# are you glad you got (a) tattoo(s)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948 "2018-02-01T14:20:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/21 "2018-02-01T19:01:41Z")
I’m still quite happy with my (single) tattoo. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > For anyone thinking of getting a tattoo, I would encourage you to choose your favorite clothing outfit and wear that same outfit every single day for 6 months. If that commitment seems scary or limiting, consider that the same applies to tattoos. See, I advise people thinking about getting a tattoo to do what I did: figure out what you want and where. Then, wait six months. If, after that time, it still seems like a good idea and something you want, go ahead and do it. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/22 "2018-02-01T23:23:10Z")
I have three, and I’m happy with all of them. No regrets, and will probably eventually get more, but I want quality art and I’m not rich and it’s not a priority right now to save up for another one. I did like Max did, but a bit more extreme. I created all my tattoo designs myself and either looked at them daily or actually hennaed (or sharpied) them on, and made sure they were how I liked them. I waited 4 years on my first (mainly because I was afraid of the pain) and waited about 2 years for each of the other two. I second the ‘start small’ idea - my first was very small and single color, and my second was a bit larger and more complex, and my third is even larger and even more complicated. I will probably never end up with lots and lots for two reasons; 1) i’m broke as shit, and good art is expensive. 2) there’s only a few places on my body i’m willing to have inked for various reasons, so my available space is pretty limited. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/23 "2018-02-02T01:15:43Z")
Like others have said, my tattoo is part of me. I’ve had it for about 30 years and only regret that I waited so long to get it. I’d guess that most people who are forever happy with their tat(s) knew what they wanted and where they wanted it. Mine was always there; you just couldn’t see it until someone put ink on it. I longed for the tattoo for years before I actually got it. Before making it permanent, I wore similar-looking temporary tattoos in the same place for about six months. The tattoo is fairly small and is not exactly what I wanted, but I still like it. If I get another – and I may – I’ll ask to see a drawing before the ink goes on. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/24 "2018-02-02T01:53:56Z")
No Regerts? ---
**Author:** ![Plumpudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/25 "2018-02-02T03:41:44Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I am happy with mine. I’m just surprised that people haven’t decided “ **Shodan** has a tattoo, therefore tattoos are no longer cool.” > > Regards, > Shodan That’s it! I’m gonna get mine lasered off! To answer the OP: I’m happy with mine, I do not wish I’d gotten a different one and I don’t regret it. I wish I had more, but they’re expensive. Hopefully I’ll get another one soon as I know a guy. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/26 "2018-02-02T04:04:15Z")
I have a few. I’m happy enough with them. I’m planning on more, but as **Plumpudding** pointed out, they’re sort of expensive. I do have one that I’m not as happy about, it didn’t hold up well and has started to get a little blotchy looking. Probably a combination of poor design choices(mine) and poor workmanship, all my tattoos except that one were done by the same artist. After getting a cover-up tat on that one, I’m planning a full-back piece. I understand the question about regretting tattoos, some people do, some fall somewhere in between yes and no, but for rest of us, myself included, the question is nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/27 "2018-02-02T04:57:46Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Mine was always there; you just couldn’t see it until someone put ink on it. Love this; thanks for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/28 "2018-02-02T05:26:59Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > See, I advise people thinking about getting a tattoo to do what I did: figure out what you want and where. Then, wait six months. If, after that time, it still seems like a good idea and something you want, go ahead and do it. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > No Regerts? These remind me of an item I saw in one of those Cracked Photoplasty lists, especially about the waiting part. It’s at number 16 here: > **[16 Really Bad Decisions, Explained With Charts](https://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_2441_16-really-bad-decisions-explained-with-charts)** > > If you're about to do something questionable, let us help guide you. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/29 "2018-02-02T06:38:15Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > **Are you happy with your tattoo?** > > Yes. > > **Do you wish you’d gotten a different tattoo?** > > No. > > **Do you regret getting a tattoo at all?** > > Not at all. Same. I have two, want more. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/30 "2018-02-02T16:30:08Z")
I have four, and will get more. I love them all, they all have special meaning for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/31 "2018-02-02T17:31:41Z")
I have 4 tattoos, never regretted any of them (but the oldest one is about 20 years old now and could definitely use significant retouching) ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/32 "2018-02-02T19:08:10Z")
I sort of regret mine, but I think “regret” might be too strong of a word. The only tattoo I have is on my left collarbone, which means the neckline I wear determines whether or not the tattoo shows. I don’t like having it there all the time, because sometimes I feel like it just doesn’t match the aesthetic I want to project on a given day. But on other days it does match, and so I think if I didn’t have a tattoo I would sometimes wish that I had gotten one. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/33 "2018-02-02T21:59:14Z")
I’m 62 and got my first (and probably only) tattoo last November. It’s my own original design based on mid 20th century Chinese firecracker package art. I love it, and no regrets whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/34 "2018-02-02T22:55:15Z")
Yes; I got the [5th Cavalry Regiment](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/5thcav.png) on my right shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/35 "2018-02-03T05:55:12Z")
When I was in AIT at Ft Gordon, Ga, I went into town and saw there in a tattoo shop window Picasso’s Dove of Peace, and I’ve regretted not getting it ever since. It would have pissed off my nominal superiors big time. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/36 "2018-02-03T11:56:30Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > I’m 62 and got my first (and probably only) tattoo last November. It’s my own original design based on mid 20th century Chinese firecracker package art. I love it, and no regrets whatsoever. Sounds cool. I have never considered a tattoo except in the abstract - I could never imagine looking at one as anything except a permanent regret. But I’ve figured a few things out about myself and am looking at a few life events over the next year or two. When those play out, I know what I will want. I won’t bore you with the History of my Deep Thoughts™, but it is a little phrase of mine that I have chipped away at over time and works for me. Small, simple, sans serif. I’ll put it on an upper bicep so I see it when I want to, but it covers up with a t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/37 "2018-02-03T12:12:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …my tattoos are a part of me and they are a part of _me_… You forgot to inform us that it is what it is. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/38 "2018-02-03T15:09:31Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > a little phrase of mine that I have chipped away at over time and works for me When they apply the stencil so you can review the size and positioning, **proofread**. 😃 (If they don’t already plan to, I strongly encourage that you require the artist to use a stencil. When it comes to text, freehand leaves much more room for inadvertent error.) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/39 "2018-02-03T15:41:14Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > When they apply the stencil so you can review the size and positioning, **proofread**. 😃 > > (If they don’t already plan to, I strongly encourage that you require the artist to use a stencil. When it comes to text, freehand leaves much more room for inadvertent error.) An unexamined phrase is not worth tattooing? ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948/40 "2018-02-03T23:26:04Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Sounds cool. I have never considered a tattoo except in the abstract - I could never imagine looking at one as anything except a permanent regret. But I’ve figured a few things out about myself and am looking at a few life events over the next year or two. When those play out, I know what I will want. I won’t bore you with the History of my Deep Thoughts™, but it is a little phrase of mine that I have chipped away at over time and works for me. Small, simple, sans serif. I’ll put it on an upper bicep so I see it when I want to, but it covers up with a t-shirt. Until I was about 60 years old, I wouldn’t have considered a tattoo either. For most of my life I have considered what I was into the previous 4 or 5 years silly and frivolous; what I wanted at the time, but now part of a younger, stupider me. Somewhere at the beginning of my 6th decade, I realized I hadn’t felt that way for some time. I was pretty much the man I was going to be. I was still learning and growing, but the fundamental me was set. Furthermore, there were a few defining events in my life that I felt like I should commemorate. I had always liked the look of a well done tattoo (they are abundant in my town) so I started keeping my eyes open for something that would be appealing and meaningful to me. I realized after a while that what I really wanted was an original tattoo, something designed by me, worn by me, and for my own self to enjoy. I wasn’t out to make a statement to the world. So I did that, and I’m happy I did. It’s on my upper right arm, and since I almost always wear long sleeved T’s, even in hot weather, almost no one will ever see it but the people closest to me. My wife, obviously, has seen it, and my step daughter, but I haven’t even mentioned it to anyone else. Even my son doesn’t know about it. I haven’t told anyone at work or any of my friends about it. I didn’t get it to show off to people, I got it for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-glad-you-got-a-tattoo-s/807948.md?page=3)