-are they an expression of art? -- Some are, yes. Some are beautifully done, no matter the reason or subject, and can be admired as, "I wouldn't get that on my body, but damn, that looks good."

-are they an attempt to fit in? -- Some are. I'd say maybe most. To a lot of people (kids), it's a fad, something to show off.

-are they a waste of money? -- Some are, of course. But it all depends on what YOU want. I might not want to spend my money on something, but if somebody else wants it and they're not using my money to get it, I don't care.

-black&white or colour? -- Some look better one way, others another. Out of my five, two have color, and they look better with color than they would without.

-should they have a meaning? -- I think so. I think it's pretty childish to get something permanently scarred into your body (that's what it does, it scars) because "it looks cool". I saw a guy in a bar with a Yoda tattoo, and all I could think of was, "regret this tattoo, you will".

do you have tattoos? -- Since I was a child, I always figured that if I ever get any tattoos, they will either be about the men I serve in combat with or my family. Of course, I later realized that they are one and the same. So all five of mine concern leadership, honor, or memorial.