The Great Tattoo Debate

[fireheart17]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226510202723

OK, the article basically is talking about requiring officers to cover up their tats while working. However, the comments (like SO many other times) seem to be of the view that if you get yourself inked-even with a birthdate-then you're nothing more than a vicious hoodlum and a common thief who shouldn't even be considered for work.

Thoughts?

[bex1218]

Wow, those comments make me want to yell at them. I understand a dislike for tattoos, but hating someone who they don't even know cause of what is on their skin is just rediculous. Granted, its one of the few things people choose to have, still gives them no right to judge me or my friends like that.

Now, on the covering. I understand why some places do it. Doesn't bother me much.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I've been on the fence about getting a tattoo myself (I have a fear of needles, plus no money.) If I did it would probably be a Celtic Tree of Life on my back, where the only time it would be visible and I was clothed would be in a bathing suit on while wearing something with no back. Anyway, on to the conversation.

The problem with tattoos is that they have such a wide breadth of what they are for. Some use their body to promote art, and see their skin as a canvas. Some people get them to honor someone, a memory, or for other personal reason. Some people want to be cool and get those generic tats and tramp stamps. For some others (and this is where the stereotype comes from) the tattoo is a signal to others and actually contains messages in the iconography.

Anyway, in my opinion if you want to tat yourself up go ahead. I won't think less of you (unless it's a badly done tattoo or one of those super generic ones... or a tramp stamp because I SHOULD NOT BE SEEING THAT.)

For businesses, they have a right to want to portray a certain image. If that image means no visible tattoos, then they have a right to want to implement that in the dress code. (I don't think they should deny someone who just HAS one that you can't see.)

For cops, I can see how they wouldn't want the tattoos to be visible while they are on the job. Part of that "clean-cut, professional appearance" thing.

I have a couple friends who constantly complain to me about having to cover up their tattoos while they are working. I tell them to shut up and that they can show off their tattoos any other time, I think they can deal with a few hours of not having them visible.

[Nekojin]

My general opinion of tattoos is that they're a sign of a low-class individual. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between (note that one of my coworkers is one of those exceptions).

That said, I don't think that the tattoo, in and of itself, means anything - it's a reflection of the person, but you should be judging the person on everything they say and do, not just on the one detail. But having openly visible tattoos is something that someone does deliberately, if not always consciously.

[fireheart17]

My general opinion of tattoos is that they're a sign of a low-class individual. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between (note that one of my coworkers is one of those exceptions).

That said, I don't think that the tattoo, in and of itself, means anything - it's a reflection of the person, but you should be judging the person on everything they say and do, not just on the one detail. But having openly visible tattoos is something that someone does deliberately, if not always consciously.

See, the whole covering up thing I can understand. A former coworker of mine had a tattoo on her wrist and wore a flesh-coloured fabric "tube" that covered up the tatt while she was working.

A friend of mine who's in the army covers up his visible tatts (he basically has a forearm sleeve plus pretty much his entire back and sides done, all in this gothic style image. Originally it started as the chaos star from Gears of war, plus a pirate tatt on the back. Now it's "evolved".) as much as he physically can while at work. Although given that he's mostly involved in peacekeeping missions in Timor Leste (and goes shirtless there) the kids seem more excited and curious about his "art work" (it's mostly pirate )

In terms of tattoos being a sign of a low-class individual however, I'm of the opinion that it depends entirely on the tattoo itself and the meaning behind it.

[telecom_goddess]

I have two tattoos and I am lucky I guess that no one here expects me to cover them up. But I don't feel a need to cover them up, I didn't get them to hide them I got them to be seen.

[Greenday]

My general opinion of tattoos is that they're a sign of a low-class individual. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between (note that one of my coworkers is one of those exceptions).

That said, I don't think that the tattoo, in and of itself, means anything - it's a reflection of the person, but you should be judging the person on everything they say and do, not just on the one detail. But having openly visible tattoos is something that someone does deliberately, if not always consciously.

So what about people with tattoos that aren't visible? I have two tattoos and there are people who didn't know I have tattoos because they never see me with a shirt off.

[powerboy]

My wife has a few tattoos. One behind her eat, another one on the back of her neck and one on her lower thigh. She has no problem with covering them up, if she has to work.

i am planning on getting a tattoo, well two of them. One is going to be a dream catcher on my shoulder and another is going to be on my finger. That one is going to be a simple cross. It is kinda a family tradition. My father and brothers and my Grandfather has that same tattoo.

[Nekojin]

So what about people with tattoos that aren't visible? I have two tattoos and there are people who didn't know I have tattoos because they never see me with a shirt off.

The decision to have a tattoo says one (or more) of a handful of different things about a person, not necessarily bad. The decision to have a tattoo in a location where you can't easily conceal it for, say, a blue-collar job (for example, on the face) is a blatant and deliberate "in-your-face" to societal mores.

While I think there's a lot of value in rejecting society's notions of normalcy, I can't think of a good reason to do so in a way that is that blatant and permanent unless you don't ever want to be involved in anything considered mainstream-social.

[Panacea]

My general opinion of tattoos is that they're a sign of a low-class individual. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between (note that one of my coworkers is one of those exceptions).

That said, I don't think that the tattoo, in and of itself, means anything - it's a reflection of the person, but you should be judging the person on everything they say and do, not just on the one detail. But having openly visible tattoos is something that someone does deliberately, if not always consciously.

Your opinion reflects the mainstream. It creates negative impressions that can impact job performance. My nursing students are required to cover tattoos for this very reason, as are regular hospital employees.

The problem is it is hard to judge the reflection of a person based on a tattoo. A tat can be very personal and unique to the person getting it; and vulgar to the person observing it.

Tattoos make a statement; unfortunately, it may not be something others wish to hear. That's a fact of life those who get them have to deal with.

In terms of tattoos being a sign of a low-class individual however, I'm of the opinion that it depends entirely on the tattoo itself and the meaning behind it.

The problem is that meaning isn't something that the casual viewer can easily interpret. And too many tattoos are clearly meant to be viewed negatively, such as gang tattoos.

It may not be fair, but it is what it is.

[fireheart17]

The problem is that meaning isn't something that the casual viewer can easily interpret. And too many tattoos are clearly meant to be viewed negatively, such as gang tattoos.

It may not be fair, but it is what it is.

See I was thinking of commemorative or "mateship" tattoos.

Commemorative ones are usually a person's birthdate, date of death or some special message relating to them. Sometimes they're easily concealable, sometimes they're not. (for instance, a girl I know has her daughter's name and birthdate tattooed on her wrist)

"mateship" ones are the ones where they all have the same or similar things done in a similar location as a sign of friendship. For instance, my boyfriend and his two buddies all have a skull and crossbones on their backs. Roughly identical design, although my boyfriend's has "eternal friends" or something written in Old Norse. Those are on their back.

In the case of the latter, someone could easily state that it was a gang sign, especially because of the Old Norse. So I can see to that end where the interpretation can differ.

I'm just grateful that none of my friends have kanji tattooed anywhere! (i.e. the kanji supposedly says "warrior/strong/whatever" when it really means "soup" or "whore")

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I'm just grateful that none of my friends have kanji tattooed anywhere! (i.e. the kanji supposedly says "warrior/strong/whatever" when it really means "soup" or "whore")

I have several friends with kanji tattoos, except all of them actually studied the language and asked our Japanese speaking, writing, and reading friends to make sure the kanji they were getting tattoos actually said what they wanted it to say.

Yes, one of them wanted hamburger writing in Mandarin on his arm... which is "Ham bow bow" (with different inflections on the first and second 'bow'.) Don't ask, he just thought it was funny. I don't understand it but it's always funny when someone asks him what it means and he replies, honesty, "hamburger."

[Ginger Tea]

I've ummed and arred about getting myself done, thing is cos it's permanant, I can not think of anything I could willingly live with for the rest of my life.

I did ask how to write Ginger Tea in Japanese (the phonetic script, is that Kanji or the other one?) not how would I say that in Japanese, but how would I write it so that someone could read aloud "Ginger Tea" and again I could do the same in cyrilic* and other non latin alphabets, just not for tats.

*"The dead travel quickly" was written in cyrilic on the tombstone from an old horror story maybe by Poe? not to be read out aloud as English this one but actual Russian, never looked it up.

Bable fish or another translator actually did what I wanted and spelt it phonetically and didnt say "japanese pictogram for ginger and tea", so I just have to try different fonts and or brush styles and see if I like it.
Been meaning to write it down alot using a chisle edge marker pen to see how it looks, I've had the screen cap on my phone for months now.

The whole "why do you have soup on your arm?" side of things, aye steering well clear of those types of tats unless A> I wanted one B> it's legit.

Someone walking on the beach with pedophile tattooed on their arm or back isn't the best of ideas.
I worked with a woman who came from the Philipeans but was half Chinese/Spanish and one of our Polish guys has a few tats and iir he has one in Chineese or was thinking of getting one and I brought up the "what if it says arse hole" or something like that
"Oh we don't do that." she said
We got into a discussion that Chineese tattoists would not write something rude or wrong on someone and tell them it means Love etc.
"So what does his tattoo say then?"
"I don't know I can't read Chineese." she replied.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Ginger Tea, do you mean Romanji? Which is the Japanese written out with roman letters?

For example "light" in Japanese, written in Romanji is "Hikari."

[Ginger Tea]

No not me being able to read japanese out loud in 'English', but someone who can read Japanese being able to read my would be tat as 'Ginger tea' but in the phonetic japanese script.

ジンジャーティー