"when it comes down to it, i let them think what they want. if they care enough to bother with what i do, then i'm already better than them."

Seriously, what is wrong with older generations these days and their beef with tattoos? Is it just because during the times they grew up in, ink was for "sailors and whores"? Is it because of their religious beliefs? Is it because of the way they were raised? Or is there more to it then that?

First, let's break down some facts:

"Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center.

The National Geographic News stated in April 2000 that 15% of Americans were tattooed (or approximately 40 million people!)

Esquire Magazine estimated in March 2002 that 1 in 8 Americans was tattooed.

According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, they stated in 2005, that of all the people they treat with laser and light therapy, only only 6% are getting a tattoo removed.

Harris Poll, 2003, estimates that fully 36% of those aged 25-29 have one or more tattoos.

A 2006 a study done by the  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that’s almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo."

http://www.borntoride.com/new/wordpress/2009/05/11/tattoo-facts-statistics/

Due to those stats being what they are, it's plain to see they're becoming more and more socially and culturally acceptable and those numbers will only grow with time. Hopefully, with my generation growing up and moving up the corporate ladder, people with more body mods will soon be in positions of hiring and soon enough it's going to be commonplace for tattoos and piercings to be seen in the work force.

However, that doesn't really help the young and inked who are getting lectures from old farts on a daily basis now. I want to know why they think it's their place to question my decisions and the decisions of millions of others just like me. What do they really think they're going to accomplish by telling me AFTER THE TATTOO HAS BEEN DONE? It's there. It's not coming off.

I've had just about every different reason thrown at me by complete strangers as to why my tattoos have ruined my life:

"They're unsafe. You won't get a job. That's a sin. You're going to Hell. They're dirty. You'd look so much prettier without one. Good luck finding a man who will want you now. How are you ever going to make a living? No one wants to see that. That's so un-lady like."

Honestly folks, those are real comments I've gotten. I got so sick of it, I told a few of the people off. Why would they ever think it's ok to go up to a complete stranger and tell them no one will ever love them? The only reason I can come up with is because they're miserable and bitter and just want to make someone feel as bad as they do,. Maybe they're trying to find a way to make themselves feel better. Who really knows. All I know is I could never and would never go up to someone and say something like that.

Sure, I have tattoos. Sure, some are big. Sure, some are visible. But I have class. I have manners. I have common fuckin' courtesy and you're damn right I would never disrespect somebody like that. There's no excuse for ignorance and there's no excuse for intolerance. For fucks sakes it's 2011! Get with the times people! It's not the 50's anymore! The world has changed!

I'm not the kind of person to shove my beliefs down anyone's throats, but didn't their Mama ever teach them "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all?"

It's completely unfair to label anyone before getting to know them, and tattoos are no different. All people see when they look at me is a girl with tattoos and piercings. They don't see the girl that loves to read, the girl that loves to write, the girl that doesn't drink and doesn't do drugs. They don't bother to get to know me just because I have beautiful pieces or art on my body and their tiny, stereotypical brains can't fathom that I actually have something to offer.

But whatever, because "When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them." - Marilyn Monroe

xo
Lucky