# Non-inked Dopers: Why not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394 "2006-02-28T00:05:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/81 "2006-02-28T18:32:32Z")
I wanted to but I flunked the Yakuza orientation. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/82 "2006-02-28T19:53:03Z")
Because Gramps (who had several) told me not to. I figure anybody who lasted as long as he did must know a thing or two, and if he lived to regret it, I might also. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/83 "2006-02-28T20:50:19Z")
I thought about getting a little target right where I get poked for giving blood, but the blood bank worker told me it would make me ineligible to give blood for a long time. I do a lot of pondering just picking out a new shirt; I’d never be able to pick out something to wear every day, forever. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/84 "2006-02-28T21:05:19Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > (Wimper, ouch, wimper) Oh, and I’ve seen them 40 years later. That rose on the breast becomes a Hollyhock. Yup. Not getting a tattoo is the easiest part of my half-assed plan for aging gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/85 "2006-02-28T21:06:18Z")
> [@Clothahum](#): > > I have always looked upon tattoos and piercings the same way I do body mutilation and deliberate self-injury . To me, they are a visible sign of incredible low self-esteem. I may have issues with my life from time to time, but not so many that I am willing to mutilate myself over them. This, and many other statements have been preying on mind. I don’t mean to pick on **Clothahump** , but his statement was one of the harshest in the thread. I’m not sure why we can’t simply state our reasons on tattoos and body piercing without being incredibly judgemental. Body mutilation? Deliberate self-injury? Ok, if you believe that for yourself, that’s fair. But you can’t say that holds for everyone. Do you really know everyone who did it? And you’re not the only one who has expressed sentiments like these! We tend to be fair around here on a lot of things but when it comes to tattoos and piercings people turn extremely judging. I pierced my ears purely for decoration. My nose, however, I pierced because I don’t look 100% Indian, and wanted a symbol of my culture evident immediately. I wanted a connection with the thousands of years of history I descend from. So, is it possible to have a conversation about tattoos and body art with some measure of civility and mutual respect, please? That’s all I ask. You don’t have to like my piercing. You can pre-judge me on my piercing, and presumably never date me nor be friends with me, if that’s how you feel. But I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a measure of politeness. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/86 "2006-02-28T21:19:18Z")
I am not defending **Clothahump** --but I do think there is a line somewhere (and of course it varies from person to person) re body jewelry and body mutilation. I see nothing wrong with your nose piercing and given your background, it makes sense. What of the punk rockers (I have no idea what they would be called today-Goths?) who have 5, 6-8 studs/hoops etc all over their face? I am a bit put off by such things (I am not saying they shouldn’t do it, I just can’t figure out why anyone would)–and the effect is one of brutality and pain, IMO. That’s pretty close to mutilation. We none of us know (unless it is shared by the person pierced) the motivations for the piercing. I see an Indian woman with a nose stud, I think nothing of it. I see a white girl with multiple studs and hoops–I wonder what is up with her. One tattoo-ok, it’s not my cup of tea, but whatever. 15 tattoos–I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t something psychologically or emotionally fulfilling about the painful process that is driving that person–sort of like a ritual mutilation. I could be completey off base here, just some thought. Sorry to get off tattoos. Just my 2 cents. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/87 "2006-02-28T21:31:25Z")
I don’t get one for the same reason I don’t change my name, hate it deeply though I may. I can’t decide on one. I mean, if you are going to either change your name or permanently mark your skin, it should have deep significance and meaning. Somehow to me it always seemed it would be a little pretentious and arrogant to pick it for yourself. That’s just me. Probably it’s a craving for some kind of ritual, since I have turned my back on religion and just about any other social conventions. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/88 "2006-02-28T21:34:55Z")
As I said, **rigs** : > [@](#): > > So, is it possible to have a conversation about tattoos and body art with some measure of civility and mutual respect, please? That’s all I ask. You don’t have to like my piercing. You can pre-judge me on my piercing, and presumably never date me nor be friends with me, if that’s how you feel. But I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a measure of politeness. It just bothers me when people get so personally insulting. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/89 "2006-02-28T21:49:39Z")
Personally I’ve got two - one I took advice on, and therefore planned for 15 years before I went through it. The other I got with about two weeks’ consideration to mark a particularly significant experience in my life. But I agree with **sturmhauke** - “not tattooed” is the default state. What a strange question! ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/90 "2006-02-28T21:50:21Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > That’s it for me, too. When I see young 20-somethings in the locker room with their fashionable tribal tattoos or bicep chain tattoos, all I have to do is look across the aisle at the guys in their 50’s and 60’s with tattoos faded and distorted and now rather sad instead of fashionable. And then I snicker. To be fair, the inks and procedures used today keep the ink far sharper than the tattoos of the past. Inks have more synthetics in them now. A tattoo gotten today will not look like an old Navy tattoo in fifty years’ time, though there will be a moderate amount of fading and stretching. That is what touch-ups are for though. And count me in with the people who say **Clothahump** is totally hijacking the thread (though it wouldn’t be the first time) and being a jerk (also, not the first time). But since I have two tattoos I will bow out of this thread now. ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/91 "2006-02-28T21:57:35Z")
Why no tattoo? As my three year old daughter would say: “It is Eeeeewwwwww” Also, as an old lady, someone might see it and say: “It is Eeeewwwwww” Plus it took me 28 years to get up the nerves for piercing my ears, why would I voluntarily allow someone to stick me with needles for a long period of time??? “It is Eeeeewwwww” ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/92 "2006-02-28T21:58:26Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > We none of us know (unless it is shared by the person pierced) the motivations for the piercing. I see an Indian woman with a nose stud, I think nothing of it. I see a white girl with multiple studs and hoops–I wonder what is up with her. One tattoo-ok, it’s not my cup of tea, but whatever. 15 tattoos–I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t something psychologically or emotionally fulfilling about the painful process that is driving that person–sort of like a ritual mutilation. It’s ok not to understand it. I don’t know the history and reasoning behind why some tribal people stretch their lip out. And that’s exactly why I wouldn’t presume to say that it is self-mutilation. Maybe it is, but maybe there is some other explanation that makes a lot of sense to them. Same deal with tattoos. You don’t like them or understand them, that’s cool, don’t get one. But I don’t see why the expression of others should be so bothersome. Seen on a bumper sticker, “The only difference between people who have tattoos and people who don’t is that people with tattoos don’t mind that you don’t have any.” ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/93 "2006-02-28T22:11:10Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > …But I agree with **sturmhauke** - “not tattooed” is the default state. What a strange question! I agree, “not tattooed” is the default state but I disagree that it’s a strange question (perhaps obviously, since I’m the questioner). Yes, if you grew up on an island and never saw a tattoo, you’d have no idea that there was a choice to make about getting one. But, modern society being what it is, everybody has seen a tattoo. Some, like me, may have been fascinated by them, some repulsed, and some, I suppose, would be indifferent. You might’ve looked at one and say, “Ewww”, or “That’s for me” or whatever. I think many people have, therefore, specifically _rejected_ the possiblity of getting a tattoo. It’s this specific reason for rejection that I was wondering about. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/94 "2006-02-28T22:20:40Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > It’s ok not to understand it. I don’t know the history and reasoning behind why some tribal people stretch their lip out. And that’s exactly why I wouldn’t presume to say that it is self-mutilation. Maybe it is, but maybe there is some other explanation that makes a lot of sense to them. I was under the impression that the stretched lips, the pierced-and-stretched earlobes, the necks stretched with stacked rings, were all indicators of high status or desirability in their cultures. Despite that they are all “body art”, I am not convinced that tattoos are an equivalent in our culture. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/95 "2006-02-28T22:36:00Z")
Just to clarify: I think that **Clothahump** was over the top and very harsh. I don’t think he needed to express his thoughts that way, but I can see some of his thought process. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/96 "2006-02-28T22:47:21Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Just to clarify: I think that **Clothahump** was over the top and very harsh. I don’t think he went far _enough_. Shoulda thrown in a few words about pointless fads and flavour-of-the-month herd mentality, like I just did. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/97 "2006-02-28T23:12:06Z")
Not only was **Clothy** over the top, isn’t there a point of endurance at which something can no longer be called a fad? I’m pretty sure tattoos meet that standard. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/98 "2006-02-28T23:44:34Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Seen on a bumper sticker, “The only difference between people who have tattoos and people who don’t is that people with tattoos don’t mind that you don’t have any.” That’s the only difference? What about the fact that people with tattoos have tattoos? ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/99 "2006-02-28T23:51:58Z")
> [@Belrix](#): > > Have you chosen _not_ to get a tattoo? > > I ask because I got my first tattoo at, give or take, 40 years old. Before that, I’d always been fascinated by them but had a strong ingrained feeling of “What would Mom/Dad/Random-other-person think of me?” > > My parents, not directly, raised me with the rough idea that tattoos were worn by _those_ kind of people. You know _them_. > > Finally, perhaps as part of my midlife crisis - not being able to afford a sports-car - I got a tattoo. Since then, I got a [larger one](http://www.phattats.net/gallery_html/gallery004.html) (sorry - don’t have a pic of the first) and I’m considering my third. > > So - for those of you that aren’t inked - why not? They’re just not for me. I’m conservative to a point, and they just wouldn’t be “me”. I also don’t want to be 80 years old & find that the little butterfly I got when I was 24 is now a luna moth 😃 VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394/100 "2006-03-01T01:36:11Z")
> [@Belrix](#): > > I think many people have, therefore, specifically _rejected_ the possibility of getting a tattoo. It’s this specific reason for rejection that I was wondering about. I’ll answer because I have specifically rejected the idea, even after flirting briefly with it. After my divorce, getting back in to “dating” shape, and discovering my inner bohemian, I thought about getting a tattoo. I researched the process, the pros and cons, and then questioned my then-to-be husband about it. He was very anti-tattoo, so I asked him to more fully articulate his position on body art. In our discussions, I was able to more fully articulate my feelings on getting one, and in the end, he became more open to the idea of me having one. Ironically, those same discussions convinced me that I really didn’t want one after all. Vanity is a part of it. I have spent lots of time and money on my skin, keeping it soft, pale, and blemish free. Why would I want to mar it now? Indecision is a part of it. I could think of nothing that wouldn’t get tiresome or cliché after a few months or years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-inked-dopers-why-not/346394.md?page=6)