Visible Ink Tattoos come out from under, and show up for work

Boston Globe ^ | | March 16, 2006 | By Christopher Muther, Globe Staff

[Gorzaloon]

Investing in a chain of tattoo-removal clinics right about now would be a way to become filthy rich in about 10-15 years.

It's an interesting process, using a pulsed IR laser. At 10.2 or 10.6 microns, the energy is not absorbed by the blood or skin, but the dye particles are destroyed. In a few days the body "Sweeps up".

A few years ago I snuck my sister-in-law into the lab and got rid of one she had regretted for years. It took two "Lunch visits" for it to be completely gone...No trace of it.

The equipment is getting cheaper, and it's safe and easy with the usual care...Eye protection, common sense.

[AmericaUnited]

Investing in a chain of tattoo-removal clinics right about now would be a way to become filthy rich in about 10-15 years.

You're a genius, the complete opposite of all those marking themselves with complete abandon right now like brainless, sheep. "Well, Sally got one..."

[sure_fine]

I agree, I have seen babies still in diapers with ears pierced.. thats the parent, not the babys choice

[Shalom Israel]

I had a girlfriend once who wanted a tatoo and asked me if I thought it would be sexy.

Oy. I'm distressed at the number of chix these days with tattoos. Don't they know that tattooing the female body is like spraypainting on the Mona Lisa?

[Paloma_55]

Lesson Plan 2:

OK kids, first you put a little in the spoon and then hold a lighter under it... it has to come to a boil. Now, you suck it up into the needle...there you go..just like that.

Now get a rubber strap and put it around your arm... come on, you can do it...

[CDHart]

The problem is many of them, as they get older, will wish devoutly that they hadn't gotten ones that were conspicuous. Or maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

Carolyn

[lemura]

Tattoos are a fad right now.

Every generation wants to create its own unique fashion/culture image eg the 60/70s long-haired look turned into the preppy 80s, etc. 5-10 years is a lifetime to the young - no one wants to be caught dead wearing fashion from the late 90s.

We live in an OC beach city that is used to develop/export the most current trends to the rest of the world. Around 18 mos ago, my wife noticed a few good looking kids (boys) had started wearing very tight low-cut girl's jeans with interesting wedge haircuts (sort of a non-gloomy Depeche Mode thing going on).

Suffice it to say, but this is the new look throughout the 'cool' set. Say a long, long goodbye to baggy, oversized jeans. Not sure how long it will take the look to spread, but it should be pretty standard JC Penneys fare within 2 years.

The point: these kids don't have tatoos. That whole look is associated with an 'older' generation of late 20-somethings.

[trickyricky]

That is hilarious!
That pic is screaming for captions.

[rovenstinez]

Everyone I know in the past 50 years I've asked...wished 20 years later that they would NOT have gotten the tattoo.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Tattoos are called "Trash Marks." Tattoos are a sign of the loser, of the lower classes, of people so desperate for attention and individuality that they are willing to have a sign painted on their bodies.

Every ex-con has at least one tattoo. In later life when maturity comes people regret having their body marked with an ugly stamp. Of course, maturity never comes to some people, and they become tattoo "artists."

[dennisw]

How clever!! MC Escher tattooed onto your chrome dome

[Hot Tabasco]

Tattoos on women are a big turnoff for me. Whenever I see them I automatically look ahead to when they are 65 or 70 years old and chuckle to myself at what they are going to look like then.....

Heres a visual: and 85 year old woman hobbling down the hospital hallway holding on to the IV pole withe the back of her hospital gown open and revealing an old worn out and droopy tattoo of a butterfly or something in what used to be the small of her back.........

[TC Rider]

I got two over the last several years.

I'm 53 and they stay hidden under a t-shirt and are very work friendly.

One was a personal response to 9/11, the other a RKBA statement.

Was I showing off, trying to draw attention to myself? Probably. Any regrets? nope.

[Ditter]

OC beach city? where do you live?

[normy]

Wow. My jaw just dropped. This is SO not appropriate as a lesson plan for four-year-olds! There is a huge difference between a teacher simply having a tattoo, and having a whole lesson plan structured around exactly how one acquires a tattoo. My kid would be OUT of that class stat.

Thats the point exactly! What the hell would they be doing this for? How about a trip to the damn library? How about a trip to the aquarium or planetarium? No lets do a trip to the tattoo parlor.

By the way I had 2 tattoos. One I had removed because it was visible, the other I still have but have told my kids its a stupid thing to do and I regret doing it.

[GOP_Proud]

I guess I'm just old fashioned. I was always taught that a lot of military guys got "a" tattoo and it was generally acceptable. Other than that, it was just considered a "trashy" look carried by ex-cons. As I got older, the stereotype was usually true. "Trashy" people had tattoos.

I know it very different today with the trend toward tattoos, but I just can't change how I feel about them. I try, but tattos give me a negative first impression.

[GOP_Proud]

<
Say a long, long goodbye to baggy, oversized jeans. >


None too soon. I certainly won't miss the "crotch at the knees" look.

[bert]

.....I was thinking I would become an audiologist and sell hearing aids.....

Hearing AIDS can be prevented by wearing condoms on youir ears....... so i've heard.

[normy]

Jeeze man relax. I have a tattoo that I got at 19 and I regret it. That doesn't mean I am trash. I have two great kids, live in suburbia, own my own business and served in the Army. I have friend who have done the same. I have an uncle with a tattoo of the Olympia horseshoe on his forearm he got as a young man. He's married, owns property, has 5 kids and homeschools them. People make mistakes. Well, not you, but most people.

[LFOD]

Brands belong on cattle.