AIBU to wish people would mind their own business

[MOISTOWLETT]

I'm going to be frank here. I have tattoos, I love them, it does NOT give people the right to tell me that they're awful/I'm going to hell/they'll look bad when I'm older. I'm an adult, they're my choice, I don't care what people think about them as they all have personal meaning behind them, I don't believe in heaven and hell or god and I'll deal with the getting old when I'm old!!! I'm sorry for the rant I'm just pissed off!

I think one of the issues with tattoos is that fashions change. You can buy new clothes, but you can't change a tattoo as easily. It can be done, I have watched tattoo fixers, but you still have to work with what is already there.

yanbu, people need to keep their opinions to themselves.

I've got two small tattoos (very personal tatts), only visible when I am in swimwear or skimpy clothing and when I went swimming with a friend recently, she said "I am shocked someone like you has tattoos" I am assuming she meant because I am degree educated and have a high flying job.

I also got both tattoos when I was well into my 20s, not as a teenager after a drunken night out.

Some tattoos are absolutely amazing works of art and quite tasteful as tattoos go, but far too many are really, really shite. And so many of them date so badly and look quite Matt after a few years so I think far more people probably do rather regret them than will actually admit it. I think there is such a culture of defensiveness around tattoos that people pretend to still love theirs even when they don't.

They are so unbelievably mainstream now though that I am surprised anyone still reacts in horror or fascination to them.

Perhaps yours are the shite kind OP but it's still rude to tell someone that unless you have in some way invited them to comment or encouraged a conversation about it.

Matt? I meant naff

Well I don't like tattoos but I'd never be rude enough to say anything to someone who has them. It's none of my business. They might not like my haircut/clothes/makeup but I'd expect the same courtesy.

Haha yes pickle that bothers me too. Catches the eye in an annoying way.

Sometimes a tattoo can really set off an outfit - if the person has a clear 'style' often the tattoo looks awesome, IMO.

It can totally ruin one too.

I have a few hidden, but one visible tattoo. It is a tribute to a family member who died far too young. Every time I look at it I'm reminded of them and how much I love and miss them and a promise I made to them before they passed. Every detail is centred around them. It's pretty but means so much.

I do get comments, mostly positive, but I have had someone I worked with stop a conversation to tell me that they didn't like it. My reply was 'ok'. She went on and repeated herself. I said 'ok'. It's ok for me to have it, it's ok for her to not like it. I don't understand why she needed to say so, but it didn't upset me because the tattoo is for me and for my lost loved one and that's why I love it.
I wouldn't have a tattoo which didn't have a deeply personal meaning and it took me a long time to figure out what I wanted and to get the design just right. It wasn't a whim and wasn't picked off a display board in a sleazy tattoo parlour.

A man I know has his navel done as a cats arse. I have Star Wars ones on my arms - each to their own

Who tells you that your tattoos are awful? Do people really make such personal comments to you?

I admit I hate tattoos but I would never comment - I was serving a customer where I work the other day, he was covered in tattoos - a bald head - completely inked - and face as well. Yes, I thought it looked awful and it was almost as if he wanted a comment 'look at me, aren't I edgy and beautifully decorated' - but I said nothing (and silently judged).

I'll do a deal with you: I won't comment on your tattoo if you don't ask me to admire it and say how wonderful it is.

A colleague at work wanted me to marvel at her new tattoo which was on the back of her neck i.e. a place where the only person who couldn't see it was her, unless she did contortions with two mirrors. I struggled to find something complementary to say whilst inwardly thinking "are you on glue?"

I hate tattoos but would never say anything to anyone with them. There is nothing worse than a beautiful bride in an amazing dress covered in tattoos.

Meh, if you want a tattoo have a tattoo.

My DM doesn't really like tattoos but doesn't judge people because of them. She says she's going to get 'hello, big boy' written on her inner thigh so when she's being cared for in a nursing home the carers realise she did have a life!

How does having a tattoo show you've 'lived'?!

Where do you live that people tell you that you are going to hell for a tattoo?

Femelle it's more the content. I.e. she wants them to see she's not just a helpless, ill, old lady...that she was young and had a sex life. She won't get it done, she just thinks it would be funny.

I have massive black sort of tribal designs, totally not "ladylike" tattoos at all, but I love them, and have had them for over a decade.

The next one I'm getting is on the side of my head .

I'd love to know what the commentators would think of that!
It's based on a tattoo found on a 1,500 year old mummified princess found in Siberia, so the arguement that it's a modern thing falls down a bit flat there!

*should add that it won't be on my face!!

Thats a step too far even for me!!

It'll be in the hairline, so if I grow my hair half an inch it'll be hidden from view!

Some tattoos are amazing, real works of art, but so many of them are just utter crap and look like a child has doodled a flower or something.

I love tattoo fixers, guilty pleasure tv in our house.

I don't know many people without tattoo, and I work with "suits" in a corporate environment. Not sure what the big deal is. It might be less common for my parents generation, but every dick, tom and harry seems to have one. Who says you''re going to hell nowadays?!

You clearly do care what people think of your tattoos OP.

No I dont think this is true - the OP doesnt care what people think about their tattoos - what they care about is people thinking they have the right to verbalise their unwanted opinion to her/him.

I know lots,of people with tattoos, although I don't have any myself because I'm shockingly indecisive and change my mind too much. But my friends are from all walks of life and I don't believe having a tattoo is any indication of a general sense of vulgarity or social class. ( although I believe in Georgian times it was very much an upper class thing)
However what I do object to in this day and age is shit tattoos from shit tattooists I know three or four tattooists who work very hard practice all day on their art and create genuinely beautiful work that is clear and defined. Then I see people with awful blobby tattoos and I don't understand why they didn’t do their research first and find someone talented to ink them.

Tattoos are synonymous with vulgarity! What bull.
I love looking at really well done tatts they are real works of art.

Nobody but drunken eejits on holiday get crap tatts Everyone I know thought long and hard about it and chose something they really wanted.

Getting a tatt is on my bucket list just need to chose my design and pluck up the courage 😁

Each to their own.

I would prefer my kids to have them where they could easily be hidden from view if they ever want to have a job where it may be frowned upon and my personal preference is not to see beautiful bridges in gorgeous dresses with tatts showing but I'd never say anything about anyone who did as it is entirely up to them.