What are your thoughts about tattoos?

I think they are works of art and , on a canvas, could be lovely.
On skin, however, past imprisonment, defiance and drug addiction come to mind. But that’s only because I’m out of touch with what’s cool and ill-informed.
I’m certain that members of the Royal Family have tatoos, right?

I think it depends on the tattoo (location and what it is). I don’t have any at this point, but I do have one I want to get someday. I already drew up what I want, I just haven’t went to get it. It might be a little hard to make out, but it is a caduceus with roses in place of the snake heads. The roses are in memory of my Aunt Denise (her first tattoo was a rose). The “N” in the center is for nursing and will be hunter green because that was one of my school’s colors. The initials above it are my Aunt Denise’s and the initials on the bottom are my Grandfathers. They both passed away due to cancer and they are the reason I went into nursing.

I have one on my left shoulder blade. It’s a tiger. Got it done in 1991

I don’t have any because I like to express my individuality.

I am not a fan of tatoos. i came into this world without one, i will leave without one.

I only think of tattoos as being associated with prison convicts. you know love on one hand and hate on the other.

I would love my kids’ names somewhere, maybe an arm or on my chest. Shame I haven’t the kahunas. It’s the bloody needle see, I always pussy out…....one day…one day :¬)

I have some ugly scars (surgeries, accidents) that are more permanent than ink, so I like that I can choose/design pretty things as well for my skin.

I would gladly give someone one,but do not want to get one myself.
I am afraid of commitment…and bad artwork;)

Most look disgusting, especially those tribal ones (yeugh – what happens when they go out of fashion?). As a rule, I keep several feet away from people who tattoo their heads and necks.

That said, some tattoos can be awesome, although I generally prefer larger, bolder, more colourful ones. Those little hearts etc people get tatted on their shoulders and wrists just look timid and boring. If you’re going to mess up your skin, do it in style.

I have two small tattoos.
I don’t really care one way or the other. I have seen some beautiful tattoos and I have seen some tattoos that just made me cringe. To each his own… it is your skin to with what you please.

@ucme if it is any consolation, it doesn’t actually feel like a needle. At all.

I don’t want one on my body, but I find them fun and interesting on other people.

I wouldn’t say I hate them, I’d rather say I don’t care for them. In general. Sometimes I do think they look really cool, but for the most part, I think a person would look better without it. I just prefer people without tattoos and piercings.

I like tattoos in moderation. I cant stand it when people have tattoos all over there body and you can barely see their skin. Or when people have these huge tattoos covering their entire back.
I think 2–3 small to medium tattoos are cool. I would like to get a tattoo between my shoulder blades but Im not sure of what yet.

@TheOnlyNeffie Yeah so everyone keeps telling me. I’m just a big girl’s blouse when it comes to anything even approaching pain XD Like I say, one day i’m sure it will happen.

I grew up watching Popeye cartoons and can’t shake the image. It’s ok to have one but to me smooth skin looks better without.
And what’s up with the names and the birthdays of your kids? Are you bad with remembering dates or is the spelling too difficult. (I’ll admit D’sh’nrika is hard to spell.)

I know other people like them. You just won’t find one on me.
A few of you are welcome to look.

I love tattoos, but ones with meaning or thought behind them. I have many tattoos myself but each reminds me of an important event in my life or something that means alot to me. I hate it when people go in to the tattoo parlor and pick a design off the wall because it looks cool.

they’re interesting to look at, most of them, but I would never consider getting one. No one really knows exactly what’s in the ink so there’s a safety concern right there.

I’d never do it to my skin, but what others do with theirs is their business. I do wonder, though, how a heavily tatted person who thinks it’s so cool now will fare later in the professional world.

I have a tattoo myself, and love it – it’s part of me, part of my skin. But I do think a lot of people don’t think before getting one. It definetely should be something people are 100% sure about getting as it will be with them for a long time! I haven’t got another one since as I haven’t felt comfortable with anything else going on my skin permenently.
I think of the origins of tattoos, with tribal groups getting their faces and heads tattooed for spiritual reasons and dont really link them to prisoners, but many people who get sleeves or certain tattoos can be percieved to being in crime etc.

Some find that they get sick of the sight of ‘em. Unlike jewelry, they can’t just switch them out . So sixty years later they’re staring at the same thing they got at twenty. Frankly, I’d enjoy seeing a 78 year old with tatooed forearms. A real trip, huh? But as @Austinlad alluded to, I doubt you’d see a tatooed neck in the boardroom of Microsoft. just my opinion.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see that change.
The same generation that is getting the tattoos will ultimately be the generation running the corporations some day… and so on.

@TheOnlyNeffie I have to agree with you on that one.. I have a small tattoo. It is place where you can only see it if my suit is on. It’s just a small heart with some cool designs around it. It’s pretty. I started off small. I don’t regret it.

@TheOnlyNeffie and the same generation that is getting the tatoos will have bazillions who won’t and they will have the edge on corporate jobs. unless it’s a tiny little thing easily covered.

seems there will always be more without ink than with. Tattoos aren’t as hip as some think. I think at the end of the day there will be way more people who regret getting ink vs. those who regret not getting ink.

@Aster of course, there will always be those without. But I think that the attitude is changing with the younger generation, even if many choose not to get inked.

I’m with @TheOnlyNeffie on that. This generation coming up is so used to seeing ink, even if they don’t have any, it will no longer be unusual, shocking, or considered low class.

To each his own, I don’t care. I might like one, but I don’t know of what. An owl in flight, maybe.

I have nothing against people that have tattoos (most people I know, man/woman have at least one) but they are not for me. Same with body piercings, I do not care for none of that stuff. I prefer to express myself through my personality. I never had a tattoo and I never will.

I’m not crazy about them. I’ve seen some cute ones but I don’t want one for fear of needles.

I have seen and admired some incredible tattoos. I would never get one but as long as the artists adhere to safe practices, I don’t object to them.

I wonder if those with extensive body art consider how it might affect their futures and how the future effects if ageing will impact their body art.

The canvas does change dramatically over time!

@Dr_Lawrence some people just work with the new canvas. :)

I have two small tattoos; a Burmese tribal on my right wrist (like a Celtic knot) and a small white rose on my chest (designed by my late wife). My personal taste doesn’t run towards large ones, but I’ve seen some wonderful ones. This weekend, my fiance and I are going to the same artist who did my rose; she’s getting the same and I’m having her name added to mine. The Burmese has two huge incisions through it now from the wrist surgery; I’m going to see if it can be eventually “repaired”. The most outstanding tattoo I’ve ever seen were flames on a lady’s shoulders and arms, very powerful statement.

I am always impressed by the Japanese Yakuza full body tattoos. They are extremely intricate and definitely look like they could also belong on a big scroll in a museum. Beautifully designed and drawn anything is fine with me no matter what the canvas. In Japan though, anyone with a lot of tattoos is immediately assumed to be a Yakuza member. Unfortunately, similar stereotypes about tattoos also exist in North American culture.

Also, as @Dr_Lawrence mentioned, unless you get constant touch-ups, most tattoos look like dark blobs after 60 years.

I like them and I have two small ones, one on each arm. Both are symbolic of various different stages in my life. One of them is a phoenix which is of particular significance to me. The ony reason I don’t have a lot more tattoos is the cost.

Just saw this now but had to answer.

The only reason people have such issues with tattoos is because we’ve been conditioned to think a certain way about tattoos. As @JilltheTooth said, there are scars that are uglier, more painful and not gotten by choice. The way I see it, in twenty years, yeah, I may regret getting my tattoo but I think I’ll regret a whole lot less than having a bad marriage or getting a bad education. People love to pick on tattoos because they’re visible which, in my opinion, is ridiculous. I see a lot of awful things people have done to their bodies but I don’t as @Mephistopheles so tactfully put it keep several feet away from them. I don’t like it when someone gets Botox or plastic surgery which are more harmful and more physically altering than tattoos but I don’t feel the need to let that person know I’m disgusted nor do I avoid them.

As my dear, sweet mom likes to say, “Tattoos are literally skin deep. It’s silly to get all worked up over them,” and it is true.

@KatawaGrey :-)

@KatawaGrey Just saw Sly Stallone on TV. Perfect example of plastic surgery over done.

I have an ex friend of mine who used to get them a lot. It was interesting to see that because I’ve kind of wanted one. Seeing the reality of it and not just imagining it. I know what I’d get if I could. Not sure about getting it yet because there’s 3 generations of women in my family who told me they’d disown me if I got one.

@py_sue My family had the same attitude toward tattoos. They had to STFU about the first one I got as it was a gift from Burmese refugees in Thailand for humanitarian services rendered, identifying me as an honorary chieftain and the equivalent of a military decoration.

I have a morning glory cluster with two purple trumpet shaped flowers on my right ankle with a small half ankle bracelet vine.

I got it at 40 just because, why not?
It is pretty and I get a lot of complements on it.

It looks very classy too, expecially with strappy gladiator type sandles.

Feminine and very well done.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land: That is so unbelievably amazing. Would you be willing to post a picture?

That brings up another excellent point. How do all those tattoo haters feel about cultures where people are traditionally tattooed? I’m not going to hate on any Maori tribe members I see, nor am I going to disrespect a member of an African tribe with any number of body modifications such as large disks in their ears, elaborate scarification or tattoos.

If I was king of the world…

@KatawaGrey I’ll put them on Photobucket asap.

I agree that a tattoo ‘should’ ( lol ) have some personal meaning to the person.

In my case Morning Glories are my favorite flower, they are also symbolic of some big awakenings, ‘unfoldings,’ I experienced during that time, as well as a humorous spin too!

My ‘real’ name is ‘Laurie’, and at one particular job my co-workers always said ’ morning Laurie!’
It became a joke, as well as a truth, because of my usual cheery morning nature, lover of the vine and rhyme.

Soooo, in my case the symbolism is huge! :-)

@stranger_in_a_strange_land: I don’t have a photobucket. :(

@KatawaGrey On Fluther’s Photobucket page.

I will be getting another (small) one when I’m working again and have the money for it. I already know what it’s going to be.

J just got the one to match mine and I’ve added her name to mine (as well as a thorn and a drop of blood in mourning for Meg). I’m planning on a massive full-back steamgoth style tattoo to celebrate my PhD when it’s complete.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land : So your ink will essentially alter your persona to Doctor StrangeLove? ;-)

@JilltheTooth If I decided on an old atomic bomb schematic~