Tattoos

[OptimusPrime]

So you're going to be spending 56% of your income on a car payment? Responsible (I said responsible) people don't pay that for a house.

Do what you want, but I was in the exact same place 15 years ago you are in now. Bought a car when I should have used the money for better things. Got a tat with the exact design I thought about for 3 years. And it's of my favorite cartoon also. I wish I hadn't. Luckily the artist talked me into putting it higher up on my arm so it's covered mostly. (Of course it was to leave room for all the other tats I was going to get ) Luckily, it's only 2"x4" and it's faded on it's own so apparently for $1000, I can get it removed "mostly". I'd rather have a bass or a new amp for the $1000.

Good luck.

I paid $280 a month for my piece of **** Acura. I got it from a buy here, pay here place, so it was only for like a year.

 

[NS2A]

I paid $280 a month for my piece of **** Acura. I got it from a buy here, pay here place, so it was only for like a year.

Sure. And a few years ago, the bank wanted to loan me enough money that it'd take 65% of my income to buy a house. They'd do it, but it doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I can tell from your posts your mind is made up. So if I'm right, good luck and I hope things work out for you. But you ask for opinions, yet seem to argue with those offering a differing view.

Take care.

 

[Unrepresented]

I paid $280 a month for my piece of **** Acura. I got it from a buy here, pay here place, so it was only for like a year.

The point he's trying to make is not that you can't devote the majority of your income to automotive conspicuous consumption, but that you shouldn't.

Do you have money for college? Saved up enough to find a place of your own? Life will be coming at you fast in the next few years, you'll want to be able to deal with it.

BTW the fact that an internet message board talked you out of half your tattoo choices in a handful of posts suggests you're really not that solid on a choice yet. It's permanent. Not just today, but when you're 40. That permanent. Children's cartoons on a 40 year old will make you look like a child molester or someone emotionally stunted. Either way, not a good look.

 

[NS2A]

Children's cartoons on a 40 year old will make you look like a child molester or someone emotionally stunted. Either way, not a good look.

I wish I'd have talked to you before I got mine!

Seriously.

 

[Unrepresented]

I wish I'd have talked to you before I got mine!

Seriously.

I'm here for sage advice on the occasions that it fits in conveniently with talking trash.

 

[OptimusPrime]

The point he's trying to make is not that you can't devote the majority of your income to automotive conspicuous consumption, but that you shouldn't.

Do you have money for college? Saved up enough to find a place of your own? Life will be coming at you fast in the next few years, you'll want to be able to deal with it.

BTW the fact that an internet message board talked you out of half your tattoo choices in a handful of posts suggests you're really not that solid on a choice yet. It's permanent. Not just today, but when you're 40. That permanent. Children's cartoons on a 40 year old will make you look like a child molester or someone emotionally stunted. Either way, not a good look.

I know I shouldn't. But I wish I had a nicer car. Thinking about just getting a Civic. Never been much for those cars. But I know they're cheap, reliable, easy to fix, parts are everywhere, and I can trick the **** out of it if I want. Turbo, cold air intake, exhaust, more gauges that I know what to do with and 2 12"s in the trunk.

I have scholarships. Thinking about going down to Key West for college. A good friend of mine just got back from registering for all his classes. I've always known I have to go to college, but never wanted to. Seeing him so psyched has really inspired me to go.

In 40 years, no one will know what the Transformers were.

 

[warwick.hoy]

I know I shouldn't. But I wish I had a nicer car. Thinking about just getting a Civic. Never been much for those cars. But I know they're cheap, reliable, easy to fix, parts are everywhere, and I can trick the **** out of it if I want. Turbo, cold air intake, exhaust, more gauges that I know what to do with and 2 12"s in the trunk.

I have scholarships. Thinking about going down to Key West for college. A good friend of mine just got back from registering for all his classes. I've always known I have to go to college, but never wanted to. Seeing him so psyched has really inspired me to go.

In 40 years, no one will know what the Transformers were.

I realize we are veering off topic and it says If "I want to" in your post, but let me slap you in the head with some reality here. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but just think about it for a moment.

You are still wanting to waste your money. Trying to add all these extra parts to a car just adds to the maintenance hassles of car ownership. It's transportation not an expression of who you are. I know car culture magazines, movies and television are telling you differently but think for yourself for a moment....it's a crock of ****

I can't recall the number of Civics (and other 4 bangers) I see rolling on lowered suspensions with damaged body work. Poorly applied ground effects that are literally falling off the car. Fancy intakes, oversized exhausts and fart can mufflers that can't pass emissions and won't be waived because of those modifications. (YMMV in your area)

Don't give the cops any reason to pull you over. Tons of stickers, loud exhaust, bumpin systems, lowered vehicles (most cities have a legal limit that you can't go below),...flashy cars in general just attract way to much attention.

The nice tuner cars that you do see have almost twice the value of the actual car invested in parts. They aren't daily drivers, they are trailer queens, show cars and race cars. Their owners have coin; in a lot of cases from their educations, and nothing better to spend it on. If they don't have coin from educations, they have coin because they own a tuner shop, and these cars are showcases of what they can do.

 

[popinfresh]

I realize we are veering off topic and it says If "I want to" in your post, but let me slap you in the head with some reality here. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but just think about it for a moment.

You are still wanting to waste your money. Trying to add all these extra parts to a car just adds to the maintenance hassles of car ownership. It's transportation not an expression of who you are. I know car culture magazines, movies and television are telling you differently but think for yourself for a moment....it's a crock of ****

I can't recall the number of Civics (and other 4 bangers) I see rolling on lowered suspensions with damaged body work. Poorly applied ground effects that are literally falling off the car. Fancy intakes, oversized exhausts and fart can mufflers that can't pass emissions and won't be waived because of those modifications. (YMMV in your area)

Don't give the cops any reason to pull you over. Tons of stickers, loud exhaust, bumpin systems, lowered vehicles (most cities have a legal limit that you can't go below),...flashy cars in general just attract way to much attention.

The nice tuner cars that you do see have almost twice the value of the actual car invested in parts. They aren't daily drivers, they are trailer queens, show cars and race cars. Their owners have coin; in a lot of cases from their educations, and nothing better to spend it on. If they don't have coin from educations, they have coin because they own a tuner shop, and these cars are showcases of what they can do.

Eh the kid might have a general interest in cars. I've sunk a LOT of money into my cars and don't regret it one bit.
Someone could easily say 'spending thousands and thousands on bass gear is ridiculous. No one else in the crowd even notices the tone and people just think you're a wank if you have all this top end gear yet not even in a pro band. Your tone isn't an expression of who you are, that's a crock.' etc etc

Not that I agree with it, but cars and music are both a passion of mine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the OP was a car enthusiast and made a similar post on a car forum and he mentioned spending money on his bass gear, everyone would tell him that's a waste and he only needs a TKO and Squier.

 

[7StringBassist]

Im going to say this and this is my Honest Opinion

Sometimes tattoos while dumb hold very good memories sometimes its not the ink its the time and memories behind them

 

[MatticusMania]

My vote is still for autobot reassignment surgery.

 

[warwick.hoy]

Eh the kid might have a general interest in cars. I've sunk a LOT of money into my cars and don't regret it one bit.
Someone could easily say 'spending thousands and thousands on bass gear is ridiculous. No one else in the crowd even notices the tone and people just think you're a wank if you have all this top end gear yet not even in a pro band. Your tone isn't an expression of who you are, that's a crock.'

Not that I agree with it, but cars and music are both a passion of mine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the OP was a car enthusiast and made a similar post on a car forum and he mentioned spending money on his bass gear, everyone would tell him that's a waste and he only needs a TKO and Squier.

I see your flipside Poppin, but I think car enthusiasm has lot less payoff then bass enthusiasm. I too sunk a bit of money into vehicles when I was young and have nothing to show for it. I was into the mini truckin thing and now,...I don't even own a car.

It's not a regret thing, but the money could have been spent or saved a little more wisely. I could at least get a little more than half what I paid for my bass I bought 10 years ago for $1500. Unless mommy and daddy buys you that stuff, most kids his age don't enjoy such things. I wish I had an Acura at his age,...I had a beat down gas guzzling 10 year old S-10 Blazer, before that was a nearly 20 year old Datsun PUP, that I wanted to "tune". Anything I tried to do to it (lowering, exhuast) just destroyed it further.

I still stand by my statement that the car tuner culture is a farce. It looks very glamorous on the outside, but in reality those cars are a lot of smoke and mirrors. It takes a lot of money to build cars to reach magazine centerfold potential (as it does to create tattoos that reach magazine potential) and the reality of the situation is that most attempts (at least for cars) fail,...miserably.

You need no more evidence than to take a drive around town and count the number of poorly executed "tuner" cars that you see. At least in my town they far out number the show quality and decent daily driver ones. I shake my head at least a dozen times a day and see maybe one car and go,...nice job maybe once a week.

The guys with the bumpin systems,...hope you keep a doberman in your car at night,...people in this town are so hard up for their drugs they are robbing pharmacies of their oxycontin. Don't think for a second they won't think twice about breaking into your car and stealing your subs,...again YMMV.

For Optimus' sake I think we are trying to get him to see the adult perspective, perhaps to reinforce what his parents have already, hopefully told him. We were all teens once and we all thought we new everything, but alas we were wrong weren't we. I think the biggest revelation came for me when I acknowledged that I knew nothing.

EDIT: I think what we are trying to say is focus on education and growing up, then worry about the AMG Mercedes, and 65' Jazz Bass and Tattoos when you can actually afford them.

 

[Ziltoid]

Quick question , I'm only 16 and know nothing so this will not be taken seriously.

Why are you trying to convince the others while it's something on your body, that my last for your life. You don't seem to be convinced yourself...
IMHO

but then again im only 16, what do i know...

 

[7StringBassist]

I think cars unless its a classic is not worth it at all, the depreciation alone keeps me away I could get a very reliable car for less then 4k

 

[warwick.hoy]

Quick question , I'm only 16 and know nothing so this will not be taken seriously.

Why are you trying to convince the others while it's something on your body, that my last for your life. You don't seem to be convinced yourself...
IMHO

but then again im only 16, what do i know...

I consider this to be a very grown up observation, but a point that has been touched on at least once in this thread (no offense).

 

[NS2A]

Quick question , I'm only 16 and know nothing so this will not be taken seriously.

Why are you trying to convince the others while it's something on your body, that my last for your life. You don't seem to be convinced yourself...
IMHO

but then again im only 16, what do i know...

Because he asked for opinions on a public message board.

 

[Ziltoid]

I consider this to be a very grown up observation, but a point that has been touched on at least once in this thread (no offense).

Call me lazy, i didn't read the whole thing

Because he asked for opinions on a public message board.

I just said he didn't looked convinced himself.

 

[warwick.hoy]

Because he asked for opinions on a public message board.

I think the point he is trying to make is that if he has to ask for other people's opinions then they probably aren't good tattoo decisions.

A tat is going to pop out and say,...you want me on your body for the rest of your life. If you are on the fence about it,...then don't get it.

 

[popinfresh]

I see your flipside Poppin, but I think car enthusiasm has lot less payoff then bass enthusiasm. I too sunk a bit of money into vehicles when I was young and have nothing to show for it. I was into the mini truckin thing and now,...I don't even own a car.

It's not a regret thing, but the money could have been spent or saved a little more wisely. I could at least get a little more than half what I paid for my bass I bought 10 years ago for $1500. Unless mommy and daddy buys you that stuff, most kids his age don't enjoy such things. I wish I had an Acura at his age,...I had a beat down gas guzzling 10 year old S-10 Blazer, before that was a nearly 20 year old Datsun PUP, that I wanted to "tune". Anything I tried to do to it (lowering, exhuast) just destroyed it further.

I still stand by my statement that the car tuner culture is a farce. It looks very glamorous on the outside, but in reality those cars are a lot of smoke and mirrors. It takes a lot of money to build cars to reach magazine centerfold potential (as it does to create tattoos that reach magazine potential) and the reality of the situation is that most attempts (at least for cars) fail,...miserably.

You need no more evidence than to take a drive around town and count the number of poorly executed "tuner" cars that you see. At least in my town they far out number the show quality and decent daily driver ones. I shake my head at least a dozen times a day and see maybe one car and go,...nice job maybe once a week.

The guys with the bumpin systems,...hope you keep a doberman in your car at night,...people in this town are so hard up for their drugs they are robbing pharmacies of their oxycontin. Don't think for a second they won't think twice about breaking into your car and stealing your subs,...again YMMV.

For Optimus' sake I think we are trying to get him to see the adult perspective, perhaps to reinforce what his parents have already, hopefully told him. We were all teens once and we all thought we new everything, but alas we were wrong weren't we. I think the biggest revelation came for me when I acknowledged that I knew nothing.

EDIT: I think what we are trying to say is focus on education and growing up, then worry about the AMG Mercedes, and 65' Jazz Bass and Tattoos when you can actually afford them.

Definitely see your points, I'm into classics (the newest car i've owned and put money into is a 74, I owned an '86 panel van that I did a lot of work to, but still kept in mind it's daily driver properties, actually made money off it because I did it smart) which don't depreciate in value, and generally have money spent on them for enjoyment/restoration and not just big gauges and neon lights.

For me there's no feeling like driving behind a big SC 351C in a classic. The sound, feeling and power is incredible. It's much like being on stage and just going at it, very satisfying.

I don't care for trailer queens at all. Only ones that are significant engineering feats, complete originals or true artistic expressions, and that's not many of them. I think there's too many people with lots of money and no creative idea or understanding.

Much like the music scene.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I like the plain black too. I don't know why. But really bright colors just don't appeal to me. I live in Florida. And I like to spend time outside and go to the beach. Needless to say, I get really tan. Like really dark. The colors would fade.

A friend of mine suggested a shop. He knows the owner and has spent quite a bit of time around there. I guess they charge $100 an hour. Is that about right? I talked to him for a couple hours about what I wanted. When I told him about the SSSC logo, he was like "damn, that's so you". Really, really liked the idea. Offered to come hang out while I get it done. So I'm kinda psyched now. Going to try and get an appointment next Wednesday. He says it shouldn't take longer than that to get me in.

Thats a bit quick to get in there, but I digress.

And as has been said, black will fade aswell, to a nice blue/green (think about it, black pigments are absorbing all the light in the visible spectrum, granted, that isnt all there is to it, but still!)

 

[warwick.hoy]

^^^Wow, didn't catch the quoted text before^^^

Most artists will tell you that sun is bad for tattoos. So let that influence your decision a little more.

Also: read this FAQ

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