Poll - Tattooing: from male military and biker ethos...to viable witness means for both genders?

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now! :)

 

[farouk]

The right messages would break the ice and invite dialog.

It's what nurses use them for, anyway.

They manifestly work as an ice-breaker, whether among nurses with patients, or with Christians in witness. I can only see them getting more widely used as witness tools among Christians, can't you?

More of the nurses that I work with have tattoos than do not. On my shift, only three don't have them (of 13 nurses). We have several nurses (including myself) who have visible tattoos; one gal has them on her wrists. My hospital does not even have a policy on tattoos any longer; it's a total nonissue.

I get the most heartfelt compliments from older men with tattoos (or the wives of older men who had tattoos). I love it when a 90 year old fellow pulls up the arm of his gown to compare tattoos with me and then tells me the story (fact or fictionalized, I don't care) behind his tattoo. Usually a war story, often something of a coming-of-age story.... I've had a few wives tell me of their husbands' tattoos after seeing mine. It's such a sweet, intimate, bonding moment, and I feel so privileged to be told a story that may have only been related to close friends and relatives.

allnurses dot com

 

[farouk]

I’ve considered speaking with her about this, I believe person can hold a ministry in any occupation, if I do it to the glory of God

So did you talk to her?

 

[Waiting on him]

So did you talk to her?

Haven’t really had a chance to speak with her yet. They all have the flu

 

[GodsGrace]

Now they do it confidently because they think - maybe you also think - it's cute; often done at 18: it's probably becoming a 'passage to adulthood' for both genders.

I know many girls about the ago of 18 that are having this done.
Little hearts, flowers, initials -- stuff like that.

The big change I DO see is that PARENTS are more open to it.
When the generation after me was growing up, their parents (my generation) were not too thrilled to hear that a girl or a boy wanted a tattoo,,,especially a girl.
Today it's accepted - even at a younger age than 18. The parents see nothing particularly wrong with it.

I still would be afraid of changing my mind after. I understand there are lasers now that could remove the impression, but you still could see the changed skin color.

 

[Dave L]

It's what nurses use them for, anyway.

They manifestly work as an ice-breaker, whether among nurses with patients, or with Christians in witness. I can only see them getting more widely used as witness tools among Christians, can't you?



allnurses dot com

I think you have a great idea about this and it will reach many if it catches on.

 

[farouk]

Haven’t really had a chance to speak with her yet. They all have the flu

Let's hope they get over the winter sniffles soon...

Sounds like you do intend to talk to her and encourage her to pursue her flair for inking skin, anyway...

 

[farouk]

The big change I DO see is that PARENTS are more open to it.
When the generation after me was growing up, their parents (my generation) were not too thrilled to hear that a girl or a boy wanted a tattoo,,,especially a girl.
Today it's accepted - even at a younger age than 18. The parents see nothing particularly wrong with it.

Yes, and it's often heavily represented in professions that many young people - especially young women - follow, such as nursing, as referred to, above:

More of the nurses that I work with have tattoos than do not. On my shift, only three don't have them (of 13 nurses).

allnurses dot comYou're right also that even younger than 18 many young people - especially young women - wish to have it done; I do think that if they really want to have it done — as so many do — then it's wise at least to encourage them to wait until 18, to make it a sort of passage into official adulthood thing, rather than what may in hindsight be a mid-teen whim. (In some jurisdictions, the artist can get into trouble also if it's done at under 18. Not sure what the official age would be in Italy...)

But you're right also; many more parents now accept that their 18 year olds want to have it done.

 

[farouk]

I think some are beautiful and some disgusting.

I think this same comment could be said about a lot of things beyond tattooing, right?

I guess the onus is on those who receive it - as you did, of course - to make sure it turns out reasonably, right?

 

[GodsGrace]

Yes, and it's often heavily represented in professions that many young people - especially young women - follow, such as nursing, as referred to, above: allnurses dot comYou're right also that even younger than 18 many young people - especially young women - wish to have it done; I do think that if they really want to have it done — as so many do — then it's wise at least to encourage them to wait until 18, to make it a sort of passage into official adulthood thing, rather than what may in hindsight be a mid-teen whim. (In some jurisdictions, the artist can get into trouble also if it's done at under 18. Not sure what the official age would be in Italy...)

But you're right also; many more parents now accept that their 18 year olds want to have it done.

Agreed.
Interesting points...
I also don't know if there's an age restriction.
I could find out,,,I know a young girl that has several.

Also, as to girls getting them first...
They seem to like cute little ones...
The guys seem to go for more substantial stuff so maybe they need to make sure they really want this?

 

[farouk]

I think you have a great idea about this and it will reach many if it catches on.

Did you happen to see this quote, reproduced above?

I think it has already been catching on - at least, in some areas.

Around here (Bible Belt), it is common, especially among evangelical Christians, for the girls under about 40 to have religious tattoos. More do than don't, especially when you get to the under 30 crowd. I hardly know any female at church that is under 30 that does not have a tattoo.

forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

 

[farouk]

Agreed.
Interesting points...
I also don't know if there's an age restriction.
I could find out,,,I know a young girl that has several.

Also, as to girls getting them first...
They seem to like cute little ones...
The guys seem to go for more substantial stuff so maybe they need to make sure they really want this?

I saw this, FYI:

Legal status of tattooing in the European Union - Wikipedia
Italy:

"You must be over 18 years of age to get a tattoo freely without parental consent. You need to have parental or guardian consent at the ages of 16 and 17."

So as you indicated, it's allowed at 16 if a parent agrees.

It seems that if the young woman at 16 thinks it's cute or if the young man think's it manly, and a parent agrees (and like you said, a lot do agree), they can do it.

 

[farouk]

@GodsGrace : PS: Leaving aside the strict, legal aspect, which allows it at 16 in some jurisdictions, I do still think that if they really want to have it done — as so many do — then it's wise at least to encourage them to wait until 18, to make it a sort of passage into official adulthood thing, rather than what may in hindsight be a mid-teen whim.

But then, if one 16 year old has it done, then not unusually several of his or her - often it's her - friends will want to have it done also. (As you of course realize.)

 

[farouk]

I have often pondered the idea of a tattoo that reflects my faith.....never know when it might be a witness to someone....would definitely be a conversation starter about Jesus!

Proven conversation-starters, yes. But even if no words are exchanged, they are also silent witnesses, don't you think?

 

[farouk]

Tattoo Age has quite a few episodes.

Do you think the various tattoo shows are here to stay?

(i.e., unlikely to become unpopular).

 

[farouk]

Re.

... invite dialog.

One senses that so many young Christians are almost literally bursting to talk to others about their often newfound faith.

Half an hour during a well planned visit to the parlor can seem to guarantee permanent possibilities of doing so.

My guess is that for many young Christians at around 18 onward the moments when this wish is realized through the injection of a faith based design in the wrist, foot, etc. area can seem a joyous, ecstatic few minutes, given the sense of promise and expectation the injecting may bring. (If this conveys any logic?)

 

[farouk]

I know many girls about the ago of 18 that are having this done. ... The big change I DO see is that PARENTS are more open to it. ...
Today it's accepted - even at a younger age than 18. The parents see nothing particularly wrong with it.

The right messages would break the ice and invite dialog.

It's what nurses do.

I have 4. .. They are usually great conversation starters with old and young alike. If I have a patient with tattoos I always comment and then they want to see .. In the hospital that I work at you would be hard pressed to find employees without tattoos.. We even have significantly older nurses that .. have tattoos.

allnurses dot com

 

[farouk]

A group of 7 went.

So do you think it would be a better experience overall if you went on your own? or good to go in a group of ppl who have it done in turn?

 

[farouk]

Haven’t really had a chance to speak with her yet. They all have the flu

So are they over the 'flu yet?

Maybe you are still biding your time to talk to encourage her in her artistic talents in a parlor...

 

[farouk]

.. yes the eagle would definitely suit any gender. My youngest daughter that likes the tattoos likes the Native American ones.

It used to be that when women started widely to get tattoos, these would likely be small ones (wrist, etc.), while mainly men would get bigger ones (such as ones depicting eagles).

But now it seems that many women have the confidence to get big ones also (maybe a confidence shared by your daughter?)