An Open Letter to People Who Think Tattoos Mean Trouble

Its no secret that the millennial generation is all about breaking stigmas, so that prompts the question, what’s the deal with tattoos?  Personally, I know a lot of people who have gotten tattoos, but when you look at the world, some people still think that having tattoos means you’re a bad person?  Why is that?  

The stigma surrounding tattoos is unnecessary, especially when so many people have them.  Just because someone decides to get a tattoo doesn’t mean any of the following:

• They made a mistake

• They are a bad person

• They are going to regret it in the future

• They are reckless

• They are dumb/stupid/any other synonym

• They are dangerous

• They will hurt you

• They are not worthy of a job

• They are not capable of completing a job effectively because of the tattoos they have

• They are mean

• They are ugly because of their tattoos

• They will cause trouble

In fact, it means that they are fearless.  They want to express themselves through their most personal canvas, so why is it that they are criticized for being themselves?  If you want to get that flower tattoo, go for it!  Dragon, definitely.  A symbol you might not know the meaning of? To each their own!  The point is, if the person who got the tattoo is happy, why can’t you be happy for them?  Maybe it wasn’t a decision you would make for yourself, or that you would make for them, but ultimately, their body is their body and you have no say in what they do with it.  You don’t have to understand it, you don’t have to like it, but you do have to respect it.  So stop criticizing and discriminating people who decide that getting a tattoo is right for them and their self expression.

This isn’t to say that every tattoo is perfect, or that they won’t regret it, or that they are all for a good reason, but stop criticizing the people who do not fall into the above categories just because they decided to get some rad ink.  It isn’t fair, and it isn’t a gauge of their character.  The best gauge of character, in case you were wondering, is getting to know people and their interests.  I’m sure if you asked, they’d be happy to tell you about their tattoo and what it means to them.  They will be happy to tell you the story behind getting it.  They will tell you that that thing you thought was weird, is actually precious to them.  Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves, and their means of expression might not be the same as you means.  This, however, doesn’t mean that is not valid.  It doesn’t mean that you can discriminate against them for their choices.

Please remember that everyone has their own way of expressing themselves, and if someone chooses to get a tattoo, whether you agree with it or not, it is their decision.   Make sure that they have thought it out completely and fully before getting a tattoo.  If they have, then make sure you support them in getting the tattoo, because deciding to permanently ink something onto your skin can be scary, no matter how badly you want it.  Also make sure they are taking all the precautions and going to a licensed tattoo artist in order to get the tattoo, as well as taking care of it after the fact.  

So I leave you with this: What is it going to take to prove to older generations that people who decide to get tattoos are not all of the categories above?  That many of them don’t fit into any of those categories?  That the stigma is just that: a stigma.  You know what you can do with stigmas if you try hard enough?  

You can break them.

• break the stigma
• tattoos