The background: I have parallel horizontal scars on the inside of my arm, about three-four inches above my wrist, both are about two inches long. Scar one is due to a slip of a case cutter years ago and scar two is a screwdriver slip a few years ago; both are a bit keloided/white and when I get the slightest bit of sun they are more prominent.
They “problem” – which isn’t really a problem, but an opportunity because I’ve wanted a cool and creative small tattoo in this area – is that many people think the scars are due to suicide attempts (dumb ones, since they are horizontal cuts, but the case cutter one was quite a geyser). My lovely and concerned young niece did a gentle “are you a cutter? Are these suicide attempts?” inquiry during this vacation and I realized the time is now.
So, I’m thinking about getting a little cartoon/stylized power saw between the scars with the power cord cut in half by the blade (with teeny flames indicating so).
. . . and making little dashes along the two scars to indicate that the saw went off course. I’m also known for tool and other odd accidents, so people who know me will really get it.
So I’m thinking about doing a few words along the lines of “Bad with saw” or something. I thought the “I came, I saw, I (something)” in Latin could be clever, but I don’t know how or if that would work.
I am opinionated about tattoos, so take this only for what it’s worth: In my opinion, a visible tattoo that is not self-evident is a mistake. I think anything a stranger wouldn’t understand in under a quarter of a second should be hidden. Unless you enjoy explaining over and over again.
I’m not convinced this tattooed “explanation joke” will work. I suspect that people will still just think you’re were a cutter or suicidal, and now making a joke about it.
Scars are cool, especially honestly earned ones? There’s no way an afterthought of a silly, jokey tattoo would be appropriate. If you like tattoos, get a nice big tattoo somewhere else. As for the “problem” of what people think, it’s really none of their business, is it?
I wouldn’t go for something “jokey” (it seems to me that would get very old/unfunny very fast), but rather would work with an artist whose work you really like to come up with something creative that covers/works around/hides the scars - good luck!
How about “NOT SUICIDE ATTEMPT”. ALthough to save letters and cost, instead of “NOT” you could just put an “X”, which I think would convey the same message.
He’s already stuck with the scars, which he has to explain over and over again…
I’m sure you’ve considered this, so what are the options for just plain covering the scars with a tattoo, at which point you could get anything you wanted?
Ha! I have a shark tattoo on my bicep (ca.1990) commemorating surviving a near-drowning (of me, not an actual shark). So this one will be about surviving other sharp things.
I’m going for celebrating the scars, not cover (attempting to cover keloids generally makes them worse).
The humor is for me and I’m not making a statement about folks who are cutters/suicidal. I’m 51yo, have had scar keloiding and cystic acne for 40 years and this is a way I want to own the scars and be proud that I work with my hands and brain (and, I guess, celebrate being clumsy but willing to keep learning how to handle sharp tools).
And if my teeny tattoo catches an eye and opens up a conversation with a stranger or one of my students, then cool be it. I’ve been self destructive in ways not written on my skin and I’m honored to hear other hoomins stories.