# Ignorant Douches Who Get Japanese (or other) Tattoos **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698 "2007-07-21T20:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/181 "2007-07-23T11:47:33Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] (Though perhaps only **Operation Ripper** is making this claim) [/QUOTE] More to the point, only Operation Ripper is qualified to make this claim. Or any other. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/182 "2007-07-23T12:56:22Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I think it’s pretty crass of the OP to be posting on this board using the Roman alphabet, without any conspicuous sign that he/she is deeply aware of its rich history. [/QUOTE] Well, it’s clear that the OP at least knows the meaning of the words typed, which is really more to the point. Asian letters may be aesthetically pleasing, but since they make up language, the meaning of the words inherently come before the beauty of the characters when they are seen by someone who is fluent in that language. Some people, such as **Miller** , may find the possibility that Asians will find it amusing to see their characters used in a silly, non-sensical way, to be part of the fun of using the characters, and I actually get that. But unless you are part of that group, you are running the risk of being snickered at without your being in on the joke(unless, of course, you are one of those whose tattoos can’t be seen). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/183 "2007-07-23T13:05:53Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Well, it’s clear that the OP at least knows the meaning of the words typed, which is really more to the point. [/QUOTE] As indeed does someone asking about the meaning of this or that Kanji character, at least after their question is answered. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/184 "2007-07-23T13:51:43Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Btw, it’s commonly spelled “Choctaw” not “Chocktaw,” another reason you shouldn’t have the tatt, you don’t even know how to spell the tribe’s name, which is sorta the whole point of my OP. Screw that “adoption” BS. [/QUOTE] Are you sure you’re allowed to have an opinion about this? I presume you don’t speak the Choctaw language or know anything about their culture. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/185 "2007-07-23T14:29:21Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Why not? Language can be beautiful even when wholly seperated from meaning. When you can actually understand the language in question, understanding can sometimes get in the way of appreciating the aesthetic beauty of the words themselves. Admittedly, I don’t know anyone who’s gotten a kanji tattoo without finding out what the word means first (even if the meaning turns out to be incorrect) but obviously, a person who has “Happy” written on his arm in kanji is more interested in the aesthetic value of kanji than in happiness as a general concept. [/QUOTE] And it’s not just Joe Clueless who uses kanji for aesthetic reasons, you see this ALL THE TIME in Japan. As ancient pictograms, kanji can and are often used as ornamental enhancements, often in ways evoking a vague meaning rather than a complete sentence. While it’s true that generally east Asians are going to get the vague meaning of ornamental kanji, often they’re so ancient or obscure that this may not be the case. This is probably why they commit all these comical errors with decorative Engrish, they presume it works sort of the same in other languages. If the Japanese can have coffee mugs with the kanji for “lucky” plastered across the side, why can’t others put it on their body? While using tattoos like this isn’t typically the Asian way, it’s in the same spirit. (Though if you get it wrong, you officially have become a tool). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/186 "2007-07-23T14:33:00Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Btw, it’s commonly spelled “Choctaw” not “Chocktaw,” [/QUOTE] Ironically enough, it’s properly transliterated as “Chahta”. For reference, please see any of the links you posted. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/187 "2007-07-23T14:42:38Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] What the fuck? What the fuck? Why get a tatt if it doesn’t matter what it means? Goddamn. [/QUOTE] I’m getting a little tired of the folks who can type out the word “fuck” three or four times per paragraph yet cannot bother to type the entire word “tattoo”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/188 "2007-07-23T14:48:31Z")
I’m going to start. I’m going to start and end every post from now on with a repeat of the same phrase. I’m going to start. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/189 "2007-07-23T14:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I’m going to start. I’m going to start and end every post from now on with a repeat of the same phrase. I’m going to start. [/QUOTE] You know what? Your username is in french and I can clearly tell just by looking at you that you are not an aficiando of French culture, so you’re opinion is worthless. Man, get out! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/190 "2007-07-23T14:55:38Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] Leaving my own aesthetic sensibilities to the side for a moment, I was referring to your use of the loaded word “broad”, which you have to know will just needlessly stir shit up. [/QUOTE] Unless you say to yourself in a voice like Frank Sinatra while humming _“My lean Baby..”_ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/191 "2007-07-23T15:10:25Z")
[QUOTE=Dante] You know what? Your username is in french and I can clearly tell just by looking at you that you are not an aficiando of French culture, so you’re opinion is worthless. Man, get out! [/QUOTE] Go to [hell!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy#Inferno) ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/192 "2007-07-23T15:14:47Z")
Whoops, I’m not Italian! _disappears in a puff of logic_ ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Betty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Guy\_Betty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Betty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/193 "2007-07-23T15:27:15Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] So, tell me, do you find any impressionist or abstract artwork to be aesthetically pleasing? If so, which particular works? [/QUOTE] I almost posted this same thing two pages ago. Why is the concept of aesthetically pleasing so hard to grasp. Because we are speaking of people not living in the East, why would it matter if the Kanji is not perfect? Posters like the OP and **Rubystreak** needing to assign meaning to other’s tattoo choices is truly bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/194 "2007-07-23T15:29:59Z")
[QUOTE=aruvqan] Gee, I suppose that I couldnt get a haiku tattoo because I cant appreciate Bassho as a poet because I dont understand japanese. … [/QUOTE] I was going to get a tattoo of the movie poster of “Showgirls” but since I don’t understand the movie I chose not to. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/195 "2007-07-23T15:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] I was going to get a tattoo of the movie poster of “Showgirls” but since I don’t understand the movie I chose not to. [/QUOTE] I was going to get a tattoo of the undisputed genius Paul Verhooven, but I didn’t know how to spell his name. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/196 "2007-07-23T15:42:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] I was going to get a tattoo of the undisputed genius Paul Verhooven, but I didn’t know how to spell his name. [/QUOTE] Just remember, if you ever do get it done, it can only be in 12 pt. Arial font. Unless you’re German, in which case you can use a germanic font. Or if you’re clinically insane, wingdings. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go change my pretentious and trendy username to my real name, as I only chose it to impress others. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/197 "2007-07-23T15:49:29Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Well, there’s judging, and then there’s _judging_. I am not a huge fan of body art in general, but I have never let it stop me from liking the person who has them. And I can dislike someone’s tat and love them as a person, just have a little :rolleyes: or 😕 or :smack: at that particular choice. We all do this, whether it’s about tats, hairstyles, clothing choices, whatever, that other people make. Most people don’t get really worked up about it… unless they’re a wanker. 😉 [/QUOTE] I feel the same way. I _don’t_ like tats, but I’m not going to decide not to like someone without getting to know them because they have them. I’ve got too many good friends with body art to fall into that trap. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/198 "2007-07-23T15:50:14Z")
Everyone knows only sailors and prostitutes get tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/199 "2007-07-23T15:55:52Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Everyone knows only sailors and prostitutes get tattoos. [/QUOTE] my mom has a tattoo ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698/200 "2007-07-23T15:57:57Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Everyone knows only sailors and prostitutes get tattoos. [/QUOTE] Thank God I know a jib from a mainsail, otherwise I’d have to start working nights. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-douches-who-get-japanese-or-other-tattoos/412698.md?page=11)