Random thoughts on ink

Specifically, the kind that sits in a patch of scar tissue and forms a tattoo. I'm personally glad that this form of art is becoming more socially acceptable. Strangely, most magazines on the subject still feature the kind of artwork you would expect to see on fat, hairy, bikers. Which is odd, because I find most of that to be in bad taste and its hardly representative of what you can get nowadays. The association of tattoos with bikers, gangsters, and other undesirable groups is probably what turned off the baby boom generation to tattoos. Then generation X seemed to continue the downward trend, not that that generation was short of cultural changes. Because, that's the two generations that seems to have the most reservations about getting them. The previous generation certainly did not seem to think much of it; I remember my grandfather had one, probably from his days in the Merchant Navy during the second world war. In the current generation, I'm not at all surprised to see a tattoo on a person from any walk of life. I'm getting one next Monday, and I'm a professional. Seems to me as long as you put it in a spot where you can hide it at your option, you'll get no objection.

Getting a tattoo is also much safer, which also probably accounts for the expansion. The development of the disposable needle certainly helps, and sterilization and health inspection. Yeah, some places in Ottawa are still somewhat on the shady side, but the place that was recommended to me seemed very respectable when I went to get the estimate and make the appointment. I was actually quite surprised by just how nice a place it was. So we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned.