Sadly? Mental illness. That is the unfortunate context in which I usually encounter people covered in tattoos. Especially things like facial tattoos and other ones in …ahem..”unconventional” locations. But in my experience it’s more about what the person has tattooed on their body rather than how many. Where they get them, and what they are really kind of gives you a window into how their mind works and what they think about. Tattoo on mind, before tattoo on body….

I feel like the tattoo stigma is completely gone - and has been for quite some time. The only time I'm surprised by a tattoo these days is when I see it on some really old lady or a person I never imagined would get one.

If I see someone "covered" in tattoos I know that either there going to be insufferable or the nicest person you meet that day.

Unless it’s something really bold and eye catching I don’t really pay attention. Nor do I assume anything bad off the bat. Now, if I look at your facial expression and you look like you wanna break things and hurt ppl then I’ll avoid you lol

I like thought out designs rather than random ones scattered around. I don't like ones on the face or neck because it might be cool when you're twenty-something, but it's there forever. I like when people can use them to cover scars. Saw a women with a double mastectomy who had a flowered crop top tattoo. She was able to walk around with no top on and nobody even noticed. She felt liberated.

I get having a tattoo as a personal memory or way to express themselves. I just do not have positive impressions of someone who is covered with them. Discreet ones for remembrance, or people who have served in the military with strong ties to their comrades in arms, stuff like that, fine. I've seen some that are great works of art and very well done. [u]My honest assessment;[/u] (and it's not likely to be popular) My 'first' thoughts usually only pertain to individuals who are covered in tattoos. My outstanding initial thought otherwise is that the individual wasted money on something that will look like a kindergarten art drawing when they get old. Discreet, hidden, and aesthetically refined tattoos I normally have no exception to. Not unless the tattoo is overtly dark/negative. That tells me all I need to know. Far too frequently those who are absolutely covered with them seem to be either individuals that people normally give a wide berth to, or just over affluent hipsters. I've seen far many like this on financial assistance to get by day to day. It's sad and perturbing that they do not know how to place proper priority in their lives. I truly do not understand what compels someone to do this, outside of tribal or islander rights of passage. If you have them covering above your collar line and on your face, relating to gang ties or dark influences, you probably belong incarcerated. I think that most younger people who get them today only get them because it is the latest fad. It was never before as prominent as it has been in the last 10 years. However, at the same time I'm never going to tell anyone that they can't get them, nor do what they want.