# Saw a cool tattoo at the airport today **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433 "2006-07-06T23:14:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/21 "2006-07-07T14:48:19Z")
[QUOTE=melondeca] Thanks for that interesting article. When I first saw those piercings, I had wondered about the chances of rejection. [/QUOTE] Did you notice the eyes of the guy who wrote the article? That guy has a serious _spice_ problem going. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/22 "2006-07-07T14:52:12Z")
[QUOTE=MrJackboots] I remember seeing someone who had a fingertips-to-elbow tattoo of all the blood-vessels, muscles, and tendons underneath the skin. It was very well done, and they all lined up with his actual muscles (he had fantastic definition), so it looked like he’d stepped out of Gray’s Anatomy or something. [/QUOTE] I saw a similar one on a girl the other day, tho it appeared to be just the blood vessels. Looked kinda icky to me. The cut guy you describe has considerable motivation to maintain his current physique! His tat may look silly on sagging elder-flesh. The neatest one I saw recently was on a youngish woman - a near full-sized violin bow starting on her R shoulderblade and disappearing into her shirt - apparently running down the side of her back. I liked that it was unusual, subtle, tasteful, and (I imagine) says something about something important to her. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/23 "2006-07-07T15:04:36Z")
A guy I went to college with had [this](http://www.clublespri.com/images/usda-prime-logo-sm.gif) on his butt cheek. I also saw a guy in Wal-Mart a few months ago who had a barcode on his neck. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/24 "2006-07-07T15:14:46Z")
An old friend of my husband’s had a barcode- I think it was Lucky Charms. ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/25 "2006-07-07T15:16:05Z")
I recently got tatted for the first time, a small one on each shoulder. They are two mathmatical equations, On the right shoulder - the limit as x goes to infinity of (e^x)/x lim e^x / x x-\> inf On the left shoulder - the limit as x goes to inifinity of x/(e^x) lim x / e^x x-\> inf Only well formatted of course. They resolve to 0 and infinity, which matches the actual zero and infinity on Mr. Jeeves shoulders. I keep meaning to take pics and upload them but I haven’t had a chance. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/26 "2006-07-07T15:21:32Z")
I have a bunch. The one that draws the most attention is around my left wrist. It is an analog Rolex watch that is _very_ realistic. People have actually asked me the time, thinking it was real. BTW, the watch is set to twenty after four. Some people see that and start laughing, others have not a clue.😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/27 "2006-07-07T15:22:58Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] An old friend of my husband’s had a barcode- I think it was Lucky Charms. [/QUOTE] Friend of mine had a barcode done at random. Checked him out at the supermarket and he came up “Misc. Meat - $1.69” I mean, really - could you plan something that wonderful? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/28 "2006-07-07T16:53:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mirror Image egamI rorriM] Those are[corset piercings](http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20050417.html). The ones in that link won’t heal. [/QUOTE] ewww and ick. Why would someone purposely mutilate themselves like that? Sorry, my conservative side is peeking out. I don’t mind a tasteful tattoo or two or even naval piercings and extra ear piercings, but that, well, ick and ewww! ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/29 "2006-07-07T17:21:10Z")
[QUOTE=ddgryphon] Why would someone purposely mutilate themselves like that? [/QUOTE] Why? Many reasons. [Take your pick](http://cgi.bmezine.com/cgi-bin/glossary.exe?search=why). Are you really curious or do you just want to register your disgust? If you’re genuinely curious, BME has a lot of great resources on the topics of piercing, tattoos, and body modification. The link I posted is safe for work, but much of the content on the main BME site is not so I won’t link to it. But, if you’re curious you can find it with a quick search. They have a large experience section made up of reader contributions on just about any sort of modification you can imagine. Everyone has their own reasons. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/30 "2006-07-07T18:16:15Z")
[QUOTE=XJETGIRLX] Why? Many reasons. [Take your pick](http://cgi.bmezine.com/cgi-bin/glossary.exe?search=why). Are you really curious or do you just want to register your disgust? If you’re genuinely curious, BME has a lot of great resources on the topics of piercing, tattoos, and body modification. The link I posted is safe for work, but much of the content on the main BME site is not so I won’t link to it. But, if you’re curious you can find it with a quick search. They have a large experience section made up of reader contributions on just about any sort of modification you can imagine. Everyone has their own reasons. [/QUOTE] Thanks, I’ll check out the link. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/31 "2006-07-08T01:48:14Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] She was wearing a halter top and the tattoo was on her back, starting at the base of her neck and going down – not sure how far. It looked like laces, as in shoe laces, about two inches wide. [/QUOTE] Hi, AuntiePam It’s probably meant to resemble the back of a corset. I should think it’s not unique, given the popularity of corsets (Yes, corsets are hot. Just ask my neighbor, Psydde Delicious at [www.deliciouscorsets.com](http://www.deliciouscorsets.com)). What would perhaps surprise you even more is that it’s a popular motif in play piercing. The skin is temporarily pierced with needles meant for insulin syringes and then laced with pretty ribbon. 11811 ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/32 "2006-07-08T01:50:18Z")
And of course I again have arrived too late. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/33 "2006-07-08T02:17:24Z")
I am, of course, prejudiced, but… my own tattoo (still in progress) is now my tattoo artist’s answer to “what’s the wierdest tattoo you’ve ever done?” after twenty five years of professional tattooing. I’m some kind of proud 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/34 "2006-07-08T08:37:33Z")
A FOAF has a full-color tattoo of Jimi Hendrix’s face across the entirety of her back. > [@vetbridge](#): > > I have a bunch. The one that draws the most attention is around my left wrist. It is an analog Rolex watch that is very realistic. People have actually asked me the time, thinking it was real. BTW, the watch is set to twenty after four. Some people see that and start laughing, others have not a clue. You’re awesome beyond words. Sounds risky, though; you’d have to know the guy was really, really good. > [@ddgryphon](#): > > I don’t mind a tasteful tattoo or two or even naval piercings [Naval](http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=naval) [piercings](http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=navel) are awful! The ship sinks and then a war starts. > [@MixieArmadillo](#): > > I am, of course, prejudiced, but… my own tattoo (still in progress) is now my tattoo artist’s answer to “what’s the wierdest tattoo you’ve ever done?” after twenty five years of professional tattooing. I’m some kind of proud We need more details. ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/35 "2006-07-08T11:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Friend of mine had a barcode done at random. Checked him out at the supermarket and he came up “Misc. Meat - $1.69” I mean, really - could you plan something that wonderful? 😃 [/QUOTE] Never. I know more than a few Marines with a non-random barcode tattoo. They get themselves an identifying tattoo on the left side of the torso, under the arm. In case they should ever be blown away… it’s a piece that’s fairly often left intact. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/36 "2006-07-08T13:20:38Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] We need more details. [/QUOTE] It’s actually not that weird\* I can’t believe I misspelled that so it’s probably not as good a story as it sounds, but… it’s a full backpiece that covers my right shoulder all the way down and wraps around my left hip. From the shoulder and nape down, it involves a bunch of rowan berries and leaves, a waxing/full/waning moon, a harris hawk, a jumping blue armadillo ([this guy in blues](http://www.koransky.com/Trip/History/CumberlandIslandGA/JumpingArmadillo.jpg)), willow branches, a purple platypus, a hairless rat, and a few other random bits as filler, but that’s most of it. The armadillo and platypus are totem animals, the hawk and rat were friends of mine, the rest both tells a story and are protection symbols. \*I mean, it’s weird, but it’s not _weird_ like the local guy who has a huge frog “sitting on the crapper, taking a dump!!!” which is how he gleefully describes it, any time anyone asks. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/37 "2006-07-08T13:32:11Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] Sounds risky, though; you’d have to know the guy was really, really good. [/QUOTE] My advice to anyone thinking about _any_ body mod is to know your artist. Every tattoo/piercing I have ever gotten has been from a friend. If we were not friends prior to the work being done, we became friends during the planning stages. Every city/town has artists who are great, mediocre, and lousy. Why not go with the best when cost is typically the same (until you get into the few extremely popular artists who often have high minimums). ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/38 "2006-07-08T13:40:03Z")
And to follow that, I’d never even consider letting someone put permanent art of any kind on my skin unless I _knew_ they were very, very good. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/39 "2006-07-08T14:13:13Z")
[QUOTE=MixieArmadillo] \*I mean, it’s weird, but it’s not _weird_ like the local guy who has a huge frog “sitting on the crapper, taking a dump!!!” [/QUOTE] I was in a tattoo shop just hanging out when a girl came in with a sketch of a frog. She wanted the frog done on her big toe. My friend (the artist) worked on the sketch for a while, then put it on the copy machine and made a few in different sizes. He went in the back with her for a bit, then she came back out front to sign her release/etc. I looked at the final sketch and commented on how nice it looked, but wondered aloud how it would look after it was shrunken down in size. The girl said that it was at its final size. I said, “Oh, that’s impossible. You would need a _ **HUGE** _ toe to fit that frog.”. All eyes in the room went to the poor girl’s feet. Or should I say canoes. Biggest feet I’ve seen on a woman to this day, clad in sandles. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433/40 "2006-07-08T14:32:33Z")
Knew a guy who had dotted lines tattooed around his wrists. He went to my church youth group :eek: . No idea how he turned out, though. Is there a ratings site for tattoo shops, so I know which ones suck and which are well-regarded? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-cool-tattoo-at-the-airport-today/363433.md?page=3)