>>76501710
Appendix:
Tattoos originated to borrow the spirits energy into the flesh. (eg. the famous deer from the ice age) Also a ritual where people confronted pain. (Polinesian and Hawaiian traditions till today) It had nothing with crime culture but illiteratism. A sailor's body told his entire career (swallow - sailed 5000 miles, Anchor - have been hired for long time, etc). Because a lot of criminals were illiterate too it started to spread there too. Mostly in prison, where it shown status.(still tradition in slavic countries, as you can see in movie Eastern Promises). Firefighters used to be retired sailors first, obvious that they kept their traditions. Even tattoo as fashion is older than you thought. Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) had an anchor too.
However what you wrote about nowadays trends I have to agree. I know more than one tattoo artist from decades ago, and all of them told me that if you want a tattoo write it down and if you still keep the idea after 3 years do it. Not sooner.