# Tramp Stamp poll
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 22, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254 "2012-08-22T05:50:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/81 "2012-08-23T07:05:29Z")
I’m among those who are put off by all tattoos and a tattoo would be a deal breaker dating wise.
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### Author:  [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/82 "2012-08-23T07:19:05Z")
I dislike them just based on aesthetics. In terms of artistic composition, smack in the middle of your body is not where a tattoo should go.
I do like full back (and full arm and leg) tattoos though. If you have a lower back tattoo, I suggest coming up with a full back design to create balance.
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/83 "2012-08-23T12:32:37Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#):
>
> I want you. I don’t care about yoru body.
Hey, get in line!
Well, unless he has tattoos. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/84 "2012-08-23T12:50:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Does copper even show up on your skin? When I got mine, the guy was like, “your options are black, blue or green.”
>
> 36% of Americans under 30 have or had at least one.
My skin is really, really light, especially on the inside of my wrist, which is where the tattoo is. It’s not white, by any means, but you can see the light blue of my veins, faintly. And yes, it shows up vividly.
Nzinga, agreed, but the sparkly hair clip or fancy shoes are for one day, not for my whole life. AGAIN! We should have home automatic airbrushing kits so we can have tattoos for a week or so.
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### Author:  [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/85 "2012-08-23T12:53:19Z")
I have one. It says “Crack Kills”.
I got it because I like stupid puns. Everyone who’s ever seen it and commented on it has been amused by it. In the grand scheme of things, it is not my biggest issue regarding career success. Like my other couple of tattoos, it’s easy to cover up by wearing normal, reasonably modest clothing. I wouldn’t get anything on the hands, neck or face, but a lot of my friends have gone that route and claim to not regret it. More power to them I guess.
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### Author:  [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/86 "2012-08-23T12:56:07Z")
Another that simply doesn’t find tattoos attractive and the bigger they are the worse I feel they look. I won’t judge someone for one though (and I have several friends with tattoos and at least two friends with a tramp stamp).
I’m 38, male and have only ever dated one woman with one. And it was a tad smaller and more discrete than a tramp stamp. Luckily the current lady is an old woman in a young lady’s body and dislikes them more than me, so there is no real danger of her getting one.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/87 "2012-08-23T13:29:03Z")
> [@amanset](#):
>
> I’m 38, male and have only ever dated one woman with one. And it was a tad smaller and more discrete than a tramp stamp. Luckily the current lady is an old woman in a young lady’s body and dislikes them more than me, so there is no real danger of her getting one.
I hope to always be a young woman, no matter what body I am in! However, I am dating a man who was born a curmudgeon, so I guess I understand. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/88 "2012-08-23T13:41:04Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> …Nzinga, agreed, but the sparkly hair clip or fancy shoes are for one day, not for my whole life…
No, I have had a sparkly hair clip permanently embedded into the back of my head. It’s called a It’s called a “Hoe Bow” and I’m tired of being judged for it.
Listedmia, not to get in your biz too much, but I can’t help wondering what your tat does to the mood of your partner when he is getting it in doggy style.
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/89 "2012-08-23T13:44:55Z")
This thread seems to be the right spot to add this little nugget:
HuffPo had an article a couple of days ago about a woman who had her anus tattooed :eek: - and then had to have it done again when she got a new boyfriend. :eek::eek: Link to article [here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/anal-anus-tattoos-next-big-thing-woman_n_1775413.html)- it is okay for work, but links to a video, apparently, that is NSFW (gosh really?! Can’t imagine why…)
Okay, then.
[QUOTE=listedmia]
I have one. It says “Crack Kills”.
I got it because I like stupid puns.
[/QUOTE]
Sounds like you have fun with it - cool. Not my cuppa tea - it might be cute, but I would tire of a joke tattoo in about a day - but more power to ya.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/90 "2012-08-23T13:50:14Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#):
>
> No, I have had a sparkly hair clip permanently embedded into the back of my head. It’s called a It’s called a “Hoe Bow” and I’m tired of being judged for it.
I’m in love with you.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/91 "2012-08-23T13:51:41Z")
The one tattoo I like is on a friend: she has a little tree frog on the top of her foot. Since she (and I) wear sandals a lot, it would be a good choice. But she already took the tree frog idea and I am generally in the “I think they’re unattractive” camp, so here we are. But really, I’d rather put a temporary frog on me than a permanent one.
Hey, entrepreneur idea, **Anaamika**!
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### Author:  [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/92 "2012-08-23T13:58:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> Eh, shut up and run your Tilt-a-Whirl, carny!
Dude, you made me choke on my breakfast! 😛
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### Author:  [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/93 "2012-08-23T14:08:11Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#):
>
> Listedmia, not to get in your biz too much, but I can’t help wondering what your tat does to the mood of your partner when he is getting it in doggy style.
Not much of an issue. He has dumb tattoos too and we usually don’t do it under glaring floodlights anyway.
I did veto his brilliant drunk idea to get a tattoo of Dr. Zoidberg’s head (from Futurama) on his stomach for similar reasons though.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/94 "2012-08-23T16:28:25Z")
> [@Blackberry](#):
>
> It’s still weird that you would have to “try very hard” not to judge someone for having a tattoo. And I really, really hate the look of those gauge ear piercings because I think they look gross, but I don’t have to \*try \*not to judge a person for having one, because all it means is that they have different taste than I do (and they’re a lot less squeamish), not really anything about their character.
Well, here’s the process that occurs: 1. See tattoo. 2. Stomach rolls and subconscious mind goes “ugggghh, look at all that ugly stuff…” 3. Conscious mind says, “Now stop that. It’s just a skin decoration.” 4. Gut answers back, “But that skin is all nasty.” 5. Conscious mind says “Didn’t your mama teach to not to judge people by their skin?” 6. Gut responds, "But they did that to themselves! On purpose! They poked their skin with _needles_! And rubbed ink into it! " 7. Conscious mind screams, “IT DOESN’T MATTER! They just like the pictures!” Lather, rinse, repeat.
I won’t begin to tell you the conversations Gut and Mind have over piercings. I almost lost my dinner when my daughter asked me to help her put in her earrings.
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/95 "2012-08-23T18:18:57Z")
I have a lower-back tattoo. It is my only tattoo.
I don’t consider it a tramp stamp, but perhaps other people would. It’s about 1" by 2" in henna-colored calligraphy lines, and is a tree-of-life that I created myself.
I spent about 5 years in consideration before I got it, and I did take body placement very strongly into consideration. I got it for myself, as a congratulations for making it out of a rough childhood. I wanted it to be as private and personal as I could make it.
Point 1) had to be somewhere that it wouldn’t be visible in semi-professional and in most casual environments in the southeast. I wear sleeveless tops, knee-length skirts, short shorts, and sandals all summer long. All appendages are therefore right out, in total.
Point 2) had to be somewhere it wouldn’t sag or stretch or be likely to discolor from sun damage for my entire life. So pretty much my whole front side is out, between boobs and the possibility of childbirth.
Point 3) had to be somewhere I wouldn’t see it constantly. I can get anxious and pick at myself, and I don’t want to be tempted to pick at my tat. That’s my shoulders, hips, and sides gone.
Point 4) wanted it to be symmetric - no one-shoulder or one-hip stuff.
So… it was either in tramp-stamp territory, or between my shoulder-blades, and there was no way that at that age I was going to go bra-less for the weeks it took to heal up.
I was 22. I’m now considerably older, and I’m getting my next tattoo when I finish my master’s degree. Again, I’m trying to keep to points 1-3, because I’m very aware that saggy and faded tats look like ass. I’ve known what I want for over 3 years now, and I have again created my own artwork that I’m very happy with.
My tattoos are for me - if people see them, it’s because I’m either at the pool, the beach, or totally naked. In any of those situations, I’m not real concerned with people’s opinions of my personal body adornment. I didn’t do it for their attention, or to send them a message.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/96 "2012-08-23T18:30:16Z")
Wait - you go braless now more than at 22? 😕
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### Author:  [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/97 "2012-08-23T18:49:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Does copper even show up on your skin? When I got mine, the guy was like, “your options are black, blue or green.”
>
> 36% of Americans under 30 have or had at least one.
That’s fine; I don’t date women under 30 anymore. Actually, I’ve been married for years, so I don’t date at all.
Come to think of it, the last time I had a date with a woman under 30 was – 15 years ago?
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/98 "2012-08-23T18:58:30Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Wait - you go braless now more than at 22? 😕
Yep. Raised super-fundamentalist. It’s been a long slow slog back to the midline of normal. Thankfully, my husband assures me that I’m still smoking hot. 😃
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/99 "2012-08-23T20:38:01Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#):
>
> One big reason that I don’t have any tattoos is because of my father and his cronies. Enough men who served with him in the Pacific got some art. It was usually crudely done, and by the 1960s (when I was old enough to notice) they had faded and bled to the point that the original art was unrecognizable. Black and green bruise-like smudges that might have been a bathing beauty or an anchor at one time. No thank you.
>
> Now, I know that ink technology has improved, and there are some real artists doing tattoos in every city, but early exposure has set my attitude. (That is not to say that I give a damn what \*you \*do to your skin.)
I’ve seen enough guy’s in nursing homes to know they were somehow involved in WWII, just can’t tell if they were ARMY, NAVY, USMC, or were in a concentration camp because all I can make out is a greenish rectangle on their forearm; no discernible letters/numbers.
Yes, they say the inks are better, but then again arms are not that well known for changing shape over time due to stretching/sagging skin.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tramp-stamp-poll/632254/100 "2012-08-23T20:52:06Z")
I don’t really understand the “stretching sagging skin” protest to tattoos. Do I really want to arrive at the finish line with everything intact? Not really. I prefer the memories that got me here. I mean, sure, my dad’s got one of those green tattoos. He was FIVE years old when he got it. he has a great story to tell about it. The mela guy (fair guy) did it, not caring, and he got a beating from his dad and his brother over it, but he smiles fondly when he tells the story.
Smile lines formed for a reason. So do wrinkles and saggy skin.
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