Theories on why tattooos are addicting

Just looking for opinions on why you think tattoos are addicting..meaning, most people rarely ever stop at one piece. My own theory has been that the first one is the hardest to get, both conscioulsy but more so subconsciously. That first "marking" of the otherwise totally unmarked body is a tough choice I believe and even though one who has no tattoos may feel totally "all in" with the idea, I believe the brain subconsciously puts the brakes on a bit. I think once the initial damage has been done so to speak, subsequent tattoos are that much easier to tolerate and the total experience becomes that much more fun, hence we get more and more and more.. Other theories abound such as endorphins ect, ect.. just looking for some thoughts Thanks

I think some of its the same as when you cut 1 sideburn to short. Your always trying to balance.lol

Addiction implies a weakness and a psychological or physical need for something, based on that weakness. I have never met anyone that this applied to where tattoos were concerned. I just like to decorate myself with marks that are meaningful to me. I suspect others have other, possibly deeper reasoning, but I do not think they physically or psychologically depend on tattoos in most cases.

I think the better the art you get, the more likely you are to keep getting tattood because you see how good it looks on you. For instance my first tattoo and second tattoo where not so great with three years in between them. Five years later I get a fairly large peice that turns out really good and wow that sure did open my eyes thats when ideas started flowing and I started investing time and money into what will probley be a good size collection by the time I'm old and wrinkley. So yea I wouldn't say I'm addicted in the dependancey, literal sense, but I am definately into it.

whats addicting for you is the attention you get .....................and you want more.

Quit analyzing everything to death! Weget tattooed because we fuggin LIKE IT!!!!!!!....TAz

Wooo Hooo, you go Taz, baby!!! Tattoos are the best thing to happen to mankind ( other than peanut butter cap'n crunch). It's great to be a modern savage!!! We get'em cuz it is what it is brothers, who needs an explanation? Fuck it, there cool and that's all there is to it!

See its like this....we put heroin in the ink so ya gotta come back!!!T

My brother and I were talking about this the other day, and it came down to something like, there are really no rites of passage anymore in modern society. This is about as close as we've got besides fucking wrecking our parents cars. I dunno. All cultures seem to have rites of passage but us. Plus, how many choices in your life do you get to make that are truly your own? I'm gonna get really deeply joseph campbellian and religeo-tribal on you now,... naw. Fuck it. They just look cool.

Sometime you and I will have a talk about the culture I came up in...South Central LA....Rites of passage ?...oh yeah Al ...Our civilization is not nearly as civilized and tame as you may think my friend!.....TAz

damn you taz i was gonna say we put heroin in the ink. but shhhhhhhh it's a secret.

In a really wierd way, Taz, that's kinda good to know. I mean, we should never get too far from our roots.

Most of that I agree with Mike but its not adrenaline the brain releases that is a major factor...its ENDORPHINS...these are the little feel good thingies that live in yer melon Kind of in a little bitty endorphin prison...and when ya get tattooed the little fuggers git paroled and have a big ol party in yer gray matter. Same thing happens during sex! Now if dat ain't a scientific explanation there ain't none!!!....Dr TAz

Hey man...is that what those tings are/??? Well shows I should listen more...! But I think mine done got broke somewhere (think it was my bloodsucking ex-wife too). Cuase shit man...I get more turned on by gettin inked than I do havin the boom boom....so is it broke??? Dr Taz?? M

Nothina couple of hamsters,mayonnaise,rope and a fork won't fix!..T

I want to thank you for the vision of sick vaginas spewing pus and yeast curds on the shoes of the fabled gynocologist.That scene will now live in my head forever Thanks soo much! couldn't you have let us enjoy our little fantasy for just a bit longer? Now excuse me while I URRRRFFFFFF!!!!!!......TAz PS...LMAO!!!!!

TAZ......LOL Ummm...those were not my words exactly, but it had crossed my mind when the mention of a gyno being a dream job (again, bikini waxer better fantasy IMO). Thanks for THAT visual! and M, yeah, I guess every tattoo has a story behind it, but I've seen a few that..... did not "attract" me to the weaer. (OMG! Am i a tattoo snob?) Howeevr, I suppose at the end of the day, it ain't the tat, but the man under it. A good tat does'nt make an ass^%$# (like the guy who kicked his kid in the head at Ink's shop) attractive.

M, I agree mamacat, totally. I have seen some shit work (ahhh looking at my chest) and I have seen so fantastic work (looking at the artists sites on here). I have also seen guys who got inked the almost overnight became these macho as**(oles because they got tattoed, hell never understood that part of it. All of mine have meaning and I would like to think of myself as a good guy and great father, I even tattoo my daughter ARGGHHH joking. Those little temp ones she bugs me for. She is only 20 months old but after learning eyes, nose, mouth, eat, potty, and someother not so cute terms like "Barney"..she says tattoo. My heart just melts...ok enough musshy shit. As for the guy kicking his kid in the head, I had to respond to that one. I am pretty sure there are artist on here (fathers) who would respoond that they guy would have NEVER made it out of their shop alive!!! Bet Taz, would have cut him up in small pieces, covered him in tabasco sauce...oh and mayo and barbecued him on his big old grill..and then put the remains in one of those hurses he has.... ;o) Later, M

I've got a pic of Taz's grandson he sent me (of course he was in the laundry dryer.... Hmmm Taz?) LOL JK. Now don't go getting Taz all riled up. I guess at the end of the day it just depends on the tat shop. Hell, for the most part I'd rather have a babysitter so "I" can relax for an HOUR or two! (2 tear olds keep you on your freakin' toys!)