In response to Mary...

Mary's question: "can a tattoo also have many different subjective meanings, like a conventional piece of art?"
Because of the unique nature of tattoo as an artform, i think that the strongest or most important meaning a tattoo can hold is for those directly involved; the tattoo artist, the person being tattooed, and (if applicable) the person for or because of whom the tattoo was gotten. It is a very intimate and personal form of art. That being said, I think that there definitely can be meaning for others as well. Because I do view tattooing as a legitimate art form, i think that it is fair game for anyone who sees it to have their own personal emotional reaction to it; everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and emotions. If someone sees a tattoo that for some reason strikes them, that tattoo may symbolize something close to his or her own heart, regardless of why the tattooed individual chose to get that partiular tattoo.

Q: What always deters me from getting a tattoo is the permanence of it... its going to be there FOREVER... (If you have a tattoo) how did you overcome the permanence? or was it ever even a problem for you? (If you dont have one) why would or wouldn't you like to get one?