Stigma on tattoos

#1

I’m considering getting a tattoo (1/4 sleeve, traditional Japanese styled, bit like this, but from the elbow up), but the general reaction of people I get around me, is that tattoos are for “bad people”, or “lower class”. For example, a friend of mine claims that tattoos makes you look like a criminal.

I’m kind of baffled at this, seeing as tattoos as an artform (not just random bits and pieces on patches of clear skin) can actually be beautiful, and may even give a visualization of how that person is on the inside. So I did some “research” (read: Google “tattoo”) and have found that tattoos still seem to carry a stigma. People with tattoos are being categorized, they’re being looked at in the streets (and not just “omg that’s awesome”-looks, but a lot of “check that whore/criminal out, better stay away of those people and never grow up to be like them, son”-looks), they’re being denied jobs or even get fired when the rumor of their tattoo-acquirement spreads.

So what are your views on tattoos? If you have one, how do people react (and do show! Ideas are always welcome)? How does your country/culture view tattoos?

#2

some people get tattoos just because they know society won’t like it, some get them because they have [dead]children, some people just because they actually want them.

Keep them big ones away from your neck/head and you’ll be fine. I myself wouldn’t get anything on my forearms unless I had the money and power to get way with it. The idea is to be able to hide them when the situation calls for formality.

#3

This, basically. People don’t seem to care unless the tattoo is “up in their face”. But yes, I’ve heard of people getting fired and such because of tattoos.

#4

dont draw a dumb line on your leg w. your friends tattoo machine while drunk :expressionless:

#5

Well, at work I generally wear long sleeve shirts or sweaters, unless it’s warm, then I usually wear loose-fit t-shirts (with sleeves that would only show a fraction of the 1/4 sleeve tattoo), so there shouldn’t be a problem with that.

But I still don’t really get why tattoos got that “zomg evil” thing going. Yes, you can find them ugly (and yea, tattoos in the neck or face are a bit tasteless imho, considering how the face is one of the most defining features of the human body), but I think some people’s clothes and haircuts are ugly as well, but you don’t see me firing them!

#6

People think tattoos are evil because they’re sort of a new thing in the civilized world. I’m pretty sure they won’t be such a taboo when all the old people die.

#7

A good deal of my friends have tattoos, and I don’t really mind them. I considered getting one myself for a while, but I decided that it wasn’t worth the money.

#8

Tattoos? NOPE.avi

#9

i find it reallly hard to not start talking about stigmata whenever something reminds me of it

#10

When I turned 18, I got this to commemorate my father, R.I.P

#11

spooky

#12

thanks?

#13

I dunno, people are weird about things like that.

I want a literary tattoo at some point. Only problem is, I don’t want a pretentious one, so that rules out pretty much everything.

#14

Well, there’s one major issue for me: trypanophobia.

Though I have yet to find out whether that applies to tattoo needles as well. I don’t freak out when I see one on a picture, but pictures of syringes don’t freak me out neither. But the moment a syringe comes close to my skin, I freak out >_>

#15

No, they’re not really like syringes. They’re more like pins, I’d say. Obviously they work like syringes, but… Um… You get the idea.

#16

Tramp Stamps… not my thing - blokes have them to look like David Beckham and girls have them “coz its exotic” - that stupid looking shape on the middle of my back means “star child” or something similar in some obscure language… spend the cash on beer! way more fun! LOL!

#17

Most young people here don’t really care about them either way, but being covered in tattoos, or at least having ones that are visible at all times, can prevent you from going into certain occupations. Airlines won’t hire pilots who have visible tattoos (if you have sleeve tattoos you have to wear long-sleeve shirts year round, that kind of stuff, if you have facial tattoos you’re out of the running) and you’ll never see a doctor or surgeon with tattoos. Presumably this is because some people would be unsettled by tattoos and companies don’t want their employees to be scaring their customers.

I don’t have a problem with them (aside from how cost-prohibitive they are :stuck_out_tongue: ) - having a work of art on your body doesn’t change the type of person who you are at all, and people that make a snap judgement based on someone’s appearance are silly anyway.

#18

I personally find tattoos, of any sort, to be ugly and they’re a huge turn-off for me…

#19

The best alternative to tattooing is paint, like the Aborigines use. You can apply a new design everyday.

#20

get a tramp stamp

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.