Tattoos. Where do you stand on them?
 

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about tattoos yesterday. He is completely opposed to them and even refuses to date a girl who has one. He dispises them so much that whenever we go out i have to have mine covered otherwise he walk next to me let alone talk to me, instead he'll sulk for a couple of hours.
Anywho I was just wondering where the people of gamingforce stood on tattoos. I'm personally not against them I have 2, one on my shoulder which is a shooting star and 3 sixes on the back of my neck. I thought them through and both have a meaning to them.
So what do you lot think? Are you for or against? Do you have any?
I turn it over to you.
:biggrin:

I wouldn't want to have one. I don't really mind if others have one, or more, as long as it's not too big. If your arm is green, that's a problem.

I am all for tattoos as long as the artwork actually has meaning for the person receiving it... it's a design that they had a hand in creating... and not some flash off the wall.
People who go into ink joints without a clue are the people that don't need to get them... and yet they still manage to get them.

And as to whether or not I have any... I have a few. One on my upper right arm and two on my lower left arm. Upper right arm is Tommy 2-Tone... the mascot of the 2nd ska generation... something that I was part of and part of my life. The lower left arm consists of an ankh on the inside of my arm and a scarab with the rising sun in its front legs and setting sun in its hind legs representing eternity (sensing an Egyptian theme there?). I think there are photos of them somewhere mixed in the SoCal meet pictures... kind of hard to miss them...

I don't have a problem with tattoos per se; I have one myself, although I hate it. The thing that bothers me about tattoos is that I know SO MANY people who got tattoos when they were young and now they hate them. See, the things that are meaningful to you at 18, 19, 20...hell, even at 25 or 26 sometimes, in all likelihood won't mean squat to you when you're 35 or 40, and then you have this thing - whatever it is - permanently etched on your body.

As I get older I find myself warming more and more to the "live and let live" mentality, so tattoos aren't extremely offensive to me. Why worry over something that doesn't affect you? It's ridiculous to get upset over someone else's choices. I just think it's a stupid thing to do to yourself when you're at an age where you haven't even really become yourself yet.

I have a tattoo and plan on getting at least one more. I believe in marking yourself up with the things that are important in your life. I don't like the stupid fucking tribals and shit - I think they're ugly and pointless.

The next tattoo I get I already have planned - three bumblebees flying about. Probably on my left shoulder to balance out what I have on my right forearm.

But yea. I'm down with tattoos, so long as they signifiy something important in your life - not something stupid and retarded that means nothing to no one.

you make an excellent point AliceNWondrland. My tattos do have meaning to them for me, especially the 3 sixes because I was born on friday 13th and have always ben told by my parents i have 3 sixes tattooed on my left ear that only show up when i've been very naughty. Although I haven't killed anyone yet by using my anti-christ powers :) it's always been a theme so i think it will mean something to me later in life.
but I agree that some people just get them for the fun of it without thinking it through and regret it later in life. I know a few people who've done it and really hate it now.

I don't necessarily have a problem with tattoos. I certainly wouldn't disown someone for having them. I am not a fan of tattoos that are visible when wearing normal clothes, but to each his own. I wouldn't not date a girl because she had a tattoo, unless it was on the face or somewhere else highly visible that would restrict her career opportunities. I don't have any and don't plan on getting any, but that's because I don't feel the need. I do laugh at people who get a tattoo when they're drunk and end up getting something that is stupid or ugly and then regret it when they sober up and realize what they've done.

Sassafrass why 3 bumble bees? And what do you haveon your forearm?

I personally don't have any tatoos, but I have nothing against them (unless they're really badly done/ugly), and I really don't care what other people do, as long as it dosn't affect anyone else negatively. It's your life, after you reach a certain age, you should be free to do whatever makes you happy (within reason).

Ive always ran the thought of getting one back and forth in my head, but I can never settle on a single thing thats meaningful enough to me to warrant a tattoo.

I will proably get one someday, but if that one thing doesnt hit me, then im not gonna just do it to do it.

I dislike both tattoos and piercings; they make people look unclean and somewhat creepy.

My last name in French means "Bumblebee." Considering I am extremely tightly knit with my family (my father and sister - my mother has been a "friend" since I was a kid - never too much of a Mom), I figured three bumblebees would depict the love I have for my family well enough.

At the same time, ironically, my two best friends and I have a thing about bumblebees. So I could kill two birds with one stone, really. The three of us friends and the three of us family members. LOVE, BABY. IT'S ALL YOU NEED.

I presently have Percival from Sinfest on my right arm.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3581/tattoo3ft.jpg

It has meanings I would rather not go into around here these days. ^_^

I'm sorta on the fence in regards to tattoos. At one point I really wanted to get one, but then I realized that I may not really want it in the future, something I would be pretty pissed at myself for. My sister got a stupid ass crooked star above her thigh on he waist, and it's the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life. She insists she will never regret it, but, whatever. It's dumb tattoos like that that I hate, and make me more opposed to getting one myself.

I have two tattoos. My parents don't get them, but they don't care about mine (They REALLY don't get my sister's rather large, colored tallship tattoo on her right inner thigh). All 4 of my grandparents hate tattoos and aren't pleased either of us have them, but at least they speak to us. I might get more tattoos, but this is what I have so far:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/MsKitty/cat.jpg (On my upper-back/neck area

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/knot_tat.bmp (On my lower back but not as low as some girls put their tattoos)

I honestly don't care much for piercings or tattoos. When I was about 10 years old I wanted to get my ears pierced but I'm glad I didn't. I would never get a tattoo because if I live to be 40, I don't want to have a perminent shit stain on my arm. But don't get me wrong, I love art in all its form, like those designs Koneko posted. I wouldn't mind tracing that star like symbol on my girlfriends back while we had sex.

I don't mind tattoos and would like to get some myself, however they're expensive and it would have to be something I really enjoy.

One idea would to have the cyborg boss from Contra III, the one that busts through the walls, and instead of walls it would be my chest cavitity that he busts through. That would be cool.

Pardon me, but WFT?

I wasn't being sarcastic, I was talking about forplay. :x

I personally don't have any tattoos or piercings, but I don't mind if other people have them. However, it's funny when the very outspoken Christians tell me that people who don't go to church won't get into Heaven, then they turn red when I tell them that their ear piercings or small cross tattoo is a sin.

I wanted a tattoo, but I've heard so many stories about people who get tattoos and then they don't want them later. Also, tattoos tend to fade over time, so the ink is permanent but the design isn't. A bunch of my friends who had grandfathers that served in WWII told me about how they got anchor tattoos or snake tattoos and now it just looks like faded blotches. I prefer the temporary tattoos or henna.

With tattoos....I say if you want one, by all means go for it. It's your body, HOWEVER....don't be getting one because you want to be cool, and have some gaudy looking, 'in style' tattoo that like Alice said...represents nothing in your life. I don't like that type of tattooing, I find it to be rather empty and retarded.


I say, get a tattoo that you are geuninely going to love and remember your whole life and it's something that's very special to you. Don't get a massive tattoo across your chest that really doesn't signify anything, other than the fact you did it because that's what Hardcore Kids and Emo Kids do nowadays. That really pisses me off.

Oh and one more thing...don't get a fucking tattoo of a band. You like them now, you'll end up hating them probably 3-5 yrs. from now.

I don't care much for tatoos and if someone wants one, who cares. I'd probably get a henna thing done if I wanted something like that. I'd get it from my English teacher. She's awesome.

I just think about people who have tattoos on their arm or whatever and wonder how it will look like when they are 80 and all wrinkly. I'm not sure it will be pretty.

I like Percy. He's a funny character.

I love the way tattoos look, and I don't have any problem with people getting them. I've always wanted to get a tattoo but I've never come up with a tattoo idea that I still like after a few months, so it'll be awhile before I get one. I'm thinking about getting a cartoon ferret on my back but who knows if I'll still like that a couple of months from now.

I know a few people who ended up with a tattoo when they entered college, but I don’t plan on personally getting one. I don't mind them at all, and sometimes I've seen tattoos on odd parts of the body.

if the tattoo artist has any sort of morals or credibility they won't touch anyone who has been drinking. Drinking thins the blood... thin blood = bleeder. Yes you're going to bleed when getting inked... but the thin blood will make it worse and no respectable inker wants to do something that is going to looked like a piece of crap due to the receiver having alcohol in their blood.

I think tattoos are great if and only if they are done well. Too many times I've seen crap tattoo jobs with the infamous (made up) Chinese characters. Those I dislike are really heavy blobs that you can't tell what the heck it is unless you look up close. A good tattoo in my opinion is the RHCP Anthony's back -- eagle wings. Using your back to have this massive tattoo is a plus from me. I think it's great to use it as a palette if you have something to show.

I wouldn't mind getting a tattoo only if I knew what I want to get and where. The permanence is a set back for me; I don't want to regret my action. So far I have none. Piercings on the other hand, I'm fine with as well, but only ears. I don't mind if guys would have both their ears pierced either, since I think having just one ear pierced looks silly.

Actually, Vis, that's a misreading of the scripture. People who quote that tend to combine the concept of the body as a temple to christ, and the no marking of the flesh verses. They're seperate, and the tattooing is actually only outlawed if you're part of the priest cast of a specific sect of early form judiasm. However, I don't think christ died so basketball players could have him tattooed on their chest.

Personally, I'm extremely pro-tattoo. I have a partial sleeve on my left arm, and go in for the outline of the complete sleeve on the right pretty quick here. I'll soon have my chest and upper back done after that, and then both calves. I've currently got some script work on my right inner forearm, as well.

I also worked as a professional piercer in europe for a while, as well as a few local shops here. There is nothing wrong with body art, so long as it is just that, art. If there isn't a story behind why you did what you did, you'll grow to hate it. I.E. the Manson-esque 666 angst tattoo. That shit will get played out, even for Legion.

I mean, tattooing has been used for centuries, dating back to early northern Chinese usage as a relief for ailments such as arthritis, or the more commonly known Maori tattooing-as-ritual-manhood practice. They exist for a million different reasons to a million different people. Is there currently a move away from the tribal revivialist movement that started all this? Yes. Is it mostly about appearance to a lot of stupid people? Yes. But not to all of them. Some people make educated, long thought out choices about what to put on their bodies. Though I think some of the people in this thread were a half step away from pointing at flash on the wall and saying "I want this somewhere hawt", it shouldn't take away from how truly spiritual a tattoo can be. I'm currently in my fifth year of study on tattooing in the modern society, and some of the stories I've heard are truly powerful. Of course, some of them are about getting the triple six tattooed on you to prove how truly anti-god you are, but there are some people out there getting it right.

That's all well and good. I guess it's good that we can count on the average person to hold himself or herself to the highest of moral standards, to never do anything that could damage their credibility and integrity.

If you can't spell it, you probably can't fucking do it properly.

Also:

You can't have foreplay while you're fucking. It comes beFORE sex. If you're fucking, it isn't foreplay. You goddamn idiot child. Go away and never come back.

Oh my god, that's the most dull foreplay I have ever heard of. Are you trying to bore your girlfriend's legs apart?

I don't think that's the right definition of bore, Mr. Guest

Well hey, if she passes out then he'll have a MUCH easier time of it, won't he?

In defense of the original poster, they did have an ok reasoning for it, but I think they could of been more creative with it.

I don't have any, and I'm not opposed to them, so long as it's not something offensive (like a swastika) or so large that the tattoo draws more attention than the person themselves.

Personally, I don't want any though, cause I can't imagine the tattoos would look good on you when you're old and wrinkly, and I don't want to pay to have them removed later either.

We're not going to look good when we're old and wrinkly anyways..

Man... If I had the body for it I would TOTALLY get a tattoo. I don't know what I'd get though. If anything I've always wanted an eagle perched on a cactus killing a snake. For those who that sounds familiar to, that's actually the symbol of the birth of the country of Mexico and is what the Aztecs saw as what their prophecy foretold as being the place where they would root themselves. They saw this when they stumbled on the lake of Teotihuacan and it's now in the center of the flag.

Although, I have taken a lot of hints from one of my friends who's a tattoo artist here in Visalia. He lays down a ton of in every week and he's always telling me about the strangest shit that people get on themselves. He also told me the golden rule of getting a tattoo is to really LOVE what you're getting inked on you. He tells me, "Draw or print what you want put on your body and put it somewhere where you will see it everyday for a year. If you get tired of it after a year, it's not for you."

I guess I'll have to think about it. I've seen some really good scripture work done around here. In fact, of all the tattoos that people on GFF have my favorite one is the one that Deni has that says "He Lies With The Truth". Fucking ace~

I was a fucking idiot and got the Japanese symbols with a friend of mine.

Then, I figure out that the Japanese is wrong. Nothing funny, but just wrong, so it's just ridiculous looking.

I'm twenty and I already regret mine.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...s/IMG_0770.jpg

Deni, I like the Earthbound underneath your arm in that picture.

Back on topic, I personally would like a tattoo. I wouldnt want mine to be too big and definitely in a place that cannot easily be seen by others. I dont care so much if other people have them although I think people should put a lot of thought into it. Oh yeah, I think Chinese and Japanese characters look really dumb, especially becuase you see them on everyone.

:edgarrock:

Thats a deadly tat Deni.
I'm getting one just as soon as my funds allow considering i've been planning to for like, 10 years, but I don't think i'll get it somewhere in plain view just in case it could be a problem for me for jobs or whatnot

I say to each his own. If you wanna turn your whole body into a tatto mural then go for it. Me, i plan on getting a nice tribal one down my right arm and maybe a puerto rican one on my other shoulder and thats about it.

Tattoos and body markings have been a cultural tradition since the begining of mankind. Tattoos are no different, and if they truly mean something to someone, then by all means go ahead and get one.

What I dislike are people who go out and get "skulls and dragons" with no meaning other than wanting something cool drawn on them. Words of wisdom would best fit on me, or a single symbol, very small that defined me in a very clever way.

Awhile back I watched a friend of mine (female) get a tattoo of a NES controller on her lower back. Now *that's* retro, and I know she absolutely loves the old school stuff.

Is a tattoo on the upper part of your back a chick thing? Around the area between the shoulder blades? I know girls tend to get theyre lower back tattooed and that is definately a place you wouldnt see a guy get one. So im just wondering if its the same on the upper back?

Deni, you gotta post pics of the sleeves when you get them all finished.

I like tattoos as long as they aren't horribly mismatched. A good (bad) example of this is a guy I saw that had Hitler's portrait tattooed on one arm, and Minnie Mouse on the other, along with dozens of other random things.

I think for a woman, getting F-holes (like on a violin/viola/cello) on the back is absolutely wonderful:
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3736/whateversw8.jpg

My favorite tattoo scheme would be a guy that used to work at our Borders. He had this Aztec theme going, with a patter going evenly around his neck and Quetzalcoatl earrings. Or my old art teacher (you would remember, Ence), who had something like Indian pottery designs all over his body. Things that make your body a unified work of art are awesome. One tattoo of something you love, or for a good reason is cool. Lots of random crap is just ugly.

That said, I'm getting a tattoo with one of my friends sometime this semester. Nothing big, just an alto clef; we're both violists, so we're getting the same thing:

http://www.musiccorner.co.uk/images/15symbol.jpg

He's planning on expanding his tattoos, but this is the only one I'm getting. I won't get tired of it, but I'm having trouble deciding where to put it. I need it in a place that can be both easily concealed and revealed.

Even though your image linking sucks, I can kind of picture that and you know... That would be DEAD SEXY to see on a woman's back. Fuck yes it would be...

SERIOUSLY. He was supposed to get more ink done on him but last time I saw him I told him it looked great. That whole pattern looks great on him even though I know that the department chair at UC Mooney "frowns upon it". On top of that, he's twice my age and in better shape than I'll EVER be in, so it figures. Some people just look fucking great with ink on them.

Happier now? :p
It is. It's not that unique, as I've heard that quite a few girls get it done, but I still think it's an awesome idea. I would get it done myself if not for the fact that A) it would cost a bit of money to get done and B) I don't really have the body for it. I think girls with narrower shoulders but broader hips work it best.

Nah, I know a ton of cats who have their shoulder blades/between tatted up. Some really nice work, too. My personal favourite was a jewish guy I know who had Santa being crucified on the cross. Fantastic.

Also, try to keep me from posting new ink when I get it.

Im glad, because thats the place I planned on getting a tattoo when I get mine done.

I dont think I would be able to have only one arm done, or one shoulder blade, etc. I need symmetry, and I really only plan on getting one. I heard there addictive though.

Im looking forward to the new ink.

You can never just get a single tattoo. You'll get addicted to the art, and to the endorphin rush. I'm using my art as body armour. Forearms, shoulders, chest, upper back, spine, calves... gladiatorial coverage.

Ive really been thinking about one lately. Im no longer just muling over the idea, but giving it real consideration.

I just started working out again after a long hiatus. Im toning my body back up, and I really feel like a tattoo would solidify my determination.

Im still looking for that one thing to just pop into my head.

Here we go... I knew I'd find a picture of what I've been wanting to get.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...aguilamexa.jpg

I mean, it would need a lot more detail than that, of course; but that's pretty much it.

Nice. Wasnt too sure about it when you first mentioned it, but I could definately see that in a tattoo.

Unless a tattoo was on the bottom of my foot I wouldn't be standing anywhere on Tattoos =p

*Ahem* Well seriously regarding this: I want to get a tattoo but I have a bad fear of needles (Belonophobia)

Even if I manage to get around that, I have to deal with two other issues:
1. What kind of tattoo, and where? (I'm terribly Indecisive at these kinds of things)
2. How much would it cost?

So... I don't know. I think they're a great form of expression though.

I thinks Tattoos are fine as long as you don't get carried away.

[12:05] <Happy> No, it's just that tattoos look ugly after quite a few years pile on

I'm speaking in behalf of Happy for he is celebrating Malay Day today. Happy Malay Day, Malaysians.

I had belonphobia too until I got my tattoo. :biggrin:

1. That is something you'll have to decide for yourself. I got mine on my back because I can't have them anywhere on my arms or legs if I'm going to be an elementary school teacher.

2. Your average tattoo should cost around $60 and up* depending on the shop you go to, the quality/rep of the shop, how big your tattoo is and if its colored (I think this last one is a factor, but I only got black ink for mine). I believe my tattoos cost me $80 each (Tips are expected where I got mine).

*prices guessed upon how much the local shops charge around my hometown.

If your new to tattoos please read this. She seems to know her stuff, and it helped get rid of alot of questions I had about tattoos and the process involved. The site is http://tattoo.about.com/od/tattoo101/a/tatbegguide.htm

Im sure someone who has gotten a tattoo could verify the information on the site.

Thanks for that, it did give me a bit of relief. Maybe I'll get one in a couple months or so.

$60 is the low price that I've heard as well. It might cost a bit more but I'm going to go to a good rep/quality shop because, hey if I'm getting a freakin NEEDLE put into my body, I want the people and location to be somewhere I want to go.

I still have no ideas as to what kind of tattoo, but as for location I was thinking maybe my upper arm or maybe my leg.

i'd much rather have a tatoo than a piercing. Nothwistanding those freaks who are covered with them, I find that tatoos are a piece of heart

My first opne I want to ahve (it's probably not going to be the only one) would be my political opinion: half a lys flower, half a maple leaf

I like tattoos, and I've been wanting to get one for a while now. I don't think much of people who only get tattoos to draw attention though (and I think tramp stamps are retarded). I also don't see the point in getting tattoos that you haven't thought up yourself (you know, the sample tattoos). It should be a form of artistic expression, and it's more interesting if it's meaningful.

Darn proud of it!!!!

I think getting tattoos is a great thing under one condition though. It has to mean something to you. I mean otherwise what's the point? To be cool? Just for the sake of having one? I mean it just seems retared. I've talked to some people that either have no idea why they got it or heck don't even know what it is! Then you got to smack them and say WTF? that is so dumb. I chose this and want these cause they mean something to me. (Xenogears you might say doesn't mean sh$$ but I say bah to yoU!) It is something that has changed how I view this world and gave me new ideas on what this world is or can become. I one day hope to get the cross from the Nisan sanctuary put on to my left arm, but who knows, i have all the time in the world to do that. Lots of guys at my work have them, then again a lot of them are artists which is really cool as well for they prefer to show off what they truely love their own ART!

The second pic is a wing tattoo that my fiance and I hope to get in the near future...these things do get expensive. She used paint and drew it on me, I think she did an awesome job and just having something on my back would make me feel proud to have.

DARNIT. I wanted to make my first post and it turns out I need more. Well maybe I can put them in the journal...if anyone is interested.

[edit] man it has been a long time since i've been here. Like what 3 Resurections? So oh well, anyways, i have a xenogears logo on the my right bicep. That's it. the other was a white single wing painted on my right shoulder blade.

I'm not too big on tattoos, but I can stand them so long as the tattoo toting troglodyte has a little creativity. Far too many impressionable young strumpets opt for the tramp stamp, usually settling on a cliche like a butterfly or a tribal design.

But it's soo rebellious! Thanks for the money mom!

I don't like them much. I am just uncomfortable with the idea of being branded. They are also pretty expensive.

If creative they are great, though.

I know where this came from. 8-)

People wear clothing with logos on them. Thats being branded.

The argument that they are expensive seems kinda thin. I understand it can seem like alot of money, but its a permanent piece of art work inked into your body. I think the price is justified for good work.

I would like to see your tattoo Vivi.

How about you fill us in, professor?

ttp://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vivi_ornitier_/CIMG0452.jpg

ttp://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vivi_ornitier_/CIMG0452.jpg

Hopefully this works.


EDIT: (just put an "h" in their obviously and copy and paste it yo!)

REPRIZNIT!!!! :rollseyes:

You gotta be a hardcore Xenogears fan, or must of gotten something very significant out of it.

Im glad you like it :) .

I'm not too big on tattoos, just because I don't like needles. But while I wouldn't totally hate someone for getting a tat, it kind of turns me off. I would never get one myself but like most people feel, if the tattoo is done nicely then I don't care. Just not into the whole "hay guyz im getting a tatoo im cool!" talk that a lot of my drunk friends spew from time to time.

Both my parents have tats from when they were teenagers. My mom has more than my dad, a lot which she got throughout my life, but they're nice...colorful and simple. She got two new tats since this past May because she was jealous over my cousin's new lotus flower tattoo done in red ink. So my mom got a koi in red ink and this tat a few weeks ago which I think is really cool:

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/271/momtattoouh1.jpg

She's going to get "Hamayo" tattooed in hiragana down the side just to the right, it's my grandma's middle name. I think it's sweet. Usually I just get irritated when she goes out an does this stuff (she's got an eyebrow and nose piercing along with all the tats...). But she likes the stuff so *shrug*

I love the expression on the girls face.

Your mom sounds like she has a wild side.

Oh my mom is crazy >.<

She lives for this kind of stuff. She can be all business when she needs to, though (to the point of making her coworkers burst out in tears...). And the more and more she watchess Miami Ink, the more she wants yet another tattoo. Aside from the fact that I look younger than her, if you saw us, you'd think she was my rebellious teenage daughter and I was the conservative mother.

I can only image how crazy that must be.

Im glad your mom is full of spirit, but is still responsible.