Inking Your Progeny... Child Abuse, Cool Parent, Or Something Else?

reply to post by pazcat


I live in Virginia (I just have an affinity for marsupials ) There is no minimum age listed in the code surprisingly enough.

§ 18.2-371.3. Tattooing or body piercing of minors.

No person shall tattoo or perform body piercing for hire or consideration on a person less than eighteen years of age, knowing or having reason to believe such person is less than eighteen years of age except (i) in the presence of the person's parent or guardian, or (ii) when done by or under the supervision of a medical doctor, registered nurse or other medical services personnel licensed pursuant to Title 54.1 in the performance of their duties.

Most reputable artists I know will not do it for minors under 16 regardless of parental consent. Obviously others have no such qualms.

wiki.answers.com...

reply to post by bkaust


I got my first when I was 17 as well. The thought to check ID came when they were already done. By that time I was out of school working 2 jobs. I am 34 now and have more ink now too. I have never regreted it either, but my parents still make "the face" whenever I get a new one.

There is no minimum age in VA. sadly. So it is legal with parental consent.

Originally posted by Travlla

Originally posted by EssenSieMich
You strike me as someone who would know this answer already. Tattoos with few exceptions are considered trashy. She needs you for proper guidance, and this time that means NO.

considered trashy by whom ?

I have tats ,but my kids can wait till their 18.

Totally trashy. For one they dont mean anything anymore. Ever since the 90's tribal band boom tattoos have become empty decoration. Second, they're moments in time branded on you forever. That in itself isnt entirely bad. That's largely the point of them after all. The ones that arent tribal bands anyway. But when you're some unemployed drunk hanging our with his buddies, or some idiot girl who think's she's "in love" and brands a name on her ass, or some thuggy ghetto kid who feels the need to advertise his street address across his shoulders it is indeed trashy.

Doesnt matter if you're working in coveralls at the garage or wearing a suit and tie on Wall St. if you're covered with tattoos it's ridiculous.

Besides? Why so sensative about anybody thinking theyre trashy? If these people were so concerned with how others view them they shouldnt have gotten any branding in the first place. Like some goth kid who gets depressed when his classmates laugh at his white cake makeup. Just not committed enough to the lifestyle theyre claiming to be living.

The proper response from someone who has a proper tattoo is to ignore anyone with an opinion of it. Becoming defensive would lead me to conclude the defender harbors regret over their choice.

Originally posted by Kangaruex4Ewe
reply to post by bkaust

 

I got my first when I was 17 as well. The thought to check ID came when they were already done. By that time I was out of school working 2 jobs. I am 34 now and have more ink now too. I have never regreted it either, but my parents still make "the face" whenever I get a new one.

There is no minimum age in VA. sadly. So it is legal with parental consent.

LOL My mom when I get a new one always complains. I give her 5 secs then I cut her off and move to a new topic or hang up. She has learned to not even mention them anymore. The last one I got was a year ago and she said nothing about it so my approach seems to have worked

I live in Florida and you have to be 18 to get a tattoo and I know many tattoo artists who wont tattoo anyone under 18 even with parental consent.

Originally posted by Kangaruex4Ewe
reply to post by bkaust

 

I got my first when I was 17 as well. The thought to check ID came when they were already done. By that time I was out of school working 2 jobs. I am 34 now and have more ink now too. I have never regreted it either, but my parents still make "the face" whenever I get a new one.

There is no minimum age in VA. sadly. So it is legal with parental consent.

I was also out of school and working (just the one job though!) I think it's crazy that all you need to get one is a parent to sign the form for a tattoo where you are! - a piercing (that's not a genital one) I can understand parental permission, but a tattoo is forever, and it is beyond easy to forge a parents signature.

Obviously, by my avatar I have several more too, knuckles, full sleeve, collarbones and other bits and pieces - and many more planned, my parents cringe too - but strangely enough my 81 year old grandmother LOVES them! I don't think they are trashy, BUT I will say alot of the people who get them are trashy - hell, I have my moments too! the people I know with tattoo's far outnumber those without, and the ones with are also making more money, and not by 'selling drugs' most are successful photographers, graphic artists & of course, tattoo artists themselves.

My best friend has two sleeves and she is the best parent i've ever met with a wonderfully smart, kind well-adjusted little man. Unfortunately, yep, we will be judged on them, but i'd rather be judged on my body art, then on my weight/height/religion/sexual gender. People are going to hate, that's how it is.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere

Originally posted by Travlla

Originally posted by EssenSieMich

The proper response from someone who has a proper tattoo is to ignore anyone with an opinion of it. Becoming defensive would lead me to conclude the defender harbors regret over their choice.

Agreed! I ignore people who say anything about my tattoos.I know a few people who really upset when you mention them and its because they don't like the tattoo now and wish they never got it.

I love all my tats and I wouldn't change any one of them.

reply to post by LargeFries


As much as I disagree with the stereotype of tattoos, I can understand where it comes from.

There are trashy people aplenty that have them, but on the flip side of the coin there are a lot that are not. I was well aware of what some in society would think before I got inked. I had my own reasons for doing it, I liked them so I didn't care.

People will judge people on how they dress, their weight, hair etc. It happens. It's not always right or fair but it occurs none the less.

I am aware that at times I am watched when I go into a store. Again, history has ingrained into folks that tattoo=criminal. I am never offended or surprised.

People get to know me and they don't see the tattoos.

So in short, I understand where you are coming from and how you feel. It is sometimes hard for people to change the way they think.

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


I ran through a few sentences and got the gist of your query. You are going to have to go philosophical with her.

Consider that among the good porno sites, what I call clean porn, the persons behind the business end of these sites do painstakingly hide most tattoos. It's important to know the good porn from the bad porn, btw. Now, various models do hide their inked side; one can tell at a glance when surveying the gallery of a model. Then, when revealed, the tattoo is usually half hidden by hair, some garment etc.... Point being that even in nude photography, models realize what factor a tattoo has in sexuality, on some deeper, intuitive level. I could lay down a sentence or two about this except that I wish to not frame this thought for those who are still unaware of it.

Let me put it this way: a permanent symbol of something on her butt is about the last thing I need to have enter my mind just at that moment. Why? Because of the transcendental nature of existence. Things are just much deeper than can be fathomed, in life.

You should try a few analogies on her. I heard a guy mention this one, as we discussed one of his employees at a hip music store. He had said to her: If someone tied you down and drugged you and you woke up looking like that, you would probably kill that person.

In short, try getting on a deep level with your daughter. It may be uncomfortable because it may involve the more complete expression of human existence, of which you may not be able to wade for social taboo reasons. ie., many sitcoms feature sub plots which reveal the deep scarring which comes from being exposed to the concept of the parents having sex. You might get around this by simply pointing out there's no more elegant raiment than naked flesh. That is how we ought to appear at chertoff's scanners, so he can feel like poop as he rakes it in.. That is how we ought die fighting the nwo.

reply to post by LargeFries


It is not a sensitivity issue but one of anger for judgmental, self riteous, and brash people. People that feel the need to express their disdain for things be some thing as simple as weather or not some one has tattoos anger me. You have no right to tell people that getting a tattoo is trashy. You do not have a right to trample on other peoples feeling or thoughts on matters. A simple "I do not like tattoos" would suffice, but no, you took it another step foward and called it trashy. I do not party, drink, or do drugs, my poularity is self earned for being a person that is not judgemental and for being able to accept people for what they want to be not what I want them to be. As far as being a good parent, yes i am, and in what I see in society now that has put me in a minority.

My 19 year old daughter thanks me all the time for not letting her get a "Whinny The Pooh" Tat when she was 10. She pierced her nose when She turned 18...and is tired of it. Her choice.
I find nothing sinister or attractive with Tatoo's.. I could really care less. Just not for me,or until your 18.
SOME people judge others because of a TAT? Just silly.
You think that guy that got a picture of as Rat on his face regrets that Tat?

"OK Billy,time to go visit Uncle Gary" "OHHHH I don't want to go see that "ratfaced old man"

izismile.com...

Do what you want. MY KIDS? After your 18.. AND I show these pics to my kids and tell them I'm getting my face done like that. Scares'em..

I'm not anti-tat (I have one) and don't see any problems with adults (who understand what they are doing and why) getting as few or as many or never getting them at all. Children are a no-go for me and that includes teens who think they are adults. Lol.

As a side note: have you thought of introducing your daughter to Henna art? She can create whatever "tattoo" she wants and the Henna stain lasts about a month. It's cool stuff. Body Art Quality is mandatory (in my opinion) as there are too many vendors selling crap that could contain some very nasty additives. If you're interested, u2u me and I'll send you some links of well-established and trustworthy sites to purchase.

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


I leave child abuse to the social workers to ascertain. You be the Dad. I love my kids madly but I will never be their friend. I will always be their dad irregardless. You may ask me for my autograph as my daughter said I was th strictest Dad in London. I called her a flatterer

My mother told me something as a child. She said to leave the street by the gate before I came into the house. That made sense. The peer pressure on kids is terrible. I am not crule but the world is tough and only those with the behavioural habits will survive. Tatoos and piercing may prevent them from getting jobs in the next few years.

Parenting is now so tough and the state is in our homes.

Rgds

T

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere

Originally posted by Travlla

Originally posted by EssenSieMich
You strike me as someone who would know this answer already. Tattoos with few exceptions are considered trashy. She needs you for proper guidance, and this time that means NO.

considered trashy by whom ?

I have tats ,but my kids can wait till their 18.

The proper response from someone who has a proper tattoo is to ignore anyone with an opinion of it. Becoming defensive would lead me to conclude the defender harbors regret over their choice.

Very true i should ignore narrow minded judgemental people ,and no i do not regret any of my tattoo's and I'm pretty sure the one with my children's name's on it means a hell of a lot to me,each to their own thou,
This quote springs to mind.
"The only difference between people with tattoos and people without tattoos is that people with tattoos don't care if you have tattoos or not "

Originally posted by LeaderOfProgress
reply to post by LargeFries

 

It is not a sensitivity issue but one of anger for judgmental, self riteous, and brash people. People that feel the need to express their disdain for things be some thing as simple as weather or not some one has tattoos anger me. You have no right to tell people that getting a tattoo is trashy. You do not have a right to trample on other peoples feeling or thoughts on matters. A simple "I do not like tattoos" would suffice, but no, you took it another step foward and called it trashy. I do not party, drink, or do drugs, my poularity is self earned for being a person that is not judgemental and for being able to accept people for what they want to be not what I want them to be. As far as being a good parent, yes i am, and in what I see in society now that has put me in a minority.

I was inspired by your reply to another poster in the thread, it was such a seething reaction, like a venomous bite. You are angered by people who express dislike for something as simple as a tattoo. You feel that people do not have the right to state that getting a tattoo is trashy. And you feel that people do not have a right to trample on others feeling or thoughts on matters.
I understand people have likes and dislikes. One person likes tattoos, one dislikes them. Both people are entitled to their own opinion, whether or not they agree or disagree. It's a matter of taste, an opinion.
"You have no right to tell people that getting a tattoo is trashy" - So, it's okay for you to have your opinion, but it is not okay for someone to have a viewpoint opposite of your own?
"You do not have a right to trample on other peoples feeling or thoughts on matters." By making this statement you are doing it yourself.
Do you see a pattern here?
Personally, I like tattoos, always have. It's hypocrisy that offends me.

I've got five tattoos and I love each one of them to bits. That said, I didn't get my first until I was 23 years old. As much as I believe in ink being the self expression of the individual... I would say a big NO to a minor wanting one. Besides the possible medical complications, the mind simply isn't necessarily mature enough to make the choice about something that will literally be stamped into their hide until the day they die. Ink is a commitment, like marriage.

If my children every wanted a tattoo before the age of 18, my response would be as follows...

Right after you get a job, pay rent, and vote...etc.

You want to make an adult decision for yourself, you get adult responsibilities first.

This may not stop them, but if they are crafty enough to get it done on there own, there is nothing I could have done anyways .

To be totally honest, if they are crafty enough to get it done under age, I will be a little proud of them for having the guts, dedication, and smarts to get it .