According to “Why do people go back for more and more tattoos?” in BBC News Magazine, it points out that the one in five of American adults have tattoos and the proportion dramatic increase. Although, there are no concrete facts of this behavior, some researchers suggest that it happens because of the aesthetic desire and the satisfaction of controllable painfulness during the process.
When I was young, I had a negative perception with the one who have a tattoo. They seemed to be gangsters or aggressive rockers because of the influential believing from elder. They always teach me that it is an impolite manner. However, when I grow up, my perception changes. I think the tattoo people are cool and fearless. They have freedom to do what they want and they have no need to cover it; moreover, they are stronger to show the world what they think. I also think that the main reason why new generation accepts of having tattoos is the well known celebrities have the beautiful tattoos and they always show it to public eyes, such as David Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Amy Winehouse, Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga and so on.
The process of getting tattoos is also interested issue. Why people are willing to be pained? Stuart Ross, a psychology lecturer at Newman University, says that "even while it's painful, it's always controllable. That's why I think you see a lot of athletes with big tattoos - it's a kind of a rite of passage, like running a marathon." From the Ross’ view, I infer that the ability to overcome painful and fear is the pride of tattoo people. They believe that if they pain more, they will gain more. Moreover, it seems to be another way of practicing themselves to be the better one.
By the way, I have no reasons to have my own tattoos. I fear of painfulness and I really like my original skin.
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I totally agree with you P'Noina. When i was young, I think anyone who got a tattoo looks dangerous and untrustworthy.
ReplyDeleteI hope, I will get one or more tattoos on my back someday.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think some people get them rashly without enough thought in advance, which might lead to regrets later, I've never regretted any of mine. I'm pretty sure I'm neither dangerous, nor, I hope, untrustworthy.
ReplyDeleteAs Noina suggests in her opening paragraph, tattoos have been around for a very long time, and across many cultures. I'm glad to see them gaining a more positive image.
Good topic for a blog post. Thank you Noina.
It does seem to me that they are addictive for some people. But then again, it's their body, and if the tattoos are well designed and executed, why not go to excess?
DeleteIs the fact that they can be addictive reason to worry? Does Hartmann's preferred definition of abnormality tell us anything useful here?