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PaperclipPerfector  7d ago (text post)   26935 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of July 21, 2025

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I'm a bit surprised by how visceral the anti-tattoo sentiment is in the comments. I wonder if it's a product of the average age being higher than I thought (maybe early to mid 40s?) and less interaction with the working class, specifically people younger than them.

I agree that in the past tattoos could be a valid barometer for anti-social traits, but nowadays they're so ubiquitous among young people that I don't think there's a strong correlation at all. The nature of tattoos is different as well. My impression is that they tend to be smaller than they were in the past and thus people, especially women, are more likely to have more than one. Interestingly, I've noticed that a lot of younger police officers have tattoos, usually in the forearm area. I tend to view police officers fairly positively, and so I don't have nearly as negative of an association.

Tattoos used to signify insiders/outsiders of one variety or another. Now they more often signify people who adopt the latent aesthetic of that signal. They want to be appear special, and different, but not so different that they have to suffer the social costs (unless it's triggering the "squares" which is exactly the crypto benefit they're seeking).

The ticking time bomb is that as time passes tattoos become associated more with middle aged squares than they do live-fast-die-young devil-may-care rebels. Gen Alpha's immediate source of cultural exposure to tattoos is going to be via their mums and their primary school teachers.

nowadays they're so ubiquitous among young people that I don't think there's a strong correlation at all.

I don't have the disgust reaction that a lot of people here seem to have. I do, however, tend to think that for the cost of a full sleeve you could do something that gets you a fun story and some interesting scars.

I wonder if it's a product of the average age being higher than I thought.

“BOOMERS could be here, he thought. I’ve never been to this message board before, there could be BOOMERS anywhere...”

I fucking love this meme so much

But also see any discussion on: abortion, pre-maritial sex, Christianity. The gang may not be actual boomers (also mid 40s is young Gen X) but they're spiritually boomer for sure

Speaking of the meme, I wrote this a while ago to make fun of Doug Ford

"Bike lanes could be here," he muttered, scanning the unfamiliar suburb. "I've never driven through this part of town. They could've painted bike lanes anywhere." The cool wind felt good against his bare chest. "I HATE bike lanes," he thought. Nickelback thumped through the truck's old stereo, making it pulsate even as the Canadian club circulated through his powerful thick veins and washed away his (merited) fear of urban planning committees. "With a truck, you can go anywhere you want" he said to himself, out loud.

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