Enna wrote:

Hmmm then I supppose so are my pireced ears. If we choose to decorate our bodies of our own free will, is it mutilation? I think about the cultures around the world who stretch their bottom lips out with hugh plates or put coiled rings on their necks to elongate them, all in the name of beauty. One person's definition of beauty is another person's mutilation.

I wouldn't consider it mutilation if the tatoos are culture driven or similar. In those cultures it's a necessity, I suppose. But here? I don't think so.

Yeah, personal freedom allows one to "decorate" one's self, but that doesn't justify the need to do it.

People seem to do it to show some kind of (bogus) dedication, as if it were some kind of guarantee or mark of honor...

Enna wrote:

Hmmm then I supppose so are my pireced ears. If we choose to decorate our bodies of our own free will, is it mutilation? I think about the cultures around the world who stretch their bottom lips out with hugh plates or put coiled rings on their necks to elongate them, all in the name of beauty. One person's definition of beauty is another person's mutilation. bmwracer wrote: I wouldn't consider it mutilation if the tatoos are culture driven or similar. In those cultures it's a necessity, I suppose. But here? I don't think so. Yeah, personal freedom allows one to "decorate" one's self, but that doesn't justify the need to do it. People seem to do it to show some kind of (bogus) dedication, as if it were some kind of guarantee or mark of honor...

I think I get what you are saying bmw. If tattoos were an agreed upon mark of beauty or tribal distinction in our culture, then you could see the need for them. But since they are individually chosen, with no particular meaning or significance to the group as a whole, then they are sort of done for vanity's sake only.

As for me, the only tattoos I don't find attractive are the ones on black or brown skin tones. When I see all the tattoos on the Black NBA players, for example, especially the darker skinned brothas, it always looks like dirty skin to me. Hey they were born with such beautiful skin tones, why cover them up?

i want a tatoo..but i dont wanna get something that i will regret later..
i think that i know what to get..once i get it ima take a picture ^_^

TANG wrote:

i want a tatoo..but i dont wanna get something that i will regret later.. i think that i know what to get..once i get it ima take a picture ^_^

If you don't mind my asking TANG..Why do you want a tattoo? Where on your body do you want it?

i want a tattoo bcs i think they are sexy sometimes cute
and i want a tattoo that means something to me..
i think i will get one on my wrist (my mothers initials..all of her kids have that tattoo)
and i didnt decide the other yet..i dunno..where do u think?
whatever it is , i will have my cousin make it for me..i dont want to be walking around with the same life time scar, as anyone else..then what would b the point?

Enna wrote:

I think I get what you are saying bmw. If tattoos were an agreed upon mark of beauty or tribal distinction in our culture, then you could see the need for them. But since they are individually chosen, with no particular meaning or significance to the group as a whole, then they are sort of done for vanity's sake only.

Right on, Enna-chan. Very eloquently said.

I read/heard somewehre that tatoos are a poor man's investment in art.

Quote:

As for me, the only tattoos I don't find attractive are the ones on black or brown skin tones. When I see all the tattoos on the Black NBA players, for example, especially the darker skinned brothas, it always looks like dirty skin to me. Hey they were born with such beautiful skin tones, why cover them up?

Right on again.

bmwracer wrote:

Yeah, personal freedom allows one to "decorate" one's self, but that doesn't justify the need to do it. People seem to do it to show some kind of (bogus) dedication, as if it were some kind of guarantee or mark of honor...

i guess you're not a fan of them?

well, i'm very happy with my backpiece and i don't consider it a mark of honour. it's not even about vanity as no one can see it unless i take my shirt off. it's definitely not a yakuza thing either!

my tattoo is personal to me and has a meaning to me that's why i took over 10 years to get it right.

TANG wrote:

i want a tattoo bcs i think they are sexy sometimes cute and i want a tattoo that means something to me.. i think i will get one on my wrist (my mothers initials..all of her kids have that tattoo) and i didnt decide the other yet..i dunno..where do u think? whatever it is , i will have my cousin make it for me..i dont want to be walking around with the same life time scar, as anyone else..then what would b the point?

Has your mother passed away TANG? Is that why all of her kids have that tattoo?

Can't help you with any suggestions. That is something that has to be personal and meaningful to you since you will have it on your body for the rest of your life. Plus I really am not a big fan at all of tattoos on brown or black skin. I think we came into this world with such a wide variety of naturally beautiful skin tones, why cover it up?

kenjilina wrote:

well, i'm very happy with my backpiece and i don't consider it a mark of honour. it's not even about vanity as no one can see it unless i take my shirt off. it's definitely not a yakuza thing either! my tattoo is personal to me and has a meaning to me that's why i took over 10 years to get it right.

Since it has a special meaning and significance to you that is really all that matters.

kenjilina wrote:

i guess you're not a fan of them?

Not really.

I don't see their point.

Quote:

my tattoo is personal to me and has a meaning to me that's why i took over 10 years to get it right.

That's fine. As long as you're happy with it.

I think Aho felt that way for a while, then decided one day that they weren't for him and went through the expense of having 'em removed.

i will get a small tatoo..i wont be covering up my skin...
(i know that my skin is beautiful, i would never do such a thing )
but honsetly..i plan to get two small ones bcs i happen to think that they look nice on skin tones such as my own..not dirty or unattracive..
i would hardly call having my mothers initials (and yes she is still alive,)
being a huge mark up or cover on my body...
anyway..i think that tatoos are cute..and to many they have deep meanings..who cares what anyone else thinks, its their body and honestly...there is no need to worry about what somebody else scrapes on their skin...its not like they are touching your body..
..tang lixe tatoos

TANG wrote:

i will get a small tatoo..i wont be covering up my skin... (i know that my skin is beautiful, i would never do such a thing ) but honsetly..i plan to get two small ones bcs i happen to think that they look nice on skin tones such as my own..not dirty or unattracive.. i would hardly call having my mothers initials (and yes she is still alive,) being a huge mark up or cover on my body... anyway..i think that tatoos are cute..and to many they have deep meanings..who cares what anyone else thinks, its their body and honestly...there is no need to worry about what somebody else scrapes on their skin...its not like they are touching your body.. ..tang lixe tatoos

I was just curious as to why you wanted your tattoos, that's all. I wasn't attacking your right to do so or belittling your choices. I am not worrying about what others put on their skin. I was merely stating my opinions, just like everyone else here has done. To each his own. You know the expression..."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Don't have one. I think I learned my lesson as a child when I asked my mom what the letters on my dad's hand stood for. She replied "Ask your dad" and arched her eyebrow. (She always did that when she was flustered). So I asked him and he said "They're the initials of someone I used to know". Well, later that day (and some distance away from my mom) I found out that they were his ex-girlfriend's initials .

From that point on I've been a little turned of by them needless to say .
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Enna wrote:

I think I get what you are saying bmw. If tattoos were an agreed upon mark of beauty or tribal distinction in our culture, then you could see the need for them. But since they are individually chosen, with no particular meaning or significance to the group as a whole, then they are sort of done for vanity's sake only. As for me, the only tattoos I don't find attractive are the ones on black or brown skin tones. When I see all the tattoos on the Black NBA players, for example, especially the darker skinned brothas, it always looks like dirty skin to me. Hey they were born with such beautiful skin tones, why cover them up?

i think mike tyson falls into all those categories!!

shoujo22 wrote:

Don't have one. I think I learned my lesson as a child when I asked my mom what the letters on my dad's hand stood for. She replied "Ask your dad" and arched her eyebrow. (She always did that when she was flustered). So I asked him and he said "They're the initials of someone I used to know". Well, later that day (and some distance away from my mom) I found out that they were his ex-girlfriend's initials . From that point on I've been a little turned of by them needless to say .

gf/bf name tattoos = bad luck

krim wrote:

gf/bf name tattoos = bad luck

Angelina Jolie can attest to that.

What an idiot.

bmwracer wrote:

That's fine. As long as you're happy with it. I think Aho felt that way for a while, then decided one day that they weren't for him and went through the expense of having 'em removed.

Indeed I did have tattoos on my fingers (got them when I was 14?) however getting a job was hard and didn't exactly give me the "best image". So I decided to get those lasered off.
The oher tattoos I have (on both legs and arms), I'm quite happy with. I've learned my lesson where I'll never get tattoos in visible places anymore. Only places where I can cover them up.
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krim wrote:

gf/bf name tattoos = bad luck bmwracer wrote: Angelina Jolie can attest to that.

So can Johhny Depp. He had to change the name of his one time g/f Winona Ryder to "Wino Forever." Now that was clever!

ahochaude wrote:

Only places where I can cover them up.

I gotcha.

But it also seems contradictory to having the tatoo(s): so you can show it off.

My dad was only 16 when he got his though .
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