You mean tattoos?

Got one above my left breast when I was about 16. Doesn't look so pretty now.

I'm 56. Would not have done it, if I could see 40 years into the future.

I don't want one, but I don't want any piercings either. I don't mind if others make a different choice. I'm fascinated by those who choose body suits or full sleeves. It seems like such a long term commitment, plus it must be expensive.

I guess if they're tasteful and not too obnoxious?

My feelings are the exact same as what Elmer said. With that being said, I don't care of someone else does it but I think they should realize that to others, it does look hideous and tacky. What I don't understand is the idea that you would love something so much that you would put it on your body knowing it will be there from now on. There is nothing that I've liked that much in my entire life. I can't imagine if I had gotten a tattoo when I was in my 20s because I would hate it now.

If someone wants a tattoo it's up to them. Just like if they want to dye their hair purple or striped, cover themselves with piercings, wear their "pants on the ground" or put on Tammy Faye Bakker levels of cosmetics, which I often think is similar to a tattoo in many ways. If it makes them feel better about themselves, that's fine. However, just like when you (or I) dress in a way we're comfortable, people look at us and it's reality that people do judge how someone looks,. People DO judge, whether it's right or wrong. IMO it's wrong to judge looks when the person has no choice, like a deformity, but there's nothing wrong with having an opinion on peoples' choices such as dying hair, tattoos, clothes. And people DO have the right to laugh at someone if they think it's funny. (Remembering the Eddie Murphy movie where he walks past the kid and just starts laughing.)

A small tattoo that apparently has meaning to them can be nice enough to view. I often wonder why people get tattoos. I've never seen a reason to get one so I've never given any serious thought to getting one. The old stories of drunken sailors getting their tattoos or were they doing it from peer pressure or what. Why did they get the one(s) they did? I wonder that. Some are so offended if you ask about it I don't and won't ask. And as for the ones who cover themselves with them, I can't help but wonder if they REALLY think they look better trying to look like Papa Smurf. I don't think they do, but as said, it's their choice.

I appreciate well done tattoos. I am not a big fan of tattoos and don't have any, however, I still appreciate if there done well. I have seen some very well done tattoos and always enjoy striking up a conversation and learning about the tattoo. I have seen some tattoos that are gorgeous on TV, and in person. I love art and I see them as art. I still prefer the body unadorned, as I think simple skin is prettiest.

I like imaginative, personal, creative, graceful tattoos ... but I'm too chicken to get one myself. I don't like pain, and my skin has always been on the thin side and prone to rashes so I'd hate to have a bad physical reaction to the ink.

They are not for me, but I can appreciate artistic ones. DD has 2, one on each forearm. One is a little dinosaur from a book she loved as a child (Constantine) and the other is a fox from The Little Prince. She has 2 degrees, speaks fluent Russia, and is a teacher. My son does not have any, yet. He's 26, she's 28.

I have never been able to think there is something permanent on my skin. I just know that one year later I would have chosen something else, so no tattoos for me.

I don't have one but don't mind a few tasteful, artistic tattoos on someone.

You can get a henna tattoo that wouldn't be permanent.

I've often thought of having my cousin do a 'tat' on me with marking pens instead so it wouldn't be permanent...and a lot less painful.

If any of you are blood donors, the red cross won't take your blood until it's at least a year past your tat.

I mentioned in the other thread that both my DD's have one each. My youngest has a dragonfly on the top of her left foot. She puts a shoe on and it's gone.

My oldest, however, had a special tattoo designed especially for her. She went to Bang, a store owned by a famous artist who does the entertainment world. (Rhianna etc.)

She did not get Kevin (Bang Bang) as he is very expensive. She chose another artist who talks with the customer for several weeks and then creates a unique one of a kind tattoo. The first time she saw it was the day it was put on. Of course, if she didn't like it, there would have been a discussion. Hers is inside her arm. She also has a small nose ring.

Both my DD's are highly successful go-getters. Both work in creative fields and I can't see how this is going to change. It is what they went to college for and it's their careers.

As I mentioned on the previous thread, when talking to my oldest about how I felt many tats were distracting when a woman is wearing formal wear, she said, "To you!"

How the younger generation sees things is so different than how our over 60-year-old eyes see things.

Most of us were brought up never knowing a person with a tattoo. When we finally did see them, it was probably on the stereotypical motorcycle gang member.

So, to answer the OP question, I am not interested in getting a tattoo myself. But I am not judgemental about others who have them. Personally, I don't agree with the whole sleeve, whole body, or facial tattoo as I find them distracting. For me, a few can make an interesting statement but not distract from the overall appearance.

ETA: one or two for me is like wearing a piece of jewelry.

I've never seen a tattoo that aged well.

On the other thread, there is a link that has many older people and they looked fine.

Tattoos are used to identify farm animals.

They sometimes have religious or cult symbolism.

The Nazis used them as identifiers.

There is a long association of tattoos with carny sideshows and convicts.

IMO anything that will be *permanent* should not be undertaken merely because you *can* or to do something because 'everybody' is doing it.

Now, how do I get rid of my age spots? People assess others by what they can see on their 'covers', and these inform people that I'm *old*.

They are pretty main stream so I am not so sure anyone judges the outside vs the character. Seems logical to me your chosen presentation of yourself very much tells the world something about you. What that something is, is in the eye of the beholder--just a fact. I have a few questions.

#1 if they are ART is it rude to stare at another's tats? Seems to me like art is to be looked at. Some tats are so intricate and complicated they take awhile to absorb, to understand.

#2 They are expensive, they are your chosen ART so why do people put them where they can NEVER see themselves? Any art I purchase I do so I can SEE it.

I see some tats and think they are beautiful, sexy, or curious, but I can't get past the PERMANENCE of them. There is NOTHING I wear today I wore when I was 16. Not glasses, not hair do, not nail color. My bottom line with those that have them "good luck with that".

I have two daughters. The one that has always brought lot of parental joy and never tested our patience has gotten three tattoos. Two are simple designs on her inner ankles. Most recent one is a very delicate yellow rose on her left shoulder. I'm not thrilled about any of them. The other daughter would be more expected to have tattoos, but so far so good. She just turned 19 and has pierced ears and navel. We never know what she'll do next, but she has never expressed any interest in tattoos including henna or other temporary.

We have a neighbor who has a lot of tattoos. None of them are particularly artistic or organized. To call them art would be offensive to an artist. We affectionately refer to her as "Doodles."

I've done temporary tattoos for fun, when I was really young (late teens-early twenties) More than once. I'd never do a permanent one. Wore them like jewelry. Many people say art, but I don't see them that way. Could be for them. And that's their choice. I'm not wild about tattoos, visible or not, but it's their life. Heck, they might even be a better person, so look out! Art covered people might be just what the world needs.

Angelaid, yes, it is tattoo not tatoo. Imagine having a word spelled wrong on a tattoo? Yikes.

What other thread?

I thought about getting a rose one in a very discreet place many many years ago, but never did. Some I have seen are like art work, but most look like mindless graffiti. If you are covered in ink, then it can be a limiting factor career wise in certain fields. That is just the way our society is right now.

The other thread was the one about the way people dress. It had a tattoo diversion.

I don't care if people have them, it's their business. No judging from me. But I don't think they are attractive.

Not attractive in any form.

Hopefully this works. LINK

I saw this yesterday. It's an escalator prank where someone going down the down escalator gets touched by someone going up the up escalator. The first guy is quite attractive. Body covered. No visible tattoos. The ladies who later pull the prank I would assume are expected to be the female equivalent. There is something about that look with the tattoos that makes it hard for me to enjoy it the same. When the guy does the prank, it looks smoother. The ladies don't have the same effect.

I have one tattoo - a phrase that is deeply meaningful to me. I gifted it to myself last year for my 52nd birthday. It is on my calf, so easily hidden as I do not wear dresses. My 20yr old son loves it, and I have never regretted it for one moment. I have a doctorate in education and work at a university in administration as well as teaching part time.

I got my fourth one last Saturday. I love them. But I do believe before you get one, you have to put a LOT of thought into it. None of mine are from the wall of pictures in a shop. Each one means something special to ME. One I did get online. Most people who have it have it in just black. Mine has colour. I also have two small ones, one on each ankle.

ETA: I am a blood donor. I can donate again in 6 months. That's the law in Canada.

wow!! i am surprised at all the negative opinions/responses.

i have two and both have a very personal meaning to me. would never be upset or change my mind, ever. one is 10 years old and has "held up" beautifully.

i do feel that they should have a special meaning not something in the moment.

I agree with you^^. My last tattoo is a memorial tattoo for my son, who died four years ago last Sunday. It's on my inside forearm. My employer said it's "beautiful!" I have a job. I get paid well. As a matter of fact, a lot of doctors and lawyers have tattoo's. It is NOT something "low paid" people have and in todays world, employers over look tattoos, piercings and funky coloured hair. If you saw my nieces tattoos you might wonder who the heck would hire her. An oil company did. She's the first person you see when you walk into the office and she shows off her sleeve almost every day. And when she wears a skirt, she shows off the art work on her legs too. And she gets paid well: single divorced mom of four kids. Do not judge someone by the artwork they choose to have. Well, unless you're that guy up there ^^^ ;) lol Times have changed. Tattoos are getting prettier and prettier all the time. I do not regret a single one.

Have one often forget about it as it is on the outside of my ankle, until someone notices it. I had it placed there because of the whole wrinkle/ sag issue. I have had it for a few decades and it still looks good. Clear crisp and not distorted by time. I Didn't get colours because I thought they might fade and were too flashy for me. I might get another if there was something meaningful I wanted to commemorate. I went with a group of friends. One got something that was representative of a hard time in her life that she had gone through and was very meaningful to her and a reminder she could get through hard times. Many family members have them, I have Co workers that have them too. One is a super kind lady, very generous, and helps all she can, is active in her Church, it would break her heart if she thought she offended or hurt anyone. She has three. Another is a mom, a couple of our supervisors have them. These folks range all over in age. Most of the tattoos have a personal meaning, and are placed in areas normally covered by work clothes. I have done double takes at large tattoos on women but I think it's because I have not seen a lot of it yet. Sometimes I want to get a good look cause they are interesting but don't want to stare and give the wrong impression. I think judging folks by having a tattoo is short sighted. These days we have to understand the spectrum of people who have them goes from old to young, smart to stupid, wealthy to poor, religious to atheists and everyone else in between. Yes they are permanent and maybe not everyone thinks that through but it sure is not a reason to look down on them. I would take a tattooed individual who is kind and a hard worker in a second over the best dressed well presented person if they were lazy and unkind.

How do you feel about tattoos to replace areola or hair destroyed by cancer, accidents or other medical causes? I recently had my eyebrows tattooed since they had become very sparse and I was tired of drawing them in everyday - sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. I love looking in the mirror first thing in the morning and seeing eyebrows after 30 years of seeing almost nothing.

My manicurist has tattooed eyebrows and eyeliner. It looks great! On the other hand, my former manicurist had those plus her lips tattooed. All this was to make it quick in the AM - no bother with makeup. Second manicurist didn't look so good that way but she was 30 yrs older than the first and already had coarse features. First said the eyebrows don't last more than a few months. I've considered it as at my age, they are thin on the outer edges and also very white (and my hair is not!). I'm too chicken so far...

Debby, if one tenth of one percent (a very small fraction) of physicians in the US had significant tattoos, you could fill a large book with the photos and still not have room for all of them. If the photos you posted are meaningful for you, great.

They do nothing for me other than serve as a reminder of the kind of service provider I would quickly end an appointment with if I encountered something similar. Am I quick to form a negative impression with input like that? Yes.

No, I do not like them at all.

Sue

Kris, an acquaintance of mine had her eyebrows done. At first the result was very harsh and she explained the ink would fade (for lack of a better word) and be more natural looking. They did look very good for a while. Last time I saw her, I'd say her brows are back to normal. It has only been about a year and I thought the procedure would be permanent. She did say it was expensive...whatever that might be.

It's the "everyones" doing it mentality. Not a tattoo lover, but it's not hurting anyone.

I'm more into decorating trends or clothing trends...nothing permanent or involving needles.

Do you disagree on my comment anyone?

Well, clearly the FDA is cautious. But there's been so much experience with people getting tattooed by reputable artists who have experienced no issues among their patrons, I suspect as long as they are using quality products with proper hygiene the risks are low.

I can't stand them. I do think it is somewhat a generational thing since to me they are associated with drunken sailors and shady carnival workers. Obviously the younger people don't think of them that way. Most of them look like big smeary blotches to me. I can't tell what they are supposed to be. I would not like to have to choose my clothes based on covering up a tattoo. I think an even younger generation won't want them because tattoos will be for older people. Nevertheless, if someone wants one, do whatever makes you happy.

minjeeah, I find it odd that the same generation that avoids non-organic food and chemicals in the environment is willing to inject dyes into their bodies.

Irma, my eyebrows are darker right now, just did them 2 weeks ago, but they will lighten up and I will have to have touchups, but not for a while. If I have to, I will give up my Starbucks coffee to keep my eyebrows maintained. There is a lady here that tattoos aerola for breast cancer patients who have nipples and aerolas removed.

Kris, thanks for the info. I did not realize that touch ups were required. They do look really good, though, when they lighten up. Totally worthwhile if it makes you feel good. Like everything else, it's priorities.

I don't begrudge anyone who has one or more tattoos. But I do have to admit that I find them (sometimes) interesting but almost never attractive. I do like to ask people about the meaning and meaningfulness of theirs, and I don't criticize. But I often think it's sad when I see someone with lots of their body covered with tattoos.

Why sad? I guess I can't really explain it. But that beautiful skin covered in ink .... mmmmmm, no. Again, not judging, just observing. As for one or 2 or 3, ok, whatever you want. It's just not for me.

Would I want my husband to get a tattoo? No, I don't think I would. And fortunately, he feels the same about his own skin and about mine. Our skin ages already and gets crepey and aged. Why make it worse (in our opinions) with wrinkled blue and red ink. But whatever floats your boat.

I was seriously thinking of getting a tattoo last year for my 75th birthday. I want the name of my twin sister, Neva, in a small, pretty script, maybe on a wrist of ankle. When I mentioned it, my husband and friends said, "Why?!" and my adult grandchildren said, "Great! Where will you put it?" I never got around to getting it, but am now thinking about my 80th. :)

Not for me, but whatever floats your boat is okay with me.

evatx - go for it! I don't think you will regret it. Getting mine at 52 is the best gift I've ever given myself. I had been thinking about it for 20 years, and when I decided on my design (the words Be Brave in a beautiful script) I knew immediately it was what I wanted and the right time in my life to get it.

Lots of people talk about these memorial or sentimental dates/names..why because THOSE are things/people you would forget??? For many it is the latest addiction. One leads to...well you saw the earlier picture. The other day a gal with full "sleeves" was walking down the road, in a skimpy tank top. She looked HOT!! I thought it was so funny.

Sorry, crazy, but I don't think I'm alone in finding irony to your deliberating for 20 years and then getting a tattoo that says Be Brave.