# CP Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Tattoos are for undesirables. The rabid defense of tattoos in some of these columns speaks volumes about the vapid, short-sighted, “look at me!” mindset of a huge lowlife subculture. Try getting a real job or looking anything other than trashy and ill-bred with an exposed tattoo. Good luck.

CP Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am

Folks, many of you are missing an important point — a common theme in many posts and comments on this blog is that it is somehow “special” to be different, to be nonconformist. Yet the bulk of commenters seem to relish the opportunity to heap criticism on the two or three people who are “different” enough to question the idea that tattoos are terrific. Moreover, several of these people aren’t just attacking our claims — they’re making bizarre ad hominem attacks

SHORTIFIED:

# CP Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
undesirables rabid vapid short-sighted lowlife trashy ill-bred

CP Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am
bizarre ad hominem attacks

you started from an invalid presumption of “tattooed people are ugly, unprofessional, self-absorbed exhibitionist losers. prove me wrong.” well, we’ve all done that. repeating “did not, did not, did not” doesn’t qualify as rational rebuttal, but you are perhaps too simple-minded to see that. any 1L (or sixth grader) would, though.

the point i, and others, have made is that under no definition of self-absorbed, loser or “unprofessional” (except the “because CP says so” definition) would any rational person use those terms to describe the VAST majority of the people who have tattoos.

as for “ugly,” obviously, attraction is in the eye of the beholder, so what any individual does or doesn’t find attractive is absolutely subjective. some people think a nicely done tattoo is beautiful, others don’t. some people really love Picasso, others don’t. some folks like Joy Division, others flee from the opening chords of “Day of the Lords.” but claiming those who don’t share your tastes are just “ugly self-absorbed losers” is simply foolishness.

(and perhaps you should learn to read for comprehension; i never wrote that i was “well-paid,” i said i had a nice job that allowed me to live comfortably. i define that as having a job that i enjoy, leaves me feeling like i’ve accomplished something good every day, is intellectually stimulating, keeps a (Petworth) roof over my head, and allows me to meet the mortgage and know where my next meal is coming from. i am by no means wealthy, but i am better off than most people, and i know how fortunate i am to be able to say that. that you read “well paid” into my posting is an interesting rorschach test about you.)

I don’t think all people get tattoos on their necks and arms because they have given up on getting “real” “respected” “classy” jobs, but probably because their priority is just that they want a job where they fit in and where they are accepted for who they are, how they are and not one where they have to hide parts of them to conform. I also don’t think it is fair to say all people get tattoos to “damn the man” and “act out against conformity” since a large number of people get tattoos for the exact opposite; to fit in with their peers; but this is with a lot of things.

I do think that you are being pretty narrow minded to lump us all together and draw conclusions based on something you don’t fully understand or agree with and like someone mentioned above it is just those types of conclusions that racists use. And I don’t understand why someone who doesn’t live in the area, has no desire to step foot in the area, thinks reading a post and putting in their 2cents speaks very highly of themself considering how ugly your comments got. Putting people down for pure enjoyment, which is what this seems like is a pretty low life thing to do. So as a tattood low life…Welcome to the club!

To a limited degree it does say something (depending on the tattoo). If you get a giant neck tattoo that’s readily visible, that usually says that you’ve given up on finding a respectable office job. If you get a gang tat on you, it says that you’re in a gang and you’ve pretty much given up on living in normal society. The idea that what you have inked on your and how much you have doesn’t say anything is pure silliness.