Tattos and piercings are really really personal thing. People do them for several reasons, not only to be cool or because feelings. My mother, for example, "had" a scary burn scar in her entire right shoulder and then she just made a big and colorful orange and red butterfly on it. She said she couldn't even wear non-sleeves t-shirt that people in the streets were passing and looking at her shoulder with pity. That seems awful.

Now the tatto hides that scary burn scar and people smile at that different "embossed" butterfly in her shoulder. It's pretty nice tho.

And for this thing about jobs and stuff... It's really depends from culture to culture. In North/northeast of Brazil people really discriminates people with tattoos, but in southeast/south people are more ok with tattoos and even piercings.

Also have you ever realized that it's really hard to find an athlete (of any Olympic sport) with a tattoo? :v