The Body is a Canvas

By: Amanda Schweitzer (Hofstra University)

I love getting needles put in my skin for a few hours now and then. Whether it be a piercing (temporary) or a tattoo (forever) the pain is worth it. I always think it’s funny when people ask me if it hurts. I would say yes, having someone stick needles into my body does pinch a little.

Tattoos are addicting. Like cigarettes, your body craves more – well for most people it does. The funny part is that we forget what the pain is like. When you go back for more, you remember why the fudge you told yourself never to go back. I always find it humorous when I hear about people that cry during their tattoo session. I mean, yeah it hurts like a bitch, but the pain is not like breaking an arm. It is more like FUCCKKKKKKK, if you know what I mean.

I always love seeing how impressed the tattoo artist is when I get something done. I give the, “this doesn’t frickin hurt” expression. Meanwhile, there is a biker dude in the next room squealing like a little girl. It’s fantastic.

Here are things you encounter while getting inked up:

Picking out the design

Deciding what you want to have on your body for the rest of your life is really important. The questions are always: Should I get a big one or small one? Where should I put it on my body? Should I get color? Will I hate it when I am 90? OK, think about what you want before you get it done. The removal of a tattoo hurts more than actually getting one. Don’t be retarded. If you want a big piece, but are hesitant, get it somewhere on your body that you can hide it. Don’t do what that girl on the news did and put stars all over your face and then blame the tattoo artist. The next thing that pisses me off is when judgmental idiots say, “HAHA its going to look stupid when you’re 80.” Everyone’s body is going to look stupid when their 80. If you know an 80-year-old that you’d fudge other than Hugh Hefner, let me know.

Going through with it

The one mistake people make is that they choose to not get a tattoo on a certain body part because they’re afraid of the pain. My word of advice is to go big or go home. I got a few random tattoos but now I am beginning to piece them together and add bigger ones. Don’t keep getting random ones because sooner or later you are going to look like a Dalmatian with designs instead of spots.

Looking at the finished product

Have you ever opened a present and it was horrible but you had to act like you loved it? It’s the same kind of feeling if you don’t like your tattoo. There’s only one little difference…it’s frickin permanent. If you don’t like the outcome of your tattoo, you better grow some balls and say so. Don’t be scared to hurt the tattoo artist’s feelings because they’re not the ones stuck with the design for the rest of their lives.

Here are a few tattoo disasters. Don’t let this happen to you.

How sad! Not how I would want to remember someone I cared about