Let me start this off by saying that most of the people I run into don’t have a problem with my tattoos or anyone else’s. The idea of getting a tattoo has changed drastically and most people’s opinions have changed but I am here to talk about the people that are still stuck in the past. I have two tattoos, both of them being half sleeves so they are rather large and very noticeable. Most of the time I get the response of “Those are very well done,” or “What do they mean?”
Other times I get the response of “Why would you do something like that to yourself” or the typical “You’re going to regret that when you’re older.” I’m here to say that I most definitely will not regret these when I get older and will most likely have several by the time I get there. I don’t make a judgement on you based on not having tattoos, so why do they matter to you?
People still have this presumption of a stereotypical person with tattoos must be a bad person or is involved with crime. About the only thing I’m involved in is drowning in student debt because I plan to have a successful and professional career. Yes, even with my tattoos. It’s amazing; I know. There has been a progression in society to where nearly forty percent of millennials have tattoos as opposed to the less than ten percent of people aged 40 and over.
While I understand that some tattoos can be offensive in nature, for the most part I believe tattoos should only concern the person that it is on and they should not be subjected to dirty looks or offensive remarks. If I felt strongly enough to get something permanently placed on my skin don’t you think it may be important? Everyone has their own way of dedicating things to people and places they love so instead of saying, “That’s different so I don’t like it” let’s embrace the bigger picture and appreciate the individual.
To those people that are accepting of difference and change just keep doing you. The world is too full of hate and negative things to be worried about whether someone’s tattoo falls in line with your values or not. Chances are they are just as nice of a person as they were without tattoos and I’m quite sure there is nasty people on both sides of the spectrum. By quite sure I mean I am one hundred percent sure.
I am very happy with my tattoos and as I said plan on getting more throughout time. I don’t plan to let it ruin my success in work, and it definitely doesn’t change who I am as a person. With or without tattoos I am the same. So instead of jumping to a conclusion the next time you see a person with tattoos try asking them what they mean and if they don’t mean anything who cares. They are not a reason to dislike someone. Chances are they are more than willing to have a conversation with you and if not at least you tried, that’s their problem not yours. If you can’t bring yourself to do that then just mind your own business and continue being negative somewhere else.
