errrr why are parents and people in general so unapprociative of body art (piercings and tattoos)?

Question

yes there is a stigma with body piercings and tattoos but over the past drcade society has been changing and they are becoming ore accepted and mainstream. Im tired of all the ignorant people saying "eww thats going to look gross when your 80" well you arent cute when your wrinkly and saggy in the first place! so what tattoos age with your skin. piercings leave scars and they are reminders of the past experiences you've encounted

earlier this evening I tild her i was going to a body art expo tomorrow afternoon and she sauggested that i get counseling! yes i have 9 piercings! yes i want tattoos. I am a normal person. a hard workign 19 year old artist who almost has her AA degree and she says i need counseling!


why arent parents and people in gerneral not accepting of tattoos. also today she was standing in line with my 15 year old brother. the cashier had his ears stretched and she said "i think im going to gag" my brother thankfully snapped back at her...


why i ask!

sorry for my spelling as well. i type fast and dont bother to check.

anyways!

why dont people loosen up and be more accepting and appriciating individuality? and ART in a way. , personal expression. whatever you want to call it!

i think piercings and tattoos are beautiful. and dont think of the "what will it look liek when..."

"your body is a temple, do you want your temple to have boring and plain walls or yould you liek to decorate them and make them beautiful? ....."


i forgot who said that but its on the back of my aftercare piercing broucher...lol

im not religious so im not to crazy about the whole "god" thing... all ive heard is "god wants you to be happy"

well piercings and tattoos make people happy.. so god shoudl be happy about that for us right????

yep the one in san francisco. im reside in the east bay =)

Answer 1

I think people see it as a sign of disrespect towards God's creations. Because of that it is taboo to do anything with your body.
Nowadays people are coming to accept piercings and tattoos. With shows like Miami Ink, the taboo is becoming more weaker. It also helps that lots of BBall players wear them too to desensitize the taboo.

Answer 2

I really do wonder about people who remark on 'But when you're 80..' Do they think they'll still look the same as they do now when they're old? If so, they've got a rude awakening coming. At least I'll have something to distract from my liver spots. And as people often say, you only live once. In a few hundred years [barring strange preservation techniques] almost all of our bodies will be gone anyway, regardless of modification.

Some people are awfully stuck in their ways and don't bother educating themselves enough to be able to make an informed judgment. My mom didn't really have any idea that tattoos don't all look like 40-year-old blotchy faded scratcher work. When I showed her my artist's online profile, she was amazed and even said 'Wow, that really is ART.' However, she still didn't understand anyone putting something permanently in their skin.

When I was about to get my tattoo, she claimed she could never approve of anyone doing anything to their body that 'wasn't natural'. I drew attention to the fact that she has pierced ears and has kept her hair dyed for years, and she just stood there awkward and silent for a few moments then left the room. I didn't even have to bring up the fact that my brother and I were born by c-section. However, despite her insistence, I've only had my tattoo for about two and a half weeks now and it's already growing on her. Maybe I've made a convert after all. It's good to dream.

I don't understand why some people can't just live and let live. I would never try to do something that would interfere with their happiness, so why do they think it's their place to judge mine? I guess I don't understand any more than you do..

Answer 3

Well, don't forget that your parents grew up at a time when they were more stigmatized than they are now. Not only that, but they are also scared that you'll do something implusive and trendy now that you'll regret later.

There's nothing wrong with tattoos or piercings, but the reality of it is that people change. What you like now is surely not what you liked 10 years ago, or five years ago. At 19 years of age, you probably don't even like now what you liked last year, so the thought of you doing something permanent to your body that you will be judged on by strangers (it does still happen) is going to frighten your parents.

What difference does it make whether your parents are into the same things you are? They don't have to agree with your choices, just demand that they are respectful of you, and be respectful of their tastes in return.

Answer 4

We just came back from the same expo. It's the first one I've been to & was fun. We were especially impressed by the woman with the space backpiece - beautiful work. Browsing & looking around gave my gf the last idea bits she needed for a two-part piece coming up.

I think the other answers are correct; however, I think the key is what you mentioned - parents and elders (primarily). It's in the nature of people to not like what they are not familiar with. Their parents hated their long hair & "sexual revolution" - now they hate your/our body mods.

I suppose an interesting question could be "what will you hate?". In my opinion, it is those who find an answer to that who will get old and join that "elder fools" generation. Not "old" physically, as that can't be avoided and honestly doesn't count. The real "old" is where it counts: in the heart, in the head. Those people will be left behind by the dynamic, changing culture, no matter what their age. Some younger than you now are already stooped & gray, even if hidden in youthful frames.

So, why? Because, frankly... they're old.

Answer 5

Wow. I think you just described the exact situation I was in this afternoon. I was going to go the the Body Art Expo (are you talking about the one in SF?) and I told my mum, and before I got the sentence out of my mouth she simply said "Hell no." Then my father went through his threat of disowning me rant.

I think it's just because with each generation people get more and more liberal, and sometimes our parents can't keep up with the changes. I mean, I know my parents are friends with TONS of people of different races, however I can remember my grandfather hating my aunt for the longest time because she was Japanese.

Hopefully they'll learn to accept you for you, but from my own experience, it's probably not going to happen very easily. Some people just can't accept anything that's a threat to their way of life, even if it has nothing to do with them. And I have to say...UGH it's irritating.

Answer 6

hey I totally I agree with you I am 19 and I'm a mom and I have 4 tattoos and 4 piercing I LOVE them I can't wait to get more. My parents are very understanding and people I meet in general have been understanding I have found a lot of "haters" on this website though one in particular who has asked questions like why do guys who have faked steroid body think they need to get tattoos and she called all girls with tattoos $L*TS.. and had another question about why we (tattooed people) think we are tough but then someone questions our tattoos and we cry.. questions like that drive me nuts!!. thank goodness at least one of her questions was pulled.... but people like that drive me nuts... FIRST of all it is our body’s and if we want to ink or pierce our body who gives a crap !!! SECONDLY how does having tattoos or piercing make you a $L*T????? and lastly like you said to the people who say well that will look nice when your old and your tattoo is sagging well last time I checked we all get old and saggy so who cares if we have a little more color to our old and saggy bodies we will be saggy even if we don’t have tattoos!! anyway I agree people should come out of the hole and realize this is 2007 not 1987 and tattoos are more popular and if you don't like them fine don't get them but DON'T judge someone because they do ... you have no clue about the story behind their tattoos because sometimes they are in memory of a loved one....or to remember a hard time or good time in their lives whatever ... but frankly it's none of your business..


Don't you remember the saying our parents told us when we were kids..... if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all... that goes for all you "haters" if you don't have anything nice to say about our tattoos then keep your judgmental mouths shut!!!

Answer 7

Unfortunately the majority of people in the world are "followers" and cannot or do not think for themselves. They allow others(maybe their own parents) tell them what is "right" and what is "wrong". It's sad. Too many are like this and too many of them are unwilling to open their minds and see the beauty of difference. It's too bad, they miss so much out of life because of their ignorance. Maybe that's harsh, referring to it as "ignorance", but that's how I see their way of thinking. I'm not a "biblical" gal, never been, but doesn't it say somewhere in the mighty book that so many of these people live by to "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged"?

Pretty sure it does.;)

"Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings."
-Samuel Johnson

Answer 8

In your parent's generation, when they were young and growing up, tattoos and piercings weren't as widely accepted as they are now. My dad is 62, and when I told him that I was getting another tattoo, he's like"oh, you're getting inked again?" lol He's like "you know, those things are for life" That's why they have to have meaning for me, I told him. It's hard to do, but you really can't let others opinions bother you, the tattoos and piercings are on your body, not theirs, you are the one living with your choices. =]

Answer 9

that does suck. i think there are a couple of reasons. 1. like the song says "parent's just don't understand" and i guess it's true. sometimes parents forget what it's like to do what you want to do. 2. they are "just looking out for you' they don't want you to be judged harshly and turn into a "freak" or God forbid a serial killer. (i'm sure parents imagine that all serial killers are tattooed and pierced because no NORMAL person would do it, right?)
you really just have to accept that she isn't going to accept your modifications and hope she can accept the fact that you don't give a rats @ss. just agree to disagree and tell her to keep her snide comments to herself and you'll do the same.

sorry you're having parent trouble.

Answer 10

Alot of people are just ignorant and hypocritical. They say "to each his own" but then come down with judgements because you look a certain way or have piercings and tattoos. BLAH on them. It is your body and you are an adult so you can do as you please.