Some people get a tattoo simply because they want to have one. Other than not putting much careful thought into its longterm implications, nor being very selective about what particular design they want, this is not necessarily negative. For many, simply liking artwork on one's skin is reason enough to visit a local tattoo studio, hand over a relatively-large sum of money, and have something etched into one's skin that is intended to remain there for the rest of one's life. The most intricate design or the most plain one can be a matter of speaking to the entire world, or something which one chooses to keep solely to oneself.
Others use this form of self-expression in a manner similar to what generations past used to do with t-shirts: to show the world what they wish to say. They choose wording, or designs which symbolize something that is meaningful to them. You can see everything from American flags and crosses to the names of who they love, and, occasionally, wording which pushes the limits of the First Amendment. In the past, people wore what they believed, stood for, and cared about on their shirts; these days tattoos often serve the same purpose.
