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Original poster

How many of you or your partners have tattoos? Is it part of British culture to have one?

144 replies

MarjorieDoors · 03/11/2007 11:46

It seems to be very much a part of British culture to have one (now idea why).

Anyway, a few weeks ago DH and I went to Spain and the hotel we stayed in was catering for mainly British holidaymakers. One thing DH and I noticed was the majority of holidaymakers had at least one tatoo although most had more than one - and I am talking male and females here. Didn't notice any of the Spanish with tattoos.

DH and I were in the select few that didn't have one and I am just trying to understand what is the attraction is with them?

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 03/11/2007 11:50

I've no idea what the attraction is myself. DH has two, which he has had done since I met him, so it wasn't a teenage passion. You're right, it seems the 'in' thing to do these days, but I just can't help thinking long term, he's gonna look pretty daft at 90, when he's lost all his teeth and has a nurse to tend to his every need!

mamazon · 03/11/2007 11:51

its called body art.

i have two. my ex had lord knows how many.

i know a great number who do not have any but i also know plenty that do.
Its very much a personal choice, my mother hates the thought of them and yet all my adult siblings and i have them.

Carmenere · 03/11/2007 11:51

I generally don't like them. Occasionally a discreet one is ok but I don't get the appeal of decorating your skin like that. I don't think they are part of British culture. I think it could be a class thing but I don't know for sure, it is just that you don't see many what might be called 'upper' class or 'upper' middle class with tatoos. I know that some do but not many. So being a bit of an outsider here I think they are a working class thing.

ScoobyDooooo · 03/11/2007 11:52

Neither of us have them

Original poster
MarjorieDoors · 03/11/2007 11:52

Theres nothing quite individuality - I feel unique for not having one [grin ]. I agree it will look awful when a person gets older.

OP posts:
PrincessGoodLife · 03/11/2007 11:53

We're very classy people and we don't have them

escape · 03/11/2007 11:53

I' in malta, and apart from afew youngsters who have the lowere back type ones (very rare), the maltese don't go for them either.
too permanent, imho

Original poster
MarjorieDoors · 03/11/2007 11:54

Carmenere - Are you allowed to say that? - I totally agree BTW.

OP posts:
2shoeswhizzbangwoosh · 03/11/2007 11:54

dh has one small one.
I would love to get one as I really like thm.

KerryMumKABOOM · 03/11/2007 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Carmenere · 03/11/2007 11:55

I think I am allowed say that, I am not being critical, it is just an observation.

KerryMumKABOOM · 03/11/2007 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hippipoPANDBANGami · 03/11/2007 12:00

I think they are awful, and as you say, when a person is elderly they are going to look sooo dreadful!
Neither dh nor I have one, and don't intend to get one either!

(and I have to say, the Brits in Spanish hotels don't make a good impression do they, all tatood up like that)

LadyTophamHatt · 03/11/2007 12:01

I have 5, dh has 2.

I'm deffo a working class girl.

Dh is higher up the ranks than me but had one before we met.

It did used to be an individulatly thing IMO but I think it is the other way around now.
I don't regret any of mine(although would move one or 2 to a diff place) but wish every one else would stop gettinb them....

zippitippitoes · 03/11/2007 12:01

saw the film Eastern Promises last night and the tattoos were pretty cool..

Original poster
MarjorieDoors · 03/11/2007 12:02

Its quite embarrassing the way the brits act abroad but thats another subject. The Spanish must hate us.

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 03/11/2007 12:04

I quite like the ones that are just patterns in black, iykwim, but the jokey cartoon ones and the football ones are not good. The other thing I don't get is why have one on the small of your back or on your hip where no-one is going to see it! If I spend that much money on something that I like, I'd want everyone to see it!

Blandmum · 03/11/2007 12:04

I don't have any and neither does dh.

A few of our friends have one, but most of them a tattoo free too! I think we are just very boring conventional types, and most of our mates are as well

Mercy · 03/11/2007 12:05

My BIL has one. He is not British and is not working class.

I know several people who have them - generally small ones (the tatooes that is)

HuwEdwards · 03/11/2007 12:07

Neither me nor DP.

Blandmum · 03/11/2007 12:07

One of my BIL has a couple of tattoos. But he is far less conventional than any of his brothers.

He is quite well off and runs his own buisness. I don't know where that would place him in the UK class strcture.

He and dh has a very conventional middle class upbringing

zippitippitoes · 03/11/2007 12:08

well you see them when you have no or few clothes on..which is perfect really..I am now into lusting after men with tattoos on nice bodies..quite safe i think as i am unlikely to be still with them when they get too old lol

mamazon · 03/11/2007 12:08

anyone seen prison break? Tatoos ROCK! lol

jofeb04 · 03/11/2007 13:31

I've got a few, my dh has as well. Don't really care what I look like when I'm elderly, going to have more important things to be thinking of!

I love them,and having another one next month. (I don't have cartoons though!)

Many cultures do have them. And I know many people in the middle and upper classes who have them as well, just bigger as they can afford them

ExplosiveScienceT · 03/11/2007 13:32

It's not a part of British culture across the full socio-economic spectrum