I see tattoos on people all the time in the hospice. One younger fellow, a kick boxer, had flames starting in his groin and spreading over his abdomen up to his nipples. And 15 or 20 others. The message one received may not have been the one he wanted sent. The other day there was a fellow with a bunch, more than 3, "Death before Dishonor" type tats on his arms and shoulders, and more crude affairs on his back and chest. No one who lives by that motto has to tell anyone, it's obvious. I think the tats are there to persuade others, and by that maybe make it true for the owner.

The latter were clearly from prison. They seemed to be bluffs, a show like the tail of a peacock or the "show" of a gorilla. He was not mentally competent, argumentative, restless, and one hoped that at sometime in his life he felt effective, meaningful.

I have a theory which is 100% accurate according to my own anecdotal experience. The more tattoos, rings, jewelry, piercings a person has, the less comfortable with themselves they are. It seems that there's a hope the next addition will be the one which completes them and finally adds to the outside that which is missing from the inside. It's intended to make a statement, and does.

In my experience they are high-maintenance people, requiring a lot of attention, care and understanding. They can appear to be generous, charming, thoughtful and loving. With time it will be noticed there is a price on everything.

I'm not saying that people without body art and jewelry are happy with themselves, just that those with a noticeable excess aren't.

The absence of bodily ornaments says something, as does the presence.