# Another good reason not to get a tattoo **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 24, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823 "2014-04-24T00:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/21 "2014-04-24T10:02:13Z")
The dude’s also got one of those teardrop tattoos - aren’t they supposed to mean that you’ve killed someone, or is that just unsubstantiated gangland gossip like how if you wear your pants low it’s supposed to mean that you’ve been to prison? Either way, his mugshot screams “I am not a good decision maker”. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/22 "2014-04-24T10:19:02Z")
It’s still smarter than the guy who was arrested for murder because he [tattooed the murder on his chest](http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/gang-members-murder-scene-tattoo-leads-to-arrest). Now _there’s_ a criminal genius for you. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/23 "2014-04-24T10:29:20Z")
Surely the jury would be unlikely to spot it. After all it’s pretty subtle. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/24 "2014-04-24T11:59:33Z")
How about a case of the converse situation? [There’s a very publicized ongoing case](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865556574/Tattoo-change-from-Dea-to-Death-could-result-in-discipline-for-Millerberg.html?pg=all) here in Utah where the husband in a couple accused of murder got his neck tattoo of his wife’s name **DEA** amended into **DEATH** …_while in jail_ awaiting the trial in which she was scheduled to testify against him. He’s in (further) trouble now for getting the jailhouse tat (health risk while on the State’s watch) and possible witness intimidation. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/25 "2014-04-24T12:06:25Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > An talented tattoo artist might be able to morph MURDER into MOTHER…now that would be a winner. And once he is found not guilty, he can tack on FUCKER and be back near square one. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/26 "2014-04-24T14:49:59Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > The dude’s also got one of those teardrop tattoos - aren’t they supposed to mean that you’ve killed someone, or is that just unsubstantiated gangland gossip like how if you wear your pants low it’s supposed to mean that you’ve been to prison? > > Either way, his mugshot screams “I am not a good decision maker”. Agreed. A couple years ago, a guy broke into a local strip club/ adult toy store late one night, and was caught because he was walking around naked with all his tattoos exposed. One of the tattoos was of his name. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/27 "2014-04-24T15:39:10Z")
I like one of the comments on the OP’s story page: _Note to the defendant - even if you cover up the tattoo, DO NOT stare at the jury that way._ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/28 "2014-04-24T17:23:09Z")
Maybe he should just tattoo “BUT ONLY IN DEFENSE OF MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON IF I HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE” on his chest and then appear shirtless at his trial. Show the jury he’s taken a more nuanced position. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/29 "2014-04-24T17:24:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Maybe he should just tattoo “BUT ONLY IN DEFENSE OF MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON IF I HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE” on his chest and then appear shirtless at his trial. Show the jury he’s taken a more nuanced position. He should get **MEAT IS** or **ABORTION IS** tattooed on his forehead. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/30 "2014-04-24T17:57:32Z")
I’ve been seeing a lot of white ink tatoos lately, maybe it can be used like White Out? He could change the R to a D and add a little horsie or a football. ---
**Author:** ![llcoolbj77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb9ed0/32.png) [@llcoolbj77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llcoolbj77)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/31 "2014-04-24T18:02:18Z")
Swear to Og… my first jury trial as a lawyer (I was sitting second chair). Concealed firearm charge. Second offense so it was a felony. My client has a tattoo of a gun on the back of his neck. Clear as day. I didn’t notice it until I turned around to begin voir dire of the jurors… WHO WERE SITTING BEHIND US!!! My conversation with my client afterwards (“have you ever heard of a fucking turtleneck”) were unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/32 "2014-04-24T18:11:31Z")
That guy doesn’t look none too smart. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/33 "2014-04-24T18:15:49Z")
Good idea, Guin. He should also shave. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/34 "2014-04-24T18:21:07Z")
"If you can’t do the time… don’t do the tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/35 "2014-04-24T18:29:25Z")
Preface the current tattoo with "Not a " and tack an “ER” onto the end. Or tack "A " onto the start and “of Crows” to the end and tell the jury he’s a birdwatcher. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/36 "2014-04-24T19:43:32Z")
“_Look, it was supposed to say Mulder, my favourite X-files character, but I guess the tattoo artist misheard me somehow. So I went to a different tattoo artist and then the same exact thing happened with the Smoking Gun back piece._” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/37 "2014-04-26T04:18:57Z")
From what I understand, most reputable tattoo artists won’t tattoo someone who’s obviously drunk. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/38 "2014-04-27T01:47:18Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Removing a tattoo takes a long time, like months. In just a few hours he could get “DIDN’T” tattooed right next to MURDER or “I HATE” or “I WOULD NEVER”. That would be a lot more efficient. > > I remember a few years ago there was someone up for murder/life sentence and the picture of him in the newspaper showed his neck tattoo which read “Nothing To Lose” He may have injured a bailiff in the courtroom. I remember my dad sarcastically saying something like “He murders someone, stabs the bailiff, he has ‘nothing to lose’, yeah, this is someone we need back out on the streets”. Reminds me of the guy who was a skinhead in his 20s and tattooed “FUCK” across the top of his shaved head. Then, as he got older, he grew his hair back, went to uni, graduated, and became a banker. Instead of chains and doc martins, he now wore a suit and tie. Then in his 40s … male pattern baldness. 😃 His solution: a tweak changed “FUCK” to “BUCK$”. Perfect for the banking profession. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823/39 "2014-04-27T01:59:04Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > From what I understand, most reputable tattoo artists won’t tattoo someone who’s obviously drunk. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. Helps if they’re sober themselves. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-good-reason-not-to-get-a-tattoo/686823.md?page=1)