Tattoos

[Frostbite3789]

I got into this discussion a bit ago with a friend and wanted to see the opinion of INTERNET PEOPLE on the topic.

I for one, think tattoos are utterly ridiculous. I have yet to see a single one where it made me think, "Wow. What an utterly, irrefutable good idea! They had literally no other means of expressing this thought/idea/view point other than having it permanently (barring an expensive procedure down the line) inked into their flesh!"

I just don't see the logic behind it I guess. Never have I see one where ten years down the road, that same person will be glad to have that. It's the same as having a goofy hairstyle or fashion sense, those things are easily changed over time. You can look back at those in pictures and be like, "Man, what a goofy person I was back then!" With a tattoo, it's still there. Hangin' around, even though you yourself have changed.

Another problem is the utter lack of thought that occasionally goes into getting them. A friend decided to get one just driving by a tattoo parlor. I spend more time deliberating what video game I'm going to get on any given day and that has far less impact on my life.

Anyways, thoughts? Anything that might convince me otherwise? Just curious.

 

[Lynx]

Asking what I think of tattoos is a little like asking me what I think of movies or books or cars. Some are ugly, meaningless and/or soon regretted, while some are beautiful, meaningful and/or well thought out. Some people get tattoos to remember someone or something in their life, e.g. tattooing the name of a friend who passed on, or perhaps the name of your child. Some people get it just because it looks fan-damn-tastic.

Tattoos are a form of body art. And like all forms of art, it's not for everyone.

 

[Hister]

I have had mine 14 years now and I still love having it, actually I'm considering having it re-inked because tattoos fade after a while. Some people enjoy tattoos, some people dont. It's all about personal choice

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I personally don't care for tattoos. I treat it in similar way to someone inking their skin with a Marker or Biro, just more permanent and expensive.

People tell me how it's a form of expression. So's pyromania, that argument is vague and holds little to no weight.

People tell me it's art. Fair enough, I can understand how some can be considered art, but for the average joe, it's just another tribal tat, some Characters from another language or your one true love, etched into your ass cheek (and likely tattoo'd over to please your other true love).

I don't disagree with Tattooing. It has a rich history. I disagree with the average dolt who's creative juices culminate to a sneeze/fart video on Youtube.

I have yet to see someone in person who has not made a horrendous mistake getting a tattoo.

 

[Caveworm]

I myself, don't think I would suit a tattoo. If I ever did get one it would have to mean something very personal.

My girlfriend has a few of them and they work well for her. Quite sexy too.


Of course you do get some utterly daft tattoos. ^_^

 

[shadyh8er]

Man, all I know is that if I had to get a tattoo, it would be of my family members' birthdays, and my future wedding anniversary.

But hey, for every idiot that makes an impulse decision to get one like the one you just described, there are some who actually put thought into it. And besides, who are you trying to impress when you reach the age when it stops looking cool?

 

[Croix Sinistre]

I just don't see the logic behind it I guess. Never have I see one where ten years down the road, that same person will be glad to have that. It's the same as having a goofy hairstyle or fashion sense, those things are easily changed over time. You can look back at those in pictures and be like, "Man, what a goofy person I was back then!" With a tattoo, it's still there. Hangin' around, even though you yourself have changed.

Another problem is the utter lack of thought that occasionally goes into getting them. A friend decided to get one just driving by a tattoo parlor. I spend more time deliberating what video game I'm going to get on any given day and that has far less impact on my life.

I can many of my responses down to this "People are idiots". They're going to jump into life changing decisions without proper thought, be it buying a sweet ride cause its sweet and it'll get chicks, or getting married for cheaper insurance or whatever stupid reason one person has for jumping into the deep end.

Aside from that, there are people who simply enjoy having the ink or artistic reasons, or adorning their body with ink that accentuates natural contours. And yes there are those who feel it's a form or expression but can explain it, and worse, those who just do it because it's 'cool'.

I have quite a bit of ink and every piece is representative of my personality and life, I quoted you above because that's the same reason I tell people I will never regret my ink. If a piece represents something about me, then even if I change, it's just evidence of where I came from, where I used to be in life. If 20 years from now I look back at something on my body and go "That's not important to me now", it can at least remind me of who I used to be or what I used to like. I doubt I'll ever be so different to look back at all my ink in complete regret.

tl;dr: If you make frequent, ill planned decisions that you regret the next day, don't ever get a tattoo.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I have two. Both of which had a two year deliberation period. I have a third that I'm having made by a friend of mine, and I'll ask her to tweak it before I let someone ink it. But they are all things I've held true or loved my whole life, so I have not a single ounce of regret for them. Because they are awesome.

 

[Frostbite3789]

I have two. Both of which had a two year deliberation period. I have a third that I'm having made by a friend of mine, and I'll ask her to tweak it before I let someone ink it. But they are all things I've held true or loved my whole life, so I have not a single ounce of regret for them. Because they are awesome.

Yes, but that's a year of deliberation. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Most people that get them, don't seem to. They seem to go to the route of, "TATTOO! I NEED ONE NOW!" after having given it little to no thought beforehand.

 

[Casual Shinji]

My opinion is that unless you're part of a tribe, organized crime, or happen to be a pirate, having a tattoo is pretty silly.

I don't mind if other people have tattoos, but I just don't see the use of it.

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Cool story bro.

Wise words

I seriously doubt anyone will say it better than you, Abandon.
And women with good tattoos are delicious, oh my.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I sort of agree, despite being tattooed. I think the problem lies in people choosing overly specific designs, which will almost inevitably lose meaning a few years down the line. Speaking for myself, the tattoo I chose [an extremely inconspicuous 1cm square near my right elbow] represents nothing other than the fact that squares are pleasant shapes. Could be construed as Dadaist [or hipster-ey, more likely], but there's absolutely no meaning behind it. It's just there because there was space for it.

 

[pixiejedi]

I don't have any that I regret personally. The first one was a bit of a rebellion from the parents but thats normal. The rest I have are very personal and looking at them makes me smile. I'm planning on a fourth but all of them are symbolic and remind me of who I am and what I'm about. I used to think the same way as the OP, but ultimately they are fun and I don't care what random people think about it all so thats all there is to it.

I do really love making fun of people with tribal tatts though, its hilarious!

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I'm not a fan of them. I wouldn't stop someone from getting one if it's what that person really wanted, but I certainly wouldn't support it either. I have no intention of ever getting one.

As a side note to anyone considering one... I work in the medical field, and I see a lot of tattoos. While they may look good on you in your youth, they very often look awful beyond description when you age. What you might love in your youth may end up as an embarassment later. Something to keep in mind.

 

[CrashBang]

I have quite a few
I've got a half sleeve on my left arm, another small one on my chest and a third small one on my back. The back one is gamer-related; it's the crest of Hyrule from Zelda

I'm also planning on getting some lyrics across my chest under my collarbone but can't decide on what. I'm pretty sure I want "I've met God and he had nothing to say to me" which is from one of my favourite Biffy Clyro songs. I'm also very tempted by "Standing beneath a tortoise under an elephant under the world" which are Every Time I Die lyrics and they fit well because I also love literature (I'm training to be an English teacher) and the lyrics refer to the Discworld books

I also plan on extending my half sleeve into a full sleeve once I get a teaching job and know it's safe to. Then I'll get my other arm done

I'd post pics but do you really care? Naaah

EDIT:

I do really love making fun of people with tribal tatts though, its hilarious!

Ditto, man. They're just... whyyyyy?! Tattoo art is beautiful so, just, why?!

 

[Tiger Sora]

I've actually been planing to get a tattoo, if it wasn't for the fact my car had broke down I'd have it already. She's up and running now, so sometime next week I should be getting it.

What I'm getting I won't say but it's not some dumb tribal tattoo.

 

[Elle-Jai]

I have two. Both of which had a two year deliberation period. I have a third that I'm having made by a friend of mine, and I'll ask her to tweak it before I let someone ink it. But they are all things I've held true or loved my whole life, so I have not a single ounce of regret for them. Because they are awesome.

Yes, but that's a year of deliberation. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Most people that get them, don't seem to. They seem to go to the route of, "TATTOO! I NEED ONE NOW!" after having given it little to no thought beforehand.

I spent years considering mine, realising that they would still be there when I was 80 and wrinkly. Would they still have meaning if my life changed, when I got married and had kids, in 5, 10, 50 years time?

Ultimately, I chose double layers of meaning for mine, then made them aesthetically pleasing. I have one on each wrist, and one on each ankle. They all mean something to me, and despite one of them having the first initial of someone who is no longer in my life, it reminds me of her everyday and how lucky I was to have her for 16 years. She's a part of my soul, so having her initial on my wrist is something I have never regretted. I thought long and hard before I got it, considering the fact that "What would happen if we never spoke again" and decided it was worth it.

I would never get a tattoo "just because" but neither would I avoid getting one because there are those who don't approve. (My mother hates them, for example, but she's come around because they ARE beautiful and meaningful).

Having said that, in Australia there's a trend of getting the Southern Cross (stars) tattooed, especially on guys, and it's like the male version of a tramp stamp. These idiots doing it "because" makes the rest of us, who do think about it, look bad.

Although I'm not disputing their right to get it, just their common sense

 

[Togs]

I have a tattoo, its a symbol that is very dear me and is very close to a major aspect of my personality- it took me 4 years to pick the design and placement and Im very happy with it.

Too me having something carved into your skin is very personal and borderline primal, its taking something and saying you want it with you for the rest of your life, a clear and omnipresent part of you that has been made corporeal through what is essentially a minor form of self mutilation, in my mind its an almost spiritual thing and shouldnt be done lightly like the countless brain dead douchebags getting silly tribal designs when drunk.