Thoughts From Guys On Our IM: What Do You Think Of Women With Tattoos?

bethlynn00
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:32 pm: [report]

I have one tattoo that I dreadfully despise, because I too was young and dumb and thought I was soooo cool to get “PIMP” tattooed on my leg, everytime I look at it I cringe! But it also reminds me that everyone is human and makes mistakes.  Some guys really love actually, and some are like “that sucks”, os I guess it depends on the guy.  I’ve been thinking about getting it covered, but it’s really dark, so artist keep telling me, I would need to get it lighten to cover it properly.  However I have 2 other tattoos, on my shoulder and my calf, that I love and am so happy I got them, because they are really pretty and I have never had a guy complain about them.  I guess it depends on the guy and the tattoo, whether they can be covered up which all of my easily are.

Bgirl_Hamster
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:39 pm: [report]

I draw the line at regretting my tattoo. It seems pretty self-loathing to worry about something that’s going to be on your body for the rest of your life. Instead of spending time regretting your Chinese characters, why not just embrace the tattoo as a badge of how much fun you had at that moment in your life? If I had to pick out a tattoo today, I wouldn’t pick the one I did as a college freshman. That doesn’t mean, however, that I should waste my time fretting over it.

Riley
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:42 pm: [report]

Ink is expression; just don’t give me Hep C.

lindseylee21
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:48 pm: [report]

Emotional craziness??? Come on, Amelia. Tattoos do not equate with craziness. People that have them do have a sort of bravery, to deal with the pain and long term dumba$$ questions… but if you put a lot of thought and effort into them then it doesn’t matter. I’m not tough, I’m not crazy, I’m pretty vanilla in bed, I’m not necessarily attracted to guys who have a ton of ink, and I have 19 tattoos.

The crux of it is this - people with tattoos are INDIVIDUALS, just like all the other people in the world. You can’t generalize us just like you can’t generalize them. If anything, we’re even MORE individual than non-inked folks.

lilrockgoddess4u
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:52 pm: [report]

I love my tats but are able to cover all of them up for work, etc.  I think I am up to 16 now, some quite large.  I have dated both tatted and non-tatted guys, doesn’t matter to me.  I have had guys be turned off by my tats and some that think it’s really hot.

MuchoMacho
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:57 pm: [report]

she needs to find less douchey guys to ask these questions.  the first guy had it right.  the wrong tat looks wrong, and the right tat looks hot.

Amelia McDonell-Parry
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:00 pm: [report]

@lindseylee21 I definitely don’t think women with tats are crazy. I mainly asked that because I think it’s what some people may think when they see a woman with a ton of tats and asking questions like those, while I may not think them myself, helps pull answers out of the guys I’m talking to.

bethlynn00
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:01 pm: [report]

@ Riley: Um if you go to a reputable artist, that follows tat guidelines and changes their needles, you shouldn’t have to worry about Hep C transmission, actually that mode of transmission is pretty low.

hannahsguy
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:02 pm: [report]

To each their own.  I won’t date a girl with a tat.  Of course, I know plenty who will…and thats ok.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:05 pm: [report]

Depends on the tattoo, and placement. For example, I think that iStockPhoto to be extremely hot.

Or because I have a penis…

lilkimz
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:05 pm: [report]

Women with tats are easy targets. They are basically saying they have some kind of emotional trauma in their lives. This is why guys look for women with tats if they are trying to get laid. They put out a lot faster than women w/o tats. That’s pretty much all a guy needs to know.

Too many tats looks ghetto. The ideal is if a woman doesn’t have any tats. But like I said, guys really just look to see if she does have them or not, especially on the lower back or shoulder. That says “open for business” like a neon sign crying for daddy’s love or pain over a traumatic break up..

Riley
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:06 pm: [report]

@Lindseylee21 - Agreed until the last sentence.  How exactly would it make you more individual?  That sounds oddly like what you were chastising Amelia for, generalizing.

@Bethlynn00 - A comment in jest.  Besides, I do all mine in the garage with a regular needle and soot.

DancerNinja
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:06 pm: [report]

If anything, we’re even MORE individual than non-inked folks.

Some of the most individualistic people I’ve met don’t have tats. The fact that I don’t have one makes me stand out in some of the crowds I run with. So, that quote there is just silliness.

I’ve seen lots of really beautiful tattoos. Most of my friends who have them get something really personal and symbolic, rather than random words like “power” or some butterfly.

equnsuocha
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:09 pm: [report]

I have 2 tats and I love them both, I got them within 6 months of each other.  That was 11 years ago and I am still deciding on my 3rd and the placement.  Sometimes its an easy fast decision other times not so much lol

conspicuous
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:10 pm: [report]

I don’t think having tattoos makes you more or less ‘individual’ than anyone else. We can all be batched into groups of a larger kind some way or another.

I also think that if a tattoo is a ‘dealbreaker’ in a relationship, it’s just a scapegoat for another reason that you don’t want to date someone.

Does it really matter in the end? Not really. In general, we often date people with like interests and attitudes (of course with exceptions to every rule) and you should just pursue who makes you happy.

Queen Frostine
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:14 pm: [report]

Tattoos are just ways of accessorizing. Some people don’t find them attractive, like how I don’t find a guy sporting a muller and Ed Hardy gear attractive. It’s cool so long as you don’t judge a person based on what’s on the outside.

I know there’s stupid people out there who will judge you for your tats, but I’m of the mind that if you’re confident in your actions, then you don’t really give a damn about what they think anyway. I wouldn’t work for a boss, date a man or hang with friends who would judge me on such superficial terms.

lexi
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:17 pm: [report]

My tattoo has never been an issue with guys but I did pierce a few things in college that has caused quite a reaction with guys…

H. Blue
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:17 pm: [report]

My tattoos are both symbolic to me.  They were thought-out and neither are regretted.  I have considered a third, but I think I’ll wait some time before I get it.  It was 10 years between the other two.
I think the tattoo on the woman in the photo is absolutely beautiful.  One of my tats is similar to that, though not as large.

Timeguy55
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:18 pm: [report]

It depends on the woman, the tattoo, and the location. There is no general rule that can be applied to tattoos.

lilliest
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:35 pm: [report]

You know, tattoos are no longer a one way street. My friend had an insane sleeve but turned into a different person since he had it done. He had the portion below his actual sleeve- about elbow to wrist- removed with a combo of lasers and Wrecking Ball. Outside of the fact that his hair grows in a sort of wierd pattern on that forearm, you really can’t tell he was tattooed there at all. He’s not super white, that could affect it, but I’m just saying. Technology can save us a little from who we were as teenagers.

justme
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 04:10 pm: [report]

I have a tattoo I got years ago.  I don’t love it but its become a part of me.  It was a silly 19 year old’s mistake.  Most guys react to it first with surprise and then they think its hot.  If he doesn’t think its hot I’m pretty sure he’s too uptight for me.
I have a new tattoo that I put a lot of thought into and it means a lot to me.  This one is more visible to the public and I’m happy to let it express for me.

develange
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 05:03 pm: [report]

Sort of regret mine…at the time, I had no idea how AMAZING some artists were. I’m thinking of going to a ridiculously talented guy I met recently and having him fix up my sad little tattoo. There’s hope.

Getting tattoos removed is painful, time consuming, and expensive—from what I hear. If you really dislike your tattoo, there are ways to cover it up or make it better with more ink. Find the right artist.

majicksand
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 05:35 pm: [report]

My tattoo is the result of a manic episode.  If I had it to do again, I think would have chosen something else, but I don’t hate it.  My husband isn’t a big fan of tats, but he doesn’t stress mine.  He’s also smart enough to know he can’t stop me if I decide to get another one.  That being said, I would really have to like it knowing he probably won’t.

secretsquirrel
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 05:45 pm: [report]

I’m like H.Blue.  First tat was custom drawn for me, second was stock but chosen carefully.  I got them with the idea that I wanted something that would represent me no matter how damn old I got.    And I still love them, but would like them touched up—the colors and lines refreshed.  Oh, and I have a piercing too, but only very intimate partners see it and most times, not, because I take the ring out.  It’s totally for my own amusement, not anyone else’s.  And I think THAT is the key for tats or piercings.

lexi
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 05:49 pm: [report]

@secretsquirrel I agree.  My piercings are for my own amusement so when I hear a guy doesn’t like them, I don’t really care.  It took me months to figure out what I wanted my tattoo to look like and I know it’s something I will like, even when I’m old and wrinkly.

lea322
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 05:53 pm: [report]

I understand what people are saying about not judging a person based on their tattoos, but an ex of mine and I had our biggest fights about a tattoo he was planning to get. It was a really immature design, and honestly, it made me question his decision making skills. We agreed that he would get it in a place that could be easily covered, but then I found out that he was planning to get it on his calf anyway (which would not have been covered, since he lived in shorts). He had other tattoos, so the tattoos themselves weren’t my problem.

Our break-up wasn’t specifically about the tattoo, but it was a big part of why I was losing confidence in him as a long term partner. All this to say, SOME judgment about tattoos might not be a bad thing.

sporvida
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 06:35 pm: [report]

I am a heavily tatted 22yr old girl(I am almost finished on one sleeve!!!) and think the whole tattoo debate is getting old. I hate getting the question “aren’t you going to regret them when you get older?” Probably, but at the same time I will have something to show from my youth. I live in the here and now and if this is what makes me happy then what the hell do i care what you think?

As for what do guys think about girls with tats? Well as far as my experience goes, everyone has different tastes. Some guys like mine some don’t. I will tell you this though, it narrows your dating pool. From an already shrinking amount of dateable men you have to eliminate the ones that dont like tattoos, then eliminate the ones that like tattoos but dont have tattoos themselves and dont have anough balls to go out with a tatted girl, then theres the ones who have tattoos but are intimidated by girls that have more tattoos than they do (this literally happened to me, this guy told me that his friends made fun of him because I had more tatts than he did), You can’t date anyone that is religous since most religions frown upon tats. Which leaves you with heavily tatted men which from you must weed out the douchebags. It takes a special kind of guy to date a tatted girl!

This is all in generalization, im sure you know someone who is an exception. Still knowing this I will continue to get tattoos because I refuse to live my life in any way that does not please me in order to please others.

Jenbug
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 06:38 pm: [report]

When I turned 18 I went on a road trip lost a bet and ended up with a tattoo. I can’t say I would do it again.

RazzQueen
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 07:48 pm: [report]

I am a divorced 45yo professional woman with (currently) eight tattoos, each progressively larger, culminating in what most people would consider an almost full sleeve of hugely colorful roses vining into a stylized Three of Swords.  That was finished last week.  Most of my guy friends think they are super hot.  In fact, when I come up with an idea (I still have several I want to get) I call up one particular friend to get his gauge on its proposed “hotness.”  On the other hand, my best friend does not like them at all on anyone, but that doesn’t keep him from being my best friend.  Of course I would like a prospective lover to be into tattoos (even if just mine!), or at least not object to them.

Linz
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 07:52 pm: [report]

I was in Vegas this summer at a pool at a major casino and have never been more satisfied with my decision to never get a tattoo.  There are some god-awful tattoos out there.  I have only seen one tattoo on a woman that I thought was in any way interesting or attractive and it was on her foot.  I understand there are millions of reasons that people get tattoos and they certainly don’t define an individual, but I feel it tends to scream “I need attention” and/or “I’m not interesting enough on my own, so I got a tattoo.”  Or I suppose “Look what I did when I was 18 and thought I would love it forever.”  As a disclaimer, like I said above, I don’t have a tattoo so I don’t REALLY know what it’s like. 

I would also like to say that it seems to be more rare to not have a tattoo these days, so arguing they make you “more individual” is ridiculous.

secretstevie
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 08:58 pm: [report]

@lilkimz

Women with tats are easy targets. They are basically saying they have some kind of emotional trauma in their lives.

are you kidding me?  bulllllllsshhhhiiiiittttttt

i can’t believe i’m the first person in the comments section to call you out on that - its soo offensive!

i have six tattoos (with plans for many more) and zero emotional trauma.  i grew up in an affluent community, have a wonderful relationship with my family, have never had a one night stand and love me some body art.  believe it or not, not everybody falls in to the stereotypes that society sets for them.

on another note:  i’m afraid i have to go ahead and jump on the i love JDV bandwagon.  does he ever say anything that’s not perfect?

draymond
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 11:33 pm: [report]

Right now tats, particularly tramp stamps, chinese characters, and such seem more conformist than rebellious.  And I think it is most likely that the average twentysomething ink wearer will not like the look of it in thirty years.

I have seen plenty of awfull ones, many interesting ones, and a few genuinely pretty ones.  However what I have not seen is a single one that I thought actually improved the appearance of the person it was on.  For example certainly the istockphoto of the girl above looks hot, but wouldn’t she also look just as hot, or even hotter, without it?

I guess I dislike permanence somewhat.  If I were into body art at all, which I am not, I would be more inclined to work with henna so I could experiment with new designs every few months.

Jera
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 01:04 am: [report]

I have tattoos.  I got my first one at 21.  It’s a skull and cross-bones at the top of my neck.  Now to some one it may seem silly.  But to me it has a lot of meaning and it’s name is Bob.  My second tattoo was a gift from my boyfriend.  It is a knot of snakes.  Its on my lower back.  I love and have always loved snakes since I was a kid.  Also snakes are seen as a symbol of the Goddess.  My 3rd tattoo is a large one underneath my skull and cross-bones and covers both shoulders.  It is my patron Goddess Isis.  This also was a gift from my boyfriend.  Now do I think at some time that I may regret them?  The tattoos themselves- no.  Sometimes I wish that one was lower or maybe I would like to change a thing on one.  But you know what?  I love them all the same. 
Now I realize that the only type of guy that I could be attracted to would have to have some sort of body art.  My boyfriend has tats and I think that is hot!  Guys without tats seem a little vanilla to me

majicksand
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 08:45 am: [report]

@Linz: You misunderstand.  Having a tattoo isn’t what makes a person more of an individual.  The specific tattoo does that.  For people who are serious about body art, a lot of thought goes into their ink.  Their tattoos are truly a reflection of who they are.

And just for the record, tattoos are not always a cry for attention either.  Mine (as stated above) was an impulse.  It had nothing to do with anything.  My sister’s was sheer boredom.  She had nothing better to do that night and a few of her friends invited her to go along when they got theirs.  She found a design she liked while waiting and thought, “what the hell.”  Neither of us could care less what the rest of the world thinks about our tattoos or anything else.

frostie
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 09:22 am: [report]

Tattoos are like most things in life, everyone gets them for different reasons. Sure, some get them as a cry for attention, some sort of stupid whim or whatever, some as artistic expression and some as a reminder of a particular time in their life. It’s ridiculous to assume everyone gets them for the same reason. I recently got my first (and most likely last) tattoo, a little design on my foot as a sort of reminder of these young carefree days and I had a good chat to the tattoo artist. She said sometimes she wants to shake people by the shoulders slap some sense into them when they come in wanting the latest tramp stamp fashion, meaningless faux-Chinese symbol or name of a boyfriend of 2 months, but then for every one of them there’s someone else with a design that means something to them that they will most likely cherish for the rest of their lives. Everyone’s different.
And for the record, I love my tattoo to bits and the only man so far to express disapproval is my dad, who says it looks ‘cheap and tarty’, but then he says the same thing about anklets and v-neck sweaters.

hannahsguy
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 09:30 am: [report]

Girls with tats…trashy.  You’re a follower, not independent.  Just another wildebeast in the herd.  I prefer strong women who resist social pressures to conform.  Seriously, 40+ with tats?  Grow up.

PinkRanger
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]

@hannahsguy: What about people that want tattoos because of a genuine interest in them, but decide not to because they are giving into social pressures to conform? Some people remain un-inked in an effort to stay in certain social standings. There are women with tattoos who are strong and resist social pressures ya know, it’s not black and white.

BedRocka
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:35 am: [report]

three words ... ” Open for Business!”

SouthOC
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:41 am: [report]

The thing to always consider with regard to getting a tat is… They’re forever!

I have a tat on my upper arm and love it.  A cool tat is cool whether it’s on a girl or guy.

Style and placement are the key issues.  The question it ask is: “what is this going to look like when I’m 65?”

My dad had an awesome tat of a rose.  When he was 25 it was amazing, when he was 70, it looked like a red wine spill.  doh!

Jenbug
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:55 am: [report]

My body My choice. To judge someone because they have a tattoo or not seems small and close minded.

I can’t under stand
what makes a man
hate another man
help me understand

Word.

develange
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 11:20 am: [report]

I love when guys say something like “I don’t want the mother of my kids to be/do this…”

For some reason, it really bothers me…

C.Munro
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 12:24 pm: [report]

I dislike the tattoos themselves.  Very not hot.  It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but if I had my druthers the woman I fall hard for (assuming there is such a creature) will not have any. 

The women who have them, however, are no different from the women who don’t.

PinkRanger
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 12:48 pm: [report]

@develange: Me too! What the hell?

ootie grl
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 01:14 pm: [report]

I love my tattoos. I drew all of them. It just depends what you like, its your own personal choice. Having tattoos doesnt make you a follower. Every one is an individual. If a tattoo is a deal breaker thats kinda shallow.

lahnne
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 03:02 pm: [report]

I really just want someone to explain why they think tattoos are trashy. I’m actually curious. While there’s are plenty of horrid ink out there, a lot of tattoos are the opposite of trashy (read: cheap, poor quality, bad taste). Most of us are, in some way or another, “followers”, and we don’t consider ourselves trashy. And the whole “emotional trauma” is pretty invalid and certainly doesn’t equate to trash.

So really, guys/ladies. What, exactly, is trashy about tattoos? And don’t cop out and say “they just are”.

SouthOC
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 04:08 pm: [report]

@lahnne:  For me it isn’t the tats themselves that are trashy (I have one and like most), but there are two categories of tats that I personally don’t like:

1.  Neck tatoos.  I feel like I’m looking at someone who just got out of prison.

2.  Creepy subject matter like skulls, and snakes coming out of skulls mouths, etc.

majicksand
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 04:15 pm: [report]

@lahne: I think many people are switching it up in their minds.  I don’t think tattoos are inherently trashy (obviously since I have one and don’t consider myself trashy).  I do, however, think there are a lot of trashy people who have tattoos, so the tattoo has become a symbol of trashiness.

There are great people who have tattoos and trashy people who don’t and vice versa.  Tattoos are just the symbol, so they get a bad rap.

TheUberWop
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 06:48 pm: [report]

Women with TASTEFUL tattoos (i.e they were done by a proper artist, not some hack with a tattoo gun) are amazing.

Women who just get them because they’re hip and in - are idiots. (just like men who do the same)

It’s all about the actual art, and the personality of the person getting the tattoo.

It’s sad that there’s still a social stigma associated with body art, seeing as how since the dawn of time people have been adorning their bodies with ink. It’s no different of a body modification than say, dying your hair or wearing makeup - the only difference being that it’s permanent.

Just because a person has ink does not make them trashier than anyone else, or a criminal, etc. - those types of people are like that whether they HAVE tattoos or not.

tigerstripe
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 07:06 pm: [report]

I have a lower back tattoo that says “Carpe Diem.”  It sounds horrible at first, but it’s actually significant to me.  It has nothing to do with sex, like people assume sometimes.  It has to do with when I was young and painfully shy, and had just begun to break out of my shell and have a normal social life.  If other people think it makes me a promiscuous attention seeker, then they don’t know me.  And as far as regrets go, all I have to do is look at the tat again and they go away.

develange
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:28 pm: [report]

yeah, don’t really get how tattoos are trashy, unless the person is already trashy. Plenty of trashy people don’t have tattoos.

Back to “the mother of my children can’t have tattoos.” thing. I figured out why that annoys me. It’s like saying, “I’m going to go date/bang all the skanks I want, but my wife, she must be PURE! And she must CARRY MY CHILDREN!” Probably read too much into that guy’s comment, but those are my deep thoughts for the night.

Oreo
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 10:31 pm: [report]

Eh… Tattoos on a woman are like body piercings on a man.  They’re out there, but more often than not, they’re really tacky and unattractive.

emeryray
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 02:20 am: [report]

I’m covered in em’, and regular person. I think cutting open your chest and sticking water balloons in you is a little more crazy.

raqueleza
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 09:20 am: [report]

Wait a second, The Frisky, why do I care what dudes think about my ink? Oh right, I don’t.

I didn’t get my tattoos for anyone else. I’m not suffering through a 6-hour tattoo sesh cause I care if Johnny Fratboy (or Bobby Mixtape, who has ink himself, ya know) is gonna bang me then take me home to Mom. Tattoos aren’t an insecurity about I’m hung up on like cellulite or stretchmarks that we need to know “what guys are thinking!”, these are permanent works of art on my body because I want them there.

People with lame tattoos should just get them covered up with something awesome and lay the matter to rest.

MuchoMacho
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 09:36 am: [report]

a t-shirt and boxer-briefs covers all 6 of my tats.  pretty sure theyre not a cry to confirm.  chicks with original ink = hot.

EastCoastMale
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 11:12 am: [report]

much more sexy, I don’t really take to nilla women. For those of who who know where that term is from, a *wink

Pookie
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 12:42 pm: [report]

Why has this become such an issue lately? I have tattoos and I don’t go around passing judgement of those that don’t. Why can’t people just do what they wish w/ their own bodies? Just let people be, stop judging unless you’re are ready to be judged and looked at under a microscope for YOUR choices.

And @lilkimz- that is the most, I have no words for how stupid your comment was. None. Wow.

WMassSoprano
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 02:31 pm: [report]

I think tats on women and men are the same really.  It’s totally not for me, and I always assumed that the guy I ended up with would be ink-free as well.  To the point that I would say (and still do, to a degree) that as a blanket statement, I dislike tattoos. 

Turns out though that the love of my life has one on his upper bicep.  He designed it himself, it is very meaningful to him and you know what?  I absolutely LOVE it!  I think it’s a beautiful and strong part of him and I love to look at it (and kiss it!)

I totally agree with the first guy.  Right tattoo = awesome, bad tattoo = crap.

wetwet20
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 05:00 pm: [report]

My fiance has alot of demonic tattoos, personally I love a man with tattoos. I find it badass and extremely sexy. He loves tattoos too. I only have a small tattoo on my ankle right now but Im planning on getting more, and so does he!

ohheyitssophia
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 12:54 am: [report]

I have many, many tattoos. (my faves are a little piggy behind my ear, an owl on an artichoke, an astronaut, & a mermaid + ocean/beach scene)I love them all and regret none.
What’s funny is I tend to dress really conservatively during the day (skirts, tights, and cardigans) so almost every time a newer acquaintance sees me in a t-shirt their eyes basically bug out of their head and they’re all “Omg you’re like COVERED! you totally don’t LOOK like you’d have tattoos!”
I don’t know if people realize how ignorant they sound when they say that. It makes no difference whatsoever what people think of my body and its art and it boggles my mind that people still think tattoos are for a certain “type” of person: they’re NOT. If a person thought I was dandy in my sweater-set, then saw my 1/2 sleeves 3 months later & decided I was trashy, ghetto, etc… based solely on my body art I’d hope they would never talk to me again. Their loss, definitely not mine.

Also, I personally dislike tramp stamps, sorority girl clothing styles, and belly-button piercings but would I EVER make any assumptions about a wearer’s personality or sexual promiscuity based on all of the above? No, because I’m not ignorant and know that there’s much more to us than our outsides.

And about heavily tattooed people being attracted to others of “our kind”.. not necessarily true, at ALL! I’m really picky about tattoos I like so I tend to look at heavily tattooed guys, find a tattoo I don’t like, then get turned off. My boyfriend of 5 years is in the clean skin club while I eventually want to be FULLY covered :] (and I love his bare skin!)

lareinedeslames
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 04:04 am: [report]

Tattooing is such an interesting subject. I have one tattoo, on my right hip, and I plan on getting more in the future.

I do have emotional baggage, but I don’t consider my tattoo to be an expression of wanting attention; if that were the case, why would I get it on a part of my body I rarely show? I deliberately put it there because it’s easy to conceal but still fairly easy to show if I want to.

The tattoo I have is a stylized blue peony. The symbolism behind it was what interested me; the blue peony, in some systems of symbolism, represents both luck and recklessness. It’s a common tattoo for gamblers in Japan to get, for example. It is a sort of statement of the fickleness of fate, and a taunting gesture towards luck. I got it because I felt like part of my personality was summed up eloquently in the image. I also want to get one of a blue lotus, on my other hip; very different symbolism. I’ve always been sort of dual-natured, so the motif is appealing to me.

NaomiK
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 02:21 pm: [report]

I have a tattoo on my back very near one shoulder. No one sees it except in the summer on the beach or if I happen to wear a tank top. I’d really like to get another one with the latitude and longitude of my home town since I don’t know if I’ll ever move back. I think it’s funny that the guy with the avatar with unnaturally large muscles dislikes body modification.

treehugr
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 03:32 pm: [report]

if anyone with tattoos is so worried about what guys think of them, they shouldn’t have gotten them in the first place. i’ve never had anyone tell me mine are unattractive or they wouldn’t date me because of them- and if anyone did, then they’re obviously too judgmental for me to want to be with them.

all15minutefame
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 04:09 pm: [report]

I have a tattoo between my shoulder blades, right below my neck. It’s of two swallows holding up a tattered ribbon which reads “ANGELS WINGS GONNA CARRY US AWAY” and is quite personal. As anyone who is into old school tats knows, swallows are an old sailor’s design which symbolize having survived a long, difficult journey (5,000 nautical miles for actual sailors, I believe) because the birds migrate and if you saw them, it meant you were approaching land. The quote is from a Social Distortion song which is very special to me. I’ve been through a lot of weird crap and if anyone is turned off by how I want a reminder of my strength etched into my skin, it’s their loss.

For the record, I love guys with tats. I guess you could say it’s a lifestyle thing, although a lot of it does depend on the design and the person it’s on. I dislike a lot of the “ripped off the wall” flash-based ink, though.

HappyDude
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 07:22 pm: [report]

I have no tattoos, and while when I was single I didn’t mind hooking up with moderately inked women, I would have never seriously dated a women whose tattoos exceeded these rules:

-Nothing so big I couldn’t cover it with my palm (this would rule out sleeves)
-Nothing on the chest or stomach (Both age very poorly)
-No sentences or phrases (single word concepts like “love” are ok)
-Nothing meant to be funny or ironic

I’ve seen some beautiful works of art on people’s bodies (usually backs). I also saw how clearly my ex-roommate’s gf’s obsession with tattoos directly correlated to her self-hate and hatred of her body.

A couple small tattoos in strategic places can be a fun manner of self expression. But like anything, moderation is really the key.

TWBuddha
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 08:36 pm: [report]

I think a tattoo can be extremely hot - especially if it’s on the lower back.  Art as addiction.

canadiancutie
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 10:24 pm: [report]

lol

Like I care what guys think of my tattoo. I’ve never done anything significant in my life for a guy.

dsedwards12
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 07:26 am: [report]

I think all this “to conform or not to conform” talk that’s going on here is #&@$%. Every person is an individual that runs with a group.

I have tattoos because they make me look cool when I kung-fu fight.

sammyisadog
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 02:41 pm: [report]

I’m a pretty dainty looking girl, but I have two tattoos that I am so proud of, and no dudes (or even ladies, for that matter) have ever spoken ill of them.  One is a giant one I got on my back when I was 18 - my mom designed it, and she has the same one.  It’s a variation of the Celtic tree of life; our heritage is very Irish.  Also, I have a tribal/celtic style horse on my hip, because I majored in Equine Science in college.  It might sound silly but it’s very simple and pretty. 

Anyway, I think because of the fact that they are artfully done, and also because they both mean so much to me and are unique, no one has ever disliked them.  And they’re pretty hidden, and no one ever sees them if I don’t want them to. 

Moral of the story: I’m crazy in love with my tattoos, and they’ve never been a problem in a relationship for me.

kalibrooke
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 03:29 pm: [report]

@Jenbug

love the DM reference. one of my favorite songs…

CTMonn
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 03:54 pm: [report]

I’ve seen some really well-done tattoos on women.  But no matter how nice they are, I always think, “She’s ruined herself”.  Tattoos are definitely a deal-breaker for me.  It’s like taking a painting from one of the renaissance masters and coloring over it with crayons.  I much prefer natural beauty.

InTenn
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 09:56 pm: [report]

lilkimz said it RIGHT!!!

and a note: tats DO NOT age well with women as do with men.

I worked nursing home and you take a 70 - 80+ year old woman with tats in a diaper the question pops in your head “CRAP! Do I really want to change her? Them tats tell me she’s been around.”

Although is DOES sound like sterotyping females with tats but, you see tats on women and it really is a neon partying sign saying open for business. I am not against them at all My mom has one, my sisters have some, my daughter has them and the only place any of them has yet to put one is on their face. My daughter and sister has their nipples peirced (OUCH) and I didn’t even breast feed.

Being Pansy about all that? Maybe, but I think my diaper will be changed without hesitation when I get that age (:b

Really glad this is internet to so people can’t literally stone me.

karnerblue
wrote on November 15 2009 @ 03:59 pm: [report]

Not opposed to tattoos. They can be beautiful if they are done well. I am pretty vanilla myself but I have to say that I find guys with a lot of tattoos pretty hot. Same with women. I sometimes wish I could get some tattoos but I could never make my mind up as to what I should get. I have had some ideas in the past that reference Greek mythology or something fantastical like a William Blake drawing, but I know how fickle I can be. Getting a tattoo is definitely a recipe for disaster for me.

lareinedeslames
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 05:12 am: [report]

You know, I’ve always had the belief that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but really?

Just because a woman has a tattoo, or several, doesn’t mean that she’s “open for business,” and I’m getting really sick and tired of all the little here-and-there comments that do nothing more than reinforce stereotypes or hate on people who choose alternate methods of self-expression.

@InTenn: Really? You think every woman with tats “gets around”? I knew a nun with tats. Yes, tats, plural.

@CTMonn: don’t you think that analogy is a little extreme? I doubt most of us would qualify as ‘renaissance masterpieces’ in the first place; in the second, what in the world would you say to someone who had tattooed a renaissance masterpiece onto their body?

Besides which, tattoos have existed for centuries. Cultures across the world have them. In many cultures, tattooing serves to identify people’s accomplishments, kin groups, tribal affiliations…

And in the western world, they serve very similar purposes. I wish people would think about the kind of hegemony they perpetuate, and what ideologies they buy into, before they (metaphorically or literally) open their mouths.

joyy
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 09:23 am: [report]

I can’t stop laughing at the “what is it going to look like when you’re 90?” line of questioning.  Uh, hello!?  It’s not like the rest of you (or old un-inked people) are going to look like effing supermodels. 

If you live long enough, you’re going to get old and wrinkly, with saggy boobs and a flat flappy ass.  Your skin will age accordingly as well, whether you’ve put ink on some of it or not.

InTenn
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 09:34 am: [report]

@lareinedeslames

No, I do not personally think every woman that has a tat “gets around”, like I said, my mother has one, one of my sisters has satans face tatted on her a## cheek and she is near a nun as you can get, my daughter has a bunch and also my other sisters. That is what impression it gives tho. Whether be a nun, hoodlum, or 70+ yr old woman.

The emo kids follow a sterotype to, whether they are the most well behaved and smartest little critter in school from the most upscale hood, doesn’t matter.
And whether people like it or not you are judged by how you present yourself.

all15minutefame
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 11:22 am: [report]

THANK YOU, lareinedeslames! Very well said.

Yodar Critch
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 11:28 am: [report]

I have to be honest and say that tattoos on a woman is an instant turn-off.  At the same level as smoking, but a woman can always quit smoking.

I do request that my lady not have any more tatoos then I do and I don’t have any.

It is too bad (for me) that so many women are getting tatoos.  Their body of course, but then I have the right to be turned off of them also.

I do wish that men and women would think before getting inked.

MuchoMacho
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 11:32 am: [report]

i think its funny when people have “types” they wouldnt date.  beauty comes in every shape, height, and jean size.  enjoy it for what it is.  if a girl is inked or pierced or has crazy spikey hair or dresses like a mom or has long hair or short, and you dont have those particular things it just means youre different people.  how superficial and sad that someone would actually not give another a chance just b/c they accessorize differently…

pabarge
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 12:18 pm: [report]

I’m confused. You’ve heard of laser tattoo removal, right? Because it works. Especially well if the tat is black.

If your tat sucks, don’t hesitate. Get yourself to a laser skin salon and have that ugly thing removed.

I actually did this so I could get a really nice tattoo to replace the old one.

JerzeeGuy
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 12:54 pm: [report]

Wow, personally I love women with tattoos and it doesn’t matter how many. I myself have tattoos, seven now, I got my first one at 36, you can say I waited, till something urged me into it, and mine have meaning or artistic appeal to them, including my kanji, after all what is the point to it if it doesn’t at least have meaning to the individual. I am a firm believer in its not whats on the outside that counts, but with a tattooed women you have the rare opportunity to see what she is thinking.

all15minutefame
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 02:46 pm: [report]

@YodarCritch

I thought before getting my tattoo, and I still love it. Not all of us are stilly college girls looking for a way to piss off daddy.

EvyHabilatory
wrote on November 17 2009 @ 08:49 pm: [report]

Wow. I am so glad my husband isn’t as narrow-minded as some of the guys on here. “My wife can’t have tattoos!” I hope all of your guys’ wives run out and get about 20 tattoos each. Saying that you don’t want a person based on something on the outside of their body means you’re going to miss a lot of amazing women with good things on the inside. But that’s okay… if you’re a superficial jerk, you don’t deserve a woman who is good anyway.

lareinedeslames
wrote on November 18 2009 @ 03:13 am: [report]

InTenn: See, though, that’s the whole point I was making. By buying into those “stereotypes,” you perpetuate them. We all do.

What I find funny about your comment is that I mentioned that my tattoo is not visible. People who didn’t know me when I first got it or from before I got it are generally stunned to find out that I have one at all. I don’t strike people as the “tattoo type.” I dress professionally, even in my day-to-day life, I sometimes wear glasses.

Now you tell me, how, exactly, I play into a stereotype?

Contrariwise, I’d like to point out that those same “stereotypes” about women are part of what has prevented women from positions of power, or kept them disenfranchised for longer than other minorities, and even reinforce the dreaded glass ceiling. Why on earth won’t people think about the beliefs they have about people? Especially when it comes to something so silly as body modification?

Blue Ring
wrote on November 18 2009 @ 10:32 pm: [report]

It’s totally inappropirate to judge a person based soely on their ink - crap or not. Give people a chance to defy your expectations.  Although it’s fair to say I consider the tattoos an “early Dbag detection system” if they’re even remotely repulsed by or snarky about my tattoos they get the boot THEN and THERE.  It’s a real time saver.  (pleasantly - my tattoos actually helped clinch my current job in research science.  Inked dedication to ones past projects is apparently a good thing!)

therandomappl
wrote on November 20 2009 @ 01:05 am: [report]

I have one tattoo and truthfully it’s probably the only one I’ll ever have… I have a sword on my back the blade runs all the way down my spine and the hilt goes up to the top of my neck and across my shoulders… I love my tattoo, it means something to me and when I got it my reasoning had nothing to do with wanting to make some sort of statement to others… I got it as a reminder to myself, that when life seems it’s dimmest not to forget or lose myself to that darkness, to be strong… I don’t make judgments or assumptions about other peoples body art. I mean if you want a full on mural of dale earnhardt tattooed to your forearm, whatever I wouldnt but that’s your choice and I would ask you why before I made an assinine assumption… I do find it funny however (and annoying) when people automatically assume religious connotations when they see my tat

E911Angel
wrote on November 20 2009 @ 11:54 am: [report]

If you have a tattoo you regret, but still want a tattoo, find a good cover up artist. Or, if you really want it gone, it’s cheaper these days to get them removed (however still way more expensive, and just as painful, as the tattoo itself.) I have just one tattoo at the moment, and I am dating a tattoo artist. And my tattoo means something to me, and I don’t think I will regret it when I am 80.
“Forget regret, or life if yours to miss.” ~Rent