# Girls, stop getting all of these tattoos, ya look skanky. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 15, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983 "2003-06-15T07:12:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/202 "2003-06-21T17:06:23Z")
Be sure to not let your thumb get caught on anything. ---
**Author:** ![Lilairen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lilairen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilairen)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/203 "2003-06-21T17:08:41Z")
**XJETGIRLX** , unfortunately, I don’t think someone who keeps repeating that people with tats are marring their bodies with chosen disfigurements is going to get any further than arguing with the guy who seems to seriously think that there’s a legitimate comparison with an oozing wound. I gotta say these guys are making visible tattoos sound remarkably appealing, though. Mmmmmm, turn-offs. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/204 "2003-06-21T17:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*Be sure to not let your thumb get caught on anything. \*\* As long as you remain careful not to get your head permanently trapped in your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/205 "2003-06-21T17:35:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*Muad, your first mistake was stating what is the conventional view of a large number of people, the automatic and culturally-based association of tattoos with low-lifes. \*\* No. Your shared mistake with the op is that you are going on outdated perceptions borne of your obviously insular lives and behaving as if you know the prevaling mores of society and we’re just a conglomeration of rebellious teenagers. Working for you or with you has to be a rare treat, somewhat akin to willingly shoving one’s hand in a garbage disposal. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/206 "2003-06-21T18:39:43Z")
Yes, because if someone does not agree with \*\*Mockingbird \*\*, they must be outdated, insular jerks. What open-minded, tolerant thinking. I am sure that you must be a dear to be with, so long as no one disagrees with you. I am surprised that you have not called anyone a Nazi yet. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/207 "2003-06-21T19:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*I know what you mean. I do not believe that there is anything intrinsically bad about tattoos, and they very well could be a high form of art someday (especially once they stop trying to make the body conform to the tattoo and instead make the tattoo conform to the body), but until then there is a stigma that is not without cause attached to them that people have to live with. \*\* People with tattoos certainly do have to live with a stigma, but outside of personal aesthetic preferences (which shouldn’t carry too much weight when judging others), there’s no real reason for the stigma. It’s simply a societal convention, running on its own inertia and existing for no real purpose. Denying this stigma would be a mistake (especially if you’re looking for a job in the professional sector), but that doesn’t mean that the stigma continues for good cause. As for tattoos someday becoming high art - I would reword that: Tattoos mights someday become high art _from a societal perspective_. In my opinion, they already are high art. I’d also like to remind you that others will likely have very different opinions about whether a tattoo conforms to a body or a body conforms to a tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/208 "2003-06-21T19:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*Yes, because if someone does not agree with \*\*Mockingbird > \*\*, they must be outdated, insular jerks. > > What open-minded, tolerant thinking. I am sure that you must be a dear to be with, so long as no one disagrees with you. I am surprised that you have not called anyone a Nazi yet. \*\* You’re an idiot, not a Nazi. I am saying that your perception of the mass belief that your perspective is the prevaling one is flawed. And I do think you are an outdated, insular jerk who is expecting the world to conform to his narrow perspective. People can disagree with me as much as they want. None of my friends would trot out such a moronic view as yours and expect it to go unassailed. You must be a dear to be with since your head is so deeply imbedded in your ass that they would require a Jaime Sommers’™ bionic implant to hear you. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/209 "2003-06-21T19:49:07Z")
You are just a bigoted intolerant twit who has to stoop to calling people names and assuming they are stupid when she can’t argue with them. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/210 "2003-06-21T19:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > You are just a bigoted intolerant twit pot, kettle, yada yada. ::yawn:: ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/211 "2003-06-21T20:00:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*You are just a bigoted intolerant twit who has to stoop to calling people names and assuming they are stupid when she can’t argue with them. \*\* 1. I’m a guy. 2. You _are_ stupid. 3. I and others have argued and you still see fit to be an intolerant pompous ass. 4. I’ve done much more than call you names, you just choose to ignore that because it suits you. 5. FOAD ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/212 "2003-06-22T00:05:04Z")
I think that tattoos are ugly and that people who get them most often look the worse for it and you don’t like that? Well fuck you and learn to grow up. Is there nothing that you dislike? If so, then you must be narrow-minded. Is there no music that grates on your nerves? If so then you must just be stupid. Have you ever said “Man, that’s ugly.”? Then you must be an idiotic, outdated, insular jerk who is just to dumb to recognize that, so long as there is a single person that disagrees with him (if even then), you have no right to pass judgment on anything. You should learn to be less intolerant with your tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/213 "2003-06-22T01:49:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > **…you are going on outdated perceptions…** No argument there. As I said earlier, the views I hold ARE old-fashioned and are to be taken as those of an old fart who knows that his views are not stylish. That does not make my views any less valid than yours.\*\* > [@](#): > > …behaving as if you know the prevaling mores of society…\*\* Well, yeah, you’re right there BECAUSE I _DO_ KNOW THE PREVAILING MORES OF SOCIETY! And tattoos and other body art are more acceptable now than they once were, but are still not entirely accepted, especially in more culturally conservative areas. That doesn’t make my automatic reaction different.\*\* > [@](#): > > … we’re just a conglomeration of rebellious teenagers.\*\* No, you will notice I also suggested that some of you are FORMER rebellious teenagers who have to justify a permanent action they took when they were teens.\*\* > [@](#): > > Working for you or with you has to be a rare treat, somewhat akin to willingly shoving one’s hand in a garbage disposal.\*\* Well, you might get the occasional ribbing but it’s not THAT bad. Bear in mind that I was describing my automatic reaction the “prevailing mores of society,” not the way I would actually treat you or the view I would have of you after I got to know you. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > **(well, it was basically her resume)** I am impressed with your accomplishments. Apparently you have tasteful and attractive tattoos if you can be an effective lobbyist. (Warning–cheap shot I don’t entirely mean but can’t resist after her “shit-faced sorry ass excuse for a bag of flesh” comment coming up!) Then again, the older farts in the Florida legislature might pretend to go along with you because they think your tattoos make you look easy. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/214 "2003-06-22T02:25:45Z")
> [@](#): > > ## \*Originally posted by dropzone \* No argument there. As I said earlier, the views I hold ARE old-fashioned and are to be taken as those of an old fart who knows that his views are not stylish. That does not make my views any less valid than yours. > > Well, yeah, you’re right there BECAUSE I _DO_ KNOW THE PREVAILING MORES OF SOCIETY! So, our views are not more valid than yours, but your are more valid than ours? I think you do not know the prevailing mores of society, merely the mores of your particular segment of it. They certainly do not match my experiences. > [@](#): > > And tattoos and other body art are more acceptable now than they once were, but are still not entirely accepted, especially in more culturally conservative areas. Well, I’ll keep that in mind if I ever move to North Carolina. Mind you, I’d sooner give myself a razor blade and Drano enema than move to North Carolina. No offence to North Carolinians, but if you told me California was going to slide into the ocean in a month, I’d start saving up for scuba tanks. > [@](#): > > That doesn’t make my automatic reaction different. Different than what? > [@](#): > > No, you will notice I also suggested that some of you are FORMER rebellious teenagers who have to justify a permanent action they took when they were teens. Let’s ignore for the moment that that’s not at all what you said, I’ll just mention that I got my first tattoo when I was twenty-six. I’m planning on getting my second some time next year, when I’ll be twenty-eight. Two of my friends got tattoos for their thirtieth birthdays. Everyone else I know with a tattoo got them in thier twenties. The only person I know who got a tattoo as a teenager is my mom, who got hers when she was eighteen. And, as I believe I mentioned earlier in this thread, hasn’t regretted it for a day. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/215 "2003-06-22T03:35:33Z")
So, what you are saying is that being a rebellious teenager is a state of mind, not a chronology? 😉 Anyway, you’re a guy and we’re talking about how tattoos look on women. At no point have I said that my culturally defined, automatic reaction was more VALID than anybody else’s. I have merely stated that it was my (need I reiterate?) **culturally defined, automatic reaction.** I never said it was praiseworthy, merely that it was common and was something that could damage one’s future in some careers. > [@](#): > > Quoting myself: > **I don’t like tatoos or piercings on either gender. That doesn’t mean I think you shouldn’t do it, but your beliefs contrary to mine will not diminish my opinion that they generally make the person look skanky. Really, deep-down skanky to the bone. But I’m an old fart, too, so you can value my opinions as much as I valued the style opinions of people of my parents’ generation.** > > And later:\*\* > Since (my youth) I have made an effort to be more openminded about this issue, especially since many women I like and respect and don’t consider skanky have them. I have not been totally successful. Deep down I still associate tattoos with the dregs of society. It’s unbecoming of me but there it is and perhaps now you can understand why many people, especially those older than you, do not share your appreciation for body art.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/216 "2003-06-22T04:04:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > \*\*Oh, and FWIW the CEO and half the staff in my company also have tattoos. At 24, I’m one of the youngest employees. 90% of the staff is 40 or older, and all make enough money to be considered rich by democratic ideology. \*\* Oh, b/c we all know that the whole democratic party is in awe of your astounding wealth :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/217 "2003-06-22T04:36:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NightRabbit \* > Oh, b/c we all know that the whole democratic party is in awe of your astounding wealth :rolleyes: No, jackass. I threw that in to refute these half-wits who seem to think that a predilection towards tattoos is a lower-class phenomenon, and at the same time get a small political gibe in. Christ. Touchy much? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/218 "2003-06-22T04:49:40Z")
I don’t give a fuck what any of you say. Chicks with tattoos are hot! The former Mrs. Batty probably would have scared half you to death with her art. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/219 "2003-06-22T04:57:09Z")
Dear, I don’t know HOW MANY TIMES I have to say it, but “a predilection towards tattoos is a lower-class phenomenon” WAS MOSTLY ONLY TRUE WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND WHEN MY ATTITUDES WERE BEING FORMED. (Remember, I am twice your age.) Automatic reactions, even ones that a person tries actively to put behind him, do not vanish overnight; you can only make an effort to work around them and not let them control you. I find tattoos, piercings, and breast implants unattractive. SO WHAT?!?!? What do you care what I think? Why even defend yourself? We’ll probably never meet and if we do I’ll be happy to not make negative comments about your tattoos if you don’t make any about my weight. Sheesh! (Politics, though, will still be fair game. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/220 "2003-06-22T05:09:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > \*\*No, jackass. I threw that in to refute these half-wits who seem to think that a predilection towards tattoos is a lower-class phenomenon, and at the same time get a small political gibe in. Christ. Touchy much? \*\* Oh, I see. So suddenly your political stereotypes trump their political stereotypes? Wait, who was it earlier that made a comment about a pot calling a kettle black? Oh, that’s right, it was you. How ironic. Well, hijack over. Please continue, guys… ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983/221 "2003-06-22T06:07:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NightRabbit \* > Oh, I see. So suddenly your political stereotypes trump their political stereotypes? Nope, no stereotype. You see, the democrats opposed the president’s tax cut claiming that it would only benefit the ‘rich’, which by their definition is those who make $100k +. Personally, I don’t think that’s ‘rich’, but by democratic ideology it would seem to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-stop-getting-all-of-these-tattoos-ya-look-skanky/181983.md?page=12)