Do you have tattoos?

I don’t have photos on me right now, but I have a green star (just because) on one side of my left wrist and a Chinese symbol for the Year of the Ox (the year I was born) on the other side.

No. Not really interested in getting any.

I have three. The first is a small frog on my boob, youthful folly. The second is a Northwest Native representation of the Raven Stealing the Sun on my abdomen, a symbol of empowerment after surviving cancer. The third is this Picasso serigraph of a mouse, over my heart, to symbolize my daughter. Can’t do photos of the other two, I don’t know how, and good taste would prevent me from doing that anyway… ;-)

Nope. IMHO, nature (god, if you like) has endowed with a fantastic work of art. I think it unappreciative to put permanent graffiti on it.

Sure, I understand body adornment, but why make it permanent? What you find cool and trendy in your 20’s is highly likely to change by the time you are in your 50’s.

I don’t have any.
My two daughters both have tattoos (the younger works as a body piercer).
My son doesn’t have one.

I have considered a Superman symbol, or a marquee from the Grand Lake Theater, but haven’t really felt the urge to go deface myself. One day, perhaps.

I have this on my back in black. I think it’s probably 2“x 5”. It’s the word “Namaste” in Sanskrit.

That’s it.

Sorry…no tattoos. When I asked Mom if I could get one, she said, “Over my dead body.” Her explanation was much like @YoBob‘s with it being highly likely to regret it later in life. Not only for the choice but its appearance as it fades and the body changes. It’s lost the appeal, but I do enjoy admiring others’ tattoos.

I don’t no, I do fancy getting the kids names inked about my person one day though. Just have to summon up the courage, me & needles don’t get along see.

Just a quick FYI: I got the frog in 1977; still don’t regret it.

I have two. I was pretty nervous when I got my first one and my mom and grandma are very anti-tattoo, so I got a really tiny one. It’s Earth in the shape of a heart and it’s on my back left hip. I wish I had gotten it larger, but I’m happy with it being my first tattoo. My second tattoo is larger (about 6” x 4”) and on my right ribcage. It’s a Dia de los Muertos skull. I got it in remembrance of my great-grandparents who passed away several years ago.
I’d like to add something to my skull tattoo. Maybe some flowers or just a design around it. I haven’t quite decided yet. It’s a work in progress.

Don’t have one and don’t want one either. Why?

1. Can’t stand pain. 2. Afraid I might get tired of it one day. 3. Love to see my skin clear and smooth. 4. I don’t like to call attention upon myself and wouldn’t feel comfortable with people starring at me. 5. I teach, so it could be distracting for my students. 6. I’m somewhat conservative and look that way too.

I do, however, like it sometimes when other people have 1 or 2 [tops] small tattoos, like the name of your loved ones or Asian symbols or writing. @erichw1504 tattoos sound nice and @aprilsimnel design is very nice too.

@JilltheTooth I always wonder how adults feel about the tattoos they got when they were young. I’m already regretting my first one lol

Well, I always kept in mind that I might not want everyone to see them, so they’re all in places that are usually covered. Considering my age now, (57) that’s a good thing. Even the youthful folly one, (boob frog) is an interesting reminder of my life at that time, and still makes for a pretty good story… :-)

if it weren’t so garish, I would dig getting this tattooed on my hand, however it’s incredibly garish and slightly frightening, not to mention that my entire hand would need completely shaded; that’d be excruciating. But for a day, it’d rock.

I have one. Its impossibly hard to get a good picture of it, but here.

Its a design I thought about for a really long time prior to getting and something that means quite a bit to me. I really like the design/coloring of it too, its there but its not. It has a real natural look to it, like its supposed to be part of my arm instead of some crazy bright coloring that just clashes most of the time IMO. The light colors also play nicely into the whole octopus camouflage thing.
Considering im a marine biology major and plan on dedicating my life to this goal, I dont think this is a tattoo i’ll ever come to regret.

Here’s my back. The Japanese character on my neck means “little sister”. The turtle is Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.

I also have a small group of sea turtles on the back of my left leg, just above the heel. Sorry, no picture for that right now.

My next planned tattoo is going to be this quote across my back, between the turtle and the kanji, once I find the right font and the money.
Di tutti i piaceri sortiti dall’uomo sulla terra, lo studio delle lettere è non solo il più nobile, ma anche il più’ durevole.
It’s from Petrarch and roughly translates to “Of all the pleasures developed by man on this earth, the study of letters is not only the most noble, but also the most lasting”.

@Seelix The word lettere there means Literature as in Lettere e filosofia = Philosophy and Literature.

@Porifera – I know that. Literature is often referred to as the study of letters, and especially so in Petrarch’s time. I’m quite fluent, actually, and I thought “letters” sounded more poetic. I have a BA and MA in Italian Studies.

@Seelix Oh OK, I didn’t know Italian was your thing. Good for you :) I have an MA in Applied Linguistics and I am very particular about translations.

No. With all the chronic pain I have to deal with I couldn’t imagine doing anything to cause more pain intentionally. I do admire some of the cool one’s other people have though.

@woodcutter I used to feel the same way until I did it, and I have fibromyalgia, so it hurt like hell. It’s the end result that counts.

No all my friends do. I would rather spend my extra mony on weed and beer.

@Facade Yes I’m sure the pain will go away soon after but because I’m a scaredy cat about needles and the like, it will probably never happen:/

@woodcutter – I’m not trying to convince you to get tattoos if that’s not your bag, but I just wanted to say that I was super scared of needles and shots and things until I got my first tattoo. I knew that the needle would only go in a little bit, not nearly as deep as an injection or having blood taken, so I was able to do it. Now? Tada! No more needle fear!

@Seelix I suppose, but then there’s the old thing of what if i don’t like it after a while, then its too late, stuck with it.

@woodcutter That is true. That’s why you never get ink out of impulse. Think about it for a long time and make sure its something that has some meaning in your life, something you can know with some certainty that will be with you your whole life. I thought about my tattoo for a good two years before getting it.