# Bar-code tattoos. Individualism or irony? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116 "2001-03-15T18:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/1 "2001-03-15T18:34:59Z")
I’ve officially seen my eighth bar-code tattoo (at a Starbucks coffee, somehow that makes sense). So far, four have been on the backs of necks. Two have been on the backs of hands. Three…Hi Opal! One arm, one calf. So, is this some new silicon valley tech-geek hipster-ism I haven’t caught onto yet (I’ve only seen one outside the San Francisco / Silicon Valley area)? Is it some kind of ironic “I’m an individual in a non-individual way” thing? And if it is, wouldn’t you lose your individual non-individual individualism if they become too popular (take a moment to wrap your noodle around \*that[/] idea)? Remember folks: tech trends are temporary, tattoo’s are forever. Do yourself a favor and get yer “All your base are belong to us” bumper sticker printed on magnetic vynal so you can remove it in a few weeks once it’s become trite. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/2 "2001-03-15T18:58:41Z")
[list=1][li]Those with the barcodes are escaped genetically enhanced superhuman prototypes, and should be avoided. Call Dr. Lydecker immediately![/li][li]Stupid fad. Will hopefully go away with body piercing. _Yes, I know it’s your body. But GAWD, that’s gross!_[/li][/list=1] ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/3 "2001-03-15T19:02:29Z")
I have commented that I would like to get one in order to be prepared… But How will I know what encoding software The Beast will use when He comes to reward his faithful servants? Wouldn’t it suck to get my ‘666’ on my forehead only to find out that the Demon’s barcode reader is set up differently and my message now says “Jesus Freak! Torture me mercilessly!” So I’ll hold off until Satan comes up with an ANSI approved and crossplatform compatible reader. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/4 "2001-03-15T19:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by MikeG \* > \*\* > But How will I know what encoding software The Beast will use when He comes to reward his faithful servants? Wouldn’t it suck to get my ‘666’ on my forehead only to find out that the Demon’s barcode reader is set up differently and my message now says “Jesus Freak! Torture me mercilessly!”_\* Good point! What do these barcodes “say”? Their SSN? Name? I’ve not seen any in person here in St. Louis, but it would be neat to be working retail, and when one shows up in the check lane, just grab their neck and scan it! Make 'em pay for what ever rings up before they leave! ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/5 "2001-03-15T19:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AWB \* > **Those with the barcodes are escaped genetically enhanced superhuman prototypes, and should be avoided. Call Dr. Lydecker immediately!** I take it this is something from a comic book? ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/6 "2001-03-15T19:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MikeG \* > **…But How will I know what encoding software The Beast will use when He comes to reward his faithful servants? Wouldn’t it suck to get my ‘666’ on my forehead only to find out that the Demon’s barcode reader is set up differently…"** Good Point! There has been alot of discussion about what the future Evil Empire operating system will be, and while the Linux platform had a lot of votes early on (mostly because of the little devil mascot I suspect) most evil computer experts agree it’ll be from Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/7 "2001-03-15T20:03:04Z")
Are the tattoos the same on each person, or unique? ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/8 "2001-03-15T20:38:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by muttrox \* > \*\*Are the tattoos the same on each person, or unique? \*\* Got me. I’m tempted to boost one of those Wal-Mart hand-held laser reader thingies and find out. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/9 "2001-03-15T20:41:14Z")
Maybe they’re paying for the tattoo in installments. First you do all the vertical strokes… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/10 "2001-03-15T21:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Inky- \* > There has been alot of discussion about what the future Evil Empire operating system will be, and while the Linux platform had a lot of votes early on (mostly because of the little devil mascot I suspect) most evil computer experts agree it’ll be from Microsoft. The little devil is for the various flavors of BSD. The Linux kernel has the little Penguin. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/11 "2001-03-15T21:20:05Z")
I almost got a barcode tattoo back in 1995. The artist talked me out of it saying that because of the precision of the lines any fading and stretching will be **very** apparent. I was going to put it on my back between my shoulder blades (have another tattoo there now) so that it could be covered as necessary and wouldn’t get much sun. At the time I was in the process of applying to grad schools and was planning to get a barcode that actually read “3042070”, my undergrad GPA and GRE score (I don’t remember the actual numbers, anymore, so don’t read them as such). Seemed like a pretty original idea at the time, but the tattoo artists told me otherwise and this was six years ago. I would say that what you are seeing is likely just a fad and will go the way of ankle tats for 19-year-old sorority girls. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/12 "2001-03-15T21:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Inky- \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by AWB \* > > **Those with the barcodes are escaped genetically enhanced superhuman prototypes, and should be avoided. Call Dr. Lydecker immediately!** > > I take it this is something from a comic book? \*\* Actually, the new James Cameron TV series “Dark Angel”. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Pinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dr.Pinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Pinky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/13 "2001-03-15T22:06:02Z")
I just found a barcode download yesterday and have had great fun printing off “666,” “Satan Spawn” and “Throb Broth” and sticking them up around the office. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/14 "2001-03-15T22:15:50Z")
They were quite clever a few years back, but they’re hardly individual; I wander down to my local markets on a weekend and there’s usually three or four (and have been for at least a couple of years), usually with the tattoo on the shoulder or back of the neck. I do like them, but I don’t think they qualify as new or unique. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/15 "2001-03-15T22:18:14Z")
AWB said: > [@](#): > > Will hopefully go away with body piercing. What, proliferated everywhere, so that even pre-teens are getting them? ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/16 "2001-03-15T22:34:23Z")
I don’t care. I want one. I can’t get it tattooed (the Bible specifically prohibits tattooing - now THAT’s interesting), but I’ll be very happy to blu-tac it to my forehead, as long as it doesn’t actually represent a certain very specific number. Dr Pinky… I have to know where this barcode download site is. Please tell me. Don’t tease me with promises of totalitarian symbols! ps: body piercing is a Biblical sign of willing slavery. To a good master, one would presume. And in those days they didn’t have sterilised equipment. * * * ## Everybody happy? ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/17 "2001-03-15T22:45:17Z")
uhhh… Dr Pinky, roughly seven seconds after positing the above message, I typed “barcode download” into the address bar, and the autosearch gave me about a thousand sites. Sorry to have troubled you. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/18 "2001-03-16T00:41:18Z")
I say forced double irony. The proud owners of these tattoos use them as a license to smirk a lot but the joke is actually on them. What a bunch of idjits. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Pinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dr.Pinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Pinky)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/19 "2001-03-16T17:26:20Z")
I use Bar Tender, but you’re right, there’s 1000’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116/20 "2001-03-16T18:39:07Z")
Yeah but I KNOW the joke is really on me - and I also know that you know that I know the joke is really on me. Plus my barcode will read “idjit”. It’s a double-double triple irony with somersault and reverse fosbury flop. Anyway… I know this is a bit off-topic but it fascinated me… the reason you’re not supposed to have your forehead tattooed with the number of the beast is that it’s where your new name will be written when you come into the New Jerusalem. Cool, huh? I KNEW there was a point to having a forehead. It just BEGS to be written on, doesn’t it? How often I’ve fantasised about writing “BUMFACE” on William Hague’s forehead in MagicMarker while he sleeps. ps: newsflash. I now know that you know that I know that you know that I know that the joke’s really on me. This can go on for years if necessary. I’m an infinite idiot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-code-tattoos-individualism-or-irony/58116.md?page=2)