Tattoos: Why?

My favorite is the black people getting tattoos...

they pay all that ca$h and you can't even tell what is scribbled on their body parts.

It looks awesome though, admit it.

i've given a lot of thought to what i want to get as my first tattoo. a lot of people make the mistake of getting one that has little connection to their actual lives. the only way i'm going through with it is when i'm 100% sure its something that has meaning

este guey wrote:

... the only way i'm going through with it is when i'm 100% sure its something that has meaning

Wrong. Meaning isn't everything in regards to tattoos. You first and foremost want something that looks cool and speaks to your individual creativity. A tattoo should be thought of as an accessory that you are willing to have permanently. Put a lot of artistic thought into what you want and get advice from pros who know what they're doing. Have the artist sketch up designs and if you can look at the image of that tattoo every morning for a month and be happy with it, then get inked!

The meaning of memories resides in the mind. Not in the ink on your skin. The persumption otherwise is naive. If some meaning can be tied in that's great, but go with style and individual expression first.

Then just do an arrow down your back.

I have a sweet Ouroboros tattoo on my back. I love the symbolism.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/panicnow/4264063868/

I usually just say that position is taken when I see tattoos, then toss their resume into the white trash file, the gang-banger file, the ghetto file or the barrio file. Trash day comes Tuesdays.

I hire people wrote:

I usually just say that position is taken when I see tattoos, then toss their resume into the white trash file, the gang-banger file, the ghetto file or the barrio file. Trash day comes Tuesdays.

Your bitterness is poison.

Seriously, I just don't want certain types representing the company. It looks like they just got out of prison. Affirmative action does not apply here although I do think it was right to vote for Obama, but he is a grade above the rest and has no tattoos.

It's just something that some of us love. My entire chest/stomach, back, and both sleeves are covered. I've designed all my own art too. I also have a good job. As far as I know, my boss doesn't know about any of my tattoos. If it speaks to your artistic passion, then it's something worth getting.

Military related ones have meaning. You don't stop being a soldier so they are for life. I disagree on the accessory angle. Perms, mullets, rattails, earrings....

Of course a rainbow never goes out of style.

what about Olympic rings? provided youve actually competed

I hire people wrote:

I usually just say that position is taken when I see tattoos, then toss their resume into the white trash file, the gang-banger file, the ghetto file or the barrio file. Trash day comes Tuesdays.

You must have a shitty job if you are interviewing gang bangers and white trash.

Are you a manager at the fast food restaurant?

Junior Olympics count?

rings wrote:

what about Olympic rings? provided youve actually competed

Big Fut wrote:

este guey wrote:

... the only way i'm going through with it is when i'm 100% sure its something that has meaning

Wrong. Meaning isn't everything in regards to tattoos. You first and foremost want something that looks cool and speaks to your individual creativity. A tattoo should be thought of as an accessory that you are willing to have permanently. Put a lot of artistic thought into what you want and get advice from pros who know what they're doing. Have the artist sketch up designs and if you can look at the image of that tattoo every morning for a month and be happy with it, then get inked!

The meaning of memories resides in the mind. Not in the ink on your skin. The persumption otherwise is naive. If some meaning can be tied in that's great, but go with style and individual expression first.

Looking cool is the worse reason to get a tattoo. What is considered cool goes in and out of fashion so the tribal art that looked cool today will be just another dorky tattoo in a few years.

Make it something personal to you and you can add coolness and artistic factors to that.

Big Fut wrote:

este guey wrote:

... the only way i'm going through with it is when i'm 100% sure its something that has meaning

Wrong. Meaning isn't everything in regards to tattoos. You first and foremost want something that looks cool and speaks to your individual creativity. A tattoo should be thought of as an accessory that you are willing to have permanently. Put a lot of artistic thought into what you want and get advice from pros who know what they're doing. Have the artist sketch up designs and if you can look at the image of that tattoo every morning for a month and be happy with it, then get inked!

The meaning of memories resides in the mind. Not in the ink on your skin. The persumption otherwise is naive. If some meaning can be tied in that's great, but go with style and individual expression first.

wouldn't individual expression have to have some sort of meaning in order for it to belong to an individual? otherwise you're just caving in to what is popular and as another poster already said, fads go in and out. i see people who have gotten chinese symbols tattooed on them even though they have absolutely no connection to china and its pretty ridiculous because all they say is that they thought it would be "cool." if i'm going to get a tattoo, i want it to be one that i am proud of, not because everyone else thinks its a cool accessory, but because it expresses me and has a connection to my life. i don't care what other people think about my tattoo and its naive to think that catering to the wants of others will bring you happiness.

Tattoos always look bad on people when they get old. I think a girl with a sleeve can be pretty hot, but when I think about her at 60, it turns me off. I guess it will probably be more common then, so maybe I will view it differently.

Hipster girls who are fit and inked are pretty hot though.

I have my son and daughters names down my sides with their birth dates. Very few people know that I have them but they are sentimental to me. Most people that have seen them though think they look awesome. I am a teacher and when my students talk about tattoos I share that I have them and they don't believe it. It makes me laugh because they like many others judge people and have to change their opinions when they find out I have them.

I think tattoos should have some meaning to you and personally I don't think they should be easily seen when you are dressed for work, a funeral, or things like that.

Tattoos are a sign of low class. When I was growing up only the crazy kids in the neighborhood got them. Almost everyone regrets them. I guess in 1980's in you got the "keep on truckin guy" tattoed you would have thought that was pretty cool. Not so much 30 years later. Someday these people with tattoos all over their bodies are going to be parents and have to show up to meet the teacher night looking like trash.Or like the previous poster said they will be limited in the type of job they can apply for. Nobody wants an accountant, doctor, etc with a tattoo on their neck.