City of IF

Emperor · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 488 Location: San Diego, CA

This has probably been asked before at some point in time, but I shall ask anyways.

Who here has gotten tattoo's.
If so:
What of? Why that? Why in general? Will you get more? Do you love it, like it, regret it, hate it?

If not:
Why not? Would you want to get one? What of and why that?

To start. Yes I have one, it is a back piece of a dragons eye. In the dragons eye there is a reflection of a shaman in front of a fire. Above it is a Chinese/Oriental style full dragon with cherry blossoms and flowers trailing around it. Some day I will get the koi fish below it in a very similar style to the dragon on top, but in the opposite direction.
I got it because I thought it was a clever representation of various forces, themes, customs, cultures and ideals all blended into one image. I both love my tattoo and regret my tattoo. I love my tattoo because it is what I wanted and it is an original image. I regret my tattoo because I didn't do research into finding a quality tattoo artist.

Thunderbird · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

I have not, and probably won't now that I'm getting a bit older. But I have often considered doing so. I thought having a Lion on one shoulder and a Tiger on the other would be cool, as those are my Astrological signs, both traditional and Chinese.

Chinaren · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

I have two, one on my shoulder and one on my back. They're both a big 'goth' 'cos, well, they just are.

I don't regret either, 'cos I've always thought nicely done tats are cool. I think this is an area where people are very polarized. I wouldn't have one done anywhere it was always visible though, due to office work and so forth.

My shoulder one is a kind of skeleton scarecrow. It took five hours to do and cost about USD400. (This was about 15 years ago).

I've always wanted another, either a Chinese dragon (well, I'm in China) a tiger and/or my Chinese name. However I've not had it done here, 'cos I'm wary of the quality of them locally. That said, there's apparently decent places in Beijing.

I had mine done by a guy who was supposedly very well known and respected, though I didn't know him from Adam of course. (A friend of mine who had tats took me there).

Do it says I!

Smee · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 5215 Location: UK

Nope - and unlikely.

I've simply never seen an image I believe I could be happy/inspired seeing permanently on my skin.

It's just not something that's ever appealed.

Shady Stoat · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 2950 Location: England

I don't have a tat. I love tattoo art, but it seems that as soon as you put it on skin, the colours aren't everything they promised beforehand. Most of the ones I've seen end up looking a bit dull and lustreless.

So my objections are personal and practical, rather than idealistic :)

Tikanni Corazon · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:30 am Post subject:

I don't have any either, and I don't think that I would ever get one. I've often thought about getting a tiny one on my ankle or shoulder, but then I think what's the point in having one that small. But if I had one bigger than that, all I can think of is, this is going to look so stupid when I reach about 60. I can just imagine the grand kids going to school and telling their friends "My granny's got a tattoo". It sounds so........wrong! Or mabye I just think too much.But no, I don't think it's ever going to happen. :laf:

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Yeah, tattoos get a great big 'meh' from me. I think some of these tribal ones look good, and they're less likely to go all green and smudgy as the years go by, I think.

Haven't got one, not likely to get one, for pretty much the same reasons as the two posts above this one - plus I don't think the discomfort of having it done is worth it. o-)

Chinaren · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:44 am Post subject:

Well I've had bime quite a while now an dthe colirs are still fine. It depends on who you gpo to Ithink.

Shiset. Im drunk.

Tatkret Sos · Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 74 Location: UK

Tat does not have a tat but Tat would like a tat :lol: hehe *chuckles to herself*
I think I would have bear because that is my totem.
I might also have like a moon or a star aswell on my tummy or back or something but I wouldn't have one on my arm because It might look a bit butch no offence :laf:
and I wouldn't have any skulls or anything because they're associated with death and things like that. Dark things :sadd:
:poke:

Tikanni Corazon · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:20 am Post subject:

Snickers! :laf: You really are Tats!

Traveller · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 148 Location: Whitby, Ontario

I've got my family coat of arms on my back...I wish I had thought about it a little more because I think I would have created my own instead of what I found on the internet but I still really like it...I want to get some more work done around it and include my 2 son's names into it...we should get some pics of these tats on here...if I can get mine I will post it sometime but I would love to see some of yours...T.

scissorkitty · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:10 pm Post subject:

I'm pro tattoo, I guess. There are several I would like, designed by myself. I think if you're going to do it, you want to make sure it's something that has a lot of personal meaning for yourself- otherwise, i'm sure you'll tired of it sooner or later. I have quite a few friends who have grown to regret their teen Pooh Bear tats, and things like that. Also, as was mentioned, you need to find the right artist.

That's really the only thing holding me back- finding the ideal artist to whom I think I can relate, and to whom I could trust my one and only skin. That, and I can't ever seem to decide WHERE i want the tats I want.

Indecisive. That's my problem.

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Talking of which, any chance of some more Indelible chapters? :D

Smee · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 5215 Location: UK

Talking of which, any chance of some more Journey's Witness chapters? :P

P.S And Emperor, you're naughty, as I thought this might be chapter 1 of your new storygame and it isn't! :-o

Phang · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

I think I'm still too young to get one anyway. But I wouldn't - you have to think, when I'm 90 and in a care home with my communicative ability reduced to shouting single words in agreement, will those kanji which probably spell 'Fat Cow' anyway really look good? And if you don't care for that far ahead, how about in a decade or so? How about next week, when you finally discover you have Fat Cow scrawled on your back, or a mistake in the Grim Reaper's robe folds makes it look like he's got a hard-on?

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Smee, you're not the only one who rushed straight to this topic thinking it was an Emperor SG when it first turned up!

:P

scissorkitty · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

oh yeah...i did sort of leave that one hanging, didn't I? ...

Emperor · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 488 Location: San Diego, CA

Hint taken! SG to arrive in the next couple of days. Prepare for disappointment.

Lebrenth · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 1490 Location: Utah

I have no tattoo and I have no interest in a tattoo, but I do have a nice story about my brother's tattoo.

Teeny bit of backstory: My brother has been very infatuated with a girl who occasionally has commitment anxiety.

So after winning the girl and beginning a long distance relationship, he decides to tattoo her name on his arm (with a nice raven above it). He had to really convince the tattoo artist to do it, since he generally doesn't approve of names of people unless they're at least spouses. Little did my brother realize that his inamorata was having a few doubts.... However, she was a good friend of mine for many years so I did know. Did my brother ask me for my advice about permanently putting her name on his arm?

When he came into my room and showed me his tattoo, I wanted to move out. I did not want to be present when the drama began. She immediately broke up with him and now he has a constant reminder of this heartbreaking occasion.

On a side note, last month he married a Russian immigrant so she wouldn't get deported. Although I think they are on friendly terms, they are not in any kind of romantic relationship. Future girlfriends for my brother will have to accept that he has the tattoo of another girl's name on his arm, and he's married for the next two years to a Russian immigrant.

scissorkitty · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

Lebrenth... did you enter NaNo this year? 'cause you totally have a good novel right there! Russians! All good novels have Russians! :P

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Yay Emperor! *gets ready for new SG*

Yay Skitty! *Hauls Indelible back into Fantasy Forest*

:tu2:

Lebrenth · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 1490 Location: Utah

scissorkitty wrote: Lebrenth... did you enter NaNo this year? 'cause you totally have a good novel right there! Russians! All good novels have Russians! :P

Yeah I tried Nano, but it was a bad idea this year. Anyway, I think autobiographical stuff is too easy for Nano.

Bookwizard · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 639 Location: Gallifrey

It would simply be completly out of my nature to get a tattoo... the only reason I might even think about doing it would be to see the expressions on my friends faces (That's a good idea come to think of it, it would be hilarious!) Besides that... never.

*I am perfectly aware of the cultural and spiritual significance of tattoos past their general stereotype today *flashes to "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown*, I'm mainly against getting one due to the pain involved, the obvious permanent effect, and only then the strong social stereotypes.

D-Lotus · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4123 Location: Hollywood, USA

The other day we were at a place and this guy with a tatoo on his face walked in. The tatoo consisted of these horizontal lines pointing from his chin and ears to the corner of his mouth and eyes. My friend made the comment: "He's never getting a job". Not only is there the social stigma, but also the guy was clearly showing off.

So if I ever got a tatoo it wouldn't be to show off. It would be something unobtrusive which only someone who knows me well would know about. Moreover it would represent something important about myself. Most importantly it would be a reminder of something, otherwise I wouldn't want to carry it on me all my life. Perhaps it would paradoxically (because it is permanent) express the transiency of all things, including myself. A means to physically inscribe my life essence upon myself and externalize my most intimate state of mind so that I never forget my identity.

As I read this thread, a curious fear took hold in me: I began thinking of a naked body... and it felt unprotected. A tatoo would protect it! That's a queer thought but it might be an interesting notion. Anyway, tatoo or not, it's the inner beauty that counts! ;)

Nshade · Joined: 04 Dec 2009 Posts: 30

I have my doubts about having a tattoo, especailly a yellow rose, what if the meaning changes, I know it means friendship and six small roses means, "I miss you", but I'm thinking of getting a tattoo, but I don't like the idea of turning into a granny and then the tattoo beeing all stretchy and then I'd say something like, "Just pull the skin and then you can see the tattoo darling..." :O But I think I'm still mulling over it. Black roses are nice, something for people who died last year. But I'd save my black rose tattoos for family, not that their going to die. I've been thinking of a dragonfly tattoo, meaning freedom, but can tattoos have your own meanings, I've seen a friend have a tattoo about life on her leg and a butterfly on her back at her wings. I think that you might just learn alot about tattoos if you do it for a reason.

Emperor · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 488 Location: San Diego, CA

D-Lotus wrote:

As I read this thread, a curious fear took hold in me: I began thinking of a naked body... and it felt unprotected. A tatoo would protect it! That's a queer thought but it might be an interesting notion.)

Something I've been looking into these past handful of years are Anting-anting. Basically an old cultural custom of the Filipino warrior class. 9 out of 10 times it would manifest or be expressed in a tattoo, created by or done by a medicine man of sorts.

scissorkitty · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject:

Just got two tattoos! :) One on each inner forearm.

On the left is my cat's paw print- she's my little furry soulmate, so it's important to me that she is always a part of my life. (although, of course, i chose the immortal kitty, so she'll probably outlive me. ((DO NOT ARGUE)))

On the right is a compass design with a celtic knot inside. It's representative of my beliefs, my Irish background and.. if you want to be that way.. my lack of sense of (literal) direction. It does remind me to focus on my (emotional, mental, goal-oriented) chosen directions, as well.

D-Lotus · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4123 Location: Hollywood, USA

Nice. Now you can strike a sexy pose with your arms in the air. :D

scissorkitty · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:34 am Post subject:

:P D- yeah. I lied. THAT'S my true motivation right there! BWAA HA! :lol:

Emperor · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 488 Location: San Diego, CA

I thought I would share that about 2 to 3 years ago I did a cover up of my old tattoo that I got done decades ago.

I went with a theme that was much more personal to me, an artist I vetted and a piece of work could handle the cover up.

I think the artist Slava Bodrov did a fantastic job.

Here is the before:
https://www.cityofif.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=2184

And here is the after:
https://www.cityofif.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=2185

sorry for the life of me I could not remember how to put an image in the post.

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5287 Location: Hell

Looks great

Emperor · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 488 Location: San Diego, CA

Thanks so much!!!! and thanks for helping me get my post count up