Do you have a tattoo?

[Ninjakid]

Who's judging.

Nah I've just mentioned this to a few ppl and they respond like it's a mortal sin but idgaf

 

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[AFMKelvin]

Imagine a T-shirt with great design. Once it's been washed and stretched over and over again the image turns blurry, out of shape and out of colour. That's what happens to a tattoo over time. I've seen one before on the forearm of an elderly gentlemen, "art" would be the last word I'd use to describe it. Worst of all, you can't get rid of it. At that age you'd probably not willing to go through all the pain and pay that much money to remove it.

Yeah I guess it does make sense we shed our skin over time.

 

[Longinus]

Sagging, fades, wrinkles, age spot (dark and light) discoloration. Nothing pretty!

This happens to people without tattoos as well in combination with bad health choices (unfortunately the case with most tattoo-people...).

That been said, 90% of all tattoos are terrible. So there's a massive chance you'll regret that butt ugly design in time.

So don't do it.

Or be prepared to pay a lot of money for a good artist.

I don't like multiple separated tattoos all over the body like many people have. From a distance, they're just dark stains on your body. I prefer big and clear tattoos.

This is mine:



This one costed me about €1200 in 2 sessions in 2014. On my upper arm is my first tattoo that was done when I was 20. Upper arm is Odin on Sleipnir and on my chest is one of his two ravens. Further plans are to continue on the inside of my upper arm and part of my back.

And yes, the one on my chest hurt like hell.

It's quite polarizing, but I get many compliments about it. I better not regret it because tattoo removal hurts even more

 

[SummerGladness]

Yeah each to their own regarding getting them or not. Personally I don't have any and wouldn't get them.

They can be quite revealing in a lot of ways. For instance when people get religious symbols or imagery despite not being religious. Or they can date you if you get a style that is in trend at a particular time or among a niche of some sort. For example, tribal tattoos were really popular at one point.

Also I've read that getting names of people can reveal insecurity about a relationship with that person, hence why I find tattoos revealing.

 

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[MidwestLandlord]

For instance when people get religious symbols or imagery despite not being religious.

Haha, that's me.

I have a Christian cross on my back but I'm not religious.

 

[Late Bloomer]

I've never had any interest in undergoing a procedure that looks really painful, introduces a risk of infection, and permanently alters my skin through scars and ink. Just hasn't had any appeal to me ever.

I do recognize that there are some people who have very amazing art that they got custom made, to express something original and meaningful. With maybe one percent of the tattooed people I see, I think, wow that's beautiful. Or, wow that's an incredible message or artwork I can respect them for wanting to make part of their very body for their whole life.

But it seems that as you mentioned, these days it's most often not a sign of any original thought at all. Only a symbol of following the crowd.

Which is amazing for something that only century ago was an extremely rare body modification, almost always for people who'd accepted that they would forever be social outcasts from the mainstream!

If the same crowd won't be there for you in fifty years to admire what you did to your body today, why should they get to vote on what will still be engraved in your skin fifty years from now?

It seems to me that the real free thinker is not someone who tries to manipulate, shame, or badger others into being just like them, but who does their own thing and is happy to live and let live as others also do their own thing... even if it's a different thing!

 

[Late Bloomer]

When I was spending months at a time in Hawaii, I was pretty sure I wanted a tattoo of the hawaiian islands on a forearm, and of a sea turtle maybe nearby. I had one henna'ed just to try it out and loved it. I could never time it so that I could be out of the sun and water long enough after getting it done.

Thank goodness.

Now, after moving to Florida, we spend exactly zero time in Hawaii. Pretty glad I don't have their state map on my forearm.

It could've been worse, you could've fallen in love with South Dakota and had Mount Rushmore tattooed onto you.

 

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[Late Bloomer]

I have Roy Orbison tattooed on my a$$.

Please let me be the first to say "pics or didn't happen" does NOT apply to you

 

[Late Bloomer]

Maybe Chinese writing as I’m half-Chinese. Maybe the names of my sons and maybe something for family members who’ve passed away.

One of the few really meaningful tattooes that impresses me, is Wil Wheaton's arm decorated with the first sonogram of his kid's heartbeat before birth.

 

[Late Bloomer]

I always chuckled building AdWords campaigns for “tattoo artist <location>” and then “tattoo removal <location>”.

Do you save the leads from the "tattoo artist" ads, and two years later start sending them pitches for tattoo removal?

 

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[Late Bloomer]

Yep, a life of regert is a life that ain't worth livin

 

[Late Bloomer]

I have 1 tattoo currently I got while in the Marine Corps. Surprised I didn’t leave with more... at the time, the tattoo policy was very damaging to careers, so I made sure to get mine in an inconspicuous location.

I didn't know about that, since I've met so many military vets with tattoos. Is that still policy for most of the armed services?

 

[Late Bloomer]

This is mine

Wow, that is really damn spectacular! Respect.

 

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[Late Bloomer]

Haha, that's me.

I have a Christian cross on my back but I'm not religious.

Well if you ever do get saved, you're already carrying the cross, so it should be easy for you!

 

[Scot]

I didn't know about that, since I've met so many military vets with tattoos. Is that still policy for most of the armed services?

Each branch had their own rules. But while I was in the Corps, you could only have 3 tattoos showing outside your PT gear and the couldn’t be bigger than your hand. No sleeves or quarter sleeves. It hurt a LOT of good Marines who wanted to go career but were in before the bullshit policies. You can thank Gen Amos, the most hated Commandant of all time.

They reversed the policy last year I think? But by then, the Corps has drummed out all of its mid grade combat veterans.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Each branch had their own rules. But while I was in the Corps, you could only have 3 tattoos showing outside your PT gear and the couldn’t be bigger than your hand. No sleeves or quarter sleeves. It hurt a LOT of good Marines who wanted to go career but were in before the bullshit policies. You can thank Gen Amos, the most hated Commandant of all time.

They reversed the policy last year I think? But by then, the Corps has drummed out all of its mid grade combat veterans.

Wow, that sounds really short sighted. If you have someone who is great at their job and wants to continue on into a leadership role, why force them out for something that doesn't keep them from doing their job?

 

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[AFMKelvin]

I have a half sleeve of skulls on my left arm. Thinking about getting them removed when i get some fu money but for now they mean nothing other then a reminder that I wasted nearly $1000 them.

Once you get fu money you won't give a f about those tattoos.

 

[Xeon]

Idea: With the increase in people getting tattoos and tattoos slowly becoming mainstream, how about selling those wearable arm / leg tattoo sleeves? The current ones on the market have extremely limited designs and are not translucent enough. What if there's one that looks indiscernible to the eye?

Plus, wearable tattoo neck sleeve that you wear over your neck draped like a choke collar if you're into neck tattoos.

All the fun, without the scars!
Why disfigure yourself when you can take them off?

 

[James Fake]

Cool thread. So... I lost count of how many tattoos I have. Full sleeves, two ribs, chest piece, upper back & spine. Right arm = achievements in life in chronological orders from the wrist up. Left arm = Pain, struggles, life story in order from wrist up.

In my last official "working for the man" 9 to 5 job; I had various pieces on my arms only. I always wore a long-sleeve button down to work. Most people didn't know I had any tattoos.

It wasn't until my Amazon FBA took off and afforded me to never step foot into another "job" again when I got a new tattoo almost every week. I knew I wasn't bound by the chains of NOBODY anymore and getting a crapload of tattoos was very liberating from a personal stand-point knowing I had "made it". That and tattoos are expensive af lol.

I designed every single one of my pieces and fit them all in (which is actually the hardest part trying to find the perfect placement). Also; the overall aesthetic was always kept in mind. Meaning, good density of ink and various design styles all have to mesh together perfectly (example: adding splashes of red or other colors here and there to break up the monotone grey & black. Also using "skin tone" to break up general aesthetic as well). Certain shapes, etc. also compliment body parts differently when it comes to the chest and rib and back area. (It's a reason why celebrity's tattoos like Beckham seem to look better than the "average" person's tattoos. You'd be surprised at how many people try to make a "cheap full sleeve" meaning trying to cover an entire arm using big pieces and a bunch of filler designs like clouds, etc. - that makes the general aesthetic bad because the density is poor.)

Anyways; just throwing my 2cents of thoughts in.

I never thought about removal nor interested; no ounce of regret. 99.999% of the time I forget I have them. I'll take these to the grave with me! =)

 

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[Jean-Pierre]

Either they are so happy or so sad in that one moment in time that they want to remember it so much that they end up getting it inked on their body.

I have 3 and don't remember getting any of them.

About 10 years ago I used to go on surfing road trip each year with my mates. The weekend would generally go like this: go for a surf, go for too many beers... and then somewhere in the middle find a tattoo parlor, convince them to tattoo a group of drunk guys (usually with a case of beer)... and then wake up covered with bandages. Not actually sure how it started but then each year after that we kept doing it.

Fortunately, my drunk-self was "smart" enough not to get anything too big, too inappropriate or put it anywhere too obvious (arm, ankle, rib cage). That being said, I don't regret any of them... although one nearly landed me getting my @rse kicked by a bunch guys who had a serious love-affair with roids, but that's a different story.

Anyways, sh*t escalated pretty quickly the year I stopped going as some muppet thought it was a good idea to buy their own tattoo gun specifically for the trip. That year would have been full of regrets.

 

[JoshA]

I got a tribal armband when they were all the rage. I was mid-20s. I regret it and wish I could take it back as I feel like I was just going along with the crowd and doing what was popular which is a type of behavior I don't want to identify with. I can hide it well enough, and I do if I know I'm going to be meeting with people that may look down upon it and have some kind influence on my income.

 

[Blek]

I made my tatoo after turning 41. No step on snek I totally don't regret it - as I will not turn away (can't imagine it) from libertarian view of life. Maybe will do second with some chess motiff - as I love chess. Of course not on a forehead.

 

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[GravyBoat]

I have over 40 tattoos, I stopped counting. No hand or neck tats, but every other part of my body has at least something (including my a$$ cheeks )

I don't regret any of them and plan to continue until most of my body is covered.

People that know me wouldn't expect anything less. I enjoy the rolled up sleeves look. I don't get tattoos because of anyone or anything else, totally personal decisions. Lots of them mean something, some of them are just crazy things my tattoo artist and I have come up with.

My main issue with them is that when I go out in the sun, I don't want to f*k them up, so I wear long sleeves alot or carry an umbrella to the beach. It's worth it for me, but I'm just into tattoos. They're a good conversation starter as well.

I wouldn't "suggest" anyone get one, I feel like if you have to ask then you aren't ready. Do Henna first, lasts about 2 weeks. See if you still like it. Do it multiple times if you want.

When picking an artist, look through their work, make sure they're cool, crack some jokes and see what kind of music they like, cause you're gonna be hanging out with them for many hours lol. My main tattoo artist can't do faces, so he sent me to a lady that's been tattooing for like 35 years, 9 month waiting list, for 2 tattoos with faces that I wanted. Make sure they communicate with you. If it's your first time, tip your artist. If it's your 10th time, you should agree on an hourly rate and just go from there, buy them drinks or tee shirts or something instead of tipping. Make sure everyone knows what's up.

Good luck!!

 

[GravyBoat]

Idea: With the increase in people getting tattoos and tattoos slowly becoming mainstream, how about selling those wearable arm / leg tattoo sleeves? The current ones on the market have extremely limited designs and are not translucent enough. What if there's one that looks indiscernible to the eye?

All of the ones I've seen are dirt cheap from China, maybe someone could make a custom one like screen printing? Sell em for $20, $30? My other thought would be Henna, which is diiiirt cheap. Although you godda find an artist. I'd probably just post on Facebook and buy someone a case of beer or something for that.

 

[DannyD]

Yes, it has increased my entrepreneurial success by about 350%

 

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