h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

tattoos and reactions
having been tattooed now for over 25yrs,more heavily tattooed in the last year or so though.i was wondering what reactions others have had to their own decorations? do you think it is more acceptable nowadays? can you be taken seriously in a proffesional environment? are people still shocked when they discover you are tattooed? is it still regarded as a sub-culture or has it become mainstream now? i believe you can succeed proffesionally, you just dont display your adornments in the office. i love my tattoos. i escape into the "real me" when on display. i dont feel like a thug or i am threatening. i suppose it is a form of exhibitionism. but you still see the looks of shock horror! which makes me chuckle. but also conversely, i have also pulled my cuff down at times, when i think someone i admire proffesionally, may be able to see a tinge of a red flame or a claw of a dragon, creeping from beneath my neatly pressed white shirt(thanks to my wonderful wife)and tie! so does being tattooed make me fee inferior to my peers? be it in class or intellect. or am i just being sensible? i believe a bit of both. i want to succeed and be taken seriously in my career. and i dont want my colleagues/peers to think any less of me.
come on throw in some ideas