I yet again fail to see the point of these ‘articles,’ they appear as nothing more than a soap box in which the ‘writer’ can attempt to proclaim their superiority over something trivial. Whilst it does have potential to be humours and light hearted, the structure feels full of holes and I’m not sure what I was supposed to get from reading it. Is she meant to represent a particular section of society? If so who? Are we supposed to warm to her as a person? If so I would recommend a light hearted approach which does not offend a large proportion of society. Are we ourselves supposed to relate and feel better that ‘we don’t have tramp stamps the size of Askam.’ Ergo we are better than those who do?

Rusty.

Tattoos are indeed hideous. But the bad ones aren't those on the toned bellies of the young and (otherwise) beautiful slim blonde creatures on their way on holiday....go and look at that same woman in 50 years' time when she is older, fatter and wrinklier and the cute dolphin has turned into a faded, mis-shapen blue whale.
Tattoss are never attractive on the young but should be made illegal on the old wrinklies...they put me off my all-inclusive buffet dinner

Tattoos say look at me I'm so radical but when most people have them, frankly you're not. I frown when I see overweight scruffy individuals sporting tattoos; naturally they wear shorts and vests in the most inappropriate places to show them off. Presumably they had them done to 'look good' when in fact losing 5 stone and putting on more appropriate clothing would have been a more non-delusional approach.

I could never take anyone with a tattoo seriously and I would never employ anyone with one. They are revolting and look really ugly on women, yuk. Trouble is a lot of silly women copy film stars like anelina jolie and think tattoos look glamorous.

Elijah:

"...Do not judge others as you may be judged yourself..."

Some guy on a mountain in a dress, The Life of Brian...

I agree with Mike, could not have put it better myself.

Matthew - I vote conservative, have a highly paid job and manage all this with tattoos.
Do not judge people by the outside - beauty is more than skin deep.

More cobblers from young Maggie.

This article is not provocative Louise, nor does it court controversy, it's just plain sad and simply a reflection I suppose of your getting older and no wiser, next you'll be writing about how rock & roll is the spawn of the devil! To make judgements about people based on a superficial observation shows just how un-educated and shallow a person you really are - and no, I don't have tattoos but think no less of those that do.

"...DO NOT MARK YOUR SKIN WITH TATTOOS...." LEV. 19:28, THE HOLY BIBLE.

btw Stigma literally means Tattoo in Greek.

Are you not an "individual" by the way you dress? The music you enjoy? The movies that move you? How does tattoos being "common" not make it an expression of individuality? So I guess because you drive a car, or enjoy coffee that doesn't make you....you!? What secluded and (very lonely) part of the world do you live in?! Seriously. You obviously do not have any idea of what body art truly means. Your article is filled with nothing but biased opinions about tattoos...and outdated and cliche as anything I've ever read. And for that matter, Graffiti IS art as well. You must be one really boring human being.

"..tattoos are horrible. They aren’t body art – they’re body graffiti" ...Guess what!? What you think doesn't matter.