Stupid tattoos

[arcsine]

The question to ask is "What is it about people that have tattoos that makes them so taboo?"

That question is not aimed directly at you Milt but asked as a broader social question. Certainly historically there have been groups that have used tattoos as means of distancing themselves from mainstream society ("bikers", Yakuza, neo-nazi's) and used the tatoos as warning plumage; Don't mess with me or else! The message is one of a law-less person that is to be avoided.

At the same time, I would hazard that most of the people we see daily with tatoos are probably no more defiant or dangerous than we are. Why do we use the same "DANGER" filter for the guy working an espresso stand that has a few tattoos? Especially as in the last decade, there has been a tremendous swing in cultural acceptance of tattoos.

Yet perhaps the somewhat negative feelings voiced towards foks with tattos has nothing to do with the law-lessness aspect but more to do with the perception of them as what I would call "slackers". People that just seem to hang out at the coffee shop, are listless and undirected, that bounce from job to job (if they even have one).

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Nader
All I know is that the chickies I've dated with their little tattooed ankles have all been dynamite in bed.

I have a tatoo Pic of a lawnmower and operator bellow the belly button of a girl.
it's not completely hairless.. but not much!
... Ron

[ronin]

as I am always fond to say, to each his own...

HOWEVER, (and this is where the proverbial sh&& hits the fan so fill in the sound of needle being dragged across record here) the problem I have with tatoos and other body art fads is not that I see people that have them as some type of reprobate, but rather that I see them as simply exercising their right to engage in the current version of "monkey see, monkey do" what's-in-this-weekism. this is actually not that recent of a phenomenon as it did get a boost about ten years ago with the emergence of the 'grunge' scene, when suddenly it became all the rage to have every orifice and appendage pierced with the latest in metallurgy.

from those involved in the scene, it was supposedly under the guise of people wanting to be 'different' and therefore enabling them to declare themselves as individuals. well, I must declare that this social experiment has ended in abject failure. never before have those that are so hell-bent on individualism made themselves look so much like their compatriots. although piercing and tattoing cross over between the sexes, there are certain stereotypes that have developed over the last decade. for example, the girls have done a great job of discovering the fine art of nose piercing with posts that, from any distance greater than five feet, look so convincingly like a wart. followed by the oh so original tradition of cramming as many earrings on each lobe as it can physically hold. even better yet, piercing with a ring that part of the nose which has historically been reserved for the yoke of an ox has also become de rigeur. oh, baby that's soo hot!

the gents on the other hand have decided to take it on themselves to go off on the latest tribal tangent. it has become fashionable to sport tatoos that emulate the latest in tribal designs first made popular in films such as the recent Moby Dick with Patrick Stewart and TV shows such as Star Trek Voyager. can you say pretentious? go ahead pretzelboy, tell me what the fu## you think you know about tribalism. let's leave the tribal tatoos to those that are doing their best to preserve their own cultural heritage. what impresses me is when I see someone from perhaps New Zealand, Borneo, or the Samoas wearing a well-researched tatoo that traces their own family ancestry and heritage. not some suburbanite schmuck that thinks his tat is "cool man, and the chicks really dig it!"

if you want to do something original and set yourself apart, create something! go paint a picture, start a company that provides a livelihood for a family or two, climb a mountain by a new route or travel the world to help those less fortunate than you. do anything but fall into the trap of following what's weak this week.

I suppose the real irony is that all trends start with a genuine and sincere attempt at individualism that subsequently degenerates into a race to not be the last on the block to join in the fray. as someone once said (I think it was me ) if one or two people do something, it's just considered bad taste, but if the rest of society joins in, suddenly it's sociology. go figure.

just my 2 centavos

(gawd I hope there's no one on the board that goes by the name of pretzelboy)

next post: (as he tries to sneak out of the room on tippy toes) hey ronin, DUCK!!

[Adam]

Originally posted by Nader:
All I know is that the chickies I've dated with their little tattooed ankles have all been dynamite in bed. So tattooed-ankle girls are okay in my book.

I used to date this one girl (who was from Canada) with an Aztec sun logo on her ankle. Your theory is sound...

[Zeke]

A young girl walks into a beauty parlor ans sits down to wait for her appointment. As she sits, two much older patrons notice a colorful rose tatooed on the upper part of the young girl's breast. One of the older women leans over to the other and says in a low voice, "Little does she know that in time she will have a long stem rose." --Paraphrased from a recent Dear Abby column.

[Sarah]

""People make stupid decisions regarding all sorts of things including tattoos. But that does not mean that all tattoos are stupid nor do I think the mere presence of a tattoo relegates one to a lower caste or is less worthy of respect.""

Gary...Well said & I totally agree with you!!

[cstreit]

In other words RoninLB...

"I'm different, just like everyone else"

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

People sometimes mock that which they do not understand. Trust me I am well aware of what I set myself up for when I had all my work done.

[arcsine]

The knee-jerk, no-reason-for-it, been-trained-from-high-school-to-do-it, derogatory reaction given by "normal" people towards people that are out of the ordinary is what kills me.

I have been yelled at "hippie, get a job" when I had long hair.

Weeks later when I shaved it bald, I was yelled at "F****kin' nazi punk".

Go figure.

[Sarah]

Jared - Your Sponge-Bob avatar is giving me flash backs to our 6 yr old nieces birthday party last Wednesday night. OMG...I have never seen one kid get so many things in the same marketing category.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

If anyone ever calls me a nazi punk for my tats, they better run.

Sarah, Sponge Bob RULES! probably one of the funniest things Ive ever seen.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by cstreit
In other words RoninLB...

"I'm different, just like everyone else"

Huh!

maybe the poster who has my signature?

[Sarah]

I haven't seen any of those cartoons yet but all the kids seem to be really into him. One of my brother-in-laws jokes about sponge-bob a lot. I guess he really enjoys watching it with his kids.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Its hysterical.

[350HP930]

Originally posted by Gary Carlton
I have been yelled at "hippie, get a job" when I had long hair.

Weeks later when I shaved it bald, I was yelled at "F****kin' nazi punk".

Been there, done that.

I'll never forget how back when I was still in college a rumor started at the local coffee shop I hung out at that I was an undercover cop after I went from having long hair to a buzz cut.

I imagine my sensable shoes and my concealed shoulder holster helped contribute to the rumor.

[Isabo]

I just know this little boy is going to grow up and become just like the Jared we know and love

[ronin]

is that for real? well, possibility of a photoshop edit aside, seems a bit selfish on the parents' part. what if this strapping little youngster decides that s/he doesn't like tatoos? can just hear it now "mom, dad, you really screwed the pooch on this one!"

[Isabo]

Photoshop for sure.

[ronin]

....considering that a toddler would barely sit still for a haircut, much less a tatoo!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Those baby pics aren't cute; they're creepy.