Tattoo experiences?

[Questor]

It must be a generational thing. I don't have tattoos and never wanted one, but know several folks who have them. To each his own.

It seems like half the adults in my area have visilble tattoo now. Last summer we were at a rodeo and everybody was out on the grass and in the bleachers in shorts and t-shirts. It was amusing to look around and see all the different tattoos. I was looking at a dragon-jellyfish kind of thing that was on the inside of a woman's calf and I was trying to figure out what it was a picture of. It turned out to be varicose veins. I felt a bit ashamed when I figured it out.

There's a pizza restaurant in Minneapolis called Pizza Luce (loo-chay). I went there with some folks and I was reading the menu when the waitress came by and asked if we were ready to order. I looked up at her and had a startle reaction. She had tattoos and piercings all over her face. It was quite unexpected. I later read an article in the business section of the paper about the restaurant. They employ a lot of people with extreme tattoos and piercings. The remarkable thing about the business is that they have very low employee turnover, which is amazing for a pizza restaurant. The employees stay there because there are fewer options for people with so much body art, if "body art" means that you've got a spider web tattoo on your face.

A lady at the local C-store gas station had a bandage on her forearm the first warm day of the year and I asked her if she had cut herself. She lifted the bandage and showed me that it was covering a tasteful little flower tattoo. Company policy is to have no visible tattoos. It had not been an issue before because it was winter and she wore long sleeves.

Got any good tattoo stories?

[Brett]

My wife's niece, a very attractive, intelligent young lady who just graduated from college with honors showed up at a recent family gathering with a nose ring and a tattoo of a cluster of stars on the inside of her wrist. 

Wanting to make polite conversation and being the curious person that I am I asked her what was the significance of the stars on her wrist.  I was somewhat taken aback when she stated there was none, that she just thought they were "cute". 

Maybe I'm overly practical or an old fogy but I don't see any reason why one would want to permanently mark themselves with with a tattoo that has no meaning or significance. 

I can almost see why someone may want a tattoo with the likenesses or name(s) of loved ones such as a spouse or children.  I could see why a military veteran may want a tattoo honoring foreign service.  But tattoos of flowers, dragons, butterflies, spiderwebs, etc, which have no significance is beyond my comprehension. 

I won't even get into the body piercing thing.  I've been told on more than one occasion that I have enough holes in my head already and didn't need to add any more. 

         

[Slowhanddd]

I won't even get into the body piercing thing

Don't mind ear rings on women.I can tolerate them on men.Anything else is enough to make me sick.Tattoos are ok to a point.Have a cousin that has his whole body about covered.Gets plenty of stares.He's in his early 30's and thinks their cool.Love the"slut"stamps on young gals though.Like watching the wiggle as they walk away.Slow

[SHOOTALL]

Is a slut stamp same as a tramp stamp ?
If so YEA !

[CannonKrazy]

Is a slut stamp same as a tramp stamp ?
If so YEA !

Just think what those tramp stamps are going to look like when these ladies get to be 65. Instead of being right above their crack old age is gonna relocate them down onto the back of their legs. Nothing more unattractive than ole wrinkled up tatto's

[GRIMJIM]

To each theor own. I have tattoos but I don't find them attractive on women at all. I guess it's a class thing for me. Like women that take their shirts off at parties. I enjoy it but that's not the kind of woman I would spend any time with.

[Brett]

I'll share another story with you.   I been told I have a dry wit and can be a little blunt at times, I think they call it non-PC today.

Anyway, one day the wife and I are out shopping somewhere.  I don't recall what store we were in but when we were ready to check out we approached the checkout counter where the female clerk was standing facing away from us fiddling with something on a shelf behind the counter.

I said "excuse me" to get her attention as I got to the counter.  Well when she turned around she looked like something out of the comic strips.  She had dark raccoon paint around her eyes, blood red lipstick, a splash of blood red coloring in her jet black hair, a lip ring attached to an ear ring with a length of silver chain, and a safety pin threw one eyebrow.  When she mumbled "can I hep u" her tongue stub was clearly visible.  I quickly responded "ya, when did the circus pull into town?".  The girl just gave me a blank stare... my wife gave me an elbow to the ribs.      
 

[GH1]

Tattoos are like anything else, they can be tastefully done or hideously overdone. I have a couple, one on each shoulder.  I don't much care for tattoos for decoration, I like them to have some sort of meaning.  But that's just me.
GH1

[bobg]

   What is wrong with tattoos? I have a beagle chasing a rabbit on my chest. I think raising beagles and hunting rabbits for 48 years had a lot to do with that.
                bobg
                                                                   
                                                                                                               

[Brett]

   What is wrong with tattoos? I have a beagle chasing a rabbit on my chest. I think raising beagles and hunting rabbits for 48 years had a lot to do with that.
                bobg
                                                                   
                                                                                                               

Well at least your tat has some significant and pertains to an important part of your life.  Now if you had a big Super Man 'S' tattooed on your chest I would think you were just another nut.

[Mikey]

I was approached once by a woman who wanted to show me her tattoos.......

[jim36]

BRETT   I THINK YOU AND I HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. I ALWAYS ASK IF THEY GOT THEIR HEAD HUNG IN MY TACKLE BOX.
                                                              JIM

[Brett]

My wife's nieces ex-boyfriend showed up at the inlaws Christmas dinner sporting two new silver studs in his bottom lip.  I asked him if he had been hunting with Dick Chaney.   Thought the FIL was going to fall out of his chair.  Thankfully my wife was not standing close that time. 

[rex6666]

Brett
I know the feeling my ribs stay sore>
I am 61 and have no tats, just never felt the need for one, or maybe nothing
important in my life.
Tats don't bother me as much as the piercings, my better half gets mad at me for pointing at them and saying rather loudly LOOKY THAR.
My better half got bent at Wally world the other day "she was pointing"
Guy had a t-shirt on the back in nonmistakeable wording
THE TIME TO KILL IS M-----F------ NOW i mean printed out every letter
she goes and gets a mgr. and points it out to him, he calls another mgr
and they just walk and follow the guy around.

[Hairtrigger]

I was approached once by a woman who wanted to show me her tattoos.......

Did you take her home to meet your mother first???

LOL

[BBF]

Only to my decomposing body. I have a real aversion to needles pointing my way.

[SHOOTALL]

What one puts on their body is up to them . Not only what they put on makes a statement but doing it in general makes a statement about themselves . I checked a long time ago and the Bible says no to funeral tatoos or something as such . All taht said it depends on the person and the tatoo as to how i feel about that person and their tatoos .
Some look Ok others are far out . same with holes and such.
I can't think of anything i would enjoy seeing on me 24/7 buts thats just me .
2 stories - first we had a service tech that had tatoos lots of them . we do work at a very rich condo building ( gold faucets etc. ) . This older lady calls for an appointment and wanted that tech. she could not remember his name so she ask for the tech with pictures all over his arms . She was in her 80's it was funny.
second was a guy that went out and got 4 Chineese letters.signs on his fore arm about 2 inchs sg. each BIG . I ask what it said and he said somethingabout love and so. I ask how he knew , he walked away in a huff . I have a couple of guys from Hong Kong working here so he slips by their job to make sure . He was lucky !

[Sourdough]

Don't have any, never wanted any, and hopefully have convinced my sons to feel the same way.

A friends daughter got a nose ring several years ago, back when the fad was just getting started.  My son was 6 at the time.  She came into the Fire Dept to have lunch with her Dad, as did my wife and son that day.  Anyway when she came into the dinning room my son looks up and says out loud, "Uh chrome buggers".  The girls Dad blew coffee all over the table, choked while trying to laugh.  The girl was so embarrassed she went to the lady's room and removed the ring.  Have never seen her wearing one again after that.  Her Dad thanked my son, and treated him to Ice Cream.

Was in a bar a few months ago on the far side of Fairbanks, and saw a beautiful young woman came in wearing a very low cut top.  One that was just barely legal and open down almost to her navel.  She had a tattoo of a bird on her chest and abdomen, with it's wings spread across and wrapping around her chest.  Several women asked to see the whole thing so she opened her top exposing her self to everyone in the bar.  The men were cheering, the women were Ohing and Ahing.  She went down the bar displaying her tattoo and assets to everyone.  When she got to me she suddenly closed her top and went to a booth with her friends.  I had thought she was very attractive and slightly familure, before I became engrossed with her tattoo.   After her strange behavior I tried to remember who she was.  After I left the bar I realized she was the older sister of the girl my son was dating at the time.  Her Mom and Dad are ultra conservative, (meaning they are members of one of the fundamentalist churches here in North Pole) and I was shocked to realize their daughter had a tattoo like that, but realized she would have no trouble keeping it hidden from her parents since at home she has to wear such conservative clothing, completely covered except for her face and hands.

While I was serving in Turkey, had a young female friend that had several tattoos.  Jeniffer's tattoos were in places that no one saw them when she was in uniform or wearing normal clothing.  She had a beautiful horse head on one shoulder, her name in a ribbon on the other shoulder.  Then she had a dragon on her abdomen, with it's front legs going down onto her thighs.  Only special friends got to see the dragon.

My friend that I go and visit in Florida each year made a comment about women with tattoos, "All those young women with tattoos today in 30 years will be saggy old women with gross sagging tattoos that they will be trying to hide".  Well it's been 25 years since I was in Turkey, wonder what Jennie's dragon looks like today?

[ncsurveyor]

Thought about getting a M109A2 when I was in the Army.  But I drunk too much and never made it to the parlor.

As a paramedic, I was transporting an elderly man to the hospital.  He showed me the tattoo that the Nazi's gave him. Hard to top that one.  (assuming the holocaust actually happened  )

As a fireman I got burned in a flashover (think it was about 1993 or so).  Left neat scars on both my upper arms.  Would have effectively removed any tattoos, had I decided to get one.  Figured that the scars were "tattoos" enough.

Now, on Sunday, me and the wife and the 8 year old were at walmart.  Big guy with naked lady tattoo was in the same aisle.

I asked myself how I was going to respond to the question, should my little girl ask why.  In the past, she asked about odd piercings and some tattoos and I always explained that it was the person's choice, but if she thought it looked odd, or inappropriate then remember that, should she ever decide she wanted one, or if that person ever came to her for a job interview.

Luckily, she didn't see this one.

Later I wondered why a naked lady.  Figured if I was going to get one like that, I'd have it put on so I can see it upright, moreso than whoever is in the same aisle.

[blind ear]

Sourghdough, "chrome buggars" says it all, lol

[Heather]

I went through a phase when I was around sixteen seventeen.  I wanted a tattoo of the indian symbol for serenity around my naval.  Shortly after I graduated high school and was old enough to get one I found out I was having Evan.  When my stomach stretched it got me to thinking about all of the changes a womans body goes through in life.   I decided then that the only place I would put one was on my ankle, and then it wouldn't be hidden if I wanted to wear shorts in public.  I decided against it, but I am way different than most from my generation.  There is a stigma with tats and I just didn't want that stigma following my kids.

Heather

[AtlLaw]

Well it's been 25 years since I was in Turkey, wonder what Jennie's dragon looks like today?

Why S D!  You old romantic you!     Ain't dat sweet!   

No tattoos...    Thought about it once or twice, but never seriously... I use temporary iron-ons if I want to make a fashion statement... 

[newstart2k]

Eight years in the Nav and I got my first and currently only tat after I got out. Go figure?

I was standing in the lobby of the Orpheum Theater in Omaha waiting to go in for a production of Cats. The lobby was full of people in semi-formal evening wear. My friends and I all noticed a hush kinda come over the crowd so we turned to see the cause. A very stunning blond woman in a long black evening gown was approaching us from the front door. As she would pass people they would stop in the middle of their conversation and stare as she passed by. Of course as she went pass us we all looked. Her gown was cut down to the small of her back revealing a beautiful leopard tat that covered her entire back. The head was just below her neckline and it's tail was at the "bottom". It was very well done. And for those that might say something to the effect of "yeah but what will it look like in 30 years." I have to say that at that moment it wouldn't have entered any of your minds! I've never seen anything like it since. She KNEW what she had and loved every minute of it.

Newstart2k

[Rustyinfla]

  It was my wife that first told my son, "don't come home with anything pierced that you don't want cut off."


  As far as I'm concerned a scar is a tat with a story.


  I can't wear a wedding ring because I'm around too much machinery all day driving a truck. I've come close to losing a finger several times years ago when I was wearing a wedding band. I thought just the other day. Maybe a tat of a wedding band?

[DalesCarpentry]

There have been a couple times I have been in stores and have seen some young punk with his pants down almost to his knees and many many pierceings all over their face and such. I have to say I just can't keep a straight face while looking at them. I have laughed out loud and said to them you got to be freaking kidding me. Now tats are different for me as long as they are done in taste. I like to look at the art work. I have worked construction all my life and have known many people with tats. I ran into a buddy I grew up with a few years ago. He was my best friend when we were young. He now has 80% of his body covered in tats. I ask myself what made him go so extreme? I have to say that is over the top and don't much care for it at all but to each his own. I do not have any tats myself at this time although I have been thinking for several years now about getting the Pittsburgh Steelers logo done on my upper arm or the calf of my leg. I think my fear of needles is the only thing that has kept me from doing it yet. Dale

[Sourdough]

Rustyinfla:  Ya know, if I had thought of that 32 years ago that is one tattoo I would have gotten.  The wife has not gotten over the fact I won't wear my wedding ring.  But I like my fingers too much.  Two weeks after we were married a water heater slipped as we were loading it into a truck and caught my ring, jerking me down off the truck.  It tore the skin all the way around my finger, I had to go to the hospital and have the ring cut off.  That same day, another troop in the shop, lost his ring finger, loading a pump. 

If the wife and I were getting dressed up and going out to a social function I would put the ring on, otherwise I never wore it.  Then as the years went by I forgot it more and more.  In the last 15 years it no longer fits, and to be honest I have no idea where it is.  I'm sure the wife has it locked away somewhere.  Everybody knows I'm married any way, and I'm too old to worry about it anyway.

Ran into an old friend last week, he's retired like me, and has gotten into Harleys.  His wife was always quite and very conservative.  She has also gotten into Harleys and has her own bike, which was surprising to me knowing her to be so quite.  She is a retired Postmaster.  As he and I were talking about bikes his wife came out.  I was shocked, she had her arms tattooed from the wrist all the way up to her shoulders.  Lots of bright yellow and green ink, really eye catching.  She has gotten those tats in the last few years, and she is older than I am, and I am 60.   

[squirrellluck]

Sourdough, I had 1 cut off in the navy so I dont wear 1 either. Wife was asked once how she  dealt with me not wearing a ring.I have always loved her answer; He knows hes married thats all that counts.

[Sourdough]

squirrelluck:  My mother is the only one that questions my not wearing my ring.  She has said several times she would not put up with me not wearing it, and that my wife should not allow me to not wear it 24-7.  My wife's reply, "He knows he's married, and if he ever forgets he only has to remember one thing".  At this point she holds up a knife and says, "Lerainna".  As in Bibbit.

[Heather]

  I can't wear a wedding ring because I'm around too much machinery all day driving a truck. I've come close to losing a finger several times years ago when I was wearing a wedding band. I thought just the other day. Maybe a tat of a wedding band?

Awww...how sweet.  I think your wife would think that is the sweetest thing ever!

Heather

[Rustyinfla]

  Well I talked to my wife about it a month or so ago. I told her that I finally thought of a tattoo I'd like to get. she looked at me like I was crazy. then I explained my idea to her. she said we can buy you a ring if that's what you want. I told her, you know I can't wear one, I'd end up losing my hand before it's over. She just said well, if you want to. She never has said anything about me not wearing a ring. I don't wear any jewelry of any kind. The closest I come to any kind of jewelry is when I put a Mont Blanc ball point pen in my pocket to go to church.

I'm open for oppinions, If I were to get a wedding band tattooed on my finger should it say something or just be there for decoration and let the design speak for it's self?