Tattoos, Things people have and why... Options

[Matthew]

I'm fairly heavily tattoo'ed, some of them are pretty bad, some not...
I've always been facinated by tattoo's and the reasoning behind them, I grew up in a
forces town and nearly everyone I came into contact with had them so they were not all
that unusual to me.
As I got older, I realized that tattoo's had various negative conotations, that only
certain types of people had them... criminals, soldiers, bikers that kinda thing...

Recently I've noticed that any social stigma attached to tattooing and piercing has
pretty much gone, Just look at how many celebrities sport ink now!

To some its a pretty spiritual, thought-out process, to others it's just fashion thing.

Now, I like tattoos, but some times you gotta wonder why some people get them...
For instance I saw a chap today with the Cyber-dog logo tattooed on the back of his
skull! Just an average looking fella, but, the thing is, it wasn't straight.
Just kinda lopsided on his head....

So, I was wondering what's other peoples views? And, if you've got em, what have
you got and why? Whats too much or over the top? Got any really cool stuff or stuff
that wasn't thought out properly and thats why you've always got long sleeves on?
Do they have a story behind them or are the just pleasing to the eye?

I'll start the ball rolling... I've got a really bad tattoo of a rose, now i'ts supposed to
be a kinda art deco style thing and I wanted it to be purple...
But I get the piss taken for having a pink smoosh on my upper arm!

[Ashbless]

I don't have any. I've admired other's designs but run into a puzzler whenever I contemplate getting one.
Will I still like this permanent picture when I'm older?
What design will still be me after 10, 20 or 40 years?

I'd also like to be sure the artist in question is fairly good. Taking as a given they work with sterilized equipment (because who wants a blood disease?) have they a good eye for their art? Will I wind up like the guy above with a lopsided design? Who wants to go in for "born to ruin" and come out wearing "bron to runs"?

That said I've seen some beautiful work. A coworker had a bird that covered one whole calf, and I spent an enjoyable couple hours working out all the intricate detail in one fellow's piece that covered his entire shoulder. My one friend has a small design that suits her perfectly and looks gorgeous.

So, I'm pro-tattoo but not keen to get one myself anytime quick.

[{Gothic Angel}]

I wanted one of the ones across the base of my back for ages, but they've become kinda commercialised lately. All the cool people have them, so I don't want a tribal design one anymore How pathetic am I?

I did, however, see one with barbed wire and weed-style flowers on, which was rather cool.

I also want a gecko type lizard on my arm. I like to doodle and stuff, and one of the things which I have consistantly doodled for ages has been geckos. I just like them. They're pretty.

[Novander]

I'm not a huge fan of tattoos generally, but sometimes they can work well. There was a girl standing in front of me at a gig recently with an awesome dragonfly tattoo on the back of her neck/top of her back.

Like ashbless I can't think of any design I'd probably still want in 20 years. It'd be small though. Less is more tattoowise.

[elphaba2]

I am pro-tatoo but indescisive like ashbless. I tend to doodle with permanent marker, though* and currently have the crow image from the new Incubus album art on the back of my hand (the ambiguous-looking crow with a missing center) and a golden apple on the side of my knee. A friend of mine doodled a small, perfect star just behind my ear, which was lovely, but now it's faded away.

*lots of people get shocked when I say I use permanent marker. It's non-toxic, unlike pen ink, which often contains heavy metals, and usually better-looking. Silly them.

[LoLo]

I've got a set of eyes that I've designed on the top of my shoulders. I'm actually pretty stoked because I got them for 20 dollars since my friend was doing his apprenticeship at a tat parlor when he did them. They are lovely and I like them very much.

I wanted the tat because I was always drawing on myself as a way to express myself, and do the whole art thing that I do, so I wanted to make one permanent. I've always had an obsession with eyes and so I decided those would be good for me. They also are pretty nifty when I wear a shirt exposing them because they generally freak out the people behind me even though they are not functioning. At work the code for my tats showing (can't have it show there) is, Lo you're peaking at me, staring at me, or something along those lines.

I once had someone tell me that it would be freaky to have sex with me doggy style, but that's just an aside.

[PsychWardMike]

I'm gonna get one when I go to college. My design is rather dorky, so someone will actually have to ask before I give it up.

*waits*

[Ashbless]

Please Mike? What is tattoo design please?

Polite enough asking?

[PsychWardMike]

Indeed.

I simply want a blue music eighth note tattooed on my right bicep. Big but not too big, dig?

[Righteous]

I have two. The first is a cross on my chest that I swpre I'd get when I was in high school. The second is a Mushroomhead symbol on my right arm, which I got two days before I saw them in concert. The second was rather hurried and not well planned out. I'm going to incorporate that and the Cold spider into a sleeve, which I've yet to talk to someone about.

My next one will be a bitchin' triangle deal on my back. Eventually, I'll have a bunch of tats on my back and chest (I won't get any on my belly because I'm chubby and I know it'll stretch). I can't get any tattoos on my left arm or the left side of my chest for another few years when, Lord willing, my scars will fade. When that happens, I'll start on another sleeve.

Also, if I can get away with it, I want to get tattoos on the backs of my hands. I just think that would kick ass.

A bunch of our friends have tattoos, all with different images the got for different reasons. Some are more expensive than others and some were gotten covertly without parental permission (mine, my brother's girlfriend, my brother's best friend...) My dad HATES tattoos with a passion. He gives our friends Hell about their ink all the time. I swear, I'm afraid he'll disown me if he finds out I have two.

I prefer custom images to flash. I know they're more expensive, but I'd rather get something that isn't easily accessable, if that makes sense.

I, too, used to draw on myself. Hell, I still do. My folks always yelled at me and told me to draw on paper instead, but it's just not the same. THere's something magical about seeing images and text on your skin.

My little sister has an extremely healthy outlook on ink. one of her brothers and several of her brothers' friends have tattoos, so she's around them all the time. She's also an artist, so she understands the whole artistic concept. SHe likes tattoos, but she says she won't get one unless it's small and means a lot to her. She's nine years old.

I saw a chick today with this sun design that went from her upper chest to her lower neck. It was hot.

I once had someone tell me that it would be freaky to have sex with me doggy style, but that's just an aside.

Wasn't that me? It sure as Hell would, that's for sure.

If I don't make sense, that's because I'm sick as a dog and delerious. I think I'll go pass out on my couch watching Legend.

[Phyllis]

I once had someone tell me that it would be freaky to have sex with me doggy style, but that's just an aside.

Wasn't that me? It sure as Hell would, that's for sure.

I remember guys saying that to Lo when I first met her...which was 4 or 5 years ago. Though it's kind of an obvious conclusion...I had the thought myself when she first showed me a picture of the tattoos, I think (though I didn't say so to her)

Anyway, I like the idea, but I haven't found anything that's so meaningful that I would want it on my body forever.

Does anyone else hate it when people get their significant other's name tattooed on themselves? That's kind of a guarantee you'll have a horrible break up and never want to think of them again...

[Matthew]

I like the idea of tattoos having some signifigance or meaning for the person who
has them, because it is a fairly unique experience...
On the whole I've always gotten positive remarks about my ink (Except when one
lady dragged her child out of my way in a supermarket looking horrified, and as I
passed, I overheard her tell her daughter to stay away from the 'nasty man') They
usually provoke people to come up to me and start conversations, which, when you
consider how shy I am, is no bad thing!

A lot of folks I work with ask advice about what to get done and where and who by,
and it's always cool when they come to find me and show me their new work!

One thing that shocked me whilst in America was the different kind of culture and
the way tattoos were looked at... (I was in California, so I'm sure it's probably not
as liberal about these things in the bible-belt)

Has anyone got any horror stories about ill-thought out tatt's or bad experiences?
Don't name names/parlours to be on the safe side!

Does anyone have an opinion about what it is that drives us to mark ourselves in
this way, be it tattooing, piercing or scarification... even branding?

On the getting your other halfs name tattooed thingie... Gotta agree with Candice
on that one... you'll only be with that person for probably another six months!
Bad idea. Big mistake. Nuh uh. Nope. Don't do it. I speak from experience!

[Mata]

Matthew, I could add a couple of photos of your dragon tat. to the thread if you'd like?

I've been pondering getting a tattoo for many years, but it's difficult to find something that I feel will always be relevant to me. I don't want a tattoo to be a reminder of a time, I want it to always mean something to me about myself at whatever age I reach, and that's a tricky thing to predict.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

I like tattoos, I'd like a tattoo, but I've not put much thought into what I'd want and where I'd want it, there are too many people with tribal designs for me to want one of those, I'd probably get someone to do a custom design for me, but I don't have the money at the moment, so it'll have to wait.

I never really took much notice of them, my dad had 2 when I was growing up (biker) but he's since branched out and got celtic band around his upper arm and a celtic dragon/pattern on the underside of one of his forearms. The latter 2 he's got in the past few years since he moved out to France, and he's 50 this December. He has said he's not to keen on the older ones he has now, ones a snake wrapped around a dagger and the other's something to do with biker friends (1%ers Brothers Grim). He won't get them covered with another design though.

[Usurper MrTeapot]

I would like a tattoo but I liked the Tribal tattoos before I saw everyone had them. If I got a tattoo I'd be annoyed if it suddenly became popular to have similar ones.

I don't think the indie penis theory would work with tats. "I had a MrTeapot tattoo before they became popular."

[Righteous]

I almost got a tat for a significant other twice. You figure I'd learn the first time. Similarly, my uncle has a rose vine on his arm. He showed me one time and said, "That wasn't always a rose vine. That was my first wife's name." Regardless of how much I believe in the sanctity of marriage, I'm never going to get my proverbial husband/wife's name tatooed on me.

Regarding significance, my left sleeve will be all beliefs and positive outlooks on my life, examples being "SEND IN THE CLOWNS" and "GOD HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS" and "THE DREAM IS NEVER OVER." One I want to get on my wrist is "PREVAIL." It'll be written so that I read it every time I look down as a reminder to do so. On the same arm, I want to get an anarchy symbol and maybe a Rebal flag. I also want to get a Parental Advisory warning, but I'm not sure if it'll be on that arm or in the middle of my chest.

The only real remarks were about my Mushroomhead tat, mainly "What's that supposed to be?" and "Mushroomhead rules." When I went to see them, James from Crossbreed and Jeffrey Nothing and Waylon from Mushroomhead complimented me on it. It was awesome. We once hung out with Chris from Crossbreed and his girlfriend and the first words out of her mouth were, "You're gonna regret that." I would have told her off, but her rock star boyfriend was right there.

No, Matthew, here in the Bible Belt, people aren't very liberal about this stuff (overall, that is). SOme view it as a sin to get ink. SOme just think it's "disgusting" or damage to my body or some crap. I should point out, though, that I've seen people with full portraits of Jesus and multiple crosses on their bodies (I plan on getting five or so more myself).

Of the three major horror stories I have, two regard the same parlor. My friend went in about fifteen minutes atattoo can I get?" He was just asking to get ripped off. At the same place, I got a great price on my Mushroomhead tat only to find out that the guy had been doing tats for only four months. I'm flat-out missing ink in some areas. I plan on getting it worked on by the artist of an aquantence of mine. The other horror story isn't much, really. I paid too much for my cross, but at least I know I can cheaply get it made into "Tragick."

I have a firm belief that the body is a canvas that God gave us to decorate. I've considered branding and scarification, but decided against it. I am thinking of either a bridge piercing or a lebray piercing. I've been told I'd look good with either, but not both.

[I_am_the_best]

I've always wanted a tattoo of a line of either Mazurka or Passepied (both Debussy) round the top bit of my arm or ankle. I would never be allowed one though and over the years I have developed a fear of needles. I tried to tattoo OCL on my leg once but I only had red/pink ink and so after a couple of weeks it just faded. I don't think I went deep enough.

[Faerieryn]

I have a tattoo on my right shoulder blade of a faerie. I love it so much. I had it done when I was 21 with money my gran left me in her will. I had wanted a faerie tattoo since I was about 10 years old and it means far more to me than most would think because it is a faerie. I really don't care if other people have faerie tattoos because mine means something to ME. I'm thinking of gewtting another tattoo along the base of my spine haven't decided what I want yet. Isn't it amazing how the first tattoo takes years of convinving yourself whilst the second takes a matter of months/ weeks/ days?

[bryden42]

Isn't it amazing how the first tattoo takes years of convinving yourself whilst the second takes a matter of months/ weeks/ days?

I dont want to railroad this thread but i found it to be the same with piercing.

as far as tatoos go, i do want one, i even have a design, or at least i did before my computer crashed, my issue is the cost, I want a side back panel of one tattoo, it would be a rearing dragon (i was born 1976 year of the dragon) holding scales (i am libran) in one hand and a full moon represenation (i was born on the full moon) in the other. I have been quoted £200 which is a bit above and beyond my budget and I also want to find a good tatooist as this is deffinately a more than one sitting affair.

[{Gothic Angel}]

Indeed.

I simply want a blue music eighth note tattooed on my right bicep.  Big but not too big, dig?

A quaver? Oooh Purdy

They're the pretty musical notes

[CommieBastard]

My tattoo is currently at an early stage. This stage is commonly called "research and development". I still don't know exactly what I want (I have a lot of vague aesthetic principles) or where I want it...

[Righteous]

I really don't care if other people have faerie tattoos because mine means something to ME.

Likewise. THere are plenty of other people with tats of crosses and plenty with Mushroomhead tats, but the ones I have are mine, mine, all mine.

Isn't it amazing how the first tattoo takes years of convinving yourself whilst the second takes a matter of months/ weeks/ days?

It took a good suspension of judgement before I got my cross and, as I said earlier, I had been planning to get the thing for years. With the other one, well, I quote myself, "Dude, Shroomhead's gonna be here in two weeks. I should get a tat before the show," and I did.

[Daria]

I want the aum mantra on my sole perhaps. Or "Mind the instep"

[PsychWardMike]

If I were more a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (I like it a lot, just not die hard) I'd get "love" across my right fingers and "hate" across my left. Eddie style, yo.

I am going to get my ear pierced very soon, though. Woot.

On a tangent, does anyone know about how much the design I mentioned earlier (decent sized blue eighth note) would set me back?

[bryden42]

at a guess (a reasonable educated one i hope) between 30 and 50 quid.

Talking about knuckles, my dad has a weird and wonderful collection of tats.
right knuckle says either love or hate (i can never remember which) left knuckle says john (his name) right bicep is a laurel with the following written inside:

the sweetest woman i ever kissed was another mans wife; My mum

right forearm is a naked woman in a coctail glass. Left bicep is a panther left forarm is something i cant remember and the one that i really like for pure cheese factor is the ghost eminating from his belly button right the way up to his chest.