When tattoos make you look ridiculous

[bacehead]

Theres a difference prisoners, bikers, gangbangers etc.... usually have different tattoos with sinister meanings. They represent something totally different than your average persons tattoos and if you havent been sheltered all your life you can pick some of these out........... just think before you get it.
I have 3/4 sleeves, sides, back, chest.....hell my whole upper body except neck, 1/2 forearms and hands....... i dont cover them and have had no problems with getting jobs, holding jobs or experienced any prejudice ...........I have more people ask to see them all rather than being expelled.

just 2 cnts

 

[MikeBass]

Mine can be covered by my shirt except for the "fish" (Christianity symbol) that is 4 1/2" on my left forearm.

I also have 3 earrings and may be getting some more ink.
The furthest down I'll really go is just a bit above my elbow.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

i personaly believe that body modifications (tattoos, piercings etc...) have been and will allways bee a sign of belonging...

having them declares your belonging to either a tribe, a god, a culture, a fashion... whatever... either knowing it or from ignorance thats what you show when you tattoo, to others or to yourself.

I dont feel like belonging to anything at all, therefore i dont even consider modding my body. And if one day I feel that belonging (is this word ok? english isnt my mother tongue) i seriusly doubt I would choose to show it in such a explicit way.

this said, I believe in respect.

 

[CDRhom]

I'm not sure how professional you are thinking. I'm a senior software engineer for a mid sized company and I have a conservative tattoo of a bass clef on my right hand. Generally it's just a good conversation starter at work, or when I'm out somewhere.

New Coworker: "Let me guess, you play music?"
Me: "Yes. Can you guess what I play?"
New Coworker: "Ummmm Bass?"

 

[MikeBass]

I'm not sure how professional you are thinking. I'm a senior software engineer for a mid sized company and I have a conservative tattoo of a bass clef on my right hand. Generally it's just a good conversation starter at work, or when I'm out somewhere.

New Coworker: "Let me guess, you play music?"
Me: "Yes. Can you guess what I play?"
New Coworker: "Ummmm Bass?"

I've been in my industry for roughly 12 years.
I have a pretty solid rep as well.

I've walked in to meetings where everyone knew me with my old boss, who told me to strickly wear "business casual at the very least".
So on went some nice khaki slacks, a nice "polo" shirt etc.....walked in and the guys in the meeting literally, in front of my boss railed my for looking "so professional". One higher up engineer told me he didn't know if he could take me seriously like that.

Needless to say my boss told me to dress down to where they were comfortable with and keep up the good relationships that I have made.

Just for the record, always nice "trendy" (if you will) jeans, cool shoes and a nice shirt (tee from like Guess or Express or something like that).

Today, black v-neck tee (Calvin Klein), jeans from Ambercrombie, Sketchers.
Casual.
And no one says a thing anymore.

 

[Chebass88]

As far as I am aware, no one ever lost a respectable, high paying job for NOT having tattoos or piercings. As long as there is even the slightest negative perception of tattoos in professional / business culture, it isn't something I will get. Sure, they are more accepted today, but what happens when you come across one person critical to your career growth who doesn't approve?

When in doubt, you can always bet that acting conservatively will not harm you.

ian

 

[totallyfrozen]

Like 'em or not, stereotypes are ubiquitous. Tattoos will affect your ability to either get jobs or advance in jobs in many cases, especially the most desirable jobs. While they have gained greater acceptance in recent years, there are still many of us old farts out here that see them as an emblem of lower social status. While they don't automatically mean you are lower than someone else on the social ladder, it's something you share in common with every prisoner, biker and gang banger. That's an association I prefer not to have made about me. I knew that even when I was a Marine, drunk, downtown, with my buddies who were all getting tattoos.

In my company, I don't care if people have tattoos as long as they're not a distraction. For instance, I wouldn't have a front-desk receptionist who had full sleeves sitting there in a tank top. The tats would have to be covered.

+100
I do think the exception is military tatoos. I mean tatoos that indicate your Unit or your job (not just a tatoo you got while IN the military). The reason is that military service is respected--even in the legal and medical fields and those "high class" white collar careers. Even so, I think that unless a person is intentionally going for the Punk, renegade biker, or gangsta look tats should be kept to a minimum. I'm not an old fart and tats were in style when I was younger too, but the neck tats and the full-sleeve tats just look pretty low-class. IMO, the bottom line is: If you can't cover them in a t-shirt and running shorts, then you either have too many or they're in the wrong place. That's just my 2 cents on it. If I was looking to hire someone, a tatoo might be a turn off.

 

[totallyfrozen]

@MikeBass,
That all depends more on your firm than "the industry" itself. I've wokred for a very reputable and very large engineering firm and did contract work for a very large oil company (who currently has a large mess to clean up in The Gulf) and those companies didn't tolerate jeans in the work place. They had "t-shirt fridays" a few times a year but otherwise, you had to wear a shirt with a collar and buttons. Tatoos and piercings may not have prevented some designers and engineers from being hired, but from what I saw those were the FIRST people to be laid-off when times got tough. I think you did the right thing. I'd rather show up overdressed and be told to dress down than to show up to a business meeting looking like an ex-con. IMHO, hide the tats, leave the piercings at home, wear slacks and button down shirts and you'll usually be comfortable in a "white collar" environment.

 

[MikeBass]

@MikeBass,
That all depends more on your firm than "the industry" itself. I've wokred for a very reputable and very large engineering firm and did contract work for a very large oil company (who currently has a large mess to clean up in The Gulf) and those companies didn't tolerate jeans in the work place. They had "t-shirt fridays" a few times a year but otherwise, you had to wear a shirt with a collar and buttons. Tatoos and piercings may not have prevented some designers and engineers from being hired, but from what I saw those were the FIRST people to be laid-off when times got tough. I think you did the right thing. I'd rather show up overdressed and be told to dress down than to show up to a business meeting looking like an ex-con. IMHO, hide the tats, leave the piercings at home, wear slacks and button down shirts and you'll usually be comfortable in a "white collar" environment.

Well, I've been with multiple companies in the recent years, all based on my reputation, so they know what they're getting.
Plus they have all been really casual work environments.

I look far from an ex-con. I was having these weekly meetings with Ford going on for almost a year when he decided to "join" me for one.

I'm comfortable in a "white collar" environment. Like I said, as a designer, people know who I am. And when I'm contracted out, they know who they are getting.
Don't get me wrong, I dress appropriately when needed to match an environment. I'm not Mr. "I am who I am so screw you if you don't like it". Not that at all.

But my return customers have joked in the past about how casual and easy going I am. And present a relaxed attitude that they are confident in.

The tatts get covered when needed and the earrings come out as well.

I made it thru two rounds of big lay-offs at on place last year (ABB if you care to know). I started there in Sept. Lay-off started just before Christmas.
Guys who were direct employee's and had YEARS in there as well as other contract employee's with year's in were let go before me.

I'm solid at what I do. And that's why I get hired.
My work speaks more than my appearance.

Dress very close to this today:

Or like this (minus the holes in the jeans and no shoes!)

Not like an ex-con......

 

[totallyfrozen]

Not necessarily. Money talks. If the producer/director of a show believes that having her in a show will actually draw in a bigger, younger audience and make the show more of a financial success, they'll do it...

Yeah, notice you said, "A show" (singular) whereas the complaint was that it will impede her "opportunities" (plural). So it still stands.

While she may get a good gig (based on your senario)...EVERY gig that could come her way won't fit the situation you describe. She will lose opportunities because of the sleeve.

If you DON'T have a tat and a show producer or director needs one, they can give you fake tats for the show. If you have a tat and they DON'T want one, it's harder to hide it.

 

[bacehead]

IN ALL....................do what you want

 

[TheVoiceless]

I don't have tattoos...yet.

I was watching the movie The Promotion, (spoiler alert). In one of the scenes, there is some kind of company retreat. They make a circle and make them put a paper bag on their heads.

Then the host says remove something you don't need. So everybody removes the bag but 1 of the guys. Instead he starts taking off his clothes one by one, until is time for his shirt.

He takes off his shirt and there is a big tattoo of Kiss, right on his chest. Everybody starts laughing. Apparently they guy had his Harley days.

So I ask, anybody out there that works in an office (clarify, not a music job or being a musician per se), a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, etc, any "office" job, that feels awkward by having a tattoo.

I was thinking of getting a tattoo, but at some point I don't want a tattoo crawling out my shirt during a presentation. Would people think hey he is the cool guy, or hey stay away from that guy.

I know it's all stereotypes. Like during my high school years, only cause I liked marilyn manson, people thought I did drugs. I didnt, I just liked the music.

What do you think people you work with, say of your tattoos:

a) You don't care what they say.
b) People think you are cool...including your boss
c) People think you are shady, and they try to stay away from you

First off you should not ever get a tattoo if you care what others will think. When you get to the point where you ONLY care what you think, then start looking.

 

[Jim Campbell]

IN ALL....................do what you want

of course,but if what you want now makes life more difficult later,man up and don't cry discrimination.......

 

[emor]

i personaly believe that body modifications (tattoos, piercings etc...) have been and will allways bee a sign of belonging...

having them declares your belonging to either a tribe, a god, a culture, a fashion... whatever... either knowing it or from ignorance thats what you show when you tattoo, to others or to yourself.

I dont feel like belonging to anything at all, therefore i dont even consider modding my body. And if one day I feel that belonging (is this word ok? english isnt my mother tongue) i seriusly doubt I would choose to show it in such a explicit way.

this said, I believe in respect.

+1
Welcome to the club.

 

[Stumbo]

The vast majority of people find it unattractive, ....

Just like the " vast majority" of people who found dark skin "unattractive"?

It's interesting how fascists and theocrats use their freedoms in a democratic society to figure out who is worthy and unworthy and then use their conclusions to justify their maltreatment of other American citizens.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

The vast majority of people find it unattractive, and the types of people who find it attractive probably aren't really going to be in a position to improve your life. It's almost as though you're sentencing yourself to a life of extremely limited opportunities.

How the heck can you say this stuff?

Vaste majority? Says who .....You?
People who find them attractive are not in a position to improve your life?.......Wow dude, that's really low.

You state your opinion & try to pass it as fact.
Judging people based on things like tattoos makes me think of borderline racisme .

IMO

 

[Rob Lewis]

The thing to remember here is that one chooses tattoos: you can't choose your skin colour. I think that racism is far too emotive a term, borderline or otherwise.

 

[duff beer]

Just like the " vast majority" of people who found dark skin "unattractive"?

It's interesting how fascists and theocrats use their freedoms in a democratic society to figure out who is worthy and unworthy and then use their conclusions to justify their maltreatment of other American citizens.

Are you comparing disliking tattoos to being racist? If so, you are a complete fool. However, if I misunderstood your post, then I apologize.

Even the well-done tattoos don't look that good. Of all the ones posted in this topic, I have yet to see an "attractive" tattoo...and that includes Carly Smithson. Of course it is her choice to do what she wants with her body, but it is also my right to think that it makes her look foolish.

 

[Rob Lewis]

Could we have a poll? The usual yes/no/carrotts thing.

 

[Atoz]

Just like the " vast majority" of people who found dark skin "unattractive"?

It's interesting how fascists and theocrats use their freedoms in a democratic society to figure out who is worthy and unworthy and then use their conclusions to justify their maltreatment of other American citizens.

This is the dumbest thing I've read all week.