Technologies exist where a lost child’s photo can be taken and analysed. A picture of that child in twenty years time is generated in order to help find them... Also, based on the understanding that people don’t know what's in their best interest, in many jurisdictions, warnings are placed on tobacco products to inform people that they might be making a poor decision in buying and then repeatedly using a carcinogenic product.
Combine these existing ideas, and you get a good system. When young people go and get tattoo's, a compulsory warning sheet should be printed using the afore mentioned technology, depicting the person, their tattoo, middle-age spread, a spouse and nagging children. This will, I hope, prevent the spread of bad tattoos.-- sdm, Jul 01 2001 Tattoos and Hepatitis C http://www.chennaio...earticles/tatoo.asp"A new study shows the risk of contracting hepatitis C increases significantly among people who have tattoos." [lummox, Jul 01 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004] Clever concept. And the mental image of tattoos spreading on their own accord is priceless. I've noticed, though, that young people seem to be more creative and discerning in their selection of body art today. Facial variety notwithstanding, the majority of bad tattoos are, by and large, born in institutions where such documentation might be prohibitive. Still, my roll is your roll.-- The Military, Jul 01 2001 The majority of my friends have all gotten tattoos (because one of them did so they all thought they should), but not small ones. Their arms, legs, even a few on their necks are covered. If they knew how ridiculous this will look when the tattoo fades and turns green AND is on their old, wrinkly skin, they'd probably have thought twice.-- AfroAssault, Jul 01 2001 "Long-term dangers"? The fading and changing of colours is merely aesthetic, and can be usually fixed with a touch up job. Or lasers will remove them, which hurts like buggery, apparently.
And please don't stereotype people who are tattooed.-- jetgrrl, Jul 02 2001 sdm: Certain designs of tattoos may be faddy, but they won't be 'out' in twenty years, nor look silly, because plenty of people will still have them. They will just become meaningless, and effectively invisible. [Note: This is not a criticism of your original idea, and certainly not a defence of poor tattoos]-- Lemon, Jul 02 2001 Of course, there is the risk of contracting Hepatitis C through tattoo work (link). Also, some dermatologists consider tattoos to pose a skin cancer threat as well.-- lummox, Jul 02 2001 Thoroughly baked: the discussion here is all over the place. The world is full of people who want to tell me why I shouldn't have gotten my tattoos.
Or see news:rec.arts.bodyart for practical advice, including areas not to get tattooed if you're worried about the picture spreading.
The fading and the skin cancer risk can both be avoided the same way: Wear Sunscreen. A tattoo is not melanin, and it won't protect your skin--but it, and your skin, will both be happy under SPF 25, or a shirt, or an awning.
The images "resembling tribal totems" aren't actually from any tribe--the style is borrowed, but only in the sense that much Western art is in a style borrowed from Christian religious imagery.
You know something else? Of course it's permanent. But I don't see a lot of people praising the glory of wrinkled but untattooed skin, with the age spots undiminished by ink.-- Redbird, Jul 02 2001 <PS> Perfect idea. <SDM>In the region of the US, where I live, there is more information on 'tat parlors and what to look for' than books for teaching fifth graders. That's sad in itself, but the info is readily available here...ignored, but available.
<Redbird> I'll add that tattoo is one of the oldest artforms.-- Reverend D, Jul 02 2001 I think, in general, people who get tattoos are told to avoid sunbathing for a wee while. And dirty needles are the reason for Hep C. Just make sure the needles are new/autoclaved.
[sdm]: my impression was that you did stereotype because you're saying that those with tatts are most likely going to end up like that. I also didn't mean to say people keep tatts they don't like because it hurts, but it does happen. I keep the one I'm not so keen on because I liked it at the time.
[Redbird]: yeah, the whole world wants to tell me why I made a mistake by getting tattooed.
When I first saw this, I thought it was going to be like the Aleut, Raven, in Snow Crash. He'd been in prison, and the authorities tattooed "Poor impulse control" on his forehead.-- jetgrrl, Jul 03 2001 I thought this was going to be like cigarrette packets/adverts, where a large portion of the available space is allocated by law for health warnings.
So using a similar system, about a quarter of the tattoo would have to be a message saying things like "Prominent tattoos can seriously harm your employability" or "Tattooing your current girlfriend's name on your penis may not be the best idea in the world".-- -alx, Jul 03 2001 PeterSealy: "...tattooing warnings on people - "Angry Young Man"..."
Baked - see Neall Stephensons `Snow Crash`. People are tattoed, on the forehead, with "Poor Impulse Control","Racially insensitive" etc.-- Pallex, Jul 03 2001 It seemed at first to be a keen poke at the whole "Warnings Nation" craziness. As an assuagement to free will...not so keen.-- The Military, Jul 03 2001 I once saw the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was deadly dull. I wish someone had warned me about that. I like zippyanna's idea for a tattoo. But I'd go for just someone's head and arms, as if they were climbing out, rather than the ants.-- DrBob, Jul 03 2001 Well I believe as long as you know what your getting into then you should go for it. I have seriously been thinking about getting a tattoo for about 5 years. Well as many of you have said just find a sterile place to do it and make sure it's really what you want. And do wear sunscreen in the sun.
Flower-of-eden-- flower-of-eden, Aug 17 2003 When you're old, saggy and wrinkly and your tattoo's colors have faded - it's not like you'd look that much better *without* the tattoo. I say go for it.-- jutta, Jul 21 2004 If evolution was true should not children of parents with tattoos also have them. If that did happen perhaps the parents would think twice about getting one themselves.-- tasman, Jul 21 2004 random, halfbakery