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I don't have a tattoo...I would love to get one someday but I am unsure of what I would like to have.
That's an awesome tattoo wolveroses! :D
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Maybe John Taylor or some logo/album design from Duran Duran.  ;)

Just a thought.

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Maybe John Taylor or some logo/album design from Duran Duran.  ;)

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That's a good idea. ;) :D

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No offense, but I still haven't thought of anything that important to me or in my life to have it put on my skin forever...
At one time a tat was a rebelous or unique gesture or statement, but now eveyone & their grandma has one, it's cliche.
A tattoo is like the standard modern day uniform symbol or reference tag, I think its more unique to not have one.
Isn't it ironic that we spend enough of our lives trying not to be labeled by society, to only spend $ & suffer pain to physically label ourselves?End Quote

Ohhhhhh wait first of all, who cares if its a cliche.  I've had this planned for years now.  Thats's on my lower leg and I only did it because I wanted one right before I became a father.  Am getting another one on my other lower leg with my kids zodiac sign with their name going through it just liike mine.  That's the purpose for mines, not to mention now am addicted to getting tattos.  
And second, it was only $40 and there was no pain involved.
I want to get Speedy Gonzales tattoo, i really want it to cover my whole back, but I heard that hurts for real because it's close to the bone, and I heard the lower back hurts too.  This true?  

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Thats my tattoo at this address right here.Its the one the 8th row down and the third one in the row. Its the rose w/tribal markings. check it out and ignore the other ones. I tried to get just a shortcut of my tat but it didn't work and it wouldn't let me post it right on this site so, bear with me on the artists site k? Not the most flattering angle of my back but I don't really care. I designed that baby and spent 3 hours in that chair questioning my sanity for it too!!! I love it though, its my baby!!!!!
I can't wait to get another one too!!!

Rio


http://www.stainofcain.com/galleries/kengal/index.html#23.html
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Awesome tattoo! :D ;D

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Doesn’t anyone understand or see the irony of paying $ for and suffering pain to be “marked” (even if it is by oneself own choice)? Doesn’t anyone see that the trend in tattoos over the last 15 yrs is part of a “fad/trend”? Do we really think the desire to acquire a tat hasn’t been influenced by that trend…and if so, is that a good reason to get a tat?

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I said it before and I'll say it again, it doesn't hurt.  All it feels like is a vibrating pinch.

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I said it before and I'll say it again, it doesn't hurt.  All it feels like is a vibrating pinch.
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For me, it felt like someone was scratching a really bad sunburn or something like that. Getting the outline done is what hurts to me cuz its a different kind of needle.

For the rose of my tattoo, there are about six colors that make it that brilliant looking, but having the needle go over my already swollen skin about six times got kinda irritating. It hurt a little, but I was more thinking like,"Is this over yet?" Cuz by the time he got to the last color(which was yellow) I had been sitting for almost 3 hours.

I will completley be getting another one soon, I can't wait, I'm just too broke for one right now.


Rio

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If I met you in a pub I wouldnt know your mind was so unique would I ??  But I have started many a conversation with a stranger by asking them - "wow - I really like that tat - tell me about it - what does it mean - how did you come up with that idea - what is the story behind it".  And from that I learn all about that stranger and have even made long time friends out of that one meeting.
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Very true, you wouldn't notice me out of the others by first or even second glance, but I hope I don't need a tat for you or anyone else to want to meet or get to know me...I'm not against tats so much as, well, I'm starting to see a need for persons to "peacock" (show their feathers, so to speak) for recognition. The "look at me", I'm different, or I need your attention aspect of it, makes me wonder about that persons self esteem...is there need for a visual symbol or cue on my person for someone to recognize, judge, or want to know me?

I'm much more impressed with the persons or person that intoduces themselves to me, or to the world without a visual symbol on my or their body to start a convesaton or meeting, it shows some chutzpah (especially with so much visual info thrown at us these days)...

I totally understand expressing yourself with a tat, and some time ago, I really believe a tat did that, because it WAS something that was associated with criminals or bikers/outlaws or some type of subversive/individualist...but nowadays, walking into a pub or bar, seeing every woman's lower backside done with a not so original (and many a times cheaply & poorly done) variation of a tribal markings, and every guy with a bicep or neck tat, it just isn't very different or special to me anymore.

If you have a tat for yourself only, O.K., sure, of course that's your choice, but if it is to show off to others and the world of how different you are, then, IMHO, that mode of thinking is flawed. Like skateboarding, being "punk", or buying a Harley, once the general public has taken it in, and the mass media has merchandized it, then it becomes very difficult to use it to be a unique anymore.

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Like skateboarding, being "punk", or buying a Harley, once the general public has taken it in, and the mass media has merchandized it, then it becomes very difficult to use it to be a unique anymore.

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For me personally I enjoy my tattoos and riding my Harley for me; not to "prove" anything to anyone nor do I "use" it as way to express my uniqueness.  Trust me, I'm unique enough without either!!   ;)
Your above statement for me would be akin to waking up in the morning and deciding that I just wasn't going to breathe oxygen any longer....I mean, everybody else does it so it can't be unique!

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Rio - yours is AWESOME girl !!  What work !

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Thanks!!! ;D

Rio

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I'm starting to see a need for persons to "peacock" (show their feathers, so to speak) for recognition. The "look at me", I'm different, or I need your attention aspect of it, makes me wonder about that persons self esteem...is there need for a visual symbol or cue on my person for someone to recognize, judge, or want to know me?

If you have a tat for yourself only, O.K., sure, of course that's your choice, but if it is to show off to others and the world of how different you are, then, IMHO, that mode of thinking is flawed.
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Some people can sing - so they perform on stage and say "Look at me".

Some people can paint - so they display their work in a gallery and say "look at me".

Some people can ride a bike really fast - so they go to the olympics and say "look at me".

Some people can impersonate someone else - so they go the a stand up comedy club and say "look at me".

Some people can balance on thier toes - so they become ballerinas and say "look at me".

Some people (ok Pamela Anderson) have enormous boobies - so they wear their smallest top and say "look at me".

Some people have awesome hair - so they let it grow long and lush and await the compliments while they say "look at me".

Some people can drive really fast - so they go to a race track and say "look at me".

Some people can walk on a tiny wire - so they join the circus and say "look at me".

All of these people probably get spoken to in a pub for any number of reasons - so I seriously dont see how its any different for someone to say "look at me - I have green hair/drive a harley/have a stud in my eyebrow/have an interesting tattoo".

How is it "flawed thinking" for someone to want to create something to show off to someone else - be it the occassional person in private - or on display for everyone to see.

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How is it "flawed thinking" for someone to want to create something to show off to someone else - be it the occassional person in private - or on display for everyone to see.
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As far as Tattoos go, IMHO, to show off, with a permanent marking in ink on your person, with needles, is extreme. To physically alter ones body with knife or needle to attract others attention is extreme to me (and no, I'm not tailing about hair, clothing or makeup, those are temparary changes).
All the other things you mentioned are not anywhere near the same in comparison.
I guess I'm the only one with that viewpoint on the board, that's O.K.
But despite this there has only been two or so tats shown here on this topic.
Anyone want to prove me wrong with an example of their tat that is so mind shattering, as to make me eat my words (I have been known to be wrong on occasion ;)) please do so...
With the exception of some tats I’ve seen in magazines and the ones done by one of my old friends (who is a tattoo artist); most tats that I’ve seen on most people are not worth augmenting your skin, forever.
IMHO, the majority of people who are getting tats are because it is a popular fad, most of these would not be doing so if not for the trend. I don’t have anything against following a trend, I have a problem understanding those who would permanently alter their skin to show off how different they are, and that is extreme to me.

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Anyone want to prove me wrong with an example of their tat that is so mind shattering, as to make me eat my words (I have been known to be wrong on occasion ;)) please do so...
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But THAT is the point!!  My tattoos are not intended to be "mind shattering" to you.  I am the only one that they need be mind shattering to.  In fact, of my 7 tattoos, 100% of the people I meet on any given day see exactly NONE of them.  No one knows I have them unless I want to share with them.  And that's exactly what I did on this thread.  I had no intention of opening myself up to being stereotyped and belittled for my decision to do so (and I'm sure I can speak for Rio_Rhodes here as well since we are the only 2 who actually shared).  But I suppose you live and learn.

In fact, a wise man on another thread on this very site said just today:

"...what I do, thats my own personal choice & experience, its NOT for others to use as an example. Nor can they or will they have the same outcomes or experiences as I."

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I had no intention of opening myself up to being stereotyped and belittled for my decision to do so (and I'm sure I can speak for Rio_Rhodes here as well since we are the only 2 who actually shared).  But I suppose you live and learn.

In fact, a wise man on another thread on this very site said just today:

"...what I do, thats my own personal choice & experience, its NOT for others to use as an example. Nor can they or will they have the same outcomes or experiences as I."
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Hey, that's not fair. Playing dirty, using my words against me.
Are you saying that (other than this thread) someone out there pays attention to what I have to say?! ;)

80s’ Lady and Rio, certainly by discussing my views on this subject, I had no intention to make you, or anyone else feel belittled or stereotyped.
Sometimes, impassioned of what I feel, I can be accusatory, but mean no ill will. I am pretty darned opinionated though, and you know what they say about opinions…

I do understand & respect your views, but I must ask, however, and wish you to think about what I say seriously & honestly…
Do you believe that the majority of persons with or obtaining tats today are doing so for display, because it’s a fad/trend, or is it for similar personal reasons such as yours? Have you not seen a “trend” that has emerged in regard to tattoos?
Have you seen the many poorly done tats sported by Johnny Me Too at your local pub? Johnny Me Too wasn’t sporting tattoos ten years ago.  Do you feel my perspective (obviously not yours) is not understandable, if not generally valid, at least warranted, considering how fads and trends are followed in these times?

I grew up with a strong sense of self and body from my parents (& raised Catholic too, this is where a lot of this is coming from, but I’m no bible thumper!) I feel most of the tattoos that people attain (certainly more today than before) represents an underlying reduction in the respect and natural beauty of the human body and how our modern day mindset views the human body. Our individuality at birth and for life so to speak is our body.
We have been going down a slippery slope for a long while, going away from believing that we, our bodies especially, without ANY additional “add-ons” are individualistic enough that we don’t need, or feel the need to add anything to them to feel good or better about ourselves. That your body as it was wasn’t something perfect as it is…that means without that mark or piercing being under your underwear forever, for only a privileged few ever to see, or your ankle, back, waist, or on the front of your forehead.

I like to think myself of something of a rebel (wishful thinking at best, I know), and CANNOT stand conformity without substance or reason. I see the fashions that are flashed on the screen, I see the lip, boob, rear-end, jobs. The wonder, water bras. The skin peeling, the hair removal, the “ambush makeovers”, the laser repair & correction, the cosmetic “requirements” of today continually flashed in all forms of media to us and our children, and I am scared at how readily we accept this. Both men & women today seem ready to change aspects of our unique and original bodies to follow the direction of the rest (and in forcing acceptance, subject others to the similar acceptable modifications)…

Tattoos growth of acceptance is not the evil thing in all this; it’s just a symptom of it.

If I haven’t made my point clear, I believe the continual modification of our bodies through surgical means (whether it be for show, trend or for personal satisfaction) is a reflection of our modern day psyche, our true feelings and inadequacies about our bodies in this day and age (leaving of course, traumatic disfigurement/accident repair out of this discussion).
And, IMHO, it’s not a good sign…

Tattoos weren’t before, but I believe now they are becoming the next must have addition of acceptance (in reference to our bodies) of our next or current generation. And I don’t see many that are done with any real thought or artistry (mind shattering) to convince me otherwise of personal worth.

You and many, many others will always have their own reasons for having a tattoo, but seeing the current trend, I will never be convinced of the necessity or personal benefit of them. I will never be satisfied with any symbol that was once one of individuality being slowly usurped to be less than that...there is no one thing or symbol(s) about, or of me (I find it difficult to believe anyone can do this, its possible I’m missing something in that ability) that I can put on my body that will ever satisfy me, make me feel better about myself, express me to others, or just myself in some unique way that can’t already be done by my mouth, hands or mind. I just don’t get it…

You or any other person that has a tattoo isn’t a bad person to me, and I don’t judge them as that without knowing them. I debate with my friends all the time about their tats to the point of aggravation (as you can imagine), but I still respect them. You having a tat isn’t a sign that you’re ashamed of your body, have a stigma about it, or are painfully trendy, but I can’t easily & truthful say that for everyone (with or without a tattoo for that matter) which is kinda my point...

My view is I just have to look (and want others to as well) deeper at what’s going on around me and the reasons and direction trends and events can take me…especially when it comes to how we look at and treat our bodies.

That being said, let’s see your tats already! ;D

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and this is my next one............just the letters.......

http://www.angelfire.com/tx6/traci/My_new_tattoo2.JPG
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That is pretty!

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I have a tattoo of a unicorn with a rose behind him.  Its about 7 years old, and I love it.  Matter of fact, I am planning on getting another in May, when I go to Vegas.  No one influneced my decision, I did it on my own.

Its kind of a bad pic. but its all I got at the moment.

http://www.angelfire.com/tx6/traci/Image087.jpg
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OMG! You are coming to Vegas? Thats awesome! I can't wait to get my next tat and I'm going to get it here too!!

Rio

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gonna be there in May!
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Awesome! Hope you have fun here!!!

Rio

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here's mine
http://www.geocities.com/wolve2roses/pics/tattoocapricorn.jpg
it's my zodiac sign (capricorn) with my name in spanish going through it.

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That's cool...but is it meant to say 'mateo' that in spanish coz i cheked mateo from spanish to english and it said 'kill'