Poll: Tattoos

[Ron Wenrich]

It seems to be pretty popular nowadays.  How many do you have, where are they, why did you get them?

Poll expires 8-6-06

[stumpy]

I have 2. Why I have them and what they are are of only interest to me.  Those who have tattoos know what I mean. Those who don't have them, wouldn't understand why anyone would get one regardless of the design. I don't mean that in a negative way, It's just what I think.

[Jeff]

Ya know, I have always been dead set against having a tattoo, but it seems lately that my attitudes have been really swinging the other way.  I tell ya what, if someone could show me the design I have in my head, I would consider one now after all this battle with my the use of my shoulders and arms.  I would like to have a tattoo of a circle saw tearing into my left bicep.

[Furby]

Careful Jeff, my cousin recently started getting them and says they are addicting.
He's on his second or third large one and has several more planned.
From what I've seen of others, it is indeed an addiction. :-\

[Jeff]

Well, I gots lots of canvas for them to work on if that was to happen. ;D

[Furby]

There are folks that do their own............

[DanG]

I have no tattoos, unless you want to count the blue spot in my left ear, where Roy Edwards poked his pencil through there in the fourth grade. :

[Furby]

Well Jeff, I'm guessing we may be able to help ya out at the roast. ;)
I'm thinking maybe a "decorate Jeff" contest. ???
;D 8)

[jon12345]

I don't have any but I'm not against it, just gonna wait til they invent the painless needle  :D

[Tom]

[Fred]

Love those Tattooos Jeff I think tom can do it!!!
                    Fred

[Jeff]

THats disgusting.  :D

[Radar67]

One on the left upper arm. I tend to agree with Stumpy, the symbolism is personal in nature and many wouldn't understand it.

Stew

[Daren]

I have one, I got it almost 20 years ago. I could never get another. Not because I don't like them. I just get nervous setting so long. I don't even go to the barber I used to because he was so slow, no kidding my wife has cut my hair for years just because it bothered to wait in line and have to set in his chair forever while he talked to everyone in the shop instead of just getting the job done.

I used to really like tattoos, now I rarely even notice them on myself or others.

[breederman]

I don't have any and won't. The wife and i went camping last weekend and went down to the beach,  seemed like we were the only ones "unadorned".  Some tatoos I like but most of what we saw that day should have stayed covered up. :  Come to think of it most of em shoulda stayed covered up even if they had no tats. ;D

[Patty]

I don't have one, but I think they are kinda cool, if done right.

I am old, so when I was growing up, tatoos were limited to sailors and bikers, now things are different. I think they are a neat self-expression sort of thing. Kinda like why I have 3 earrings in one ear, and none in the other. Why? Because I can!    Because it is different. It is me expressing my individualism in a subtle sort of way. Tats are cool.  smiley_rainbow_colors

[getoverit]

I got a tatoo about 10 years ago at a classic Chevy show and added to it the following year at the same show. It is just an individual decision and design and I know that nobody else has one just like it. I have considered getting another one, but so far havent done so. Mine is on my upper arm where it isnt seen by others unless I go without a shirt.

I guess I have funny ideas about tats on women, but I'm different like that. I dont particularly like to see a woman with a tat.

[beenthere]

For me, a tattoo is like putting bumper stickers on the car, but with the added problem that they can't be removed (if ideas change, one grows up, or whatever might change). If they were removable (like ear rings and other body hardware), I might think different. 
I haven't seen a tattoo yet that I thought looked good, or that went beyond just a 'tarnish' to someone's skin and body. 
But I've no problem with anyone who wants one or has one. It's their body, and they can hang a sign on it to announce that if they so feel like it. 

[flip]

I got one on my right arm I got in Vegas :  Don't ask.

The one on my left is the Dalzel family crest, dad's side is Scottish.  It has a neat saying "I dare".  

I won't get anymore not because I don't like them, but they are kinda permanent and I hate to worry about getting them touched up every 20 years.

Flip

[johncinquo]

The good tattoo'ers are "artists".  If you go describe what you want to a good tattoo person, they can draw up exactly what you envision, and maybe a couple versions.  If it doesnt blow your mind and make you say "wow I would like that on my body", then its probably the wrong thing for you.  If they have to trace it from something to be able to do it, they are just another guy with a gun.  Better watch out Jeff, you might end up with one if you start talking about it to people! 

I just saw an old guy with tattoos the other day.  I figured his tats were pretty fresh, all vibrant colors, looked great.  I commented and he said they were over 50 to 30 years old.  He just took great care to avoid the sun and made sure the guy putting them on was knowledgeable and used good ink.  Mine have faded and need to be redone due to many days out in the sun with no sunscreen.  Yeah yeah, living the wild life!

[thurlow]

One of the reality shows (Miami Ink????) on Discovery??  TLC??? is about tattoos.  I've got enough body scars........inadvertent..........that I sure don't need any additional markings.  I do have a ring in my nose; does that count?   Of course it's invisible; some DanG preacher put it there 40-plus years ago.  I've grown so use to it that I'm hardly ever aware that it's there. :D :D :D

[treecyclers]

I have one tasteful and meaningful to me from my days in the Marines.
I earned the title when I graduated boot camp, and being a Marine is in my blood forever.
On my shoulder, I proudly wear my skull with crossed rifles, Marine cover, and USMC beneath it.
Tats are permanent, the same as my being a Marine for life, which is part of hte reason I have it.
It's also a proud reminder of all the good times i had while in, and the good that I was able to do while in the service of my country.
Tats aren't for everyone, and some folks get carried away with them too.
If it works for you, go for it. If not, that's OK too.
Now, if I could get my girlfriend to get one on her lower back......OW! (That would be her smacking me upside the head for even thinking about that!)
Have a great day!
SD

[Scooby Doo]

Well I have 3 tattoos. I have Scooby doo on my right ankle and then on my lower back I have just a design then above the design I have a heart with wings that has the initials TRB and 9-8-05. That one has the most meaning of all and those who know me well enough know what it stands for. So no I am not against tattoos and plan to have more and they are very addicting.

[IL Bull]

I don't have one, but I think they are kinda cool, if done right.

I am old, so when I was growing up, tatoos were limited to sailors and bikers, now things are different.

I don't have any but my wife wants us to buy a Harley when we retire.  I told her I don't think we could stand the tatooing! ;D :D

[Max sawdust]

People should do what they want ;)  I have none.  Not a Marine, so can not think of any one symbol I would want on my body to represent my viewpoint the rest of my life. 

max

[Tom]

I don't need a sign. 

[Burlkraft]

Jeff,
I thought for sure you would have the FF logo tattoo'd on yer butt :D :D :D

[JimBuis]

I hate needles and I certainly cannot imagine why I'd want to pay someone to poke me with one a whole bunch of times. For me tattoos are like having a ring in your nose. I don't understand why anyone would want one. If someone wants one and chooses to have it in a location where it doesn't often show, I think that is fine. However, I still cannot get used to seeing folks dressed for a formal occasion and seeing their tattoos clash with their formal attire.

IMHO,
Jim

[thecfarm]

I really don't care for them,but if they not hurting little kids or old people,let them do it.

[Paschale]

I don't have one, and won't ever get one, though I don't have any problem with them.  First, I'm not a fan of the idea of a needle poking at me a thousand times, and secondly, I can't imagine that I'd ever find some sort of design that I would love so much to think that there would never be a time later in life that I wished I didn't have it. 

I've seen that show Miami Ink several times, and I always get sucked into watching it.  It's kind of opened my eyes to people who have tattoos.  For the most part, tats have some strong meaning to the people who have them.  That goes for a friend of mine.  After a nasty divorce, he had tattooed on his wrist the words "This Too Shall Pass," and for him, it had a double meaning:  the crap will be forgotten, but also, all of the good things he might be going through at any point in his life are things he wants to cherish at the moment, because those too will be gone.  I've found that I like to ask people with tats about the stories they tell--pretty interesting stuff!

He's told me they're addicting, which I don't quite understand.  He's on his fourth tat, and I doubt he'll stop. 

Some random thoughts I have about tats:  I've often seen some really young people with tats, say, at the grocery store, working their way through college.  If the tats are seen on your neck, like a big old serpent winding around your body, I think that person could have trouble at a big time interview later in life.  If I were an employer, I wouldn't want an employee of mine having big ole tats sticking out all over their body.  I think some people are rather short sighted in that regard.  The same goes for the big holes in the ear things that college kids wear.  Go for it, but I think those guys will look pretty silly in those things when they're dropping their kids off to daycare in their forties.   ;D

There was a comic that talked about the future of nursing homes:  a lot of wrinkly skinned people with droopy tats all over their bodies.  He made a joke about how you could maybe do one of those Mad comic things on old stretched out tattoos...fold 'em together, and they'd show a different picture.  ;D

though I wouldn't get one, I have seen some cool tats on people, and I'm not opposed to it. 

[Swede]

There is just one in our family having a tatoo. The little dog I gave Annika on her birthday have a number in her ear. 
Every dog in Sweden has to be in a register and have a tatoo or a chip inside the skin.  :

The dog is named Zassy, half Labrador Retriver and half Bordercollie. Looks like a Labrador but I think there is a bigger (bordercollie-) "engine".

Swede.

[Ed_K]

 I have one, its a murial to myself. It has deep meaning, strength,stealth and honor being some of it. An eagle, brown bear, white tail and mt goat across my chest from shoulder to shoulder. Theres over five hrs and its not done. Yes it is addictive  ;).

[GHRoberts]

I have none.

Nothing worse than seeing an old lady with a tattoo on her breast at the Wall*Mart.

[asy]

I don't have any, can't stand the thought of drawing something on myself that I may grow to hate.

I have a theory, don't do anything to your body you'd be embarrassed to show your grandchildren.

I don't mind if other people have tattoos, they're just not for me.

Here's a funny that I don't think I've told on here yet: Had a girl that worked for me as a property manager. She had no tat's to start with, then started getting them while she worked for me.  The main one was a HUGE (about 8" tall) Scarab beetle with wings across her lower back. I thought her mum summed it up when she asked "What's with the Dung beetle crawling out of your Dunkey".  We laughed and laughed when she told us.

asy :D

[barbender]

That's not a pretty picture you're painting

[Part_Timer]

I have acouple that  I have done myself, not the quality of a professional but they have meaning to me.

I figure that it's up to the individual. 

[Corley5]

I don't have tattoos but was close to getting one once.  While working as new construction laborer in the Detroit area my co-workers began referring to me as Wolverine.  It was good natured harassment at first but turned into an honary nickname after I'd proven myself.  I wanted a Wolverine's (the animal not the comic strip guy) head in full snarl on my upper arm or shoulder.  I even went as far as looking and asking about the best tattoo artists.  About that time I was hurt in an auto/pedestrian accident.  I was the pedestrian and never went back to that line of work.  If I hadn't been hurt I'd probably have one and it would have a special meaning to me.  Sometimes I kinda wish I'd have went through with it anyway but wouldn't do it now.  My wife has a music note on one ankle and a flaming ying yang on the other.

[treecyclers]

I dated a girl once that had a neat little tattoo just above her "tushy smile", (altered for the tricycle motor viewer potential), that totally drove me nuts - it was so sexy!
A porpoise dancing on a wave at sunset.....mmmm the memories of that dolphin....just above her bikini bottoms...
smiley_angel02_wings

[ely]

i have one and you would have to see it to understand. its on my upper right arm. took me 39 years to decide on getting one. before that i was totally against them in everyway. i guess folks change. besides if i ever do not want it, i will take it off with a belt sander. :D
i still do not care for the jailhouse tats like tom puts on jeff though, but hey everyone is different.

[LIL]

I have one - had it done when I was 18.  Its on my shoulderblade and I can cover it up or show it off as I see fit. These days I tend to cover it up more (Its an age thing  :-\) I have never regretted having it done and I dont like to think I ever will.  I have often thought of having another - but there has never been another design that has jumped out at me - so I guess the one it is.  However like Patti I also wear earrings - I have five up one side, 3 up the other - just another way of saying "HEY THIS IS ME" :D.  I guess the underlying messages here are each to their own and tolerance - which shows through loud and clear. 

LIL

[oldsaw]

Nope, none on this guy.  At 44, I must already be "old", since I don't like them on women, and most of them on men look dumb...if you are going to do it, make it interesting. 

I like my ink in a magazine, metal for projects, and silicone around my tub.  Just old fashioned, I guess.

Mark

[PineNut]

None on me. Saw one man in electrical supply company today.  His arms and legs were covered. If he wants them, it is his skin, not mine.

[derhntr]

Nope no ink here, Guess I am old too, I can remember when guys got tattoos and girls got their ears pierced.

I don't need wild hair(guess you would have to have some), ink or ear rings or baggy pants to express my indviduallity.

[Faron]

I've been amused at times by the reasons youngsters give for getting a tattoo.  Something like: "I want to express my individuality."  Press a little harder, and it's "Well, everybody is getting one!" :D

[Trax]

Now, if I could get my girlfriend to get one on her lower back....

The younger guys I work with and my sons and there friends refer to tattoo on a girls lower back as a "Tramp Stamp"

[Raphael]

"Tramp Stamp" :D
   I'll have to remember that... I like a lot of those tribal designs but I'd be a lot more likely to paint it over my trucks bumper than tatoo it over mine.  ;)

I'll admit I'm a bit of a tatoo snob...  I have no problem w/ service, memorial and art tatoos but mindless flash is either a waste of skin or worse.

SWMBO has two tatoos, she designed the first as a memorial, the second is for ten years after...
I don't have any, but I do have a good idea of what my tatooed self would look like and can't afford it. :D

[crtreedude]

Well, all I can say is that if you do something pretty on your stomach - I sure hope it holds it's shape...

I see them in areas and think "I don't think that is going to age well..."  :

[tcsmpsi]

I had never had that inclination.  My wife has one that she laments about from time to time.  Large, yellow rose well over 30 yrs old and still bright and colorful.

I see quite a few of those barbed wire tattoos.  Seems to me, that if one really wanted to make such statement, they would get themselves some real barbed wire and wrap around a couple times. 

These later years, there are a lot more of them around.  I suppose some view them as some sort of personal statement.  I always figured if I had something to say, I just come on out and say it. 

Nope.  No earrings, nose rings...or others I have heard of. 

Heck, I'm unique enough as I am.  It has taken decades of perseverance to get this ugly.   ;D