When is enough, enough with getting tattoos?

Question

I believe in self expression and all of its benefits, but tattooing today has simply become a fad. It seems it is more unique for a twenty-something to NOT have a tat, than to have one. My question is this, is there a limit, and honestly what careers are really open to people who have covered more than 10% of their bodies with ink?

Answer 1

it is a personal choice with ink... many career options as long as you are able to cover them not recommended on the face or neck or hands

Answer 2

The only tattoos that I think are "fads" are the flash art on the walls of most shops. You can see the same tired tribal-butterfly "tramp stamp" on college girls across the country... along with the same tired Kanji (or "Chinese writing" as everyone else calls it) that you think means "luck" but really means "dog."
To say that it's more unique for a 20-something to not have a tattoo than to have one may be true, but those trendy types are the same people who will have them removed in a few years....so doesn't that cancel it out?

I didn't get any of my tats for anyone other than MYSELF. I thought I reached my limit at 3...I didn't get any new tats for 4 years...now I have 6 and am already planning my next one. I have no limit...I'll stop again when/if I feel the need to stop. As far as careers go, I'm 31 years old and make $50,000 a year...contrary to popular belief, tattoos don't leach intelligence from the brain! Most execs I know have a tat or two hidden under their suits...or proudly displayed as they should be.
Those are my two cents!

Answer 3

I didn't get my tats because they are "cool" I don't care about being cool, I never have, I never will. All of my tats mean something to me, and I think they are beautiful. It is a person's decision if they get inked in a place that cannot easily be hidden. Mine are all in places that can be hidden, and I have a great job at a hospital. The limit, like others have said is up to the individual, I have four and I am planning at least two more. My main concern when getting inked is if the tat is easily hidden and just as easily shown off. Best of Wishes.

Answer 4

Wow, all I can say is AMEN to all of you guys that left a comment on here. Also, what I have to say is this... when are people gonna mind their own damn business and stop worrying about what people put on their body. I don't have a tattoo yet but I'm planning on getting one soon, and I work at an elementary school. Several teachers I work with have tattoos as well, and that doesn't stop them from continuing to educate the children they work with. A tattoo has nothing to do with a person's intelligence. So stop worrying about what others do and worry about yourself. And kudos to all the people out there that express their life in the form of body art. Ok, I'm done now ha.

Answer 5

When is enough, enough with the ignorance? I'm so glad you think people with tattoos have to flip burgers for their career, but I have a great career. I head a tax dept. for a large corporation. The fact that I have artwork on my body has never been a factor in performing my job. You should examine why you care what other people are putting on their bodies. I really suggest getting a hobby.

Answer 6

This is so untrue. The tattooed are still a small minority. We account for about 15% of the population.

Tattoos are as unique as you make them. You can get a kanji or a butterfly and mark yourself as a sheep. Or get something custom, and mark yourself as an individual. Your choice.

Besides that, it's not like America invented tattooing. People have been doing it for thousands of years. So if the fact that other people have tattoos means it isn't worth you doing it, you really need to reconsider your motication for getting permanent ink.

I just read an interview a few days ago with a graduate of MIT who is doing break-through work for NASA, and has over a dozen piercings on his face alone. One of his heros was a pioneer scientist for the moon landing, and he is 60% covered in tattoos, most of which are old.

So to answer your last question, any job you want, if you're handworking and skilled.

If you're a a dumb lazy ***, yeah, you're fairly limited.

But who wants to be a dumb lazy ***?

Answer 7

The only one that can answer this honestly is the person getting tattooed. When they feel they are done then they will stop, for some its one, for some its none, and yet still for others they will never stop until they are covered. Its all about reaching that mental image of yourself in how you want to look.

Answer 8

I ended up getting 5, I'm 22. There's only one you can see, it's on my ankle. I don't think tattoos are something that you should be judged by, as long as the tattoos aren't offensive, it shouldn't affect your potential to be hired. That's totally discriminating. It's like not hiring someone because of the color of their skin. I don't understand why some companies get away with this.

Answer 9

i love getting tattoos! i have a butterfly on my hip(all the girls in my family have it in different colors), my initials and a star on my foot when i have kids i will have their names in their writing tattooed on me, i want an ambigram, most likely it will say family/friend. but i would never get a tattoo just because...it would have to mean something to me. I would never get something tattooed because i was in the moment. I'm not saying anything against people with sleeves or something like that, but that is my opinion. as long as my tattoos have meaning i probably won't stop!(:

Answer 10

enough is enough when the person who is getting the tattoos decide so for themselves. generally people who are getting heavily tattooed aren't doing so for your liking or approval. also most of the people i know that are heavily tattooed are in their late 20's and beyond, many in their 30's and 40's. most of them have very solid jobs. i know people with masters degrees who are heavily tattooed so it's not something that is done without thought and definitely not for some shock value. people i know who are tattooed and have jobs include: firefighters, paramedics, counselors, librarians, communications specialists, photographers, piercers and tattooers, electronic technicians etc.

tattooing has been around for THOUSANDS of years, so i don't think that is a fad. if they are then so are computers and cars and technology in general. it's not your body so why do you care what we do? nobody is forcing you to get tattoos nor are we making you look at ours.