Tattoos where do you stand?
 

I created a thread like this a couple of years ago, but times gone by and I just thought I'd get an update on what people are thinking now seeing as body art has become more common.

I personally like tattoos, I have three and each one has a meaning behind it. I think tattoos can be a great way of expressing yourself, but what do you guys think?

Do you think there bad or ok?

I am a bit impartial, my girlfriend wants to get a small one on her ankle and she wants something that has meaning. I am not going to stop her from doing it, I am just kind of yes/no when it comes to it. I am sure I will be fine with it, a little tattoo isn't going to destroy who she is as a person.

Personally, I would never get a tattoo on myself.

I can't see any reason why tattoos would be bad. But there are a lot of things to consider before getting one. First of all, it'll affect how people view you (and thus treat you). Unlike clothing, jewelry, and make-up, which you can change at will, most tattoos are permanent. What if you want to change your look? You'll have to cover up the tattoo somehow. Also, if you are very young, you may want to be careful where you place the tattoo. As your body grows/changes, the image may become stretched or distorted.
Just some things to think about. :)

By the time your skin gets so saggy that your tattoos will warp, nobody's going to want to see you naked anyway. How you'll look when you're old is the most retarded arguement against tattoos ever.

Stop gaining so much weight then.

:smug:

I don't care either way about tattoos, as long as they stay the hell away from my body. So I guess you could say I'm partially against them.
Also I wouldn't ever be able to find any motif or symbol that I care enough about, or would care to look at for a whole lifetime anyway.
Ironically my GF has a huge Norse dragon-thing stretching from one shoulder blade to the other.

I guess if I were ever to get one anyway, I'd have to completely fuck my body over, irezumi style.

I have nothing against tattoos, I only have something against people who get tattoos for no reason whatsoever. It's one thing to get a bad tattoo, it's another to go into a shop and not even know what you're getting until the needle is on you. That's horrible. I think some people definitely trivialize the fact that their tribal armband is going to be on them for life, but hey, it's their body.

I don't really understand the bias against tattoos. If they're well done and mean something to the person who got them, what's the big deal?

I don't have much of a problem with tattoos, but I get bothered about it if it looks bad or the tattoo would've looked better in another place.

When I was with my dad at some hardware store a couple months ago, some dude there had Quagmire from Family Guy tattooed on his neck with "Giggdy Giggidy, Alright!" tattooed alongside him. I couldn't help but think:

... :gonk:

And then a friend of mine got a tattoo on his forearm, a whole bunch of music related stuff since he was a music major. I would've liked the tattoo a whole lot more if he had it on his upper arm or something, but the forearm was just a bad spot to put it.

I personally wouldn't get one because I'd regret the decision later, but nothing against them. Your body, you do what you want with it.

I like tattoos when they're well-organized and cohesive on the body. But things like, say, Mickey Mouse and a portrait of Hitler overlapping on one arm are pretty awful (true story, saw that one on some lovely person about 8 years ago). I like themes, though. There's a guy who works (or worked) at our local Borders that had this Aztec theme going on with his whole body, tattoo and piercing-wise. He had pottery and architecture design tattoos and Quetzalcoatls going through his ears. It was interesting, not necessarily attractive, but at least he had a larger goal in mind with his body art.

Personally, I've considered getting one, but I'm entirely too indecisive to commit to any one design in any permanent location. But Henna is a fantastic alternative to actual tats, in my opinion.

I dont think I'd ever get a tattoo, for the sheer reason that I wouldnt know what to get or where to get it. I cant really envision a tattoo on any part of my body, so that makes it really tough to say.

As for tattoos on other people, I like it when they're tasteful. Its actually a bit of a turn on if a guy has one or two nice, small tattoos. But there comes a point where they just start looking awkward. Tattoo 'sleeves' (especially on just one arm, while the other is bare), and huge words across the stomach just look silly to me.

I like the idea of getting a tattoo, and I have a few ideas of things that aren't just transient bullshit, but I'm going to think about it for at least a year longer before I commit to anything. If and when I do get anything it'll either be on my forearm or my calf, and it'd be something small and discreet.

People who get music-related tattoos are bad, but dolts who opt for shit from video games are the absolute worst.

I would never get a tattoo, and they're really a major turnoff for me when I see them on other people. I just don't like the idea of permanently ruining your body (I know the people who get them don't see it that way, but it just looks ugly to me to have this noticeable, unnatural spot on your skin, regardless of what its of or how big it is), especially on someone who would look totally nice otherwise.

Deni once told me he wanted to get "6:10:50" tattooed on the back of his neck. I STILL think it's an awesome tattoo.

As for me, I'm currently toying with the idea of putting some Aesop Rock lyrics on my inner forearms. I REALLY wanted to use "Must not sleep. Must warn others." but Aes himself already inked that on. I might still do it but I'm more hesitant to do it now that the man himself has them.

In short, Krel: Fuck you.

I'm a fan of them overall though the number of people that get really fucking bad ones seems way higher than it should be. Also neck tats are quite possibly the trashiest thing a person can do.

It doesn't seem so hard to be smart about it really. Pick an image that doesn't look like ass and place it somewhere on your body that you at least have the option of covering up. And you know get someone to do it who's at least competent.

No, if that were Shin's tat, both horses would be blue.

i am ok with it. i might consider getting some in the future (back of neck or lower back).

something simple, symmetrical but no words of any language. don't really want to end up like some people here

may go as far as wings.. but tha'ts pushing it ;)

I'm just wary of getting a symbol of something I might not think is poignant and meaningful twenty years down the line indelibly etched into my flesh. Seems a valid concern to me. :shrug:

I don't have anything against tattoo's, I just don't understand why anyone would want to have someone else doodle all over them with a sharp ink pen. Lots of people tell me that it's to remember an "important event/date", but is it worth keeping ink on your body forever?

So what you're really saying is, you actually do have a problem with tattoos?

Though, I will agree, there are a LOT of bad tattoos out there, there are a lot of people who are jumping on the tattoo bandwagon as it were, but it's not fair to assume that people don't have events or symbols that will always be important to them. It just seems like a cynical point of view to think otherwise.

No, no. I -have- it tattooed on my back. Except it isn't the number. I have the clock tower in a ghost town vista set to 6:10:50.

I did once drunkenly threaten to get it tattooed on my arm in the same style that Donnie Darko gets the count down to the end of the world on his arm. Then I sobered up.

YouTube Video

Who says it won't be meaningful twenty years down the line? If you personally love it enough to put it on yourself, it's worth doing it. Sure I question the judgment some of them use when choosing subject matter but it's ultimately up to the individual. I don't see how picking a symbol from a game makes you "the worst" at, well, anything.

I actually just got one last week. I'd been thinking about it [getting one] for quite a while, but I never really knew what I wanted. I was actually going through some old sketches a few weeks ago and caming across something I drew a few years back and it just clicked. As such, I'm obviously not against them. I probably wouldn't plaster myself with them, but I'm all for getting a couple.

Pics in the Chocojournal, for the record.

Meh, gaming related stuff is as valid/stupid a reason to get a tattoo as anything else, as long as it means something to the person getting it.

I saw this Shadow of the Colossus 'weak point' tattoo, which I thought was a pretty cool idea, instead of say, the logo or something. That's in spite of me not liking SotC very much at all.

If I should choose something that is the least applicable to ever make it to my body though, it would be a celebrity tattoo.

For the lulz:

Behave woman, everyone knows the greatest gay unicorn tattoo of all time is this one:

My tattoos don't have any huge meaning and I find it slightly ridiculous when you watch that Miami Ink thing and there's all these people wanting a picture of a dolphin to remind them of their dead grandpa or a Celtic cross to remind them of the time they ran over their dog or some shit. If you can't remember your own grandpa without a fucking tattoo staring you in the face then you've got some issues.

I'm also not a fan of tattoos that are directly "From" something, I think it shows a lack of imagination if nothing else and I'd rather express myself through an original piece of artwork than a corporate logo or a character or icon someone else came up with from a game or film or whatever. I mean, there's nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from something you've seen, we all do that all the time and trying to come up with something 100% original would be damn near impossible but to slavishly copy a band's logo or put a picture of a computer game character on your butt or something just smacks of a lack of imagination. Either that or a shitty tattoo artist.

I understand why some people would want a picture of Mario on their arm (To remind them of their cousin who died in a freak turtle related accident of course) but it's not for me.

Thanks for your input guys I've already got three tattoos but I was having a debate with my friend who was in a relationship with a guy for just over a yearwho was perfect for her, but was actually considering throwing it away because he was considering getting a tattoo! Which I personally thought was aboslutely crazy! I agree with the majority I am a fan of well designed, thought out tattoos. I think people who get tattoos just for the sake of it are a bit stupid if there is no actual connection to it if it makes sense.


I love this statement! :)

I don't really pay much attention to tattoos on people unless I am actually having a discussion with the person and they catch my eye. I've seen some really cool ones in my lifetime, and I can appreciate a well done tattoo as much as I can a good drawing or painting. I cannot for the life of me think of a logical reason someone would prejudice against people with tattoos.

As for my stance on tattoos on my own body, I would say that the chances are highly unlikely that I will ever get a tattoo myself, simply for the fact that I don't really feel like I would get anything out of it.

i like tattoos too but my father even i'm 21 now don't let me do any:((

If I got a tattoo it'd be Crazy Balloon.

http://i27.tinypic.com/2zokx6p.jpg

On my balls.

Get one where he can't see it and don't let him see it until after you move out.

I'll never get one. You know why? I don't work on a goddamned whaling ship.

Tattoos are now generally worn by only the most uninteresting people. I learn everything about them by looking at what they have inked into their skin - you know, a chinese symbol for peace or a flower with an angel or a movie monster or some other bullshit. These things are so important to you you'd rather put them on your body instead of talking about them? How thin your personality must be...

I think you're rather projecting your own one-dimensional character onto other people there LeHah. What's to say you can't have something tattooed on to you and talk about it? Hell, I've had some very interesting conversations with total strangers based on their tattoos. And I still don't see what's wrong with getting a tattoo just because it looks nice, rather than for some deep spiritual bullshit reason. For the same reason though I don't think tattoos are for everyone because they just don't suit certain people's looks. I mean, I can't imagine a situation where a guy with his t-shirt tucked into his jogging pants would look right with a tattoo, unless it was one someone else tattooed onto him shortly before flushing his head down the toilet saying something like "Born loser".

I dig em'

'Cause I work on a whaling ship.

And I'm uneducated except about whales.

And I like people to know that I'm tough shit just by looking at me
when I bend over to pick up whaling ship supplies at my whaling ship job.

Wow, LeHah. You certainly are good at generalizations.

Anyways, I'm down with them, provided they mean something to the bearer. I have one on my fat right upper arm. Whether or not it will look good in 30 years, I don't care. I plan to get another on my left shoulder of three bumblebees, representing my family. (My last name in French is "bumblebee")

I don't really like those who cover themselves in tattoos, though. I don't consider my skin a blank canvas.

Each person's body is their own, and they're entitled to their tattoos all over their goddamn body. You can tell something about a person by what they chose to put on their skin, though

Because I've never, ever seen a tattoo as an interesting conversation idea. "I got THIS put on me because of blah blah blah and it means bork bork bork" is a shit and a toss from people showing you their vacation pictures. Its something that has no quantifiable value to anyone other than the person wearing it, so how could it be interesting? Are you people entertained by flash cards and random sounds as well?

Yeah, great, you have this thing on you that was never intended to be. Don't talk to me about your self-involved stupidity and your sense of self and spiritual awakenings. Thats just smarts for knuckle-dragging commons. Its not even like theres a story with it! At least I have scars all over me and each one has a bad joke or a good discovery behind it. Tattoos are for people who shoot themself in the foot to leave the front lines.

I am good at them, because the majority of people purposely box themselves into stereotypes to fit in with their immedeate surroundings.

Tattoos are apparently serious business.

As for myself, I have a great fear of needles and inoculations, so I have never attempted to get one. Pre-emptive note: Yes, I am aware of the nature of the tattoo needles, which differ greatly from the kind used in hospitals, doesn't mean I still don't like needles.

As far as tattoos on other people go, I don't really care. Its just ink in skin after all.

Except for the fact that I have NO tolerance for pain in an extended setting, I'd love to get a tattoo going up my spine that kinda looks like nerves. Fucking terrifying, that.

Getting a tattoo doesn't hurt any worse than sunburn.

I'm pale Welsh/Brit stock. I fucking HATE sunburns.

If you were British you'd be tough enough to take the pain of a tattoo. Your parents must be lying to you about where they come from.

I'm tough enough to take the pain of taking it up the ass. Is that tough enough for you?

I mean, I'm also British enough to be French. The family name can be traced back to THE BOOK.

Ain't no lube for a tattooist's needle.

Your parents told you you were British stock to hide the shame of being French. Anyway, even if your great-grand-folks were tough, it sounds like generations of living in the US has turned your gene stock pussy.

Spit's better than lube mosttimes.

And also: I think you missed the vital historical information in the "so British I'm French" comment. And I'm only a 3rd generation American. My great grandfather came over at the end of the 1800s.

I love the trendy tattoos that everyone has now. The barbed wire on the arm. The tramp stamp on the back. Can't wait for the day everyone regrets those.

Hulu - Saturday Night Live: Turlington's Lower Back Tattoo Remover

Tattoos aren't really more common. You just got older and were exposed to more folks who had obtained them.

I might want a tattoo, not sure, still. After boot camp, it was THE THING to do.

BUT WHAT IN THE HELL is the fascination with tattooing your own fucking name to yourself? Seriously, guys? Are you that absent-minded you forget your name and have to write it down permanently?

Then the other night some girl showed me a pic of her tattoo on her hip. JRR Tolkien's signature. Nerd++. Right.

Another of my buddies from boot camp got the Umbrella Corp logo tattooed onto his upper arm, slightly variant. It looks alright.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...8796c7aaaf.jpg

Actually, in North America tattoos are much more common, Zeph.

According to Alfred Gell and Demello's books on the subject, in the 50's you were looking at roughly 8% of the US population, and now it's up over 30. So a huge increase, actually.

As anyone who knows me already realises, I'm a huge booster of tattoos. Call it modern tribalism, art, expression, whatever. I've done years of research on them, amassed about 4000 pages of people's personal stories concerning their own work, and an endless supply of stories and experiences from artists. If you have any real interest in this subject, you really should have already read Gell and Demello, but if you haven't, do yourself the favour.

:)

I didn't miss the historical information, I treated the comment with the same disdain I reserve for every American who says they're Irish or Italian or French or anything other than American. You can call yourself British or French or fucking Zulu if you want to but if your grandparents were born in America, you're American and nothing else. That's how the rest of the world sees you and frankly that's how the passport office and an embassy would see you.

I'll never understand why if you ask pretty much any American what their heritage is they'll never say American and instead list off a bunch of different European nations neither they nor their parents of grandparents ever set foot in but that's a discussion for another thread.

I think more people have tattoos now as it's far more socially acceptable. As LeHah said in his post from the 19th Century, once upon a time tattoos in Western society were the preserve of sailors and the like or even the mark of being a criminal. It wasn't that long ago that getting a tattoo on your lower arms would preclude you from getting a job where your arms were on show, now very few people give a fuck (Over here anyway, one imagines that in the more loopy bible bashing parts of the world the stigma pervades).

Just want to clear something up: Are you talking about Americans who say their nationality is Irish, Italian, French etc., or their ethnicity?

Both confuse me to be honest. I guess it's primarily because people in Europe don't talk about their ethnicity in terms of nations. You'd never hear anyone over here describe themselves as Welsh stock, ever. They'd say they were Welsh, because they or their parents come from Wales (Which would technically make them English as it happens) but other than that, people over here think of themselves far more broadly in terms of ethnicity than Americans do. You're pretty much Scandinavian (Blonde or ginger, pale skin), Northern European (What Wvlf is calling Welsh, Dark hair, pale skin), Eastern European (Dark hair, kinda mongy looking) or Mediteranean (Dark hair, dark skin) or more likely a huge mix of everything. In fact people never refer to their ethnicity at all, the place of one's birth is far more important to people here than where your ancestors may or may not have come from.

I suspect that's mainly to do with the huge amount of emigration that goes on over here, the far wider mix of ethnic backgrounds in general, the much greater mingling of ethnicities here compared to the US, the centuries of wars providing deeply ingrained national hatreds and hilariously fluid borders and the fact that America is a very, very young nation. The concept of being "American" didn't even exist a couple of hundred years ago and one can understand how the religious nuts and criminals who populated the place would have struggled to find a collective identity once ties with Europe were fully broken.

I'm not saying it's wrong, it's just a weird concept for a European (Or at least all the Europeans I ever discussed it with) and even most second generation Indian or Pakistani or Jamaican immigrants here would call themselves British if you asked them. Obviously they know where there families are from but the question "Where are you from" evokes a nationality response here rather than an ethnicity one you'd expect from a Merkin.

I think it's because a lot of America's history is tied to its immigration. It's actually pretty neat to know which parts of the world your family is from, and how they all got to America. For example, on my mom's side they've been in America since Virginia was considered frontier, and at one point were massacred by Native Americans. My dad's side, on the other hand, came from Poland and Russia through Ellis Island within the last 100 years.

(And, for the record, when people as where my family's from I say New York and Virginia. And I'm a Pennsylvanian.)

Well, yes. I am a white Amurken. But where people's people come from tends to explain more about ethnicity than simply saying where your parents were born.

On that end, both of them are small town Western Pennsylvanian, and I'm an army brat so I'm not from anywhere.

Heh, I think another reason for the difference is that perhaps despite of the cultural diversity here but more likely because of it, people will go out of their way not to appear to be an outsider so going around telling everyone you're Irish at a school in the south east of England would just get you picked on, especially Irish what with them all being child murdering terrorist fucks and all.

And it's easy to forget how stupidly huge your country is at times. Compared to the US, Europe is a collection of state-sized nations, all wildly different and all with a long histroy of fighting each other so tribal mentality is always going to come to the forefront. Like I said, I don't think you're wrong to identify yourselves in terms of your ancestors, it's just a bit weird hearing what to us looks like a white, American guy banging on about how he's Italian or Irish or whatever, given that he quite clearly isn't and is in fact just another American in our eyes.

That and being proud of being Irish is the most wrong thing ever.

I've wanted a tattoo for a long while now but I'm still not sure what I want done. Naturally this means I probably won't get one for at least a few more years. The ones I've wanted done I always thought would be best across my shoulders, but that might change, depending on my final decision.

So yeah, I've got no qualms with tattoos. Even more common themes can be alright if they've got a bit of original flair to them. For instance one of my mates has a tribal band around the top of his arm, but since he designed it himself rather than just picking it off a wall in a tattoo parlour, I quite like it. Some do really make me wonder what the fuck the person was thinking, but again, their body etc. One girl I know has a pair of strawberries on her ankle, because speaking in terms of teh mighty internetz she is referred to as Strawberry Yoghurt. She may as well have gotten a Muller Corner tattoo because that's how ridiculous I think that makes her.

A question which I really should know the answer to: is it possible to tattoo over scars?

Scars shouldn't stop a tattoo from taking to the best of my knowledge. Skins skin as far as that goes but it may hurt more or less than regular skin.

A good tattoo artist should know what he will and wont work on, or what looks best or whatever. I'd say the best advice I can give you is find a good place and start asking questions.

As far as I know, tattooing over scars [to essentially hide them] is fairly common. I've seen a few done by the artist that did my tattoo, but I'm not sure if all artists will do it. Again, probably just best to ask around.

But white Italians don't look "just white" to me. It's as different from other varieties of white as Japanese are from the other varieties of azn.

Actually board activity?!?! WHAT?!

I don't mind if other people have tattoos but I wouldn't get one for myself. Tattoos are a very big deal in Asian culture because only the mafia get them, but thats not really the reason. It just seems like a waste of money and I don't think any design I would get today would be as significant later in life.

But you if you reckon you can tell the difference between an Italian, a Spaniard, a Portugese, a guy from the south of France, a Greek, a Magyar, Turk or perhaps even Morrocan, you're lying or deluding yourself.

And no matter how Italian a guy looks, as soon as he opens his mouth and you hear that American accent, chances are he's an American. No amount of using the word Mamma and eating pasta can hide that.

I don't know I can fairly regularly tell the difference between an Italian a Spaniard and a Greek. The rest not so much plus give a family a few years of marrying with the large mix that's common around here and the waters do get muddied more than a bit. Eventually it does just turn into generic swarthy guy.

A lot of this seems to come down to terminology when you claim an ancestry it tends to really mean I'm an American + this other random cultural influence. With the I'm American bit just being assumed generally as they're used to talking to others using the same framework. It's partially the fact that just being American can be really nebulous in what it means seeing as there's variance from region to region and then even within that from state to state.

Even state isn't all that helpful at times seeing as we have quite a few states bigger than a lot of countries. So we at times dice it down smaller and smaller until you get to my people came from whatever place. Plus in some area's large groups from that one other country were forced to live together in tight enough quarters for long enough to to force them to have their own subculture. Not that a Italian American is going to be much like a real Italian most likely but they're still different enough from the standard here to need a sub identifier.

Not that it matters much outside the U.S. and claiming it at someone in Europe probably isn't helpful in the least but you know people get used to their cultural identifiers and don't think too much about it before speaking.

I probably would never have a tattoo since I have a dozen other better uses for the money to afford such luxury and I'm not keen on having any permanent markings on my body. However, if I were to choose anything, I'd have this on my back (I assume somewhere between my shoulder blades so it can be appropriately hidden for most occasions).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...amilycrest.jpg
It's my family crest(?), so I assume it would have sufficient enough meaning.

Do what my sister did and get me drunk enough to pay for it.

We use Italian as an excuse to be temperamental, and we use Irish as an excuse to drink a lot, or to proclaim magical healing powers from Guinness.

Wow, that's a pretty sycophantic coat of arms. Castles generally mean solidarity and feathers obedience. The chevron in the middle can also be awarded for faithful service. If that's a genuine coat of arms handed out by the College of Arms, one of your ancestors quite possibly spent a lot of time on his knees. Also, the helmet is the wrong colour, gold helmets are only for royalty but then it'd be facing forward with the visor open. A sideways helmet with the visor shut denotes an esquire, rather than any sort of nobility and should be steel. The white bits of the mantling should be blue too as the mantling should be in the same metal and colour as the body of the arms, in this case gold and blue. You're also missing a wreath around the top of the helmet.

I'm not trying to diss your family crest here, I just think it'd be worth getting it right (Assuming it's a proper College of Arms piece and not just something someone made up once) if you ever seriously thought about getting it permanently etched into your skin.


I'm quite a heraldry nerd, that's what comes from growing up in a town with a Norman castle, surrounded by other towns with Norman castles.

Shit makes an excellent Tramp Stamp.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4569/tramp.jpg

Ha ha ha, I'll pay £20 if someone has this done.

I'm down with tattoos. I'm sleeved and I don't regret it yet. On the other hand, I've closed my piercings. I first lost interest in my septum ring (started wearing it invisibly 2 years ago) and the rest followed. I carry myself upright and have never had trouble in society, even with dreadlocks. By coincidence, I cut them off today. I walk that blurry line where 'nerd' meets 'hip.' Non-thuggish, artistic presentation. I have a kid on the way so I'm settling down.

Better still is if we get it made as a removeable tattoo and hand them out to GFF board members.

I am actually quite tempted to find a henna tattooist and get it done.

I am not a fan of tatoo but sometimes it is great! It depends on the masters' skills.

There are some very impressive tattoos that I have seen recently. Although personally I'll never go through with something like that.

On occasions some of my friends or acquaintances will ask me to create/draw images that will be use as the basis for a tattoo. I was never really comfortable with something like that. Something about the permanent-ness (?) of the body modification that bothers me.

What if you decided that you dislike the design later on? What happened if because either aging or body proportion changes that tattoo turn into something ass ugly? Am I going to get my ass kicked because of that? O.O;;

I got 9. Cuz real men have alot of tatts. i don't gotta worry about saggin' either cuz I'm tight, toned and the bitches love it dude.

On an unrelated note, I miss Confederate Rebel.

YEEEHAW TOBY KEITH!

Not all tattoos.. If you take good care of them and have them touched up when they need to be touched up along with the fact that the person takes care of their body. The tattoo won't look like shit. ya know?

I personal have 5. 2 on each arm and 1 in the back of the neck.

There's nothing important enough to me to get it permanently etched onto my skin. To each their own, but no thanks for me.

Maybe when we all have robot bodies and have ways to change stuff like that like a wallpaper....

PS: Yes, I am crazy.

Is the one on the back of your neck a barcode? I bet ten bucks it's a fucking barcode.

Also, no, no matter how well you take care of your body, you will eventually be wrinkly and the tattoo won't look good. it's just a fact of the medium. But so long as that tattoo has meaning to you, you really won't care.

As I already said, by the time your skin gets saggy enough to affect the appearance of a tattoo, nobody's going to want to see you naked anyway so a mis-shapen tat will be the least of your worries.

That just made me think of what's going to happen to people with face tattoos and whatnot. Then I thought of Mike Tyson as an old man and scared myself. :(

That's just too interesting not to google!

Maybe if I grow old and care about nothing but the punks hoverboarding on my sidewalk, I'll get one of those fancy tattoos that transforms into something when you flex. Like a raisin that turns into a grape when I pull my stomache skin.

Does anybody sharpie or marker their tattoo idea on before they actually get it done to see if they like it or not? Anybody known anybody to do this?

I had a rough copy of my design done in marker just to see how it would look on my arm as opposed to just a flat piece of paper. Didn't wear it around for weeks or anything, but yeah, I did that.

A lot of people I know have had their designs sketched in various places on their body, to see how it actually looked on their skin and to see whereabouts they wanted it inked. I think I would do the same.

Like Mike Tyson will live to old age.

Oh god no.. That's too cliche.. but that's not saying mine are any else cliche..

The one on the back of my neck is Kanji for Fire...

I have Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Heaven tattoo'd on me.. But I got them all in places where I can keep them concealed. The way I see it is that those tattoos i got them for my own enjoyment and I don't care if someone sees them or not. I also know that with some jobs they don't tend to look highly on tattoos and I could affect my hiring career. I thought pretty long and hard before i got them.

I told you it was cliche..

I hope after all that sad shit, you got Captain Planet tattooed on your scrotum, you fucker.

But he didn't get Heart tattoo'd on him because he doesn't want Styphon to IRL ban him, so no Captain Planet.