Absolute trash

I don't think they are trashy as a category. Some tattoos are trashy looking. I agree that often when people get tattoos very young, they will choose tattoos that are kind of trashy -- cartoon characters or Chinese characters or whatever. I'm really glad I never did this.

But some tattoos are gorgeous. There are amazing artists out there who can do incredible things. I tend to like tattoos that are simply black and gray, though there are artists who do beautiful things with color. Most tattoos need to be touched up periodically to stay looking good, and while young people don't always bother with this, most of the older people I know with serious tattoos do this.

My tattoo is not actually as gorgeous as I'd like. I got it in my mid-30s to mark an important time in my life and to remind me of a very hard-won life lesson. Objectively, as art, it's okay -- not ugly but not amazing. I rushed it a little because I just really wanted to mark this time in my life. I do regret rushing it a little, but still no regrets about the tattoo itself. It really does serve as a reminder of something important to me, and I am so glad I chose to make it permanent.

I honestly don't care if someone else thinks my tattoo, or tattoos in general, are trashy -- it's not for them. If anything, it's a good way to weed out people who are really limited.

41 yr old woman.

I don't think they say anything about class, but I don't like them and think they look stupid on most everyone.

35/f

Anonymous wrote:No

52yo F, I have no tattoos

I think lots of tattoos is a sign that person had trauma in their life. Tons of tattoos is a form of self harm like cutting.

I have noticed this -- people who have tattoos have reason for getting it, and among people I know it is often, not always, related to trauma or mental health. The more of your body you cover with tattoos, the higher the likelihood people will assume you have issues. A study on that assumption would be interesting.

Trashy. But I don’t judge or think they are a class indicator. Most people get them as young adults and young adults of every class do dumb things.

Big time thrashy

They are no longer an indicator of class or education. Person in a business suit wearing designer everything driving a luxury car may have a tattoo, and a college professor may have a tattoo, and a high school drop out, stripper in a remote nowhere town, living off of tips may have a tattoo. The tattoo is not the class indicator.

You either like them or you don't. You either have them or you don't. Some may say the subtlety of the tattoo matters, other may disagree.

I don't like them, but quite a few people in my family have gotten them recently, and they seem to be popular with the jet set.

Anonymous wrote:Tattoos are mostly trashy. There are very few tattoos that are beautiful, well thought out,meaningful and display a high level of artistry.

Most look terrible and are poorly executed.

I'm 40.

+1 age 49

Tattoos are mostly trashy. There are very few tattoos that are beautiful, well thought out,meaningful and display a high level of artistry.

Most look terrible and are poorly executed.

I'm 40.

No

52yo F, I have no tattoos

I think lots of tattoos is a sign that person had trauma in their life. Tons of tattoos is a form of self harm like cutting.

70% are ugly with many veering into trashy, 20% are ok/neutral/fine, 10% are sexy or cute

51F

Anonymous wrote:I went through a bit of a hipster phase in college and got a few small tattoos on my arms. Removed them soon after as I got tired of the look.

Oh and I’m 33f. I don’t necessarily think trashy and some people can rock them but I think they are played out and often look bad

I went through a bit of a hipster phase in college and got a few small tattoos on my arms. Removed them soon after as I got tired of the look.

Tattoos are disgusting and trashy.

42F

Do you think tattoos are trashy? All tattoos or just some? Do you see them as a class indicator anymore?

Also curious to know the ages of responders as I assume (but may be wrong in assuming) that younger generations are more tolerant of tattoos since they’ve become so common.