I don’t disagree with you. I got my 1st tattoo last year – eagle upper right arm. I just like eagles for no particular reason, and wanted that to be my 1st. I am getting ready to book for my 2nd based on an idea I’ve had for a long time. It has some meaning to me – based on my love for heavy metal music.

But, that’s me. I never planned to get a lot of ink, and I would venture a guess that when I get this 2nd one done it will probably be my last. But you are right about meaning – a tattoo is art. You go out and buy a picture or some other art piece just because you like it. Why should a tattoo be different.

I guess its different for everyone since its something permanent you are putting on your body, so people have different reasons or criteria for doing it. Personally, I only want things that mean something to me and aren’t a fly-by-night pop culture reference, since I have enough foresight to know that something like that won’t mean anything to me in 5, 10, 20 years.

*shrug* That’s just me. Everyone’s different. The bottom line is if it makes you happy, then that’s all the matters.

A big reason that tattoos have to have deep meaning for so many people nowadays is the tattoo reality shows say so. There are so many newbies to the tattoo world, many of which are resulting from (not so) reality TV. A couple of my tattoos have family meaning but the rest are simply because I like the art and wanted it tattooed on me…that’s all the meaning I need. And regardless of whether the tattoo has meaning or not, there’s really no excuse to get a shitty tattoo. Someone could be covered in random, meaningless, off-the-wall tattoos and still look good if the tattoos were done well.

^ This. I’m getting a hiking half-sleeve. There isn’t any deep meaning there. I just really like hiking and the outdoors. I personally wouldn’t just get some random bullshit tattooed on me, but if that’s your thing, what the hell do I care?

I don’t think tattoo’s need meaning.
I have 3 with meaning
1) a quote
2) a skull and cross swords cos I was in Cornwall when I got it and that’s where pirates are from.
3) the Triple H DX cartoon (WWE fans will understand) because I love him and he represents a HUGE part of my childhood.

^That is not, by any stretch, all of my ink.

I get what I think is pretty or what I think suits my personality.
I like bright colours.

I guess all tattoos have meaning even if it is as much as ‘i like it’

In 20 years when asked why I got my tattoos, I don’t want the answer to be “cos I thought it was cool….”

in many cases it is now,
the industry is compeletly different,
sure it used to be bikers, sailors and hardcore MF’rs walking in getting classic skulls and eagles and girls, that isnt the typical customer now, as a matter of fact I wonder how one of those guys from the past would feel walking into one of these new salon looking shops? with magenta walls and flat screen tv’s and hip hop playing………..my guess is he would walk out, thank God for the old school shops that are left

a different calss of people are getting inked now for th emost part, many of them for no reason other than it seems cool right now