Actually, I didn’t. :smack: It might be interesting to see how today’s tats fare in the coming years.
I recommend that you look at last month’s “Who is your tattoo for?” thread. The question “why get a permanent, visible reminder of something you’re unlikely to ever forget?” is both asked and (eventually) answered.
Could you point me to the post that it is answered in? I read through and I really couldn’t find it. (Other than one that attempted the inapplicable photo comparison.)
You know, I’ve really given very little thought to it. My wife has two - neither of which are small, and I’ve told her I really, really wouldn’t like her getting covered in the things, because I like her skin, believe it or not.
However, I don’t mind them overall. The vast majority of people I know have them, and who cares?
My wife has two, and she’s a teacher. My mother has one that she is always adding to (which she didn’t get until she was about 37) and she’s a nurse.
Are they low-end riffraff? Not unless you have stupidly high standards or think entirely too much of yourself.
Do I have one? No, but mostly because I either never had the cash or never found anything I thought I’d be happy with for the rest of my life.
I’m frankly amazed at what a big deal it seems to be to some people.
BTW, Nic2004, you rock, man.
I think maybe you weren’t really looking.
Post #19, by PookahMacPhellimey
Post #33, by WhyNot (probably the most direct answer)
Post #37, by Casey1505 (he said “tats don’t always need reasons” with a big grin, but it’s a definite truth and a valid response)
These are just the first three examples I found in that thread of people who answered the “why a permanent reminder of something you’re unlikely to ever forget” question. There may have been more later, but I’ve done enough work for you today. 
I’m just going to go ahead and post a link to what I said last time you asked this question. Anything about my explanation that isn’t clear to you, now’s the time to ask.
And brown mustard still tastes disgusting.
I like them and I don’t. I would never question anyone’s getting a tattoo, or criticize what they’d gotten (either to their faces or behind their backs–poor taste in my view). Their bodies, their business. Hell, mine is “flash” and as such is disdained by many tattooed types themselves. But I think a lot of tattoos end up looking pretty bad. It can also cause regret on down the line, as I know only too well. I don’t consider the fading or the impression tattoos give to be factors in my dislike.
I do find it amusing that accountants apparently don’t get tattoos. Granted, I’m not an accountant yet, nor was I planning to be one when I got my tattoo, but still. I am not happy with mine but that is not and should not be a reflection on other people who have them. I am a completely different person from the one I was when I got my tattoo and that is the only reason it bothers me. I will in all likelihood get it removed when I have the money. FYI, I was completely sober when I had it done, needles don’t bother me a bit, and I think tattoos all over the arms of a lean, muscular man are very sexy, but that’s merely my opinion.
Since I brought up noserings in my response way back in this thread, I feel like I should chime in again. No, really, it’s no trouble.
Um…I know LOTS of Latinas with nose rings. But if it rings your bell, have at it. But I do find it funny that you are ‘finding your culture’ with a gesture that has moved so far away from it.
I don’t really need to know…there’s an asthetic I appreciate, and tats are outside of that paradigm. Your motives are really none of my business, and don’t really impact my opinion. However, in my experience, everyone thinks that they can ‘pull it off’- whether it be tats, piercings, low-rider jeans, thongs, or open toed shoes. Sometimes I wish I had a big stamp that i could walk around with that reads “No, You can’t pull that look off” and slap it on the heads of the folks I encounter every day. I don’t care about how good you feel about yourself…shame is sometimes an important tool for self-preservation.
As someone that met and fell in love with his wife without ever laying eyes on her, i can tell you that I’m neither as crass or superficial as my previous answers might indicate…though I do think we’ve a long way to go before you remove the physical component from relationships.
If my wife had a tat, assuming she were the same in every other way, I’d probably be okay with it, assuming it was discreet. If it were a full sleeve, or half of her back, etc…well, whatever our common interests, it’s clear that she and I have different notions of what is acceptable for polite society- and that difference would make itself more pronounced the longer we were together, I’m sure. As for getting a tat now…we both explored it together, and while I moved closer to acceptance, she moved farther away…so it was a no go. But if I were adamantly against it…well, she’d have to weigh my being pissed off with her freedom to do what she wanted. And whatever she got had better be discreet…I’m not fond of the idea of going to a $1000 a plate White House dinner, and have Orinn Hatch admire the falcon she has inked onto her neck.
Reminds me of a story: I went on a cruise with some friends two years ago, and there were two formal nights on board. While prepping for the trip I realized that I only had one formal outfit, so I went shopping for a second dress with one of the friends who I’d be on the cruise with. I stressed that I couldn’t get anything sleeveless – partly because I have fat arms, but mostly because of the wolf tattoo on my left arm. My friend agreed, though she didn’t really understand about the tattoo.
Until we got on board, and went to the first formal night.
And we saw a woman in a sleeveless gown, sporting a tattoo roughly the same size as mine, also on her upper arm.
After we passed the woman, my friend turned to me and said, “Wow, you were so right! The dress is fine, but that tattoo just does not work with that look. Yeesh!”
That’s an example of what I don’t understand: people who just don’t care about dressing appropriately. What on Earth made that woman think she looked better in a sleeveless gown, big honkin’ tattoo exposed and very noticeable, than she would have in something with short sleeves? (I know, I know, the answer is that she didn’t care … and I guess I really don’t, either, it’s just something I would never do myself.)
Thanks Man. That comes at the end of a very emotionally heavy day and this was my first chance to smile.
Thanks again
Umm, but neither 19 or 37 answer that question. And 33 (reminder of committment to paganism) while fine, is unlikely to be a common reason.
However, Miller’s comment pointing me to the other thread reminded me of her answer before. Her answer was reasonable, so I accepted it, but it is so different from the way my memory work that it did not stick in my mind.
Sorry for forgetting your previous answer. But soon we may have to have a straight out mustard duel. Yellow mustard heathen.
I just now had time to follow your link and I’d like to add Well Said. Very nicely done. I do, however, like just a little Goulden’s on my bologna samich 
“His,” actually.
You Poupon eatin’ bastard.
Well, I think they do (obviously). If you don’t see it, I can’t make you or anything.
Her answer wasn’t specific to her paganism, it was about remembering important things in general.
Man, you and I sure have different ideas about what constitutes “reasonable” and “common” … and, from what I read, we have different ideas about mustard, too.
I don’t have any tattoos, but I did wait until I went to college to get my first facial piercing. Not because I was wary of my parents’ reactions, but because moving halfway across the country to live on my own for the first time was such a major change in my life, and I wanted to mark that change. I knew that I was going to be a different person, and I didn’t want to look like the same person I was in high school. I suspect many people get commemorative tattoos for the same reason.
Oh, and I like spicy honey mustard, myself.