Hip and cool are much more strongly related to state of mind than appearances. So, yes.

Tattos and piercings may not be as cool as once thought. http://tattoopgh.com/history.html Tattooing dates back to our tribal origins. As the above site shows, tattooing is not exclusive to the young and cool. The geezers pictured are modern pioneers of body art, jumping in before it was fashionable. Back in the day, tattoo enthusiasts were part of a freaky subculture. From Wikipedia: "In popular culture, 'cool' also often describes someone or something which conforms to a set of social or moral values perceived as countercultural, i.e., which challenge the norms, mores, or values of a dominant group or prevailing regime." A component of hipness is being on the cutting edge. Each person who gets a tattoo is doing something edgy, bold, unconventional, taking a walk on the wild side. Hip, cool, with it. Possibly for the first time in its history, body art has become mainstream. How can the mainstream really be cool? The millions who visit their local storefront parlor to get a stamp of coolness might not be asking themselves this question. If body art is self-expression, then what is the message? Is it "I'm a rebel?" or is it, "I'm a fad follower." It can be argued that doing something because everyone does it is anything but cool. My parents used to tell me this and I thought it was nonsense. They maintained that the human body was pretty cool without graffiti. Anyone who wants to be considered hip and cool is now compelled to get a tattoo to prove it. But since the coolness of these adornments can be questioned, it may be necessary to take things a step further. See the attached links for examples of the latest in body art. new body art fad: http://www.weaselcircus.com/funnypics/475.shtml scarification: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/pop/articles/0223scarification23.html More tattoo lore can be found here: Museum: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_10_52/ai_62241944 Be cool!

Hmmmm.... I currently have one tattoo on each of my shoulderblades. On my left, I have a black and red "tribal" butterfly. On my right, I have a smaller, lighter-colored butterfly. Both of them have symbolic meaning for me: the "tribal" butterfly, I got at a point in my life when I was beginning to discover my spiritual identity. The colors represent the death of my old self (black) and rebirth (the blood of Jesus Christ, through which mankind is saved.) I saw this point in my life as a sort of new birth- as butterflies are a symbol of new life, I thought it a fitting tattoo. The other butterfly I got on a whim, I admit it: I wanted to balance my body art- it seemed odd to me to have one shoulder unoccupied. I do not regret either of those tattoes because they both hold a great deal of meaning for me. Now, let me say this: unless I showed these tattoes to you, or told you about them, you would never know I had them. Most of my friends never even suspected I had them... and they thought I was cool. I believe that being "cool" is nothing more than being who you are, with people who are living as you do, and being accepted for your indiviuality. for me, being cool is about choosing not to drink alcohol; abstaining from further sexual relations until I am married; not smoking cigarettes; and going to church every SUnday. Cool, for me, is living the way I must to be healthy and happy. Many of my friends with whom i go to church do not have tattoes or piercings, and I consider them very cool. So yeah, a person can definitely be cool without embellishemtns to their bodies. (note: while a person does not need to ink and pierce themselves to be cool, a person with these things is not necessarily a "fad-follower.")

Are you serious? who cares what other people think

yes. tatoos and piercings are just a way of expressing yourself. it doesnt matter how yo express yourself it doesnt have to be with body art.

Hip and Cool is about having presence and attitude and confidence. It's not about jammin a lump of metal in your body and sticking ink under your skin.

Course you can still be considered hip hop and cool if you dont have tattoo's and piercings! Its personality that matters!

Nope. ;-)

Sometimes tattoo's and piercing are categorized as not hip and cool it all really depends on your charisma and presence.

Tatoos and piercings used to be worn by the rebels in society to display their independent attitude. Nowadays it appears that people without them are outnumbered by those that do have them. So, I guess if you classify 'cool' as individuals who go against the popular 'norm' then....they're very cool.

Yes. A combination of both. it's called FRESH.

Yes, i think that getting a tattoo or a piercing is about the art and beauty thats this body modifications imply its not for being hip and cool. IMO