The man with the swastika tattoo

In My Humble Opinion
1

Here’s one I could use some objectivity on.

There’s a chap who goes to my gym fairly frequently and I bump into a fair amount outside it too, enough to call an acquaintance. Got chatting to him recently and he seems a nice enough fella, offered me some tips on fartleks (stop that snickering).

Anyway, I noticed on his shoulder (usually covered up with a t-shirt) a very faded tattoo, about the size of a silver dollar of a swastika. He’s a white fella about in his late 40s; so I doubt it’s from Buddhist/Hindu culture, it doesn’t have any dots or curves anyway.

Racist Nazi fuckhead, right? However my gym also has a good number of South Asians who go there and he’s as friendly with them as with me. I was a bit shocked so I’ve not even asked him about it. Should I say something? Confront him? What would you do?

2

I guess it depends on whether his current mindset is that of some sort of neo-nazi.

It may be, for example, that he had the tattoo when he was a wild, stupid teenager, and regretted it every day since - but has some valid motive or reason not to remove it.

Or he might be a racist fuckwit (but I’m still not sure it’s worth challenging him on that - what are the best and worst possible outcomes?)

3

Just ask him. If he’s Nazi you ought to know. Maybe he’s an ex-con, former biker, or was just a dumb kid. I assume since he doesn’t cover it up he’s a dick head of some kind, but he may deserve a chance to explain himself.

4

If the only symptom of Nazi dickheadedness is a tattoo, he’s gotta be the most laid-back Nazi dickhead who ever dickheaded.

Or, if it’s on his shoulder blade and he’s nearsighted, maybe his tattoo artist is the dickhead and your buddy thinks it’s a yin/yang symbol.

5

He’s either a dick or too stupid to get an 8 ball. Is there a third possibility?

6

That’s what I was thinking, although wondering if the tattoo itself is enough to condemn someone for having the lack of judgement to have the symbol of the NSDAP permanently engraved on them. Like I said it is fairly faded/blurred, a bit like this tat, so I’m guessing it would be pretty old.

I’ve never seen him acting racist, I would immediately disassociate with such an individual. Likewise he’s never spoken about race or politics with me, just normal gym stuff really.

Your guess is as good as mine about what he’d say if I asked him about it.

On preview @ TriPolar; it’s fairly high on his shoulder and I’ve only glimpsed it once or twicec, so it’s pretty concealable.

7

I’d guess he got it 35 years ago and just doesn’t care enough to remove it since the only people that ever see it are the handful of people at the gym. Even when he got it, it might not have even meant “I’m a Nazi, I love Hitler”, it might have just meant “I’m badass I want a tattoo” or maybe he got it on a dare or his friends were getting them or there could be a bunch of other reasons. But whatever, he doesn’t care, why should you? If it bothers you that much stop talking to him.

Don’t get me wrong, a brand new tattoo on his bicep or forearm, that’s one thing, but a tiny old tattoo that you can only see with his shirt off is hardly worth getting your panties in a bunch about.

8

I’d ask him.

There’s no harm in asking. A friendly “So what’s with the swastika tattoo?” should get the job done.

9

I picked “No reason to treat him any differently,” but I could see going with this as well depending on my comfort level with the guy.

10

I meant to add that in. I’ll bet you get a “I was young and stupid” type response.

11

My WAG: it’s a prison tattoo. Perhaps he did a few years in his late teens/early 20s and had to hook up with the Aryans to survive in prison.

12

Still, I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten rid of it. I believe it’s actually possible to get offensive or gang-related tattoos removed for free in many places.

Of course, it may NEVER show except at the gym (and he might not realize it does just from looking at the mirror.)

13

Because if the only time it shows is in the gym he might just not care. After a few years, you kind of forget you have tattoos. I assume he’s not at home thinking about getting rid of the tattoo, it probably doesn’t bother him that much (especially if he’s not keeping it covered). I’m willing to bet the only time he even remembers it’s there is when someone asks him about it.

14

I guess what I’m worried about there is what the next step is in the worst case scenario; if he thinks we picked the wrong side in WW2 in other words. But then what? My immediate reaction would be to tell him to work Mein Kampf up his hole and not talk to me again (or words to that effect), but then if he was a genuine Nazi thug type who knows how he’d react to that?

15

If it’s a prison tattoo, perhaps he thinks it might come in handy again? Better safe than sorry.

16

I would be polite but keep my distance.

17

Next time you speak with him, casually mention the war.

18

Maybe it was going to be a maze.

19

Hook him up with the girl with the dragon tattoo?

20

[QUOTE=Mr. Kobayashi]
I guess what I’m worried about there is what the next step is in the worst case scenario; if he thinks we picked the wrong side in WW2 in other words. But then what? My immediate reaction would be to tell him to work Mein Kampf up his hole and not talk to me again (or words to that effect), but then if he was a genuine Nazi thug type who knows how he’d react to that?
[/QUOTE]

I doubt that will happen, and even if it does remember that he has been friendly to you and everyone else at the gym since you’ve seen him, just don’t speak to him again. Neo-nazis are intolerantly racist, if he is going to a gym with people of different backgrounds and is nice to them chances are he’s not a Nazi.