Tattoos on teens - opinions pls

[KitCat]

Tattoos are a bad idea. When a person grows and changes through the years will they think they had a good idea in their youth? Probably not!

[lizbud]

My ex and I were pretty conservative parents so this was something
that never came up in conversation with the children.If they ever wanted
a tattoo I never heard about it. They are grown adults now & can do as
they please, but somehow I think they still wouldn't do it.

[Sevaede]

Tattoos are a bad idea. When a person grows and changes through the years will they think they had a good idea in their youth? Probably not!

How so? How can you claim that *EVERYONE* changes and morphs and never looks at the same idea twice?

I know and have seen MANY older folks with tattoos that *STILL* look fantabulous! In fact, I think I have only seen one older person with tattoos that looked bad. That was because she had tattooed over the same ones several times!

[buttercup132]

Tattoos are a bad idea. When a person grows and changes through the years will they think they had a good idea in their youth? Probably not!

I have 3 I'm 16 and I know I will still like mine. Your theory is wrong, seems like you don't know much about the subject so you shouldn't assume that. I personally find that offensive.

[pnance]

I vote help him. He's 18 so bottom line he can get one with or without your permission. At least if he know's your behind it you can offer suggestions and perhaps help find a good place.

Just a suggestion, do your homework (ask friends, etc.)and pay a little more if necessary. My brother had a tatoo done at one those ?? places for less and has never been really happy with the work. I had a tiger done but did my homework first and went to a shop and artist that was extremely well known and even published in magazines. Everyone I knew recommended this guy. The tiger looks real it's so good. The other thing is since he's young and has no idea what type of job he'll end up with suggest putting it in a place that's easy to hide, believe me it will make things easier down the line.

[sumbirdy]

I have 3 I'm 16 and I know I will still like mine. Your theory is wrong, seems like you don't know much about the subject so you shouldn't assume that. I personally find that offensive.

You can never know what you are going to like in the future. I am 17 and there are so many things that I don't like now that I did when I was 16 and vice versa. I was going to get a tattoo when I was 16 and am so glad that I didn't because I don't like the same thing now. My mom got a tattoo done when she was fifteen (something she said she really liked then and something she never thought that she wouldn't like) and by the time she was 20 she hated it. So you probably shouldn't say that you know you will still like yours.

[columbine]

I'm all for keeping it above-board, and if anything, Dad's prohibition will prove an incentive, not a disincentive anyway. Tattoos don't have the shock value they once did. But definitely discussing the economic ramifications (e.g. you may have to live in a decent-sized city with an unacceptable cost of living to be able to find a job at all) makes sense; and tying that in with the "not under my roof" angle (e.g. "Nobody will hire me" will no longer be an acceptable excuse to live here rent-free!) Explain how people will make up excuses or lie outright and just hire a less qualified candidate if they "just don't like the look" of a job applicant, which might well be the case for certain individuals in a position to make hiring decisions.

What the heck, he can move to Boston - nobody here bats an eye at tattoos, facial piercings, or blue hair. But you need 2 full-time jobs just to stay off the street, so he better not harbor delusions of having a social life!

Love, Columbine

[mike001]

Leaves you between a rock and a hard place. You have to choose between your son and hubby. I imagine it will cause a lot of friction in the home if he does get it. Yet, at 18 he is old enough to make a decision.Would he be willing to wait another year? If not, everyone will have to meet halfway.
I never was a tatoo fan, so I would also have said no to my kids had they asked. I guess if it's in good taste and somewhere hidden, it would be ok. My main concern would be what he could pick up. No matter how reliable the place, there's a lot of risk, take a look at what you pick up from needles at the hospitals.

[Sevaede]

Leaves you between a rock and a hard place. You have to choose between your son and hubby. I imagine it will cause a lot of friction in the home if he does get it. Yet, at 18 he is old enough to make a decision.Would he be willing to wait another year? If not, everyone will have to meet halfway.
I never was a tatoo fan, so I would also have said no to my kids had they asked. I guess if it's in good taste and somewhere hidden, it would be ok. My main concern would be what he could pick up. No matter how reliable the place, there's a lot of risk, take a look at what you pick up from needles at the hospitals.

There are MANY, MANY reputable tattoo and piercing shops. They *DO* get inspected by folks from the health department, there is a national organization that the reputable people *MUST* be members of and adhere to all rules! You want a shop that uses a BRAND NEW needle as in taking it out of the package in front of your eyes. You want a place that disinfects the chair before you sit down, makes sure you're wanting to do this by asking several times. You want a place that will not dot you with a marker but use a toothpick to get the dye and mark you, a place that pours the ink into a seperate container used for you and only you. etc etc etc.

[Sevaede]

You can never know what you are going to like in the future. I am 17 and there are so many things that I don't like now that I did when I was 16 and vice versa. I was going to get a tattoo when I was 16 and am so glad that I didn't because I don't like the same thing now. My mom got a tattoo done when she was fifteen (something she said she really liked then and something she never thought that she wouldn't like) and by the time she was 20 she hated it. So you probably shouldn't say that you know you will still like yours.

I think people can decide for themselves how they feel and view things.

[sumbirdy]

I think people can decide for themselves how they feel and view things.

Yeah, but I'm just saying...