[Mr 5 0]

The question is: are tattoos cool or dumb?

There is no simple answer.

Some look pretty cool - for awhile - but can look lame some years later. However, the stigma of tattoos being seen mostly on the bodies of criminals, drug-addicted rock stars, drunken sailors who have them done while on leave in Tijuana or regular guys just trying to look macho has pretty much disappeared in the past decade or so. Mostly due to the fact that they've become very popular with women, who now get tattoos more often than guys. In addition, a lot of sports stars and middle-class guys - and gals - have tattoos these days, so having one isn't all that much of a statement of rebellion as it once was.

The negative part is a tattoos permanence. No matter how beautifully it may be done or how meaningful it may be for the wearer, things inevitably change and at some point in their life they'll probably wish they didn't have it. Too bad. I understand that you can have a tattoo removed but it doesn't always look so good and it has to somewhat painful. I wouldn't bother getting a tattoo if I really thought I would just have it removed at some later date. Why get it in the first place? I also think that having a tattoo on your body in a place where no one else can see it is dumb. Some girls do this but I think it's a waste of time and money to have a 'hidden' tattoo. Yet to each his - or her - own as the case may be. Your bod, your money...do as you think best.

I don't have a tat and never wanted one. Well, not for more than a few minutes, anyway. I don't like the pain involved or the permanent nature of tattoos. I think I would get bored looking at the same thing on my arm for decades. I don't think they're especially erotic on women but some guys do. I have seen some attractive tattoos on females that caught my eye, so that is obviously subjective. I guess it depends on the tat and the girl. Not everyone - male or female - can wear a tattoo and look good doing it.

Getting a tattoo is a very personal decision and one that you'll have to live with for some time, if not for life. Other people's opinions are interesting but the final decision has to be yours - and yours alone.

Let us know what you decide.