If you don't like tattoos

[TheAverageJoanne]

Can you say why?

I'm fed up of people who think those with tattoos are rough arsed bikers, thick or common.

Maybe that's why some women do it

To weed out the men who think women are supposed to provide "pretty" for them to look at

@MumblesParty I think I can comment on whatever thread I like. Thank you

@Neitheronethingnortheother damn right

I am not a fan of tattoos and wouldn’t get one but there are some very outdated views on here! They aren’t just for bikers and those on low pay 🙄

I am from a time when they were just for convicts or servicemen. Times have changed but I still dont like them. But its 2023 and the wearers choice. I do wonder if the wearer will still feel the same in 30 yrs time.

I understand people not liking them, but to judge someone for it is very silly indeed. There's lot people do that I don't like but I'd certainly not judge them for it.

I don't have any myself. I have toyed with the idea of getting one for a while, but admittedly this thread has put me off the idea now. I'm not sure I'm keen on feeling judging eyes on me if it's ever on display!

As a heavily tattooed person the only comments I don't like and would call out are the sexist ones. I just laugh at the others. The ones about them being "working class" are my favourite. I AM working class, why is being working class a bad thing?

I feel the same about marriage tbh. How can you guarantee you’ll want to be with the same person forever?

I have tattoos but there are certain styles of tattoo I don’t like, and make assumptions about the person - I was going to say fair enough if you just find them ugly, but thinking someone’s rough or common is stupid, then I realised with certain tattoos I do exactly that (tribal, kid’s names, Chinese/Arabic/other cultural appropriation, British flags, football tattoos, butterflies)

I don't mind them generally speaking. DH has a couple and I have friends who have them to varying degrees. I've not wanted one myself - briefly considered it when young but I'm quite fickle and I think I knew I wouldn't like what I chose longer term.

The more extreme end of heavy and visible tattooing does seem to have become more common place in the last 10 years or so. Probably due to social media influence driving trends.

We've not had a time period before where fairly ordinary people have gone so full on with tattooing so I do wonder how someone with their entire neck blacked out will feel about it when they're 65 and no longer have a nice taut neck.

A lot of the 'looks' you see on TikTok or Instagram often work because someone is young and gorgeous anyway. I see quite a lot of very heavily tattooed young women who have a sort of Bettie Page/ 50s/Goth style to go with them. I do think they often look stylish in an alternative sort of way but can you make that look work your whole life?

As a side note I read that Madonna got her first tattoo at 62. Which is great if she fancied one but it's probably worth pointing out she could not have reinvented herself and her look so many times if she'd gone all in with tattoos when she was 20 something.

Yes I’m very happy for my tattoos to repel any man who thinks like that. That PP’s brothers just sound sexist.

The thing is if you listen to people for long enough you will realise that there is someone out there who will judge you for something

Being too tall, too short, too fat, too thin, too disabled, too sporty, too unsporty, too lazy, too active, working, not working, dressing nicely, dressing casually, being a brunette, being a blonde, being a redhead, having short hair, having long hair, having curly hair, being middle aged, being young, being elderly, having kids, not having kids, being married, being single, being religious, being an atheist etc etc etc

So you may as well just live life however the hell you want because someone somewhere will find fault with you anyway. But if you are living how you want to you will probably be happier than that judgemental person in the long run

I know 2 people - man and woman who’ve both had big tattoo art on stomach/back area, it looks nice but I do wonder how it’ll look as they age.

Then there’s an ex best friend of mine who is covered in tattoos.

I’m from an age where it was considered common to get tattoos unless you were a sailor, criminal, dodgy background and my DM would’ve been appalled if me or DB got one. I don’t mind seeing tattoos, now but I’ll be honest and say I don’t think them aesthetically pleasing in a partner.

Fucking hell, yes! Why the hell would you let whether random men think you look pretty decide how you look?! Do what makes YOU happy with your body.

I wouldn't say I don't like them, just that I don't want them myself and it's none of my business what others do.

For example I don't want to dye my hair and that is sod all to do with anyone else, no matter what their personal opinion is.

*Can you say why?'

Hmm. Fair question. I can't stand tattoos and I think they look ugly. Can I explain why? I don't think I can, much like many things I find aesthetically displeasing. I'm not sure I can explain why I find oyhet things ugly either. Can you? I mean, we're talking about theory of aesthetics here aren't we? Why we find some things attractive or unattractive?

I see brilliant graffiti pretty often!

1. most often they look like doodles done in biro
2. even good ones fade and sag
3. they are often done as a way of seeking attention

However I accept that I am in the minority and if that's what makes folk happy good for them

You are right, it is a personal choice. It is also a personal choice of some people to find tattoos bloody awful.

I like some not others

If it's a really well done original design, I love it.
If it is devil on ass or swallow on shoulder or tribal stamp done in the 90s, then no.

I especially hate baby names, dates, pawprints handprints etc... Anyone I have seen with these seem to be a little affected.

I don't have that association at all as tattoos are popular among the academics and liberal creative types I know. I'd say more have tattoos than not.

I don't really "like" them, but I do find them very attractive on men who I already find attractive. I don't have any judgement about it though, it's more on a par to how I don't really like really straight fringes on women. It's just an aesthetic preference. Probably it just goes with me not liking the look of body modifications in general, even relatively natural ones. I prefer the look of not having cosmetic surgery, piercings, lots of make up, lots of built up gym muscles. It's the same type of thing.

I don't think most people have tattoos in order to look good, it's more self expression really I think.

I don't want any tattoos on my own body as I'd quickly get bored of them. And these days it feels like more of a thing not to have any tats. I'm generally indifferent to them on other people though, as long as they're not offensive. So many bad tattoos out there though. All the Winne the Pooh tats you see when the sun starts shining, the Only God Can Judge Me tattoos, all the pocket watches. So many pocket watches.

TedMullins I agree about marriage too!

This is true. But how do you want to be seen?
Original and artistic
Common and follow the crowd
A bit simple.

Personally I don't want labelled at all

Total bullshit. My dad was the chief of psychiatry at his hospital in the States and he mentioned on numerous occasions how many new incoming residents had sleeves. He mentioned this to us because my brother and I both have a lot of tattoos. My husband is also heavily tattooed. We all have good jobs and make a lot of money. While my husband does come from a more common background, my brother and I both came from an incredibly wealthy upbringing, ie we will both get millions in inheritance. The only people "high on the social scale" who couldn't conceive of having tattoos are 80 year old white people. So either you are an 80 year old white person or are just severely out of touch with reality.