Why do people go overboard on tattoos?

[IMADreamer]

If we are going out I might as well don't with a bang by insulting yet another large swath of America. I'm not saying tattoos are trashy or anything like that but if you show me some white trash I will show you someone with a bunch of [expletive] tattoos. Why? What is the psychological reasoning behind this?

[Freed Roger]

Not for me, but doesn't bother me a bit when others do it.

[IMADreamer]

Not for me, but doesn't bother me a bit when others do it.

It kinda bothers me when I know they get a check from the govt and they have tattoos all over. Still not my business but I'm genuinely curious what if there is some reason why the lower class seems to go overboard with it.

[haltz]

If you're from a particular class and you're not going to be an attorney anyway, there are probably cultural reasons it helps to not look soft among your working class peers in what's likely a more dangerous socioeconomic strata. Socially, it wouldn't make sense to look like the people that would never accept you anyway and be ostracized by the group with whom you identify.

They provide a sense of autonomy, hedging against feelings of insecurity and powerlessness. And it's easy to preemptively scapegoat with your appearance a lack of a certain kind of success or mainstream acceptance or IMADreamer's approval that was essentially unobtainable to you from the start.

Perhaps similarly, there are numerous groups (most notably in gang culture) made up of people who feel disenfranchised that aren't taken seriously or trusted until they really commit with tattoos. In my industry they can help signify to yourself and others that you're a lifer and not just passing through. Mentally it can sometimes help to shed your fallback plans and what ifs and permanently marking your body is one way to do that.

Also, tattoos are so ubiquitous now you might ask yourself if they only show up on your radar when they're on someone who you perceive is getting assistance from the government and not on David Beckham.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I don't understand tattoos no matter what strata of society a wearer is in. They are ugly and dumb. Of course my only white ass and everywhere else might look that way to the inked. Different strokes.

[stlouie_lipp]

Remember when tattoos were for tough guys like Marines and Hell's Angels? Then at some point within the last 20 years sorority girls co-opted tattoos.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Remember when tattoos were for tough guys like Marines and Hell's Angels? Then at some point within the last 20 years sorority girls co-opted tattoos.

You know how a sorority girl can get me to stop paying attention? Have a [expletive] tattoo. I have some nieces that got some discreet tattos on their shoulder blades. They lost some of my respect right there.

Of course, I'm at the 'get off my lawn' stage of life so who gives a [expletive]?

[Swirls]

My wife had a couple tattoos from before we started dating - a dove on her ribcage and a horseshoe on her foot. I was ink free. A few weeks ago we both got a couples-themed tattoo - part of the sound wave from the song we danced to at our wedding. Hers is on her shoulder and mine is on the inside of my left bicep. Only a little bit is visible when I'm wearing a shirt.

I have no problem with tattoos, although you do have to wonder at times when you see some people that get giant highly visible neck or chest or face tattoos. They do realize that, in general, they'll never be taken as an acceptable and productive member of public society, right?

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Never wanted one but never much cared if people had them. That said, never understood the excessive tattoos either. Girl that used to work at the office had like 20. One was of her 3 children and it was on her calf muscle. Easily one of the worst tattoos I've ever seen. The teeth looked black and all that stuff.

[Radbird]

Sometimes you just have a statement to make.