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What does a tattoo say about a person?

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Desert Snake

Veteran Member
I think a tattoo can say."I know a tattoo artist".
Seriously , ever wonder how many tats are spur of the moment
situations like that? Might be a lot.
Also, where you live, are you living right next to a parlor? Duh,
chances are, more tats/
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
disciple said:
I think a tattoo can say."I know a tattoo artist".
Seriously , ever wonder how many tats are spur of the moment
situations like that? Might be a lot.
Also, where you live, are you living right next to a parlor? Duh,
chances are, more tats/
Click to expand...
I've known several people who claim to be a tattoo artists, but that is a title they and their stupid friends give to themselves. If you aren't in a shop, if you aren't licensed, if your station isn't clean and sanitary, you are breaking the law and you are not putting ink on my skin. I've known people who have gotten merca infections from these people who masquerade as tattoo artists. The shop I go to even has several signs encouraging people to report underground tattooing because it can be a very dangerous environment.
 
Skwim

Skwim

Veteran Member
Shadow Wolf said:
I'd rather have my fun now than be 70 years old and wishing I would have done more.
Click to expand...
Not a bad approach, but do you think that at a tattooless 70 you'd be wishing you had gotten tattoos?         Who knows, :shrug: I guess.
 
Nymphs

Nymphs

Well-Known Member
Skwim said:
I'm not interested in discussing any "thrill" and "anticipation" of getting a tattoo. I was simply giving my opinion as to what tattoos say about a person---the OP's subject---which, for the most part, I feel is shortsightedness.
Click to expand...

It's your opinion -- but proven by the people commenting on this thread, it is at least partially wrong. I feel bad for you that you have this sort of judgement on people who have tattoos.
 
Nymphs

Nymphs

Well-Known Member
disciple said:
I think a tattoo can say."I know a tattoo artist".
Click to expand...

I have a tattoo artist -- several in fact. I also know several tattoo artists that are just my friends.

disciple said:
Seriously , ever wonder how many tats are spur of the moment
situations like that? Might be a lot.
Click to expand...

None of mine have been spur-of-the-moment. Each tattoo has been thought about for a minimum of two months before I've been inked.

disciple said:
Also, where you live, are you living right next to a parlor? Duh,
chances are, more tats/
Click to expand...

I have ten tattoos. My parlour is across town. I don't think proximity to a tattoo parlor has anything to do with the amount that one has.
 
Skwim

Skwim

Veteran Member
Nymphs said:
It's your opinion -- but proven by the people commenting on this thread, it is at least partially wrong.
Click to expand...
About all I've seen are objections based on their current appraisal of having tattoos, and very little about any future reflection.

I feel bad for you that you have this sort of judgement on people who have tattoos.
Click to expand...
Why? Is there some harm I'm doing to myself by thinking as I do?
 
Nymphs

Nymphs

Well-Known Member
Skwim said:
About all I've seen are objections based on their current appraisal of having tattoos, and very little about any future reflection.
Click to expand...

My future is based on my past. While my interests will change, each tattoo that I have received represents something symbolic in my life. That symbolism and event will always be a part of my life and I will look back on it with happy reflection in the future.

If you have any curiosity about my tattoos and current symbolisms that I've thought about, here is a thread where I've shared my tattoos:

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/social-world/163366-share-your-tattoos.html

Skwim said:
Why? Is there some harm I'm doing to myself by thinking as I do?
Click to expand...

I think so yes. You are labeling those with tattoos as people who don't think ahead or do it on the spur-of-the-moment and I've seen your judgement that goes along with it. You are hurting yourself more than anyone.
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Nymphs said:
None of mine have been spur-of-the-moment. Each tattoo has been thought about for a minimum of two months before I've been inked.
Click to expand...
My piercer, who is also a tattoo artist, was talking to me the other day about how he doesn't like people who get tattoos or piercings on a whim, because, according to him, they are usually very whinny about the pain and are usually the ones he gets back in for complications because they weren't properly taking care of themselves. And then he told me how awesome I am :)D) because I want more, I don't cry or whine from the pain, and most importantly because I have put thought into what I want and I don't show up on a whim.
And I know I want to go to Japan, but all this talking of tattoos REALLY has me wanting to go out and get another; perhaps a gothic-looking fairy or a small portrait of the Creature (just not at all anything that resembles the Hollywood "Frankenstein")?
 
Riverwolf

Riverwolf

Amateur Rambler / Proud Ergi
Premium Member
Skwim said:
Only that I've seen quite a few older people sometimes regret earlier, unalterable decisions they made. I believe that as people age the things they find important/significant changes, often dumping old interests along the way. Unlike most such things, tattoos don't lend themselves to such dumping, but rather regret. In fact, my guess is that within 25-30 years of getting a tattoo most do regret it.
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1. Tattoos can be removed.
2. On what basis do you make the assumption that most people who age and lose old interests (something I hardly ever see in my elders) would you include tattoos among the interests often dropped?
 
Riverwolf

Riverwolf

Amateur Rambler / Proud Ergi
Premium Member
Though I will say, the potential permanence of tattoos is one of the things holding me back from getting one.

I'll likely just use henna to paint my body (once I know how to, anyway; gotta grow out of the sharpie someday. ^_^)
 
ametist

ametist

Active Member
I am not sure what it signifies or other people but it was a mystical experience for me. I plan everything carefully but I didnt plan having a tattoo. I havent thought about its shape or its place.i wasnt drunk or hadnt haf any mind altering substance.i was walking on the road and had the urge to have one.i caled a friend who hs one and asked for the address if the tattoo maker who made her tattoo.i went to the place.there was a tatoo making studio there but latet it turned out that she had made a mistake and gave me the wrong building number.maker asked me what I want and I looked at the pile of books I just bought one of them wad about numbers other about jesus and other about dragons.i said it should br sbout dragons and on my right shoulder where I wont ever see. Later I noticed that maker made it on my left shoulder not on my right shoulder.the image of dragon is drawn for me and the only copy is delivered to me.also during the making of the tattoo I watched some clear reflections of people on the floor tiles which didnt have the actual source in the room. I like my tatoo pretty much to this day.
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Riverwolf said:
1. Tattoos can be removed.
2. On what basis do you make the assumption that most people who age and lose old interests (something I hardly ever see in my elders) would you include tattoos among the interests often dropped?
Click to expand...
I was somewhere and someone was watching some show, but anyways it featured some woman who had multiple tattoos removed, and she was discussing having another removed before her wedding. Though I just will never understand such a wasteful use of money, time and art, I do have to admit the removals seemed to be very good.
 
DreadFish

DreadFish

Cosmic Vagabond
I got my first tattoo after wanting tattoos for about 3 years. That was 4 years ago and, so far, no regret.

For me, each tattoo is a companion. I regularly take care of each one and they each have significance and function to me.

I think the main thing about a lot of people having regrets is that a lot of people, who wouldn't normally get a tattoo, end up getting a tattoo because they see the tattoo culture and are attracted to it. The kind of people who get that one tattoo because they want "a tattoo" and then leave it at that. There's a tattoo culture and certain people just have a mind for that culture and those kinds of people don't usually regret their tattoos. I've simply decided that i'm just not going to regret my tattoos.

For me, its a basic human thing. Cultures all over the world have had tattoo traditions and, in traditions, tattoos mean something. You don't just get a tattoo, you earn it by reaching a certain age or accomplishing something. The first culture that comes to mind is the Iban of Borneo. Though it is waning among the youth, in their tradition, a person gets their first tattoos as coming of age and subsequent tattoos come from reaching certain stages of life, traveling to other places or accomplishing certain things. In this context, the most well known is the hand tattoo for taking a head. There are literally just a few living Iban who actually have that tattoo because no one takes heads anymore. IMO, the tattoos look good and very cool on the old Iban guys, and tattoos are a point of pride for them.

Nowadays, there is actually a big problem with ****** "artists" opening shop and tattooing people.The whole tattoo culture has gotten more appreciation by the mainstream and a lot of people have wanted to get one. As a result, to cash in on the large amount of people who want tattoos now, there are tons of sub par tattoo shops who give crappy tattoos to those people who shouldn't be getting tattoos in the first place.

Anyway, I'd bet this is the reason there is such a high rate of people regretting their tattoos. Higher number of people getting tattoos, for the wrong reasons, more crappy tattoo artists, higher percentage of regret. Also, for the record: no legit tattoo artist will ever let a drunk person get a tattoo.
 
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Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
DreadFish said:
I got my first tattoo after wanting tattoos for about 3 years. That was 4 years ago and, so far, no regret.

For me, each tattoo is a companion. I regularly take care of each one and they each have significance and function to me.

I think the main thing about a lot of people having regrets is that a lot of people, who wouldn't normally get a tattoo, end up getting a tattoo because they see the tattoo culture and are attracted to it. The kind of people who get that one tattoo because they want "a tattoo" and then leave it at that. There's a tattoo culture and certain people just have a mind for that culture and those kinds of people don't usually regret their tattoos. I've simply decided that i'm just not going to regret my tattoos.

For me, its a basic human thing. Cultures all over the world have had tattoo traditions and, in traditions, tattoos mean something. You don't just get a tattoo, you earn it by reaching a certain age or accomplishing something. The first culture that comes to mind is the Iban of Borneo. Though it is waning among the youth, in their tradition, a person gets their first tattoos as coming of age and subsequent tattoos come from reaching certain stages of life, traveling to other places or accomplishing certain things. In this context, the most well known is the hand tattoo for taking a head. There are literally just a few living Iban who actually have that tattoo because no one takes heads anymore. IMO, the tattoos look good and very cool on the old Iban guys, and tattoos are a point of pride for them.

Nowadays, there is actually a big problem with ****** "artists" opening shop and tattooing people.The whole tattoo culture has gotten more appreciation by the mainstream and a lot of people have wanted to get one. As a result, to cash in on the large amount of people who want tattoos now, there are tons of sub par tattoo shops who give crappy tattoos to those people who shouldn't be getting tattoos in the first place.

Anyway, I'd bet this is the reason there is such a high rate of people regretting their tattoos. Higher number of people getting tattoos, for the wrong reasons, more crappy tattoo artists, higher percentage of regret. Also, for the record: no legit tattoo artist will ever let a drunk person get a tattoo.
Click to expand...
Where I go, they have several pictures of what you can expect if you decide to go with a discount/cheap tattoo. They aren't pretty and honestly I would probably regret it to if I had something that looked that bad on me. They also have a sign that clearly states "if you a drunk, high, or ****** up on anything, come back when you aren't." I do not see myself ever doing business with a parlor that is not at least as equally serious as the one I go to now. You can tell as soon as you walk in, they are professionals who are running a professional business.
And the culture of it is another major part. People who typically get tattoos or piercings also typically belong to a sub-culture where you will be hard pressed to find someone who isn't pierced and tattooed. In many ways, they serve as a sort of potential "kinship marker" that can help group members more easily identify each other.
 
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