Should there be requisite cooling off periods before the getting of a tattoo?
I certainly think so. I added four tramp stamps to my skin before I reached the ripe old age of 20, and at 23 I regret every single one of them. Cooling off periods are recommended by plastic surgeons for breast augmentations and labiaplasty; among countless other wacky, unnecessary things people with too much money and too little esteem do to their body. Why not something utterly permanent as a tattoo?
Perhaps a month would be adequate. A temporary tattoo could give the tattooee-to-be an idea of what life with a tattoo is like. Perhaps we’d see fewer butterflies/tribal symbols/dolphins parading the streets.
Or would such restrictions impinge on our right to make compulsive choices?
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Interesting idea. I think if you force me to vote, I vote no, there should not be a cooling off period, but I can see the argument for one since it is permanent.
I think we should have the right to make choices regarding our bodies. We don’t need more government mandates telling us what we can and cannot do to out bodies. If you make a stupid decision as an adult, you live with the consequences. It’s part of what being an adult is all about. If I’m correct, in most places you need to be 18 before getting a tattoo, which gives teenagers a whole lot of thinking time. I also believe it’s illegal to give a visibly drunk person a tat, isn’t it?
I also think that most responsible tattooees (no offense, tat-regretters) do spend a lot of time leading up to their tattoos thinking about it. Personally, I thought about mine for months, and even talked to my rabbi, before getting mine.
So when your eighteen year old child gets ‘FUCK THE GOVERMENT’ (yes, he misspelt it) inked fatly down his left forearm, you’ll be content to giggle it off as a life lesson Likeradar?
I got two of my tattoos drunk (they don’t breathalise in parlours) and three of the four were entirely spur of the moment. Stupid? Yes.
I also don’t think an 18 year old can be considered entirely adult. I barely identify with myself at 18. I don’t think I make reasonable decisions at 23.
No. Why impose a limit on society because a few impulsive folks become unhappy with their purchase?
I think if you are stupid enough to get so drunk you are not capable of making decisions about someone drawing permanent pictures on your body, perhaps you should give up drinking.
There is I assume a minimum age for tattoos, that is enough law.
@clairemagdalenaclaire With all due respect, dear, I plan on raising people who won’t get a Fuck the Government tattoo, no matter how it is spelled. A child who would get that tattoo has bigger problems than poor tattoo decision making skills.
The fact that there are 18 year olds lacking insight about their youth and permanent decisions does not mean that responsible people should not get a tattoo without waiting.
You made a mistake. Other people should not have laws imposed on them because of it.
Have this silly tattoo of an orange kitty from when I was a teenager. And a knot that my best friend at the time and I both got. They are small so that’s nice, and honestly I wouldn’t do it over again but I really like my other tattoos. I think it’s just what you get when your young and excited. No cooling down period.
@clairemagdalenaclaire: I disagree with the cooldown period idea. We’re not talking about people buying guns here. the only reason why there is so much controversy surrounding tattoos is because they are visible. I have a very large tattoo on my stomach and, yeah, I might regret getting it in ten years but I also might regret going to the college I go to, or dating that guy, or trying that new thing but no one’s telling me I might regret that.
I’d rather have a bad tattoo than a bad anything else. The bad tat is literally skin deep and everything else could do some serious harm to my life.
@Likeradar, surely there are legions of people out there who drunk too much as young people, don’t have constant insight, and have tattoos they regret.
A cooling off period isn’t a ban on tattoos. It’s a chance to mull over what is a big decision.
@KatawaGrey Well put! I didn’t get knocked up at 18, or get arrested, or anything even close to as stupid as so many other kids. My tattoos are harmless little memories. :)
@clairemagdalenaclaire Absolutely, there are. But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t believe the government has any business at all telling me I need to “cool down” or think harder about a decision that will only impact my body because some people make stupid decisions that only impact their bodies.
Yes, about 3 to 15 years.
I think it would be a good idea to “try before you buy”. I wouldn’t make it compulsory but I’d encourage young people to do it so that they aren’t faced with life long regret about it.
Bars shouldn’t be permitted within one thousand yards of a tattoo parlor.
@ratboy – I don’t think your new avatar is a rat, but it sure is cute!
And as always, GA heheheh
@ratboy, is that the same little beastie what gets tickled and practically orgasms?
People should be free to make any modifications they like. We’re allowed to make all sorts of choices as adults. The only thing is that we also have to remember that with every choice comes consequences. If a person hasn’t learned that by 18, then I don’t know what to tell ‘em. Maybe a few badly designed and placed tats that cost a couple thousand dollars to remove will teach them a lesson.
I got mine at 32, but just the one. I don’t regret it. I may get another one this year.
its just bad to expect the govt to protect us from ourselves. Where would it ever end? I hate seatbelt laws they’re stupid too.
It makes me giggle that someone who would get a Fuck the Government tattoo now wants to government to step in and make decisions for people.
@clairemagdalenaclaire – you just missed a great chance, I would have claimed that one for my own!!! The irony of the question I mean.
I never dreamed that you actually had such a tattoo. Even if you were drunk, let’s hope the ink guy spells better than you do, heheheh.
Most people think about their tattoos and don’t have the complete lack of common sense to get one on the spur of the moment.
I have been thinking and thinking. First I have to think of a spot on my body that is guaranteed not to sag and therefore grossly distort the image. Then I have to overcome my chickenality, I am too scared!
@rooeytoo I’m 50 and I gotta tell ya, Pretty much everything sags with time :(
@woodcutter – I am 65 and I am thinking of my shoulder, it is nice and bony so there isn’t much there to sag. It is mostly the fear of pain that deters me.
@rooeytoo Ok then you already know, however I have been told that those places near bony areas will hurt the most when it’s done, like ankles, elbows. Of course It’s only what I’ve heard as I have never done it. I’m REALLY scared :O
@woodcutter @rooeytoo Ones near bones do hurt worse, as do ones over major nerves. Who knew there’s a major nerve in that spot on my hip? :P
@avvooooooo – this is exactly why I don’t have one, if it is not in a predicted sag area, it is bony and therefore painful!
I will probably end up tattoo free, except for the temporary air brushed ones, hehehe, I like them!
@rooeytoo; I’ve had one in the middle of my upper back, in the middle of my lower back, and on the insides of both wrists. The ones on my spine were intensely painful, but bearable. The ones inside my wrist were less so; strange as it’s right on the bone and the skin is so fine. Still hurt though!
I think your tattoo free idea is a good one (: Perhaps the knowledge that my worst, most ill conceived tattoo (a name, a wrist, a mistake!) is costing me $120 a pop to have laser removed, the procedure is about a thousand times more painful than having a tattoo, takes weeks to heal, I’ve had eight and it’s still very very evident will further dissuade you. And before flutherers scorn me for being vain; I am getting it removed because it is not only highly embarrassing but limits my career choices- it’s hard enough being a woman in a male dominated industry, but being a woman with ‘Rob’ on her wrist makes it pretty bloody difficult.
@rooeytoo Mine is relatively small and in a place that can be hidden easily. Even if it does sag, its not going very far… And if it tries, I’ll get it removed.
@avvooooooo – well come on now, you have to tell us where it is!
@rooeytoo Above I said “that spot on my hip.” That’s where its hiding, where no one can see it unless I show it to them. :D
ahhhhhh, I see, maybe that is a good idea, although with hip hugger pants it would have to be pretty low so as not to be seen. I just can’t decide!
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