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[lslerner]

Until perhaps a decade ago, tattoos were the domain of the bottom of the social barrel. Now that they have become stylish among college students (among others) it remains likely that the style, like all styles, will rise and fall within a time span small compared to the life expectancy of a young person.
The students who are getting tattoos now will probably have to deal, in middle age, with a mark that is again perceived as grotesque and degrading, as has been the case through most of out history. Plastic surgeons are going to have a good time!

[bio_prof_]

Somewhat off-topic, but the market is addressing the possibility of tattoo-regret:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6126963&sc=emaf

[pyshnov]

lslerner:

Until perhaps a decade ago, tattoos were the domain of the bottom of the social barrel.

Not entirely correct.
Tattoos are the domain of the bottom of the social barrel.
It just that the bottom got thicker, much more than the half of it is bottom.

[magimax]

lslerner:

Until perhaps a decade ago, tattoos were the domain of the bottom of the social barrel.

Not entirely correct.
Tattoos are the domain of the bottom of the social barrel.
It just that the bottom got thicker, much more than the half of it is bottom.

I and many other intelligent, witty, productive, tax-paying, voting, law-abiding, money-making TOP HALF OF THE SOCIAL BARREL do hereby object.

[angel]

Amen, Magimax.

[mabeelrc]

I too, object.  I am very much an adult in academia and have myself gotten several tattoos.  Most of them I got as prizes from boxes of Cracker Jack.  Just lick them and put them on.  So cool.

[indebted]

When students of today reach middle age, plastic surgeons are going to be happy whether they have tattoos or not. 

[rowan1]

When students of today reach middle age, plastic surgeons are going to be happy whether they have tattoos or not. 

Heck, don't you watch the news - they are not even waiting for middle age!  Plastic surgery is booming on high school aged patients!

[camera]

c'mon people --- bottom of the social barrel? i am tattooed -- not a couple either, fairly heavily. I also am completing my PhD, teaching and publishing and maintaining a decent life, thank you. It's amazing that comments like some of those above come from otherwise open-minded adults.

[abdbiz]

My joke answer: I think Tats are mostly a signaling device ( sexual looseness for women (Im not deeming this bad), and bad relationships with your dad for men)

I think we are at the height of the tattoo bubble, similar to the housing bubble. If there is a reality show based on it, it has reached critical mass.


We had a piercing bubble a few years back (belly buttons and eyebrows).


What happens when counter-culture becomes popular culture?

[minorleaguer]

My joke answer: I think Tats are mostly a signaling device ( sexual looseness for women (Im not deeming this bad), and bad relationships with your dad for men)

I think we are at the height of the tattoo bubble, similar to the housing bubble. If there is a reality show based on it, it has reached critical mass.


We had a piercing bubble a few years back (belly buttons and eyebrows).


What happens when counter-culture becomes popular culture?

Hey now, my tat has special significance related to my relationship with my father. 

Ahh generalizations and stereotypes.

[missippissi]

Culture evolves, as do social norms.
While some may get tattoos as part of a whim or fad, many get them for valid personal reasons. They (I am including myself in this they) do not get them to please others or to make themselves "respectable" to society at large. Though I do have issues with those who co-opt the deeply meaningful cultural tattoos from the Maori (for instance) and use the designs without respect or understanding of their original, often sacred, meaning.

[magimax]

Culture evolves, as do social norms.
While some may get tattoos as part of a whim or fad, many get them for valid personal reasons. They (I am including myself in this they) do not get them to please others or to make themselves "respectable" to society at large. Though I do have issues with those who co-opt the deeply meaningful cultural tattoos from the Maori (for instance) and use the designs without respect or understanding of their original, often sacred, meaning.

I also have issues with those who choose Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or any script tattoo other than English just because it "looks neat."  If you don't understand it and can't write it yourself, don't get it permanently inscribed on your body.

[notaprof]

Culture evolves, as do social norms.
While some may get tattoos as part of a whim or fad, many get them for valid personal reasons. They (I am including myself in this they) do not get them to please others or to make themselves "respectable" to society at large. Though I do have issues with those who co-opt the deeply meaningful cultural tattoos from the Maori (for instance) and use the designs without respect or understanding of their original, often sacred, meaning.

I also have issues with those who choose Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or any script tattoo other than English just because it "looks neat."  If you don't understand it and can't write it yourself, don't get it permanently inscribed on your body.

It may be an urban myth but I have heard of tattoo artists telling their customers that a Chinese symbol represents a desirable trait when it actually means something insulting.  So there are reportedly macho guys walking around with a Chinese script tattoo that means wimp, jerk, etc.   
 

[infopri]

It may be an urban myth but I have heard of tattoo artists telling their customers that a Chinese symbol represents a desirable trait when it actually means something insulting.  So there are reportedly macho guys walking around with a Chinese script tattoo that means wimp, jerk, etc.   

I've heard of that, too, notaprof.  I think I saw it on some Discovery Channel (or similar channel) program about tattoo artists.