I would get a daisy on the second toe of my left foot. I’ve actually have come really close to getting it before, but I’m glad I chickened out. Several of my friends got daisies and they just didn’t wear well after a couple of years. I don’t know if it is because they didn’t take care of them properly or because of the location.
Permanent eyeliner. 
I’d get a dove with an olive branch to remind me to be more peaceful. Somewhere where I could show it or not.
My family crest. On my left shoulder.
If I were female, I’d get a butterfly on one of my shoulderblades. 'cept it’d be a dead butterfly - maybe a cartoony one with its legs in the air, tongue hanging out, and crosses for eyes.
For me, I can’t think of one. Nothing Celtic, Japanese, or Maori, I know that much.
The main reason I’ve never gotten a tat is because I can’t think of anything I’d like on my body permanently. When I think of what I might have gotten 20 years ago, it is hard to think of anything that I would want to see every day today.
The one thing I’ve thought of was having my 3 kids’ names somewhere (yeah, I’ve heard it is supposedly bad luck to have peoples’ names). Maybe as rings around 3 of my fingers.
Another possibility is something floral, as I’ve been very interested in gardening for many years. Maybe a bracelet of wildflowers around a wrist, or a columbine on a shoulder/upper arm.
But I always get back to - unless I really, REALLY want one, its probably better not to get one. That and my wife doesn’t dig ink.
“Fiat justitia, ruat caelum.” Let justice be done, though the heavens fall. I’m a law student, and I’m more than cynical enough to forget that if it isn’t tattooed on me somewhere.
I actually did get a tattoo of my fraternity letters, and they are in pretty much the exact spot that you want to get yours, right below the base of my neck and going across my spine. Best part about it was that I got it for only 20 bucks since my friends get tattoos so freaking often I was given a discount since they bring in so much business.
I’d like something that was either a pure design a la Maastricht, or text that looks like a design (in a very stylized script such as Japanese). But it would need to mean something to me either way, and I haven’t found something that I really feel and would continue to feel for the rest of my life.
Or possibly a stylized dragon, in honor of my father, who has had a large Chinese dragon on his right upper arm since before I was born. He redid the red color a few years ago because it was faded, and it looks incredible.
And now that I’m home and had a chance to search around, and assuming there aren’t any hotlinking issues:
I wouldn’t get one to begin with, but if I DID (let’s say someone got me really, really, can’t stand up stupid drunk or something) it would be this guy. Below my neck, middle of my back between my shoulder blades.
I like the idea of a tattoo. I don’t want one, though. There’s nothing I want that permanent! I have tossed around the idea of getting an ‘Om’. Here are some examples:
I mean, I have a nose piercing but even that’s not as permanent as a tattoo. I’ve been very careful to always use either a thin gold hoop or right now a diamond with a very thin gold wire holding it in, so the hole has stayed extremely small. If I really got sick of it, I could easily remove it and you can hardly see the hole. Tattoos you’re stuck with.
I am blessedly uninked. The only tat I’ve ever seen that I approved of was on one of my students, who had the red fish tattooed on her ankle.
If I had to have one done by force, I’d probably have my classroom motto (Disce Aut Morere) tattooed on my arm. Or maybe a kitty.
Me, too. I’m kind of a LOTR geek, though, so maybe the “One Ring” in elvish thing around my wrist.
Ooh, I forgot all about permant make-up! So yes, I actually do have a tattoo: my very fair eyebrows are filled in with light brown ink. The ink has faded in the six or so years I had it done, and it is hardly noticable anymore. I have thought about getting them redone. That sure would save a lot of pencilling in the morning, and no matter how hard I try, I often look a little lopsided. But what holds me back is the cost. 300 bucks for a tatoo that wil fade in 5 years is hardly a good deal.
Ya know…there’s another easy way to not have to draw on eyebrows…
I have considered getting inked for years. I have been friends with a lot of (really awesome) artists who always want to ink me because I have this phenomenal porcelain-white, silky smooth skin that they think would be a “perfect canvas.” I am too flaky, though.
I always figured if I ever broke down to get inked, it would be my children’s names written out in very stylised (read: to look more like tribal artwork than words) celtic knotwork lettering – one around each ankle.
Lately, (well since my tummy tuck) I have been considering having a henne-esque design done around my belly-button. My belly button looks awesome (thanks, Dr. Yarbro!), but I have this weird scarring pattern that would lend itself nicely to a tattoo there.
I will probably not ever commit to permanent inking, though. I do occassionally get bored and henna myself and my daughter up quite nicely.
<hijack>I have been considering getting things re-pierced, lately. I used to have several piercings – took them all out due to one reason or another (no infections, just aesthetic/geek/bitchy reasons) and just never re-pierced. If I do start re-piercing, I think I will start with my belly button if the scar tissue is not too thick there (which, even at only 2 months post-op, it doesn’t seem to be). </hijack>
I’ve never had a tat, if you don’t count the fleck of red plastic that lived in my left forearm for a few years. I never felt the need. However, if your hypothetical mad tattooist forced me to get one, I want the constellation Ursa Major across my chest, with the stars in dark brown. That way, it would look like random moles, if you weren’t looking for the big dipper.
I’m contemplating getting a skeleton key tattooed, some feathers that wind around a curve on my torso, and eventually a thunderbird-esque zoomorphic knotwork piece done. However, I haven’t had a lot of money, and I’d feel better doing it well after I’ve moved out on my own for good. I am also putting it off because I have really pale skin and whatever I get done isn’t likely to come out completely, even with laser tattoo removal procedures. I want to make sure that I really want these pieces.
I have thought about getting a dragon. And have thought about getting runes for prosperty and/or health. I doubt I will ever get any of those.