Do you have a tattoo? (Non clicky poll)

[ktkl09]

I have 5 (most are hidden, except on my shoulder). How many do you have? Do you regret any? Do you want more (or a first?)

My mom mentioned that when I'm home in two weeks that she'd like to get one (her second, she got her first one with me in January). Now of course, I want another one!

I want something to symbolize my struggle and recovery with ED. The birds on my shoulder represent being free and not being held by back by something. I'd like to get the quote "embrace life with every breath" on my foot (on the inside left foot).

[allibally]

I don't have any.

I just can't think of anything I would want or where I would really like one realistically. I guess I am just not keen on them for myself.

[Wanderista]

I'm personally not wild about tattoos and I don't have any, but I have nothing against other people getting them. Except for really silly tattoos, like misspelled foreign phrases or poorly understood symbols, a boyfriend/girlfriend's name, or just ridiculous tattoos that don't seem very well thought out (a friend of mine got an image of Tweety Bird coming out of a flower as a huge tattoo on her leg, kind of silly). There's nothing that I identify with to such an extent that I'd want to tattoo it.

That said, I am totally cool with people getting symbolic tattoos as a way of symbolizing overcoming personal struggles or major life events, the kind of thing that isn't going to change in their lives. I have also occasionally watched LA Ink though it never made me wish for a tattoo.

[tricolore]

None here and no real interest in getting one for myself. From my friends that have tattoos, it seems like most people get them as a symbolic remembrance of someone/something. I can appreciate the concept, but they don't really appeal to me in that kind of way, I guess.

Oh yeah, and I'm a wimp as far as pain and a slight germ-a-phobe in terms of the needles. Yes, I know both those fears are irrational, but that's what makes them fears, right ?

[clogged]

I have 2 teeny tiny ones. No one really notices. One is so small people try to rub it off thinking it's an ink stain (ew! why the hell is it ok to lick and rub an adult? Gross!)

[Cheesecake]

I have 1, I got it after a particularly difficult time in my life after having wanted it for 12 years. (I was 28).

I love tattoos that have specific significance, and do feel they need to be well thought over. I really dislike it when people just get one that they saw on the wall or in the book, or get one as a joke or in the spur of the moment. 'Oh cool, let's get a tat! I have nothing to do' really doesn't fly with me.

I have fat fingers, please excuse typos!

[Deleted]

No tattoos on me. I'm freckly and figured adding ink to my body would just make my skin look too busy. I also can't figure out anything that I would want to put on my body or wear it would go. I'm against tattoos anywhere the body stretches or sags (ie during pregnancy or with weight gain or age) because it really makes for some gross tattoos later.

[GilliC]

No tattoos. Yet.

I used to think that I'd be willing to get something if I thought of something I'd like.

Then I had two friends here who've gotten enormous sleeves and backpieces in color that are by a phenomenal artist. I've been to tattoo conventions with them and hung out with the artist who did their work, and there are some really amazing tattoos out there. Now I think it will be more about finding an artist that I really like and a place to put it.

I won't do anything huge like a sleeve, because while I don't mind making people reevaluate their stereotypes, I already have to deal with enough snap judgments that I don't feel like piling on another.

ETA - A huge piece is also kind of a non-issue, because I could never bring myself to spend that much money on a tattoo. If I had that kind of spare cash, I would spend it on travel.

[dorothyinAus]

I don't have any.

My older brother has one -- his PE (Professional Engineer) number. I think it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I can't imagine what he was thinking when he decided on that. It's on his calf, so it's covered when he's dressed for work, which is something, but it's still the one of the strangest things I have heard of being tattooed on anyone.

[mrsukyankee]

I have one. I love it. It's a Celtic knot that symbolises the cycle of life, change and growth. I got it at age 30 and is very symbolic for my life's work as a therapist. I'd get another (would love to get a tattoo of e flower pattern from my wedding) but the H doesn't like tattoos so I won't get another.

[popcorn]

I don't have any and can't think of a situation in which I would choose to get one in the future. I'm not a fan of tattoos for myself or huge, mispelled, generic, tattoos on other people.

I do like symbolic tattoos though. I had a friend whose brother died when he was 18 and she had his name tattooed in cursive on the inside of her wrist. It was tasteful and I thought it was a beautiful way to honor him.

I think the tattoos you have sounds very nice and I like your idea of a tattoo on your foot to represent your struggle with ED.

[oneslybookworm]

I don't have any, but want one. I just can't find anything I'm in love with.

[anna7602]

If I was going to get one, I would go all the way with a sleeve or full back tattoo. Small and discreet seems to defeat the purpose, for me. (I tend to be an all-or-nothing type of gal.) However, there's nothing I feel strongly enough about to give up that much real estate on my body.

I got a nose ring when I finally committed to a huge career shift that had been rumbling along for some time before that. I considered a tattoo at the time, but again, there wasn't any graphic image I loved enough to live with forever. I do still love my nose ring, though.

[bail229]

Jun 24, 2012 2:20:08 GMT -5 allibally said:

I don't have any.

I just can't think of anything I would want or where I would really like one realistically. I guess I am just not keen on them for myself.

This is the same for me. I can't think of anything I would want on my body forever.

[mrsukyankee]

This is mine on my ankle...though upsidedown

[Deleted]

I don't have any tattoos, and am not planning on getting one any time soon. If there was something that meant so much to me and could be symbolized through a tattoo, I might consider it, in a very inconspicuous location.

My husband's brothers both have their last name tattooed on their arm. Are they afraid they're going to forget it?

My sister has the word "peace" in German, which I thought was nice. She is African American and is adopted, but half our family is very German. I thought it was really meaningful that she would choose German. She also has this poorly done heart on her wrist...not a fan.

[crimsonandclover]

Nope.

My cousin's DH (yes, the cousin I discussed a few weeks ago) has his ex's name in huge letters down one forearm and my cousin's down the other forearm. Huge, black block letters. Cousin's mom saw it and goes, "So where are you going to put your 3rd wife's name?"
::giggle::

I think the small, symbolic ones, especially those memorializing a loss, can be nice if they're tasteful. Like ktkl, yours that are symbolic of fighting your ED sound wonderful.

[irish]

No, they are not for me. Don't particularly like them. I just try and imagine all those people with sleeves or full backs at the age of 80 and in my head it looks silly...

But each to their own...

[Waffles]

I can appreciate the decorative as well as symbolic side (nice) tattoos can have but have never thought of anything I'd want on my body for life. Also, I'm a wimp and I hear they hurt. So I'd have to find something really important to illustrate...

ktkl09, clogged & NLfoodie, you should pip!

[ktkl09]

I think I've PIPed the birds on my shoulder on facebook. The other ones are kind of dumb .

[fernane]

I have one on my foot that is very symbolic for me and will never change. I would never get one that I wasn't positive I would be able to identify with forever. I also wouldn't get one in a place that would be inconvenient to conceal.

[GilliC]

This is one of my friends':
www.bigtattooplanet.com/node/56169

I really like the colors and the realism.

[loveday]

Yes, I have the Japanese symbol for love on my lower right back, and a tribal looking black cat on my ankle for luck. My H is inked everywhere, and he wants to get more. The fool!!

[clickerish]

Yes. Only one. I think a person should think before they throw permanent dye on there. It's hard to remove!

I knew I wanted it for a while, and it's highly symbolic. I chose the design based on the place in my life where I began to realise who I was rather than what other people told me I had to be. I used to go sit in a field full of a certain type of flower, and every time I saw the flower it reminded me of that. But I waited years to actually do it. I went through a fairly painful experience wherein being myself cost me my family, and I got the tattoo to remind me that as painful as it was, the end result was being the person I am instead of miserable inside. I love it, but it's on my lower back so it was (a) horridly painful and (b) fortunately not something most people will ever see so it's not a professional risk.

[idris]

I have 4 (5 if you count the one I covered up with another). One was not done well and was small enough to have one put over it. I don't regret any of them.
My biggest is a tree that covers most of my back. The roots spell out our last name (it's not something completely obvious unless I tell you what you're looking for) and my kids' names are hidden in the branches.