I never took a tattoo. Simply because I know I'll change my mind later. Know thyself!

I've seen several people with a semi-colon tattoo. I thought they were grammar nerds. *facepalm*

Imagine Simon has a full-body tattoo, Yakuza style. 😁

People can have all the opinions they want about tattoos, but it's not gonna change my view on them. Everyone in my family has a tattoo, pretty much. You either like them or you don't, period. No one is forcing you to get one.

As one tattoo artist once told me: "You can lose everything - your house, your car, your friends, your family, even the one you love. But, no one can take your tattoos. You will go to the grave with them."

Nothing says *"anger issues"* like my *antique typewriter tattoo* lol jk.

I recall the peer pressure when I was younger. A tattoo would be awsome, just find one that doesn't look like "me too" insecurities

"...by the time they turned 30, however, they wanted it gone..." Wow. Didn't even get my 1st until in my mid-40s and now have 14. Can't imagine removing any of them, as each is personally meaningful. That said, none are on public display, either, which may be what drives ladies to want theirs gone. "Think before you ink - it's a lifetime commitment!" is about the best advice ever.

I have never felt the need for a tattoo. I am 47 years old and have plenty of scars to tell my life story.

So if you want to feel unique, just do what everyone else does and get a tattoo.

Always amazing!!!!! Thank you Simon & team smarter everyday/Toptenz!!!!!

1 out of 3 Americans have tattoos and I saw a guy that looked like Simon with an Apple tattoo on his arm. With those 2 facts all I know is tattoos are no longer cool.

I'll still have my tattoos on my spirit, when this body is left behind.

Hi Simon! Merry Christmas!

I have created my own (unqualified) philosophy around this subject, as I was trying to analyze both "marked" and "unmarked" individuals, who were standing out in some way. This video helped me articulate and re-order some of the aspects. Waiting for more subjects to come...

I don't get the whole tattoo thing.

Merry Christmas Simon.🎄🎄🎄🎄

Don't have any. Never will.

I waited until I was over 30 before I got my tattoo and don't regret or regert it, lol.

My tattoo was medically necessary. Often radiation therapy requires a tat so that the patient can be properly centered on the table each and every time.

I got my first tattoo in a time women didn’t have them. With the tattoo I wanted to express what a tough woman I was. The reactions varied from “what sweet” to “it really fits your personality”. May be I should not have taken a butterfly.

Merry Christmas Simon... Most of my family is inked up. My dad has some small but powerful designs. He has his daughters names on him but like I stated they're not that large. I enjoy looking at tattoos even though I can't have one. Its therapy for me

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think there is nothing more beautiful than a woman without any tattoos.

I don’t know about “risk taking” and “anger issues”. Many people now do extensive research into artists before getting a tattoo to make sure it is perfect. I have several tattoos but zero anger issues. Also work in a very professional setting.

I have 1 tattoo, my wedding band. My husband and I did it for our anniversary.

But people DO get addicted to plastic surgery, even though it's expensive, time-consuming, takes energy and commitment, etc. etc. If someone is a mass of tattoos, they're a walking billboard for addiction (to pain as well as garish designs).

I have seven tattoos - seven tiny black dots on my right breast, arm, and back to assist in positioning for cancer radiation treatments. NOT what I would have chosen had I ever wanted one.

Funny how times change. When I was a teenager a tattoo was stigmatized and the person that had them were stereotyped as either a bad/violent person or a sexually 'loose' person. Particularly females with tattoos. Now, tattoos are called body art and are much more socially acceptable. My personal experience in differences between people with and without tattoos flies in the face of what I grew up with as unless the person's tattoos are visible or they just tell you I've found no dividing personality between the two groups. Very interesting video.

To me getting a tattoo is like saying something really stupid and having to stand by it for the rest of your life.

Awesome video 😁

Im 41 i have many tattoos i started getting them bc i was in prison and needed a way to make money so i could draw but had to learn to tattoo obviously i started on myself and close friends i was never in a gang but did many gang jobs it made me a very responsible artist bc if u working on a gang member u need to know what ur doing if ur client knows what it means and if hes supposed to have that particular tattoo this is mostly out of self preservation but also my clients saftey most of the time u can tell the difference between jail and street work but bc off the style today bn mostly black and grey it can b hard to tell also i have none on my hands neck or face simply bc it was a life decision to b a ble to cover all them if i chose i know do exclusive work using past loved ones material incorporated in the ink b it a letter or actual ashes from there remains this gives a bond w lost loved ones every tattoo i have besides 2 or 3 is a memorial to a lost loved one

Granma's butterfly is a condor now...

Tattoos are for short-sighted extroverts. It's a declaration that you need an external depiction of what you feel inside. It's also indicates you don't think your values, tastes, or preferences will change when you grow older and (hopefully) mature.

Nothing says anger like my ferret tattoos. I also have a tattoo on my right ankle commemorating a life changing brain injury. Insurvived.

My mom stopped being able to grow eyebrows in her 50's, so she had eyebrows tattooed onto her.

I have 6 tattoos, I got my first one in my 40s, each are things I love and/or have a deep meaning. I don't fall into any of the categories mentioned in this video. I just love them and enjoy having them.

that was interesting. Nice job especially to release it on Boxing Day

Why would I put a sticker on a Ferrari?

I got my tattoo when I was 32, I am not a risk-taker, I don't smoke, very few people even realise I have one because I got it for MYSELF and no one else, and my tattoo has nothing to do with anger. I got it to remind myself that the universe is infinite and diverse.

You missed a big one - Merchant Seamen. Tattooing goes back many centuries in that profession. It was very popular on the sailing ships.

Personally I am not into being tattooed.

I got my first tattoo the summer after I turned 18 and I just turned 21 and I have an appointment for my second one on Saturday.. And even tho it's not typical "addiction behavoir", my dad recently got his 7th tattoo and he have told me it is addictive.. But it's not a spontantios addiction.. I just walk around, constantly thinking, planning and getting inspired by the world around me as ideas for another tattoo.. I won't get them all right away, but I often find myself thinking about what and where it would be awesome with a tattoo.. So I guess it becomes an obsession, more than an addiction..

Whatever the studies may say; I've heard from hundreds of tattooed persons that they find the whole process addicting. Take from that what you will. As the numbers of people getting inked goes up; I see less and less "unique" people. For example the picture of the two tattooed and pierced women in this video. The only marked differences between them were the things that they were born with; height, body type, etc. Otherwise they could've been sisters or twins. By staying uninked or pierced; I become more unique than anyone I see on the street. lol

I tattoo myself when I am unusually depressed or under a lot of stress. In a way its a type of self hurting or cutting, but I can hide it in the open.

I have several tattoos. These are my suggestions for anyone thinking of getting inked: 1: Find a quality artist. It's gonna be more expensive than a cheep tattoo, but you're talking about a permanent mark on your body. You want the best quality possible. If you add in that a reputable shop will always observe proper sterilization techniques (which carries less danger than some dude stabbing you millions of times with a sewing needle while drunk in his kitchen), and most shops have policies of giving discounts on touch-up work, you realize getting a cheap tattoo isn't worth the risk. 2: Think about what you want for a long time. I mean a long time. This ties in with number three, but needs some explaining first. I have my entire right arm sleeved in ivy vines that are blooming, going from the back of my hand and wrapping around my shoulder, extending onto my chest and back. Its huge, and was something I'd always wanted, but I knew it would change my life. Mostly in how I was perceived, opportunities I may not get in the future, and the impact having such a visible mark would have on my own sense of self. I thought about it for more than 10 years before I did the first sitting, just to be certain it was what I wanted. I didn't think about any of my others for as long, but they had copious amounts of time I thought about them before getting into a chair. 3: Make them have deep personal meaning. That's tricky, though, because we change as people over time. Just because you really like Ren and Stimpy, Rick and Morty, or some random genocidal maniac right now, that doesn't meant you're gonna want them on your skin when you're 45. You might like the artwork still, but there's a good chance your tastes will change as you get older. Thinking about what you want for a long time can eliminate getting tattoos that don't mean as much, or only fit you for a very limited time of your life. Tattoos that no longer fit us, or don't have personal meaning, are tattoos that people regret. If you have an idea for a tattoo, think about what it represents in your mind, then think about the possibility that you may not always feel that way. Tattoos with life spanning meaning, while they may fade, are almost never regretted. 4: Get them somewhere on you where you can see them with little effort. The back is a wonderful canvas, but if you ever want to actually look at the art you've paid so dearly for, it's gonna take some contorting. Save that area for a big project later down the line. The first tattoos should be where you can look at them with little effort and be easily covered with standard clothing. This allows you to enjoy it easier, and will be an example that lets you decide if you want another. Seeing your skin permanently marked every time you take a shower, get dressed, have fun time with your partner, whatever, will keep it fresh in your mind. A tattoo on the back is easy to ignore or even forget about, which can cause people to forget about the other things I've listed, leading to regretting tattoos. There are tons of little tips I could give, but I think those are the main ones I recommend to all my friends. Keeping to those basic rules I've been able to get tattoos through the years and have only ever regretted my first (which is now well covered with one that actually fits me, not a solitary moment in my life.) Tattoos, when done right, can be a beautiful way for people to express their personality. Or they can be a source of misery. The difference between the two is the planning you put into them.

Do any of you with tattoos regret having them? Full sleeve tattoos are very common where I live; mostly in the 30-50 age group. I think I’d be tired of having the same pictures on me. Also, I would notice all the imperfections

Mine started as a desperate ploy to fit in as a kid, then they became something else entirely. I have 9 now and all (but the first two I got when I was 16) represent different moments in my life that I never wanted to forget. Now all I have to do is look and it reminds me of the lessons learned in the past.

I have tattoos but I gotta get me one of these tut-TOOS Simon speaks of.

do people with tattoos have all sorts of magnets and other things pinned to their refrigerators ? just curious

This was really interesting. But I do have a few issues, I’m a woman (who is almost 30, got my first one with I was 18) with several tattoos. I do not regret a single one. And I wouldn’t say I’m particularly aggressive. But that’s just me.

I honestly don't think I care enough about any one thing that I could get a tattoo of it

Tattoos are ways for people to get attention, to hide their fears or sometimes to avoid people

I've got a @20 tattoos. All took years to plan and draw out. I love them all and see them as a reclamation of my body after difficulties and heartbreaks. I'd get them all again too....except the ones on scar tissue...they aren't holding enough and look like a blind 4 year old with a blue crayon attacked me.

I feel like this video just villifies people with Tattoos even further and continues the Stereotyping. At the end of the day it's just art that people use to express themselves, like how we do it with the clothes we wear. I have a Tattoo and I don't feel like I can relate to the reasons given in this video about why I got mine. I think the world would be a boring place without this kind of beautiful Art walking around.

Good video. Are the officers also getting tattoos at the same rate as the enlisted men? :)

Thank you

I have one tattoo and I was thinking about getting it for 10 months before getting it and I was thinking about what the person it was based on said for 3 years since he said it

Some of my tattoos are there to help me with my confidence. The one on my hand for sure.

If 1 in 3 people in the US has a tattoo and 36% of people with tattoo are serving or have served in the military... Than 30+ million people in the US are military personnel?!

Honestly I'd rather just buy clothing. I prefer to express myself through fashion as my art. My body the canvas. My art can change as I do.

Tattoos are a real turn off. It's just another part of the normalization of criminal culture.

my mom got tattooed before i did. at age 60. she hated the fact she had almost no eyebrows so got some inked. me? a friend changed careers from graphic design to tattooing and asked for volunteers. i was his third ever. knowing his skill with a pencil and now with a dermograph, i consider that first tat the truest form of trust in someone's artistic qualities. (yes, he nailed it). also, why the hell wouldn't i do it? i'd never gotten inked before and didn't know what it felt like. all my ink is hidden, and each piece is something that gives me a symbol of protection in my psyche while also describing key elements in my personal history. win-win. as for what'll happen to them when i die, hopefully my corpse can be flayed and the ink preserved as a sort of biography. currently, where i live now, that's kinda-sorta-slightly crazy illegal, but hey, one can dream.

I had the misfortune of dating tatted women. All had bpd. When i asked if they did, they were surprised. The used tats to replace cutting themselves.

So me and my mom have a bunch of similar tattoos, matching tattoos, i have mom and she has my name. My mom has cancer. When she dies i have those memories permanently in my skin.

Simon didn't mention how many tats he has!

I am always hesitant when I see clips about "psychology of tattoos"... I am glad this video was more encompassing and touched even the history of tattoos. I have to add that, years and years ago, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC had an exhibition, called "Marks of Identity", I obtained a book (long lost since) that showed that pottery shards (terracotta) found in graves of nomadic warriors in the steppes of Siberia, showed warriors on horses with tattoos... those graves were dated 27,000 years ago. Now... I am having a Japanese bodysuit and I am involved in the body mod community... and as an artist (photographer and painter), I know a lot of heavily tattooed people who will not fit those findings of Prof. Viren Swami, as being more aggressive towards authority figures... as so many of them are very calm, very thoughtful people. If that professor looked only at prison tattoos... he should make that distinction. Of course, if his sample group are a bunch of tattooed people with anger issues... then he'd come naturally to that conclusion, which still would make his study and the results highly questionable. Lastly... "risky behavior"... really, Simon? "Smoking"?, "the risk of bad tattoos??? How about that many tattooed people are into EXTREME SPORTS (another study from long time ago... e.g. I used to be a martial artist, technical scuba diver and mountain climber (still am, at 52)... Oh... and there was once a study that also showed that many of the tattooed people also had an above average socio economic standing, college and graduate degrees and made above average income... Besides those points... good job! Happy New Year!

He forgot to mention, narcissism, self indulgent personalities, who focus on themselves

From an anthropological perspective, tattoos, along with other forms of art and body modification, are one of the defining traits of our species.

Another reason for tattoos is to cover scarring. I’ve seen many pictures women have had done to cover mastectomy scars. I even considered one to cover the long scar down my leg to cover a surgery scar, but I hate needles more than the scar.

I love tattoos that are meaningful and perfect looking but my style and tastes change so I preffer to express my individuality with clothes.

The moment I walked out of the shop after my first tattoo, I was planning my second. After a sitting to get both my second and third, I left planning my forth. It's like eating chips; once you have one, it's hard to stop. Damn lack of disposable income tends to get in the way, though.

I have given my tattoo a lot ot thought, even though I haven't gotten it done yet. Its going to be s flaming sword pointing down with a snake wrapped around it from the hilt (tail) to the point (head) The snake will be red and black, the sword is silver and the flames are blue. It is to remind me of several things. Firstly; that kindness wouldn't exist without cruelty, that one has to be a little bit mean to be kind. Secondly; that the right thing is almost never the easy thing and I should always strive to do the right thing not the easy thing. Also that it's supposed to resemble the staff of asclepius, the snake embodies healing and renewal, and the sword, doing the right thing, integrity and protecting others. Its interpretation is kind of nebulous and multidimensional but it is primarily to remind me of these things. It about sums me up, its multiple facets help me to remember to always be kind and to do the right thing. To remind me that I am strong, that I can protect others and that I can help my fellow humans. I would also like a semicolon somewhere and another small recoiled snake elsewhere just as a reminder that its fine if people dislike me, just as the snake is disliked commonly for being venomous, it still symbolises healing and renewal, I may be disliked by some but my integrity stands regardless. when I was a kid I wanted Borg tattoo on my face, when I was a little older I wanted something to do with doctor who, but now it resembles a meshing together of symbols from fiction, history and mythology in a way that sums me up in a lot of different ways depending on the biases of the person looking at it. When I see it, I will be reminded to be kind, to show integrity, to protect, serve, to do the right thing, to be prepared to be disliked by some and remain strong even in the face of difficulty. Difference here is that Ive really thought this one through, drawn it several times to trial different coulers, locations and scales and asked those I care about regarding it.

While not as old as Otzi, the Siberian Ice Maiden’s ink would be worth a mention, she’s from the 5th century BCE. No regrets on my tats. Wouldn’t mind getting more.

my dad was in the Navy& he has a bunch of tattoos, he got one in every different place they stopped, but not every place

One of your best videos yet, guys. And I’m an alltime conspiracies fan, too!!!! Keep it up! :)

When anyone tells me about getting a tattoo and doesnt know what to get i tell them pick out a tattoo and make sure they really like it, then wait a year or 2 or whatever, but if u want the same tattoo after that long then go ahead. I've wanted my tattoo since I was 11, i waited till i was 26

I had a high expectation for this video given the title but left feeling like I just read an essay from a 12yo school student. EDIT- Changed my mind on my comment, was being negative

Always been fascinated with the Cartel tattoos.

I got my first ever tattoo almost three weeks ago while on vacation in Seoul. I found an artist I liked and had been following him on Instagram for quite some time. I love my tattoo and have no regrets at all.

My largest and most painful tattoo was in remembrance to my my mother. I have remembrance tattoos but nothing so large and painful.

I use my tattoos to tell my life story; my tattoos represent me, my personality, interests and experience - through beautiful works of art that mean something to me.

I have 80% of my body tattooed. Long time viewer. Love your channel and your delivery. Voice is soothing when I have insomnia. Edit: my tattoos fall into 3 categories: 1. things I love so much, that even when I'm depressed or bored or angry, these thing make me feel better. So just seeing them can change my mood for the better. (like the Jenny 867-5309 tattoo on my ankle... Such a stupid song with a weird premis... But it's funny and catchy and can change my mood) 2. Tributes in one way or another to either people or moments in my life that defined who I am and who I've become as a person. 3. Joke and/or magic tattoos (I'm a sword swallower, modern sideshow performer, and magician). I have a few of them. Like the © & TM symbols on my butt cheeks. Makes no sense But it's funny to me, and to my audiences. Some fall into multi categories, both tribute and fandom and a reminder of good times when I'm feeling down.. Example being my Beauty & the Beast from the 1991 Disney film. It's a nostalgic reminder of a film my kid sister and I enjoyed together as children, a film I still enjoy revisiting. So it's both a tribute to my (still living) sister and a way to bring me back to better times when I glance at it.

You didn't cover tattoos that cover up injury scars, surgery scars, cover-ups, or other cosmetic tattoos.

From the age of 15 to 17 i got 46 tattoos then got no more until i was 36

If it was unique to not have a tattoo, then people would not get a tattoo so they can be unique.

I got my semicolon this past May, mental health awareness month. Labor day family get together, she asked what is that on your neck? Like What did you do now? Had my friend, since 2nd grade we're now 45, Google and read aloud the meaning. My sister, Oh, OK. Totally cool with it now that she understood. My mom, who's not fond of tattoos, has absolutely no problem with it. When I was 12, I asked my parents if I could get a tattoo, my dad said when I turn 18 you can do whatever you want. I wanted a yinyang. So, when I was 32, I got one. With the sun,Earth, and moon equidistant around it. Again, explained the meaning to me, and they were all cool with it. I figured if, after 20 years, i still wanted it permanently on my body, I won't regret it. Still love having it. I do find it silly for people to get tattoos that have no meaning for them. Random designs or impulse selections just mean more money for the doctor removing them later.

I'm 45 and have an appointment set for another tattoo. I have a whole hip peice, quarter sleeve on one arm and three quarter on the other arm. My appointment is set for one on my ankle. I only get tattoos of things that mean something to me. I have birth month flowers of every child and now starting flowers for my grandbabies. I also have horses on me because I used to be a licensed animal rescuer who fostered and trained horses. I also have a Native American symbol because I am Apache. I'm never embarrassed by my tattoos because they are a story painted on me about me. I have been with only one man for over 20 years and not a risky person. I don't drink, never did drugs, and never been in trouble with the law.

I have a friend who has his name scribbled on his arm. His mother did it to him as a young kid in case he ever got lost or stolen. Lol. He said he didn’t mind because he thought it made him the coolest kid in elementary school.

Medically not supposed to get a tattoo because of lymphedema (stage zero right now and related to tortuous veins) in my left leg; no hot tubs either. I do go on airplanes against recommendations and just get a massage at my destination. So, I’m jealous of the tatttoed.

I got my first tattoo on my back, it was over ten years before I got my second. Now I have two full sleeves.

I can relate to some of those reasons.

I have 3 and feel more complete with each 1. I want so many more!

... When I was much younger, I got one, small, very simple tatt (a blue outline equilateral triangle over my left wrist's pulse-point). I simply think that they're cool, and wanted one.

very interesting, but a little rushed towards the end. maybe a series of videos that expands on the subject titles.

I don’t date women who have tattoos. Never have. I would never get one. I also don’t draw on my car or furniture

I'd argue that when it comes to "promiscuity" that people with tattoos tend to be more adventurous in the first place, this does not equate to being "easy" and so what if it did? Why should a woman be considered differently from a man when it comes to wanting to enjoy her sexuality, whether with multiple partners or just in having more and doing more adventurous things with her partner, my ex and I did a lot of things together but she was very loving too, frankly if men really wanted more sex, why would they go about making it shameful for a woman to have multiple partners or a high sex-drive? That is the kind of attitude that leads to people being uncomfortable with what is in essence a normal thing that we all desire, intimacy. If you are comfortable with what you are doing, enjoy it and don't hurt anybody doing it, don't let anybody shame you, embrace it! Who cares? As long as you are happy!

Lars Krutak is an interesting guy to follow on social media. He’s into traditional tattooing methods from different cultures all over the world.

So far I haven't heard of a respectable reason for people getting tattoos

Many of us get them simply because of the beautiful design or as a memorial of a lost loved one. I have several and most are for loved ones. Something that represents them, something they loved. My oldest brother has a full body suit and is one of the gentle souls you could ever meet. He's never mad at anything, laid back and goes with the flow... Hates conflict. So i guess he missed the memo about being angry and hostile if you get a lot of ink. Lol

As someone with an injury that left a scar and took a long time to heal, I don't know why people scar themselves on purpose.