DescentBB

I've been hearing a number of viewpoints about tattoos lately, and I'm curious about the perspectives in here.

So, just to open it up: What do you think about tattoos, people who have them, artists who do them, or the business in general?

[ Personally, I don't have any... but I'm starting to consider getting a medium-sized piece on my shoulder. Nothing outrageous; I have a fairly unique colored design in mind, something meaningful to me personally. It would be expensive to have it done well, so I'm still just thinking about it. ]

body art can be an art, but I've seen SO many bad tattoos in the past decade, I start to wonder. Worst ever may be a girl my daughter and I encountered on a visit to NYU when she was in high school. The girl had a COMPLETE facial tattoo. She couldn't have been more than 22 years old, and will wonder why she never gets called to a second interview for a job.

I wouldn't get a tattoo, personally. My skin is good enough for me. A lot of it is kind of like tricking out your car, IMO--It's just a matter of vanity. Also, things come and go in life, what could be so important that it deserves a permanent place on your skin and doesn't rather reside within? IMO nothing on the outside defines you so well that it's worth holding on to like that.

I'm ok for them (don't have any but have thought of it). Sadly there is a stereotype on people who have them. Some tattoos are classy when you only have 3-4 but when you start putting them all over your body etc etc then I find it ugly and sadly 99% of those people are druggies/bums.

The only Tattoo I would ever get is the Superman logo or my Aquarius zodiac symbol.

In Russia, some tattoos are a sign of social status. If you have a tattoo that you do not have the right to wear, in this case, any passerby can kill you without compunction. The only thing that can save you that you are a foreigner. And even in this case, you had better go home with this tattoo.

sigma wrote:In Russia, some tattoos are a sign of social status. If you have a tattoo that you do not have the right to wear, in this case, any passerby can kill you without compunction.

wow, is this place next to Paradise on Earth or what? Any passerby? And, they are ok killing you? Sweet, I must plan a vacation there.

The only thing that can save you that you are a foreigner. And even in this case, you had better go home with this tattoo.

wow, I feel SO much safer after reading this!

I'd consider getting a small, unobtrusive tattoo on one of my upper arms. The only thing that stops me is the possibility of getting Hep C or HIV from an artist that doesn't keep his or her tools sterilized between customers.

not a Fan of it myself. personally I think the Human body is a work of art as it is. and excessive tattooing hides that

that being said a couple of my kids have them

Mine no longer is.

tunnelcat wrote:Mine no longer is.

I'm sure your husband feels differently

Don’t like them, but that’s purely a personal opinion, I also wear no jewelry or such things.

Okay, a common thread in the comments so far seems to be that tattoos are primarily done for external show ( analogous to tricking out a car / social status / jewelry ).

What about tattoos not done for show (e.g. done in a covered up area, kept private)?

callmeslick wrote:

sigma wrote:In Russia, some tattoos are a sign of social status. If you have a tattoo that you do not have the right to wear, in this case, any passerby can kill you without compunction.

wow, is this place next to Paradise on Earth or what? Any passerby? And, they are ok killing you? Sweet, I must plan a vacation there.

The only thing that can save you that you are a foreigner. And even in this case, you had better go home with this tattoo.

wow, I feel SO much safer after reading this!

callmeslick, I'll seriously say that if you have a tattoo, meaning that you do not know, do not even attempt to remove the t-shirt on the beach in Russia. You can get in big trouble. Better not to risk it.

Doesn’t change my opinion any.

Is it really possible to have a tattoo where no one can see it...

Even the Louvre changes the displays of art from time to time.

I've never seen anything in the ink/flesh medium that I'd want to keep for more than a week or two. It doesn't seem to lend it self to expressive talent...how many times can you be entertained by a spider web on the elbow or a slogan on the fingers? Human graffiti is usually what it looks like.

I'd love to be the guy who comes out with a temporary ink that worked well and held true for a week and then disappeared. That would be a money maker I'd patent it and open exclusive shops nationwide and I'd probably wear it myself now and then.

sigma wrote:callmeslick, I'll seriously say that if you have a tattoo, meaning that you do not know, do not even attempt to remove the t-shirt on the beach in Russia. You can get in big trouble. Better not to risk it.

trust me, sigma, you long ago convinced me that vacationing ANYWHERE in Russia isn't worth the risk. Tourism isn't going to save your economy, if I'm any measure.

Foil wrote:Okay, a common thread in the comments so far seems to be that tattoos are primarily done for external show ( analogous to tricking out a car / social status / jewelry ).

What about tattoos not done for show (e.g. done in a covered up area, kept private)?

Hee, hee. Those are for private showings.

Will Robinson wrote:I'd love to be the guy who comes out with a temporary ink that worked well and held true for a week and then disappeared. That would be a money maker I'd patent it and open exclusive shops nationwide and I'd probably wear it myself now and then.

Henna sort of fits that bill, though it's a bit more limited than an actual tattoo.

As for me, I'd never get one myself, and I think most of the ones that people get are silly at best, and just setting themselves up for later regret at worst. That's especially true for anything involving a relationship: as my mom put it, the only woman's name I should ever get permanently affixed to my skin is hers.

Tattoos are just damned ugly.

All a tattoo does is make me question your ability to make rational decisions.

Foil, what does your wife think?

I'm indifferent on tattoos. They do have some pretty good uses though (for instance to cover up or otherwise reduce the visibility of an ugly scar).

Jeff250 wrote:Foil, what does your wife think?

Ah, to the point!

She's generally supportive. She knows I don't want something generally-visible in the workplace, and that if I get one, I'll carefully choose the design and shop.

That said, she has voiced some concerns - mostly that it would be a permanent thing, and there's a possibility my feelings about it may change over the years.

She's my better half (particularly when it comes to art), so as far as I'm concerned, she has as much say in it as I do.

Foil,
That's the issue. When people are young, they do things without thinking. Then when they mature they realize they made a mistake getting a bunch of tattoos and wish they didn't. I'd say wait until you are 30 before getting one and you may think twice. Also, get one that MEANS something and it's not some regular skull or pattern.

CDN_Merlin wrote:Foil... I'd say wait until you are 30 before getting one...

I'm trying to decide whether or not to consider that a compliment. See my profile, I'm nearly your age, Merlin.

CDN_Merlin wrote:Also, get one that MEANS something and it's not some regular skull or pattern.

Looks like I have to quote myself here:

Foil wrote:...unique colored design in mind, something meaningful to me personally.

Merlin has a point. I think you would be surprised just how different your world-view from 36 to 43 is, even more so if your still in your 20's. I myself considered them when I was younger but could never think of anything so profound that I'd wear it for the rest of my life. Of course, being a Christian played a part to my decision. That said, I've always found 'small' ankle tattoos or tattoos right below the hip bone extremely sexy and completely and entirely despise arm tattoos on women. I think they look snakeish and are a blemish to what is otherwise a very beautiful woman. I think expressing that opinion is what has prevented my daughter from getting one up to this point .

callmeslick wrote:trust me, sigma, you long ago convinced me that vacationing ANYWHERE in Russia isn't worth the risk. Tourism isn't going to save your economy, if I'm any measure.

Now you very move to laughter me
Russia does not need tourists. All the more so American tourists. Russia is wild country with amazing beauty of nature. You must have a strong desire and courage to see it. If you use the services of tourist enterprises, you are in no danger. But if you want to see the real Russia, you'd better take advantage of special guides. In this case, I assure you, it will be the best and most unusual adventure in your life

Foil, I was referring to people inn general. I have my ear pierced as a teen and when i was 19 I removed it. My current wife asked me to put a stud in and when i did it felt weird. I'm no where near the person I was back then and have totally different views on everything now.

Sadly I think I would like a tattoo but I always say " I could use that $300 on a computer part". lol

Foil wrote:

Jeff250 wrote:Foil, what does your wife think?

Ah, to the point!

She's generally supportive. She knows I don't want something generally-visible in the workplace, and that if I get one, I'll carefully choose the design and shop.

That said, she has voiced some concerns - mostly that it would be a permanent thing, and there's a possibility my feelings about it may change over the years.

She's my better half (particularly when it comes to art), so as far as I'm concerned, she has as much say in it as I do.

Go for it if she's on board. Yeah, it's permanent, but so are most scars. I've got a six inch long surgery scar square in the middle of my upper back that shows up big time when I'm in a swimsuit. Not pretty either and I got the thing when I was 21, pretty young. Maybe a tattoo would hide most of it now because it's lighter than the surrounding skin. One time I thought of getting a zipper tattoo over it, but I smartly nixed the idea. Just get something small in an inconspicuous area that's says "you" and that you both like.

CUDA wrote:I'm sure your husband feels differently

He does, but only from memory. He can't see me very well anymore. His stroke gave him prosopagnosia, or face blindness now, so he can't even pick me out of a crowd unless I speak to him.

tunnelcat wrote:His stroke gave him prosopagnosia, or face blindness now, so he can't even pick me out of a crowd unless I speak to him.

Wow, I wasn't even aware of that condition until I saw the film Faces in the Crowd recently.

Perhaps that's a use for a tattoo - get something on your face, so he can recognize you? (Kidding, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's been done.)

tunnelcat wrote:His stroke gave him prosopagnosia, or face blindness now, so he can't even pick me out of a crowd unless I speak to him.

My neighbor is almost completely blind, and although he is known in certain circles, a doctor, no one could help him. Recently, he had an operation and now he can see. I will clarify that this operation was made possible by its customers who have collected money and hooked their friendly ties. Because I know that in America, medicine worth fantastically expensive, maybe you can try to use ties of your friends.
(And by the way, you can say that I, too, suffer from the problem of face recognition Chinese and Japanese.)
__________________________

I do not know, as in other countries, but in Russia, having a tattoo can also seriously affect the employer's decision about taking you to work. Not to mention the fact that you can forget about work in many public authorities.

sigma wrote:My neighbor is almost completely blind, and although he is known in certain circles, a doctor, no one could help him. Recently, he had an operation and now he can see. I will clarify that this operation was made possible by its customers who have collected money and hooked their friendly ties. Because I know that in America, medicine worth fantastically expensive, maybe you can try to use ties of your friends.
(And by the way, you can say that I, too, suffer from the problem of face recognition Chinese and Japanese.)

You can't replace missing brain tissue sigma, even in the U.S. At least not yet. It's not his eyes that are bad, but a now dead portion of brain in his left occipital lobe that's the problem. It's like having a computer with a damaged video card. You get artifacts or weird colors on the screen when components go bad. With prosopagnosia, the brain is missing that part of the brain that recognizes human faces. He can't even tell black from white faces. I know it's strange, but that's what he tells me. He's also lost all spatial orientation abilities, which is called topographical disorientation. He can't remember where things are in the house, or where he is while I drive him around town. It's weird. The brain is a complicated organ.

It is a strange condition Foil. However, he can recognize my old pear-shaped body and voice just fine. I was a one time jokingly thinking of getting a small version of that Star Wars Rebel Alliance symbol tattooed somewhere he could see, like on my forehead.

Just curious, does wearing something recognizable from a distance (a piece of jewelry, a unique hat, etc.) help?

Tattoos rock. I would have tons more if they were not so expensive. It's hard for me to justify the money spent. However, I think my next one might be a medical tattoo. I have a design idea that incorporates my blood-type, allergies, donor status, etc... Would be a shield/ribbon style design on my chest probably.

then again:
http://www.answers.com/article/1179616/ ... pl#slide=1

Foil wrote:Just curious, does wearing something recognizable from a distance (a piece of jewelry, a unique hat, etc.) help?

Well, since he's pretty much colorblind too, I asked him. He said that he recognizes my hips, which are wider than my top, and the way they sway when I walk. I'm also a bit shorter than most women. But once in while, he fails with all that, so then he depends on my voice.

What really bothers him is the fact he can't follow characters in movies because he can't tell them apart.

TC's hips don't lie.

vision wrote:Tattoos rock. I would have tons more if they were not so expensive. It's hard for me to justify the money spent. However, I think my next one might be a medical tattoo. I have a design idea that incorporates my blood-type, allergies, donor status, etc... Would be a shield/ribbon style design on my chest probably.

That would probably be the only good reason for a tattoo- but still...damned ugly things.

As I mentioned, neutral tattoo adorns men. But not women. Unless of course, they are not Amazons. When I see a tattoo on a man, I always try to understand its meaning. Tattoo on a man is a sign of identification and can also be a sign of belonging to certain armed forces or the criminal world, and many many more values. At that time, when I see the usual tattoo on a woman, for me it means only one thing - she is a prostitute. Though of course, there is an exception is very interesting from this. But it's too rare.

Top Gun wrote:TC's hips don't lie.

Especially when one is short. I have a signature sashay.

Foil wrote:I've been hearing a number of viewpoints about tattoos lately, and I'm curious about the perspectives in here.

So, just to open it up: What do you think about tattoos, people who have them, artists who do them, or the business in general?

[ Personally, I don't have any... but I'm starting to consider getting a medium-sized piece on my shoulder. Nothing outrageous; I have a fairly unique colored design in mind, something meaningful to me personally. It would be expensive to have it done well, so I'm still just thinking about it. ]

Backing up from tattoos and addressing personal presentation generally: The way that you present yourself to the world is a form of communication and does mean something. Our societies have a general "personal presentation language" that carries different criteria for what's considered "professional," "casual," etc. I think that people should bear in mind the permanence of their personal presentation choices, considering that they may want to present themselves in different way for varying situations. Also bear in mind that the "personal presentation language" of a society is generally deeply rooted, and to some extent is going to have to be accepted whether you like it or not.

On tattoos: In the US I don't think that the traditional "professional" presentation includes tattoos - so I'd advise anyone and everyone to only get tattoos in places where they won't be visible in professional grab. I also think that in the US the traditional "casual" presentation is neutral to tattoos - so if you want to get one in a place where it's be visible in casual grab, mostly people won't think anything of it. Beyond that - I say get you if it means something to you - so it sounds like for you personally if it's worth the money go for it.

TLDR: People still don't mix "professional" and "tattoos" - so get one where you can hide it. As for getting one at all: go for it if you decide that it's worth it for you personally.