What motivates people to have tattoos done?

Call of Duty Dog · #1

I can understand something elaborate and colourful that has some real artistic quality to it or something small and tastefully done but the majority of tattoos people have just seem like black blotches, smears and crude outlines of shapes which don't really look appealing on anything let alone permanently etched into your very flesh for life.

#2

I don't get it either and have basically the same opinion. There are some tattoos I will look at and think they look nice, but most of the time I think people have ruined their skin with something hideous.

YouTube · #3

I know sometimes the crude outlines are just the first layer for what will become a more elaborate piece.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

#4

Mine are both deeply symbolic and were never intended to have appeal to anyone (though I do get mad compliments on my back ink).

#5

I've never felt strongly enough about anything to get a tattoo (well, I've considered getting an arm-guard tattoo, owing to my love of archery, but I don't know-----I've heard it hurts). If a tattoo looks like crap, it's probably more a result of the tattoo artist being sh*t at his job, less something inherently wrong with tattoos per se.

My sister has a bunch of tattoos (she's a little silly and vapid, but otherwise perfectly fine). Heck, my mom has a couple tattoos (one of them an anklet with eagle feathers----ma likes eagles, too, iss genetic, i tell you)

Man. You know who else has loads of tattoos? Scarlett Pain, the porn star. She's terribly attractive, and the tattoos only add to that biz. She has tattoos (nice tattoos, mind you) on her feet. Her lovely, gorgeous feet. How could one not be down to clown.

Random User · #6

Asking why people get tattoos is nigh unanswerable. There could be an infinite number of reasons. It just depends on the person.

b l a n k · #7

^Yes, and I think it often depends on whether a person considers him/herself more of a thinking or more of a feeling type. I mean, it makes more sense that getting a tattoo would be acting on an emotion rather than on reason.

I agree with you, Shane. My belief has always been that, if you've got naturally good-looking skin while you're young, don't throw away an opportunity to show it.

Calamity Panfan · #8

a lot of people get tattoos out of remembrance of loved ones, others just are really passionate about certain things and want to show that passion in some form. Some people get tattoos related to their religion and feel that getting a cross or something on their skin reminds them of what's important in their faith. Others just think they look dope.

I don't know if I'd ever get a tattoo, and if I did they would just be something like lyrics that mean a lot to me or something. That being said I actually do like tattoos a lot. I'm really attracted to girls with cool tattoos.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · #9

I think tattoos are dumb, and often for attention. I can't think of a reason to get one unless you're in prison.

Deepfake · #10

Why do people always assume someone got a tattoo so others could admire it? Doesn't make any sense. It's like saying you don't think other people should dye their hair or wear clothes they like - it's not about you and you're just gonna sound self-centered.

I'm too critical of art to get a permanent tattoo, myself. I'm more than happy to keep on designing them for people who like art, though.

Calamity Panfan · #11

Yeah, every person I know who has a tattoo didn't do it so people would pay attention to them. They did it because it means something personally to themselves.

#12

[QUOTE="Colonel KR, post: 1468901, member: 38410"]I mean, it makes more sense that getting a tattoo would be acting on an emotion rather than on reason.[/QUOTE]

*snicker* Your tendency to make assumptions about things is amazing. I spent three years waiting to get my first after deciding on the design, and closer to six years waiting on my second. These were not emotion-based actions. They were very, very well thought-out. I chose my third design two years ago, not sure when I'll get it tattooed. Point being, who spends five years with the same design, making sure they are 100% committed to it, before getting it etched permanently on their body? Someone lacking reason? :nuhuh:

On a similar note, IRHP, I have to purposefully choose clothes which expose my tattoo due to its location in the middle of my back (the one on my inner wrist is never noticed on its own, I would have to point it out), something I do extremely rarely because those clothes aren't terribly comfortable and I am aaaaall about the comfort factor in my clothes. Again, the ink is entirely for my satisfaction, not for attention. And let me tell you, my very tattooed friends don't appreciate random strangers remarking about their ink all the time. It's beyond rude for people to make comment about another person's appearance, unasked for and uninvited.

While it's possible that "many people" "often" do things for other reasons, generalising is still pretty shallow-minded. Especially if you folks aren't really in the community, it's hard for you to have any confident stance on why others are doing what they're doing. Did you ever ask? And if so, did you attribute their answer as an irregularity, or did you try and change your perspective?

Call of Duty Dog · #13

Olestradamus is Going 3rd Party, post: 1469001, member: 25415 wrote:Why do people always assume someone got a tattoo so others could admire it?

I can't think of any other reason than to communicate something about yourself to other people and we all do this to some degree with the clothes we wear and all that business.

Doesn't make any sense. It's like saying you don't think other people should dye their hair or wear clothes they like - it's not about you and you're just gonna sound self-centered.

They wouldn't bother "clothes they like and hair dye" if were stranded alone on a desert island so it's all for display to communicate with other people. We all do this to some degree as we look the way we wish to present ourselves to others and tattoos are part of that. To me tattoos tend to communicate "I'm a little bit aggressive/rough n ready so watch out" which is probably what they were supposed to communicate back in day to rival tribes.

I'm too critical of art to get a permanent tattoo, myself. I'm more than happy to keep on designing them for people who like art, though.

Art is a form of expression that conveys a certain meaning to others that's really the reason why it exists, unless you can think of another reason for it?

Calamity Panfan · #14

^ If I was alone on a desert island I would still totally dress and look the way I wanted to. The way you look doesn't just communicate with other people, you communicate with yourself. Clothes/hair/tattoos are probably more about self-identity than communicating with others

also a lot of people I know with tattoos definitely are not rough n ready so watch out. In fact a lot of them are some of the least aggressive people I know.

Kil'jaeden · #15

Poor judgement.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · #16

I never said tattoos are always for that reason, I chose my words carefully. It's just my opinion.

I have asked a few people. Nobody ever seems to say, "Oh yeah, I'm an attention whore, thus my ink." Just like how most criminals are innocent, I have learned not to put much stock into what people "say."

United Nations · #17

^So what you're saying is that you'd rather assume things about people rather than listen to them? Yikes.

#18

No, it's cool, UN. This means we are free to make every supposition we like about IRHP, regardless of what he says to the contrary. The gates to disrespect are wide open. :)

Call of Duty Dog · #19

metal boxes METAL BOXES, post: 1469091, member: 29448 wrote:^ If I was alone on a desert island I would still totally dress and look the way I wanted to.

You wouldn't care what you looked like if nbo-one else was around to see you. You could even run around naked weather and climate permitting clothing would be used purely for survival.

The way you look doesn't just communicate with other people, you communicate with yourself. Clothes/hair/tattoos are probably more about self-identity than communicating with others

How others see you is part of your identity, if there was no-one else you would no longer have that identity and so nno need to communicate your identity.

also a lot of people I know with tattoos definitely are not rough n ready so watch out. In fact a lot of them are some of the least aggressive people I know.

In a post above someone mentioned a tattooed porn star just for comparison Kate Middleton does not have tattoos, Kate Middleton is not "rough n ready".

#20