I'll be honest, I'm a pretty big fan of Dr. Phil, normally, but this tattoo story has gotten me on edge & he really ought to be ashamed of himself.
Let's go down the arguments that I've heard over the years (yes, I have multiple tattoos too, *shock*):
1. She'll never get a job. False. I've had really good jobs before & after I got tattooed & none of them cared. Even at a bank, when my tattoos were visible, it was perfectly fine. The woman in this story doesn't have any tattoos on her face, neck or hands, so she would easily be able to cover the ones she has, if necessary. Also, as the world continues to progress, more & more people are accepting of tattoos & it is now more "mainstream" & not frowned upon nearly as much as in the past. Chances are, a potential boss won't look down on tattoos like they did 20 years ago.
2. She'll regret them. So? If she does, that's her business. Apparently, her mother has never regretted any decision she's ever made, or had somebody tell her not to do something because she might regret it later. How dare she assume that she knows what is good for her adult daughter better than the daughter knows herself?
Personally, I don't regret a single one of my tattoos. Even the ones I got on a whim are deep & meaningful for me. I look at them & I can remember how I felt, what caused me to get the tattoo, where I was & who I was with. They are representations of great memories & milestones in my life.
3. Her skin will look HORRIBLE. BTW, Dr. Phil, you need to fire your "age enhancement" team, because they suck! What's with the bad dye job on the 80 year old picture? Why assume that she'll have bad & wrinkled skin everywhere? Most people with tattoos actually TAKE CARE of their skin & treat their tattoos like gold, keeping them soft & supple. We take pride in our skin & in our art & we want it to last forever. So what if it fades? So does everything else.
4. She'll be marked as a criminal/outcast of society. Hmm, are we still living in 1950? No, we're in the 21st century. Yes, people still judge books by their cover, but that's not the book's fault. Dr. Phil, you preach "stay true to yourself." Does that mean that a person's "trueness" is only as good as society sees? That a person cannot be true to themselves if they broach society's narrow-minded views?
Again, Dr. Phil, you should be ashamed of yourself for putting this on the air. You are contributing to the most shameful values of society today, judging a person before you know them. This woman is over 18 & has every right to do what she wants to her own body. If she can be a productive member of the world & happens to have beautiful artwork on her body, MORE POWER TO HER. We're not asking you to get a tattoo, Dr. Phil, so why don't you stop telling other people what to do with their own lives?
I'm planning on getting another tattoo on my upcoming birthday, in June. This tattoo started off as a long, thoughtful process that took time & energy. I went to my artist (that has done my last 2 tattoos), I talked to him & we decided on what would look best for my idea & my body. I can't wait to get my artwork done & I will NEVER be ashamed of it. On the other hand, I am ashamed of the people that judge me simply because I express myself, my personality & my soul visibly on my skin.
Are you a parent whose household is spinning out of control? Cindi says her daughter, Kristina, used to be a fresh-faced all-American beauty, but now, with seven tattoos, she looks like a freak! Cindi says that if her daughter gets inked one more time, she’ll cut her off. Then, Nancy was heartbroken when she learned her 17-year-old daughter had been keeping a devastating secret. See this teen's message about how opening up saved her life. And, when Nancy Davis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago, the doctor said her life was over. She knew she had to get better for her three young sons. See her heartwarming message for anyone dealing with an illness. Then, a mom struggles with 7-year-old triplets competing to be the best! Talk about the show here.
