to cringe when I see a friend has got 7 coloured stars tattooed on the back of her hand?

[captainbarnacle]

I think tattoos can be fab works of art when done right. I don't have any myself, but OH has them on his back and upper arms and they look good.

But green and red and black stars? It looks like a kid has drawn them

Why?!

I thought the point in them was for judging. Are they not a way to express yourself then?

I judge the design, the quality and ask what they mean to the person but i do not judge the person's personality until i know them.

Also my friend has never self harmed and does not have low self esteem. She is very out spooken and has strong opioins of the world and has a big ego but that is just her nothing to do with if she had a tat now or none before.

MY god paisleyleaf. Where the hell do you come from?

Very small minded, blinkard view. If I wasnt so offended-I would laugh. hard.

Funnily enough. I now feel sorry for you. How scary life must seem for you. Bless

Well mine PaisleyLeaf were done pre marraige and I got married in 2005. So yes before they became popular. And they are small and no one ever sees them (apart from the kids when I am naked) so they are very much personal to me.

deepbluewave you made me smile
and paisleyleaf I have no idea if any of my tattoos were done before they were 'popular', nor do I care. Some have meanings, some don't particularly- but they are all part of my body, my life, my business. Having an opinion is fantastic, but nasty little comments are just unnecessary really hey?

I don't judge people who have tattoos - it'd be a bit stupid considering my own DD has some (as do my Son-in-law, brother and brother-in-law).
Our DD is most definitely not a tramp - I can't say I was wild about her having them done but it's her skin and her choice. They kind of suit her too.
How awful to label people and I will say Ive seen some really clever and beautiful tattoos.

i think some of the comments here from tattoo owners are very defensive and perhaps the critics have touched a nerve.

Its a fact that many tattoo owners deeply regret having them done, sometimes years later.

PaisleyLeaf how narrow minded!

Lots of comments in this thread which seem to imply different opinions of heavily tattooed women than men - why is a full sleeve of ink on a man any different/less 'rough' than one worn by a woman?

I'm a tattooist and can happily say that all walks of life come through our (very reputable!) shop doors for all kinds of different work and for so many different reasons!

I usually feel a bit sorry for women I see with tattooes. They often seem to smack of low self esteem and sometimes even self harm. And they usually look like ones they'd regret.

wow paisleyleaf. It must be just peachy to be you eh?

Well we regret many things in life. Tattoos can serve to mark a point of time in your life that you can look back on, fondly or not so fondly, even if years later they are faded and out of fashion, and your skin is old and wrinkly.

Is it any wonder tattoo owners are defensive, as they are being labelled as trampy or rough looking, trying too hard to be different, or as having low self esteem?

Yes, stars are v popular at the minute, but so what? They're a nice shape, and they will still exist in 40 odd years' time won't they?

My dp's a tattoo artist and is covered in tattoos, and I am in the process of getting one three quarter sleeve done and would like the other done some day, as well as my back and possibly chest. I'm 34 and I think I know what I like by now thank you very much. Not interested in appearing different to others. Shame if others think I'm rough or a tramp but not much I can do about it. Do feel self conscious when others stare and cat bum mouth at me (namely at churchy toddler group) but not enough to give up my passion for tattoos.

i waited nearly 8 years to get my tattoo done petisa and i love it so much i'm planning my next one.
I don't know if people stare at mine cos its on the back of my neck....

Good for you outnumbered! They are addictive, aren't they. Your profile pic is lovely btw and you look very untrampy indeed!

thank you

think i will get DS1 to take pic of my "tramp stamp" and put it on my profile..... lol

planing on flower vine across my lower back with 3 flowers on it to represent my birthday flower and that of my two DS.....

I think most tattoos only look good to the owner.

But that´s the point, isn´t it?

Oh yes, Bloodymary, there was a huge hoo-hah at the time, she claimed she 'fell asleep' whilst it was being done (anyone who's had a tattoo can tell you what rubbish that is, it hurts ffs!) and she didn't ask for it to be done! She did later retract it. Loony!

Tattoo's on men are just as shit. My friends husband snogged her best mate and she agreed to stay with him if he got her initial on his wrist...

When he does it again will he have her face etched on his back?

really Fruit? Thats awful! I definately think tattoo's should mean something to the wearer, but surely that just reminds them both of what he did. Strange.

I hate the thought that people are going into tattoo shops and just choosing something from a book. It took me years to finally decide on mine.

YABU tbh. It's her choice to get a tattoo, and what she gets a tattoo of.