Hit the local Enroy for gas and breakfast this morning. And there I spotted him.... "sleeve" tatoos covering both arms. Yee hah. Turn my head and then I spot her.... someone's saggy ol' granny with an undecipherable blob of a tatoo on her ankle. Nice? I think not.
Is there anyone left in the state of Maryland that DOESN'T have a tatoo? In the USA?
I get a huge laugh out of this because I hear from people, in the media and in person, that they're getting inked up as a way of making a statement. A statement that they're "different", "unique", that they're a bit "naughty" ( Kyra Sedgewick on Leno commenting about her "tramp stamp". Ugh.) Whatever..........
There was a time when tattoos, particularly on women, -were- unique. I can remember seeing a couple of beautiful, strategically placed butterfly tatoos on girls in bikinis. I dated a girl who had a tattoo of a devil with a pitchfork on her backside. We're talking 30-35 years ago though. They really were not common....... back then.
Now? Well....here's a news flash. Tattoos are now common as air. Sorry but that's the truth. Now if you like the look, and want to decorate your body, get all inked up.... I hear you and God love you. It's your body,......... your right, ........have at it.
But please....... -PLEASE- don't try and tell me how it makes you unique. If you're so unique why didn't you have them 10, 20, or 30 years ago? No need to answer..... I already know . Because it wasn't commonplace and "acceptable", that's why. So ultimately these days a tattoo does make a statment. It's a label of being.......... not so much the unique individual............ but just another follower.
7 comments:
Roger that! Ew, tramp stamp? :-p
Some tattooers and tattooees are now also saying that it's a tribal thing, like getting back to before man was all industrialized, etc. Soooo, why don't they just go live in a jungle, wouldn't that be even more tribal? :o)
Do you ever get the feeling that society at large is shifting from SUBSTANCE to IMAGE ?
Sadly yes. And I often long for a simpler life than the one that the World is speeding into. Not that I want 'Little House On The Prairie' and outhouses but.....I dunno. Maybe a life like on the Waltons?
The more we surround ourselves with image-generating machines and gadgets (Iphones, giant TVs) I guess the more the Image will rule our lives. But let me say, as Boomer-child, I've got nuthin' against gaint TVs. :o)
It's really disconcerting. My latest example of image is the stance the presidential candidates take. Seems that they finely adjust what they say, almost on a daily basis, to whatever they think people want to hear. How about someone who says, "this is what I think", and then STICK with it. I'd certainly value that. Hell, someone who would actually stick to one story might even follow through with his/her promises once elected!
I value simplicity. Though you might not immediately recognize it. I do fight a tendency to collect TOO much stuff. A personal demon I need to fight.
Say, did you see the blog the guy put up, a "100 thing challenge" or something like that. He's challenging himself to get his personal belongings down to 100 items. Ambitious for sure. But does get you thinking. What's the minimum I absolutely, positively need ??
Wow, I'll have to check out that 100-thing guy. Sounds like a good plan, but I'd raise the limit just a bit. :o)
Sometimes I think about how nice it would be to live out your old age in a cloistered monestary somewhere in the woods, living a very simple happy life. But then I think about having to give up my books. :-B
Here's the link for the 100 thing challenge:
http://www.guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge.html
Interestingly books seem exempt from his rules.
Here's another interesting link:
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
A bit biased, and I'm not sure of some of the "facts" stated, but interesting to view, and some good points made. Note, this runs just over 20 minutes.
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