I had my first tattoo done when I was 18. It's a simple little thing, only about an inch big, hidden under my waistband. I have often heard it said that tattoos are addictive, and soon after my first, I completed understood why people had said that. I went for my second tattoo about a year and a half later. This one was a little bigger, and on a not so hidden area of my skin. After that, I waited about four years until I got my next one. Currently, I just obtained number five. This one will be turning into a project, which will be multiple visits. Ahh... only people who have tattoos understand the itch... once you have them, you just need to hear that needle, or see someone else's tattoos or even just a picture of a tattoo, and you want to be back in that chair... either adding to yours, or getting done some new ideas that you have had on your mind.
At A Glance Author anonymous When N/A Location North-Eastern USA In the years that I have had my tattoos, there are always people who judge me once they realize that I have them. I know that I am not alone in this situation, but it still bothers me when it happens.
I work in a "professional" office, with a large number of people. I dress appropriately, I am well mannered, and I am always polite and courteous to everyone (I try to be this way outside of work, too, but it helps to make sure to follow this at my job).
After having been at my current job for quite some time, one of my co-workers noticed one of my tattoos (all of my ink happens to be in areas which are easily covered by clothing, but every once in a while, one of the tattoos can be glimpsed -- adjusting my shoes, the ink on my ankle might show, reaching to get something off of a shelf, the work on my back might be seen... things such as that). Somehow, it's always a "shock" to some people when they realize that I have tattoos (I do not go out of my way to inform them of my tattoos before they see them-- I do not really see the point... the tattoos are mine, and they are done for my own reasons, they are not done for other people's amusement or for their entertainment). So, I then get the questions and comments from some, such as "oh my God... you have a tattoo?? Do you have others??" Actually, I have quite a handful of tattoos, not just one. "How long have you had that?? I didn't think you were the type to have tat toos..." The type?? "Why did you get them?? You are going to regret that when you are older". No, I won't. I've had my first one for almost a decade, and I do not regret it. I do not regret any of my tattoos.
This does not only happen to me at work, but work is the most recent situations of it happening. It can happen at family functions or holidays (maybe wear a skirt, to look nice, to dress up, and oops my leg might show... and then the questions begin). It can even happen by my friends or my acquaintances who have noticed them for the first time.
I have tried to not let it bother me, but sometimes it can be difficult. I don't want to end up being the kind of person who would be constantly rethinking their clothing choices, based on who you'll come in contact with during the course of a given day. I got my tattoos done for me, and I enjoy having them. If my having them bothers some people, then I'm sorry for them. But please do not criticize my judgment, or question why I would "put myself through something like that". Everyone who has mods, whether they be tattoos, piercings, or any other kind for that matter... we all have them for our own personal reasons. The fact that this day in age, when such a large percentage of the population is modified, it bothers me when people who are not modified think of us who are modified as being "freaks" or "punks", or whatever else their adjective of choice might be on a given day, simply because we chose to modify ourselves in a way that they wouldn't consider for themsel ves.
Not everyone is critical & judgmental of me and my art-work. Many people do like it, and compliment me on it. My parents like them on me. My tattoo artist made a wonderful comment along the lines of tattoos are a way to express on the outside who you really are on the inside. I love my work that I have had done. I will be getting more. Some people may see this experience write-up as a rant, but the majority of it comes from heart and from experience that has impacted me in a big way. I like to also think that it can possibly be an educational piece to people who do the judging that I spoke of. I think I am likely going to print out some copies of this, this way for some of the non-modified people, who wouldn't find their way to bme ezine, they can still get an idea of what's on some of our minds.