# Why Do Beautiful Men Deface Their Bodies With Tattoos? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058 "2015-03-03T01:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/21 "2015-03-03T04:46:56Z")
Used to be, tattoos and body modifications prevented people from getting mainstream jobs. Nowadays, it seems they’re required to have them. When I was job-hunting a few years ago without success, several people suggested that I put on some temporary tattoos in a visible place (neck, hands, etc.) and go apply for a job. :dubious: I didn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/22 "2015-03-03T05:49:40Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Hahah, sorry Shakes. I meant for certain values of “everyone so far.” > > I was mainly looking at all the folks piling on with the tattoo hate and such, or sincerely engaging with the OP in other ways. > > Your post was spot on, of course 🙂 The misandry is so real! I don’t get it. Was the post just to prove that some people don’t like tattoos and some people do? That more people are okay with tattoos on men than women? Or was it just the ability to convince people he has an opinion that’s not really his? I at least got post #11 right away. EDIT: After reading the women and porn thread in this sub forum I’m guessing it has something to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/23 "2015-03-03T05:52:57Z")
I don’t think the guy’s good-looking, but that’s some pretty sweet ink. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/24 "2015-03-03T06:23:33Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > You are aware that un-tattooed skin also warps and sags with age, right? Yes, this. I’ve never seen an elderly person and had the thought “If that old guy didn’t have tattoos _dayam_ he’d be fine”. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/25 "2015-03-03T06:39:14Z")
I knew a girl who talked about getting her head shaven to get a tattoo up there, then she’d grow her hair back. Her idea was that when she grew old and was being pushed around in a wheelchair in the nursing home, the attendant would be able to see the tattoo through her thinning white (with blue tinted) hair and know that she was cool once. I don’t know if she ever went through with it. Hey, **GusNSpot,** remember **Dread Pirate Judy**? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/26 "2015-03-03T13:06:04Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Lets not forget people who accidentally fell against a hot wood burning stove. > …or just look that way. > > “Hey, man! Whats ‘.oC evotS kciwdraH’?” > “Shut Up…!” Way back in his younger years my spouse accidentally sat down on a hot BBQ grill. Yes, alcohol was involved. He really does have rebeW on his backside. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/27 "2015-03-03T14:50:11Z")
A friend has an eight-ball tattooed in his armpit. When people (inevitably) ask _why an eight-ball?_ he answers, “it’s a cover up”. (Eight-balls, being mostly black, have forever been the stereotypical tattoo used to cover-up an unwanted tattoo) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/28 "2015-03-03T15:17:54Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Used to be, tattoos and body modifications prevented people from getting mainstream jobs. Nowadays, it seems they’re required to have them. > > When I was job-hunting a few years ago without success, several people suggested that I put on some temporary tattoos in a visible place (neck, hands, etc.) and go apply for a job. :dubious: I didn’t do it. :dubious: Someone’s being whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/29 "2015-03-03T15:37:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > First time I’ve heard Kevin Durant referred to as “beautiful”. 😃 Yeah… not seeing beautiful man either. And does he have the Walgreen’s “W” on his torso? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/30 "2015-03-03T15:46:01Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Yeah… not seeing beautiful man either. And does he have the Walgreen’s “W” on his torso? Sure looks like it. Better than Target’s “Bullseye” on his back. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/31 "2015-03-03T15:47:13Z")
Because tattoos are fashionable right now. In another 30 years, the fashion will be gone. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/32 "2015-03-03T15:49:44Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I’m already reading about promising advances in tattoo removal technology. By the time they get to the age when they might regret their tattoos, getting rid of them may be no more involved than a minor outpatient procedure … hell, it might be the kind of thing that you could purchase in a kit at the grocery store between the aspirin and the lip balm. My billion dollar concept is tattoo ink that you can switch on and off like an LCD display. Heck, you could make each ink “pixel” independently addressable and sport different tattoos for different social situations. The only thing that’s stopping me from being fantastically rich is that I have no idea whatsoever how to implement this idea. I knew I should have majored in organic chemistry and nanotechnology. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/33 "2015-03-03T15:49:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Because tattoos are fashionable right now. In another 30 years, the fashion will be gone. I got my first tattoo roughly thirty five years ago; my most recent three weeks ago, with dozens in between. None due to fashion. ETA: I am not now, nor have I ever been “beautiful”. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/34 "2015-03-03T15:54:24Z")
He is definitely not beautiful to me, but I find some tattoos very attractive on men. Those dark tribal tattoos are hot, for example. I don’t like any colorful tattoos; single color tats are the best. I never get the point of telling us it’s going to sag. So is everything else! But I guarantee you when I am old and my tat is saggy I will not look at it and go, “Eew,” I will say, “Wow, I’m glad that I had the courage to go and get that done.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/35 "2015-03-03T15:56:04Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Because tattoos are fashionable right now. In another 30 years, the fashion will be gone. It’ll still be here. Saggy, drooping, blurry but still here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/36 "2015-03-03T16:07:08Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Because tattoos are fashionable right now. In another 30 years, the fashion will be gone. I hate to let myself get sucked into this, what with it being a parody and all, but I’ve been hearing about how unfashionable tattoos will become for years (I got my first one about 20 years ago) and the exact opposite has happened. Those that don’t care for tattoos are welcome to their opinion but perhaps it’s time to choose a better talking point. Not singling you out **RChuck** , your post was just handy. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/37 "2015-03-03T16:10:05Z")
Why deface an otherwise beautiful canvas with paint? Why drive a pea green BMW 750 iL? Why live in a purple house? Part of what makes this an interesting and beautiful world is our differing aesthetic choices. You might not like what others interpret as beautiful but since you are not the Designated Arbiter of Taste, this is not an issue. If you really want to know why someone does something, ask them. I have a single tattoo that took me 35 years to decide on. It has personal meaning for me and outlines my personal philosophy in a graphic form. My next tattoo will be the same, I suspect, although on a shorter timeline. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/38 "2015-03-03T16:32:22Z")
Beauty isn’t everything. And I’m guessing Kevin Durant isn’t at all lacking in the girlfriend/wife/side piece department, tattoo or no. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/39 "2015-03-03T16:56:59Z")
I can’t speak to men, but to my eyes, my wife is the most beautiful creature in creation, and she has tattoos. She likes them; I like them. Who else matters? Well, the kids, I guess. But they’re babies; to them, Mommy’s tats are normal. My father’s given her grief over them. Do you really want to be like an 80-year-old man with an 8th-grade education who thinks Jesus spoke English? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058/40 "2015-03-03T16:58:33Z")
I’m with the OP. Tattoos are disgusting. They should be outlawed. Anyone who has a tattoo should be illegal and they should be deported. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-beautiful-men-deface-their-bodies-with-tattoos/714058.md?page=3)