And my blood pressure is still simmering. BEYOND unethical, unsafe and wrong.
I really hoped this show would never see the light of day after the massive boycott of artists and collectors speaking out. I couldn't help but be curious. Now that I've seen it, I wish I could scrub my eyes and brain with steel wool and lysol to make the disturbing images go away. Someone, please, make it stop.
Day-dreamy kids, and all others out there with a burning desire to do tattoos, don't fall for what you see and hear about being able to become a skilled professional tattooer in the span of 2 weeks -- or even a month. Don't look at having a side job of scratching out of your basement or garage as being a proud, healthy, acceptable option -- for your customer as well as yourself. Becoming an apprentice is the first crucial step towards the journey of being a responsible, rock-solid, professional tattoo artist. And being RESPONSIBLE is always the major part of the equation. YOU are responsible for the quality of art being etched into the person who just paid you for your abilities. YOU are responsible for knowing needle depths and how not to work someone's skin into hamburger (especially if they are anxious or a first-timer or happen to have darker skintones). YOU are responsible for being able to assess what images, colors, shading, etc. will work on the skin of your customer and having the ethics and honesty to work with your customer to create a piece that they'll be really satisfied with. I'm still in shock over what I just saw in the first episode of that show. Still wish a had that steel wool and some lysol. I swear, I keep thinking that what I saw was like looking down at a toddler, as you stand watching a busy street of traffic, and you let go of their hand, ordering them to walk across the busy street on their own....with the absurd expectation that they'll, of course, be able to access some common sense and intuition as they face the gauntlet of cars. And of course this toddler's pudgy little legs have only JUST gotten used to the terrain of their house and have never crossed ANY street in their young life. Oh, yeah...Jiffy-Pop "Tattoo Schools" make so much sense. I still think some of the folks helming these things have stock in tattoo removal tech or maybe even have a removal office tucked away somewhere on the side.
ARRRRGh!! Okay...here's a bit of right-on levity poking fun at this insanity. I love the guy doing the camera. The moment with the potato chip and the phone are especially funny.
