Tattoo's an interesting article

[E-Brennan]

Love tattoos. Done well, they are beautiful pieces of very personal art.

But even I, with a couple of tattoos myself (hidden under even a t-shirt, although I'm thinking of getting something small that's on my wrist that will be more visible), question the sanity of anyone who gets tattoos that can't be hidden in regular work clothing. Tattoos on the hands or face are still a big problem for many employers. Why make life harder than it needs to be?  A tattoo on the face or hands isn't about art, it's about telling people that you don't give a f**k.

We change genders because we're dysphoric and can't help it. Nobody I know has any form of illness or disorder that requires them to put tattoos on their faces or hands. That's just a bad decision.

Anywhere else though, I'm all in favor. No complaints about tattoos from me, and I think they're especially sexy on people who you don't expect to have them; teachers, senior managers, lawyers, doctors, etc.

[kyh]

Love tattoos. Done well, they are beautiful pieces of very personal art.

But even I, with a couple of tattoos myself (hidden under even a t-shirt, although I'm thinking of getting something small that's on my wrist that will be more visible), question the sanity of anyone who gets tattoos that can't be hidden in regular work clothing. Tattoos on the hands or face are still a big problem for many employers. Why make life harder than it needs to be?  A tattoo on the face or hands isn't about art, it's about telling people that you don't give a f**k.

We change genders because we're dysphoric and can't help it. Nobody I know has any form of illness or disorder that requires them to put tattoos on their faces or hands. That's just a bad decision.

Anywhere else though, I'm all in favor. No complaints about tattoos from me, and I think they're especially sexy on people who you don't expect to have them; teachers, senior managers, lawyers, doctors, etc.

That comes down to a matter of opinion. We shouldn't be so quick to judge others just because of some marks they put on their body; they're still the same person they were prior to doing so and deserve the same respect.

[TheLance]

Well said, Kyh. I try not to judge anyone for anything. Body art is bad ass, in my opinion. It's not up to us what people want their body to say or represent.

[kyh]

Well said, Kyh. I try not to judge anyone for anything. Body art is bad ass, in my opinion. It's not up to us what people want their body to say or represent.

It totally is! For some people it really is a form of expression. I've seen some cool tattoos on people's faces that I would definitely consider to be art.

[JulieC.]

This is crazy.  I went to an upscale strip club (if there can be such a thing) for a friends bachelor party.  The girls all had heavy makeup covering up their tats.  I asked one of the girls what was up and she said management made them do it.  Really?  You can take off your clothes and shake your boobs in someones face but can't let them see your tattoos!  What a crazy world. 

[WorkerBeast]

Wowww... not a critical in anyway.  LOL

Modified comment:
What I intended to say last night was that the article has a very condescending tone and implies that  getting a tattoo makes you an instant idiot. The same thing could be said about transitioning. The same old "You will regret it" and "THERE AAALLLLL GONNA LAUGH AT YOUUUU" shame tactics are beyond disgusting. Yes, people do thing that they will wish they had not but that is part of growing up. And they do things for the wrong reasons but one only understands that through dealing the consequences of their actions. Furthermore, the author of the article assumes that everyone is just as uncreative and short sited as they may have been in their youth. If someone wants to hide their tattoos for a white collar job there are quality products for that(other than ink removal) that are also cost effective and comfortable. Tatt jacket(similar to shooter sleeves but remain cool in hot climates), skin toned make up and skin toned adhesive patches are all viable options and and only require a few strokes of the keyboard.
If this person had any hope of helping anyone they might have dropped the high horse act and tried a bit of civility.

[WorkerBeast]

It totally is! For some people it really is a form of expression. I've seen some cool tattoos on people's faces that I would definitely consider to be art.

I heart you so hard....

[kyh]

I heart you so hard....

Hahaha xD How does one respond to such a cute remark?

[Taka]

if i ever get a tattoo, it will be a big one, but in a place where it will be covered by a t-shirt. the motif was already decided a long time ago, but i totally don't have the time or money for it right now. i'll also have to see if i need to transition before i try to get any body art.

i'm of the opinion that you shouldn't intentionally get any permanent marks on your body unless you've thought it through enough to know that you won't regret it no matter what kind of situation you get into because of it, or where it might be a problem. if i were to get a tattoo on my hand, i'd first have to make sure i'm prepared to wear a glove on that hand every day at work and maybe also in some other social situations.

at least i already know the social stigma that can come with body art, and that i'd be able to handle it. tattoos may make it harder to get a job, or wear lighter clothing at work, but i've worn earrings in a place where that is considered a sin. that's not much better, really, hearing that my faith isn't strong enough because of this. i'd never take them off just because of other people's opinion, they are an expression of my identity, but it's not like they wanted to understand that this is not because of vanity.

[kyh]

i'm of the opinion that you shouldn't intentionally get any permanent marks on your body unless you've thought it through enough to know that you won't regret it no matter what kind of situation you get into because of it, or where it might be a problem. if i were to get a tattoo on my hand, i'd first have to make sure i'm prepared to wear a glove on that hand every day at work and maybe also in some other social situations.

You can cover tattoos with makeup as well. It's not too difficult, just gotta do it everyday :3

[Taka]

You can cover tattoos with makeup as well. It's not too difficult, just gotta do it everyday :3

too lazy for that. i'd rather be honest about having marks that i can't show in particular settings. i never took out my earrings either, i'd rather take their scorn than pretend to be someone i'm not. i don't have any plans to get a tattoo on my hand though, since i don't feel like having to cover my hands. even the rashes i get from strong sunlight can't make me cover them in summer.

[WorkerBeast]

Hahaha xD How does one respond to such a cute remark?

LOL, I  just really appreciate your take on this.

[kyh]

LOL, I  just really appreciate your take on this.

Haha Idk, tattoos just don't seem like such a big deal to me   

[E-Brennan]

That comes down to a matter of opinion. We shouldn't be so quick to judge others just because of some marks they put on their body; they're still the same person they were prior to doing so and deserve the same respect.

Meh, not entire sure you're right.  Of course they're the same person - they're just telling everybody what kind of person that is.

Is there a particular tattoo that must be located on a face?  Not really.  The location itself is a broader statement, and that statement is often very clear.  In fact, I can't think of any other statement that a facial tattoo is making.  (And I'm not talking about a couple of little stars under someone's eyes here - I'm talking about the forehead tattoos, whole neck tattoos, cheeks, scalp tattoos on a shaven head etc.)  A facial tattoo is a specific type of tattoo - it's akin to ramming your opinion down someone's throat every time they look at you.  It's intrusive. You can't communicate with someone with a facial tattoo without seeing that tattoo and what it represents, both explicitly and implicitly.  It goes far beyond mere artwork.

I think they deserve the same respect as anyone else (depending on the associations of the tattoo).  Everybody I meet, no matter what, gets the same respect.  Whether they get that respect from society as a whole is a different story, because there's plenty of people out there who hold far more conservative attitudes towards these things.  I would strongly disagree with any statement that facial tattoos are fine, acceptable, and are just a harmless form of expression that we should all just deal with and ignore. Those types of tattoos often come with actual or implied membership in certain distasteful groups or belief systems (gangs, fringe political movements allied to hate, etc.)

And "don't give a f**k" is fine attitude to have.  I have no problems with that, just as long as it's accompanied by a "and I will accept the consequences, including lack of employment, lack of respect from many people, and voluntarily taking an act that is entirely unnecessary but which comes with great downsides" attitude too.

There's far easier ways to express yourself - including more discretely placed tattoos - than forcing others to see your "artwork" every time they look at your face.  Nobody needs to fight that battle, and there are dozens of other worthy causes for which you can put your neck on the line if you want to take on society and make a change. Acceptance of facial tattoos is rather low on my list of important issues right now.

I don't know. Google "face tattoo" and tell me how many are good decisions that say positive things about the person. By getting the ink on your face, you're associating with some rather poor company. And while we can't judge a book by its cover, I doubt that anyone would claim that when they Google "face tattoo" that it could really be thousands of pictures of doctors and judges and teachers and activists and charity workers and PTA presidents and police officers and soldiers and librarians and pilots and waiters and professors and accountants and scientists and engineers and social workers and so forth.

It's okay to, er, draw some lines in society (excuse the wording.)  Smoking is bad. Taking heroin is bad. Urinating on the playset in the park is bad. Screaming "f**k off" to old ladies in the street is bad. Tattoos on the face are at least in the same ballpark. Society doesn't accept certain things, and that's okay! It would be a miserable society if there were no lines! In fact, we have countless laws and regulations and rules and standards to cover just about everything, both written and unwritten, because they are what make society livable, and because that's what people want (even us people here on this site). We just need to make sure our lines our not drawn to discriminate against or prohibit things that can't be helped (e.g. homosexuality, transgender issues, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, disability, health etc.)  Nobody is forced to put a tattoo on their face, and by doing so, they willingly assume the consequences of the clear societal dislike for such things.

I could be wrong.  But at the very least, anyone claiming that facial tattoos are acceptable needs to put (* but this is a niche opinion) after their statement.

[WorkerBeast]

Haha Idk, tattoos just don't seem like such a big deal to me   

They really are not but I guess some people need a reason to judge....people do not co-exist very well.

[E-Brennan]

Come on now! Are you or are you not a person who is part of the transgender community? Are you going to accept a man saying to one of us "Sure, it's fine for you to dress like a girl, but since you're actually a man, you better accept the consequences that come with it and not expect anyone to respect you."

Is this attitude any different from the one you have?

I knew this is the first reply that I would get! Please re-read my post more carefully because it's more subtle than that. 

No, I never said that and I don't think that the leap in logic you're making represents my views.

This is the key part of my post:

We just need to make sure our lines our not drawn to discriminate against or prohibit things that can't be helped (e.g. homosexuality, transgender issues, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, disability, health etc.)

Transgender issues are not voluntary, so I fully accept - without question - anyone with these issues, and I accept the steps they need to take to resolve those issues. The same goes for any other minority or class of people who exhibit or suffer from conditions that they have no control over.  And I'll damn well fight for those people to be accepted and not discriminated against.

Nobody as ever been forced to have a facial tattoo. It's not something therefore something that I believe should be protected or respected by society as a whole, although I'll do my best to look past it. If someone draws conclusions from facial tattoos, then tough. I doubt anybody walked into a tattoo shop without knowing the consequences of their actions (nor would any legitimate tattoo artist not caution the client about the placement of the tattoo.)

[Jamie D]

We are going to stop being argumentative.

E-Brennan has clearly stated that people can do what they want to with their body, but there is potentially going to be a backlash by the rest of society. As a hiring manager, I can testify that is certainly the case.

There is no attack implied by that observation.

kyh has made her point, "What's wrong with just allowing others to be themselves, when who they are doesn't hurt anybody else?"

There is nothing wrong with that.  It is a basic human right.

However, we will not question another member's reasons for being here, or why they hold opinions they do, especially if they are voiced within the Terms of Service.

I am going to unlock the topic now, but I have my eye on it.

[E-Brennan]

Moderation appreciated.  Sometimes opinions don't mix well.

kyh, if you read my post as me frowning upon how you're presenting as female in public, or that I would accept any harm that might come from that, then I want to make it very clear that I will be the first to rush to your defense. I have no problems with anybody's physical expression of their gender.

Apologies if this got out of hand. I didn't mean it to go down that route.

My opinion of face tattoos is still out there - not a good idea, but whatever. Your face, your life.  If it makes you happy, then ink it up. I'll shut up.

Hold hands and make up?   

[vegie271]

I have considered a tattoo but only in a non-obvious area, wow those were pretty bad, I could never do a sleeve

I want a Breast Cancer ribbon on the left breast due to my grandmother dying of breast cancer, and one on my right of something representing my middle name (my only reason for not getting them is financial emergencies keep coming up, a friend has said she will do them for $80)

[Jennifer Snowskier]

I have always thought that tatts were a way of communicating a message to others. Often it seems that they express their commitment to a group such as the Military with Regimental badges or symbols or bikie groups with the club symbol. The area I live in is a ski area and the number of people with snow flake tatts is very large. I have seen some tatts that are memorials to someone or a traumatic event, that also I can understand. Some are true works of art and I consider to be on a par with jewelry and fashion clothing, the concern I have there is that fashions change.

The tatts that I find impossible to have any respect for are the ones that basically scream "F#@K Y*U" to everone around them. How can I respect or care for somebody who shows no respect or concern for others.

I don't have any tatts but have thought about it a few times.  I have never had a message that I wanted that badly to tell everyone.