Hoo boy, how times change.

I probably have one of the more irrelevant opinions about this because I'm no doubt a lot older than most of you.

When I was a kid, the only people that were tattooed were ex-servicemen, who normally got tats overseas during a drunken weekend on leave. And carnys. You know, those dentally challenged types that run the tilt-a-whirl at the weekend carnival in the shopping center parking lot.

Back then, tattooing wasn't even legal in my state. Although there were some "outlaw" tattoo artists that would show up at motorcycle events around the state. At those gigs, the police were paying a lot more attention to things other than tattooing.

So it became associated with bikers, then rock stars. It was a symbol of non-conformity, so naturally everyone had to have one.

Nowadays, they're a lot more mainstream. Personally, I'm not a fan. Rode Harleys for a long time, but never felt motivated for any skin art.

I probably wouldn't have not dated a woman just because she had a tattoo, but it wouldn't have been an inducement.

Me + the Wife = no tats.

I think they can be pretty cool looking if placed in the right places. I'm concerned about the number of people that are getting them because of friends doing it though.

I grew up in a biker envirornment, so I'm used to seeing people seriously done up. I'm not going to endanger the future of my health by injecting ink into my body. I already endanger my health enough!

The ones like in jail or prison, you have to show you're devotion to a particular group, that's just jailhouse politics. I feel that most people that spend time and return alot. They have tats because they want everyone to think they are one of the few that are truly hardcore. It has gotten to the point everyone is being a wanna be, with there markings etc.

Stupid stickers. Tats on the neck. That's a guarenteed way to destroy your future. Tough times don't last, but stupid stickers are for ever.

But, all in all I think they are kinda cool!

I'm a fan of GOOD tattoos. I don't like tacky looking tattoos. I personally prefer tribal and celtic designs and I'm not too fond of loads of colour used in tattoos. Also, y'cant beat a lady with a tattoo on the bottom of her back! I got my first tattoo on April 25th, I love it!

Here's the design:


And here's how it turned out:



[edit on 4-5-2007 by xeroxed88]

I love tatts, always have. Ive got 7 so far, but a few of those are pretty old skool now. Cant really afford to get into it as much as i would like too nowadays (mortgage, kids, bills etc). Tatts are fine on men and women imo, though my wife doesnt have any it never bothered her that i was into it.

Here's the last tatt that i had done last year, it still has a fair bit of background work to be done, have to wait for my birthday, i'm asking everyone for money so i can go and get it finished. Donations gratefully accepted.

I think tattoos are cool, not sure i'd want one on me though I've gone so far as to pick out celtic designs if I were to get drunk and just happen to get one.

But what would be next beyond a tattoo?

Right now, the technology may not be there, but perhaps not far from now, subcutaneous, silicon or glass encased micro-fine LEDs injected to create patterns or pictures to light up the skin. Add a tiny processor, animation, add a somewhat larger processor, a display.

But back up a bit to the lower tech version of this: pass a magnet of the anywhere from 20 to 500 points of light under your skin (which by the way, if done properly, will heal with a scarring effect, having the LED underneath) and you can turn the light array on or off.

Just a thought.

They have already developed UV sensitive tattoos that "glow in the dark" in club settings. But they don't work very well and I've heard they may be fairly toxic.

I'll stick with normal inks, thanks.

Personally, I don't mind a woman with "some" body art. But I think women with full on head-to-toe tattoos are a real turn-off. I think one or two small to medium tattoos placed on certain areas of a woman's body can be very sexy, though. I have three medium sized tats myself; both biceps and one forearm and wouldn't mind a bit more in the future if I could ever afford it.

Originally posted by Mr. Fantasy
Personally, I don't mind a woman with "some" body art. But I think women with full on head-to-toe tattoos are a real turn-off. I think one or two small to medium tattoos placed on certain areas of a woman's body can be very sexy, though. I have three medium sized tats myself; both biceps and one forearm and wouldn't mind a bit more in the future if I could ever afford it.

For real man! Cuz you gotta remember at a distance you just look like a blue human when you cover yourself completely.

I've got an appointment for Thursday afternoon to have the last bit finished. Wish me luck -- this time it's spine AND ribs. The artist told me that I was in for a whole new universe of pain.

The doctor who just delivered my son this saturday took of the scrubs and was sleeved on both arms...we had a discussion about our ink and found out we actually know some of the same artists...what a small world.

good work aint cheap...cheap work aint good...take time to think about what you want...make sure your still gonna want it when your 80 and i see no problem with getting inked up they are alot more acceptable these days..the pastor at my cousins church where he works has some nice ink aswell.

34 tattoos and several more in the works. i have been a fanatic for a long time. they all mean something from the largest on my rib cage to the simple 'freak out' on my arm.
they are all planned but executed differently. i just got teo done a few days ago on each shoulder. i was in a real bad mood and wanted some script. i told her just to toss it on, no stencil.
sometimes when i am real pissed getting inked makes me feel better nad when i am like that, that is usually when i get my script. they are not horrendous but they are not immaculate either.

i have several grand on me though. some pretty nice pieces

I would never get a tattoo. I don't "disapprove" of them or anything. I feel that getting a tattoo is one's own personal choice but not for me.

I just don't think that it's necessary to give the police one more piece of identification than they already have on me.

Tattoos are addicting. I got my first one right after I got out of boot camp. Classic "USMC" on my arm. After that I've been addicted. Of course with the new Marine Corps order, I have to hold off on alot of the tats I want.

I have 5. I got my first one the day I turned 18. I have my first name on my ankle. Had I realized all the crap I'd get from putting my own name on me, I wouldn't have done it. People say the stupidest crap. "Is that for when you're drunk and you forget your name?" Sigh...

The top of my left foot is a sun, my right foot I had a tribute to my parents put on. Wings with a thread of ribbon and 2 wedding bands tied to it..I also put some stars ontop of my foot and around it.

When my friend came out to visit in October, she knew I wanted to get a tattoo, so she asked me to wait til she got here to get her first one. I wanted my sign (pisces) on the back of my neck. I love it. She got dog footprints and rat footprints.

My last one,few months ago, was the first initial of my name and hubby's. He was supposed to get it too, but he chickend out. I made the script look like it's just a drawing and not actual letters. It's pretty darn good in my opinion and its on my left wrist.

There is one I really want, but its a huge backpiece. Knowing me, I'd want it all done right then and there. But I know it can't be that way. SO who knows if I will do it. Probably not, but I know I will get another tattoo when I find the right one.

Sorry, my bad......

[edit on 9/7/07 by mojo4sale]

Don't have any. Probably won't get any, but I suppose that I could change my mind someday. It's doubtful though. I'm 44 and have gone undecorated this long.

Out at a pool recently I noticed that these days I seem to be more unique by not having a tattoo since everyone else seems to have one or more.

I currently have three tats; one each on my right and left shoulder and one on my right forearm. I am not real happy with the one on my arm. It was the first one I ever had done and didn't put too much thought into it beforehand. Now I am trying to find a design to cover it up and not look like it's cover art.

Next after that is a wrap-around design for my left forearm. I'm thinking of a Chinese or Japanese-style dragon and having it coiled from elbow to wrist. Lots of reds and greens so it really pops.

My tattos are very special to me and as an artist, body art is a special fav. I find them appealing/sexy on a man. It's always plus as an aesthetic and somthing in common with the person. More and more often men like tats on women.

[edit on 28-8-2007 by dreamingawake]