to be judgy pants about people that have tattoos and keep getting more, especially women??

[dontsqueezetheteabag]

I hate tattoos. Whilst I appreciate everyone has a right to their own taste and choices I still cannot get over the fact that people have them in places where they are visible.

A colleague of mine has just returned to work after M leave with a horrific tattoo from her wrist to her elbow. How can she go out and meet clients looking like that?? It can be seen through tops and obviously below short sleeved tops.

What I really don't like is seeing lovely brides on their wedding days, strapless dresses and tattoos on their upper arms and backs..... urgh!!!!!!

Anyone else with me??

Have you had it done now, Mrs DeVere?

If people loved and admired your tattoo, would you care? Wouldn't you feel even a bit pleased?

I just think it's a kind of signalling. That's all. And I couldn't really believe all the other people's opinions don't matter. I think it's a statement. I shouldn't have given my own opinion of them because that's irrelevant.

I never comment on others tattoos and they don't mine. Do you live somewhere very provincial?

Brilliant! Make sure you have a decent breakfast before hand and take some sweets/lollipops to suck. Stops you feeling faint. I had no idea when I went for my first and they ended up feeding me jellybeans to get my bloodsugar up.

Noddyholder, are you saying the tattoos mean nothing outside what they mean to you? You are amazed at people's reactions? No idea that anyone even notices them or thinks anything? I think tattoos are very visual and often striking. They are part of people's looks. I see them and factor them into my thinking about people. I think we all do.

I don't really notice them no, not anymore than hair or shoes or bag. I am sure if mine was saying anything negative or was intimidating one of my friends would have said something . When I first had it my close friends all said they loved it but mostly no comment. I certainly don't think they give a signal apart from I fancied a tattoo so got one.

MrsDV it isn't that painful! What are you getting?

It wasn't that painful tbh. It was me not having eaten properly that was the problem. They are used to people feeling a bit lightheaded, especially for their first.

How big is this going to be if it's an all day session?! Mine only took an hour.

Do you accept that even if you don't think you are signalling something, other people might read them as signals? You can not care what they think but tattoos have significance. They carry some sort of meaning or message.

Some people on this thread have described tattoos as art. And I'm sure I've seen the term, body art. And I saw someone describe a tattooist as having "talent." Those are big claims and if tattoos can be art, then tattoos can be talked about and decoded like any other art form. It just happens to be one on someone's body.

I cannot think of what the signals would be and so how can I comment. You think they give a certain signal but aren't prepared to say what it is! If you did I could agree or not. I literally think nothing when I see them unless they are spectacularly good and then I will think that. But I never get any vibe about a person with one until I speak to them and get the whole picture.

Okay, fair enough. We differ on this. I'm wrong to say that all people all read things into how people present themselves. You don't. One person not doing so is enough to make my statement incorrect.

Local tattooist has a jar of lollipops under his desk and offers one to people while they have a tattoo done

I can imagine people thinking they like or don't Thats just life. But to judge someone on a serious level like career etc is just wrong and I don't think most normal rational people would do that. I am no better at my job or worse with the tattoo it is just a part of me. I never think about it. Can you really say if you met someone and they hugely impressed you in every way professionally and personally and then they removed their jacket and had a tattoo it would change things? because that is a problem with you not them

No, I wouldn't say that. I don't think I ever implied that I would. I just said I didn't agree that it was a case of never notice, never think anything, bodies without tattoos make just the same impression as bodies with tattoos. And there seemed to be a fair number of posts who were making that kind of point.

I don't think they do make a different impression. You do. But you aren't prepared to say what it is!

A neat summing up.

I'm nonplussed I don't have any, but hey ho other folks like em
have worked with v competent staff (male/female) who have multiple tattoo

i'm confused.

I had a client once with a spider web on his cheek. That made a very unfavourable impression on me. That may be my problem not his, but I am afraid for him there are lots of others like me out there. I find tattoos on the face really off putting unless you are a Maori warrior.

They are horrible looking. I don't mind a small one in a subtle place but to do something so permanent and often tasteless to your body has always baffled me. That being said i have many friends who do have tattoos and i judge them on who they are not what they look like which is more important.

Idly googling meaning of tattoos turns up some fascinating ideas. Not sure I'd go so far as to call them facts. Stuff about what different ones are thought to signify in the prison population. How some images are voguish for a while. Apparently, the old style anchor ones are popular again but with a retro twist. Vintage tattoos I guess. Sociologists have written about them. All in all, they are interesting.

ok I have two tattoos, the first was de reguer I was in the Navy, so a little swallow on hip, the second a breakup on the lower back, which i nave not seen for 10 years, I go not want it to be seen, I dislike fore arms on women and calfs and feet.