Are tattoos now socially acceptable?

[0iD]

Especially visible ones.

As an employer, and one with the odd tat, I would still contemplate applicants with visible ink, on the face, head, neck & hands. Why is that? I shouldn't be one to judge surely, but I can't help it. I know very well it doesn't matter one jot to me really & I judge people on merit & not appearance, especially as most of my fiends are inked. But it's become very mainstream, especially in the past 10 years, mainly due to pop culture & TV.

And, as an aside, it seems a recession-proof business (thus far anyways). All the tattooist friends I have tell me they're all snowed under with work.

[schmunk]

[Edit: For the sake of clarity, and to mess up everybody's quotes below, it is my personal opinion - note only my opinion and not intended as a statement of fact, that] Visible tattoos are a sign of poor judgement. I wouldn't want to employ somebody with poor judgement.

[Moby-Dick]

I suppose it depends on the role ? something customer facing might be hindered ( depending on the tatto )

for example - would this be suitable for someone caring for the old....



(its a mtes and its not quite finished yet but you get the idea )

[merdat]

Beats me why they bother doing it!. Maybe someone could explain to me why?.

[Moby-Dick]

Its a personal choice I think - I dont plan on having any personally , but I don't mind them on other people as long as they mean somethign to them - choosing one out of a catalog shows a lack of imagination

[mmh]

my only visible ones are on my wrists... but i would love to have a complete sleeve... the thing holding me back is that its still not socially acceptable... atleast not in professional industries

my boss has said he doesnt care what i get, because he knows regardless of what i do to my skin, i still get the work done efficiently (sometimes ) and accurately. Convincing someone that doesnt know me of the same could proove quite difficult if i were covered in tattoos...

I think things are easing off, but in professional industries people still have the mindset of older generations.

[Funkstar]

In business there are certain expectations, and the way you present yourself is extremely important.

People wear suits and ties, thats something that goes beyond fasion and self expression. Business doesn't care about the things that are important to you in your personal life, something that ink will express to those that see it. People with "zaney" or "wackey" ties aren't taken seriously for this very reason. 99% of the time, the guy you are dealing with doesn't want to be your friend, and really doesn't care about you at all.

So yes ink is a lot more socially acceptable than it ever has been, but business isn't a social event (or at least not primarily) so it doesn't really have a place. Granted non customer facing roles, especially in the creative industries are going to be a bit different than being a teller in a bank, but I think it still stands to a certain extent.

Really I think it depends on the job you are doing, and if I was employing a guy to go offshore, I wouldn't mind. However there is no way a new member of the sales team would have visible ink, especially on the face and neck.

[DeludedGuy]

Visible tattoos are a sign of poor judgement. I wouldn't want to employ somebody with poor judgement.

So far into my short life I have to agree with this. Example, I met a girl at work 3 months ago, with a tattoo running from her wrist over her hand, Not only does she have very poor judgement, but she has a very poor outlook on how to get ahead, she wants more children so she doesn’t have to work anymore (she is 27, has 2 kids, a 12 year old and a 7 year old). Also, she is lazy and can’t spell simple words.

Before her, I had met a friend of a friend who had a tattoo of his nickname on his neck; his nickname was "Buggy". He was very much into drugs, in fact most of the conversations I had with him went something like this, "That night I took some E's and..." "That night I did a few lines and..." etc...

However, I have met one person with his arms completed covered in tattoos who was an absolute gentleman, well spoken well educated.

But generally, no I wouldn’t employ a person with visible tattoos.

[Singh400]

Socially I think they are fine. In business not so much (well as long as you hide them).

[Agent]

Visible tattoos are a sign of poor judgement. I wouldn't want to employ somebody with poor judgement.

How do the two relate to each other?
I don't have any tattoos, but I know a few people who do have visible ones, including professors and doctors. Certainly not people with poor judgement.

[TheAnimus]

I've yet to meet a girl with a tramp stamp who wasn't of very questionable judgement. As such i seem to have met quite a few.

[TooNice]

I think that some people simply have pre-conceptions of tattoos. And since you can't know all your customer's view on tattoos, I would say that it makes sense for an employer (who may not personally mind) to have reservations with hiring someone who will spend a lot of time with customers with one.

[PeterStoba]

I suppose it depends on the role ? something customer facing might be hindered ( depending on the tatto )

for example - would this be suitable for someone caring for the old....



(its a mtes and its not quite finished yet but you get the idea )

Best tattoo I've ever seen!

Sorry for the Off topic though - I agree that wouldn't be suitable for a public facing job, although I am not too bothered really, same with piercings.

[mmh]

Best tattoo I've ever seen!

Sorry for the Off topic though - I agree that wouldn't be suitable for a public facing job, although I am not too bothered really, same with piercings.

by the looks of the tattoo though, it would be covered up by a short sleeve shirt, so provided he didnt go showing it off ina n interview, he's be fine...

I have one on my arm there, and its hidden except for when i want it to be shown...

I also have the whole of my one leg in progress, but no1 would ever see it unless im in shorts, which lets face it, ina public job isnt going to be often if at all... so as for being suitable, its perfectly suitable provided he doesnt go wearing wife beaters to work

[Moby-Dick]

by the looks of the tattoo though, it would be covered up by a short sleeve shirt, so provided he didnt go showing it off ina n interview, he's be fine...

I have one on my arm there, and its hidden except for when i want it to be shown...

I also have the whole of my one leg in progress, but no1 would ever see it unless im in shorts, which lets face it, ina public job isnt going to be often if at all... so as for being suitable, its perfectly suitable provided he doesnt go wearing wife beaters to work

He's also got the model numbers of all the cars hes owned down the inside of his front forearm ( dont' ask )

looks like its long sleeve thick shirts all year round

[mycarsavw]

There's a chap I see quite often, he's not the cleanest person I've seen, you know the sort, dog on a bit of string, always thirsty, thinks he's your mate ... he has "Eat <another word for faeces>" tattooed on his forehead.

I often wonder what came first, the tattoo or the loss of all his worldly possessions.