Tattoos - Your Stories

[backstept]

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo, but before I start to seriously consider it I'd like to hear from some strangers on the internets.
Do you have any tattoos?
What did you get?
What does it mean to you?
Any advice for someone considering getting one?



Thanks

 

[Jadzia]

I have no tattoos; I find them unattractive.

 

[infinix]

sorry, tattoos aren't my thing either. There really isn't anything I feel strongly enough about to put on my body permanently.

 

[backstept]

I've seen some that are absolutely hideous.
Being an artist, I would not let that happen.

 

[1001001]

Our fraternity has a tradition that when you get initiated, you get our letters tatooed on your ankle.

I was quite impressed with the place I went to. It was very sterile and professional. They did not accept walk-ins, you had to make an appointment. They opened the needles in front of me so I could see they were new. It took about 30 minutes.

Because it is right on the bone above the ankle, it was not exactly painless, but it wasn't too bad.

I don't regret it, but I'd suggest shopping around a little and going to a real shop.

 

[Sean Aaron]

I have five with plans to get at least two and possibly three more. Four of them are orcas, an animal I have a great deal of respect for and think looks terrific scratched into my flesh; the fifth is my daughter's name in Hebrew, which has pretty obvious meaning.

My advice would be to be sure it's something you really want that means something to you because it's going to hurt and not be easily removed. And don't let any yahoo do your work: check out their photo book and see if there's anything along the lines of what you're looking for and if you like their style. I was on holiday in Toronto and thinking of getting something done, but the guy in the shop didn't even know what an orca was and wouldn't attempt to draw it without a reference photo - that was the end of that!

 

[Myasishchev]

the fifth is my daughter's name in Hebrew, which has pretty obvious meaning.

A tattoo in Hebrew?

Anyway, no tattoos, although I've considered a hammer and sickle on and off for years.

 

[thestrangequark]

I have two. I got the first as a teenager, a treble clef on my left arm. The second I got in my early 20's, a hummingbird of my own design. For years I've been aching for another, and as soon as I can afford it I plan to get a 1/4 sleeve on my left upper arm of bubble chamber images, done in a bright teal blue. I want to have the same done on my right ankle and foot.

My advice would be to carefully research the artist.

 

[Sean Aaron]

the fifth is my daughter's name in Hebrew, which has pretty obvious meaning.

A tattoo in Hebrew?

Indeed. Apparently tattooing has become rather popular in Israel in the past few years.

My next tat will be a Chai over the left breast.

 

[Kelso]

I have a tattoo of a bold E on my chest with a star above it (my little girl's name is Emily).

I got the E and the star on separate occasions at different places. Both experiences were very positive.

 

[JayOwl]

I don't know.. personally I dislike tatoos. Discreet, artistic ones are nice enough, but it's not my style, especially seeing that they're almost always permenant.
Not to offend anyone with tatoos. It's a personal choice, as long as there aren't too many.

 

[Sephiroth]

no ink yet but i'd like to do something like Scar's right arm of destruction from FMA

 

[Captain_Nick]

before I start to seriously consider it I'd like to hear from some strangers on the internets. Good call
Do you have any tattoos? Bad call, terrible call, no way call
Any advice for someone considering getting one? Don't

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I have a Trek tatt planned but I doubt I will ever get it. I'm thinking of having my idea made into a piece of jewelery first, or instead. I just need to find a silversmith who can make me what I want. I've thought about a tatt for so many years that I've come to realize I'm attached to my un-inked skin.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Personally, I like tattoos. As with everything, they can be done well, or they can be done bad. Done well, they are very beautiful. Done bad, they are just terrible. Just be sure you get it done well in a legitimate shop, and you will be good.

For years I've been aching for another, and as soon as I can afford it I plan to get a 1/4 sleeve on my left upper arm of bubble chamber images, done in a bright teal blue. I want to have the same done on my right ankle and foot.

Ok, this is just too awesome to contemplate.

I have been thinking about getting one for the longest time, but I never got around to actually, you know, doing it. A shame, really: contrary to my inner conviction, procrastination is not always a good thing.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I have four of them

1st one is the profile of a tank above a snarling dog's head dedicated to my tank platoon "The Dogs of War"

2nd One I got in Iraq behind a M88 maintenance recovery vehicle. The mechanic did it with ink and a needle wrapped in string. I call it my "prison tatoo"

3rd one is the front of a tank with "777" underneath it - my score on Tank Table VIII

4th One is of the Enterprise E with the words "Boldly Go" around it.

 

[backstept]

For years I've been aching for another, and as soon as I can afford it I plan to get a 1/4 sleeve on my left upper arm of bubble chamber images, done in a bright teal blue. I want to have the same done on my right ankle and foot.

excellent!
you've inspired me to add that into my design
which is this:

it's based on Sam Anders' tattoo in BSG, but changed the circle to a beak, and added the Hydrogen Line Diagram from the pioneer placque, and the binary script on the top of the wing reads 'GLORYTOGOD'
it's a representation of an eagle which is of course freedom , my belief in God, and my love of science

this would be an upper arm tattoo, just slightly larger than my hand . . . so pretty big
incidentally roughly 21cm tip to tail

 

[Myasishchev]

Facts inferred from this photograph: you have a great haircut.

Indeed. Apparently tattooing has become rather popular in Israel in the past few years.

Sounds cool to me too. I was just sayin'.

 

[CaptainStoner]

^^ tattoo blue birds on his chest,
early in the mornin'...

I only have a few. I have several close friends who are artists though.

You want to find an artist that can really match an image's flow to the body. Make sure the design has good layers of meaning for you, meaning which will not change or be diluted over time.

 

[Mr. B]

I don't have any tattoos and I have a very low opinion of them. I've offended people with my views on the subject in previous threads so I'll just offer the following:

Imagine you drew a picture on your body ten years ago. What would you have picked? Would you still like it? Probably not.

It doesn't make much sense to do something so permanent when your taste and maturity will keep evolving for the rest of your life.