When tattoos make you look ridiculous

[BassXgirl]

I really am curious about this - what 'art and meaning' is there behind the superficial choices of many people to have the same barbed wire / tribal band / tramp stamp / Chinese or Thai characters tattoo? When I see tatts like this I think 'this person wants to be different - just like everyone else with the same tattoo'.

But who are we to judge whether or not someone else's tribal armband has any personal meaning for them? I would not choose any of the examples you gave, but to each his own.

If my daughter were old enough and wanted a tattoo, I wouldn't stop her from having a tattoo but would rather just counsel her on people *might* see her in a different light. Would I be wrong to do this?

I agree with you. If someone is going to get a tattoo, they need to decide this wisely. They also need to choose placement wisely. We do still live in a world where we need to be able to present ourselves professionally. I only have two tattoos, but one is a large half sleeve. I can easily cover it up when necessary...and I do.

You mean like in post 132 up above?

I was referring to Munji's comment

 

[BassXgirl]

...You can kid yourself all you want about the doctors, lawyers and such having all these tattoos, but that happens to be the social circle I run in, and I don't recall ever seeing a single tattoo on any of them. If they have them, they're apparently not that proud of them, because they never show them to me.

No, I am not "kidding" myself. You are uninformed. If your circle of doctors and lawyers know that you are so judgemental, I wouldn't blame them for not showing you if they had a tattoo. It doesn't necessarily mean they are ashamed. You are really starting to come off a bit pompous here.

Further, you're missing my point. I'm not saying you or anyone else is a low life for wearing tattoos. I am saying that tattoos are practically universal on low lifes. You cannot escape that fact. You can deny it all you want but there is a strong social aversion to tattoos. Go back in the thread and read the posts by all the tattooed folks who talk about their difficulties getting meaningful employment.

Actually no, I'm not missing your point. You have just failed to take your own advice and read the previous posts. If you had, you would have seen that people have disagreed with you on this. There are several posts here stating that they have NOT had dificulty getting "meaningful" employment. IF you had read the thread, you also would have seen that I (starting from several posts back) also mentioned being able to present in a professional way when necessary. I also said that just as there is a time and a place for flip flops and shorts, there is also a time and place to look professional and that means being able to cover your tattoos when need be.

Also nobody is trying to escape or deny anything. I just don't agree with you and all your blanket statements. Words like all, everybody, majority, most, (which you have used repeatedly) these words are used to pad your personal opinion and present it as if it's fact.

We disagree.

 

[Saetia]

Ladies and gentlemen, WE HAVE A WINNER!

Your comment in regaurds to mastermolds statement is correct, but mastermold didn't quite get the theme of my post either (which I explained in a post after). The fact is that I have a lot easyier time becoming gainfully employed in a respectable business setting with tattoos then those in my Fathers era. Times are changing and what's acceptable in todays business world isn't what was acceptable of days passed. It's only going to become more acceptable as it's more engrained into our society and culture. The mores have shifted, it's a fact... all such is perpetual. I have those who paved the way to thank for such tolerence in todays society and I further perpetuate it by being one of who has crossed those boundries as well. My children will have an even easyier time if they so choose to make the choice of body art like I have. All in all, my success is attributed to my competence and the ability to show those in charge that I can go above and beyond the call of duty day in and day out to complete more then just what was set in front of me, companies like that kind of effort. Actions speak louder then words, and thus have spoken louder then the art I wear in my skin.

I do agree with much you have to say, as it's 100% truth. I just hope that people don't deny the fact that it's a changing world and will keep changing. In 2008 tattoos are far more acceptable then ever before and will only continue to be more acceptable. You're not completely marked as a deviant because of tattoos anymore.

I really respect your opinions, Munji, I always have since I've been here as well as I see the truth in your statements. But one last time before I stop repeating myself, as people from my generation and the gen x ers before me come into power these stereotypes and discriminations are falling, and will fall until they are gone to the point of it not mattering at anymore.

As we come forth from those before us, we learn how not to treat people. A more forward and heightened consiousness

-Benny

 

[Ezbass]

I've just returned to this thread after a while and have a read through/catch up. Body carving? New to me. Nice end result, but those photos made me squirm!

Anyway it seems that there is a definite "them and us" situation here, with the anti tattoo stance being the more vehement, although not exclusively so. I must say that I don't really find it that much of a big deal here in the UK, but then maybe I'm going round with blinkers on and I'm being mocked and derided behind my back (British rserve and all that), although I don't think so. I just think that in this day and age this kind of division over something so trifling is very sad especially amongst musicians, aren't we supposed to be artists?

I've said it before and I think it bears repeating, treat people on their actions not on their appearance. Let's move on, life is hard enough as it is.

 

[Marlat]

FWIW I work at one of the largest law firms in the world and have also worked at one of the other biggest as well as a large Australian firm. Out of the thousands of lawyers and bankers and other professional I come into contact with, I have never seen any with an obvious tattoos (including those showing through shirts etc). I quite like tattoos (on both guys and girls), but such is the reality of the world I live in. Just an observation.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

My father has recently retired, he was the senior physiotherapist at the local hospital. He has plenty of excellently done tattoo's (alot of oriental work and a family crest) and while he had shared them with close colleagues, he would not exactly go out of the way to show them to patents, and he never had them on display (they were all in areas easily covered).

This was nothing to do with 'shame' of having tattoos, it was just professionalism, because, as so rightfully said, people will judge you.

 

[dvh]

I doubt it's a fad. But as I said previously, it still is something you have in common with all prisoners, bikers, gangbangers, and the previously not-mentioned prostitutes and porn stars. Like it or not, that is the truth, everybody knows it, and you cannot disassociate yourself from that fact.

That is just a far too sweeping generalization to really be truthful. It's been pointed out again and again in this thread that that is an evaporating stereotype.

Seems like this is just generation gap.

 

[lamonica78]

This thread has actually been quite telling....it's amazing how a simple thing like a tattoo can really expose people for the ignorant, intolerant, simple minded individuals they really are which probably carries over to other aspects of their lives. I have no time in my life for people who have this mentality. Enjoy the thread

 

[Marlat]

This thread has actually been quite telling....it's amazing how a simple thing like a tattoo can really expose people for the ignorant, intolerant, simple minded individuals they really are which probably carries over to other aspects of their lives. I have no time in my life for people who have this mentality. Enjoy the thread

So, what you are saying is that only an ignorant, intolerant, small minded person would generalise about someone based on one known aspect of their appearance or behaviour?

 

[thehurlatron]

I doubt it's a fad. But as I said previously, it still is something you have in common with all prisoners, bikers, gangbangers, and the previously not-mentioned prostitutes and porn stars. Like it or not, that is the truth, everybody knows it, and you cannot disassociate yourself from that fact.

Uh.....okay. If I must be grouped with "those" people, then all other sweeping (pointless) generalizations are true as well? If you drive a buick , you are an old lady, if you live in the hills of the south, your a dumb inbred redneck, if you drive a nice BMW, but live in the "bad" part of town, you must have either stolen it, or bought it with drug money.... and all of the generalizations of different races hold true as well????

Just checking to see how far "out there" some of you people are.

 

[Marlat]

Uh.....okay. If I must be grouped with "those" people, then all other sweeping (pointless) generalizations are true as well? If you drive a buick , you are an old lady, if you live in the hills of the south, your a dumb inbred redneck, if you drive a nice BMW, but live in the "bad" part of town, you must have either stolen it, or bought it with drug money.... and all of the generalizations of different races hold true as well????

Just checking to see how far "out there" some of you people are.

I don't think you're reading Munji's quote correctly.

 

[mikeboth]

Haha, at least the board-sensitive ads are working ....

 

[QORC]

the funny thing about tats is how many people say they have them because "it expresses my individuality" like they were a maverick or something.

come on people. It's a trendy thing. 20 years ago, almost nobody beyond bikers had them.

You get a tat, you're not a maverick. You're just another mindless trend follower.

And they will look hideous on you as you age.

I've never seen one on a woman that made her look better. And most are so ugly. especially the "tramp stamp" across the back. It's just so skanky.

we all have our free will. You can do what you want. *shrugs*

of course we should ALL be judged by what we do not how we look. but come on - when in human history has THAT been true? We ALL make judgments based on appearance - even you tat wearers. If you see a homeless person shuffle into the McDonald's behind you, tell me you're not making a judgment.

I'm a boss. I hire people. I supervise people. I judge people on what they do -but if I have 2 candidates for a job come in and one is dressed business like and the other is in wrinkled clothes, I'm not going to be impressed with the second one. Doubt I'd hire him. If I have a candidate who has a tattoo snaking up his neck and can be seen outside his collar, or body piercings that can be seen, or full sleeve tattoos that can easily be seen through dress shirt, I may not hire him or her compared to someone who doesn't- because if I do, they are out there representing me. And unless you're working in a custom bike shop, it's not the image I want to project.

So it's reality. Yes, appearance DOES count. And yes, people DO make judgments based on how you look all the time. Deal with it.

 

[JoeVictim]

I don't make any bones about the fact that I don't care for tattoos. My point is that most people are of that mind, and as much as you justify your tattoos, they are generally going to have a negative effect on your life, right or wrong. Many or most people who get tattoos get their first ones early in life, before they've had enough experience to consider how it will later affect them. ...

It's cool man, you don't like them. Hey, tattoos aren't for everyone. For me, I would rather not associate myself with someone who is going to be judgemental. I have several tattoos with plans for full sleeves. If someone sees a tat on my arm and it makes them think less of me, those jerks can kiss it. I am not going to sway my own thoughts and beliefs so someone else can be appeased. Although, I don't beleive in getting tattoos just because. All of my tattoos mean something to me and they all have a story. Some people take pictures, I get ink.

That being said, I do have enough sensibility as to cover them for job interviews. At the job interview I ask about the "regulations" of body art. At about 90% of my interviews, the interviewer usually asks to see them and then proceeds to show me theirs and we start swapping stories about getting tattoos. You have to use your brain a little and if I ever did work at a jobplace where tattoos are not "encouraged", I always have the option of wearing long sleeve shirts.

The one thing I can't agree with is face tattoos. I just don't like em. Different strokes, right?

 

[dvh]

the funny thing about tats is how many people say they have them because "it expresses my individuality" like they were a maverick or something.

come on people. It's a trendy thing. 20 years ago, almost nobody beyond bikers had them.

You get a tat, you're not a maverick. You're just another mindless trend follower.

And they will look hideous on you as you age.

I've never seen one on a woman that made her look better. And most are so ugly. especially the "tramp stamp" across the back. It's just so skanky.

we all have our free will. You can do what you want. *shrugs*

So it's reality. Yes, appearance DOES count. And yes, people DO make judgments based on how you look all the time. Deal with it.

What's with all this angry backlash?

I do agree with your last point. And yes, those of us with tats HAVE to deal with it. And we do. Mine's done me no harm.

 

[Jeffrey A-Bomb]

the funny thing about tats is how many people say they have them because "it expresses my individuality" like they were a maverick or something.

come on people. It's a trendy thing. 20 years ago, almost nobody beyond bikers had them.

You get a tat, you're not a maverick. You're just another mindless trend follower.

And they will look hideous on you as you age.

I've never seen one on a woman that made her look better. And most are so ugly. especially the "tramp stamp" across the back. It's just so skanky.

we all have our free will. You can do what you want. *shrugs*

of course we should ALL be judged by what we do not how we look. but come on - when in human history has THAT been true? We ALL make judgments based on appearance - even you tat wearers. If you see a homeless person shuffle into the McDonald's behind you, tell me you're not making a judgment.

I'm a boss. I hire people. I supervise people. I judge people on what they do -but if I have 2 candidates for a job come in and one is dressed business like and the other is in wrinkled clothes, I'm not going to be impressed with the second one. Doubt I'd hire him. If I have a candidate who has a tattoo snaking up his neck and can be seen outside his collar, or body piercings that can be seen, or full sleeve tattoos that can easily be seen through dress shirt, I may not hire him or her compared to someone who doesn't- because if I do, they are out there representing me. And unless you're working in a custom bike shop, it's not the image I want to project.

So it's reality. Yes, appearance DOES count. And yes, people DO make judgments based on how you look all the time. Deal with it.

You're rather ignorant. A professionally done tattoo won't necessarily look bad w/ age. I bet your employees love you

 

[QORC]

insulting me doesn't either address what I've said or change my opinion. Just makes you look bad!

 

[MatticusMania]

am saying that tattoos are practically universal on low lifes. You cannot escape that fact.

Tell me how they are universal on low lifes, where is this proven fact? Did it ever occur to you that there are just as many low lifes without tattoos? The same way you can't say 'that persons has a tat, they must be a low life' you also can't say 'that person is a low life, therefore they have a tattoo' Youre making huge generalizations here.

Go back in the thread and read the posts by all the tattooed folks who talk about their difficulties getting meaningful employment.

And YOU go back and read all the posts from the tattooed people who have stated how they HAVEN'T had difficulties in getting meaningful employment.

 

[Ezbass]

of course we should ALL be judged by what we do not how we look. but come on - when in human history has THAT been true?

Just because it has happened in the past doesn't make it right. Aren't we supposed to evolve?

 

[JoeVictim]

On a side note, my Grandfather has some old WWII sailor tats on his arms completely visable and he went on to become a ship captain after his duties making over 100k a year. Hardly the wages of a "low-life".