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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think "tribal " tattoos are ugly as

103 replies

ljwales · 03/04/2015 07:16

I date lots of younger guys, and there seems to be a real trend for these. They are usually massive and ever expending.

Is it me or are these just ugly? Can't see why so many 19-24 yo get so much skin covered with them

OP posts:

JacquesHammer · 03/04/2015 10:02

She got it done when she was quite young and a bit wild and common.
Now she is a very beautiful, sophisticated woman and feels that it looks like a horrible tramp stamp on her

What a perfectly ugly thing to say

but many males who are not into alternative stuff appear to like the tribal stuff

Interesting - OH is an alternative type. What I love about tattoos - no hard and fast rules

but I detest tattoos and would never date a person that had them

How small minded. What if you went on a number of dates, totally fell for someone then discovered a tattoo.....

Moln · 03/04/2015 10:03

I don't like tattoos so I don't have any, i find the permanent nature of them terrifying (is that can't change you mind part!). Though that said I don't findthe unattractve on others, though I do find some tattoos unattractive if tham makes sense. Just like I don't like some artwork.

In fact I'm not sure if anyone in my extended family have one, was discussing this with DH just yesterday, which I find suprising because they are more common (as in frequent) nowadays and most of my cousins are younger. Yes you probably could date certain styles to certain dates - celtic bands in the 90s.

The reason I was discussing with DH was because Ds2 told us he wants a tattoo (he's 8!!) and asked if i would be angry if he got one and I told him he was to wait (obviously!!) But if he got to 21 and still wanted one from when he was 8 I wouldn't be objecting as he obviously would want it!! (And no I couldn't do anything if Ds1 got to 18 and went to get one but I'd worry about the impulsiveness of that and the long term presence of tattoos!!)

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 03/04/2015 10:17

but I detest tattoos and would never date a person that had them

It's alright, you're the one who's missing out

Salmotrutta · 03/04/2015 10:18

What about tribal tattoos on people who are actually from a "tribe" like Maoris or something.

Are they OK?

I don't care what other people do - but I will say that it's people like the OP who ensure that perfectly nice people sometimes get judged unfairly.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 03/04/2015 10:27

Those have a purpose and a history, Salmotrutta, according to Pollykinesis's post and that makes sense. We're all 'tribal' at base, needing to 'belong', but there's no reference to that history in the UK that I'm aware of?

I admire the artwork sometimes but think it would look better in a frame not on a body. I don't say anything to anybody but I'd urge my children into tattoo removal as a profitable specialism if they show any inclination towards medicine. It's profitable because so many people who have had tattoos judge that they don't like/want them now.

Like it or not, people judge others for any reason - size, hair colour - and anything that differentiates them from 'standard'. They don't always say anything but the prejudice is there, just can't be proven so can't be challenged.

Fairylea · 03/04/2015 10:28

I can't believe people still think there's a "type" of person that gets tattoos. Absolute nonsense. Tattoos have been around since there have been people more or less and yes there have been fads and fashions but all sorts of people get tattooed nowadays.

To say you wouldn't date someone with tattoos is a bit silly considering so many people now have them, you'd probably go on a few dates before you even knew they had them - there isn't some sort of "sign" they have them unless they are obviously on show.

You'd never know dh or I have ours. I've worked in very senior marketing positions in the city and went to a very good private school. I was even accepted into 5 top universities. I still love tattoos. Ditto for dh and we both come from families that hate them! :)

Most of the tattoo people we know are art graduates with fine art degrees or people that are very interested in art and design as a whole. There is a lot of snobbery within the tattoo world too like everything else !

I think it's absolutely fine not to like tattoos. We all like different things. But to make a judgement about someone based on them having ink on their skin is nothing short of utter prejudice.

Patapouf · 03/04/2015 10:31

Not a fan personally but I don't give a fuck how people choose to decorated their bodies. And what scenario do you imagine young people will get to see the tramp stamps of older women exactly? You don't see many 80yo with low rise jeans.
Btw there's no such thing as 'tribal' it's an imperial construct

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 03/04/2015 10:38

Fairylea... why are you defensive of your tattoos? It seems odd to me that you'd mention the position you worked in, went to a good private school, top 5 university, etc. The tattoo-less wouldn't do that. Why are you doing it? Has anybody suggested that you're thick?

You mention snobbery in the tattoo world, I don't know anything about it but it seems as if you're annoyed about prejudice from the tattoo-less and have bought right in to another group with prejudices...

Sallystyle · 03/04/2015 10:39

I'm sure lots of people would hate my tattoos and say they are naff.

I have a cat on my ear, dh's name on my ring finger, a mouse on my arm, an owl on my wrist, a lion on my arm and a U2 symbol on my other wrist. I don't care what others think of them although I know mine aren't exactly great art.

The mouse I didn't like it for a while but I had it when I married my ex husband and now he is dead so I have gone back to loving it because when I look at it I think of him.

And no, I didn't get them to be different. I hear the argument that people with tats got them so they can be different and well that never crossed my mind. I had them because I wanted them.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 03/04/2015 10:40

I agree with the Maori thing. Try telling one of them their tattoos are common!

tanukiton · 03/04/2015 10:40

I would love some tattoos. I would love to have have the names my children . Unfortunately, i live in a culture where it would make my life difficult and I would only want someone with at least ichidan in writing Japanese near me me. The other problem is one of their names would take up a lot of space.... Ah well.

Fairylea · 03/04/2015 10:47

I don't mean to be defensive it's just that on threads like this and in real life dh and I hear so many comments about being common and thick and how only working class people get tattoos (not that there's anything wrong with being working class at all, my whole family is, but it's frequently used as an insult and just isn't true that tattoos are a class thing anyway) that it makes you very defensive and annoyed. In real life I'm not angry at all.... I promise :)

I just hate all the judgements people make about people with tattoos. Most of them are completely unfounded.

Athrawes · 03/04/2015 10:47

I really like the Maori way of telling your family story in ink. I guess in celtic culture we could do that but it would be too cold and hence too covered up for anyone to see.

JacquesHammer · 03/04/2015 10:55

I just hate all the judgements people make about people with tattoos. Most of them are completely unfounded

Well absolutely. Privately school educated, red brick uni, degree, qualified legal executive, director twice, own business.

But yes. Thick and uneducated because I have tattoos. I'll never get a job doncha know

ScotsWhaHae · 03/04/2015 10:56

Yup, common as muck me!

8 tattoos and counting...

However I am surprised so many of the young guys you date have tribal tattoos in the style you posted. I'm early 30s and that style is common with people my age who got inked 10 plus years ago.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 03/04/2015 10:58

Fairylea... if it didn't come across that I was actually standing up for you, I was. I don't like seeing anybody picked on. I wouldn't have thought for a minute that anybody's education or 'class' would come into it as tattoos are so popular now.

Even if people don't personally like them, it's very sad if they're making assessments of people's abilities based on the presence of them.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 03/04/2015 11:00

I agree that I've frequently heard comments that tattoos are cheap or common (sometimes by people who have them and regret it, my best friend is one).

However, i think they are so commonplace now, as to be a bit of a leveller. In my naice middle class, professional career etc existence, I know fewer people without tattoos, than with them.

The un-tattooed are the new rebels

JacquesHammer · 03/04/2015 11:02

The un-tattooed are the new rebels

But that's assuming those of us who are tattooed did it to "rebel"

chrome100 · 03/04/2015 11:12

I don't need a tattoo to express myself. I have a personality for that.

ivykaty44 · 03/04/2015 11:14

George v was tattooed as was Edward vii, were they common as muck? Numerous kings and Tsar's have been tattooed for centuries.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 03/04/2015 11:22

Well, we have had an awful lot of Kings and Tsars up to present day...

'Common' used to be a word that meant commonplace, usual, everyday event... is it only ok for classification of butterflies and particular plants now?

JacquesHammer · 03/04/2015 11:28

I don't need a tattoo to express myself. I have a personality for that

And might I say an utterly delightful one seemingly.....

so many guys have spoilt their bodies

OP - I think so many guys have had a very lucky escape actually

paulapantsdown · 03/04/2015 11:39

All tatoos are ugly to me, whatever kind, and make the wearer look daft. But each to their own and all that.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 03/04/2015 11:41

Why do you need to say that, Jacques? We're nearly all superficially motivated to find a mate. No need for your nasty remark really, it belies your first.

MaitlandGirl · 03/04/2015 11:55

I'm not a huge fan of tribal ink on white skin but when it's culturally linked it looks amazing. There's a Somoan lad I know who's pretty covered and it looks great - it's even better when you know all the cultural history behind it.

Each to their own though, I'm sure there are tribal fans who hate the ink I've got, as well as thenjapanese who hate my japanese style ink but that's the great thing about tattoos - there's a design out there for everyone.

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