Okay, I'm dead tired but what the hell...
So why do we do it?
Why do we sit through the pain to forever scar our hides?
My take is that I'm telling my story.
This is who I am. This is what I believe.
But some are personal, and require us to tell a story.
It's a Taoist symbol for protection of the body. My Uncle inked it on my ankle for a twelve pack of beer.