Sorry to any of you who have tattoos. No offense intended.

Lomo Tattoo for Lomo-Cam

I never thought of myself as a prude. In fact I like to keep up with trends to some extent and I try to dress “fashiony” as my niece puts it. But what really makes my eyes roll is what I see on the beach. It used to be that you went to the circus to see the tattooed people. Now all you have to do is sit on the beach and watch every other person walking by to see them. I don’t have to pay at all. In fact, I’d rather they pay me to have to see it.
I’m okay with the slightly hidden and modest tattoo that makes a statement about faith, or loss or something of value. But, really now… what statement are we making as we carry one child on our hip and tow one behind in a wagon and wear a barely covering swimsuit with a huge skull brazen from shoulder blades to butt crack on our back? Or what does it say when every inch of our body is colored with flowers, skulls, chain links, names etc.? What really are we saying? Or, is it that we are trying to cover something? Is there a message that big that we want our onlookers to be made aware of? This prude feels that self expression has gotten out of hand.
I would love to know the psychology of what prompts a person to endure pain to put a picture on their body for all to see forever. It doesn’t seem to matter the age, size, gender, or culture. Tattoos seem to be for everyone. I have tried to think about what would prompt me to get one. What I’ve decided, is nothing. If I want to express myself creatively I’ll do it in a way that isn’t permanent, in a way that not everyone has to see, and in a way that won’t offend others or cause myself physical pain.
Maybe I’m way off base, since I seem to be in the minority these days. I guess when I’m in the nursing home one day and we are sitting comparing our tattoos and sharing our memories, I’ll just have to sit quiet. Oh well!