Tattoo's an interesting article

[Jamie D]

Still watching

[Devlyn]

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The plane!

[LWhite]

I started reading the article in the initial post and stopped after a few lines, simply due to the choice of words they'd taken. "Misspent youth"? That's a pretty strong opinion they have there. I doubt anything I could say would be able to sway it.

I guess I'll shove my view down everyone's throat now. Well, my partner's a tattooist. He's tattooed. I'm tattooed. He did all three of mine over several sessions. I have a large piece on my calf that will be extended over time to encompass the entire leg, and two pieces on the back that are to be combined into a single large piece. I have a lot of canvas, so I'll be filling that negative space. Suffice it to say that tattoos aren't a problem for me.

I know that tattoos used to be a form of rebellion, but I believe we're past that. Even Japan's extremely tight laws on tattooed people are starting to become more tolerant. It is a form of illustrative art, just like piercings or any other form of body modification.

Two of my tattoos are just images I came up with on the fly. We needed something to do, so I thought "Turkey vulture!". Then the next was a continuation of that theme. So now I have a Warbird and a British Bulldog adorning my shoulder blades. Do I regret them? Hell no. Would I regret them on my neck? Yes. But not for social reasons.
Rather, the neck requires special treatment for tattoos there. Yes others will see them, whether they like it or not, but there's more to it than social norms. One has to look at aesthetics, the way the neck moves and how the ink will sit. It's an unusual canvas.

I have a neck tattoo in mind. I have a hook for my hand. Perhaps I'm a special case (Academia doesn't mind a weirdo nearly as much as accountancy) but my opinion still stands. Because I know I've probably contradicted myself or destroyed my own case in some way, I'll try to sum up:

"Art is art."

[Cindy]

There has been some interesting discussion.

I posted the article for no reason except seeing it on Google news comments and felt it reflected an opinion that people need to think of.

I personally don't care for tattoos but then again I have pierced ears and belly button, but I suppose that is 'traditional' for a woman. I do interview people for jobs and I have to admit that often the first impression is the one that hits you as an interviewer.

I do get body language, dress, hygiene - oh hygiene - how can you go to a job interview and not have had a wash? And general presentation.

Of course the job itself matters. I was most amused by strippers having to cover their tattoos!! Geex.

Tattoos are banned in several police forces and even in some military areas, Special Forces in Australia were unable to have any permanent body markings. I'm not sure if that is still current.

I suppose the concept of the article was more on future regret rather than personal taste. It is easy to get a tattoo, it is difficult to get rid of it.

We live with our life decisions, no matter what they are. If our decision is frowned upon who is to blame? Us or society? I'm never too sure on the answer to that. Obviously I have made my decisions of how I live my life and I care not for what others think. But the decision I made was to live as a, relatively, normal woman. I will never blend in, not because of appearance  but because of my personality.

I liked the article from LWhite, art is art, and defining art is difficult if not impossible. There was a thread that mentioned the man Buck Angel, he is quite famous and I was viewing an incredible statue of him, he and his tattoos are most impressive.

The statue is of him naked, smoking a cigar, for those who do not know the piece of art:





I found the information insert interesting.

Cindy

[aleon515]

My generation was just not into these. It was maybe a certain subculture that had them. I think it wasn't looked at well, let's say. I have gotten so I can really like them and almost all the transguys I know have them (I might be one of two who doesn't). I don't particularly like gauged ears and piercings except certain places. But again, I've  mostly gotten more used to them.

Unfortunately though for some folks, my generation makes up a lot of the employers! I wouldn't think too much one way or another, unless it were extreme (say all over the face), but I am not an employer. (TG) 


Gotta love that Buck! 

--Jay