Tattoos, Why?

Question

I know that some people on here can get very excitable when I dare to suggest that I don't want one nor would advise anyone else to get a tattoo. To be honest, I am quite indifferent to them.

Can anyone give me a good reason for having a tattoo? What is your motivation? I really am intrigued.

Answer 1

Because I Can

Answer 2

I grew up with my father having tattoos. They weren't popular for women then so I waited to get any. He had the most beautiful peacock on his shoulder. Told me the story surrounding why he had gotten it and all. I loved it.
I was watching a documentary(the year 2000) on tattooing one night and it dawned on me that I still wanted to get tattooed, but never had because of money or jobs. I decided that I was finally going to get one. Some butterflies that I had always wanted with a vine circling around my calf. It turned out awesome! The pain wasn't bad and after 3 hours in the chair, I had a wonderful tattoo. I couldn't wait to add more, so 6 months later I had 2 more done. Now I am up to 7 and would like to get at least two more. One to finish my back and one on my shoulder.
I love looking at tattoos when they are really well done. To ink someones skin and have it come out as a work of beautiful art is such an art form in itself. Wish I had the talent, cause I would be doing them.
Remember that tattooing has been around for eons. Every culture has it in it's history somewhere. So this is not new or a fad. It has just finally become something that is acceptable in our society again. The Puritan's have finally left the stage! Thank goodness!

Answer 3

I have 10 tattoos. As long as I'm not wearing a tank top, you can't see any of them. I got my first one 11 years ago, when I was 20. It is my favorite animal, and symbolized growth for me. I have 2 that I got in New Orleans. The first one, I got with my mom (it was our first vacation together, just the 2 of us), and I love having memories attached to that (plus it has meanings in the design). The other one I got there was to prove that I could change if I put my mind to it, and that life is what you make it. I love New Orleans, it's like a second home to me. I was devastated by the damage of Katrina. So last night I got a fleur de lis tattoo with "NOLA" in a banner underneath it. It will always remind me of a place that I love, and happy memories.
Tattoos, for me, are like photographs, but permanent and never able to get lost. They can remind you of things that you don't want to forget, and show people what matters to you.
It is up to every individual to decide on their own whether or not they want to put a permanent mark on their body to memorialize someone or something. If you don't agree with or understand why they do it, fine, but you should no more tell someone not to do it than you should tell someone not to wear their hair in a certain way.

Answer 4

My motivation for getting all 3 of my tattoo's was to have a permanent mark on my body of something that was special to me. I am an avid fan of music, I work around it, I have a lot of musician friends and I wanted to always carry that part of me. Therefore I got music notes on both shoulders.

My third tattoo is 3 hibiscus on my lower back. Summer is my favorite time of year and hibisucs is my favorite flower. Now it canbe summer all year long on my back.

Its a form of self expression. People do it for different reasons and its not up to anybody else to critisize those reasons. It has to mean something to the person who's body its on. The rest really doesn't matter.

Answer 5

this sounds really crazy, but I was in a really bad place at 19 when I got my first one and I just wanted to see if I could deal with the pain. None of my friends thought I could handle it. I didn't get something generic or flash, I got an original drawing that my best friend did for me that totally represented who I was at the time. Over the years I've gotten other tats to signify personal growth and different journeys in my life. Whenever we have a major life event or a journey ends either myself or my husband usually get a tattoo to commemorate it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on tattoos, they are definitely not for everyone and I am of the tat mindset that you should always be able to cover them, no neck or wrist/hand tats.

Answer 6

Well i have 12 so far and i get them to express myself and i always think before i ink because of course you have to live with it for the rest of your life. And i am planning on getting my next one of my dog i had for 15 years that just died on labor day because he was a big part of my life. And i also plan on getting one for my uncle because he has been through so much in his life that he truly is a miracle. Of course those will be the most meaningful to me.
If you do not like tattoos or don't want any that is your personal opinion just don't judge or run people down because they do have tattoos even if it is flash it is their body.
My mother wouldn't get a tattoo but she is totally open to my expression of myself.

Answer 7

My partner has just had two paw prints tattood on her chest. It is something she has always wanted. It makes her feel more individual and less ordinary, which was her original motivaion for getting them done. However since she has had them done she has also become much happier with herself, physically, and has become a lot more confident in herself. To say they're only two relatively small tattoos, the change in her and the good they seem to have done is unbelieveable.

Answer 8

I love the art work of tattoos but I'd never have one! I wouldn't however advise anyone against them, I'd suggest they think long and hard about it first! My daughter has two she sees as permanent reminders one that whatever happens she is loved, and the other tells her to stay strong. As she says herself, you can't lose a tattoo!
I didn't like her getting them, but she is an adult and has the right to do what she wants and I understand why she feels she needs them.

Answer 9

The only good reason is because you want it. I'm not to say whether or not Sally on the street should have tattoos, but I can certainly say that I am happy I do.

It's a way of making my body my own. You decorate your house, right? It makes it more cozy, more like home. Same reasoning.

Answer 10

to me all of my tattoo's represent a certain life experience. for instance: i have a devil w/ angel halo for oldest nephew, a cross w/ a rose in the middle for family and friends that i've lost, 2 wolf tat's because i had 2 wolves and simply love them, a wrist tattoo of water and bubbles, i love the ocean, need i go on. people get tattoo's to tell a story about their lives. some prefer writing down their life stories, while other's prefer to show them. totally up to the individual.

Answer 11

Is everyone the same NO. I ask you why not tattoo to remember someone or something. I would rather have tattoos on me so they can say look at him or his ink, instead of they are just a plane body.