" I realize this is a very generational thing, but as one of the old farts on the board, any more than a few smallish tats are distracting to me. A butterfly here or a flower there are fine but more gets a bit much.
A long time regular was fairly tat free when I started seeing her but after 5-6 years, she is pretty tatted up now. First it started with the name of her forever boyfriend, then she had to get a bigger tat to cover that one up when they broke up. Then tats for dead relatives so that she looks like a roadside memorial in spots. Then another forever boyfriend later covered up (wouldn't you think she would have learned after the first one?). Then a bird, then a butterfly. A big star with "Death Before Dishonor" on it. Probably a few more.
My other one who retired started off with only a couple but eventually had a huge cross on her back with names and dates of dead relatives on it. This is so morbid. I constantly pray for good health in her family so no more get added and she doesn't need to get a second cross. She also has a dragonfly on her thigh, various butterflies, a couple of birds. Obviously she majored in zoology.
To me, that's all a bit distracting. Perhaps I got more used to them than I might have since they both started off with just a few and then gradually added them over the years. All of my previous ones were basically tat free.
Ok, all you tat lovers can now tell me how wrong I am."
realize this is a very generational thing, but as one of the old farts on the board, any more than a few smallish tats are distracting to me. A butterfly here or a flower there are fine but more gets a bit much.
A long time regular was fairly tat free when I started seeing her but after 5-6 years, she is pretty tatted up now. First it started with the name of her forever boyfriend, then she had to get a bigger tat to cover that one up when they broke up. Then tats for dead relatives so that she looks like a roadside memorial in spots. Then another forever boyfriend later covered up (wouldn't you think she would have learned after the first one?). Then a bird, then a butterfly. A big star with "Death Before Dishonor" on it. Probably a few more.
My other one who retired started off with only a couple but eventually had a huge cross on her back with names and dates of dead relatives on it. This is so morbid. I constantly pray for good health in her family so no more get added and she doesn't need to get a second cross. She also has a dragonfly on her thigh, various butterflies, a couple of birds. Obviously she majored in zoology.
To me, that's all a bit distracting. Perhaps I got more used to them than I might have since they both started off with just a few and then gradually added them over the years. All of my previous ones were basically tat free.
Ok, all you tat lovers can now tell me how wrong I am."
I hear ya, I'm old school too..I like it all free from ink...extremely hard to find these days, especially in the hobby. I'll get blasted for this next comment but to me, ink identifies baggage and skeletons in the closet which isn't a big deal in the hobby but in real life, it's a red flag and I avoid.
Originally Posted by Dondo7
How true you guys are. Any visible tattoo is a big red flag for most of the general public that immediately judges the wearer as low life scum, correctly or not. Sorry girls, that is the way it is, like it or not.
I don't give a rat's ass if you like it, or don't like it, everyday you are judged and first impressions count. A visible tattoo says you are insulting the viewer you meet for the first time; it is not cool except to you.
But, I have people who work for me with tattoos and I understand the past baggage. During trial employment the tattoos were noticed, and the workers were warned. All are now dedicated and valued employees. But I have had to come down hard on all of them: no visible tattoos, not ever. Because, like it or not, you will be judged harshly and with it the company will also be judged harshly.
Even some restaurants have started to have the waitresses cover up, after documenting that they were loosing business. And restaurants are a different culture.
As you move up the social scale in life you don't have to drag your old baggage behind to let everyone see.
For me, the old skeleton in my closet is my time in the Marine Corps and most of the guys in the special units I was with got tattoos. Today, most of my "real world" friends have no idea that I was in the Corps, because I don't tell them, and I don't have the tattoo to show them. People think of me as a scientist only, because that is what they see.
The point: we all can change who we are and what we are in this life. Unless we advertise to others what we were, or always will be.
JR