It’s funny to think that one day the tattoo fad will end and there will be this huge segment of the population permanently branded as idiots.

Tattoos on women in particular are an excellent signaling mechanism though, and the article touches on that. Imagine dating or hiring a woman who tells you upfront, “I’m impulsive, damaged, and don’t understand the long term consequences of my actions.” That’s helpful knowledge for potential mates and employers to have, but that information may not have been properly conveyed without such an obvious visual cue. So, in a sense, the real value of the tattoo isn’t so much to the bearer, but rather to those who see it and understand its implications.