You compared getting a tattoo to someone who cuts themselves. WOW. Big difference, huge. Someone who cuts themselves does so because they have experienced abuse, usually as a child.
At one time I cut myself quite a bit—on my left arm, long long ago when I was in my twenties—I suppose because (indeed) I was an abused child. When medical professionals gawk at my scars, I'm usually able to quip, "Those scars are older than
you are." =laugh=
But tattoos and piercings and brandings and scars for decoration and other body-mod art.... I see that as a personal aesthetic choice. And let's not forget that
pain is involved in that choice!
I read some science fiction, and I imagine that eventually we'll be able to grow turquoise fur on our legs, if we want to—just as an example. Body modification is only in its infancy. Have y'all seen what some people have created with the help of plastic surgeons? It's fascinating!
But ya gotta understan': I'm an artist. I like everything that looks good. I'm not saying one way or the other if the guy in the original picture looks good. But for me, it's all about aesthetics.
True story: quite a few years ago, when I went through menopause, my formerly naturally blonde hair turned an ugly shade of dull brown.
"No way!" I said. So I investigated hair coloring, and decided I want to have blue hair with purple highlights. My trusted hair salon (Aveda) said, "We can do that, but your hair will have to be bleached white first, which will be bad for the hair shafts, and then it will be VERY expensive to maintain. And your hair might all fall out."
"Oh!" I replied. "Never mind." So I picked three different shades of blonde, and had them mix all three throughout my hair, and ever since that day I've stuck with the same hair colorist. I always ask her to separate out my few silver hairs, and let them be, so I'll look naturally blonde, but like I'm slowly going silver. It's pricy, but not out of reach.
If my hair ever turns white, I may return to the blue hair idea. But that's unlikely, since on my mother's side of the family, none of my elderly relatives went all silver or all white. My great-grandmother, for example, died at 92 with just a dozen silver strands in her chestnut brown hair.
Fi