I don't get tattoos.
They're expensive, and almost guaranteed to create buyer's remorse at some point in the future. If they're visible, they can affect one's career path due to other's subconscious biases. And of course there is still the risk of contracting hepatitis C from getting one, although I believe this has been greatly reduced recent years.
Ditto.
And why are most of them ugly?
Same here tattoos. Most are hideous and even the non-hideous ones become hideous after 10+ years. Also I can't imagine choosing something now and then having to 'wear' it forever. I look back on my fashion sense 20 years ago and cringe. Lucky I didn't get a tattoo.
I'm covered in tattoos. Think of it this way.
I spent most of my 20's getting tattoos as mementos for things I was going through in life. I can look at them and remember where I was, and who I was then, and look forward to the person I became/becoming. They are not bad jail tattoos or anything, most of them are from actual famed artists. one of my sleeves is the cover art work from a progressive rock band named Mastodon, the album is called Leviathan and pictorially shows Moby Dick and Captain Ahab, and some other creatures. It represents the hunt and hunger for adventure, how we chase our dreams in life. I chase my dreams of music and engineering, Ahab chased the great white whale. Another tattoo I have is a antiquated hammer with "MOM" written in the head of the hammer. Sometimes I joke when people ask what it means by saying my mom just liked to get hammered, but in actuality the hammer represents strength in England, my mother who was English, was the strongest and most intelligent woman I've ever known. She passed ten years ago to stage 4 brain cancer and this was my tribute to her, for being a tough hardcore woman.
I could have spent the same amount of money, maybe more, maybe less, and bought a framed picture of them and hung them on my wall. They would sit there, collect dust, and eventually be damaged or replaced or just not be visible to anyone outside my house. Or, I could carry them everywhere I go, and when I pass they go with me.
I do agree some tattoos look terrible and dumb people get dumb tattoos but when you immerse yourself in the subculture and appreciate the artwork and talent from it its more than just wasting money.