Reply to S/O people who think tattoos are trashy (or not)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Tattoos = instant street cred. Automatically memorable. My large tattoos live under my suit in stuffy business meetings, and are out whenever I'm in short sleeves or shirtless. I understand tattoos aren't for everyone, and some folks find them trashy (placement, design, and frankly physique are key), but they certainly demonstrate you've got other interests besides bland UMC white DC culture. In no meaningful way have they hindered my life. My HHI is ~$300k and I run the mosh pit. I can walk with rich, middle, and poor and look the part. 
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So, you're saying that tattoos allow you be perceived in an edgy lower/blue collar way, and this helps you escape your privileged boring UMC white life, but you can still cover yours which allows you to make a living so you're not actually a poor. Got it.[/quote]

More or less, yeah. And I do get a kick out of the cultural contradiction - someone who is UMC, disciplined and good at their job, but who also rocks several tattoos. And the truth is that they do make some social connections a lot easier, depending on who you're trying to connect with. Honestly, the only drawback is that people are so curious when they see them. I'm sure some folks don't like them, but they keep their opinions to themselves. And I'm cool with that - I am rather deliberately not out to please everyone, especially people who would automatically look down on others for non-outrageous tattoos.

This isn't just about class or being edgy or whatever, though. I first got tattoos waaaaay before becoming UMC. I have always wanted tattoos - even decorated dolls with them as a child. At the time I got my first tattoos, I really had no idea life would work out for me and I'd be in this privileged position. I'm very lucky, and worked hard, but like the saying goes - I don't forget where I came from. I did get tattooed since becoming UMC too, so it's not just something I did back when I was younger. As you can tell, I have a few. And I will probably get a couple more when I can find the time to design them.

For what it's worth, I design my own and I think through carefully how I want it to look. I also work out and I ain't bad looking, and let's face it, that helps here. I am not so sanguine about every tattoo in every location on every body - there are plenty of bad tattoos out there - I am speaking mostly about my own experience. 
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You can think whatever you’d like but please know that when i look at you I don’t see edgy or cool, I see trailer park, pit bull, unwed mother and a long string of bad decisions.[/quote]

Oh I understand, but the funny thing is that I'm not actually those things. That makes you the one with the perception problem. And it should be quite obvious that tattoos are a symbol of rejection - or at least skepticism - of the precise cultural values that drive you to that judgement. In simpler terms, they say: "Take your superficial judgments and shove it." That's actually a fundamental appeal of tattoos for many inked people, whether they articulate it or not.

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What the what?

So in this iteration, you’re saying that tattoos are about having an iconoclastic image. Because you’ve made a lot of superficial judgements about other lifestyles and you want to wear your rejection of those lifestyles on your sleeve, so to speak. Well, keep telling yourself this and go back to thinking those poor people at the dive bar really appreciate you dropping in from UMC world to hang out with them. And, as a judgemental person yourself, you’ll just have to accept that the rest of the world doesn’t buy your cosplay and thinks they’re trendy/short-sighted/whatever.[/quote]

Where does the post judge a lifestyle? Although it's true that I am judgmental about some lifestyles - laziness, for example - the post speaks to rejection of cultural values that lead the other poster to conclude a tattoo means someone is trailer trash. I will happily own that.

And no, I would never claim people in the dive bar don't appreciate you just for your tattoos. If you expect tattoos alone to be your social gel, you will be disappointed. In the dive bar or the executive meeting, only things like character, gravitas, and empathy will truly carry you forward. But looking the part certainly helps.

Isn't it interesting that you claim to speak on behalf of "the rest of the world" ? 
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What a load of delusional BS.[/quote]

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