My Morrissey Tattoo

[nothappynotsad]

If you didn't want the attention, then why did you get tattoos?

I think a common misconception about people with tattoos is that we get them for the attention. I know that this probably is true in some extreme cases, but mostly I think that people get tattooed for themselves and their own personal reasons. Do you put on your shirt in the morning hoping that someone will comment on it? Tattoos are personal and should be taken at face value. Yes, I have someone's face on my arm and who it might be is none of your fucking business, purely for the reason that I did not get it for you. Get it?

Well, being that she is herself a stranger, and is proclaiming her tattoo/personal drama in public to strangers, I'd say she should deserves what she gets. Not that I think she should be ridiculed; but I'm just saying.

Most of these people who responded to her post were consolatory and supportive. My question could hardly be construed as stupid, unless one is very touchy and lacking even a modicum of self-confidence...which is almost always the case with tattooey people.

But the implication in your statement, of course, is that if one dares offer anything other than automatic effusive praise when someone proclaims they're getting ink, then it's just absolute closed-mindedness and cruelty...because, you know, how could anyone possibly not think tattooing is super-awesome. Right?

I don't find anything wrong with your comments in this thread. She put this thread on solo for the purpose of discussion, I imagine. Having a discussion about your tattoos on the internet and having to explain them to gawking strangers are two completely different things. I don't blame people for their curiosity, but it gets annoying after the first hundred or so times.

[Skylarker]

I think a common misconception about people with tattoos is that we get them for the attention. I know that this probably is true in some extreme cases, but mostly I think that people get tattooed for themselves and their own personal reasons. Do you put on your shirt in the morning hoping that someone will comment on it? Tattoos are personal and should be taken at face value. Yes, I have someone's face on my arm and who it might be is none of your fucking business, purely for the reason that I did not get it for you. Get it?

I don't find anything wrong with your comments in this thread. She put this thread on solo for the purpose of discussion, I imagine. Having a discussion about your tattoos on the internet and having to explain them to gawking strangers are two completely different things. I don't blame people for their curiosity, but it gets annoying after the first hundred or so times.

I get what you're saying and your arguments are well stated, but remember, a tattoo -like a T-shirt or a bumper sticker, except in a much more permanent, personal way- are decidedly external emblazonings of the symbols of your feelings, experiences, tastes, aspects of your personal life, etc. That they are external and and are, in fact, sometimes much easier for other people to see than for you to see yourself, (except maybe in the mirror) begs a dependency on the recognition by others -oftentimes strangers- of those symbols.

I have no doubt that many people get tattoos for very significant, personal reasons and that many people with tattoos find generic flash art insulting and disgusting. I am in no way contesting the notion of unique, personal relevance in many people's tattoos. All I'm saying is that it is a little hard to buy the "well it's my tattoo so fuck off and mind your own business" aspect when, as just stated, the basic foundational definition of a tattoo is that it is an image (to be seen) and that although personal in nature, it is external (on the outside of the person)...

My girlfriend has a huge blue panther, or a puma or some shit, tattooed across the side of her scalp. She got it when she was 18 and it means something to her (I guess) and it used to be very visible because she shaved her head a lot. Even though she is old now (early 30s, which is old for a girl), whenever she shaves her head for a cancer benefit, there it is again...a big-ass blue cat, right on her head. She has never implied regret for getting it done (she has many others as well) but she always expresses annoyance whenever some moron accosts her and is like, "dayam, didn't that HURT?..."

She is always polite and patient when she answers them "yes," but then when she bitches to me personally about it, my answer is always the same:

"Well, you did get a fucking blue cat tattooed on your fucking head. Deal with it."

[nothappynotsad]

I get what you're saying and your arguments are well stated, but remember, a tattoo -like a T-shirt or a bumper sticker, except in a much more permanent, personal way- are decidedly external emblazonings of the symbols of your feelings, experiences, tastes, aspects of your personal life, etc. That they are external and and are, in fact, sometimes much easier for other people to see than for you to see yourself, (except maybe in the mirror) begs a dependency on the recognition by others -oftentimes strangers- of those symbols.

I have no doubt that many people get tattoos for very significant, personal reasons and that many people with tattoos find generic flash art insulting and disgusting. I am in no way contesting the notion of unique, personal relevance in many people's tattoos. All I'm saying is that it is a little hard to buy the "well it's my tattoo so fuck off and mind your own business" aspect when, as just stated, the basic foundational definition of a tattoo is that it is an image (to be seen) and that although personal in nature, it is external (on the outside of the person)...

My girlfriend has a huge blue panther, or a puma or some shit, tattooed across the side of her scalp. She got it when she was 18 and it means something to her (I guess) used to be very visible because she shaved her head a lot. Even though she is old now (early 30s, which is old for a girl), whenever she shaves her head for a cancer benefit, there it is again..a big-ass blue cat, right on her head. She has never implied regret for getting it done (she has many others as well) but she always expresses annoyance whenever some moron accosts her and is like, "dayam, didn't that HURT?..."

She is always polite and patient when she answers them "yes," but then when she bitches to me personally about it, my answer is always the same:

"Well, you did get a fucking blue cat tattooed on your fucking head. Deal with it."

Touché.

[Anonymous]

She is always polite and patient when she answers them "yes," but then when she bitches to me personally about it, my answer is always the same:

"Well, you did get a fucking blue cat tattooed on your fucking head. Deal with it."

I think I love you.

[Skylarker]

I think I love you.

So what are you so afraid of?

[cornelius blaze]

[CrystalGeezer]

[CrystalGeezer]

[CrystalGeezer]

[CrystalGeezer]

This is one actually kind of impressive as far as realism in a tat goes.

[Anonymous]

So what are you so afraid of?

Bigamy.

[Skylarker]

Bigamy.

Well, it's not my fault you did something retarded like getting married. Score 1 for the expectations of society and your parents.

This is one actually kind of impressive as far as realism in a tat goes.

Golden Girls is so gross; I never understood the appeal of that show or how it was supposedly funny. You had a dried-up old slut (read "frisky"), a moron (read "fun-loving"), a dyke (read "strong"), and a bitter (read "sassy") old bitch.

Yeah...I'll tune right in for that one.

Elderly women are horrifying in every way. The show was a hit with women for whom the concept of living past 50 at all was, in itself, considered some kind of miraculous achievement or victory. Typical broads...patting themselves on the back just for being alive. I'd like to see them change a tire!

But to each his own, I guess.

[CrystalGeezer]

Golden Girls is so gross; I never understood the appeal of that show or how it was supposedly funny. You had a dried-up old slut (read "frisky"), a moron (read "fun-loving"), a dyke (read "strong"), and a bitter (read "sassy") old bitch.

Yeah...I'll tune right in for that one.

Elderly women are horrifying in every way. The show was a hit with women for whom the concept of living past 50 at all was, in itself, considered some kind of miraculous achievement or victory. Typical broads...patting themselves on the back just for being alive. I'd like to see them change a tire!

But to each his own, I guess.

Don't fuck with the Golden Girls.

[Skylarker]

Don't fuck with the Golden Girls.

I was kidding; I have no real problems with it. I never really paid too much attention to it, is all.

I mean hell, I like ALF and Small Wonder. And Perfect Strangers.

[nothappynotsad]

Golden Girls is so gross; I never understood the appeal of that show or how it was supposedly funny. You had a dried-up old slut (read "frisky"), a moron (read "fun-loving"), a dyke (read "strong"), and a bitter (read "sassy") old bitch.

Yeah...I'll tune right in for that one.

Elderly women are horrifying in every way. The show was a hit with women for whom the concept of living past 50 at all was, in itself, considered some kind of miraculous achievement or victory. Typical broads...patting themselves on the back just for being alive. I'd like to see them change a tire!

But to each his own, I guess.

My grandmother used to watch this show a lot when I was a kid.
Blanche's face used to scare the bejesus out of me.