The New Intimacy

Tattoos: Who has them? Who wants them? Who hates them?

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Contributor: Red Red
I have a few tattoos, and I want more. I'm worried that I'll choose poorly on design, however, and that holds me back. I'm about to finish my doctorate so I've been thinking a lot about getting something in honor of that.

Maybe the word "doctor" across my chest (I'm joking).
01/28/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Red: You just wanna see me naked! Get in line, sister

Heather: Thanks for the compliment!

Also, some artists will sketch on you with sharpies or tattooing linework pens to get an idea of fit and angle. You can always request a consultation and have this OR a stencil of the piece applied - just to see how it looks. But don't expect them to do that consult for free. I always apply some linework to figure out the flow on the body - it should be a natural and complimentary fit.
01/28/2010
Contributor: ~miss.heather~ ~miss.heather~
I have, love and want more!!!
01/28/2010
Contributor: ♥ Amanda ♥ ♥ Amanda ♥
I love tattoos. I think it is of course very important to know exactly what you want before getting them done. I am just saying don't get drunk and get a tattoo. I have five tattoos. I have my two daughters names on my right arm. My lover's name (first, middle, and last) is on my left inner wrist. My mother's name is only my left out wrist. And I have two love related writings on my tattoo on my back. And I want more more more, I just haven't decided what all I want yet.
01/28/2010
Contributor: myjunkistasty myjunkistasty
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyTigerX
Tattoo....the plane, the plane. Ha ha ha, lol. Do you get it?

Anyway I was having a hard time trying to go to sleep last night. I started thinking about that I might want to get a tattoo. Don't have any so far. Thought it would be cool to ... more
I don't think skin is a good base for displaying art, it changes and doesn't allow for detail.
I also believe the greatest artist in the world can not improve on the appearance of a woman's skin on her body with ink.
01/28/2010
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
I've never had one or really wanted one. I used to hate them, but now I could take them or leave them. Funny thing, all of my kids has at least one.
01/28/2010
Contributor: Kinky Skier Kinky Skier
ok, so most people who live in Michigan are super proud, becuase its a great state and a beautiful place to live

i dont have any tattoos, but, if i got one i would want it front an center where everyone could see it, on my left forearm.

i would probably get either an outline of michigan, or an old school post card of the state, and the qualities that i like

check this out, something like this, but with the images around the word, not inside

link

link

what do you think?
01/29/2010
Contributor: deceased deceased
I worked in a tattoo parlor 30 years ago. I have some really old fashioned, faded tattoos on my arms, and a few faded black and whites on my body. I do hate tattoos now. It's like grafitti on the body, and its just so common place, everyone has them. My cat even has two.
01/30/2010
Contributor: Angel deSanguine Angel deSanguine
I have one, it's a pair of demon wings, a tribal design behind them and lettering. I want more, I just don't have the free time right now to sit for the long elaborate one I want the most and the healing that will come along with it. It's going in an area that has a lot of clothing rubbing and I can't very well go into the office with low slung pants and no shirt!
01/30/2010
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
While "hate" isn't the right word, it's the closest to my relationship with tattoos. I think they can be attractive, or cool, or fun, but I've never really understood the lure of permanently adorning your body that way. It's a "you get it or you don't" thing, honestly. I have no problem with other people doing so (except my boyfriend), and I think they can look way awesome.

I've never had any interest in getting one. My boyfriend has been toying with the idea of getting one, and I've spent the last few years talking him out of idea after idea that would have left him very upset at his judgment years down the line. Example: A year ago, he wanted the symbol of this one band tattooed on his arm. He now hates the band, and is glad he doesn't have to look at that symbol all the time.

I also don't want to be looking at a picture of conjoined fetuses or gory zombies for the rest of my life. On either of us.
01/31/2010
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
I worked in a tattoo parlor 30 years ago. I have some really old fashioned, faded tattoos on my arms, and a few faded black and whites on my body. I do hate tattoos now. It's like grafitti on the body, and its just so common place, everyone has ... more
I'm surprised so many people don't take into account the permanence of tattoos and the fact that there's at least a moderate likely hood that they will not wear well over time. My only personal experience is an uncle who got a couple of tattoos in the navy - they're really just irregular black blobs now.

No doubt quality can make a difference - but we all age and change somewhat in our personalities, whereas tattoos are a permanent record of a point in time. It seems I'm in the minority on this one - but that's OK, I find myself in that position frequently.
01/31/2010
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Luscious Lily
While "hate" isn't the right word, it's the closest to my relationship with tattoos. I think they can be attractive, or cool, or fun, but I've never really understood the lure of permanently adorning your body that way. It's ... more
I definitely agree that folks should be sure they want it. Isn't the general standard that you should wait 5 years before getting a tattoo?
01/31/2010
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Adriana Ravenlust
I definitely agree that folks should be sure they want it. Isn't the general standard that you should wait 5 years before getting a tattoo?
That is.. sleep on the potential idea for 5 years
01/31/2010
Contributor: imp imp
Have drawn them for years and proudly have friends walking around with my artwork on them I do one off's and take the artwork back once it's done so hopefully they stay original. Never had one myself as I always see work I have done as a work in progress and things I can improve on so getting a tattoo on myself has always been a nono. I'd be too damn fussy. Absolutely love it as an artform though!
02/01/2010
Contributor: TacoODoom TacoODoom
i have over 100 hours of ink, with more planned
02/06/2010
Contributor: deceased deceased
Most of the people who came in to be tattooed were a little drunk or impulsive. They usually picked some flash off the wall instead of planning for years something that was timeless. I have done so many butterflies, tazmanian devils, naked women, snoopy, kanji symbols. BYW, don't ask for things in a language that is not your culture. I tattooed "theif" on the back of a girl's neck in Chinese because she wanted it to say "JOY". I've also tattooed menu items on people "Steam shrimp/rice" for "lucky life, love".
Visible tattoos change your life forever, they can prevent you from getting jobs, dates (that person could have hepatitis/AIDs, etc! is a public perception), present a reputation preceding you (were you in prison at the time? were you high? did you get real drunk one night and..).when I got tattoos and was doing them, women did not have them, and the men who did were bike club members or other outcasts. I have one on my inner forearm that used to be a snake and its skin was made of skulls with blood in them. Many years later, its a brown tube. They all blur with age....
02/07/2010
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
Most of the people who came in to be tattooed were a little drunk or impulsive. They usually picked some flash off the wall instead of planning for years something that was timeless. I have done so many butterflies, tazmanian devils, naked women, ... more
If your tattoo parlor was tattooing drunk people, it should probably have been shut down. That's extremely irresponsible and illegal (at least where I live).

One of my tattoos is visible (the inside of my wrist), and it's never stopped me from doing anything I wanted or needed to do. Yea, not all visible tattoos are discreet, but they're not all life changing either.
02/07/2010
Contributor: Inkblot Inkblot
I think tattoos are very sexy if not overdone. I love tats on the back of the neck/upper back and shoulders... My dh doesn't want me to get one (and doesn't have any himself), but I think I'm going to get one above my right hip towards my butt a bit. Dragonfly with a word or phrase incorporated. One of my "sweet spots" is around my hip bone and so it will be sexy--at least to me! LOL
02/15/2010
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
Quote:
Originally posted by Adriana Ravenlust
I definitely agree that folks should be sure they want it. Isn't the general standard that you should wait 5 years before getting a tattoo?
I agree. Impulsive permanent body mods are just asking for regret down the line. Well thought out, meaningful tattoos placed in an area that distorts minimally with age? Go for it, and kudos.
02/15/2010
Contributor: deceased deceased
Sometimes a person can be a little drunk because they are on AHD meds, diet pills, valium, xanax, vicodin, or any other substances people seem to like to use, abuse and lie about. Tattoo artists won't tattoo you if a person is drunk, but its getting harder to tell because their are so many people who remained "drugged up" these days its not funny.

People also lie to their health care providers about the same things. A good tattoo artist should have protection against their customers and have them sign a contract before the work begins similar to a surgical consent. People are not only more reliant on drugs and less responsible and more impulsive, they are litigious. The heard has not been thinned in a while and the younger generations are raised with a sense of entitlement. "If I do something stupid I can just sue the other person" Like McDonalds for making someone fat. Or their hair dresser because when they got "a permanent blonde hair dye" they did not realize the roots were going to grow in black and their would be upkeep.

Hence, there are a lot of stupid tattoos out there. It certainly is the antithesis of cool.
02/15/2010
Contributor: m&dlove m&dlove
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyTigerX
Tattoo....the plane, the plane. Ha ha ha, lol. Do you get it?

Anyway I was having a hard time trying to go to sleep last night. I started thinking about that I might want to get a tattoo. Don't have any so far. Thought it would be cool to ... more
When I got divorced in 2003. I went completely wild. Got a Tatt of a Geko Lizard on my right inside ankle. I love tats. They are sexy. I want one on my side and one like a garder around my left leg. Not sure of what yet. I will have more. They are very addictive. I only have one right now.
02/27/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
i am getting one after I graduate for my masters. I went through HELL during college with personal experiance, romance, the works... I want the latin phrase "Ad Astra per Astrada" on my side. To the stars through difficulty.
03/08/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by ~LaUr3n~
i am getting one after I graduate for my masters. I went through HELL during college with personal experiance, romance, the works... I want the latin phrase "Ad Astra per Astrada" on my side. To the stars through difficulty.
I forgot to include that I am a pierced gal. That is more my thing. I have 6.
03/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
27 piercings currently, with a few that have been retired.

Plenty of ink, working on a floral side piece/sleeve right now. Just finished up part of it last night. I cannot wait until the whole thing is done, but it'll be quite a few years until I hit that point.
03/09/2010
Contributor: HisGirl HisGirl
Have one on my right ankle.
Scorpio is my astrology sign.
However I decided after many years of waiting due to kids & such.
That last year was the time.
It was for many reasons. One of which protection.
I plan on another or two for my left shoulder or a tramp stamp-love`em!!!!
The one on the shoulder/back has a more personal meaning.
One to watch out for all the backstabbers in my life.
Possibly another in remembrance of my grandparents-not sure for location for that one.
Love my tatt & wish I wouldn't have waited so long.
Every chance I get I try to make sure it's visible!!!!
Why wait?? It's your body & we only live once! ENJOY!!!!
03/12/2010
Contributor: Jade Jade
I have three ankle, thigh and shoulder. I really want to get the shoulder redone. It was a bad ink job from a newbie tattooist. I accept the fact it was a not so good idea, but hey it's my body and I feel good in it. I thought about the fact they'll be there when I'm old and gray when I got them, and accepted that too. Half the time I forget there even there.
03/12/2010
Contributor: Valyn Valyn
I didn't vote that I want one because I've never found a design that I really am sure I want to put permanently on my body, but tattoos are really interesting! I like learning the meanings behind them.
03/17/2010
Contributor: Andromeda Andromeda
I love tattoos that people put thought into, and hate ones that look like they were picked off the wall at some generic parlor.

That said... tattoos on guys is a huge turn on. Maybe not full sleeves or anything like that, but a few on the arms, chest, or back. mmmmmm

I don't have any, but I really want one that I've had planned out for the past 5 months or so... It's a pretty popular quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (yes, I am a nerd), "Not all those who wander are lost", but I want it translated into elvish and transcribed into tengwar (Tolkien's elvish writing system). I'm still sitting on the idea to make sure I don't change my mind.

Also, 7 piercings and counting.
03/19/2010
Contributor: GNGenie GNGenie
I love tats on other people. Especially arm tattoos on muscular men. Is there really any better way to show off those rippling biceps than a well placed tat?

I don't have any myself, mostly because I'd like to have a job before I go about getting things that might make me ineligible. Also because I want to get twin dragons down my spine, and I don't want to be in class tilted forward over my desk trying not to let my back touch the chair. June, perhaps?
04/04/2010
Contributor: GNGenie GNGenie
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
Most of the people who came in to be tattooed were a little drunk or impulsive. They usually picked some flash off the wall instead of planning for years something that was timeless. I have done so many butterflies, tazmanian devils, naked women, ... more
I met a girl a while back who asked me to tell her what her tattoo said in Kanji. They told her it said courage. It said Thursday.
04/04/2010