When I was young (1950s), I was told that if a man had a tattoo, he got it in the service & was drunk at the time. For a while I checked that out every time I met one, and found that it was almost always true.

I don't have any tattoos, but I imagine part of their charm is that of irreversibility -- like mailing a letter, quitting your job, or killing yourself -- or, once upon a time, getting married or enlisting.