God's handiwork? That's the mitigating factor is that precludes getting a tattoo or predicates a company's hiring practices? As for your assessment NO tattoo will be pretty, methinks my daughter's initials will always be precious...

MRI's and metal don't get along well. Some very old tattoo pigments used metal particles. If your tattoo was obtained within the past 20 years you are almost assured that Metal fragments in the pigment will not be an issue. Even if your tattoo is older than 20 years old, that doesn’t mean the ink absolutely contained metal. And even if it did contain metal, that does not mean you absolutely will have a problem with getting an MRI. If you find yourself at this juncture, it will be best for you to inform your doctor of your concerns and let them help you make an informed decision. Remember that there are always alternatives to MRI – people with pacemakers and metal implants (among other things) also have to find other diagnostic methods. Your doctor can help you decide if you might be at risk and, if so, what alternate options are available to you. Personally, the only marks I want on my skin are birthmarks, but that's just me.

deshpak, I once read something by another author who stated "Birthmarks are God's tattoos" :) Not exactly related to this blog, but your post made me think of it.

"R. Swanson - No, it's not Wisteria Lane. But Patch is supposed to be a news service. Blogs about things like tattoos, which appeal to the lowest common denominator in our society (which is what I meant by "low rent", a point that escaped you), are not news. Take your blogs to a blog site."

I did not realize that this was a News service (looks like a local blog site to me) and furthermore did not realize that entities providing news could not have editorial content and/or topics that did not fit within your standards. I suggest you provide WSJ, New York Times and a host of other news services with this guidance as they are also missing the point and risk being "low rent". I guess you would be an advocate of let's say Xinhua News agency (All the News All then Time - after passing through the party's filter first of course)

Thank you, Selene. Those were my thoughts exactly.

Thanks Selene for speaking up - these blogs make Patch a generally "low rent" website, especially when they deal with airbrushing tatoos on your lower back (isn't that called a "tramp stamp" for a reason?) Tatoos are gross and the domain of trashiest elements of our society. I realize people will disagree with this, but frankly I am tired of having to see tatoos everywhere nowadays - it's a form of pollution in my view.

You must admit, though, there is a market for temporary, airbrushed, or permanent tattoos, and apparently the demand for them is growing as you have even remarked that they seem to be "everywhere nowadays". I don't agree with everyone's fashion statements or forms of expression either, but as long as there are people who do like tattoos, the industry will thrive because it's making money.

Smoking comes to my mind when you make the remark about pollution. There are health risks associated with smoking and it can pollute the environment of others who choose not to smoke, but ultimately the decision is up to the individual as to whether they choose to partake in the activity or not.

As for blog topics, I'm glad that Patch has such a variety of things to read about. It would be a very boring place if the subjects only revolved around a few areas of interest.

Wow! Is this Wisteria Lane?? And what exactly is a "high rent" website?

deshpak - :)

No, it's not Wisteria Lane. But Patch is supposed to be a news service. Blogs about things like tattoos, which appeal to the lowest common denominator in our society (which is what I meant by "low rent", a point that escaped you), are not news. Take your blogs to a blog site.

R. Swanson, are you saying that all of the successful and professional people who have tattoos are of the "lowest common denominator" in our society then?

R. Swanson, I'm a Patch editor and have three "permanent" tattoos, one of which is quite noticeable on my foot. At one point in my career, I had frequent appointments to interview senators, business people and even a governor and I toyed with whether to cover my foot tattoo or not. For a while, I covered it with a large bandaid, but then one day I stopped, because how could I ask the people I was interviewing to be who they really were if I was not doing the same? In the end, my tattoo had no affect on my interviews or my job and I was never, ever treated as though I was a part of "the domain of the trashiest elements of our society" for having it. I do not think your sentiment on that is shared by the majority of our society to this day. I will agree with you, though, that there is a difference between a few tattoos and a body covered in them, however, the people who get these tattoos have to live with that choice permanently, whether they're proud or regretful.

Thanks for sharing your experience Ariana. It's refreshing to hear that a personal choice like a tattoo did not affect you professionally or the way that others have treated you. I think the ability to be who you are by publicly displaying a tattoo - which was a decision that you felt was right for you - says a lot about your confidence and pride in your choice to get one.

Although not everyone accepts the choices others make, I think tolerance is important to keep in mind. There are many people that are exceptional on the inside even if you do not like their appearance (for whatever reason) on the outside.

So why did you read it then?

Not that Laura needs anyone to defend her, but after meeting her face to face and having had the pleasure of speaking to her a few times, I can definitely say she has more intelligence than most PAID writers I've ever met or been interviewed by.

Thank you for the kind words, Hepcat.

Well played deshpak, kudos.

Moreover, for those of you that have a problem with said dialog go somewhere else. However, I do find this a relevant topic considering I have 2 children both of which are considering tattoos.

Gary, you bring up a very good point. Even if a topic like getting tattoos does not pertain to someone personally, it could still be relevant because someone they know might be going through a decision process about it. Or like you said - we all have the ability to select what we read and how we interact.

My daughter is only in first grade so she's not old enough to make these kinds of choices for herself yet. But as a parent, I do wonder how I will respond and act to the choices she makes when she gets older, and if she will listen, I think about the kinds of advice I will offer. I hope that your children make choices that they are happy with for the long term, and I applaud the fact that you are taking an active interest in decisions that they are trying to make.

Laura, Thanks for sharing this entertaining story! As a recruiter/coach, I somewhat agree with Michael. Very obvious tattoos that are graphic in nature may discourage some hiring managers from extending job offers but certainly not as across the board as in the past. People definitely have freedom of choice on how they wish to appear but might want to keep in mind how others perceive them.

Thanks, Harold. I think it's good for people to share their own experiences with things like this. Others who have gotten tattoos and told me their stories have affected my decision to hold off on getting one myself. They have explained to me the discomfort and healing associated with the procedure, and some had realized years later they had not made the best choices when they had someone's name tattooed on their skin, for example.

When you have to live with something for the rest of your life, I think choices should be weighed carefully.

Since you have a lot of experience in the recruiting field, why do you think that tattoos are still looked upon by many in negative ways when people are applying for jobs? Do you think that the old "bad boy" stigma still applies in modern times? I would guess that obvious piercings (such as on the face) could be looked upon similarly as well.

I Googled something about that last night, Jennifer. http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/f/bltattoomri.htm It seems the MRI interference has something to do with the colors and chemistry of some of the inks used. I guess you'd have to ask the artist if the inks used contain iron oxide ahead of time.

Thanks for the support! :)

Ultimately I say 'to each his own'. I do think, though, that over time there will be more hiring managers that have tattoos and piercings, and that may cause a shift in the opinions to hire people who have made the same choices of self-expression, as you have exemplified by Disney's decision. Thanks for sharing that bit of information. I had no idea!

I do truly believe that the tattoos, piercings, or other forms of fashion or symbolic self-decoration do not correlate to the personality, talent, or intelligence of the individual sporting them. Sure, the first thing we all see is outward appearance, and it's easy to judge, but some of the nicest people I've met have tattoos.

It makes you think about things, Curt, right? How many things do we ingest, inject, or expose ourselves to where there is a great unknown factor about the long term effects. This is one of the reasons I love blogging and interacting with readers - you learn a lot!

It is choice not to eat pink slime and it is a choice not to get a tattoo so as a professional that has had his tattoos for 20 years, All I have to say is if you don't like them don't get one.

Ah, fear of needles, I have heard that to be a definite deterrent for some people.

I'll have to try to find that Mythbusters episode, Pete. It never hurts to try to learn more. Thanks for sharing that!

I had commented in response to this blog on my Facebook page that one of the first tattoos I ever remember seeing on someone was as a child. It was of a blue anchor on the upper arm of an elderly gentleman at Clearwater Beach in Florida. At age 4 I was curious and asked him "What's that?" He told me he got the tattoo to remind him of his service in the Navy. :) He wore it as a symbol of remembrance and pride. I think that initial experience has helped me keep an open mind to tattoos.

I think the "Mythbusters" is a cool show, however, I’ll take the Mayoclinic over their words when it come to tattoos, or any other medical advice!.

"MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image — such as when a person who has permanent eyeliner has an MRI of the eye."

PS Doctors, YES Doctors used to recommend smoking as a way to relax, and frankly this entire thread seems like the smoking augments of the sixties! Will we be be seeing commercials 20 years form now with people with peoples whose arms needed cut off saying -- But I just thought the tattoo looked so nice and was so safe!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020

Wow. It would never occur to me to have something outrageous like that displayed on my body; but I guess what's too much is all relative depending on the person and the circumstances.

Whenever my husband sees a tattoo he says, "Did they just get up one day and ask themselves 'what can I do today to make myself less employable?'"

Both of us have worked for large corporations and don't know anyone on the upper rungs of the corporate ladder with a visible tattoo.

For the editor with the tattoos: you will never know how anyone who is used to being interviewed and/or is in the public eye feels about your tattoos.

centurion, I heard the cyclops look isn't in vogue anymore anyway. ;)

You are logical as always, centurion. Good to see you 'round again.

Variety is the spice of life. Thanks for the kind words, CJ.

Thanks for sharing your story. That's really good advice. It's wonderful when a friendship is as permanent as a tattoo, or even moreso.

The symbolism of your desired tattoo is very touching, Hepcat. Writing this post has allowed me understand people have very strong opinions on this issue! But I've also found out in the process there are and have been many people, like me, who have thought about getting a tattoo, but have never taken the plunge - or who finally did do it at a point in their life when they felt ready.

Those who I have spoken to who waited years to get a special design have all conveyed to me that they have placed a lot of thought into their decision. Some have waited until they were well into their 40's or 50's to do it. Some are still waiting to. I don't think it's really an age thing, and I don't believe it's about getting one because you want to show it off while you're in your youth. And most of the time I don't think it's about making a public statement. I am getting the impression that those who do get tattooed are making a very personal statement that to them, is timeless.

There are some really talented artists now in the field of airbrushing skin art. I know that you can tend to find them at fairs, boardwalks, waterparks, and special events in the tri-state area during the warmer months here because it's just more practical to have it done when you're not wearing layers of clothing when it's cold out.

Sly, I'm curious - did the prospective employer tell her outright she was denied the interview because of her tattoos?

I have 15 tattoos and am gainfully employed making great money in a management position, my girlfriend is an ADA and has several tattoos as well. I know employers can make their decisions based on anything where as some employers may frown on tats others might not.

Very true, Matthew!