Tattoo question

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TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

Demi wrote: I have no tattoos. I just find it odd why someone would go out of their way to judge someone elses decision. I've seen plenty of people with tattoos and I never think "gee, they're pathetic!". I can only assume it's a self-esteem thing because I'm not sure what else it could be.

...so if its not to look "cool" and "tough" why do you think there has been such an increase in the prevalence and trendiness of tattoos?
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by Demi »

TrenchGoon wrote: ...so if its not to look "cool" and "tough" why do you think there has been such an increase in the prevalence and trendiness of tattoos?
Because they're passionate about something? Or as a memorial to someone? To recognize the importance of something to them? Or heck, maybe just because they can.
TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

Demi wrote: Because they're passionate about something? Or as a memorial to someone? To recognize the importance of something to them? Or heck, maybe just because they can.
so is it your opinion that people in the generation we are discussing have become more passionate, or like memorials more, or have more things that are important to them than previous generations and this has manifested itself in the form of tattoos?

I have no doubt that in many cases individuals get tattoos for all of those reasons but I think it falls seriously short of explaining what has become an obvious cultural trend.

I think if you'll put honesty before consistency you'll recognize that a desire to feel cool or tough is the primary reason that most young people got/get their tattoos. Obviously, I am speaking in generalizations so it is not neccessary to point out that there are also many people who get tattoos for other reasons. That is a given.
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jackal
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by jackal »

I am sure there are hundreds of different reasons for getting them

but in my opion people are sheep and the wanted to do what they see other

people doing. (obviously someone who does a memorial tatoo to a loved
one or friend would not apply to this)
no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

jackal wrote:I am sure there are hundreds of different reasons for getting them

but in my opion people are sheep and the wanted to do what they see other

people doing. (obviously someone who does a memorial tatoo to a loved
one or friend would not apply to this)
that makes sense, and I think that when people make a concerted effort to "fit in" or "be cool" they almost without fail look incredibly silly, especially once that standard of "fitting in" is no longer current and we have a little perspective.

That's what I was trying to say in the first place. I still think its true.
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by Demi »

TrenchGoon wrote: that makes sense, and I think that when people make a concerted effort to "fit in" or "be cool" they almost without fail look incredibly silly, especially once that standard of "fitting in" is no longer current and we have a little perspective.

That's what I was trying to say in the first place. I still think its true.
So it's to fit in? Then why do the majority of people not even have them? And anyway, why do you even feel the need to make a judgement based on something as simple as that? That's about as silly as me seeing you driving whatever it is you drive, and suddenly deciding to judge you based solely on that. Or what type of shoes you wear, clothes, or hell even your hair cut.
TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

Demi wrote: So it's to fit in? Then why do the majority of people not even have them? And anyway, why do you even feel the need to make a judgement based on something as simple as that? That's about as silly as me seeing you driving whatever it is you drive, and suddenly deciding to judge you based solely on that. Or what type of shoes you wear, clothes, or hell even your hair cut.
In response to what seems to be your main objection to my point of view, yes, I think you can tell a fair amount about a person by the way that they present themselves to the world. I'll bet you do too. :wink:

nobody is suggesting or has suggested that one should "judge" anyone "based solely on" tattoos. (You have a habit of misrepresenting people with whom you are in disagreement which makes reaching a point of agreement or clarity needlessly difficult). hair, shoes, and clothes can indeed inform you of certain things about a person. We all use this information to form premiliminary opinions about people with whom we come into contact. One would be foolish allow that information to overrule his actual interractions with a person and prevent him from giving any individual a fair chance, but one would be dishonest to claim that he doesn't allow that information to color his perceptions. This is a far cry from "judging" someone, but it is silly to pretend that we don't all do this.

Furthermore, making an aesthetic judgement is very different from making a moral or character judgement.
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by Samkon35 »

Like always Demi is right. Just like he is right about everything on here. Honestly Demi, glg, and I are the three smartest people on here. lol :D
TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

Samkon35 wrote:Like always Demi is right. Just like he is right about everything on here. Honestly Demi, glg, and I are the three smartest people on here. lol :D
ouch! talk about damning demi and glg with faint praise.
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by thor »

PurpleMustReign wrote:
Yeah, after thinking about it more it does sound more and more lame. I want a Vikings something, but I don't know what?

I would like to get a Vikings tattoo at some point. I doubt I will, but I was kind of thinking of the horns from the helmut. One on each shoulder, or something along that idea.
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Hunter Morrow
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by Hunter Morrow »

Here's what you do.

You get a no guard haircut and an Arbeit Macht Frei tattoo on your left arm, Jedem Das Seine on your right, and an enormous Norse Rune on your back. Walk into a club shirtless, get in the middle of the dance floor and scream...

"WHAZZUP MAI NIGGAHZ!" You'll be a huge hit. If you get out alive nobody will question how much of a #### you are.

In all seriousness, do your homework before getting Germanic/Norse/Old English style tattoos, or you'll wind up getting a really "neat" looking piece that some jerkoff White Power or Christian Identity movement co-opted.

My idea? Get a Norse Warship. If you find a tattoo artist that can pull it off it'd be pretty sweet.
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Laserman
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by Laserman »

I'm really Glad I Never got a tattoo. Everyone I've ever seen are really ugly
zamboni14
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by zamboni14 »

yeah I know I am digging up an old topic... cut me some slack, I'm still "new" here. Think of it like "catching up" on beers after showing up late to a party :P

There are a few different types of "tattoos" that people do (IMO.) You have the "fad" people who do the really tacky things, those that want to express themselves, and those that are kind of in the middle.

Tacky- ever see a tattoo that is so meaningless on some one, that it's totally obvious that the person even considers it a mistake? The ones that put zero thought into what or where they are getting? This is a prime example of someone getting one "just for the hell of it" only to see how stupid it was 10+ years down the road. Think "ultra-preppy" with a "tribal" on his arm, or a snobby chick with a "tramp stamp."

Expression- this is where I land, I have 3 tattoos right now with at least 3-4 others still in the designing process. I have all 3 in locations that nobody sees unless I want to show them. None of what I will get will ever be visible unless I am not wearing a shirt or pants. If I don't know you, then I don't need some stranger coming up to me and questioning why I did it. Those who know me, know why I did them after they see them.

Middle- A close friend of mine likes wolves... note; LIKES not LOVES. She got a wolf howling at the moon on her back. I asked her one question; "why that?" Her answer? "I dunno, I thought it looked cool." Not even 5 years later she was wishing she would have done something more meaningful and personal. She is planning on getting a Mickey Mouse tattoo which is much more fitting to her because she's always LOVED Mickey Mouse. Another example, my wife has a small butterfly on her back... she wants another/different tattoo, but agrees that the butterfly was "stupid and girly" to get.
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TrenchGoon
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by TrenchGoon »

zamboni14 wrote:yeah I know I am digging up an old topic... cut me some slack, I'm still "new" here. Think of it like "catching up" on beers after showing up late to a party :P

There are a few different types of "tattoos" that people do (IMO.) You have the "fad" people who do the really tacky things, those that want to express themselves, and those that are kind of in the middle.

Tacky- ever see a tattoo that is so meaningless on some one, that it's totally obvious that the person even considers it a mistake? The ones that put zero thought into what or where they are getting? This is a prime example of someone getting one "just for the hell of it" only to see how stupid it was 10+ years down the road. Think "ultra-preppy" with a "tribal" on his arm, or a snobby chick with a "tramp stamp."

Expression- this is where I land, I have 3 tattoos right now with at least 3-4 others still in the designing process. I have all 3 in locations that nobody sees unless I want to show them. None of what I will get will ever be visible unless I am not wearing a shirt or pants. If I don't know you, then I don't need some stranger coming up to me and questioning why I did it. Those who know me, know why I did them after they see them.

Middle- A close friend of mine likes wolves... note; LIKES not LOVES. She got a wolf howling at the moon on her back. I asked her one question; "why that?" Her answer? "I dunno, I thought it looked cool." Not even 5 years later she was wishing she would have done something more meaningful and personal. She is planning on getting a Mickey Mouse tattoo which is much more fitting to her because she's always LOVED Mickey Mouse. Another example, my wife has a small butterfly on her back... she wants another/different tattoo, but agrees that the butterfly was "stupid and girly" to get.
hey zamboni. I think if someone is going to get a tattoo, the reason you have described for getting yours makes the most sense, though I personally think inking it into one's skin is an unnessesarily permanent method of self expression. I don't see a huge difference between the tacky and middle designations you have assigned, but I would say the vast majority of tattoos that I see would fall into that/those categories. using vikings players for example, Phil Loadholt and Jared Allen both would fall into those categories and both look stupid. Your friend loves wolves but regrets getting a wolf tattoo. She loves Mickey Mouse and that's more fitting? Won't she regret that too? Buy her a mickey mouse shirt and save her the trouble. Wolves and Mickey Mouse? Really? She wants to have that on her body for the rest of her life?

Especially in light of the fact that it seems the majority of people where I live have tattoos, it just seems silly to me. Its not rebellious anymore, its just standard. Its not cool or different. If you see a guy without tattoos on his arms you think he might be a rebel.

Furthermore, when a woman gets a tattoo she should be aware of the statement she is making. Namely, she is designating her body as something that can be written on, damaged, an object and she will be viewed as such. There's a reason its called a "tramp stamp" and that guys see a girl with tattoos and assume she is easy. She's saying, "My body is a piece of meat". I can understand and appreciate the sexual charge and titilation of that and if she wants to communicate that, more power to her, but she should be aware what she is telling the world.
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Re: Tattoo question

Post by zamboni14 »

TrenchGoon wrote: hey zamboni. I think if someone is going to get a tattoo, the reason you have described for getting yours makes the most sense, though I personally think inking it into one's skin is an unnessesarily permanent method of self expression. I don't see a huge difference between the tacky and middle designations you have assigned, but I would say the vast majority of tattoos that I see would fall into that/those categories. using vikings players for example, Phil Loadholt and Jared Allen both would fall into those categories and both look stupid. Your friend loves wolves but regrets getting a wolf tattoo. She loves Mickey Mouse and that's more fitting? Won't she regret that too? Buy her a mickey mouse shirt and save her the trouble. Wolves and Mickey Mouse? Really? She wants to have that on her body for the rest of her life?

Especially in light of the fact that it seems the majority of people where I live have tattoos, it just seems silly to me. Its not rebellious anymore, its just standard. Its not cool or different. If you see a guy without tattoos on his arms you think he might be a rebel.

Furthermore, when a woman gets a tattoo she should be aware of the statement she is making. Namely, she is designating her body as something that can be written on, damaged, an object and she will be viewed as such. There's a reason its called a "tramp stamp" and that guys see a girl with tattoos and assume she is easy. She's saying, "My body is a piece of meat". I can understand and appreciate the sexual charge and titilation of that and if she wants to communicate that, more power to her, but she should be aware what she is telling the world.
she won't regret the Mickey tat because it's something she's never grown out of. It's something that will never change about her. When she's in her 60s, she'll still love watching old Mickey Mouse cartoons, she'll still purchase Mickey Mouse things, etc. That's the difference with her.

I do agree that it has become more of the "in" thing for people. The question then becomes, how many of them will regret doing it in the future? Sure the majority will regret it.. because they did it for stupid reasons, but those of us who did put a lot of thought and idea into our tattoos, we'll always like having our tat. Like me, my first tattoo was when I was 21 when I got a canadian maple leaf w/skull and crossed hockey sticks (think of a pirate flag) that I had started to design and think about when I was in 8th grade (late 80s.) My next one was in honor of my father on the one year anniversary of his death (I have never been to his grave since he's been buried.. but every morning I see that tat and think of him.) My last one is in honor of my sister and how close we are. I am working on one in honor of my mom (and no I am NOT getting a heart with "mom" across it.. talk about tacky!) One to represent my love of music (I've grown up with music... performing arts, played the guitar, sang and now DJ weddings on the weekends.) And finally one to represent my "inner child" always staying with me (I'm like a big kid... and my wife will agree.)

saying a girl with a tattoo is "easy" is a big stereotype. It's like saying any guy with a shaved head is a "skinhead" and racist. The lower back is probably the most popular place for a woman to get a tattoo because it's the easiest place for her to cover with almost any outfit. It's like how guys put a tattoo on their shoulders. Because of that and the idea of so many girls doing "meaningless" tattoos to "fit in" that's how the whole "tramp stamp" thing came into play. Does that make them all "easy?" Not really. I know many women with no tattoos that are MUCH easier then girls I know with tattoos.
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