Ink

[98ciHemi]

As I do not drink (yet- 166 days and counting down), I am not worried about getting a tattoo while drunk. There are advantages to being boring.

My thinking about a tattoo is that the meaning is for me. For a long time I wore a necklace as a reminder of something. There are many cases where I cannot wear that, and I only see that happening more in the future. Some of what I am looking for is the same kind of reminder. It is less to show off to others, and more for myself. That is part of why I'd like it on the inside of my wrist- semi discrete, but visible to me.

The whole Chinese character tattoos amuse me. There are some chinese characters that are truly beautiful, and the correct stroke order and shape is a true art form. However, unless you happen to be able to read chinese (I can do OK, but I can't read fluently yet), I don't see the point as much. One the other hand, a chinese character has more meaning than a written word- An english word is a collection of letters representing something. To some extent, a chinese character is more like a picture of that thing or idea. Unfortunately, American tattoo artists frequently get it wrong. I have a friend who has the chinese word for firefighter tattooed on her calf. It looks good, except that instead of the four characters being arranged from top to bottom, the tattoo artist wrote it bottom to top- in short, backwards. Thankfully, I am probably the only person who will ever notice.

[CDMBill]

Tattoos take money away from go fast parts.

[Deaf Bob]

Tattoos take money away from go fast parts.

The truest statement on this thread...

Got a neice who has a character that supposedly means "peace". I asked.. How do you know it does not mean SLUT. ?
She had no answer... A friend told me that the 2 characters are very simular, thus why she did not get it herself..
I wonder why have a tat that needs explaining...
I understand wanting something for a reminder...

[TC]

Tattoos take money away from go fast parts.

I'm with you there Bill......

[Caveman Tony]

Tony, I see it less as a bumper sticker on a Ferrari, and more as pinstriping or noseart. It doesn't work in all cases, sometimes it looks downright wrong, but when it is done right, it can be a work of art or a reminder to the owner. ...

In that case I'm gonna get the flathead firing order on my inside forearm.

But not until my parents pass away, hopefully 40-50 years from now...

[72redfish]

Got a portrait of my wife (second and last, thank you) on my upper arm. Artist was visiting from a sister shop in Britain, does amazing work. Nothing is worse than a badly-done portrait.

So whenever she starts with the "how do I know you'll always love me" crap, I just pull up my sleeve and say "Cuz my new girlfriend is really gonna friggin hate this." Works every time.

The artist had his wife's name inked in several places. While we were discussing making that kind of commitment to one person, he said "she is part of me, and no matter what happens, people are going to have to deal with it."

Your mileage may vary.

[Brian Lohnes]

I saw one that cracked me up the other day. A guy had a girl's name tattooed on his next and they must have split up because over the name was tattooed a VOID stamp. I laughed and cringed at the same time.

[Joe Grippo]

I think Steve O of Jackass fame has "Your Name" tattooed on his ass...Genius.

[pdub]

If getting a tattoo is conformist these days (and it sure does seem to be by numbers), count me as a non-conformist.

Plus, I hate a needle so bad, I'll die in the emergency room someday yelling, "DON'T STICK THAT NEEDLE IN ME!" unless I'm unconscious already, that'll be what saves me - unconscious and unable to object.

I think the tattoo phenom is interesting, at least. Being a baby boomer, I've seen it go full circle. My dad didn't have one, but Unit's dad did. It was a WWII thing, Unit;s dad had what used to be, he said, a Navy anchor, sort of the cliche thing from the military back then.

By the time I first met him it was a huge blue blob on his arm. That's all it was.

So you had the WWII thing and then tattoos went away in popularity for a long while, per my observation. But now they're back. With a great enthusiasm and popularity.

Whatever. You've got tattoos on all the young people and nutcases shooting people in public places. Yep, the world is changing for sure. Can't quite say it's all good, but it's sure not mine to say or judge.

[38P]

None for me, Thanks.

I'd rather eat a bag of glass and wash it down with a fifth of diesel than get any "ink." (You can dismiss this as another out-of-touch old guy vote against the ridiculous tattoo fad)

I don't buy any of the "Rats and Tats" rodding magazines because they make me want to puke . . . I don't even buy "Hot Rod Deluxe" when Dave Wallace, Jr. lets in an ad with "ink."

That being said, it's a free country and if you want to "bumper sticker your Ferrari," knock yourself out, Mike Tyson.

Here's a few tips -- If you blow roddin/racin' bread on "tats," at least get 'em where they're covered up when you're formally or semi-formally dressed. That'll make it easier to cover up that "Honest Charlie" inking when he sags into the Octogenarian Monster from the Black Lagoon or the retired superhero/mascot "Pruneman"

And homemade/jailhouse "ink" is just horrible-looking wherever you decide to get it. (And no, I didn't like the awful finger "tats" in the "Blues Brothers." )

Finally, if you're injured, don't ask for any donated blood because you've disqualified yourself from being a donor, and thus it's not fair for you to "take" from the donation system.

[38P]

I think Steve O of Jackass fame has "Your Name" tattooed on his ass...Genius.

Now he's a real role model for our impressionable youth . . . .

[pdub]

Here's what I think, and it's worth a salt shaker in an endless desert for sure. It's just a point of view from an old fart.

The tattoos are just like the bling in the ghetto. It's all such a mosh pit, so look at MY big ass wheels, see? I stand out!

The tattoos...look at MY tattoo! It rocks!

No, I can't ID with it.

[skullbucket]

I wouldn't mind a tattoo if I knew for sure it would still be important to me in 50 more years( dead by then) but that tribal crap????? What tribe are you part of ???????
I can see a big 3 logo, HEMI, USA, hell even your address of the house you grew up in as a kid and the years you were there or something that isn't going to be forgotten ever but some of those women with a 1X1 butterfly on their ankle or the rose in ivy on their shoulder ??? , still 1 of my favorites is the barbed wire around the wrist Or ying and yang on the calf HA HA HA!!!

[oj]

If you think the Chinese characters are neat and like the meanings within the character then check out the Mayan Glyphs. They are true art form, pictoral and they have deep meanings as each picture represents a bit of a story. Get a book on the Mayans and Aztecs, some of the carvings on the pyramids and the actual writings. You can take the time to learn bits and pieces of thier language and how they went about recording things, they were very articulate and the court scribe was very important as he could summarize a converstion with a picture and capture the nuances about the subject and the people - much like the small detail strokes in the chinese characters.
At least you won't wake up with the realization that you got Chinese writing on you.

[catchmeblue70]

Finally, if you're injured, don't ask for any donated blood because you've disqualified yourself from being a donor, and thus it's not fair for you to "take" from the donation system.

You are only disqualified for 14 months or so. I donated after the time period after my leg tattoo.

Walt, first and foremost make damn sure it's what you want. Getting it isn't too bad depending on location (I have right scapula and left calf, both were like cat scratches at the worst). To make sure it heals up, find a good lotion that isn't scented or dyed, apply liberally after the first day.

I don't mind tattoos. Both my brothers have them, and my sister is getting one this winter. We all agree: no pictures, no names (except children or loved ones-youngest brother has a tribute to our father), no characters. I personally won't have a tattoo showing outside of t-shirt and jeans. If I'm in shorts, I'm comfortable enough around those people I don't care. Leaves an office-professional appearance too.

-Bryan (Remy-Z)