At what age would you let your child get a tattoo?

[CathrynRose]

Anyone who thinks that appearance doesn't matter is kidding themselves.

The thing is - appearance is very subjective. I don't mind piercings, tattoo's, or things of the like. So to me - a nose piercing isn't making me think any different of the person. I couldn't care less.

Appearance is subjective.

 

[FireDancer]

The thing is - appearance is very subjective. I don't mind piercings, tattoo's, or things of the like. So to me - a nose piercing isn't making me think any different of the person. I couldn't care less.

Appearance is subjective.

Absolutely appearance is subjective, as is anyone's reaction to said appearance.

 

[mickeylove2]

Mental illness is stupid? Wow.. that's just messed up. You obviously have had a wonderful life, lucky you.

Yes, appearance DOES matter in some circumstances, but I refuse to judge people I see on the streets because of what they look like. I currently have bright blue hair, and don't really give a rat's patookie what people think about it. I'm a 4.0 avg grad student in a very hard course of study, appearances can be deceiving.

I understand what you're saying and yes I agree that apprearances shouldn't matter. But, with that being said, bright blue hair can easily be altered and if you ever want to work for a company that requires it be done, you will do it. It's a little different than having a huge tattoo on the side of your face and neck that can't easily be covered or removed. I know that you wouldn't be able to work with me having either the funky hair or the face tats.

 

[CathrynRose]

There is a man at our McDonalds drive thru - with a big honkin' band aid, on his eyebrow. Strangely enough, Band Aid Man has had this eyebrow wound for months and months and months.

Hello? I'm not a nimrod, me and every one else who goes through the drive thru knows this guy has an eyebrow piercing.

Who cares?

McDonalds cares, and prefers for him to cover this horribly offensive, disgusting, obscene thing, with a band aid. I'd rather my McDonalds worker has an eye brow ring, than a wound that hasn't healed for several months.

I think the whole thing is silly. Some of the best customer service skills I have seen from service workers, have come from places like Hot Topic. Mutilated, Tattoo'd, Pierce'd, kids.

 

[CathrynRose]

Mental illness is stupid? Wow.. that's just messed up. You obviously have had a wonderful life, lucky you.

Yes, appearance DOES matter in some circumstances, but I refuse to judge people I see on the streets because of what they look like. I currently have bright blue hair, and don't really give a rat's patookie what people think about it. I'm a 4.0 avg grad student in a very hard course of study, appearances can be deceiving.

I haven't even seen it, and I love it!

If you feel like it - send me a pic. I LOOOOOVE funky hair. LOVE IT!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Yes, appearance DOES matter in some circumstances, but I refuse to judge people I see on the streets because of what they look like. I currently have bright blue hair, and don't really give a rat's patookie what people think about it. I'm a 4.0 avg grad student in a very hard course of study, appearances can be deceiving.

Hmm, and yet in another thread, just two hours ago, you said

They aren't the stores I frequent (hiphop/thug type clothes) but I would have no problem letting a store search my bag when I come in.

What is it, if not judging, to equate hip hop style with thugs?

(and no, I'm not stalking you, I just happened to be reading both threads and almost used quote #2 as an example of judging by appearances, before I even realized you were the one who made it )

 

[locolala]

They sell clothes that say "thug life" and "thug" all over them, and I think the store is actually CALLED Thug Life.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

OK, then.

 

[Sparx]

OK, then.

http://www.thuglife.com/

it really is a clothing company.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

http://www.thuglife.com/

it really is a clothing company.

I didn't say it wasn't. My "OK then" was supposed to mean, "OK, I can now see why you used that term."

I was going to leave it at that, but really, her post on the other thread still sounds judgemental to me. She mentioned "stores". Plural. Are they all called "Thug Life"? Do they all sell clothes with the word thug on them? Why does she equate "thug" with hip hop, and use the terms as an example of why she doesn't shop there?

 

[Sparx]

I didn't say it wasn't. My "OK then" was supposed to mean, "OK, I can now see why you used that term."

I was going to leave it at that, but really, her post on the other thread still sounds judgemental to me. She mentioned "stores". Plural. Are they all called "Thug Life"? Do they all sell clothes with the word thug on them? Why does she equate "thug" with hip hop, and use the terms as an example of why she doesn't shop there?

Oh okay, sorry I misunderstood.

 

[cepmom]

Yes, I judge that as incredibly stupid.

.

for real? Do you have any clue what self mutilation is about? Any information about it at all? Because if you did, I doubt you would be so quick to say it is stupid. I for one have a person in my life that struggled with this. This person is not stupid at all...in fact this person is quite smart, talented, funny, beautiful and sensitive, that just happened to be struggling with life issues. It is not incredibly stupid....people that judge are incredibly stupid

 

[auntie]

My 18 (soon to be 19 in two months) year old son, got a tattoo a couple of months ago.
He's wanted one since he was 16. I said no at that time and told him I'd prefer that he waited until he was of age. Frankly, I was hoping that in time..he'd forget about it. No such luck.
I might add, that the tattoo shop he went to WILL NOT work on anyone under 18. The owner told him, that he doesn't care if the teen has parental permission, or if the parent accompanies their teen. His policy is strictly over 18. I respected that.
That being said...telling him he would never be able to get one..I knew would leave me in a position of having no input, if and when he did get one. Let's face it....the kid was gonna do it so I wanted some input as to what, and where it would be located.

He has a cross on his upper arm covering his bicep. It's tasteful, and not overly ornate. I was okay with the cross, as we both agreed he wasn't likely to change his religion. It's also in an area that can be easily covered by a shirt sleeve, so as not to interfere with any restrictions from potential employers.

What can I say, he's my youngest..they wear you down with age! LOL!
Frankly there was a time when I would have been totally opposed to it. Now, not so much. There are worse things..and again, given what it is, and it's location it was something I could live with. Certainly, not a battle I chose to have.

As for middle school...I have a middle school niece and nephew...they haven't asked, nor have they mentioned anyone they know having one.
Ridiculously young for such a "forever" decision.

 

[FireDancer]

for real? Do you have any clue what self mutilation is about? Any information about it at all? Because if you did, I doubt you would be so quick to say it is stupid. I for one have a person in my life that struggled with this. This person is not stupid at all...in fact this person is quite smart, talented, funny, beautiful and sensitive, that just happened to be struggling with life issues. It is not incredibly stupid....people that judge are incredibly stupid

I didn't say the person was stupid but yes, I find the behavior to be stupid. If I have a problem with something I find the best long term solution given all of the circumstances. I don't know of any problem that the best long term solution to is mutilating yourself. I take the back, if your problem is lack of scarring perhaps it is the best solution. I also use logic and rationale in my decision making, not emotion. I don't play the hide behind (insert anything here) game.

The same goes for suicide, that is also a pretty poor solution to a problem. Think it out and deal with the problem.

Just my humble opinion of course, you (or anyone else for that matter) is free to have a differing one.

 

[cepmom]

I agree that you have no right to judge someone based on physical appearence. I think it's cruel and immature, to be honest. Would you judge someone who had scars on their arms from self mutilation? I would certainly hope not. What about people who wear overtly relgious shirts (any religion included in this) for attention? It happens, I promise you that.

I didn't say the person was stupid but yes, I find the behavior to be stupid. If I have a problem with something I find the best long term solution given all of the circumstances. I don't know of any problem that the best long term solution to is mutilating yourself. I take the back, if your problem is lack of scarring perhaps it is the best solution. I also use logic and rationale in my decision making, not emotion. I don't play the hide behind (insert anything here) game.

The same goes for suicide, that is also a pretty poor solution to a problem. Think it out and deal with the problem.

Just my humble opinion of course, you (or anyone else for that matter) is free to have a differing one.

the original question you replied to was Would you judge someone who had scars on their arms from self mutilation and your reply was Yes, I judge that as incredibly stupid.
so you are saying you judge people as stupid for self mutilation. No it is not a long term solution. Neither is suicide but when people that are suffering from clinical depression face life issues they do not know how to deal with, rational thinking is not happening. A little sympathy goes a long way

 

[CathrynRose]

I didn't say the person was stupid but yes, I find the behavior to be stupid. .

Of course it's stupid - the cutter knows that, too. But they can't stop. It's a mental disorder. It's like OCD, or anxiety or the hoards of other problem's people have. They do know it's wrong/bad or to use your word "stupid".

And to judge someone on it. Wow. That's a shame. It's not even comparable to a Tattoo, or a piercing - which is crappy to judge someone on....but a disorder? An illness?

Not cool, FireDancer.

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

I didn't say the person was stupid but yes, I find the behavior to be stupid. If I have a problem with something I find the best long term solution given all of the circumstances. I don't know of any problem that the best long term solution to is mutilating yourself. I take the back, if your problem is lack of scarring perhaps it is the best solution. I also use logic and rationale in my decision making, not emotion. I don't play the hide behind (insert anything here) game.

The same goes for suicide, that is also a pretty poor solution to a problem. Think it out and deal with the problem.

Appearntly logic failed you here. This is one of those things you probably don't understand well enough to post about. People who cut themselves, usually teenage girls, don't do it because they are capeable of rationalizing thier problems. They do it because they are hurting and don't have the capacity to rationalize. People suffering through depression don't have the same faculties that the average person has for reasoning through a problem and taking action.

About tattoos- I would 'let' my kid do it at 18, after high school. I'd rather go with him/her and have a little bit of input as the cool, supportive mom than have my kid come home with a giant butterfuly on her shoulder or a rebel alliance symbol in the middle of his forearm. I like the rebel alliance and butterflies, but its crutial that a child not living an alternative lifestyle who expects to work in a traditional corporate workplace be able to cover the tats.

 

[Ember]

My only concern with a child getting a tattoo would be that they may very well come to regret it. The things you're into as a teenager are not the same things that you're (usually) into as a adult. That said, I'm not one to say "never." In cases of defeating cancer or coming to terms with a diagnosis of terminal illness or donating a kidney so your bother can live, a tattoo seems amazingly insignificant.

I also agree with other posters who said that it isn't the end of the world. A child who is totally set on doing getting a tattoo will probably get one, with or without permission at their earliest convenience. If the child is afraid of losing love or respect then the parents may well not even find out about it. I guess I feel a child/parent relationship should be strong enough to say, "I don't like, I didn't want this for you, but I accept it and love you anyway." I always felt this way with my mum. She was my safe haven and she was the one I knew would love, support, and help me no matter what. Even if I made the worst choices imaginable.

I look at the posts about cutting off all post secondary funding over a tattoo and I wonder if these kids really feel safe with their parents... If they did something really stupid, made a really bad choice, would they seek help from home? Or would they get into even more trouble looking for help elsewhere?

 

[FireDancer]

the original question you replied to was Would you judge someone who had scars on their arms from self mutilation and your reply was Yes, I judge that as incredibly stupid.
so you are saying you judge people as stupid for self mutilation. No it is not a long term solution. Neither is suicide but when people that are suffering from clinical depression face life issues they do not know how to deal with, rational thinking is not happening. A little sympathy goes a long way

No, if I were judging the person as stupid instead of the action I would have used the demonstrative pronoun them (I judge them as incredibly stupid) instead of the one I used, that. I said that because I was referring to the behavior, not the person.

One of my core beliefs is that while you can't always choose what happens to you, you are always in control of how you react and how you let those things effect you. This is exactly what I wrote on the thread that was posted a little while ago about choosing to be happy.

I have heard in different scenarios about people who "cut themselves just so I can feel something", and that, IMO, is psychobabble bull.

Again, it is just my opinion and I am done with that subject.

 

[declansdad]

No, if I were judging the person as stupid instead of the action I would have used the demonstrative pronoun them (I judge them as incredibly stupid) instead of the one I used, that. I said that because I was referring to the behavior, not the person.

One of my core beliefs is that while you can't always choose what happens to you, you are always in control of how you react and how you let those things effect you. This is exactly what I wrote on the thread that was posted a little while ago about choosing to be happy.

I have heard in different scenarios about people who "cut themselves just so I can feel something", and that, IMO, is psychobabble bull.

Again, it is just my opinion and I am done with that subject.

You're a psychologist now??