When you really think about it, tattoos are one of the most polarizing, defensive, and offensive things out there as far as discussions and debates go. Though a life choice as permanent as ink in your skin should typically start heated discussion, I suppose.

I’ve gotten to that age now where a lot of my friends now have tattoos, and I’m expected to have an answer when asked, “What tattoo do you want?” Let’s be clear, I have no tattoos. It’s not a statement, it’s just because there’s nothing that comes to mind that I need to have on me for the rest of my life, and because I don’t feel yet like spending upwards of $100 on someone to jab my skin with a needle repeatedly.

A lot of people see those with tattoos as a chance to make a statement, or a chance to criticize others. Tattoos used to define people are careless and thoughtless about the future. They’re often grouped together as punks, as troublemakers. Now, more and more diverse people are getting tattoos. Such a wide spectrum of people have tattoos at this point, that a lot of the ink has become ironic because their abundance has diminished their meaning. Ever seen a white guy with chinese characters tattooed on his bicep and just known he’s awful? Or a tattoo with the words ‘live’, ‘laugh’, and ‘love’ together and cringed?

It’s an interesting observation to make that they have become more fashionable, when tattoos used to be something that pushed the envelope. What is up to debate is if tattoos are getting more popular because people still see them as an edgy character trait, or if they’re starting to be seen more as art.

In my opinion, tattoos need to start being respected as artwork. Art is about expressing yourself, it’s not about being seen as rebellious and not just about being fashionable. Tattoos are supposed to make you unique, not allow your body to buy into a trope. It’s good advice to wait about a year and see if you still want the tattoo, to know you truly like it. They told my brother to come back later when he wanted a tattoo at 16, and I know the tattoo he got last year at 23 is one he likes more.

With that said, more and more people are getting tattoos and a big shift in tattoo culture is happening. Businesses that used to frown upon employees with ink will be run by those with ink, and tattoos will get the recognition as art, and not as rebellion or as a fashion statement.