First, let me make it crystal clear that I am just sharing my opinions, and not condemning anyone. My feeling on tattoos, while not nearly as inflamed as any of yours, is just an opinion in MPSIMS. If anyone has a hard time with me sharing my feelings on a thread that is not asking for advice, information, or anything in particular other than opinions I presume then you can jam it up your ass. Excuse my french, but this thread is here to solicit responses (the original poster has been quite reasonable and fair, and simply retorted my response and accepted that I had a right to my opinion) and in that vein i shared mine. Sorry this doesn’t mesh with your sensibilities, and the fact you feel such fierce defensiveness on this point strengthens my point and gives creedence to my opinion.
Doob, yeah, I understand that some cultures use ritualized tattooing and it has strong emotions with some. I can accept this of people, but in general I can’t accept it as some highly meaningful, and crucial act to make them who they are. This same arguement is given by the Native Americans who want permission to whale as a rite of passage into adult hood, and for countries to continue bullfighting. My opinion is that lots of old traditions exist, but the fact they are old, and distinctive doesn’t give theme inherent value. I feel this way about ritual tattooing. Your not hurting anyone but yourself, but don’t expect me to maintain respect for you. (Of course my opinion isn’t that important, by I’m entitled to it, and if you bring it up, I’ll tell you how I feel) Put simply, I don’t let the excuse someone uses for doing it affect my opinion of it.
Tattoos are trendy, an individuals reasons for getting one don’t change that fact, unless you can change everyone who gets ones mind. They are threndy, and because of that no one who has one gains anything in my view, your just beginning to look more like the masses. I suppose I could’ve pierced my ear in high school because I really loved that earring, but would that have made me less trendy, I think not.
Tattoos have been viewed as a act of expressing ones individuality, well since everyone has gotten one, that effect is pretty much nil.
By the way, I can’t pretend to know your motives, but a skull and dagger would actually be original now. Every tattoo I see is either some permanent jewelery (bracelets, roses, animals, runes) or some asian or arabic script. Now expressing your heritage is fine, but the fact its a tattoo, flag, or piece of jewelery doesn’t make the chosen medium more or less acceptable.
I have no doubt tht your heratige is wonderful, and you have the highest respect for it. I commend that, but I doubt you were raised in that environment, nor do you ancestors have ritual tattoos. The fact you are choosing that heratige as the art for the tattoo doesn’t make you one with your ancestors. Its similar to a family whose distant ancestors have a tradition of hunting game going out and suddenly buying a rifle and hunting on the premise of it being part of their heritage. Just admit your hunting, its not about your ancestors, its about hunting. (For the record I’m not anti-gun or hunting)
Finally if my opinions offend someone here, why do you read the content on this board? Are you only interested in people who think like you do? If you have no desire to hear critisism or differing opinions, don’t post open statements like this one.
I never generalized and accused you (Doob) of being anything that I described tattooed people as. I simply stated how I prejudge tattooed people I see as. Now to pre-empt any critisism of the fact I prejudge people, lets be honest here. We all make judgements on people we initial see or meet. Its an important filter, and saftey feature in our lives. I will give people a chance in the necessary situations, and am willing to admit I was wrong, but no one has the time to get to know everyone who crosses their path and generalizations are a fact of the human psyche. We all do it, and its a necessary tool to navigate our society. It presume that some guy with a metal band T-shirt and long hair isn’t going to be someone who I get along with. Physical features influence or actions, deal with it. Tattoos are generally gotten by people with a certain attitude, this differs from mine and unless some extraneous circumstances come about we likely won’t become friends. Thats the way I work, and I think everyone does as well, but some fear admitting it becuase its not PC.
Opal, what about my comments say I put a high value on fashion? I am critisizing impulse action of those who follow fashion. Fact is many a tattoo are gotten by people whos idea of what cool changes every 6 months. Not everyone is obviously like that, but generaliztions are a fact of life. I do recall a period where Marvin the Martian, and Taz were quite common tattoos, now these people must feel quite foolish. If you wish to defnd these tattooing brothers of yours feel free, but I think thats the silly thing to do.
You people getting all defensive are really showing your weakness, and need for acceptance. (That should ruffle some feathers) Seriously, why is every acting like I insulted their heritage, or their relationship. I critisized the tattooing, not the thing which it symbolizes, I think you need to learn to separate the two.
