I’ve heard this argument so many times. It’s cliche and annoying, but more importantly its wrong. A teenage kid mentions to an adult that he’s thinking about getting a tattoo. Then the adult points out how different his body shape is since he was young. “If I had gotten a tattoo when I was your age, just imagine what a mess it would look like now.” He might even have a picture of himself as a young lad with a thin profile, and muscled arms. Now he has a beer belly, a wrinkled face, and flabby arms. The implication here is that if he had gotten a tattoo when he was young, by now it would be so distorted that you’d barely recognize it. The young kid should think twice before getting a tattoo. Don’t do today what you’ll regret tomorrow. Is this a good reason to not get a tattoo?
Nope and here’s why. First, this argument ignores what economists call a relative cost change or an Alchian and Allen effect. If the kid admits that his body shape will change for the worse then this is a case for getting a tattoo not for abstaining from one. If your going to get old, fat, flabby, and wrinkled anyways then being old, fat, flabby, wrinkled, and having a messed up tattoo is not a very far jump.
If getting old with a tattoo makes you marginally ugly but getting old makes you ugly anyways, then from the perspective of the person making the decision today, it’s cheaper to get the tattoo once you admit to yourself that you’re going to be old and ugly. In simpler terms, if you’re eighty years old and you think that your tattoo will look silly when you take your shirt off, chances are you’re gonna look pretty silly with your shirt off anyways, so why not have fun while you can?
Second, if there are actions you can take to control the changes in your body type, then getting permanent skin art could be an attempt to credibly commit to those types of behaviors. Over eating, not working out, and overexposure to the sun are all marginally more expensive with a tattoo than without. So getting more tattoos could influence the way you choose those behaviors and maybe even effect your future body shape.
Now I’m not saying that every teenager should run out and get tattoos. All I’m saying is that this old cliche is messed up and probably encourages kids to get tattoos more often than it discourages them.
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hey thanks for writing on this. I was wondering whether I, (a 17 year old male), should get a tattoo now or not.
-jt hess
Well said! I am a woman, 22, and I have several tattoos.
One question I have to ask everybody:
The old generation says that tattoos are bad, crime-like and outrageous.
Well, if the new generation does’nt make any changes, where is the revelution then…?
When are we gonna hit the fantatic future, if everything stays the same?
And let’s face it.. Tattoos are gorgeus, and we are all getting old and ugly some day… Have fun, live your life to the fullest and don’t regret anything 🙂
just do it
tattoos are some think different. i think they are mint especially if they mean somethink and you have done them your self.
xXxXx
Im thinking about getting a tattoo for my 18th birthday.
My name in chinese writing at the bottom of my back what does everyone think?!?!?!
thnx for ne comments given!!!
I’m 17 years old and can not wait till I’m 18 to get my tattoo. I’m getting 2 of the same tattoo. A fall maple leaf on each of my feet, and under the leaf on my right will be “Frenchy” (my grandfather’s nickname. He pasted away when I was younger) and under the left will be the year he died.
My older family says that I will be destroying my body. But how I look at it is, if I want to dedicate something to someone who has changed my life why now have something beautiful that I can keep with me my entire life.
I believe that older people who do not have tattoos should not have an opinion about it. You can’t have an opinion on something you never had. I think they are simple minded. I have 4 tattoos and working on more and I’m just 19. Get whatever you please, I just would not recommend chinese letters because it might not mean what you actually wanted and also I do not recommend getting your name because you know your name, everyone else doesn’t need to!!!
I am 22 and i have 1 tattoo on my back, i was told the size of it i was brave for having it. I would say to anyone thinking about it not to have one on a wim. Take you’r time its going to be with you for the rest of ur life. But never regret what you have it art after all!!!!
So true.
It’s funny that someone mentioned a maple leaf tattoo as I am currently considering getting a tattoo of a small, natural looking maple lead on the nape of my neck to remind myself of where I came from. I am an American, born in Canada, but my family moved when I was 10.
Still sitting on it as an idea though, it is permanent after-all. And it would be my first tat (though I’ve got plenty experience with the piercing side of the needle spectrum).
i am 15 and i have a tattoo on my ankle and on my hand. my tatto on my ankle is a heart and a tear drop on my hand
After reading the article and the comments,I felt much more reassured. I’m going to get tattoos in November and December, but now I feel that I have a more reasonable argument if people make irritating comments. Thank you for the positive attitudes!
hey. im only 17 and ive got four little tattoos, just about to book in for my 5th.
ive got a little butterly with my last name thru it on my hip (im my dads only kid- long story but realy personal)
a silver fern on the bottom left side of my back and ‘made in nz’ next to it.
a also have two little stars on my right foot just by my little toe,
and also when i was in thailand i got a little heart with wings on it on my bum..
kinda regret that but always there for the memory. and its kind of a secret… because i got it when i was 15 without my parents knowing
this is really hard to explain. but im looking at gettin a wave (which is in a circle) with a little dolphin in it and the look of wind going thru it. currently designing it. but its very hard to explain.
if u want to have a look at my tattoos theyre on my bebo page
http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbum.jsp?MemberId=89909553&PhotoNbr=1&PhotoAlbumId=9132322517
People always seem to assume that they’re going to get negative comments on their tattoos, but I’v never gotten one. I love my tattoo and I’ve had several other people tell me they like it as well. And really, if you’re afraid of what people are going to say, you shouldn’t be getting a tattoo in the first place. And the best thing about it, most people who have a problem with your tattoo, at most, are going to throw a dirty look. They probably don’t want to come close enough to you to tell you they don’t like it. I plan on getting a lot more tattoos when I can afford them. Also, half the fun in getting things out of the ordinary like a tattoo or weird peircing is the looks you’ll get. I get some pretty funny looks from the older people in my neighborhood, some pretty dirty looks. And I just walk away laughing.
I am 17 and i have designed my own tattoo which i think is perfect but my parents wont let me get one, is there a really good argument i can use to win them over?
my boyfriend wants a twin cam (car) on his back between his shoulder blades, i think you should get a tatoo that means something to you that you wil want for the rest of your life and not regret, rue that some of his friends died in a car crash( not sure if it was a twin cam they were in) but i think he just wants one for the sake of it, becos he keeps changing his mind to another car, and dusnt rely care wat the picture looks like!!
he has been goin on about it for a while but i not sure wether he rely wants it or is just being himself(impulsive)eg. he went into the piercing place to get his lip pierced and came out wit eyebrow and ear cartilage!
its his 18th in a months time and i said id pay for the tatoo,
i’ll happily pay for it
but i dnt want him to feel that he has to get one
what should i advise him??
any help is rely needed and appreshiated
thanks!!
I am 20 and never considered a tattoo, it looks really really ugly. Funny is, my father always said how he likes tattoos and considered some, but never really did it. I hope my children will share my opinion and if not, they definitely should wait until they are a little bit more mature than a teenager.
Heey im 17, wow had my 1st tattoo today, well i had two done. was very scared but suprisingly didnt hurt. kinda tickled. i had a small anchor on my wrist(many people wonder why an anchor but its a tattoo me and my dad have) and JPJ(dad,mum,bro) on the side of my arm. im sooo happy with them, but i did know what i wanted for deffo, i would not advise people to just go and get one, think about what you want and where. think about the future, your wedding day, jobs etc. and as for people saying…”but when your old and flabby etc…” thats rubbish. in our grandparents days it wasnt very nice to have tattoos and a little un common but now a days sooo many people have them were all guna look like it when were older so having flaby tattoos wont look strange.
good look with tattoos people.
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i think if u are really set on getting a tattoo and if u have a idea of what u want, its a good idea to put it up on your bedroom wall say for 6 months then see how u feel about it after incase u see anything better or if u get bord of it
I AM 16 AND I HAVE 3 TATTOOS AND YES IT HURTED BUT IT WAS WORTH IT AND I WILL BE GOIN BACK TO GET MORE TATTOOS……
I think if someone wants a tattoo they should think about it for a long time before getting it. Me personally right now i have one tattoo of two butterflies side by side. to me it represents Freedom and love (two butterflies fluttering is usually taken as a sign of love) i waited three years before getting my first tattoo after i decided what i wanted now i am on my way to get my next tattoo of an egyptian Ankh which symbolises Life..
Im 16 And Have 2 Tattoo’s Which I Got When I Was 15 :D.. Xo
I am 26 and have 2 tattoos. On my arm i have a butterfly holding onto the symbol “A” which represents me holding on my hubby 😉 and on my ankle i have 4 nautical stars representing my mom,dad, bro and myself. I love my tattoos and din’t really care what people felt about it,.I did it cuz i love it….I am actually in love with my tattoos and wanna get one more done soon. Please suggest some tattoos which are meaningful…i am planning a dolphin which represents playfulness,freedom and grace!
I think that getting a tattoo is fine at any age, because, your body is like a canvas, adding tattoos and piercings are just personal touches, and even if you don’t like it when your old, there’s not a lot your going to like about your body when you’re old anyway. It can bring back memories and it only affects your life, so if you’re prepared to live with it your whole life, I say go for it, you only live once, and tattoos aren’t exactly life threatening or poisionous. I have some myself, and even after 28 years, I still love them just as much.
If you want a tattoo and you know what you want. Well then go get it done i am 18 i have 3 i got one for my 18 b-day and two days after that i got my second done and a week after that i got my therd done. so if you know what you want then just go get it done.
well, i am 16 and will turn 17 in 3 months, and i have quite some tattoos by now, 1 on my left shoulder (the letter M), 1 on my right shoulderblade (a bull), 1 on the back of my neck (14 stars), 2 on my left shoulderblade (written ‘Martin’ who is my older brother and ‘Carpe diem quam minimum credula prostero’), one above the left eyebrow (3 stars made with blacklight ink), 1 behind my right ear (a nautical star), 1 on my right earlobe (a small tribal), 1 on my right foot (a long, thin tribal) 1 tramp stamp (including a heart, wings, two nautical stars, the head of a bull and some tribals) and then i have 2 bearpaws on my chest. when i was 12 my mom said that i could choose between all the tattoos i wanted or a piercing in the tongue and bellybutton, of course she never thought that i would pick the first, because she knows i’m scared to death by needles, but it turned out that i’m only afraid of the hypodermic needles, so a promise is a promise (: .. and yes, maybe i will regret it some day, but hey, that’s why i got the Carpe Diem part (: , and yes, i’m used to people looking down at me because of my body art, but it’s their problem, not mine, they are not the ones who are going to live with it (:
by the way, sorry about my english and my spelling mistakes, but i’m used to speak danish and i’m only 16, so hope you can live with it guys (:
I’m a 16 year old male and I want my first tattoo. I was looking at designs on the Internet and I saw wat I want. Its a large cross with a crown on top and it says only god can judge me. Do u think this is a good idea?
Im 13 and i have one tattoo in my ear.
Its same like Rihanna has, star in ear
Tattoos are gross they look good some people in photoshoped pictures, but ultimately nobody needs to get a tattoo, plus they make you look unprofessional in a business actually job
im considerin getin my first tattoo. i always said i would like my childrens names and their d.o.b on one shoulder blade and mum and dad and their d.o.b on the other as i havnt got any children yet i was condsidern getn the mum and dad 1. as i have a phobia of needles i dont no wat to do can use give me some advice please?
heyahh well am 16 n av got 1 on the bottum ov my back, and i am goin 2 get a nuva 1 soon an my hand… u can get thm as a teenager u just hav 2 no wer 2 go 4 thm!!! oh n btw tht 1 is v nyc 🙂
Wow I just came across this page as I was looking for tattoo ideas and reading everyones comments has really enlightened me. I’m only 17 but I have been wanting a tattoo for a few years now but I dont know what to get. I want something that means a lot and I think it is really important for a tattoo to be meaningful to its wearer, even if other people may not get it. Its really inspiring to hear about people my age getting tattoos that mean something strong to them. I want to get something to do with love, freedom, life etc. I’ve been looking at yin yang designs and butterflies but its so hard to chose!
Maybe I’ll just design my own….
😀
I am an 18 year old female and I got my first tattoo this past December on the 5 year anniversery of my friends deaths. My parents however do not know about it…at least not yet. They think tattoos are horrible and trashy. I find it (like many others) as a way to express myself. I find tattoo art beautiful. For myself getting the tattoo was a way to help me deal with the loss of them. It’s weird how much it’s actually helped. I think that as long as the tattoo isn’t something you’ll regret later than go for it! But if you have doubts, wait. I had my design sketched for about a year before I went through with it and I went in with the right attitude and I love it. 🙂
Hey im Holly im 15, i love tattoo’s and i dying mt get my frist one but my parents wont let me. they say that they’re cheap and tacky and i’l look like a ‘slag’ with it. i was thinking of chinease simbols for mom, dad, lex and abi (my sisters)starting in the middle of my shoulder blades and running down my back (only small though). also i had a miscarroiage last year and would it affected me quite badly so i’d like some hands with a baby in them attached to two ange wings, in between the wings the word beau and then underneath the words ‘in god’s hands’. id love this and it would mean alot to me. id have it underneath my armpit area on my rib cage and id have it relitively small. need a way to get them to cooperate with me! i know it sound weird but i need them. thanks x
my thought is that your body is a blank canvas for you to make into a beautiful piece of art whether it be simply conditioning your body or getting a tattoo, im 19 and already have seven tattoos. you really should be sure that you really want what ur getting though, i for instance design all of my own tattoo so they all have personal meaning and give me no cause for regret.
I totally agree! im 19 and have 5 tattoos. my uncle is tearing into me griping “how bad they’ll look when I’m 60” but how many people are gonna see them when im 60?!! plus what most adults dont realize (if they have tattoos or not) is that the ink and machines used back then are no where near as good as the ones used now. even if your body sytle didnt change you can still barely tell what it is but thats because they ink was crappy. tattooing technology has actually come a long way and like they say you only live once so live it up. i love all of mine. they’re more like checkpoints in my life than body art. all of mine mean something and thats the best advice i can give someone wanting to get a tattoo. dont just pick something off the wall. take time to think about it and get something that means something.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO GETS IT!!
you rock.
Well i’m twenty years old and i have two tattoos, a blacklight one on my wrist and a heart on my foot. They both have meaning and i got them when i was completly ready. I waited till i knew that is what i wanted and was not going to change my mind.
A word of advice if you are getting one that is visible i would draw it on with a permenant marker for a long time, then if you get tired of it being on there then forget about getting it. I drew my heart one on my foot for two years, and when i got it two years ago my mom still thought it was fake. She and my grandma who is 84 years old love it. They think it is really cute. So my word of advice truly makesure that is what you want.
I also believe they need to have meaning. I have two more that i getting and another one that my sister and i will have matching. Just make sure it is something you really want.
Have fun with your tattoos. And if anyone is in stafford go to “SORRY MOM TATTOOS” their the best at tattoos and piercings 🙂
Best of luck.
I am 50 years of age I had my first tattoo when I was about 18 years old the second tattoo about 1 year later my third tattoo was done about 2 years ago I have no regrets with the tattoo’s that I got in my younger years (or recently) they may be a bit faded but they still look in good shape. I believe that if you want a tattoo and have thought about where you want it and the desgin you have chosen for a while and not a spure of the moment you may be like me and be happy all your life with what you have done.
The best of luck.
A really good idea if you are unsure about getting a tattoo done is to first get it done in henna. That way you can live with it for a few weeks and decide if you do actually want one, where it will be, size and what you have decided on. Yeah it will only last a few weeks but atleast you will get a small taste of what it will be like and if you don’t like it’ll just fade away in a bit. Because you don’t want to get stuck regretting getting one done and hating it and not to mention all the pain you’ll have to endure to get it removed. Just kind of think of it as a test lap.
As for me i’m a 21 year old female who is about to get her 2nd and 3rd tattoo and will have no regrets. i have thought long and hard to make sure i will be happy!
Good luck!
My father told me not to get tattoos (as he was the old man with tattoos)so i waited and waited till then i was 21 in a shop getting a tattoo. few months went by. I became a tattooist,iv been tattooing for 13 years and yes i regret just about all my tattoos. so i tell kids to wait think hard about getting that tattoo in 15 years you might be a different person who hates rats and spiders, so good luck in finding your next tattoo.
Im 18 and was lookin for tattoo ideas and saw the butterfly u have on this one so i went and got it! now i have the butterfly in the above picture on the back of my left shoulder it looks amazzing! THANKS!!
Im 17 and after a long hard time getting my parents to say yes i finally got my first tattoo.
I Love it, i dont and wont regret it. its a picture of 3 flowers which symolises me and my 2 sister.
but i would recommend if ur gunna get a tattoo at a young age really think about it b4 getting. plus they really hurt but man they are worth it.
Interesting argumment but it’s not the best one