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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wish people would mind their own business

145 replies

MOISTOWLETT · 23/03/2017 23:42

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! Angry

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
OfaFrenchmind2 · 24/03/2017 23:02

"When you are 80 they are going to look horrible!" Frankly, when somebody is 80 they are pretty much not going to go to a beauty pageant in the traditional sense, so tattoo or not, there is not much difference!

Absintheshots · 24/03/2017 23:06

So if you don't like tattoos you are not open minded. Riiight. They all look absolutely hideous

that's not what anyone said at all. No one argue that you have to like tattoos. Denying that some tattoo artists are just that, artists, and talented as that IS narrow-minded. Hideous? That's your opinion. I would love to know what you don't find hideous and what you think is art.

Willow2017 · 24/03/2017 23:23

"Convince a man against his will he is of the same opinion still"

Why did you bother to ask if you were just looking to justify your own views? If you cannot accept that using a bouncing needle to make a piece of realistic or fasntasy art is a skill then carry on.

Och maybe you are just a patron of the classics?

If its ok in paint, marble then its ok in ink? [grins] But hey ho I dont expect you to agree.

Me, I just like looking at beautiful artwork whatever form it takes.

AIBU to wish people would mind their own business
AIBU to wish people would mind their own business
AIBU to wish people would mind their own business
SparkleSunshine201 · 25/03/2017 00:01

I loathe all tattoos but I wouldn't dream of saying anything.

FrenchLavender · 25/03/2017 05:44

Oh skerry that is completely unfair. You may not like the whole idea of a tattoo yourself and the permanence of them (neither do I) but how can you deny that some of them are beautiful, highly skilled and artistic? I dislike the general concept but I could never dispute that there are many fantastic and incredibly intricate tattoos out there. Just unfortunately far too many shit ones also.

blubberball · 25/03/2017 05:54

I love looking at pictures of artistic tattoos, and I don't really take much notice of tattoos in real life. I thought about getting one in the past, but I change my mind too much, so a permanent design wouldn't be a good idea for me. What other people do is their own business. But everyone seems to have tattoos now, and I feel unique and like I stand out by not having any.

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 06:27

willow= I'm sorry . but these are just mediocre copies of p;fd well known artwork.

Again i wouldn't hang them on my wall.

Sorry- yet to be convinced from the "artistic" perspective.

I defend anyone's right to have a tattoo and display it.

Doesn't mean I have to be impressed.

contractor6 · 25/03/2017 06:41

Personally I don't like tattoos. But I also hate my ugly scars. If they don't fade in next two years I'll be revisiting the tattoo option!

Ifailed · 25/03/2017 06:47

The examples given above clearly show a high level of skill, regardless whether one like the images or not. However, these intricate designs will blur into an unsightly blob over time as the inks slowing migrate.
This, I believe, is the biggest problem with tattoos, what looks cool and hip now will become dated in time and the wearer may find that which they felt was important to them in their 20s becomes increasingly irrelevant later on. Can't say I've ever heard of anyone on their death-bed saying they wished they had got more tattoos.

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 06:53

I'm not sure the images do show a high level of skill.

My late husband ( who had medically necessary tattoos that he hated) was a commercial artist.
Copying someone else's artwork takes a requirement of aptitude, but not a huge level of skill, and absolutely no original thought.

Still I would ask- would you hang that "artwork " in your home- a mediocre copy of the Mona Lisa?

WhataHexIgotinto · 25/03/2017 06:54

My answer is yeah but when I'm 80 at least i will have lived !!!!

Tbh, i don't really think having tattoos is a reasonable marker on having 'lived' when you're elderly.

I don't have an opinion either way on tattoos, nowt to do with me if someone has them. They're so mainstream now they're not really a 'thing' anymore. More people seem to have them than not, which would put me off slightly anyway.

WhataHexIgotinto · 25/03/2017 07:02

But surely art, any art, is subjective skerry?

To state that something is 'hideous' or 'mediocre' is merely your own opinion on the piece, others may find it beautiful. I think that's fine and should be encouraged as, to me, that's what art is about - finding something that you find beautiful or interesting to look at; whatever form that takes.

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 07:09

Of course it's subjective, but if is is uncreative and or badly executed then don't expect others to agree with your view that it is good.

Batteriesallgone · 25/03/2017 07:22

I wonder what your view is on Banksy, skerry Grin

Copying onto skin must take more skill than copying onto paper. The canvas moves and has a unique topology. The skill involved in copying artwork onto living skin surely can't be denied, it's a cross over between art and the kind of skill you see in a surgeon.

It's like any artists who work with difficult materials - you might think the end result is a bit limited, even a bit crap, but you can't deny the skill needed to achieve their work. It can't really be compared to pencil and paper (for example).

WhataHexIgotinto · 25/03/2017 07:26

Again, what you think is 'badly executed' is something that, in this case, someone else thinks is done well. That's just a difference of opinion. With respect, your opinion is not fact.

The pictures up thread are really not my cup of tea, but I accept that others may love them.

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 07:27

I'm not denying it must be difficult, it's just not very nice.

Just because something is difficult to do does increase its artistic merit.

floraeasy · 25/03/2017 07:35

You need to learn to really not care, OP.

You will never please all of the people all of the time.

You shouldn't even be giving this headspace, quite honestly.

Keeping doing what you're doing. Never complain and never explain!

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 07:40

This sounds like a case of the Emperor's New clothes.
Somehow bady executed or cliched images are fine when stamped on a person, but few of us think they are worthy of hanging on the wall.

And it's not difficult to see when copied artwork is poorly executed- wobbly lines, bad proportion, skewed perspective, badly drawn curves or lines.
That's actually quite objective and easy to see.

Batteriesallgone · 25/03/2017 07:46

What is art, though? Grin

You seem very sure of the definition. Me, I could never get on board with Rothko, for example. I wouldn't hang that on my wall.

Not that keen on the Impressionists either

Personally I think tattoo art is better when it's geometric. Think that is the best for the medium. But that's just my view.

Also tattoo art is interesting as it is a surviving example of 'patron art' which has so fallen out of fashion now. The argument that it's not art because it's a copy, or dictated but someone else - is this levelled at Michangelo? Or any of the other old masters? Surely we're not denying that they were copying the shit out of each other half the time? Grin

We live in a time when artists create work for themselves. To push boundaries. And that is good. But tattoo art is a reminder of our history, of art lying in the hands of those with the funds and inclination to make it happen and dictate it's subject. 'Lack of originality' is an easy accusation to throw at tattoo art but what does it really mean to be original, and is it required for true art?

It's worth bearing in mind some copies of well known paintings have sold for hundreds of thousands at auction. Art? Not art? If it's paid for is it art?

Absintheshots · 25/03/2017 07:51

Skerry you still haven't given up examples of genuine masterpieces.

By dismissing absolutely everything because it contains the word tattoo, you are losing your argumentation. Again, you don't have to like tattoos, you don't have to like the idea of ink on the skin, but it's being blind to deny that some people are talented artists, have shown creativity and designs very clever or funny or beautiful or inspiring. To say that a tattoo is shit because it is a tattoo is very narrow-minded.

So what are these masterpieces you think are worthy? What's your accepted art?

flumpybear · 25/03/2017 07:56

Sometimes religion actually makes you a dick by assuming you can judge someone then hide behind the bible/god etc .... this says more about them than the tattoos in my opinion

Personally, I really don't like tattoos. My best friend of 27 years has 5. They look good on her and I can look at them and recall when and why she had them - I can totally see why she likes them and they look good on her
I would never ever tell anyone anything about tattoos - if I happen to like one I may ask about it but wouldn't ever judge

skerrywind · 25/03/2017 07:59

Absintheshots not at all.

I am responding to a PP who is arguing that tattoos are beautiful because they are high art.

I totally get that people may like them because they are meaningful, or funny, or inspiring or personal.
I just can't see the argument from the artistic side, and despite some posters trying to show me examples of "beautiful artwork" because someone has copied the Mona Lisa.

And yes I don't like tattoos.

EnormousTiger · 25/03/2017 08:17

I hate them but I would never ever be rude to anyone or comment on them. It is their body. If they want to improve the chances of my children getting jobs over other people who have tattoos then that's great - bring it on.

Of course I accept that a few tattoo artists draw well but that has nothing to do with the fact I don't like them on skin.

There are probably lots of things we all don't like about some of the looks of other people but we never say it to their face if we are polite. We don't go round saying I hate your long (or short) hair or that skirt looks awful on you so why be different about tattoos?

Astro55 · 25/03/2017 08:22

I suppose the trend for tattoos is making them so mainstream -

Some are very trendy - others and unique - others are completely naff

There does seem to be some snobbery in the tatto you have - swallows on your hand or dolphins on a shoulder blade were trendy at the time - now look awful! Ages people.

Absintheshots · 25/03/2017 08:27

And yes I don't like tattoos.

I kind of got that. Grin