# Tattooed Dopers, please check in... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623 "2001-11-10T13:40:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/21 "2001-11-10T19:13:11Z")
On the inside of my right (shapely) ankle - simple black, size of a quarter, a crescent moon with a star. Yes, I would have to be careful about displaying it in certain countries, lest it be seen as disrespectul to their flag. By the way, I got mine done in 1981, at Wild Bill’s Tattoo in Roseville, CA., by a 6’6" tall red-headed biker dude. My girlfriend went first, she got that lightning bolts/skull thing (Grateful Dead, right?) on her shoulder. Wow, my tattoo is 20 years old…hmmm, sounds like a whole 'nother thread. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/22 "2001-11-10T19:36:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > Mine too. Mostly because it is very close to my name ITRW. (Still no clue as to where to put it though, or if my wife will let me get one. 😃 ) Bah … it’s your body. Just don’t tell her until after 😉 Laser removal is too expensive and painful to go through (or at least hope that she thinks so). ---
**Author:** ![Deej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@Deej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deej)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/23 "2001-11-10T19:37:16Z")
I have a Celtic knot on the outside of my right ankle. It’s part of an interlocking design (my own) that will eventually go all the way around. It’s designed in such a way that I can have it done as time and money permit without it looking unfinished at any time. My artist is an award winner in three states, and he was very impressed with the design I came up with. It took me almost a year to complete. I’ve done some designing for a few other people that saw mine on his wall and wanted it for themselves, but I’m not willing to share. A friend and I went together to get our first tats. I was 35 and she was a 54 year old grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/24 "2001-11-10T19:51:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mauvaise \* > **Bah … it’s your body. Just don’t tell her until after 😉** She just read these posts and told me to go get The Rampant Lion. (Scottish Royal Flag.) Woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/25 "2001-11-10T19:52:24Z")
I apologize, **hardygrrl** , for hijacking the hell out of your thread. [The Tattoo Pages](http://www.geocities.com/itomasello/dopetats) are up and functioning, and streamlined, and [Mauvaise](http://www.geocities.com/itomasello/dopetats/mauvaise.html) is on there as well. Mwahahaha. Meanwhile, the rest of yez need to send me your pics, mmkay? Mmkay. \ ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/26 "2001-11-10T19:56:29Z")
The first one was a small, really poorly done rose on my ankle. The second was a slightly better bird on by left front shoulder. The third was a shamrock on my left front shoulder. I should mention that all three of these were done by the same person. The fourth is an orange carp on my right shoulder blade, done by Jerry Reds of Tatoo Eddie’s of Kensington in Chinatown. The studio is now on South Street. Because I didn’t want the whole tatoo thing to be about rebellion, I waited until I moved out of my parents’ home to start getting tatooed. I’d like to be able to afford some decent stuff to go over the badly done work. I’m thinking maybe a big black bomb, you know, pointy at one end with tailfins on the other, with a smiley face on the side of it. I would love to have Hiroshige’s big wave on my left shoulder blade, the bigger the better. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/27 "2001-11-10T20:15:08Z")
Yup, inner left ankle. Like **Wicky** said, that hurt like a bastard. We call it “Zeke the Electric Stunt Slinky” I’ma sendin’ it to **Hama**. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/28 "2001-11-10T21:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamadryad \* > I apologize, **hardygrrl** , for hijacking the hell out of your thread. [The Tattoo Pages](http://www.geocities.com/itomasello/dopetats) are up and functioning, and streamlined, and [Mauvaise](http://www.geocities.com/itomasello/dopetats/mauvaise.html) is on there as well. Mwahahaha. Meanwhile, the rest of yez need to send me your pics, mmkay? Mmkay. > > \ To paraphrase the Tick: Hama : “No disrespect intended.” hardygrrl : “None comprehended!” [sub]Good God I’m a geek[/sub] And when I get Lil Flipper touched up, I’ll send you a pic. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/29 "2001-11-10T22:36:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > She just read these posts and told me to go get The Rampant Lion. (Scottish Royal Flag.) Woo hoo! Wooo! So, when do you go? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cyndar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cyndar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyndar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/30 "2001-11-11T00:46:01Z")
Left shoulderblade: hummingbird hovering over some flowers, and beneath that, a Chinese symbol for love. Left outer calf: Bird of Paradise, runs from ankle to knee. Left inner calf: Fairy done Hawaiian style. Got it when I visited my dad and brother in (where else) Hawaii. Also extends from ankle to knee. A pic of it can be seen in my photopoint Hawaii album. Right outer ankle: Persian cat face. Right inner ankle: Long haired black and white cat (whole body) Beneath the cats I have a chain of red roses that goes completely around my ankle. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/31 "2001-11-11T02:09:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*Also, a tattoo that glows only under a black light would be cool too 🙂 \*\* It would be yes, if the inks they have didnt cause a whole host of problems. First of all, i’ve heard they cause itching in most people who get them, and the colors only stay cool looking for a while, but eventually turn a brownish color. The tattoo FAQ says that most tattooists they interviewed said it was a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/32 "2001-11-11T02:45:08Z")
On my left calf I have a theater mask. It was based on a snapshot taken of the movie **The Crow**. In the scene where Eric is painting his face it’s hanging on the corner of the mirror. A book I have about the movie says that it’s the theater mask for **Irony**. ---
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/33 "2001-11-11T02:50:43Z")
Not sure, but I think I have about 40 hours under the needle. (It sounds cool to give a number of hours rather than of tattoos, and sometimes it’s necessary, because individual tattoos tend to get connected and become part of the whole, you know. In my case, though, I can count them, and the number is 15.) A hodge-podge of styles, but (I think) well balanced and all nicely done. US tattoos: from Galveston, a ship under sail on the left shoulder, with the inscription “Homeward Bound.” Got after my first overseas voyage as a sailor. Should have said “Outward Bound,” though. From Seattle, a colorful western-style dragon on my right arm, from the elbow to the shoulder, and a colorful snake wrapping around my left. From San Francisco, a large black and red Asian-style dragon intertwined with the colorful snake, and a large black and red Native American-style snake wrapping around my right arm, under the colorful dragon. From Santa Fe, a black and red Native American-style lizard on my left foot, with a tail that branches out into something weird on my calf. Japanese tattoos: 4 sea turtles in different colors; 3 swimming up and across my back, one on the left calf, over the lizard’s tail. Some Chinese characters on the back, sort of a scroll painting effect. Some large Chinese characters on my right calf. The Japanese tattoos were done in the old non-electric fashion, with a fork-looking tool dipped in ink, by an old guy who used to do yakuza work. Very formal, lots of bowing and tea-drinking. From Thailand: 2 small turtles on my left forearm, in a kind of water-color style. From Amsterdam: Another turtle, on my right forearm, in a kind of stained-glass window style. Sorry to ramble on so long, but you asked. Damn pasty white skin isn’t good for anything else, but it shows ink real well. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/34 "2001-11-11T03:04:24Z")
Above my right ankle, I have a Celtic knot that is actually made up of two dragons intertwined. The dragons are very stylized so at first glace it looks like a Celtic knot, and you can only see the dragons if you look closely. The design is from a relief carving at Kells Cloister, and modified only slightly to make it a more workable tattoo. I have to get a pic of it to send to **Hama** for the page. It’s all black ink, and it was hard to make that decision, because I loved how color looked, but I was worried that I wouldn’t like it if the color faded and blurred with time. I’m ultimately happy with it, because it’s been over ten years, and the ink is still very crisp and — oh my gosh, _ten_ years? It’s been over ten years? It’s actually closer to fifteen years … That means I’m … yikes, I think I have to go lie down with a cold cloth over my eyes and perhaps some chocolates or a stiff scotch or both. ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/35 "2001-11-11T03:11:38Z")
Left shoulderblade: Pegasus against a rising sun, in colour. Kinda small. Upper left thigh: A turtle stepping off of a flower-bank and into a pool of water (ripples in the water from front foot), which has a lotus in full bloom. Lots of colour, about 8-9" square. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/36 "2001-11-11T03:18:02Z")
FYI, **Hama** , I’ve sent my pic in for the Official Tat Page[sup]tm[/sup]. It’s **Fiver’s** favorite pic… dunno why. 😃 -BK ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/37 "2001-11-11T03:19:07Z")
Just got my firsxt one in June, at 42! It is, of course a dragon, tribal, about 2 inches square. On my right chest, where my boob USED to be! ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/38 "2001-11-11T03:22:52Z")
I’m obviously over-excited by the subject! My FIRST tattoo was put on is June. (Preview is my friend, and is there for a reason…) ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/39 "2001-11-11T04:33:51Z")
two here— First one was a two-parter on my left shoulderblade. It is a ying-yang shape with one side night and the other day. It is surrounded by a solid black sunburst pattern. Second one, chosen in haste, is a tribal band around my left ankle. I don’t hate it, but definitely like the first much better. I’ve been debating lately what #3 is going to be. It’s been nearly five years since my last one and I am SO ready… bella ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623/40 "2001-11-11T05:17:33Z")
I have a cat on my lower right calf. You can see it [here](http://www.geocities.com/area51/comet/9902/tattoo.html). I also have a bleeding rose on the inside of my left wrist. I had a horror artist design a special tat for me a few months ago. Just waiting to get the money together and then I’ll go get it. Not sure where I’m going to put it yet. I like my tattoos to be seen, so my back doesn’t appeal to me. I thought, when I got my first tattoo, that one would be enough. I had no idea they’d be so addicting. 🙂 Sheri [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattooed-dopers-please-check-in/92623.md?page=3)