Getting Inked: Human Art

The aftereffects of being inked.

When people hear the term "getting inked", they imagine endless hours of sitting in a chair and having someone sitting over you with an ink gun. Well, they aren't wrong. As someone who has been inked and will continue to do so until the day I die, I can say that with one tattoo, I've already let go of 4+ hours of my life.

Some (mostly my parents and family) have asked me how I expect to get a job if I'm covered in ink. Back in their day, just to give you a feel for old their thinking is, having tattoos in any professional field was a disgrace and was highly frowned upon. Today's society still thinks that tattoos are for punks, rebels, or whatever term you prefer, but are those of us who are inked destined to be penniless and flipping burgers? Most certainly not.

Today, more professional fields are allowing their employees and associates to have artwork on their bodies, as long as it is appropriate. Because that's all tattoos are--human artwork. They are a form of expression--a freedom of "speech". No one has the right to be turned down for a corporate job just because they have a tattoo of their grandparents' death dates on their shoulder. Most jobs require that you wear long sleeves and formal attire as is.

Everyone has the right to express themselves, because we are only human. So before you frown and point your fingers at all those "punks", remember that they too are allowed to express themselves in whatever fashion they deem fit.

Also, if you live in the Black Hills area or plan on going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year--check out Richard at the Tattoo Cellar in Sturgis, SD. He's the bomb.