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

[MarjorieDoors]

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?

I don't have one (neither does DP).

We know a few people with them, not all are people you would expect to have them either!

A friends Mum (terribly well-spoken, WI type ) has a tattoo on her ankle -to say I was gob-smacked when I saw it would be an understatement.

I had one when I was seeing my first lover. He wasn't very committed and I needed something to show our love was 'real', very frustrating relationship, I hate the tattoo now (actually I hated it before she did it but she had done the design and was scary so I offered up my arm like a suppliant lamb. He hated it too. I later had it partially removed but couldn't justify the expense of finishing the job so it's still half there

bugger!!

Oh and my well spoken friends were gobsmacked when they first saw it - when I was in labour I just forget it's there, it's so not 'me'!

I have one, not a butterfly and not little either, I call it my folly of youth but, I wouldn't get rid of it. It is a reminder of who I was at the time, although I was quite unique at the time for having it done, everyone's got one now.
Oh except for dh, he hates them!

I listened to a plastic surgeon on the radio recently who was talking about laser removal of tattoos. He mentioned that women who displayed lower back tattoos were now being considered 'easy'. It wasn't his opinion, btw, it was from a survey of people's perception of them.

Neither of us have one (or are ever likely to) and, no, it's not a part of British culture imo.

I don't have any. DH doesn't have any.

But I am seriously contemplating getting one now. I've decided to think about it at Easter, don't want to make that sort of decision quickly!

Yes, lower back tattoos are called 'tramp stamps', at least by some. I don't think they make anyone a tramp, or easy, but people do think they do.

I don't think any of my friends have tattoos. The ones who were/are into body art went for piercing.

I don't have any tattoos, neither does DH.

I only know about three people who do - although others may have them lurking out of sight, of course!

Don't think it's part of British culture, particularly.

In fact, more people of my Grandparents generation seemed to have them, as they were in the armed forces in the Second World War. Women didn't really have them then though, as far as I know.

Oh and to answer the OP, I know DH doesn't have any (but he isn't British)

I enjoyed having it done though...the lasering off was hellishly painful! Plus despite being assured by the sadist woman whom I was paying that it was safe, I suspect it might give me some horrible disease one day.

The lasering, that is...

think I'm quite tempted to get one..now I already know which bits of my body are wrinkly lol

I suspect Carmenmere is largely right, with some exceptions. Can't really see the appeal myself but hey ho, if it makes people happy...

neither of us

I have one, DH would never in a million years. Most people don't know I have one and are surprised that I do.

we dont have them and I dont think they are attractive on blokes at all in fact the sight of them makes me gip slightly

Same here Cerys, people are always shocked by the fact I have one, don't know why!

I don't have any
neither does dh
I don't care for them

i have one.

dp makes scornful noises about them in general, butnever about mine. but then, mine is never on show.

mine does.

but my American neurosurgeon ex bf had way more - despite being born loaded and a total brainiac who had both an MD and a PhD in genetics by the time he was 27.

i don't have any, but i think it's crap to label people as chavs or low-class because they do.

There is a correlation in the UK though, Expat.

agree expat.

have known far too many interesting people to judge on appearance.

i don't believe that at all, explosive.

i really don't.

johnny depp and ewan macgregor have tons of tatts, too.

are they chavs?