I don’t have a single tattoo, but I have a lot of friends who love them. They’re always asking me what it would take to make me get a tattoo, and my answer to that question is simple — it has to have a practical purpose.
If there was a point to having a tattoo, other than feeling prettier or remembering something, I’d tattoo myself. My memory is fine, and I spend less time worrying about being pretty than I do about the sky turning into marshmallows.
In Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy (a book series containing two trilogies), the main character’s tattoo is a mark of her station, and a representation of a debt she owes to the House that raised her. Her debt is considered complete when her marque, a tattoo covering the entire back, is complete.
The purpose of the marque intrigues me, but could hardly be applied to my life.
I’ve seen movies where tattoos are smuggled information, secret lists, or ancient markings of orders.
Again, interesting, but not something that applies to me.
In the book Third Wish by Robert Fulghum, the main character, Alice, tattoos herself in her own skin color so that when she is flushed with passion, the invisible tattoo will become plainly visible. It is a secret message to the lover she has not yet met.
The purpose imbued in the concept of an invisible tattoo is beautiful, but it’s not really practical.
The main character has a tattoo that acts as an indicator. It is green when he is healthy, but when he overuses his invisibility, it glows red in stages. This allows him the time needed to return to base and receive his antidote.
Now that’s practicality!
If there was a way to tattoo Dave with an ink that changed colors when his blood sugar was too high, I’d be dragging him to a tattoo parlor today.
If I could tattoo my mom with something that changes colors when her blood pressure exceeds normal, I’d hope for her sake that the artist was capable of girly designs. Otherwise, hearts or not, she would just have to become accustomed to her new snake tattoo.
On top of the fact that it would save us thousands on at-home testing, it could also be the difference in seconds that saves their lives. If they chose to tattoo their wrists, or something extremely visible, it could be a way for strangers to help, too.
My heart breaks over the stories of police officers or strangers who stumble upon a diabetic in need, and take too long diagnosing diabetes to be able to help. I am constantly thankful that my parents had their heart attacks and strokes in the presence of loved ones, who are prepared to deal with emergencies and know the signs.
In situations like these, every second makes a difference.
All of this has been buzzing around my head since yesterday when the Daily Post asked us to peg the next big thing. I could never guess what type of technology is going to make it big, but I vote for tattoos with purpose.
I volunteer myself as a guinea pig, though I’d try to find someone who could tattoo math symbols. There’s nothing prettier than good math.
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And you? Do you have tattoos? Of what? If you don’t, what would want? Would you wear an indicator tattoo? Do you think indicator tattoos would lead to dystopic situations where entire peoples were discriminated against?
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/daily-prompt-big-thing/
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