For years journalists have been derisively called "ink-stained wretches," but the phrase has taken on new meaning since we asked readers to "Show Us Your Tattoo."
For the contest which ended at 5p Thursday on modbee.com, we encouraged readers to submit photos of their tattoos. Whoever's tattoo is the favorite of our online voters wins the privilege of getting a new tattoo during the Music & Body Art festival in Lodi this weekend.
Reaction from some readers has been needle sharp. Some called the contest a trash idea from a trashy newspaper.
"What kind of knuckleheads are running the paper these days?" read one caustic e-mail. "Can't you guys come up with anything to raise the level of consciousness up a little around here?"
Another reader wrote on our Web site, "I don't know why The Bee wants to glorify this despicable art form."
Dan Day. interactive media director for the Modesto Bee admits he is is the "knucklehead" behind the contest. He explains:
My photo should reveal that I'm not the stereotypical big-muscled, hog-riding ruffian whose back is a canvas for a needle-and-ink portrait of the Grim Reaper. I wear neckties and wing tips, and I don't have any tats.Read more here.
But I recognize that tattoos -- once the domain of bikers, carnival workers and other rough-and-tumble types -- have become much more common in society.
To men and women 30 and under, the stigma earlier generations associated with tattoos hasn't imprinted. Maybe that's why there are about 50 registered tattoo parlors in Stanislaus County and 80 or so registered artists.
It's that under-30 generation we're trying to reach with the contest, hoping they'll stop by our Web site to view a few tattoos and maybe even pick up a copy of the newspaper.
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