I think its more of a peer pressure than something someone really wants to do to themselves. I mean, if they're friends didn't do it, the kids probably wouldn't even think of it.
I don't fully agree with this, while yes sometimes it can be from peer pressure like the frat boy who goes down will all his buddies to get their frat tatoo. But it's not always like that. I got my tattoos for me, not for anyone else. I only have one tattoo that can actually be seen when I want it to, it's on my calf but even then not too many people have seen it. My tattoos tell a story, they each show a different part of my life like a stressful time in my life that i feel I overcame or something I feel that I accomplished. I feel they are symbolic, this is how tattoos originated. Tribes from all over the world use tattoos so show personal battles that have been won and lost. I don't feel my tattoos make me "cool" or make me fit in, in fact when I got my first tattoo I didn't know anyone else that had one. I like that I have a permanant reminder of these certain events in my life so that I never forget the things that have happened to me I'm able to think about it everyday and know how and why I am the person that I am. While I agree that I don't think tattoos are for everyone and I don't run around telling people they should get them. In fact when one of my friends mentions wanting to get a tattoo I talk to them and make sure they know that it is something that needs to be thought about for a long time. But for me personally my tattoos are just for me and they aren't about anything or anyone else.