Just Ask Georgia: 6/26/2024

Georgia, I have a question,

I am not a fan of tattoos because they are so ubiquitous now. When I was a kid, tattoos were rare and rebellious. Nowadays, they are everywhere, and that’s fine. People can decorate themselves however they want. But, for example, my grandfather had tattoos. They were from when he was in the military and were a memorial to his friends killed in action.

My son (19) has wanted a tattoo since he was little, so I told him that was okay but to consider whatever he got and have it be at least a little meaningful and not just get one to be cool.

I told him I would get the same one if he got something that had no special meaning. He thought it was an empty threat because he got a tribal armband tattoo. I asked him about it, and he said it just looked cool.

Okay, well, I have disposable income and a high pain tolerance. Now we have matching tattoos, and he no longer wants to show his off. He says I’m a jerk for getting a tattoo to prove a point. I say it’s silly to get a meaningless tattoo to look cool. Who's correct here?

New Dumb Tattoo

Dear Dumb,

I’m sorry, but your son is correct - you are, in fact, a jerk. Getting a copy of the tattoo your son has and then saying tattoos have to be meaningful/well-thought-out doesn’t match. The only thing you showed him (who, by the way, is an adult) is that you don’t stand behind your ideals.

I’d rather have a meaningless tattoo that I like the look of than have a tattoo that permanently shows what a petty and toxic person I can be. So now you’re an adult with a spite tattoo. You have psychological issues, and you need some serious help.

You didn’t get a tattoo because you wanted one; you did it because you wanted your son to no longer like his tattoo. Your goal was to ruin his tattoo for him because you don’t like that he likes different things than you.

With love, Georgia