" across my back over my spine - it translates as "he conquers who endures" and given my spine is trying to kill me it seems apropos.
pwinnski 7y ago
I got my first and only (so far) tattoo at 45. I did not do so to express my difference from others, and do not have difficulty individuating myself. Nor do I care about individuating myself. It took until I was 45 to decide on something I wanted to keep on my body forever.

pmontra 7y ago

> Young people are almost always the ones who get tattoos. I think because they want to define themselves. Wait until all the old people have tattoos, young people won't tattoo. My father told me that old guys wore one earpiece when he was little (Milan area, Italy). It took 100 years to become acceptable again. Women had two and still have.

ericmcer 7y ago

I got a bunch when I was 18-21 and it was for exactly that reason, confusing time, trying to find acceptance and identity etc. I am in my 30s now and don’t regret them but would never get a public facing one again. Private/easy to cover ones I still consider though, modern humans rarely recieve scars or injuries to mark our life experiences, but we still suffer and go through transformative events. I do like tattoos as reminders of these times, even if the content of the tattoo is unrelated to the event.

bluntfang 7y ago

>if you have a tattoo I have no problem with that. You literally said there were 2 problems, even using the word problem, with having tattoos in your previous paragraph. It's ok to have an opinion, you don't have to add in this shit to try and make people feel better or to make you seem worldly, open, or woke.

georgeecollins 7y ago
I meant I have a problem with tattoos for me. Not everyone agrees with me and I am often wrong about things and change my mind. So while I have my own opinions about tattoos I don't hold it against someone who disagrees.

noir_lord 7y ago

I got mine when I was 19, I haven't for a moment regretted it (20 years later) as it serves as both an anchor point in time and maturity, these days I wouldn't get a tattoo* but young me absolutely would, in that sense it's a visible reminder that I grow. * - The one thing I'd consider is "Vincit qui patitur" across my back over my spine - it translates as "he conquers who endures" and given my spine is trying to kill me it seems apropos.

pwinnski 7y ago

I got my first and only (so far) tattoo at 45. I did not do so to express my difference from others, and do not have difficulty individuating myself. Nor do I care about individuating myself. It took until I was 45 to decide on something I wanted to keep on my body forever.