Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

532 replies

dontsqueezetheteabag · 28/01/2013 09:08

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??

OP posts:
Spero · 29/01/2013 22:39

Mrsdevere has answered one of my questions - I was intrigued as to why someone would want something permanent - a memorial to your child sounds lovely.

But why then be so aggressive to people who want to carry on the discussion?
People are still allowed to have an opinion on tattoos. This is not hateful or disrepectful to someone who wants to remember their child.

We all make our own choices about what we do with our bodies. But equally we have a right to our own opinions as long as we don't express them in a way designed to cause hurt, I.e. by going up to someone in the street and saying how ugly we think they are.

But yes, when I look at a picture of Peaches Geldof for eg, I shudder and hope my daughter never does that.

biff23 · 29/01/2013 22:43

I have 5 tattoos and absolutely love them. To look at me I think you'd be quite surprised I had any. The only visible one is the side of my foot, the others are hidden, purely for my pleasure.

There are certain areas where for me personally I hate to see tattoos, and I do judge but that's us humans for you!

MrsDeVere · 29/01/2013 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ginhag · 29/01/2013 22:58

Not aggressive to people who want to carry on the discussion. Extremely unhappy with some fairly crass responses immediately after MrsDVs post. That is all.

ginhag · 29/01/2013 22:59

MrsDV Grin

ClippedPhoenix · 29/01/2013 23:08

I find well executed tatoos very sexy on men.

It's an art form and can be very meaningful.

I watched a very emotional programme the other day and a woman that had been with her husband for 30 years had a tatoo of him on her using her husbands ashes so he would stay with her forever. It was the most loveliest thing I had ever seen {on stupid reality tv} for a long time.

My DS and I have both agreed when I die that this is what he wants.

ditavonteesed · 30/01/2013 07:14

akiss, is there any chance you could do me a link to the right download for it, when I google I get about 50 and I am scared they might be fake. Smile
MrsDV you do know we all know exactly when you are going to be in that chair dont you, you will have mass mn thinking off you.

Surely the debate is now going in circles and nobody has actually answered my question yet about whether this thread has changed anyones judgement or perseption of the tattooed among us?

AKissIsNotAContract · 30/01/2013 07:59

instagram.com/

Here you go, I'll Pm you my username.

Moistenedbint · 30/01/2013 08:24

"""Not aggressive to people who want to carry on the discussion. Extremely unhappy with some fairly crass responses immediately after MrsDVs post. That is all."""

Which translates to - not opposed or "aggressive" to those in favour of tattoos. So much for balanced debate eh..

Bunbaker · 30/01/2013 08:31

"I've linked to her before, but I think this bride looks amazeballs..."

Now I don't. But then I expect people will just take one look at me and think yuck.

I am not a fan of tattoos except perhaps for the odd discreet delicate one, but don't judge people for having them. Except one guy I saw in cafe in our local market town who was wearing a vest top. His entire top half was completely covered in tattoos including his face and bald head. I admit that I thought he looked a little scary. He looked a little like this

Moistenedbint · 30/01/2013 08:38

I'd like to see an image of the bride which isn't airbrushed/digitally tweaked...

sunshineandfreedom · 30/01/2013 09:13

When I get married in August, it will be in a dress that shows off all my tattoos, in all my pierced and dreadlocked glory, and I think I'm going to look fucking amazing. So does DP. My family and friends who are guests know me and know that my tattoos and my hair are a part of me, and will think I look beautiful because I am being me. If anyone were to judge me for it - think I look "urgh" or "rough" - it doesn't matter. I'm not fussed.

As in day to day life, if people want to waste their energy on thinking negatively of me because of how I look, that's their choice. All they are achieving is a negative impact on how they feel when they look at me; I am secure enough in myself not to mind if they disagree because I love all of my tattoos, and I love my hair. My tattoos are all designed by me (I am an artist and writer, though I have a professional day job for which I wear a suit), and have special meaning.

The bride you've linked to is Gala Darling, who blogs mainly about fashion but also about Radical Self Love - loving yourself for who you are, regardless of what others think. She is inspirational and amazing.

Everyone choses different ways to express themselves in life. I have good friends who have no tattoos; I am possibly the most 'inked' of my friends. When I look at them, all I want is for them to be as happy in their skin as I am in mine. It's what I think when I look at strangers as well; don't care what they're wearing or how they look or what their day job is. As long as people are happy and secure in themselves, that's all that really matters Smile

noddyholder · 30/01/2013 09:23

I think the permanence is part of the attraction and to call it misguided etc totally misses the point. It is the fact that it is forever that differentiates it from other things which are just fashion.As soon as they do it you know its always going to be there and that is part of the whole thing.

LtEveDallas · 30/01/2013 09:26

MrsDV I love the sound of your tattoo Smile what a wonderful way to have your beautiful girl with you all the time. Even when you are an "old biddy" eh? Grin

I think thats what the tattoo haters forget when they make crass statements like "make you look rough" "look horrible" "common" and so on. To some people their body art has a very powerful meaning, it goes deeper than just a picture. My dragon means a lot to me, its a memorial, a memory, a show of strength, a wish, a hope. It's not "just" a drawing.

ginhag · 30/01/2013 09:38

That isn't what I meant at all bint. I felt very defensive of mrs DV for the very specific reason she is having her tattoo. I thought a bit of sensitivity would be nice, that's all.

MidnightMasquerader · 30/01/2013 09:43

Bunbaker - Gala's style is absolutely not my style Grin at the mere suggestion. But I think she look amazing as an individual - she carries her look off with aplomb. Plus, as with all the best brides, she looks deliriously happy.

I just think it takes a certain level of mean-spiritedness, as displayed in the OP, to look at someone being themself - to look at somoeone on their wedding day - and be all sneery and actually start a thread about it... :-/

Don't get me wrong - I judge; we all judge. We all have pre-conceptions, etc. The OP just appears to be literally revelling in hers.

Bunbaker · 30/01/2013 10:01

Interestingly, one of my friends is paying a small fortune and having several very painful laser sessions to have a tattoo removed.

chocoluvva · 30/01/2013 10:19

"all I want for them is to be as happy in their skin as I am in mine"

That's one of my difficulties with tattoos - I worry that many people with tattoos are not happy in their own skin - they feel the need to change their skin in a painful and expensive way.

I wonder if some people who make a lot of effort with their appearance are secretly envious of others who are so secure in themselves that they don't feel the need to think about or make much effort with their appearance.

noddyholder · 30/01/2013 10:21

Yes choco that must be it

noddyholder · 30/01/2013 10:22

Why are you worrying about people you don't know you sound a bit strange. get on with your own life and worry about that.People like me are not unhappy in their skin quite the reverse.

AgathaF · 30/01/2013 10:27

choco do you worry about that with people who wear make-up too, or dye their hair, or pierce their ears?

noddyholder · 30/01/2013 10:31

You equate not making an effort with yourself as being secure. SOme judgemental types might call it sloppy and having no self worth. Not me you understand but you know some people just judge on appearances without knowing anything about you. No make up etc it gives out a signal apparently

chocoluvva · 30/01/2013 10:35

"Worry" is too strong a word -sorry - I don't lose sleep over how much personal grooming people should do! But yes, I really think it's a shame that so many people - myself included - feel the need to make such an effort over their appearance.

I would like to stop colouring my hair and just let it go grey now but I know it'll make me look older and won't suit me so I keep on with the time and expense of getting it done.

noddyholder · 30/01/2013 10:37

You sound like you see no joy in anything Maybe you should look at that rather than criticising the choices of others. You are worrying about teh esteem of people who are quite happy and taking the joy out of it.

chocoluvva · 30/01/2013 10:38

I know, noddy - whatever your appearance people make judgments about you. There's no 'neutral' appearance.

But if you're happy to make minimum effort then you have more time and money for other enjoyable things.