"Although the practice of tattooing the body is very old, the English word tattoo is relatively new. The explorer Captain James Cook (who also gave us the word taboo) introduced the word to English speakers in his account of a voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771. Like taboo, tattoo comes from Polynesian languages such as Tahitian and Samoan. The earliest use of the verb tattoo in English is found in an entry for 1769 in Cook's diary. Sailors introduced the custom into Europe from the Pacific societies in which it was practiced, and it has remained associated with sailors, although many landlubbers now get tattoos as well."
Via Dictionary.com, there is also a cool definition on Word IQ. 
Sometimes I wonder if people judge me for my tattoo. Not like I really care all that much...but still. I am a Christian but I don't believe that getting a tattoo is a sin...well, as long as it like doesn't say "I love Satan Forever" or a swastika or something, lol. :wink: But although I haven't met someone yet who has been against tattoos (besides my mother, hehe), I'm wondering whether it is prohibiting some people from wanting to be my friend or guys from wanting to date me because I have one. Does it make me seem too liberal? Am I thought of as a bad example? Are people just telling me that they think my tattoo is cool but really they think it is a mistake or a sinful act?
I know most people would tell me to not worry about it, if I like it then who cares what other people think and yes I agree, lol, it's not like I could do much about it anyway. I love my tattoo...it has a great concept behind it that fits me well. Someday I might even get another one on my body.
Don't think that just because I'm pro-tattoo that I'm all for letting my kids (if or when I have any) get one when they are young. I didn't get a tattoo or any other piercings besides one in each ear when I lived in my parents' house because that was the rule...and I plan on making it the same rule in my own house. My dad has a tattoo and probably would have gotten his ear pierced had my mom not been so dead set against it. I figure when they turn 18 and move out of my house they can make their own decisions...even if I don't like what they are, like my mother said. Nothing changed between me and my mom when I told her about my tattoo...I wasn't going to keep it from her, that would have been a bad idea. She would have been seriously hurt by it. I think she felt better about it when I let her know....the trust is still intact.
Tattoo art to me is a form of self-expression. I don't believe that you should just go and get any random picture or words on your body unless it has a good meaning behind it and is something you won't mind sticking with for the rest of your life. My tattoo (shown in picture), which is a sun with outward flaming rays and an inward spiral to the center, is my personal symbol. To me it is the concept of eternal positive thinking and constant optimism, which I believe to be key to living a healthy and fulfilled life. It is something I spent two months thinking seriously about over the summer...with many sketches and ideas until I figured out what exactly was important to me and explained my way of thinking. I hope that makes sense to you.
See people? Down with stereotypes! Before you read that I'm a Christian and judge me by thinking I'm like everyone else and lumping me with the stereotypical mass of religious fanatics try learning more about me and getting to know me a little better. The same for those other religious people who might judge me for getting a tattoo and saying it is a sin. I back up this argument with Brandon Hill's article on About.com entitled Can A Christian Have A Tattoo?, directed toward Christian teens and their parents, although he makes a ton of great points for the general religious and non-religious public alike.
I have said my piece.
The date for the next event is 10/23/04 at 7pm! 
Thanks for the support, y’all. :bouncy: No, nobody has said anything to me about it but it’s just a thought that’s been rolling around in my mind. Because the truth of the matter is not everyone will tell you their real opinion…especially when it involves a friend and/or something that can’t be changed. Like me being their friend and having a tattoo.
What would you say?
For example…I don’t particularly like the look of a lip piercing…but if my friend went and got one I wouldn’t just tell her it was ugly or that I didn’t like it that much. Whatever floats her boat I say.