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According to the Pew Research Center, almost 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 40 have a tattoo. And, far from just the riffraff, some of the world's most desirable celebrities, such as David Beckham and Megan Fox, have inked enough characters on their skin to start a small newsletter. Nevertheless, most people still refrain from marking their bodies in this manner, and visible tattoos continue to be frowned upon in many professional settings.

Are tattoos on their way to becoming acceptable everywhere, or will they always be somewhat stigmatized? A lot of that depends on how wise contemporary society believes getting a tattoo is. After the jump, we weigh the pros and cons of taking the ink plunge.


Tattoos Are a Terrific and Arty Celebration of the Here and Now

They make you seem tough
It's been a long time since tats were only the mark of rough characters like sailors, bikers, former inmates and Maori warriors. Still, it stands to reason that folks are going to be more reluctant to mess with a guy who has previously shown he can endure being poked by a needle for hours at a time than one who hasn't.

They will help remind you about what used to be important
A tattoo can act as a pleasant reminder that there was once a time you felt very strongly about the tribal pattern found on a million other people's forearms or that Japanese character no one understood. So strongly, you had it forever etched onto your body.story continues below

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No Regrets
It would be hard not to regret a Britney Spears tattoo. Click here to see even worse examples of bad tattoo decisions.

No Regrets: The Worlds Worst Tattoos

    Now preppies are getting tats? It's over people! Nothing to see here, folks. Go home to your families.

    Okay, this is the best tattoo we've EVER seen. The artist told us this was the result of a lost bet (awesome). I can't decide who I want to give an awesome beej to more: the dude who thought of it or the dude who actually got it.

    R.I.P. Ol' Dirty Foot.

    This guy doesn't need bongos and a bag of coke to bring the party. He just shows up in shorts with his PARTY LEGS and brings the PARTY VIBES. Even his grandchildren will be high-fiving him when he takes them fishing.

    There are about three million Chewy tattoos out there, but this is the funniest rendition I've ever seen. I could look at this every day for the rest of my life and still get a chuckle. Dude, look at it. It's. So. Good.

    Chewy from Star Wars - Christina Sparrow

    "Snakes on a Plane" on a douchebag.

    This is what happens when chicks die: We turn into magical pink unicorns who get blazed by our big strong Pegasus boyfriends on a cloud in the middle of a rainbow. Then we get to smoke afterwards and nobody tells us it's a cliche.

    Don't make eye contact with this. Looking at Chuck Norris in the eyes is like watching "The Ring." You won't know it, but you'll be dead within a week.

    Hmm ... maybe some regrets.

    I bid $1, Bob.

    Bob Barker -- Tattoo Andy


Chicks dig tattoos
Tattoos have been around for over 5,000 years. Meaning, historically women have found them somewhat attractive. If not, the gene that makes folks want to modify their skin permanently with ink would have died out long ago.


Tattoos Are a Terrible Investment in the Future

When you get old your tattoos will turn the color of pond scum
Also, there is little chance that the ink-on-loose-skin look will ever come into vogue, no matter how many aging hipsters end up sporting it.

They make crime that much more difficult
Despite a long association with gangs and other disreputable syndicates, a tattoo makes it that much more likely a criminal on the lam will be identified by law enforcement or a vigilant public. Even if you have no current plans to turn to a life of crime, you can never be too sure in this economy.

What about the next generation?
When you have kids, it's going to be hard for you to tell them they can't get involved in the next big thing in body modifications when your own body is all marked up with colorful pictures. And since this future craze will probably be along the lines of embedding GIF videos of donkey porn into one's neck, it's something to think about.