Tattoos

[Gaith]

I've often thought that if I ever got a tattoo, it'd be something rebelliously non-rebellious, as in, either my initials or full name in a simple black on my right upper arm, maybe with my numerical birthdate (M.DD.YYYY) below.


Either that, or maybe a very simple rendition of the Starfleet arrow.

 

[Amaris]

I will eventually get a tattoo. It took forever for me to decide, but I figured out the one I wanted, and still want. See, that's something I have always worried about, was that I'd get a nice tattoo, then a few years later would want something different. Anyway, this is what I want (I've shown it before):

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Tattoos have been around practically since man developed any technology. They can be extremely beautiful or they can look worse that prison tats and entirely as a function of the artist employed to make them.

I have an appreciation for them since it's a historic part of my culture. However, you should read up and anticipate the issues of them.

Inks fade as they're absorbed by mircoscopic processes to eliminate the pigments in ink. That means though technology has advanced that those colorful tats might not stay that color.

There's increasing cause for concern about MRSA, a specialized kind of bacteria, that's everywhere and might cause an infection. Go to a reputable tattoo parlor and ask if anyone has had problems in their studio.

A huge portion of people regret their tats because they applied their then lovers' names to their bodies. Don't be tempted to do that.

Quite a few people have spent a small fortune to have laser tech remove their tats. Dermatologists love this as it helps pay their bills. That tattoo design that you spent so much money on, and that took a lot of times to fill in at the studio, might be in a place on your body that will be seen by your employers and customers. All of that might interfere with your occupation. Be prudent.

Believe it or not, there were monks and nuns who got tats as a sign of their faith when practically most of the people that were known to get tats were in the military or bikers.

 

[milojthatch]

I wonder how many who get tattoos would still do so if there was some way for the person to travel to the future and see what they look like with them in the last years of their life? I wonder...

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I intend to be above petty concerns about wrinkled skin in the last few years of my life.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Beat me to it. And with considerably greater pithiness.

I wonder how many who get tattoos would still do so if there was some way for the person to travel to the future and see what they look like with them in the last years of their life? I wonder...

I wonder whether you would have posted this question had you read the thread and noticed that it had already been discussed.
I said it before but I'll say it again -- this is the stupidest argument against tattooing that I've ever heard. In the future, do you know what my tattoos will look like? Old and wrinkly. Do you know what the un-tattooed parts of me will look like? Old and wrinkly. I'd be a pretty pathetic old lady if my biggest concern during the last years of my life was the fact that I didn't have perfect skin.

I liked the idea that everything is circle, the circle of life so to speak, and the triquetra symbolizes this. Furthermore, I liked it because it is a very old symbol that was already used by the old Germanic and Celtic people. That it survived until today makes it somehow powerful for me. And last but not least I think it's universal. For example, the Celts believed in the Great Mother. She was portrayed in various forms: As a child, a young mother and the wise, old grandmother. For the Christians it's the Lord, his son the the Holy Spirit. Both groups used the triquetra as a symbol. Somehow it always fits .

Cool! I love the learning about the history of symbols like that. I think my favorite example of cross-culture symbol adoption is the Ichthys, which for Christians is well-known as the Jesus fish, but for early pagans represented motherhood and fertility as not a fish, but a vulva. I find that hilarious.

Thank you! Yes, I really wanted that the tattoos complement each other and that the picture as a whole is consistent.

That's important to me too, which is why I'm having my bird reworked.

I also have a tattoo on my back:

This one I really like the most. I love the stained glass effect here, but as far as the second hummingbird goes, I would probably make it more like the first one so everything is balanced somehow. Then again you really seem to know what you're doing . Why did you choose a star?

Because it's pretty. It's cool when people choose tattoos for deep, meaningful reasons, but that's not for me. This star popped up on my Facebook feed and I thought it was beautiful, I tweaked the design and colors slightly and got it tattooed as a birthday present to myself the next day.

Awesome tattoos all. tsq already knows how I love hers

I've been thinking for quite a while about getting my first tattoo and what's mostly held me back is what it should be off. I then at long last came to think about Carl Sagan's speech about "the pale blue dot" that is our home. But i realized that just simple blue dot might be a bit boring. So I've thought that maybe something inspired by one of the photos from the Apollo missions of the Earth. I've always been fond of this: http://dennisgnosis.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/apollo-8-earth-rise1.jpg

So I've made it a goal that now that I'm making real progress with weight loss I've decided to go trough with it once I hit a certain weight. As a reward and a goal to my self. And knowing myself if I like it, which I think I will, I'll set another goal for the next one. I think that once I get started I'll keep going. Just have to keep them nice looking. Portraits and tribal symbols you'll never find on me.
​

I'm not much for portrait and tribal tats either. Tribal tats are awesome on members of the tribe, but it's just a bit too much cultural appropriation plus trendy dudebro nonsense on white people. I don't think I'd even get anything from my own tribe tattooed!
Sagan has also inspired me..."We are the custodians of life's meaning" is something I wouldn't mind tattooing, but I'm not sure if I want any more text tattoos, and if I did, I'd have trouble deciding between that and the last line of my favorite Shakespearian sonnet: Till my bad angel fire my good one out.

I will eventually get a tattoo. It took forever for me to decide, but I figured out the one I wanted, and still want. See, that's something I have always worried about, was that I'd get a nice tattoo, then a few years later would want something different. Anyway, this is what I want (I've shown it before):

Something's amiss! I cannot see the picture!

Here is the sketch I did today of my thoughts for my new hummingbird. I will also have the current bird tweaked to make them more similar. The idea was to incorporate the style of the star, and to make everything more cohesive. The old bird will be outlined in black, and the new on colored in to match the old one, but with the stained glass look of the star.
I'm sure the finished product won't be exactly like this, but this is the general idea:

 

[Robbiesan]

I've always thought it would artistic to tattoo muscle, bone, arteries, and nerves instead of just a drawing. Something along the lines of this.

By Juan Gatti

or this:

 

[thestrangequark]

^Well, there's this guy:

No matter one's opinion on it, one has to admit it's skillfully done.

 

[Amaris]

I will eventually get a tattoo. It took forever for me to decide, but I figured out the one I wanted, and still want. See, that's something I have always worried about, was that I'd get a nice tattoo, then a few years later would want something different. Anyway, this is what I want (I've shown it before):

Something's amiss! I cannot see the picture!

Odd. Here's a link to it instead: http://imageshack.com/a/img833/6751/b6fx.png

Here is the sketch I did today of my thoughts for my new hummingbird. I will also have the current bird tweaked to make them more similar. The idea was to incorporate the style of the star, and to make everything more cohesive. The old bird will be outlined in black, and the new on colored in to match the old one, but with the stained glass look of the star.
I'm sure the finished product won't be exactly like this, but this is the general idea:

Oh my, you can already tell it's going to be gorgeous.

 

[thestrangequark]

I will eventually get a tattoo. It took forever for me to decide, but I figured out the one I wanted, and still want. See, that's something I have always worried about, was that I'd get a nice tattoo, then a few years later would want something different. Anyway, this is what I want (I've shown it before):

Something's amiss! I cannot see the picture!

Odd. Here's a link to it instead: http://imageshack.com/a/img833/6751/b6fx.png

I KNEW IT!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

George Carlin had a good idea for a tattoo. Get it on the bottom of your foot. Have it read thus:

IF FOUND, PLEASE DROP IN NEAREST MAILBOX

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Tattoos have been around practically since man developed any technology. They can be extremely beautiful or they can look worse that prison tats and entirely as a function of the artist employed to make them.

I have an appreciation for them since it's a historic part of my culture. However, you should read up and anticipate the issues of them.

Inks fade as they're absorbed by mircoscopic processes to eliminate the pigments in ink. That means though technology has advanced that those colorful tats might not stay that color.

There's increasing cause for concern about MRSA, a specialized kind of bacteria, that's everywhere and might cause an infection. Go to a reputable tattoo parlor and ask if anyone has had problems in their studio.

A huge portion of people regret their tats because they applied their then lovers' names to their bodies. Don't be tempted to do that.

Quite a few people have spent a small fortune to have laser tech remove their tats. Dermatologists love this as it helps pay their bills. That tattoo design that you spent so much money on, and that took a lot of times to fill in at the studio, might be in a place on your body that will be seen by your employers and customers. All of that might interfere with your occupation. Be prudent.

Believe it or not, there were monks and nuns who got tats as a sign of their faith when practically most of the people that were known to get tats were in the military or bikers.

I wonder how many who get tattoos would still do so if there was some way for the person to travel to the future and see what they look like with them in the last years of their life? I wonder...

For future reference, since these kinds of posts have a habit of popping up unsolicited every time there is a tattoo thread:

Do not condescendingly assume that you are delivering vital warnings directly from the tattoo gods of the potential risks and issues involved with getting inked. We have a pretty smart bunch on this board in general, and chances are they did the necessary research themselves, consulted with many other experienced people, and found a reputable artist who would take care to avoid and/or inform them of any potential issues beforehand. If someone asks for advice, as many people do in this forum, then by all means inform away. But coming into a thread full of many clearly experienced tattooees and talking down to them or informing them of the dangers like a forced After School Special as if this is their first rodeo is bad form.

You guys didn't do this, but since it's pretty much inevitable in these types of threads (going by past examples)... Do not come into the thread to inform everyone how unattractive you find tattoos or what a negative impression of the person they give you. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and if the subject matter was "How do you feel about tattoos?" giving your opinion would be welcome, but you should have the tact to bite your tongue when the thread is about people sharing their own tattoos, which can often (but not always) be a very personal thing to have applied and is often difficult to share with others online depending on the shyness of the person in question.

So tread lightly and consider whether you might be insulting or talking down to someone even if your words are well-meaning in nature from your standpoint.

 

[Robbiesan]

For future reference, since these kinds of posts have a habit of popping up unsolicited every time there is a tattoo thread:

Do not condescendingly assume that you are delivering vital warnings directly from the tattoo gods of the potential risks and issues involved with getting inked. We have a pretty smart bunch on this board in general, and chances are they did the necessary research themselves, consulted with many other experienced people, and found a reputable artist who would take care to avoid and/or inform them of any potential issues beforehand. If someone asks for advice, as many people do in this forum, then by all means inform away. But coming into a thread full of many clearly experienced tattooees and talking down to them or informing them of the dangers like a forced After School Special as if this is their first rodeo is bad form.

You guys didn't do this, but since it's pretty much inevitable in these types of threads (going by past examples)... Do not come into the thread to inform everyone how unattractive you find tattoos or what a negative impression of the person they give you. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and if the subject matter was "How do you feel about tattoos?" giving your opinion would be welcome, but you should have the tact to bite your tongue when the thread is about people sharing their own tattoos, which can often (but not always) be a very personal thing to have applied and is often difficult to share with others online depending on the shyness of the person in question.

So tread lightly and consider whether you might be insulting or talking down to someone even if your words are well-meaning in nature from your standpoint.

How judgemental. Obviously you didn't read my second post on an anatomical tattoo.

The take away point. Consult this poster and follow his/her rules as they know what's right and wrong. LMAO.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I've always planned on getting a tattoo someday but my weight has fluctuated a lot over the past 10 years. I went from being overweight to being intensely thin to overweight again then finally just to average. So until that is somewhat finalized, I am hesitant. I figure if it still fluctuates more in my lifetime, there is always the option of getting it in a place that doesn't tend to matter as much (wrists, ankles) however I have a phobia of anything touching my veins. The needle to get the tattoo I know logically would not penetrate my veins, but considering I won't let any doctor do bloodwork on me ever and the one time he did I passed out and had a panic attack...I don't think it's an option.

Anywho once I am certain my weight is somewhat at a standstill, I will try to get:

1. Bright blue lotus flower.
I want a really intense blue/turquoise color. I have seen a variety of these. Some are full of bright color and some are dull. I want to make sure I get one that is vibrant.

Something maybe like this but I would design it myself and add something unique to it:

Example:

2. Irish claddagh symbol on top of a clover modeled after a necklace have.

I'm wearing the necklace here but it's hard to see:

I have been thinking of maybe getting a tasteful tattoo that connects to something I really love such as Harry Potter or something celestial/space-related but am unsure what I could get that I wouldn't get tired of.

Cool tattoos everyone! My uncle just got his first tattoo after waiting like 40 something years. It's a crazy looking two headed dragon on his leg. He loves it!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

How judgemental. Obviously you didn't read my second post on an anatomical tattoo.

The take away point. Consult this poster and follow his/her rules as they know what's right and wrong. LMAO.

I read it, and the part in your first post about it being part of your cultural history. Which is why I made sure to say "You guys didn't do this" before the second portion of my post about expressing one's negative feelings about tattoos. Perhaps you should check what you're responding to yourself before condescendingly (a recurring issue with your posts around the board, from what I've seen) assuming your post was not read.

You undoubtedly did the thing the first part of my admonishment was about, and since I am a moderator in this forum, and since this is unfortunately a recurring problem in the annual tattoo threads which I am seeking to nip in the bud before it gets out of hand here, yeah, you're damn right you should listen to what I'm saying. If you don't like it, you are more than welcome to take it up with me or take it further up the ladder via PM, but you are not to argue about it in the thread.

 

[Robbiesan]

http://malaghadotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/water-lily-flower.jpg
(Since the image is too big to follow Terms of Service)
Do you like this? I live near a small lake that's still enough for water lillies. You might like some of the many patterns in which they can take on through various species.

Nothing could be more normal that getting a tattoo. People have been getting tattoos since the earliest cultures of humanity...even prior to the cultivation of the soil. Marking ourself by art can be a way of marking not only individuality but also a turning point, a milestone in effect.

PS to the mod. Since I can't pm as you well know, my ancestry is Japanese and the yakuza were known for their colorful tattoos. What a huge overreaction.

 

[thestrangequark]

How judgemental. Obviously you didn't read my second post on an anatomical tattoo.

The take away point. Consult this poster and follow his/her rules as they know what's right and wrong. LMAO.

No, Locutus wasn't being judgemental, he was absolutely right. Though you may not have intended it to be, what you posted came off as rather condescending, because everything you wrote is common knowledge, especially among anyone with more than a couple functioning neurons who plans to get inked. Do you see how it could be read as a bit patronizing? Like he said, if people asked for advice, then it would have been appropriate.

I think the rest of it (about not saying potentially hurtful things about people's body art) was clearly directed at someone else, not you. Obviously, I'm not one it be shy or offended by anyone's opinions of my tattoos. If other people's opinions on tattoos mattered to me I wouldn't have gotten any. However, it's still not right to come into a thread that has an obviously celebratory nature and give the old "You'll regret it when you're older" line, so it was appropriate for Locutus to caution against that as well. This is intended to be a fun and friendly thread. I want to see more pictures, and no one is going to post photos of their tats if they expect to draw ridicule.

Anywho once I am certain my weight is somewhat at a standstill, I will try to get:

1. Bright blue lotus flower.
I want a really intense blue/turquoise color. I have seen a variety of these. Some are full of bright color and some are dull. I want to make sure I get one that is vibrant.

Something maybe like this but I would design it myself and add something unique to it:

Example:

2. Irish claddagh symbol on top of a clover modeled after a necklace have.

I'm wearing the necklace here but it's hard to see:

Beautiful! Though I'd love to see a better picture of the second design!
There are other places you might consider that aren't affected much by weight fluctuation (I also fluctuate a little in weight...15lbs up and down), and I also want to have a baby someday, so the belly is definitely out. The shoulder and upper back are good places where weight changes wouldn't be an issue, and unless the weight change is super extreme and fast, the upper arm would probably be good too.

I have been thinking of maybe getting a tasteful tattoo that connects to something I really love such as Harry Potter or something celestial/space-related but am unsure what I could get that I wouldn't get tired of.

I've considered some kind of stealth Doctor Who tatt myself!

 

[thestrangequark]

http://malaghadotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/water-lily-flower.jpg
(Since the image is too big to follow Terms of Service)
Do you like this? I live near a small lake that's still enough for water lillies. You might like some of the many patterns in which they can take on through various species.

Nothing could be more normal that getting a tattoo. People have been getting tattoos since the earliest cultures of humanity...even prior to the cultivation of the soil. Marking ourself by art can be a way of marking not only individuality but also a turning point, a milestone in effect.

I think it can also be a therapeutic thing. I only realized recently how therapeutic my own tattoos have been. I think for a lot of people (especially women), tattooing can be about having control over one's own body. Like many women, I've had control over my own body taken away (in more than one way), tattooing gave me back the power I'd lost. I think the prime example of this is women who have mastectomy tattoos. They're beautiful things, those!

 

[Robbiesan]

A good tattoo artist can probably get the color gradients that are seen in the water lilly picture. A lot of tattoos don't look as artistic since there isn't much of a natural change in the shades, more outlines. It's what you want that's important and what speaks to you.

Good for you because it's a fear you're facing as well as doing something artistic.

I'm fearful of heights, but I intentionally have rock climbed much of my life. Embrace your fears.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I take it that was directed at Captain Katherine, and not me?