Another who agrees with arkansas-girl and others who don't care for them.I don't have any,nor do i want any,same goes for those i've seen with those giant holes in their ears.That's been mostly guys.

What i think is really disgusting(IMHO) are those gals that dress up for say the emmy awards and such and their arms and other places are covered with tats.Gross.
Kathi

In my town, tattoos and piercings are the norm.

I can "respect them as an art form," although they are not for me.

I don't mind tattoos in general and have thought about getting one myself. But I change my mind often about what I like that I've decided a tattoo isn't for me. I think I hate piercings much more even though I know that these are usually easily removed. I wonder if it depends on where a person is from. Around here, I'm in the minority as far as not having a tattoo.

Every time I see Kelly Osbourne on The Fashion Police, I wish that she would have worn something long sleeved.

Here is a link that might be useful: Doctors warn Kelly Osbourne on tattoo removal

I have several and would dare each of you to try to find any. They are well hidden and they are all of personal meaning to me. I didn't get them to be an exhibitionist... as I said, they're hidden. Just like with any other procedure you would consider having done, you have to check into a persons credentials and safety record. Mine are all one of a kind, very personal tattoos done in a sterile setting with all of the state regulations followed. It's a personal choice and though I respect everyone's opinion, it's a little crass to generalize all people who have tattoos the way some of you have. I don't agree with or like plastic surgery, but I would never presume that all people who have had it are a certain way. Live and let live... judge less, accept more.

The most interesting tattoo I have ever seen was years ago when I was working in a very busy ICU unit. (Late 1960's) A young man had been in a motorcycle and had massive head injuries.
He had a tattoo of a housefly on a very, very sensitive part of his anatomy. Those of us who took care of him wondered how he ever was able to stand the tattooing. He must have been passed out drunk or under anesthesia.

I didn't read all the responses, but I'm still trying to delete Lynn D's image posted here. Yikes! :)

Like Heather, Ontario, I have 3 small dots from my radiation days. Have to say, if that's all this ol' bod has endured, I'd been "good to go". :)

I really like some of Angelina Jolie's tattoos, especially the ones with the geo coordinates where all her kids were born. I think that's neat.

My grandpa has quite a few tattoos that were done decades ago that commemorate important things in his life. Sure, they don't look as nice as they did 30 years ago but time continually passes, bodies changed, experiences evolve and it makes me smile to see a living, breathing and vibrant showing of part of our family's history. Who cares how perfect it is?

I would dare any of you to call him trashy or low class, lol. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but some of these comments are hurtful.

One of my best friends has multiple visible tattoos, one even on her neck. She is a wonderful friend. mother and grandmother. She is a very hard worker, and skilled customer service personality...sweeet, patient, caring, giving....I couldn't aks for better qualities in a friend or a co-worker.

She was laid off from her job last year. It has been a real struggle for her to find employment and I cannot help but think her tats are not helping...first impressions being what they are.

Someone will eventually hire her and get a gem, but my point from earlier stands...a good segment of our community will always judge by looks first.

I just really want the young people in my life to think long and hard about what permanent alterations they make to their body. It is a choice that could/might affect your life forever.

Another PERSONAL belief...as we age, I believe men will be judged far less than aging women. Men are routinely excused for reckless youth...women not so much.

I truly hope I am wrong.

I question the judgment of anyone who would deliberately put him/herself through the discomfort of getting a tat. There are so many meaningful ways of celebrating something that are not permanent body disfigurements.

Those who have tats may think they are doing their own thing, or something unique or special, but how can that be if so many have tats? Just part of a fad, is all. Hiding them so others cannot see them? What's the point?

I do know some nice people with tats, but I still question their judgment. And I have never seen a pretty one, either.

Some people have so many on their extremities it looks just like gigantic bruises. MY GD's little tiny ones like her peace sign and the hearts on her foot are something I wouldn't have done but no body sees them. She's 21 and doesn't even have pierced ears. She did have a pierced belly button but it got infected and she let it close. This kid has fair skin and long blonde hair and is quite beautiful so I'm guessing she won't get any more. Her BF though looks like Woodstock with shoulder length hair and tats which are bigger along with pierced eras. I would not hire him even though he'll graduate college in a few months.

I have a friend who went through a horrible divorce in her later years. She was completely unprepared for how her life would change and all the challenges she had ahead of her.

She is about the most conservative person I know. I don't think she even has pierced ears. Never wears make-up, dresses in simple attire etc.

But during her ordeal she came across a poem of two frogs:

TWO FROGS IN CREAM

by T.C. Hamlet

Two frogs fell into a can of cream,

Or so I've heard it told;

The sides of the can were shiny & steep,

The cream was deep & cold.

"O, what's the use?" croaked Number One,

"'Tis fate; no help's around.

Goodbye, my friends! Goodbye, sad world!"

And weeping still, he drowned.

But Number Two, of sterner stuff,

Dog-paddled in surprise.

The while he wiped his creamy face

And dried his creamy eyes.

"I'll swim awhile, at least," he said-

Or so I've heard he said;

"It really wouldn't help the world

If one more frog were dead."

An hour or two he kicked & swam,

Not once he stopped to mutter,

But kicked & kicked & swam & kicked,

then hopped out...

via butter!

So this very conservative woman went out and got a tattoo of a frog on her thigh. No one will ever see it since she isn't one to wear swimwear or shorts etc. But to this day every night when she undresses that frog on her thigh reminds her to keep kicking no matter what. That little reminder got her through some very rough time and still does. So unless you have been in someones shoes don't judge.

.

First impressions are really hard to overcome sometimes, so if a person doesn't like tattoos and meets someone who has a lot of them, I think it's pretty normal to come away with a less than favorable first impression. It's too bad that that person will then have to work hard to overcome that, but no one ever said life was fair.

We did a pirate themed thing at the beach one year and we put some fake tattoos on our calves/ankles. I could not WAIT to get that thing off of me, I felt so trashy and tacky and people were staring at it and I just hated it. People spent more time checking that thing out than looking at my face or eyes, it was very distracting to them, I guess. I didn't have the necessary alcohol to remove it, so I scratched it off with my nails and that hurt, it was really stuck on.

So nice to see all the differing opinions. :)

"It's a personal choice and though I respect everyone's opinion, it's a little crass to generalize all people who have tattoos the way some of you have. I don't agree with or like plastic surgery, but I would never presume that all people who have had it are a certain way. Live and let live... judge less, accept more."

Exactly mom24 and also Wildchild.

How judgemental some people are about the way other people look. Who cares what other people do to themselves? There are plenty of things I would never do to myself (get a perm, plastic surgery, wear tons of make-up, bleach my hair blonde, wear a shirt with teddy bears on it)...yet I don't judge people who do because it's their body and life, not mine.

I have 4 tattoos, you would never see any of them unless you saw me naked. I couldn't care less what they will look like when I'm old, the rest of my skin will be saggy and wrinkled, my tattoos might as well be too, LOL. It's not like anyone will be checkin' out my bod when I'm a senior citizen anyway. All my tattoos were gotten for reasons, during specific times in my life...they are part of my story. I would say most people with any tattoos could say the same thing.

Most people get tattoos because they like them. They like the way they look. For the same reason you buy a certain pair of pants or a shirt. I also don't know anyone with tattoos who give a rat's patootie what anyone else thinks about them. You don't like em? Don't look.

I will say one thing....and I know a lot of people with a lot of tattoos. Some covered in tattoos and piercings (I live in Seattle). I certainly have never heard any of them saying that others looked low class, trashy, or disgusting because someone else didn't look like them.

I really don't like them or "appreciate" them and it is hard for me to understand the why of getting a tattoo. My previous husband had a couple on his arms that he had done while he was in the Marine Corp. Probably drunk at the time but he hated them later in his life.

Whether any person on here or otherwise feels that the person wearing tats is low class and tacky etc etc as mentioned.....Unfortunately that is the stigma that they also accept when they decide to get a tattoo.

My opinion is that I wouldn't do it to myself and do not understand the need for (especially) a woman to do it but I don't automatically categorize the person as trash....my daughter has 2 small ones that are pretty much hidden and I know she is not a trashy person.

I find it very interesting that a couple of ladies on this forum who find tats "disgusting, trashy, low-class" turn around and in the same breath say that their own children/relatives have small, pretty, nice, unobtrusive tats and that they're not trashy people.

Could it just be that you're being a little judgemental because you know these people, and not the "trashy" ones?

Maybe we should try to see the person who's inside the tatted skin, and we might be surprised to see that they are not as "trashy or low class" as they may appear to be!

Personally, I have tattoos (6 to be exact) and upon meeting me you would never see any of them, so it would be very comforting to think that I was not being judged by them.

I hate them with a passion

Dolly

My 23 year old son asked me several months ago to draw a robot he'd seen on my office white board. I had doodled it months before and never erased it. I asked him why he wanted it and he never came out and told me.

Flash forward to August when my son and daughter spent a weekend in the Sierras body riding nature's slide (a large, natural rock water slide) in one of the rivers. I didn't know they had done that until they posted a video of both of them tumbling down the slide. ACK! I nearly fainted.

There were a series of photos of that weekend as well and in one of the photos is my son in his swim trunks directly facing the camera. I could see what looked like a large blue bruise on his right side. As his mother I was so concerned about the bruise...until two photo further, he had turned and that side was facing the camera. That 'bruise' was a hot air balloon tattoo taken from his favorite CD cover.

Flash forward September... he and I are sitting at a baseball game when I asked to see his tattoo for the first time. He asked which one? What??? I say. He said I have two and then rolled up his right pant leg and on his calf was my robot. He had added a heart to its chest.

I didn't know whether to be mad or happy he liked my work enough to permanently put it on his body. I chose to be mildly surprised and accepting. Life's too short to make a fuss about a lot of things we have no control over.

Jodi-

Aww I think the robot is sweet, Jodi. :)

Wildchild, I love that poem. Thank you!

Jodi -- I didn't know we had a natural slide. I Googled the one below. Is that the one? Awesome. On my bucket list for next summer maybe.

Here is a link that might be useful: Natures Water Slide

Wildchild, I don't know if that's or not. The one they were on had a lot more water and rougher looking rocks. If you go to my Facebook page, I just posted the video.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: My Facebook page

This is one of the more amusing threads I've seen in a long time! LOL Boy are some people defensive! Where's the compassionate, live-and-let-live, ah, can't even get it out without laughing.

Of course tats are personal. Some like them and some don't. But don't sit there high on the 'pocricy, and say something so arrogant as don't be judgmental, judge on looks, etc. You're not living in the real world if you don't understand that many, if not most, or more, people in this continent at least, judge by looks. How many can honestly say their spouse, SO, BF, GF or others weren't attracted by looks? Most will admit this. Looks are subjective. And the fact is that in the employment world you are judged by your looks so get off your high horse and come to the dark side... of reality. In a perfect world would we all be blind to looks? Of course. But fat people will not model the bulk of lingerie, suntan lotion, surfboard, and other ads. Walk into a job interview for an executive position with ragged shorts, dirty t-shirt, BO, greasy hair and claim "judgmental". Anyone care to dispute that? LOL What's generally considered "unattractive" people aren't in cosmetic ads, hair ads, etc. Scruffy beards, long beards, etc scare some people. It's a fact of life.

When you represent a company, you present an image. A tat parlor probably wouldn't want my pale, colorless look to represent them. BOY AREN'T THEY JUDGMENTAL!!!!!

Some folks should try decaf. It tastes almost as good as the real thing. :)

Oh, for my opinion, they don't do much for me for the most part. I've seen some tasteful ones that I like, but I don't particularly get turned on by someone resembling a Smurf. I really tend to say "why"? They often don't see them, not that they have to, but do they really appreciate them that much? IDK. Sometimes having something makes you feel better. OK. Like someone who dyes their hair rainbow colors and other things, it's certainly their choice and yes I respect that. It's the image they choose to present, regardless of the (and I emphasize potential) ramifications of their decision. I don't see it as "art". I see it as, well, more of a style choice, often rebellious in nature, which I also respect. The long hair rebels of the 60s, the flower-power look, "emo", "goth" or whatever you choose. Your choice but realize what comes with being a rebel. I tend to rebel in other ways, by telling the truth when it needs to be told, being pragmatic and the like. But that's my choice and yes, I realize the ramifications of it. I've gotten the lectures here often enough! LOL But, I guess I'm too judgmental. And yes, many friends of mine have tats and that didn't impact whether we were friends or not. I could consider some, but in reality I don't see a Snowball's chance in a cat scanner of me getting one. I have enough pain. I could also get a temporary one if it made me feel that much better. But I know for me, it wouldn't.

Excellent post, Cynic!

Oh Cynic I think you can get off the soapbox now. I'm only saying sometimes one shouldn't judge the book by the cover. Maybe the gaudiest, most outrageous cover hides the best book you'll ever read, but then again.....

Just sayin'

Yeah, really wildchild, that full bodied naked tattooed lady could turn out to be your best friend. Of course, she'll still be unclassy and tacky, but your best friend, nonetheless.

Oops, meant to address that last post to cynic not wildchild...oh well, guess it can be addressed to whoever reads it!

I like the post... I'm sitting here laughing my trashy ass off. I might get a KT tattoo to help me remember the moment.

I don't mind them. I have seen some very nice ones, and some quite yucky ones. I don't like obscene or hateful tattoos shown in public. And almost every neck tattoo I have seen that goes across the throat makes the wearer look like they have a short, thick, wide neck.

There is a little family I see, the mom and dad are heavily tattooed and have small kids. They look like such a fun and funky couple, and their kids are a riot and adorable. She has some older style pinup girls on her arms, and a lot of the hawaiian style (almost like water colours). Very pretty. Her husband has mostly tribal designs, and the names of the kids.

I don't have any myself. Mostly because I don't like pain, and I have never seen anything that I liked enough to have permanent. I would rather get something that I can show off, someplace where I could see it. I used to have a burn scar on my wrist, and thought about getting a small koi fish tattooed there (with a cherry blossom). But the scar faded and I kind of lost interest LOL. It would have been so small that the detail would be lost quickly anyway.

Dances

Well said, Cynic. Some people may not like the "real world" but there it is!!

As for the frog, most, if not all of us, have had to crawl through ground glass at some point in our lives. I find the memory of that time in my life more than enough, without having a permanent visual reminder.......

Didn't read every single word of every post, but I'm another one that doesn't like em'. Small, hidden ones, well OK, but not covered from stem to stern in tatoos.

For those of you that would like to have a tattoo, why not try temporary tats? I have done that before when I get a hair to do something wild!! LOL!! At least I know I can wash it off!!

>> I like the post... I'm sitting here laughing my trashy ass off.

Hahaha Mom24. You made ME laugh out loud! Here's a thread with comments about tatoos, with many (myself included) indicating that first reactions to tatoos are that they're low-class and tacky. And then you, who have tatoos, come out with that. Beautiful, just beautiful.

By the way, for myself, I said that's my knee-jerk reaction. I'm not saying that everyone with a tatoo is low-class and tacky. But the reality of the reaction exists regardless of the fact that, of course, it's the person who matters.

Id like to have a tiny heart hidden somewhere just for me but I hate to see arms totally covered etc because you know theyll get tired of that sooner or later then what,my daughter has a daisy shed love to get rid of,she said they fade get ugly.

"Glad I look beyond the cover of a book. I would miss knowing some excellent people if I thought body art and their apparel defined them."

So true, Wildchild. :)

LOL.....I should get a tattoo across my whole chest saying "Well they were beautiful". I wonder what my oncologist would say. ;-)

I have no problem with a person expressing themselves in the form of a tattoo and I would hope to never prejudge them because of it. I have none but my daughter and her daughter do and I like them. Funny story. I was visiting Tn. and my daughter had asked me to scope out some places where I might find some old Black Crow albums. One of them turned out to be in a store where the owner was covered with tats and piercing and looked fierce. When he opened his mouth he sounded like Gomer Pyle and was incredibly nice and helpful and we chatted only to find out he was soo intelligent. I asked him was he still happy with his tats and he said "oh yes" so there you go. What makes one happy can scare someone else.

Heather, I bet your oncologist would smile like I just did. LOL

The main Yahoo story that just popped up for me is about how employers view tattoos.... what a coincidence!

Here is a link that might be useful: Visible Tattoos Corporate No-no's

Back in the day we expressed our selves with our hair. Sort of like the musical. We all, me, husband , DD and son had long hair. Mine was to the middle of my back. Fastforward all these years and three out of four of us have short hair now, the exception being DD who doesn't have the long ironed parted down the middle look, but long and wavy in this century. My clothes also expressed me and my views, ratty jeans, peace signs and hippie style clothes. But that's not me now so although I wear jeans, they're not ratty with peace signs, and my hair is a short bob. If I would have gotten a tattoo back then , I know I'd hate it today and spend money and pain to get rid of it. Just sayin'.

I was touring the Portland Rose Garden when I saw a wedding in progress. What a beautiful setting for a wedding, a beautiful bride in a beautiful gown. When the bride and groom turned around, you didn't have to ask the non wedding people what they thought of tattoos. The beautiful bride vanished and a gasp came everyone. Only her face was untouched by tattoos, same for the groom. I guess you have to admire them for not caring what other people thought.

As for the frog, most, if not all of us, have had to crawl through ground glass at some point in our lives. I find the memory of that time in my life more than enough, without having a permanent visual reminder.......

I'm afraid you have missed the point. The tattoo is not a reminder of "crawling through glass" at all. It is a reminder that she is strong and as long as one "keeps flapping" (as she calls it) they can overcome the worst odds of whatever faces them. She sees the frog as a symbol of strength and perseverance. It's a positive thing and makes her smile. Reminds her to believe in herself.

As to the poster that said why not just do temporary tattoos.......well because they are not personal. A tattoo is much more than an embellishment to many of us. It becomes a part of us. It is our history. Those who can't get past the idea that it's just permanent art are missing the point that several of us have tried to make. I rarely see my tat. Forget it's even there. But when I do think of it it puts a big huge smile on my face. It took a long time for me to decide to do it. It's a symbol of freedom, of survival, of loving who I am. The tat itself is just a cute little character. No one seeing it would ever put any meaning into it. But for me it means everything. Similar to my friend's frog. It is a part of me. Reminds me of who I am. I like who I am.

The one I want on my foot will not have the same intensity of meaning. But it has been well thought out. It will reflect another lighter side of me. It is something I love. It will be unique due to the artist I've chosen.

I don't like young people getting tats much either. I asked my own kids not to do anything to their bodies that couldn't be reversed until they were sure. Neither has a tat and they are in their 30s. The idea of getting one creeps out DH. But he cringes when I put my earrings in. He has issues with skin being broken. Can't look at the needle when he get a shot or gives blood.

That's funny Heather. Those of us who have had radiation have little dots tattooed on our chests. When I was going into the OR for lung surgery, My husband wrote on my right breast...He wrote a note to the surgeon that said something like ......

Right / Yes

Good Luck Honey

k5xa (his call sign)

I told him that I was going to have it tattooed on my boob., but of course I didn't.

Wildchild, I most certainly did not miss the point; just expressing my opinion. Wasn't that the question?

Got a small butterfly on my breast when I was about 16. It looked a lot "hotter" at 16 than it does at 50, believe me! LOL

Wantoretire....... Your post sounded like you believed the frog was a reminder of a bad time. "I find the memory of that time in my life more than enough, without having a permanent visual reminder"At least that is what you said. I was pointing out the frog was a talisman of strength for my friend. NOT a reminder of bad times.

Hi Michelle - you didn't say - what's your opinion of tatoos?

I find it very sad that as "adult" posters on this board there is so much unharmony and discord. Maybe if we have a different opinion, by all means we should share it, but keep our comments focused on our own opinion or perspective rather than criticizing the opinions, perspectives or worse, intelligence of others.

That's my last thought on the subject, and I won't be posting anymore on the subject of tattoos, so for now I'll just "zip-it".

Frog was coming out of a bad time into a good time. Who cares what the bad time(s) is/are or how we come out of them. It's all in the perception and emerging into the light.

I've seen some nicer (some might call them tasteful) ones and then I've seen people who look like sideshow performers. I do think it has to do with what type of job you do (or expect to have!).

My husband has one small, discreet one on his upper arm. His shirt sleeves cover it. It shows a fireman's hat, a pickax, small flames behind them, etc. He was a fireman for several years and he misses it terribly. He said it was a huge part of his life and he wanted to signify that it was.

Fine with me - I don't have anything similar that I'd like to honor. What I don't understand are these 65 year olds running around with Twitty Bird on their back? LOL
(No offense to you Birdettes out there.)

Ok, put me in your "Trash" section.
I have 3 tattoos on my body and I can cover them all. I get lots of compliments when I wear my bikini which shows one of them, a very colorful rose. I have another VERY hidden one that only my husband and the coroner will ever see. The 3rd one is a toe ring on my toe which I kinda regret because it looks more like a bruise than a tattoo. It was pretty for a couple years but the gold no longer shows and it is kinda a green blur.
I do agree, it is tacky to me when I see tattoos ALL over the body.
To each their own is how I see it.