I’ve never had it happen to me, but I know my friend thinks it’s hilarious when a toddler tries to pick the flowers off her arm. 
Had it happen; usually women, but one notable time it was a guy (and one that I would’ve climbed like a beanpole given the opportunity; alas, it wasn’t meant to be). I’ve also been asked multiple times to show off my tats in mixed company (which is always awkward because it involves a good amount of disrobing), and if I don’t move fast enough the requester will ‘help’ me by tugging up my shirt.
Women also have a thing about touching my hair. That happened more frequently when I lived in the South, where apparently it’s good luck to fondle a redhead, but I’ve had it happen twice since moving to DC.
Yep. Woman here, too. And it’s been all women who have done it to me with one exception. My mom and I were road-tripping and stopped in some little town at their glass museum. The old feller running the museum was chatting with us and just - lifted my sleeve - and asked about it. In front of my mom. Who tries her best to ignore that I have them at all.
Yes, had it done by men, women, and small children.
A small child just today, actually, but I was totally okay with it because she let me “touch her heart” - listen to her heartbeat with a stethoscope - and she wanted to “touch my heart” in return. One of my tattoos being on my decolletage, right over the sternum, it is, apparently, where my heart is if you’re 3. 
I don’t mind the small children, although I generally try to say, “Would you like to feel that?” in the seconds I see their hands approaching. It’s a bit passive aggressive, but I want to impress on them that you get permission before you touch people, and that way I’ve given permission without causing a scene demanding it.
I do mind the adults. Tacky.
It doesn’t happen to me often, but it does happen. My most noticeable (while fully clothed) are on the fronts of my shoulders. These are the ones that always get the clothing tug. As I’ve never had it happen with any of my other tats, I can’t compare, but I think a stranger pulling down your bra strap is considerably more awkward than one pulling up the sleeve of a shirt! Not that I would like that either- I am definitely not okay with being touched by strangers. The clothing tuggers have always been women in my experience. Even most of the people who ask about them are women. If you ask, I’ll absolutely show you, but please keep your hands to yourself!
Mine’s pretty well hidden usually, and this thread is making me think about the slightly more obvious one I want to get next. 
I am really really private, and don’t like people getting into my space, and I’m not usually comfortable around other women, so this is a timely warning. Maybe I’ll try to hide the new one somewhere also.
I will say I have stared longingly at many a nicely-muscled gentleman’s suggestively located and half-clothing-hidden tats, but I’ve never even been brave enough to ask them if I could see it, let alone reach over and grab, so I don’t even have to feel hypocritical about it!
I never really thought about it, but I guess people do touch me to look at my tattoos. I have quite a bit of ink- upper back, hip to shoulder piece, sleeve, assorted smaller ones. It never bothered me for someone to touch me, unless they are being skeevy. That’s a whole different motive and I can tell the difference.
I have my back covered for 20+ years. I’ve had complete strangers come up behind me and lift my shirt up for a better look. This occurrs mostly in bars or events where people are drinking, but its happened in shopping malls and other places a few times. It doesn’t happen often enough to be a pet peeve, but when it does happen its very uncomfortable and awkward. My 2 other tats are pretty small. I could see how people that are more covered than me would get more attention, and it is pretty rude.
You also put up with a lot of dumb questions from people (not so much now that tattoos are really becoming common).
Does it hurt? Yes.
What are you going to do when you’re old? If I become old and that’s all I have to worry about then I will consider myself fortunate.
How long did it take? 30+ hours.
In ONE DAY? No, there are only 24 hours in a day.
How much did it cost? A lot. Mind your own damn business.
And my favorite: The co-worker who just looked at me in disgust and horror and had the simple question WHY? Because. This earned me a blank stare. Simple questions get simple answers.
The bottom line (to me) is that a lot of tattoos (especially nowdays) aren’t “flash” picked off the wall, but deeply personal and usually custom drawn. Me having tats does not give you the right to scrutinize, criticize, demean, or berate me. (And yes, it’s all been done). Keep your opinions to yourself if you don’t like it. I don’t need to satisfy the curiousity of everyone that sees it, or justify it to anyone else. I got my tats because they all have a deep meaning to me. All you really need to do is be respectful if you want to see them or ask me about them.
This. I don’t want Lasciel to have the impression that it happens often; but, it does happen.
OH DEAR LORD I’M SO TIRED OF THE “DID IT HURT” QUESTION! I’ve actually stopped answering it: now I just look at the person with a patient smile – the kind of look you give a small child while waiting for them to figure something out – until they answer it for themself.
That’s another one, I’m not bald, but I cut my hair very short and people will come up and touch it when it’s first cut. Also, I have a full beard and people will rub that. Usually it’s people I know and sometimes even that’s weird. For the record, when I have my hair cut really short, it doesn’t feel all that good when people rub it.
Also, when my (ex) wife was pregnant, it was strange seeing how many random people would just come right up and put their hand on her belly. If I was pregnant, I think after a while, every time someone put their hand on my belly, I’d start putting my hand on their belly. They’d really have no recourse. Just because someone is pregnant doesn’t give you permission to touch them. That is, if they said “Hey, don’t touch me” I could say “You touched me first” and “Well, you’re pregnant” wouldn’t be a very good argument.
Re the pregnant belly thing, I’m rather slight and my pregnant belly was huge and obvious for the last four months or so and lots of strangers of all ages gently patted me. I tried to avoid it by shielding myself with the cart or my bag, but it was clear there was never any malice or teasing involved; instead the patters seemed to intend to convey a blessing. No religious overtones, certainly no sexual, instead a sweet, sort of tribal acknowledgement of an impending happy event.
If I had it to do over I would be more receptive to the well-wishers even if their behavior violated a general social rule simply because their intentions were kind.
I doubt the tattoo peepers have the same kind, generous intent, though. Just misguided admiration or a false sense of kinship if they also bear ink. Those people are a bit too forward for sure.
Um, nope. People will verbally point it out, but no one has ever touched them! Maybe it’s a Canadian thing. I think we have some of that Northern European distant politeness going on.
Or find a woman doctor?
On a dating site one person once asked me if I got one of my tattoos (referencing a specific one) because I lost a bet.
I honestly don’t know if she was just expressing her disgust with my tattoo or if she thought that was a good ice breaker.
I remember reading something that said (paraphrased) “The difference between people with tattoos and those without is that we don’t judge you for not having them”
I’d slug a stranger who touched me without permission. But I’ve never been pregnant, and have no tattoos(needle phobia).
I’ve seen some gorgeous tattoos on guys that I wished I could touch, but I’d never do it without asking. Some people have a lot of nerve.
FTR, unless they were done poorly and scarred or they’re brand new and scabbed, they don’t feel like anything, just skin.
<PSXer hat>
If you get a tattoo and leave it partially visible you shouldn’t be shocked when people lift your shirt or whatever to get a better look at it.
Don’t like it? Don’t get a tattoo.
<PSXer hat off>
A buddy of mine tattoos; in fact he’s done some of my work. I noticed when he looks at a woman’s work, he stokes the piece lightly with the back of his hand, then his fingertips. I asked him why, and he explained, “Cause I’m a horny old fuck.” So, there’s that.