Tattoos

My thanks to Con for initiating this debate, and will do my best to cover everything in the 4,000 character limit. I do not have any tattoos myself, though I do have many friends who do, and am happy to defend the choice of getting one (or more).I couldn't find any info on the survey done by the United States Association of Dermatologists, other than the estimation itself. I did, however, find the Harris Poll, done in both 2003 and 2008, in relation to tattoos ( http://www.vanishingtattoo.com... ).This poll found that 17% (2003) and 16% (2008) of people regret getting at least one of their tattoos, a far cry from the 50% estimated by the USAD.l do agree that the decision to get a tattoo should not be taken lightly. No decision with that kind of permanence should be. There are several reasons a person may end up regretting getting one. Things like fading, stretching, poor design choice, etc... Anybody thinking about getting a tattoo should take all of these aspects into consideration, and if you believe they will leave you with regret, you may want to refrain from getting one. A tattoo is certainly not a good decision for everyone, and should NEVER be done impulsively. For anyone considering it, here is a link to some tips that you may find useful/informative ( http://www.rockerzine.com... ).There are other things to consider, as well, but are easily avoided with some forethought. Con brings up the possibility of a tattoo being a hindrance in ones professional life. This generally won't be a problem with a non-offensive tattoo. If the tattoo you want is offensive, you can simply put it somewhere it can be hidden by clothing. Personally, I would recommend tattoos that are not offensive, as those are the ones you're most likely to regret.As for stereotyping, there will always be people who judge by appearance rather than character. It's unavoidable, tattoo or no tattoo. It is worth noting, according to the Harris Poll, that the majority of people understand getting a tattoo does NOT mean you are a deviant person. The poll found that 71% (2003) and 69% (2008) of people see no difference in the likelihood of deviant behavior based on having a tattoo.There is very little reason to be embarrassed, and I don't just mean because of tattoos, I mean in general. We are all prone to error, and every last one of us makes mistakes in our life, both big and small. Most people understand this, and won't hold those mistakes against you, as long as they aren't egregious offenses (And a regretted tattoo is certainly not in that category). And so it's not something you should hold against yourself, either.It is true that the current recommended practices for tattoo removal are both painful and costly. But this is only a problem if you regret getting the tattoo, and want it removed. Many of the possible reasons for regret can be avoided, while others can't. Do research before getting one, and reduce as many of those possibilities as you can beforehand. For instance, be as certain as you can that you're choosing a reputable tattoo artist. Someone who has a quality portfolio, so you know they have the necessary art skill to do a good tattoo. Beyond that, make sure they have a good attitude; That they care about their work, and care about you liking the work they do for you. You can never completely eliminate the risk of regretting a tattoo, but that's just part of life. Very rarely is anything truly risk free, but risk can be reduced. A tattoo can be a reminder of a moment you never want to forget, or simply a form of artistic expression. There are many other good reasons a person might have for getting a tattoo, as well. I have strongly considered it myself, and simply can't decide on what I want tattooed.In the end, as long as you give yourself ample time to think it through, and take into consideration as many aspects as possible, you probably won't regret your decision to get a tattoo, if that is the decision you make.