Does anyone else think tattoos are special?

Question

I don't have a tattoo, but I am not closed to the idea. I always thought if someone got one, it should mark an exceptional event in their life, or something else equally profound. Yet, I see so many people get one, just cause it looks nice.

This doesn't make sense to me. Something that stays on your body forever should be almost sacred. Your body is a temple, so a tattoo should be no less than the equivalent of your own stained-glass window.

I'm sure I'll get some objections, but does anyone out there agree with me? And if so, do you have a tattoo yet? Any answers would be appreciated.

Answer 1

You are my hero! I love that you said it should be sacred. I whole heartedly agree with you. I am so sick of questions saying "what tattoo should I get??" because people want tattoos to be cool. Tattoos without meaning are my pet peeve.

Oh and I do have a tattoo and it means the world to me.

Answer 2

yes, i agree with you totally. too many people get tattoos done on a whim, without thinking it though, or going to a reputable tattoo artist.

i have a dragon tattoo on my left hip. i chose to get it done as i'd been through some rough times, and the dragon to me symbolized my strength to move forwards with my life. i do not regret getting it done at all. however, my parents still don't know that i have it, so that's one down side..... some people never approve of tattoos, no matter how nice they are, or how good a reason u have for getting a tattoo.

tattoos are a personal choice. it is entirely up to each individual person as to whether or not they choose to get one. i just wish some people weren't so prejudiced against them.... i've seen some answers on here before from people saying that 'only slappers' get tattoos, or that they make people look trashy, or that they are an offense to god.... it annoys me that people think that they have the right to judge others like that. the world is already full of enough stereotypes.

Answer 3

I agree with you in that a tattoo should at least hold some significance. Not just for the fact that it is forever, but also because you're paying a large sum to even get it put on. I have two tattoos and i don't regret either one, because i did think hard about them both. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 4

Yes! A tattoo should be special. I don't think people should get one just because it looks good or whatever. I have one. It's a butterfly. I love nature and I chose a butterfly. I am thinking of getting another one. Not sure what I want yet. I know a girl who got this HUGE fairy put on her back. It covers her entire back. I think it was a very bad choice. It's something she will have on her body FOREVER.

Answer 5

I tend to agree with you. I wanted a tattoo for a very long time but I wanted something very personal and symbolic to me. It literally took me years to figure out what I wanted and I ended up designing it myself.

I often wonder how many of the people who come here to ask about tattoo removal had gotten tattooed on a whim without putting any real thought into the image/symbol they chose.

I'm planning my next one but don't have just the right image yet, but I'm getting closer!

Answer 6

I have 27 tattoos and I am currently designing #28.

All of my tattoos have very deep meaning to me and reflect different points in my life that I want to remember and/or cherish -- good and bad. I have a great respect for the people that actually take the time to ask me about any of them.

Everyone is entitled to tattoo their body any way that they see fit, however, I am disappointed when I know that someone got a tattoo simply because they think it is "cool" or "trendy". I think if you have that type of attitude you are more likely to some day regret your tattoo.

I also do not appreciate being looked down on because I choose to wear body art. I also do not appreciate being stereotyped as "trashy", "uneducated" or a "freak" because of my art either.

I also am not worried about what my tattoos will look like when I am "old" and I do not regret any of the tattoos that I have.

Answer 7

Yeah, I agree with you but for some people the way it looks means more than a story behind it could. Like it could be an obsession that you've had forever (a lot of people are obsessed with stars because they aren't understood really). I think as long as it's important to the person with it and well thought out then it's great. Getting a boyfriend or girlfriends name tattooed ... not so smart, other halves come and go when we are young and I wont even tattoo a spouses name personally as long as they are alive because things can change. Kids, people who have passed, in honor of and memory are understandable but spouses and boyfriend or girlfriend I just can't do.

Now with that said, my tattoo does have meaning to me and I really don't care if people give me crap for having a Japanese character while not being Japanese. It works best for me and has meaning to me. That's all I care about with it, it's for me not anyone else. I have the Kanji for Dragon in just the outline on my ankle. Dragons are strong, confident and keep on going when problems come up. I got mine after the aniversary of my uncles sudden death set in, my family finally started coming back together and I was confident in myself again. It helped me beleive in myself again. That might sound selfish or stupid or childish but I don't care what other think. The fact is, that is what it did and continues to do for me plus that I went with one of my best friends for both of our first tattoos. It was an amazing experience that I wouldn't change for anything. If a tattoo has meaning for you then don't worry about others. They are too personal to justify other than you know the purely rebelious teen doing it just to do it with an admission. Those don't mean anything and are so stupid. So ... I kind of got off topic there, sorry. Bottom line with me if it has any kind of meaning to the person with it and has been thought out then more power to them. I like the question.

-I'm so sick of the "what should I get?" "what is super sexy for a girl?" bs ... Those are the ones that give tattoos a bad name.

Answer 8

All of my tattoos were planned carefully and have meaning behind them.My last one was to mark the end of my cancer treatment.I get so annoyed when the non-inked people of society have the most to say about tattoos.What they hell do they know about tattoos? Okay, so they don't like them, but I don't like rude outspoken people that feel they have a right to comment on something that they have no understanding about.
I've got tattoos that were drawn up by the artists after I came up with the design idea.
The only negative thing about me having tattoos is the reason I have mentioned, the non-inked ignoramus's.I shocked one woman when she had a go at me in the showers at our local pool.So, I just whipped my bather top down to show her my mastectomy scars.She left in a hurry and I've not seen her there since.I have tattoos, but I also have feelings, especially when it comes to getting bashed for having tattoos.Pardon the expression, but you do need to grow a thick skin when you get inked.

Answer 9

I believe tattoos SHOULD be special, and all of mine are(now). I did have one that I got just for the sake of saying I had a tattoo, because I really wanted a tattoo. I liked my gekko for as long as I had it, but I grew up, and got it covered with something much more meaningful to me-a Celtic Cross, that even my grandmother who doesn't really approve of tattoos, really likes. It represents my faith, my Irish heritage, and was my reward to me for losing 100lbs.
I have 8 tattoos altogether. I have my 9th, 10th, and 11th chosen. These are to be gotten over time. Not all at once, of course.

Answer 10

I think tattoos ought to be special.
People will always get tattoos that mean nothing to them, and so to defend themselves they will make up a reason they want one.

Example: "I want to get a tinkerbell tattoo...for my kids" psh. whatever, you want a Tinkerbell tattoo, and you're using your poor children as an excuse to get a tattoo.

I really hate when people do that, but when people come in here asking questions like "WUT TATTOE CAN i GET SO GUYZ THiNK iM SEXii?" or "My boyfriend wants me to get a tattoo on the most sexiest places, where should I get it?".
It's tragic, people changing themselves FOREVER just for the approval of someone who is more than likely TEMPORARY.

I guess I got a little off topic, but the nub and the jist is that i agree with you, but people will never stop getting meaningless tattoos.