Tattoed White Trash

As you may or may not know, I am a fan of tattoos.

I like having them, I like seeing people who have them. I think that it is an artistic expression of individuality. Unfortunately, I know that not everyone feels the same way that I do.

Case in point, my dad. When I got my first tattoos, he did not even speak to me about it. He ignored it (my mom said hoping it would wash off) and never once did we speak of it. And it wasn't as if it wasn't somewhere easy to see, it was on my foot and I am a flip flop loving person! He is one of those people that thinks that because you have a tattoo, that means you are not as good as someone who may have no tattoos.

Now, he is not the only one that I know that feels this way. There are some people that stigmatize those with tattoos in the same way that you would discriminate against someone based on their race, hair color, eye color, you name it. Just because I choose to have tattoos, I am not a different person. I'm an educated, friendly, moral being who happens to think that they are fun and a great way to show off your individuality!

So, yesterday we were grilling out with my in-laws and my father-in-law hates hates HATES tattoos- and is quite vocal about it. He about flipped his lid when he saw my husband's first tattoo and everyone he has received thereafter. So we were outside when my sister-in-law was talking about needles and she let it slip that she had seen us get our tattoos. (She went with us for one of our sessions because she said she thought it would be fun to watch.) My father-in-law freaked... and it was one of those, I'm so angry, the best thing to do is just stare type of deals. How dare we take his "innocent" little 17 year old baby girl to a horrid, irreputable, repulsive tattoo parlor!

Basically, my point in this topic was just how it is too bad that people are judged on whether or not they have tattoos, as if that makes them less of a person... have you had similar experiences or know someone who feels as though all bearers or tattoos are heathens?