# Are tattoos on their way out? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197 "2010-07-01T15:28:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/41 "2010-07-02T14:08:26Z")
I think that’s probably closer to the mark - though the tramp stamp doesn’t seem to be losing any ground, despite its ubiquity and and implications. The current big thing seems to be women getting stars on the insides of their wrists, which I don’t get at all. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/42 "2010-07-02T14:16:01Z")
My wife is contemplating getting one on her 60th birthday, so this fad must be over. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/43 "2010-07-02T14:18:45Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > An example would be a 19-year-old woman specifically avoiding the tramp stamp or ankle tattoo her Mom’s got, but instead going for some other kind of currently-trendy tattoo. Like fashion, I think it depends on the part of the country one is in. When I was living in Austin, I saw a LOT of younger hipster women (early 20s) with full sleeves, chest pieces, rows of stars, and ironic tats (UPC codes, old-school sailor tats, baby blocks spelling out their names, Apple logos, and so on). Women in their late 20s and early 30s have tramp stamps. A bit older, and you’ll see Chinese characters. Women in their 40s, usually those that are a bit more “country”, have shoulder and ankle roses. In Buffalo, I’m not seeing many sleeves on women; I see a lot more tramp stamps than sleeves on women, but overall far fewer people have tats than in what I saw in Austin. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/44 "2010-07-02T14:30:12Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > **Marley** kind of pooh-poohed this idea in post #7, but I still wonder if there is something to the “my _PARENTS_ did it :rolleyes:” thing. Maybe they’ll get there in the future, but based on that survey I posted, they’re not there now. About 40 percent of people under 40 have a tattoo, and even if you restrict it to people who have only been legal tattooing age for a few years, it’s still close to that 40 percent number. If they were on the way out, you’d expect to see a significant difference between those age groups. Most people 26-40 don’t have kids who are at the “my parents are lame” age, if they have kids at all. The way I see it is that tattoos are less of a big deal than ever. They used to have that “I don’t give a fuck” cachet, but now they don’t. They’re something people get if they want to express that they like Indian culture or a band or something. Compared to the tattooed outlaw image of a few decades ago, that’s relatively value-neutral and nonconfrontational, and I think that makes it less likely to inspire some kind of backlash. There are some kinds of tattoos that are still seen that way, but it’s not necessarily the first thing everyone thinks of when they hear that someone has a tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/45 "2010-07-02T15:47:39Z")
I am 52. I got my first tattoo before they were “in”. I got my latest last year. In between I’ve gotten ink almost every year and am running out of room. I enjoy them, what can I say. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/46 "2010-07-02T23:48:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So has the popularity of women getting tattoos passed? I hope so. I’ve never understood why people want to mutilate themselves like that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/47 "2010-07-03T00:24:24Z")
Interestingly perhaps, I was reading a survey about tattoos from 2003. They were asking people if they had tattoos and where, along with questions like age, gender, and political affiliation. They also asked the responders about their attitudes regarding tattoos. One of the questions was asked of the people who did not have tattoos. They were given a list of words and asked whether or not they thought it more applicable to people who did not have tattoos than people who did. The clear winner from the list was “rebellious” - 57% of the non-tattooed people asked thought non-tattooed people were more rebellious than tattooed people. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/48 "2010-07-03T01:28:19Z")
Was “stupid” one of the word choices? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/49 "2010-07-03T02:02:26Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Three hundred fifty-seven. This is positively uncanny! How did you know??? Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/50 "2010-07-03T02:06:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I think that’s probably closer to the mark - though the tramp stamp doesn’t seem to be losing any ground, despite its ubiquity and and implications. > > The current big thing seems to be women getting stars on the insides of their wrists, which I don’t get at all. Oh, the star. I see chicks with stars are their wrists, neck, behind the ear, elbow. I knew a guy who got two giant stars, one on each tricep. I asked the significance, all I got was ‘they’re cool, dude.’ What is up with stars? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/51 "2010-07-03T02:21:29Z")
If my yoga class is any indication, the trend is alive and well. College age women without tattoos seem to be the exception. Many woman are covered with them. ETA: **elmwood** ’s description of tattoo type by age is right on the money. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/52 "2010-07-03T02:27:20Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Oh, the star. I see chicks with stars are their wrists, neck, behind the ear, elbow. I knew a guy who got two giant stars, one on each tricep. I asked the significance, all I got was ‘they’re cool, dude.’ > > What is up with stars? The guy you knew gave you the best answer. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/53 "2010-07-03T13:50:29Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Was “stupid” one of the word choices? You think non-tattooed people would think themselves more stupid than tattooed people? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/54 "2010-07-03T14:22:05Z")
No, I would think non-tattooed people would think that tattooed people are stupider. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/55 "2010-07-03T16:19:45Z")
Here’s the [website](http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_facts.htm) I mentioned with the survey. ```php HOW HAVE A TATTOO MAKES ME FEEL "Please complete the following sentence:" "Compared to not having a tattoo having a tattoo has made me feel..." Base: Currently Have a Tattoo % More Less No Difference Intelligent % 5 3 93 Sexy % 34 1 65 Spiritual % 20 1 79 Rebellious % 29 1 70 Attractive % 26 4 70 Athletic % 3 1 97 Healthy % 4 * 95 Strong % 16 * 84 ``` ```php ATTITUDES OF THOSE WITHOUT A TATTOO "Please complete the following sentence:" "Compared to people without tattoos, I think people with tattoos are..." Base: All Without Tattoos % More Less No Difference Intelligent % * 31 69 Sexy % 8 36 56 Spiritual % 3 29 68 Rebellious % 57 2 41 Attractive % 4 42 54 Athletic % 4 14 82 Healthy % 1 21 78 Strong % 8 8 84 ``` So, as you can see, I had my facts wrong. The non-tattooed people said they thought tattooed people were more rebellious. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/56 "2010-07-03T16:56:11Z")
I hope so. I’ve never quite been able to wrap my head around the appeal of a tattoo. Maybe it’s because I was such a fan of Popeye when I was a kid; I associate them with grizzled sailors. When I see a beautiful young woman whose perfectly smooth skin is interrupted by a mottled amateur rendering of some sort of winged creature, my response is always “aww.” It’s like someone graffiti-ed the Mona Lisa. I can see them waning when these formerly-smooth hotties become grizzled and whiskery and smoke corncob pipes, and kids associate tattoos with being old. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/57 "2010-07-03T17:07:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > No, I would think non-tattooed people would think that tattooed people are stupider. You know what’s the difference between a tattooed and an untattooed person ? A tattooed person will never think of you in a negative way if you’re not tattooed, while an untattooed person might do so if you are. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/58 "2010-07-03T18:05:07Z")
> [@Khaki\_Campbell](#): > > You know what’s the difference between a tattooed and an untattooed person ? > A tattooed person will never think of you in a negative way if you’re not tattooed, while an untattooed person might do so if you are. And a cigarette smoker will not think of you in a negative way if you’re not a smoker, while a non-smoker might do so if you are… Tatoos are a lot like cigarettes—if you want to damage your body, please don’t make me put up with it . If you want to mutilate your body, at least show enough maturity to be subtle, and not display it. It is as obnoxious as ,say, posting on the internet USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ALL THE TIME, JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK ITS NEAT AND MATCHES YOUR PERSONALITY. A visible tatoo is an obnoxious way of calling attention to yourself constantly.SEE LOOK AT ME, I’M GREAT. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/59 "2010-07-03T18:46:16Z")
What’s the Chinese character for “baffling hostility?” ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197/60 "2010-07-03T18:52:09Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > And a cigarette smoker will not think of you in a negative way if you’re not a smoker, while a non-smoker might do so if you are… > > Tatoos are a lot like cigarettes—if you want to damage your body, please don’t make me put up with it . > If you want to mutilate your body, at least show enough maturity to be subtle, and not display it. > It is as obnoxious as ,say, posting on the internet USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ALL THE TIME, JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK ITS NEAT AND MATCHES YOUR PERSONALITY. > A visible tatoo is an obnoxious way of calling attention to yourself constantly.SEE LOOK AT ME, I’M GREAT. Secondhand smoke can give a nonsmoker cancer. Tattoos are art, whether you appreciate them as such or not. Get over yourself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-on-their-way-out/545197.md?page=4)