I got my ink done at Way Cool Tattoos, where their list of rules is clearly posted in the lobby. I’m sure the one that evokes cries of “Please, mister?” is this one: “We will not tattoo hands, fingers, necks (above the collar line) or faces on anyone under the age of 30 or who is not in the body mod business”.
Thor, the artist who worked on me, said it wasn’t worth the hassle; no matter how hard they tried to discourage and/or inform their customers, people would come back complaining they didn’t know certain tattoos placement meant jail time etc. He also said that about 60% of the art he does is to cover other tattoos, like ex-girlfriend’s names and crappy homemade or prison art.
This makes me think about a tattoo ‘trend’ I’ve been seeing lately–girls in their early twenties with wraparound tattoos on their waists. Usually it’s just a larger version of the armbands you descirbed. Yeah, those will really look great after several decades and a few children.
Well, I saw the kid at work again today and either his skin is absorbing the “teardrop” tattoos pretty quickly, or they were drawn on. They looked faded today. But the rest of the tattoos were still there. But either way, given what everyone’s said about what teardrop tattoos mean, why in the world would he try to fake 'em?
For what it’s worth, the kid (who was well spoken, personable and otherwise intelligent, etc) wasn’t applying for a job, just asking if I had any openings (this is typical in my company. If I did, we’d set up an interview for a future date)
And Gobear: Not quite an accurate description. This kid looks something like Bob Denver circa Gilligan’s Island, but younger and not quite as thin. He didn’t look hard-bitten. Um…unless you consider Gilligan hard-bitten.
That list of rules is a great policy. I got my nipple pierced when I was 17, drunk, and on spring break in florida. the place had no such policy. although I lucked out and had no infection(or regret) problems, I still wish that more places had an ethics policy in place.
Might I just add that as a woman, there is nothing quite as disturbing as making out with some sweet guy only to have him take off his shirt and reveal Zena the warrior princess being anally threatened with a tire iron (not that I officially condemn that sort of sport or anything). Despite any attempts to justify tats of the type, one can’t help but think, ‘Oh my, what did your mother do to you?’ Does one really need reservations in the back of their mind that perhaps this bad boy may in fact request being spanked with a Stretch Armstrong doll whilst watching prison porn six months down the line?
I’m scared.
Hold me.
