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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be getting increasingly irritated by tattoos?

358 replies

tangofan · 18/07/2012 12:54

I apologise in advance if I offend anyone with tattoos....Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-tattoo and I believe anyone who wants one should go right ahead but on the other hand there seems to have recently been a HUGE increase in the (imo) rather tackier end of the tattoo styles: kids' names and/or dates, side-of-the-wrist patterns (a la Cheryl Cole), three 3 black stars on the back of the neck,etc,etc...

I saw a woman the other day in fairly good area of a city with - I kid you not - one child's name and what I presume to be their respective dates of birth on her boobs - one name/date per boob right above the bra cup level!
On holiday recently the pool/beach/sunlounger areas were awash with names/dates of birth,etc on display everywhere and literally every 2nd or 3rd parent in the playground is sporting one and/or one of the aforementioned examples above and I cant help but feel they are becoming common and/or tacky ...(trying to avoid using the chav word)

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 24/08/2017 14:01

why do people revice ancient threads?

Does it matter? Its still an interesting discussion and shows that attitudes havent really changed in 5 years.

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 24/08/2017 15:54

I worked with a hipsterish guy who had a tattoo on the side of his neck. It was a combination of a word and an image that was a bit strange, so people often asked about it. He'd ALWAYS get really huffy and offended by people's curiosity, because, according to him, the tattoo signified something very personal and private and he didn't want to explain it to everyone

That's hilarious... what a dickhead.

I have 3 tattoos... 2 that I'm a bit meh about and 1 that is a work in progress and I love. I have them for me, because I like them (well, the last one anyway!), nothing deeper than that really. No special story behind them, no great reason or meaning.

Many people don't like tattoos; that's fine, we're all entitled to our opinions.

Brittbugs80 · 24/08/2017 18:54

I have my first son's name on the inside of my wrist.

No one's ever commented directly to me about it, I'd love it if they did though.

(I lost him at 15 days old)

But that's irrelevant. According to this post I'm non committal, tacky, and a chav.

At least I'm not a sneery judging cow Grin

Ttbb · 24/08/2017 19:12

Perfectly reasonable provided that you keep it to yourself. I don't like seeing people wgo are poorly resented either but I try to ignore it.

Neutrogena · 24/08/2017 19:36

A lot of bit think people a child's name tattooed on a body part is tacky - if the child is alive or dead has no bearing on it I think.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 24/08/2017 22:26

Ahh g'waaan then dustarr if I must Wink I love it, although it's the most painful one I've had so far! The first pic is yesterday after I got it, the second is today now the bruising has come out Shock

I loves it though :) Harry Potter themed! I've wanted a Harry Potter tattoo for ages.

To be getting increasingly irritated by tattoos?
To be getting increasingly irritated by tattoos?
gingercat02 · 24/08/2017 22:34

Tatts aren't my thing but I'm sure when people indelibly put things on their body they want them to be seen by other people forever
So yes yabu

Ohbehave1 · 24/08/2017 23:07

Washbasketsrus. Please don't use Tattoo Fixers as a factual show about cover up tattoos.

The artists are not the best in the business (by a long shot), they are known to steal others work (not just inspired by but pretty much a straight copy), and are pretty much loathed throughout the industry.

And OP. YABU and very judgy.

dustarr73 · 25/08/2017 06:53

Ovaries that's brilliant.Where is the placement.And how long did it take

UnicornRainbowColours · 25/08/2017 07:24

I saw a lady with a massive sun on her neck it just looked soo Chavy! But then I think tattoos are Chavy. I hate them would never get one. That's my personal opinion each to their own.

UnicornRainbowColours · 25/08/2017 07:25

That said I do know people use tattoos to cover scars/self harm etc and those people I think it's ok.

Cantusethatname · 25/08/2017 07:31

I think they mark you as British on holiday.

surferjet · 25/08/2017 07:45

Round my way, people judge primary schools not just by OFSTED reports, but by how many Mums have tattoos. The more tatts the worse the school.

JacquesHammer · 25/08/2017 07:58

The more tatts the worse the school

My DD is at a top private prep. A number of the teachers have tattoos Grin

PacificDogwod · 25/08/2017 08:02

My advice on dealing with other people's tattoos is pretty much the same as for termination of pregnancy: You don't like it, don't have one.
Other people's choices? None of you beeswax.

I don't have a tattoo, I am fascinated by some skin art, I don't like some of it, but just really really cannot get aerated about it.

You crack on, OP, but YABU.

Oblomov17 · 25/08/2017 08:15

Most of the tattoos I see are poor quality and look naff. I love a really good tattoo, well done. But they are rare. The good ones.

Even Dh commented, when we were in Tenerife this month, that most people had them. I looked around the pool and he was indeed correct.

Many of them don't look that good. Most fade badly after a few years. Most look poor.

Ohbehave1 · 25/08/2017 08:19

Oblomov17. You forgot to add In My Opinion. Unless you are a world class tattooist or expert in the field of course......

Fernanie · 25/08/2017 08:43

I don't like how they look but sometimes quite like hearing the stories behind them. Didn't even realise some people don't like being asked - kind of assumed that was the point Blush
That said, once asked a guy with a Tibetan script tattoo what it said and he replied, "peace or similar in (a language that I happen to speak - definitely not Tibetan!)" Just cant fathom getting something permanently inked onto your body without knowing what language it's in, leave alone what it says Confused

MiaowTheCat · 25/08/2017 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DadOnIce · 25/08/2017 09:40

Wasn't there a story in the papers about a bloke who wanted a "meaningful" tattoo in Gaelic - a language he didn't speak - and walked around for years thinking it said "I love my wife and children with all my heart", until a speaker pointed out to him that it said, "Please may I go to the toilet?" Hilarious.

Oh, and - I'll just leave this here.

Tattoos People Got Of Celebrities Before They Knew They Were Sex Offenders

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 25/08/2017 09:51

That said I do know people use tattoos to cover scars/self harm etc and those people I think it's ok.

That's big of you Hmm

TwatteryFlowers · 25/08/2017 09:55

The more tatts the worse the school.

I am a teacher and a parent with a tattoo. I've worked in some lovely schools and my dc go to a v. good one just down the road!

dustarr73 · 25/08/2017 10:02

I think a lot of people on this thread think tattoos lower the tone of the area.Which is nonsense.

UnicornRainbowColours · 25/08/2017 12:19

Thank you mars It is very big of me :D

Neutrogena · 25/08/2017 12:44

Tattoos of course don't lower the tone of an area - they are markings on skin so they have no influence on the tone.
They do SIGNIFY a lower tone area - there are FEWER tattoos on display in rich suburbs than in council estates, FEWER tattoos on display at the Henley Regatta than at Millwall Foootball Club, FEWER at Waitrose than Asda, etc etc

The poorer the area, the more tattoos on display there will be.

Higher tone areas have a very high teeth:tattoo ratio.
People have all their teeth and few/no tattoos
Lower tone areas people have fewer teeth and more tattoos.

It's not good nor bad, it just is.