where to get that tat?

[jonjon]

i've never really bothered much for tat's. But now, in my early twenties, they're seeming all the more enticing. So, having got a design that i really want that i know ain't guna end up as 'that awful stupid tat' in 20+yrs time (though many would argue in my choice) there's still so many obstacles to overcome before i make that leap.

Where the hell on my body am i guna stick a bit of ink? The design i want is a little bit triangular in shape, bigger on the left, smaller on the right. I'm not sure exactly on size, but not too big, yet not too small that the detail is lost. I've thought about the back of my shin on that nice plump muscle there... but it's rare i wear shorts, no one would see it. The top of my forearm? It would have to be awkwardly downsized and prob look a little tacky. The tops of my arms are way too puny to hold that shape, it just wouldn't fit right. The back of my shoulder seems a good place... but being FTM and pre-t, that top op seems far far away and it seems no point to have a tat where a binder is guna cover it 24/7. Besides, that's be a real pain when i first get it done, the binder would irritate it like a bitch. A friend first suggested the neck. The design would look awesomely sweet on the left side of the neck, where everyone can see. But i can imagine that hurting like a right shizer!



Oh, the design, btw. It would help for you to see what it is i want:


What do you guys think? I need some suggestions

[Lachlann]

I don't have any tattooes myself, but what I do know is that it doesn't matter the content as much as it's something that means a lot to you and your personal life. AKA, you shouldn't get 'em just because they look cool but because it's something that means a lot to you.

Which is why I'm a bit shaky on people getting video game tattooes, unless it's tribal like a Warcraft Horde emblem or something like a Triforce. Because even if you stop liking those things, it just looks like some random design. So if Kingdom Hearts floats your boat and you'd be content with that and you feel like it's personal enough for you, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd be a bit boggled if I saw someone with a tatt like that simply because I'd try to figure out if they just wanted something that looks 'cool' or if it was something personal.

[jonjon]

oh the shame >_< thats not Kingdom Hearts O_O thats from Crisis Core 

I know people think, oh it's just a stupid game and thats an absolutely horrid idea for a tat. The game's practically consumed 90% of my life and i cant ever see me turning around later and saying to myself what a stupid game i was engrossed in. It's not just a game to me, it's a story... it's an obsession. It feels perfectly right to have a symbol of the main characters forever marked on my flesh to help me never forget what my childhood was all about, the reason behind my thoughts as well as beliefs. It's the one thing that has consumed my thoughts on a daily basis for over 10yrs now, and will continue to do so for many more.

I understand other people wont see it the same way i do. S you see, it's personal... more deeper than blood 

[tekla]

The game's practically consumed 90% of my life and i cant ever see me turning around later and saying to myself what a stupid game i was engrossed in.

Oh you'd be surprised.  I know Deadheads who ended up in the same boat and came to that conclusion.  And they at least got out of the house and on the road.

[NicholeW.]

...

I know people think, oh it's just a stupid game and thats an absolutely horrid idea for a tat. The game's practically consumed 90% of my life and i cant ever see me turning around later and saying to myself what a stupid game i was engrossed in. It's not just a game to me, it's a story... it's an obsession. It feels perfectly right to have a symbol of the main characters forever marked on my flesh to help me never forget what my childhood was all about, the reason behind my thoughts as well as beliefs. It's the one thing that has consumed my thoughts on a daily basis for over 10yrs now, and will continue to do so for many more.

I understand other people wont see it the same way i do. S you see, it's personal... more deeper than blood 

OK, people get tats for all sorts of reasons and your reasons are no more crazy or sane than anyone else's I should think.

What does give me pause is this: it's an obsession. It feels perfectly right to have a symbol of the main characters forever marked on my flesh to help me never forget what my childhood was all about, the reason behind my thoughts as well as beliefs. It's the one thing that has consumed my thoughts on a daily basis for over 10yrs now, and will continue to do so for many more.

Really? The game has defined and elicited your thoughts and beliefs? And will continue to do so?

OK, I suppose that maybe that's not a lot different than someone consumed by the Koran or the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita.

But a computer-game? Well, that just seems, possibly because of socio-cultural conditioning, a bit more obsession than seems healthy. I mean, what about the day you leave your parent's house and work for your own sustenance? Is the game going to continue to define your thoughts and beliefs? Is there nothing else in the world than a game?

I'm not discounting you. Just rather puzzled how a game becomes the defining marker of one's life.

N~

[Genevieve Swann]

You could get it on your chest or back without downsizing. It would take several visits. The ink is somewhat toxic and too much at once will make you very ill. Also keep in mind it costs about tens times as much to remove it.

[jonjon]

if i ever had any doubts about getting this tat... I wouldn't do it. I can understand why people who just look at it as a game wont understand... just like someone would look at Elvis as just a singer. I'm not going to explain myself, because really, i dont have the right words and to be fair, i dont feel the need to have to.

And it's not going to be as big as the pic posted there, thats way too big. I was thinking more 2-3 inches widest, 5 inches long.

[Vancha]

I understand how something like a video game, comic book, novel, or film can influence your life like that.  That's like me and Watchmen.  And I've heard the "it's just a comic book!" a million times, believe me.  If Crisis Core drives you – then go for it.  Hell, if one day you look in the mirror and absolutely despise having it on your skin, it's a) your mistake to make and b) not impossible to fix, if you find that to be of dire importance.

Honestly, there is no reason to question you.  I appreciate eccentricities!

Oh, and also - where do you want it?  I'm thinking your upper arm or back could be cool.

[tekla]

just like someone would look at Elvis as just a singer

Ummm. Elvis is just a singer.  He was good, in the early years great, but all he was doing was owning a song, and that's what good singers do.

The Deadhead comparison was not far off.  I know people who 'woke up' somewhere along the way to find themselves sitting in a dusty parking lot selling some camp type project hemp macrame bracelet for a dollar wondering how they got that dirty and noticing that everyone they knew had kind of gone on and like got an education, or jobs, or had relationships and all that - and then noticing that there sure were a lot of people on tour who were not sitting in dirt in some parking lot waiting for a miracle, but who had the tickets FedExed to the Hilton where they were staying, and damn, if they were not seeing the show too.

[jonjon]

i'll be honest, Tekla, i've no idea what you're talking about. I think i understand what you're trying to say, but you'll have to make it more simpler (as if you were explaining to a 5yr old) cos i really am a simple minded person here. And I dont know what you mean by DeadHead >_>

[tekla]

Someone who obsessed about one (Highly OK, but never 'awesome') rock band and did nothing but follow them around hoping for free tickets or that they would sell/jingle enough cash to buy one.  They did, as you are doing, spending 90% of their time on their obsession, and yes, they got all sorts of skull, rose and other tattoos to go along with it these days.  But, in the end, they were going nowhere fast.

[jonjon]

i'm not following a band though... and i'm not wasting my life following a band. Ok, so i dont have a job at the mo, but thats not down to spending every waking second on a game... because it's not every waking second. I use my time wisely and i know how to separate the two at the same time as combining. Therefore i do actually have life outside the four walls of final fantasy.

But the point i'm trying to make everyone understand is that the game is the only thing i've ever been able to hold passion against. It's the only thing in my life i've ever had passion for and to me, thats important. everyone has something in their life thats important to them, no matter how small or trivial... Or STUPID! We all have these personal little things. I had the best times of my childhood playing final fantasy 7 with my cousin and it was the main thing that bound us together. Even now, i dont see him very often at all, and when i do these days, i have nothing to say. Mention FF7 and it's like old times again, my childhood is back with all them wonderful feelings of sharing something i'm so passionate about with someone else with the same level of passion. Anything i ever remember goes back to that game and if someone was to take it out of my life and to erase it from my childhood - there'd be nothing there but a depressed teen with nothing. And into my adult years i've been allowed to fetch those memories and that passion with me, especially when i worked at the game store with all the other staff members who loved it as much as me. It's the one thing that connects me with people. I've never been good at socialising, but pair me with another FF fan and i can talk.

What was it Monty said? A tattoo should be more of a personal connection rather than something that just looks cool. This is my personal connection. I wouldn't be who i am today without that background.

Not that my rant there would mean anything to you guys. Not one of you have actually answered the question i asked. Instead, beat me down with a stick with something that dont even affect you

[Vancha]

I agree with what you said, and can empathize.  Perhaps you didn't see my post?

I suggested on your back, or on your upper arm.  I'm thinking, if it were on the back, near the shoulder blade would be neat... Do you want to display it a lot, or have it be more personal?  I think that's a question to ask.

[tekla]

No, I was just commenting on what struck me about what you wrote, and the thought that sooner or later, if you live long enough, you'll regret just about everything at some point.

[jonjon]

Thanks, Adrian, i did see your post before. People can make you so wound up 

If i have it on my left shoulder blade, i'd prob have to wait until i get my top surgery done. It would be nice to show it off, but i'd like it in a place where it can easily be covered up, as well as be shown off if i feel like it. Thats why i'm leaning more to the back of my shin at the minute because i don't think i'd want to wait all that time until i'm finally up for top surgery (could be a few years yet). But, the wait would pay off to get it on my shoulder if i can wait, would be a brilliant place because of it's shape

[tekla]

I like the more traditional shoulder placement.

[jonjon]

No, I was just commenting on what struck me about what you wrote, and the thought that sooner or later, if you live long enough, you'll regret just about everything at some point.

More than i regret most of my life already??? lmao i wont regret it. I cant regret what brought life to my childhood.

[Vancha]

Thanks, Adrian, i did see your post before. People can make you so wound up 

If i have it on my left shoulder blade, i'd prob have to wait until i get my top surgery done. It would be nice to show it off, but i'd like it in a place where it can easily be covered up, as well as be shown off if i feel like it. Thats why i'm leaning more to the back of my shin at the minute because i don't think i'd want to wait all that time until i'm finally up for top surgery (could be a few years yet). But, the wait would pay off to get it on my shoulder if i can wait, would be a brilliant place because of it's shape

Yeah, definitely.  I love tattoos on the shoulder blade.  When are you planning on having top surgery?  Because if you really feel the need to get the tattoo sooner than later, surely waiting for top surgery would delay it a bit.  It really depends on your priorities.  I think back of the shin would be a reasonable idea, but really, it's not as "showy" as on the back of the shoulder, particularly as you'll have a new chest to show off, as well.  I like the idea of a triangular shape.  I have a thing for triangles and pyramids. 

[jonjon]

the only reason i'm putting off getting it there now is because no one will see it with my binder being on. Besides, going to a tattooist while still having my chest wont make me feel comfortable at all since i'd have to go without my binder on so he can get to that place on my back. And after it's done i'll prob not be able to wear my binder for a few days after to prevent it from getting really sore, cos it will rub! O_O ouch >_<

Top surgery will be done when the NHS says i can have it done ~sigh~  gotta get my hormones first which has so far taken a total of almost 9 months and i'm still waiting  I'll prob have to be on hormones 2yrs or something before they start talking to me about surgery on my chest >_< what a drag!!

[Vancha]

You've definitely got a point about the binder being a problem as for comfort after getting the tattoo done.  Also, yes, I'd feel horribly uncomfortable getting a tattoo that involved exposing my chest at all.  Ugh.

That is really unfortunate, about waiting for so long.  I'm not sure how long I'll have to wait, but I'm still in my teens so it may be a while yet.  No one I've spoken to yet has expressed concern or tried to make me put it off at all, though.  They're all very enthusiastic, even my gender therapist.  But there are still many people to meet.

As for the tattoo – they are permanent, so putting it off until you can get it in a great place might not be too bad of an idea.