# If you aren't absolutely sure what it means, rethink the tattoo. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549 "2006-08-13T14:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/1 "2006-08-13T14:28:14Z")
I love [News of the Weird](http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/index.html), it can be so informative. You’d think people would make an effort to be sure the ideogram they had permanently afixed to themselves means what they think it means. :smack: > [@](#): > > The tattoo-removal business is booming, according to a May, Fox News report, that highlights dissatisfaction with formerly trendy Chinese-language tats that were often either mistranslated as nonsense, (“blood and guts” translated as “blood and intestines”) or were actually jokes pulled on people too cool for their own good (such as Chinese words for “gullible white boy”). A removal service in Beverly Hills, Calif, said it takes off at least seven Asian tattoos a week. [Fox News, 5-9-06] ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/2 "2006-08-13T14:58:24Z")
I’ve often wondered if tattoos of such characters actually said anything or if they just looked like they should say something. Goodness knows, if someone swaggered in demanding a tat that declared “Bad-ass tough guy” I can imagine the tattoo artist writing “Fluffy bunny lover” instead. I’d do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/3 "2006-08-13T15:03:59Z")
I once saw a buddy of mine (a former Marine) who had the coolest tatoo I ever did saw: His name, social security number, blood type, and religion tatooed on his torso. I asked him what it was there for/what it meant. His reply? “Dude, it’s my name, social, blood type, and religion. What do you think?” I was so impresed with his answer that I swore I wanted my own done too. Tripler I’ve just been too chicken-sh\*t to get it done. Needles. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/4 "2006-08-13T15:43:17Z")
Just look at the wall and point. Screw the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/5 "2006-08-13T15:47:17Z")
When I had some work done on one of my tattoos in October, there was a sign up in the shop about kanji and the like that effectively said “we are not responsible if your symbol doesn’t mean what you think it means.” Sherri, my tattoo artist, said that they would never deliberately give someone the wrong tattoo, but they would get a lot of calls from people (usually young white men) complaining about finding out that the symbol they picked doesn’t mean what they thought it meant. A lot of them wanted the shop to “fix it” for free, so they put up the sign. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/6 "2006-08-13T15:53:19Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] I’ve often wondered if tattoos of such characters actually said anything or if they just looked like they should say something. Goodness knows, if someone swaggered in demanding a tat that declared “Bad-ass tough guy” I can imagine the tattoo artist writing “Fluffy bunny lover” instead. I’d do it. 😃 [/QUOTE] And I can imagine the Fluffy bunny lover coming back and sticking the tattoo artist’s tools in interesting places as soon as FBL’s oriental friend quit laughing hysterically and translated the tattoo. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/7 "2006-08-13T16:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] I once saw a buddy of mine (a former Marine) who had the coolest tatoo I ever did saw: His name, social security number, blood type, and religion tatooed on his torso. I asked him what it was there for/what it meant. His reply? “Dude, it’s my name, social, blood type, and religion. What do you think?” I was so impresed with his answer that I swore I wanted my own done too. Tripler I’ve just been too chicken-sh\*t to get it done. Needles. :eek: [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t tattooing it on your brain be easier? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/8 "2006-08-13T16:13:10Z")
> [@](#): > > I once saw a buddy of mine (a former Marine) who had the coolest tatoo I ever did saw: His name, social security number, blood type, and religion tatooed on his torso. I asked him what it was there for/what it meant. His reply? “Dude, it’s my name, social, blood type, and religion. What do you think?” I also have this done, but on my arm, and only the blood type, and only after verifying my type from two clinics. All the other stuff can be changed down the road. 🙂 KTB - Prudent and duely dilligent tattoo owner. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/9 "2006-08-13T16:17:48Z")
You should probably advise your friend about the possibility of identity theft (through SS number) by an enterprising young lady, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/10 "2006-08-13T17:19:15Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] Wouldn’t tattooing it on your brain be easier? 😃 [/QUOTE] Yeah, but if I’m unconscious, I prolly wouldn’t remember them at the particular moment. . . 😉 > [@kawaiitentaclebeast](#): > > You should probably advise your friend about the possibility of identity theft (through SS number) by an enterprising young lady, as well. This is why I always have a “Friday Night ‘Hit-and-Run’ Kit” in my truck: Two aspirin/Advil, a couple of condoms, $50 in cash, and a black magic marker. 😃 You can never be “too safe” with safe sex. Tripler Of course, this is probably why I never get any. . . :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/11 "2006-08-13T17:20:41Z")
And the black Magic Marker is for…? A couple of paper bags, I can see. But the marker? ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/12 "2006-08-13T17:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] Wouldn’t tattooing it on your brain be easier? 😃 [/QUOTE] Not if they’re trying to identify your headless corpse. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/13 "2006-08-13T17:26:19Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] And the black Magic Marker is for…? A couple of paper bags, I can see. But the marker? [/QUOTE] For inking out the social security number tattoo, of course! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/14 "2006-08-13T17:28:33Z")
Ah! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/15 "2006-08-13T18:04:23Z")
[QUOTE=lokij] Not if they’re trying to identify your headless corpse. [/QUOTE] That’s what DNA testing is for. Better to have a vial of your blood in your freezer, IMO. That way, you lose the blood in one stick, that take 30 seconds, (Don’t start with me! I could draw it in 30 seconds ) than losing the same amount of blood over a couple hours. **Tripler** , what, no band-aids? They won’t hold your pride together, but they good for lesser booboos. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/16 "2006-08-13T18:06:21Z")
Is it wrong of me to want a tattoo in kanji that translates to “gullible white girl”? I wonder how much room it would take. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/17 "2006-08-13T19:43:45Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] That’s what DNA testing is for. Better to have a vial of your blood in your freezer, IMO. [/QUOTE] [morbid]Yeah, but that assumes the cops reach the point where they think the headless corpse might be yours. That takes much longer than reading a name tattooed on the chest and confirming that this person is, in fact, missing (if it hapens at all, some cases aren’t solved). Besides, your home will already contain plenty of your DNA without a sample in the freezer.[/morbid] ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/18 "2006-08-13T19:49:11Z")
The world sure has changed since “Mother” went out of fashion. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/19 "2006-08-13T20:00:16Z")
[hijack] Is it true that “mother” tattoos were popular owing to a superstition that you would lose any person whose name you tattooed on yourself - except for your mother? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549/20 "2006-08-13T21:01:11Z")
[QUOTE=kawaiitentaclebeast] I also have this done, but on my arm, and only the blood type, and only after verifying my type from two clinics. All the other stuff can be changed down the road. 🙂 KTB - Prudent and duely dilligent tattoo owner. [/QUOTE] Except that any responsible person who would be in the position of needing to know your blood type in a life-or-death situation wouldn’t take your word for it, even if it is emblazoned on your arm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-arent-absolutely-sure-what-it-means-rethink-the-tattoo/368549.md?page=2)