Tattoos have existed for thousands of years, and are not complicated technology.

Yet, until just a couple of generations ago, in majority of cultures, they were almost exclusively acquired by professional criminals and rather unwise people.

No self respecting, intellectual, and upwardly mobile person would waste time and money on one, much less on covering themselves with such nonsense then.

So, the current prevalence is clearly a result of modern mass marketing taking advantage of herd mentality and behaviour.

I still think they are the domain of fools, and assess those I encounter on that premise: the more tattoos they have, the less wise, more easily brainwashed and more generally ignorant they are.