gee, I dunno what the Chinese character looks like, and you know what?–I don’t care, and I don’t want to see it on your arm every time you hand me the phone or pass me a piece of paper.
You aren’t so special that you have to shout to the whole world “HEY LOOK AT ME”.
I have direct experience to the contrary, actually. There ARE some tattooed jackasses.
That said - I really don’t have any say on what you do with your body, and don’t really much care. I’d prefer those who get tattooes get well done ones that are tasteful, but I’m adult enough to realize that what I like and what someone else likes may be two different things.
Wow…no offense, but you seem rather easily upset.
Of course there are. Have you been looked down on by a tattooed person simply because you’re not inked as well, though? I imagine it’s probably happened at some point throughout history, but I’d be pretty surprised to actually witness it.
On the other hand, chappachula’s strange belligerence is all too common amongst people without tattoos, and I say that as someone who has no ink.
I tend to associate tattoos with ex-cons, viral hepatitis, people who wind up on autopsy tables (I’ve seen some doozies) and virtually tattoo-covered NBA players.
As for the poll results involving non-tattooed folks, I’d definitely go along with the “makes you look less attractive” view, but as for “more rebellious” - :dubious:
There’s so many people with tattoos, seems like the rebellion has been diluted down considerably.
Any Dopers still considering careers/career changes: investigate laser or other forms of tattoo removal. Someone’s going to be making big bucks in the field in coming years.
Yes, I said that. What did you think I meant by “direct experience to the contrary”? Yes, yes, yes. Is that clear yet?
I was pretty surprised when I experienced it.
Oh, definitely there are belligerent people without tats, too. Never denied it.
Just for the record, all my art is covered under a short-sleeved shirt, so that your oh-so-pwecious eyes won’t see it, and thus won’t get cancer-of-the-eyes.
And I don’t call for the attention of other people, especially of judgmental morons like you. I’m inked because I feel like it, it’s ingrained in me, it’s my stuff, 100%. If it’s for other people, it’s in intimacy, for similar-minded women.
And yet, here you are thinking negatively of untattooed people.
Obviously, I didn’t, or wouldn’t have quoted you. Is there some reason you’re being so snarky in reply?
Don’t forget cosmetic tattoos. Lots of ladies are getting eyebrows, eyeliners, and even lips tattooed. A couple of friends who would comment negatively on garish tattoos (not my opinion - their words) have had their eyes done. Are they being hypocritical? Their argument would be form versus function.
I love how the “Intelligent” columns in the stuff Little Nemo posted add up to 101. The irony is delicious.
As for the OP, all I can say is;
Dear God, I hope so. Hurray for the end of "The Carny Decade"
(Shaved heads, piercings, tatoos)
How about pink hair? Or colorful glasses? Or a mohawk hairdo? Or an afro? Or a weird hat? In what way are people allowed to express themselves before you decide thatthey are not ‘subtle’ enough and are attention whores.
Consider this. Some people dress in a way that not only they like, but that the kind of subculture that they relate to may appreciate. How does it make them attention whores if they aren’t really seeking the attention of those that aren’t likely to appreciate their tattoos or their style? Your post is really throwing me off, I gotta say. It is way over the top.
I saw an amusing talk show dedicated to tattoos. The first guest was a lady who was covered in very well done tattoo art. She was bitter as hell though. She must have repeated the mantra “the difference between people who have tattoos and those who don’t is that people with tattoos don’t care if you don’t have one” four or five times in different ways. Other guests were parents who didn’t let their teens get a tattoo and tattooed people discussing discrimination they faced.
Finally they had a guy who was getting his full sleeve tattoos removed. The first lady was fit to be tied. The most vitriol from one person to another was her to him. Of course she was the one who said that people with tattoos didn’t care. I know she’s not typical but it was funny as hell.
Not meant to be snarky, just thought my answer was very clear and I had no idea why you were so skeptical of my statement of negative reaction from a tattooed person to my non-inked status.
Khaki. Dial it back a notch. Calling someone a “judgemental moron” isn’t allowed outside the Pit. OK?
samclem Moderator
I have a feeling that tattoos are kind of like skateboards–a big huge fad that has/will become a regular part of our culture.
And sometimes I do feel slightly “subversive” for not having any, especially because I like them. (Well, the well-done ones anyway.) Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person around without any.
This is something that really bugs me when watching Project Runway. I just don’t get why aspiring models would get tattoos. Seems like a pretty stupid choice career-wise.
You’re incorrect, sir. There were lots of 21 year old women having abortions in 1960 in the United States. They just weren’t having legal ones.
Maybe you don’t want to see my red nail polish every time I hand you a piece of paper. Sorry, but if you’re so easily offended by some random tattoo, then maybe you ought to just hide out in bed with your head under the covers.
you just reinforced my point , actually.
Some people do have pink hair or mohawks, because their sub-culture (say, teenage punk) is more important to them then MY sub-culture (of ,say, a 40 year old manager of a legal office, whose clients all wear business suits and don’t have pink hair).
And that is fine by me—if you want to be a punk, take responsibility for it—get a job in a punk club, have punk friends , and enjoy your life as much as you want.
But I’ve noticed in life that most people who have pink hair and mohawks eventually stop having pink hair and mohawks. And people who wear funny hats are funny, and enjoyable to be with—if I’m at a party or a football game full of people with funny hats. But those people stop wearing funny hats when they come to work or go to church.
Everything has its place…and the place for a tatoo is underneath your clothing. Like your underwear. Wear what you feel comfortable with, but don’t show it to me at work.
You haven’t lived in Austin.
I kinda see ya working. With me it is when I am meeting and training new staff. There is sometimes a kind of conflict in my head when I meet a really nice young person with a really unattractive or cheesy (to my eyes) tattoo. I will be looking and talking to them and being impressed with their earnestness but now and then I will be distracted by the word “Savory” written in a gangster script on the back of their neck. So I start thinking, if the tattoo is on their body and expression of themselves, what exactly does the tattoo mean? Nickname? Life philosophy? Inside joke? Some kind of slang that I don’t know? So which guy are you? The earnest guy? The cheesey tattoo guy? Or both depending on the circumstances? It is not the guy’s fault that I am having these questions run through my head, but I am thinking about it. I just want to ask them, “Hey, you seem like a nice young man, what is the deal with the crappy tat?”
All that being said, It appears that tattoos are as commonplace as ever with young people in their 20’s.
Ok, I think I may have misunderstood you. Are you saying that visible tattoos in a professional work setting is inappropriate? I may tend to agree with you, there. Because where I work the men have to be choked up by ties, it seems unfair that lots of the ladies boast little cherries and whatnot on their bosom.
But from your post, I took away that you feel that anyone that has a visible tattoo anywhere at any time is being obnoxious. Which of course, would be ridiculous.