Show us your tattoos

[Cagey]

Now that is funny, My brother works for Raytheon, in the government area, most of the stuff he does is with missiles and stuff and he cannot discuss it. So I have met quite a few guys from there, and I have seen a quite a few tats, No not the ones like up the forearm or on the neck, but in the socially acceptable type, trust me no one seems to mind, Like I said it must be a California thing.

No, you see those here, too. The traditional military-service type tats on the upper arm are pretty common. I think at one time, that was sort of a badge of honor, as only those guys got them. Then the MC clubs started doing it big-time, then of course the gangs and the whores had to follow, then the prisoner alumnus, until now when you don't know what you'll see or where.

 

[Cagey]

I got my tats later in life, when I was a teen I never got one because I never had a idea I could live with for the rest of my life
now did I get suddenly immature?

I don't know. Did you? <grin>

 

[Jusatele]

Yes, I suddenly at the age of 48 decided I wanted to look cool to 18 year old chicks, go out and get a corvette, divorce the wife and get a tattoo
problem is I STILL HAVE THE SAME WIFE, NO CORVETTE, COULD NOT LOOK COOL TO A 18 YEAR OLD CHICK, and why would I want one of those immature things anyway always wining, BUT I GOT THE TATTOOS.

 

[NLD09]

You know, it just occured to me, the fact that we're having this discussion on a FREAKING MUSIC FORUM speaks volumes about their acceptance in the wider population.

lol no this is a guitar building forum.

 

[Cagey]

Yes, I suddenly at the age of 48 decided I wanted to look cool to 18 year old chicks, go out and get a corvette, divorce the wife and get a tattoo
problem is I STILL HAVE THE SAME WIFE, NO CORVETTE, COULD NOT LOOK COOL TO A 18 YEAR OLD CHICK, and why would I want one of those immature things anyway always wining, BUT I GOT THE TATTOOS.

Couldn't follow through with your mid-life crisis, eh? <grin>

I did just the opposite. Divorced the wife, got the race car, and took up housekeeping with a hottie. All with no tattoos <grin>

 

[Jusatele]

My wife is still a hottie, and I do not have to listen to Britney Spears

 

[AndyG]

Tattoo have nothing to do with maturity level, self-esteem or other wise.  They are a personal choice, one that happens to be permanent.  Not unlike someone who gets a nose job, or a woman who gets her chest "augmented", or someone who goes in for dental veneers.  They are doing something to themselves that they wish to do.
Now I realise tattoos are more fringe than cosmetic surgery.  However, these days fringe is acceptable.  You would barely see anyone with their nose pierced 20 years ago, and nowadays there are people who I am sure would have a hard time at airport security for the amount of metal in their faces.
Personally I find alot of tattoos to be true works of art.
I got one on my shoulder at age 23 ... I'm 41 now and do not regret the decision nor am I ashamed of it.

 

[Cagey]

I got rid of the race car and the hottie. Still single, though, and likely to stay that way.

 

[line6man]

 

[JamesL]

Wow, really? It's an art form, just like music... Enough said.

and btw. I do not have self esteem issues and I pay taxes ever year just like the rest of you.

 

[JamesL]

Yea, I have a few tattoos.... You get the idea :laughing7:

 

[AGWAN]

How many people get the Eve 6 Reference on that last one?

 

[JaySwear]

i think my ex-gf has 27 now :icon_scratch: can't remember. started off looking great, but now she's just getting them for the sake of getting them. and none of them are thought out or even well done anymore. i'll definitely get a few, but i'm way more careful about what i'm going to pick out for myself.

 

[Nando Vallart]

I like tattoos a lot!!

 

[Cletus]

Cagey, I think Fad was the word I was looking for, but I do not think the general blanket statement about mental stability you make is valid, more of a personal view.

I didn't mean to imply a mental/emotional instability like a Hannibal Lector/David Koresh/Charles Manson sort of insane, but more along the lines of a general tendency to make poor choices or bad decisions like many teenagers and early twenty-somethings are wont to do. It's a maturity thing, where early on a lot of actions are hip shots rather than carefully considered moves.

That's a pretty judgemental attitude. Who decides what is mature and what is not? Do you drive over the speed limit? do you get drunk? These things can be fairly described as not very mature, and more damaging, either potentially or actually, to yourself than tattoos.

For the record, here's one of mine (sorry about the hairy legs, I was made that way):

Edit: sorry-stupid photobucket.

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

Hairy legs is mature :icon_thumright:

Cool 'nade!

 

[nexrex]

Grenade. Nice tat. It's a bit odd considering you have such a big anti-stance on weapons/guns?  :icon_scratch:

 

[mullyman]

Grenade. Nice tat. It's a bit odd considering you have such a big anti-stance on weapons/guns?   :icon_scratch:

He only takes that "anti-weapon" stance because a hand grenade exploded on his leg.
MULLY

 

[Cagey]

That's a pretty judgemental attitude. Who decides what is mature and what is not? Do you drive over the speed limit? do you get drunk? These things can be fairly described as not very mature, and more damaging, either potentially or actually, to yourself than tattoos.

I must admit, I'm very judgemental about a lot of things. For instance, in my judgement, trying to stop the blade of my table saw with my bare hands is a bad idea, I don't care what anybody says. Likewise for pouring hot coffee down my pants, injecting myself with HIV or jumping unaided out of a perfectly good airplane in flight. But, I wasn't aware we were trying to make a list of of the relative damage or maturity of all the decisions a person could actually or potentially make. We're talking about tattoos. In the grand scheme of things, they're generally not dangerous, although I can think of some situations where they might be. And as far as immature behavior is concerned, that's relative. In some circles, you're very nearly required to have tattoos. In others, they're most definitely contraindicated. Luckily, we live in a country where the choice is yours, as are the consequences. So, whatever's best for you.

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I think the maturity-discussion is redickulous.

YES, it's lots of stupid tattoos around the world, but there is also lots of tattoos that actually means something to alot of people.
I do agree that the tattoos should be planned, and not something you do when you're drunk or depressed or in another unstable state of mind.