Wednesday, August 17, 2022

TATTOS: THINK BEFORE YOU INK

 THE MAX ALLEN REPORT

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Volume #08172022-2100                              August 17, 2022

THINK BEFORE YOU INK

It’s a permanent decision so think before you ink

I was out of the country [USA] for decades and, having returned, I can't believe how many people are tattooed.  People from every walk of life and age bracket are getting tattooed!

According to Dr. Vera Niles, PhD, “The want or need of a tattoo is almost universally connected to self-worth issues.  A sane or reasonably well adjusted individual doesn’t tattoo in those areas of the body which are almost always visible to others.  She goes on to say, “It’s either an exhibitionist tendency or some deeper element of a person’s psyche that sits at the root of having a visible tattoo.”

Dr. Niles also says, "The power of peer pressure is not to be underestimated.  People will do anything to 'fit in' with their peer group."

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THE ‘NEED’ FOR TATTOOS IS UNHEALTHY

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The good doctor cited case after case in which it’s either peer pressure [which is also a self-esteem issue] or an overpowering lack of self confidence and self worth that triggers the desire for a tattoo.  Says Dr. Emanuel Gonzales, PhD, “A first tattoo often triggers a drive for more.  A form of addiction, it is fueled by the ego and an almost universally present lack of self esteem.  He goes on to say that many of his patients have lied, cheated, and even stole in order to fuel their desire for more tattoos.  Good tattoos cost ‘good money’.  A single moderately sized tattoo [4~6 inches] can easily cost over a thousand dollars.  The only thing that costs more than having a tattoo done is having one undone.

When I go to restaurants [not the better ones] I see people, many of them, with visible tattoos.  Now, I’m not talking about the traditional sailors’ tattoos of ships and their girls’ name on the chest, nor am I talking about that USMC tattoo on the shoulder.  The tattoos I see today are on the hands, necks, faces, and calves of people wearing shorts.  Scantily clad women sport tattoos on their back right below the nape of the neck.  It's as though they are daring others NOT to see their 'body art'.  Regardless of intent, they proudly flaunt their tattoos for all, even the unwilling, to see.

I’ve asked myself, “Has everyone gone stark raving mad?  Tattoo parlors have become as plentiful as barber shops and drug stores; they're everywhere!  I still don’t know what to think.  Perhaps it’s because I grew up in a time and culture where people who sported ‘always visible’ tattoos were assumed to be 'bad' people, often related with criminal gangs or the state penitentiary.

I spoke with retired Detective Sgt. Arnold Ames, an authority on gang violence, and he says, “These people will get as many tattoos as they can, often having to balance their budget between drugs and tatts.  We’ve [law enforcement personnel] seen a direct connection between tattoos and criminal behaviour both in and out of the gang environment.  For example, if you see a guy with the traditional ‘tear drop’ tattoo near the outside corner of his eye, you know he’s done time as somebody’s bitch.  2 drops, twice somebody’s bitch … and so on.”

I spoke with Dr. Barnaby Tenium, professor of criminal and abnormal psychology, specializing in gang crime, about this and what had to say should give you pause.

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MULTIPLE TATTS LINK TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

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He said, “Comparing those young people with tattoos and those without, the tattooed individuals stand a 700% better chance of having a run-in with the law, a better than 600% chance of ending up in jail or prison, and a 300% better chance of dying a violent death.  This has a lot to do with how a person feels about himself.  These people are often 'followers' and rarely ever 'leaders' in their society.   It has a lot to do with the type of people who traditionally tattoo themselves and their association with the vulnerable ‘first tatt’ crowd.  He goes on to say that young people ages 18-25 are most vulnerable followed by those 25-40 and finally by the ‘over 40’ crowd.

Well, be all that as it may, I can remember encountering a remarkably ignorant individual sporting a tattoo that read: “Leviticus 19:28”.  These words were proudly displayed in a drawing of a scroll and it was all pretty well done from an artistic point of view.  This tattoo was on his forearm extending down to the wrist and onto the back of his hand.  Yep, an ‘always visible’ tatt if ever there was one.

Intrigued, I looked up this scripture in the bible.  Are you ready for this?  Here’s what Leviticus 19:28 says, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord.” – Douay Rheims Bible.  In another version of the Bible it reads, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” – King James Version.  Heck, I even went to the NIV [New International Version] where it says, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”  With that I've pretty well covered my bases on traditional Christianity’s view of tattoos.  This same prohibition also exists in Islam.

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GOD DOESN’T LIKE TATTOOS!

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So, from a traditionalist and religious perspective its clear how God feels about putting ink under your skin.  HE DOESN'T LIKE IT.  In fact, he so dislikes it that he commands us not to do it!  For all of those woefully ignorant bikers and the like with scriptures such as “John 3:16” and others injected beneath your skin; I’ll continue to pray for you amid your ignorance.

Okay, so I’ve given you a solid Judeo Christian reason not to tattoo, but let’s explore more secular reasons to not get a tattoo.

● Getting a job or a promotion within your job can be a lot tougher with visible tattoos: If you are currently looking for a job, a promotion, or to start a new career keep in mind that research shows having visible tattoos makes it harder to get hired.

[The term ‘visible tattoos’ refers to those on the face, neck, forearms, hands, and lower legs.]  According to a 2020 JobSearch study, visible tattoos hinder getting a new job or promotion for nearly 71% of those applicants with tattoos.  While this is down from 84% just twenty years ago, it’s still a slow and steep curve toward general acceptance in the working world.

Click the link and see what you think: https://www.thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/?utm_campaign=clip

A negative bias against tattoos seems to affect every business sector.  Restaurant managers prefer hiring wait staff and hosts without visible tattoos while sales managers worry that hiring sales people with tattoos will negatively affect sales.  Just because you're not currently searching for a job doesn't mean you won't in the future.  Keep that in mind when choosing the location for your next new piece of body art.

Click this link and see what you think: https://www.thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/?utm_campaign=clip

A recent study in ‘Managing Service Quality’ found that if you have any visible tattoos, you're going to be judged for them at some point or another.  Participants in the study were asked to look at pictures of people with and without tattoos, and then make assumptions about them.  At large, the study group believed that tattoos were unprofessional.  Older participants in the group even went so far as to say that the tattooed workers seemed less intelligent and less honest than the non-tattooed workers.

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WHO’S GONNA HIRE YOU WITH VISIBLE TATTS?

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A similar survey among managers and human resources personnel in 10 Fortune 500 companies found that over 85% of those in a hiring position preferred their final candidates NOT to show any tattoos.  Says Gloria, an HR Manager with one of these firms, “Visible tattoos are death to securing a low, middle, or upper management position.  As soon as I see the tattoo their resumé is headed for the shredder.  I know what upper management wants and I know what the shareholders want.  And I give them what they want.

Click this link and see what you think: https://www.thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/?utm_campaign=clip

● Blocking sweat glands leads to a bunch of problems, especially as you get older: Here’s something I never really thought about before.  According to a recent study, having a tattoo affects the way your body sweats.  That ink under your skin can actually block sweat glands, so choose where to place it very wisely. Our bodies need to sweat to avoid overheating, so it's especially important to never block your sweat glands with a tattoo.  The more ink, the more you stink!

Dr. Thad Driller, MD is a dermatologist and he says, “Tattoos blocking any number of pores can lead to really serious problems.  From pimples that won’t go away to erupting sores and leaking lesions, I’ve nearly seen it all.  I say, ‘nearly’ because there’s always some new tattoo complication coming in my door.

Click this link and see what you think: https://www.thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/?utm_campaign=clip

The increased risk of skin cancer from tattoos.  “The process of tattooing involves the integration of metallic salts and organic dyes into the dermal layer of the skin," Plastic Surgeon Dr. Cormac Joyce said in an interview.  She says, "Breaking into the skin and causing this inflammation could lead to "malignant transformation."  Dr. Joyce believes that while tattoos do not cause skin cancer, they could put those already at risk in danger.  Consult your family physician if you're concerned.

Click this link and see what you think: https://www.thelist.com/85191/big-reasons-never-get-tattoo/?utm_campaign=clip

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TATTS ARE RISKY, UNHEALTHY, AND UNNECESSARY!

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So, the next time you see Justin Beiber or some other celebrity or athlete sporting a ‘cool tattoo’ just remember that what others think of them is coloured by their wealth, prominence, fame, and that bubble of privilege that surrounds them.  They are, by and large, freaks of society and everyone knows that.  Ask yourself this question, “Would you want your child to marry one of them?  There ya go.

When it comes to tattoos, please think before you ink.

I’m Max, and that’s the way I see it!

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