Smart Art or Insane Stain?

Getting them is addicting.

Is it worth it?

Will something that makes you feel good about yourself now make you happy in the future?

Unfortunately, that probably can't be answered for another 10 or 20 years. Yes, members of our generation want to make a statement and show our individualism, but are you the same person at 18 that you will be at 25? Or 35? Or 65?

Seth, a family man now in his early 30s, has regrets. "I got a tattoo of the Greek letters of my college fraternity on my ankle when I was in college. I thought that my fraternity would mean something to me for years to come.

"Even though I am still friends with some of those guys to this day, I probably didn't need a tattoo to remind me of my college days. Unfortunately, the tattoo is there to stay."

Your decision

Give it a six-month waiting period.

If you decide to get tattooed, don't do it impulsively. Think about the design you want and give it a six-month waiting period. If it's going to be permanent and you love it now, then, naturally, you should love it later. If not, won't you be glad you waited?

No one can decide for you, but you may want to think twice before you put that barbed wire on your bicep or that cute little flower around your belly button. Ask yourself, "Will I mind wearing long sleeves at the beach to cover this up in 10 years if I don't like it anymore? How will this look when it's sagging?"

These questions may seem funny now, but do you still wear your *NSYNC pajamas? Play your Hanson Brothers CDs? Carry your Backstreet Boys backpack?

Tastes change, people change, but if you get a tattoo...well, it will be on your body to stay.

True or False: Franklin appears on the first U.S. postage stamp. Click Ben's head for the answer.

TRUE: In July of 1847 the American Colonies issued its first postage stamp, featuring Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin.

Age 17
Carolina, WV

WRITTEN BY:

Leah

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"I don't ever want any piercing anywhere but my ears, if I even get that. I think that It's pointless to have them anywhere else, but everybody had there own free will and can do what they won't. Im not really going to judge them."

Varsity FB, 15, Sahuarita, AZ
11/22/10

"This story is pretty interesting. It has some wild pictures as well! I wouldn't want to pierce my body like this though. I don't think It's needed and I think It's pretty dumb. On the other hand I think It was Informative."

Varsity FB, 15, Sahuarita, AZ
09/09/10

"My sister had a flower tattooed onto her foot in memory of a friend of hers who had recently passed away. Once I turn 18, I was thinking about having an elephant tattooed onto mine, in memory of my grandma who has passed. She loved elephants, they were her good luck charm, and the last thing I had recieved from her before she died was a little elephant figurine with a tear running down its cheak, and a string of rememberance tied around its trunk. KNowing that it would be permanent and painful, I have done a lot of thinking. I would still like to, but we'll see if I do when I turn 18! "

Sammi Jo, 16, Westby, WI
09/01/10

"I do actually know a lot of adults who regret the tattoos they got in their teen years. This article confirms what some have told me about the pros and cons of tattoos and piercings. After reading this, I may wait a little longer before making the final decision for tattoos or piercings."

MarvinB , 16, Richmond, Va
09/01/10

"I think that piercings are much smarter of an idea than a tattoo. Tattoos are beautiful and some people think the body is a canvas, but they can't be removed as easily as piercings. Piercings leave a tiny scar, unless you stretch your ears. I don't know how I feel about it. Maybe someday I might get a tattoo, but that is in the distant future. For now I'll stick with having my ears pierced. :)"

kendallweb, 15, Klamath Falls, OR
08/31/10

"I agree with everything said in this story. A lot of teens may not think through if they'll still want the tattoo in a few years, and you could experience serious regret when you have to pay a lot of money to get it removed. This was very informative."

Hannah457, 17, Camas, WA
08/27/10

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