# How did this horrible tattoo even happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253 "2011-07-16T15:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/41 "2011-07-17T00:00:31Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > That’s what I’m wondering, too. How do we know it’s a permanent tattoo? People just don’t get fake tattoos, but it does seem to be a popular misconception. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me if mine are real, as if I’d go to elaborate lengths for a fake. Plus, you can see splotches around it where the “artist” wiped the excess ink off. Take a look around, there are far more terrible tattoos like this than there are good ones. People just aren’t very careful about marking their bodies for life. a ---
**Author:** ![wipetheclock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b19c9b/32.png) [@wipetheclock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wipetheclock)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/42 "2011-07-17T00:34:23Z")
Good lord. As if the design wasn’t bad enough to start with, it looks like the “artist” free handed the lettering. Just look at the rt in supporting. It appears as if there was an attempt at correction by going back over the letters, like someone would do while writing a grocery list in ink. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/43 "2011-07-17T01:01:14Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > Conversely, all tattoos probably think, you suck! 😃 > > Beauty, is in the eye of the beholder! 😉 I was just joking. I personally like tattoos, if they are good ones. But all of these threads always seem to get people in them who bash all tattoos in general. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/44 "2011-07-17T01:24:44Z")
The lettering is horrible, but I can ignore it for some reason. I cannot ignore those marks that are supposed to resemble leopard spots. They are horrid. If I had trypophobia, I’d be screaming right now. At least it’s on her back and not in a place where she’d have to look at it every day. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/45 "2011-07-17T02:10:43Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > At least it’s on her back and not in a place where she’d have to look at it every day. Anyone doing her doggy style would need a towel to put over it. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/46 "2011-07-17T03:03:44Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I was just joking. I personally like tattoos, if they are good ones. But all of these threads always seem to get people in them who bash all tattoos in general. I kind of thought, (hoped, actually) that you were just being snarkastic. 😃 It a was sort of “knee-jerk” (_ **and** _ somewhat, “jerkish”) response, and I apologize if I was too aggressive and offended, in any way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/47 "2011-07-17T03:07:50Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Anyone doing her doggy style would need a towel to put over it. Now _ **that’s** _, just wrong! (Yet, _ **not** _ untruthful!) :eek: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/48 "2011-07-17T03:59:34Z")
I see worse tattoos every weekend in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/49 "2011-07-17T04:08:56Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I see worse tattoos every weekend in the summer. When’s your parole date? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/50 "2011-07-17T04:30:20Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Supporting the fighters > Admiring the jfhfdhskfhgbdjddfg > > ??? > > What a terrible waste of prime tattoo real estate. Close – it’s “Swagaggering the fighters & Admiring the subtitles and Honoring the…” Eh, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/51 "2011-07-17T04:33:29Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Close – it’s “Swagaggering the fighters & Admiring the subtitles and Honoring the…” > > Eh, I got nothin’. Yes, you do. The start of your entry for next year’s contest. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/52 "2011-07-17T05:44:19Z")
Oddly enough, just last week I sent in my first entry for next year’s contest. > [@](#): > > The acquiesence of the bourgeoisie predates the conundrum of the Schleswig-Holstein Question, yet is inextricably intertwined with the hegemony of the proletariat to the exclusion of the land-owning aristocracy, presupposing the necessary and inevitable conflagration of class struggle and the workers’ paradise that tomorrow will be. I love communist blather! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/53 "2011-07-17T05:46:13Z")
Oof. That rings pretty true as Communist blather, but if anything it’s too short and doesn’t have enough Capitalized Nouns. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/54 "2011-07-17T05:50:55Z")
And you’ve reminded me that it should have ended with at least four exclamation points. And I am working on a theme for my entries this year – densely incomprehensible academic writing. I have now been a judge of the contest for a couple of years and I’ve never seen a single entry in this genre. (FYI – I do not get to vote on my own entries, and they are sent out to the judges with no identification of the authors). ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/55 "2011-07-17T09:02:40Z")
the scrolly letters are a nice trailer trash touch. I should know…I ASPIRE to be trailer trash… ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/56 "2011-07-17T09:27:41Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > The lettering is horrible, but I can ignore it for some reason. > > I cannot ignore those marks that are supposed to resemble leopard spots. > > They are horrid. If I had trypophobia, I’d be screaming right now. I agree, they make it look much worse (and that’s a tricky thing to accomplish, with the wonderful lettering). But I’m pretty sure they are supposed to be stylized women’s faces. ---
**Author:** ![Xandroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/91b2a8/32.png) [@Xandroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xandroid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/57 "2011-07-17T10:06:57Z")
Those spots might, in fact, be breasts. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/58 "2011-07-17T13:08:14Z")
> [@Xandroid](#): > > Those spots might, in fact, be breasts. They all have black borders that make them look like pink faces with accompanying hair (in various styles). Unless the black is the only real tattoo part and the pink is just some kind of bruising or inflammation … it’s hard to tell what with the general smeared look the whole thing has. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/59 "2011-07-17T13:39:59Z")
That is some very unfortunate work. Aside from the fact that the person doing it didn’t sketch it out beforehand to see if it’d fit/work, they got distracted while actually tattooing it on. Yikes. > [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > Is that even legal? :eek: Technically, no. If you’re a licensed tattoo artist and doing “kitchen tattoos”, _if caught_ you can get into some major trouble, as licensing for tattoo shops generally doesn’t include homes due to health code ordinances. This doesn’t stop the average “scratcher” from finding folks who’ll come to their house for tattoos. [In Florida](http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/tattoo/index.html), you need to be under the supervision of a physician of some sort to have a legal tattoo shop, and may need more certifications and/or inspections depending upon your jurisdiction. The majority of the statewide stuff is handled by the biomedical folks. > [@pravnik](#): > > If that’s real, it’s a tattoo done by somebody with nowhere near the experience to do a tattoo of that size and that complexity, and without competent supervision. Apprenticing tattooists start small, simple and supervised for very good reasons. It’s real, and I’ve seen stuff that’s as bad as that before. The fun part about having worked in a public library is that you see a lot more tattoos than you think you will; some are really good work, and some are not. One of the worst ones I had seen was fresh and of the same quality as this one, but smaller. The guy had just gotten it done, and mentioned he had it done at the flea market tattoo shop nearby. So proud of the work, though it was not so awesome and the placement was crooked. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253/60 "2011-07-17T14:23:58Z")
One major mistake that makes the lettering on a lot of tats suck ass is you need to stretch the skin while working, so the lettering tends to get distorted _unless_ you are _VERY_ skilled - a buddy of mine tattoos for a living, and he practiced on chamois [shammys] to get the how of stretching down pat. You may notice if you go to a professional tat convention [or see lots of pictures] some tat artists can actually do excellent calligraphy on peoples hides. He said it took him at least 50 hours of practice over a couple weeks to get where he could do good simple lettering, if it is some stupid intricate lettering like fraktur or gothic he practices on a chamois to make sure he can get it right. That is also the source of some of the more horrible baby faces … that and not enough practice with shading. I would never get someone’s face on me, I prefer more neutral art. [Mine](http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/aruvqan/tattoo.jpg) is a combination of solar flare for shape and peacock for coloration. My next one is going to be based on a [falcon](http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/aruvqan/Miscellaneous/osprey.gif), but I have not decided on coloring yet. It is going on the other wrist. I am also planning a small blue lotus on my breast bone just under the notch of my collarbones. Something like [this](http://www.exoticindiaart.com/jbjewelry/blue_lotus_pendant_jwh93.jpg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-horrible-tattoo-even-happen/589253.md?page=4)