‘What on earth possesses people to get so many tattoos’

OPINION

What on Earth possesses someone to cover their head or face in tattoos?

Blink-182 has been touring Australia – and I’ll admit they’re not really my cup of tea – but I look at drummer Travis Barker and just think … why?

His torso is totally covered in tattoos. His head is covered in tattoos where his hair should be. He even has “blessed” tattooed under his left eye.

Maybe it’s because I spent time as a crime reporter but whenever I see a facial tattoo I assume you’re on your way to court. I used to see some doozies outside Adelaide Magistrates Court.

I just don’t get it. What makes someone look at their body and think, “Yes, I should cover this entire thing in ink that will eventually fade and sag as I age”?

You might think it looks great in your 20s but wait until you’re 75 and your skin has turned papery.

A small, tasteful tattoo here and there is OK but why cover your entire body?

Is it born out of a desire to hide the skin in which you were born?

You are, of course, free to do as you please but I fail to see what kind of message it’s meant to portray to the world.

Looks matter. Aesthetics are an important part of how we perceive things and, just as with clothes, tattoos send messages.

If you walk into a professional job interview with a load of visible tattoos, I’d be willing to bet it will count against you.

Some will argue that it has no bearing on their ability to do their job – and that may be true. But, like it or not, it makes an impression.

You wouldn’t walk into a job interview in a tracksuit because it looks sloppy. The principle is exactly the same.

Just because you think you look good covered in ink, it doesn’t mean the rest of us have to agree.

Tattoos have become more popular but I fear it is a trend many will live to rue.

You can change your clothes. You can change your hair style or colour at any time. You can shave off a beard, trim your eyebrows – whatever it might be.

But a tattoo is there for life.

It’s a brave assumption that something you like now will also be to your taste in 30 years time.

You can get laser removal but it’s not perfect.

Research by McCrindle a few years ago found a fifth of tattooed Australians experience some level of regret and a quarter have looked into removal.

You do you – but why are you doing it?

Caleb Bond is an Sydney-based commentator and host of The Late Debate on Sky News Australia.