Maybe, Tattoos aren't cool anymore?

I was in the waiting room at my doctors office one afternoon, thumbing through a 5 year old golf magazine, as a lot of middle aged men do just before getting their prostate tickled. It helps to distract oneself in these circumstances. I ripped apart a couple pages that were stuck together and drew the attention of 6 other people waiting in that office with me.

Mildly embarrassed, I sheepishly explained the situation, and apologized for the noise. But, something caught my attention as I looked around. Everyone of these people waiting to see a doctor had a tattoo of some form on their body’s.

A foot. An arm. A finger. A chest. Every single person had something, including me. The nurse at reception was the only person in the room who did not have any visible ink.

This was the beginning of reflection on the fact that perhaps…Having a tattoo wasn’t a unique thing anymore?

Run of the mill designs?

A lot of times you have to pick out a design from a catalog at the tattoo parlor. Kind of like the sears catalog, back when the internet wasn’t a thing…the ancient times. It might not have been the perfect design of what you want, and it makes for a chance that some person in your community is walking around with the same, unlicensed cartoon duck knock off tattoo as you. You might also have an idea of your own that you bring in, but tattoo artists want to express themselves in their work, so they add a little extra nuance. Your duck tattoo can be an inspirational starting point for them, and your fleshy butt cheek is their canvas. Now you have something on your body that’s not 100% your idea.

Vincent Van Gogh went crazy, chopped off his left ear and gave it to a prostitute. A tattoo artist holding a needle a short distance away from your genitalia is not the person you want to offend by disagreeing with their artistic choices of your original design.

Rebel without a cause.

Getting a tattoo meant there used to be some sort of adventure or danger associated with the event. Perhaps a rebellious young lady running away from home to join up with a biker gang getting her ink done in the back room of various biker bars around the country. Or a hardened criminal getting tatted up in prison. Maybe armed forces personnel who have gone to fight a war in foreign lands, getting a “mother” tattoo on shore leave in an exotic location to honor the woman who gave them life within an environment where death surely lurks. Nowadays, most people just travel to their local malls and visit a tattoo parlor/ salon. The only danger we see here is the judgmental eyes of groups of old men, perched in the food court.

Pop culture couture

Another thing that takes credibility away from this form of art is the development of tattoo artist reality shows. What was once an exciting taboo-ish back room escapade, has turned into mainstream pop culture entertainment. Just like a bubble gum pop song, it takes the creativity and seediness away from the act of getting a tattoo. It diminishes the event that was you getting obliterated by alcohol consumption at a bush party, only to wake up in a trailer park home of the gangly, jean jacket wearing kid in your remedial math class.

You knew something just shy of death awaited you at home from your parents. You instinctively knew that you had to spend the next two years of your life concealing the abomination of a “Pikachu on a chocolate sundae” tattoo you unknowingly got somehow, in the span of the 10 hours, between range road 42 and the Oak Pines trailer park.

But nowadays, what would have once had been a rebellious act of teenage stupidity, is the result of accrued bonding time from all the hours sitting down with his parents on Wednesday evenings, watching a celebrity tattoo artist run his salon that comped 23% net revenue, 3 seasons running.

Inked hieroglyphics

Old people, including my parents, have tattoos. There’s nothing less badass than visiting the old age home and seeing my elderly father will the skull and bones tattoo, sitting in his wheelchair at the arts and crafts table, scrapbooking with plastic safety scissors. I often wonder if his inked symbol of virility…masculinity…machismo, still has an effect on his younger female nurse as she picks up my fathers fallen dentures off the floor and wipes the drool off his face, forcing a synthetic smile.

There’s something on your face

Tattoos have become so un-unique on the body that people are starting to put them on their faces to separate from the crowd.

I’m flexing my biceps with my unicorn tattoo in an office with a cute girl who loves bad boys, and all of a sudden a guy shows up with a gang symbol on his forehead and a sea foam coloured teardrop of blood painted under his eye. In this scenario, I have no chance. Guess who she’s going to hang out with? You guessed it, the guy with the mutilated face!

Until the recent past The closest thing to face tattoos society had was the painted face of beer bellied Sports fans shirtless in an arena amongst 50000 other fanatics in negative degree temperatures. Now, women have become enamored with men that cover their face, because it’s a symbol of a bad boy, when not too long ago, the guy with the tattoo on the arm was the bad boy. Tattoos from the neck down has become so commonplace that face tattoo “bad boys” are gaining an unfair advantage due to the commonality of the tattoo. Those original, bare chested face painted sports fans never even got a second glance for their efforts.

A story tattooed on the brain

One of the more uncomfortable aspects of the tattoo community is having to listen to people's stories about the work done on them and the significance it has to their lives. It can be a burden on our friends having to remember it and hear this story constantly. I dislike having to compare stories with other tatted folks. My story pales in any significance, and the humiliation of being dismissed or ignored, when I tell the tale of why I have Aunt Jemima tattooed on my leg. The reason, quite simply because of my love for pancakes.

Distracted by her big Tatts

Tattoos are affecting my love life as well. I’ve started to get distracted when Making love to a woman with tattoos. The more intricate the body art the less I can focus on the task at hand. It is like reading a comic book while having sex. I need to be engrossed in one task or the other, I can’t do two things at once. Some women like to tattoo things on their chests. Typically expansive designs that will cover the top of the rib cage and collar. Every now and then I will have a sensual encounter with a lady who has a spiritual quote, or political message on there body as an alternative to the conventional eagle, or outspread angel wings on the chest. These designs give an insight into the wearer, and it’s fascinating to try to understand this woman who was willing to sacrifice her dignity and self respect by allowing me to have intercourse with her. But, I have enough self awareness to realize that it’s not the best time to start asking follow-up questions.

Post trauma tattoo

Part of the appeal of getting a tattoo was the hope that people would think I was tough. It’s become apparent that people aren’t intimidated at all by my tattoos. Having them is all too common. In fact , people who don’t have them have been brazen enough to approach me and openly wonder if there is some sort of personal psychological reason I felt the need to get one. Perhaps past trauma. Animosity of religious upbringing? Family issues? Or maybe other kids made fun of me as a child? They don't know that I just got super drunk at a pub crawl, saw a tattoo parlor next to the bus stop and regretted it ever since.

Here are some more reasons for why tattoos may not be special anymore:

Tattoo trends

Changing perceptions of tattoos

Cultural shift in tattoo acceptance

Tattoo saturation in mainstream culture

Evolving attitudes towards tattoos

Rise of tattoo popularity

Tattoo ubiquity in modern society

Tattoo normalization

Decline of tattoo uniqueness

Tattoo saturation in pop culture

Mainstreaming of tattoos

Tattoos as a social norm

Tattoo mainstream acceptance

Tattoos losing their edge

Tattoo trend fatigue

Changing meaning of tattoos

Evolution of tattoo aesthetics

Tattoo as a fashion statement

Overexposure of tattoos in media

Tattoo homogeneity in popular culture

Maybe, Tattoos aren't cool anymore?

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