Tattoo question......

[starbkjrus]

Hi all. There have been some recent threads (and others revived) about tats and I have a question. I've seen some wonderful tats here and in the "real" world but can't for the life of me understand how anyone can decide on something that is permanent on their body.

What happens if you get tired of it? Tattoo removal is painful and not always so successful.

Mind you I'm not afraid of a needle; I have several piercings but cannot imagine getting a tat when I'm sure that I would change my mind in a month or two.

So the question is I suppose, how do you decide on what to get?

[McMurdo]

Dee
That is a rather individual choice, and process, how and what one person decides on will be different than how and what someone else decides on. I find it funny when I watch shows like LA Ink or Miami Ink etc. how everyone has this great story and deep meaning to their tattoos. I thought about my first for about 10 years, after that I stopped thinking as much and some of mine are there just because I liked them, most of my tattoos I've drawn up myself so that may come into play when you talk about getting tired of it. I've never thought about removing any of them.

[NewGuise]

I decided at age 11 that I wanted a "gar" tattoo. I had just read Tolkien, of course; his partly invented system doesn't use that particular rune, to which my curiosity led me, the budding medievalist. But I was over 40 when I finally decided to go for it. By then I figured I knew what I wanted and - more importantly - who I was.

I grew up around jails (my dad being the guy in charge) and saw many tattoos, all of which seemed to have interesting stories behind them, having to do with individual senses of identity in relation to particular times and places. As noted in another thread, the gar ended up as the centre of York rose, together signifying my identity as medievalist whose work has long centred on York and Yorkshire, in a variety of ways. My other tattoos 'tell' similar stories. The question around a future tattoo is not what, or why, or even where, but who - I don't trust just anyone to do things right.

[Big Mikey]

You might try this............................................

Get naked. Sit or stand in front of a mirror. Think back over your life. The "tattoo gods" will guide you as to placement and what design.

[celt72]

Some of the best advice I was ever given was to put a picture up of the tattoo you are thinking about on your bathroom mirror. If after 3 months of looking at it everyday you still like it, then get the tat. If you are sick of it, then don't...

-Martin

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Does the same apply to photos of girl friends and wives?

[David Dubh]

Does the same apply to photos of girl friends and wives?

I wouldn't recommend doing that. My wife would just make me take down the girlfriends picture anyway.

[Woodsheal]

Some of the best advice I was ever given was to put a picture up of the tattoo you are thinking about on your bathroom mirror. If after 3 months of looking at it everyday you still like it, then get the tat. If you are sick of it, then don't...

-Martin

Good advice! If it's an image you truly love, or is truly meaningful to you, you won't get sick of it. You'll still be saying, "That'll make a great tat, and I REALLY want it!"

Also, it almost goes without saying that you want a "timeless" design that will always be relevant in your life, NOT, for example, the logo of some rock band you'll have no interest in 10 years down the road, or a current girlfriend's name, God forbid!

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Does the same apply to photos of girl friends and wives?

I wouldn't recommend doing that. My wife would just make me take down the girlfriends picture anyway.

Yeah, It's gotta be one or the other.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I say I have to think about it a long time, and I have been thinking about a tattoo. It took me 2 years to decide to grow a beard.