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One would think that at 52, she would have outgrown such a thing, but my dear wife announced to me that her 21yo daughter invited her to go get tattoos together today. Same tattoo in the same location. I just don't get it. I have yet to see an attractive tattoo, on anyone, even the three that wifey already has from before we met. I'm 56 and never had any desire for a tattoo and never will. My 26 & 23 yo daughters don't have any tattoos (to the best of my knowledge anyway) and their mother would freak out if they got one. Wifey also has a "no visible tattoos" dress code policy at her employer. With the location she told me, with her dress she wore today to work, it would be highly visible, but she is doing it anyway. She actually had a district manager admonish her because her chest incision from her open heart surgery was partially visible one day. Yes, she survived a heart attack, had heart surgery and just this past week her cardiologist informed her that she has a heart defect. Yet she is getting inked today and risking an infection.
I don't understand tattooing. Somebody enlighten me.
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I have wondered about that as well. I think it gives people a sense of identity, for one, to have a distinct marking in a world of many people. It makes them unique and they draw attention. They may also have a feeling a being rebellious in a way in a society of rules. I think it is also a form of self expression and some do it because it is a form of art and expression of control. Maybe some do it because their friends do it (peer pressure).
Why do people not do it? If tattoos are visible, it is hard to become gainfully employed, although, I think the tattoos are becoming more accepted over time in the work place.
In the case of your wife, it may be a form of bonding with her daughter.
... even the three that wifey already has from before we met.
I'm 56 and never had any desire for a tattoo and never will. My 26 & 23 yo daughters don't have any tattoos (to the best of my knowledge anyway) and their mother would freak out if they got one.
...
I don't understand tattooing. Somebody enlighten me.
She's a different person and has different opinions from you.
People get tattoos to feel significant or get attention. Whether it's to "be different" is a whole other thing. The problem is that young people who impetuously get these large tattoos don't have the perspective just how permanent they are. I know a guy whose sister died in a car accident and in his grief he immediately got a giant tattoo of her death date put on his shoulder/chest. I wonder if he regrets having to see that sad reminder every time he takes off his shirt. Tattoo removal is painful, expensive, and for the larger "sleeves" often not effective either.
I have wondered about that as well. I think it gives people a sense of identity, for one, to have a distinct marking in a world of many people. It makes them unique and they draw attention. They may also have a feeling a being rebellious in a way in a society of rules. I think it is also a form of self expression and some do it because it is a form of art and expression of control. Maybe some do it because their friends do it (peer pressure).
I think the rebellious aspect is pretty much gone, these days. If everyone is rebellious, no one is rebellious.
And it's pretty sad if people think there is nothing unique about them and/or they have no sense of identity, if they don't have a tattoo.
Art? The artistic element is questionable. Getting a tattoo of your choice is about as artistic these days as having a doormat "personalized" with your family name.
I really think that these days, most people get tattoos because tattoos are fashionable. Call it "peer pressure" or what you will, the majority of people tend to follow the fads.
Well, OP, considering the bad news she got from the doctor, I think, that if she feels a little artwork might cheer her up and maybe put a spring in her step for however many years she has left (she could keel tomorrow, you know), then so be it. I wouldn't begrudge her that, and I speak as someone who shares your opinion of tattoos.
I don't understand her getting a highly-visible one, when there's a dress code at work, though. I was envisioning a discreet flower in a discreet place, something like that. But maybe, since she just found out, that her heart is playing Russian roulette on a daily basis, she decided to damn the torpedos, and go full speed ahead with life?
And like quite a few people, death coming knocking at the door often makes them free of restraints they pretty much hated their whole life, and start living how they want.
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