This tattoo shit was never popular or "cool" when I was growing up (late 80's/early 90's). It started in the mid-90's with a few trendsetters, then for the next decade straight every lemming and their brother started sporting "ink". In 2009, it's totally played out.
Wanna say to the world, "I'm an unoriginal douchebag"? Get a tat or two (or 20).
Hope this helps.