The rise and rise of tattoos

Kev_2012

Not to sound like a Jerry Seinfeld joke, but what's the deal with people all of a sudden being obsessed with tattoos?

People just seem to be getting them for the craic in the last few years and usually with very little thought put into them. There are some nice ones but I think I that for the most part they are generally a terrible idea.

I wouldn't like the idea of paying thousands of euros to get a sleeve done and basic ruin my chances in certain jobs and probably regret it a few years later. Can't understand the big obsession!!!

krudler

I saw a dolphin once with a tattoo of a fat girl from a council estate on its back.

suicide_circus

fine in theory, problem is the vast majority of them look crap.

Funkfield

krudler wrote: »

I saw a dolphin once with a tattoo of a fat girl from a council estate on its back.

I like this.

SunnyDub1

Did ya not hear?

You're not "in style" now unless you have a sleeve on your pumped tanned arms :rolleyes:

kneemos

It's offically cool not to have one.

stefan idiot jones

I've got two full sleeves and some of my back done which I can cover up if necessary, however I think neck tattoos are vile.

I'm a joiner so image is not important but I still draw the line at the neck.

Duggy747

I'm seeing more of those Ear Stretching things than tattoos in the last few years.

krudler

Duggy747 wrote: »

I'm seeing more of those Ear Stretching things than tattoos in the last few years.

Those things look absolutely ridiculous, be great craic to just snap a padlock into one and leg it :pac:

Uriel.

OP, why worry, if the sleeve isn't for you or any tattoo for that matter then you're grand you don't need to get them.

For people that do, hopefully they get them after putting at least some thought into it. For someone getting a sleeve you can be sure that they have considered it significantly. Sleeves take a long time, including many sessions to develop. Generally you won't get from start to finish without carefully considering what you are doing.

Maybe it won't effect their employment chances (depends on their industry/occupation). Most tattoos can also be hidden when necessary (including sleeves). Huge proportion of the population have tattoos now. They are a common sight in certain age brackets. In a corporate/office environment though, you may not always know who has them.

Duggy747

krudler wrote: »

Those things look absolutely ridiculous, be great craic to just snap a padlock into one and leg it :pac:

It'll be interesting to see when they're old and their skin just droops down onto their necks.

Maybe they could tie it in a knot :pac:

Kev_2012

Uriel. wrote: »

OP, why worry, if the sleeve isn't for you or any tattoo for that matter then you're grand you don't need to get them.

For people that do, hopefully they get them after putting at least some thought into it. For someone getting a sleeve you can be sure that they have considered it significantly. Sleeves take a long time, including many sessions to develop. Generally you won't get from start to finish without carefully considering what you are doing.

Maybe it won't effect their employment chances (depends on their industry/occupation). Most tattoos can also be hidden when necessary (including sleeves). Huge proportion of the population have tattoos now. They are a common sight in certain age brackets. In a corporate/office environment though, you may not always know who has them.

Well I'm just trying to understand how they are so popular all of a sudden. Years ago they were looked down upon in many ways and then suddenly every seemed to HAVE to get one.

I've seen many people (friends included) getting sleeves done suddenly and have them finished in a month! Plus, the meanings behind it were also out of the blue.

I remember when I from when I was about 15 til 18/19 (I'm 25 now) I was going to get a tattoo of a band, who by the way are still my favourite band since then, and I'm glad I didn't get it because I know what I like and what things mean the most to me so I don't see why you would do something irreversible to your body like that.

Plazaman

I would love to get a tattoo myself but I'm afraid my screaming, crying and wetting myself would put the tattoo artist off (ah no it doesn't hurt that much..... does it?)

looking_around

tbh, having tattoos isn't affecting jobs as much as used to. There are clothes that covers it up fine.

And even office work it doesn't matter.

It tends to be customer based jobs, where they have a certain look uphold, that having tats could affect it.

But, why are you bothered OP? ..Want to get a sleeve but don't have the nerve? >.>

The Backwards Man

I think there's a massive untapped market out there for toupee tattoos, or tattoo toupees.

looking_around

Kev_2012 wrote: »

So I don't see why you would do something irreversible to your body like that.

You don't need to, it's their body after all.

They like it. simples.

__
There's also 'foundation' that covers up tattoos, (works surprisingly well)

Potential-Monke

Depends on why people get them imo. Getting a tatto for the sake of it is retarded imo. I also dislike the tribal tattoos. What significance can they have to someone from Ireland other than it looks cool (it usually doesn't).

Granted, a persons skin is their own and they're free to do what they want with it, but i honestly think more thought should be put into them, then we'd have less of the copy and paste tramp stamps and tribal shoulders/arms.

Nuttzz

beckham made them mainstream, prior to that they were really just for prisoners and sailors.

Dont see the point of them myself but each to their own

Seridisand

Nuttzz wrote: »

beckham made them mainstream, prior to that they were really just for prisoners and sailors.

Dont see the point of them myself but each to their own

Quickly return to your own planet before your stupidity spreads.

inmyday

Nuttzz wrote: »

beckham made them mainstream, prior to that they were really just for prisoners and sailors.

Dont see the point of them myself but each to their own

Each to their own indeed. No more needs to be said in this thread.

Lock her up!

Uriel.

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Well I'm just trying to understand how they are so popular all of a sudden. Years ago they were looked down upon in many ways and then suddenly every seemed to HAVE to get one.

I've seen many people (friends included) getting sleeves done suddenly and have them finished in a month! Plus, the meanings behind it were also out of the blue.

I remember when I from when I was about 15 til 18/19 (I'm 25 now) I was going to get a tattoo of a band, who by the way are still my favourite band since then, and I'm glad I didn't get it because I know what I like and what things mean the most to me so I don't see why you would do something irreversible to your body like that.

Same way as anything becomes popular. Celebrity fashion and marketing to a large extent. But also general changes in society to more liberal views etc...

Technically, tattoos are now reversible but, it comes at a cost (usually more than the tattoo) and often with significant pain.

But either way, plenty of people have gotten tattoos and years later and still happy with their decision. Of course, on the flip side, plenty are indifferent or regret their decision.

inmyday

Seridisand wrote: »

Quickly return to your own planet before your stupidity spreads.

I spoke too soon. don't lock the thread just yet.
You're stupid. I'm stupid. He's stupid. We're all so stupid.

seamus

http://shoulditattoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Tattoo-Locations-Graphic.png

Bit out of date at this stage; for most jobs which don't have any kind of professional dress code or visual customer interaction, tattoos probably won't count against you in an interview. Unless the interviewer is an idiot.

GastroBoy

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Not to sound like a Jerry Seinfeld joke, but what's the deal with people all of a sudden being obsessed with tattoos?

People just seem to be getting them for the craic in the last few years and usually with very little thought put into them. There are some nice ones but I think I that for the most part they are generally a terrible idea.

I wouldn't like the idea of paying thousands of euros to get a sleeve done and basic ruin my chances in certain jobs and probably regret it a few years later. Can't understand the big obsession!!!

Are the people getting the tattoos people you know personally or are you just seeing more people with tattoos online and on social networking sites?
In which case I think you might be getting peeved off with the rise of photo sharing on the net.

castletownman

Well I've the hots for a local girl. Hadn't seen her for ages till a few weekends ago when I noticed she had got one of those tribal like tattoos on her foot. And my word it looked very sexy.

So basically what I'm saying is tattoos can look sexy on a person. Although the less obvious the better. If ya know what I mean

Rented Mule

Nuttzz wrote: »

beckham made them mainstream, prior to that they were really just for prisoners and sailors.

Step away from your keyboard .......slowly.

dsmythy

I don't see an increase in tattooing as any sort of "liberal" phenomenon. It is almost the opposite, a return to a more tribal activity.

looking_around

and tribal cant be liberal also? o0
__
It is liberal as people aren't associating tattoos with army or criminals anymore.

Kev_2012

GastroBoy wrote: »

Are the people getting the tattoos people you know personally or are you just seeing more people with tattoos online and on social networking sites?
In which case I think you might be getting peeved off with the rise of photo sharing on the net.

Most of my friends but just people around the place in general.

E.g. on Facebook
Friend - "Can't wait to get my new ink next week!",
Me - "What are you getting done?"
Friend - "Not sure yet!"

Why bother getting something that big that spontaneously?

gobnaitolunacy

castletownman wrote: »

Well I've the hots for a local girl. Hadn't seen her for ages till a few weekends ago when I noticed she had got one of those tribal like tattoos on her foot. And my word it looked very sexy.

So basically what I'm saying is tattoos can look sexy on a person. Although the less obvious the better. If ya know what I mean

Depends on the person, a hot young wan or Onslow from Keeping Up Appearances...

Vojera

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Most of my friends but just people around the place in general.

E.g. on Facebook
Friend - "Can't wait to get my new ink next week!",
Me - "What are you getting done?"
Friend - "Not sure yet!"

Why bother getting something that big that spontaneously?

Some people might have an idea of what they want but until they flesh it out with their tattoo artist they don't fully know what it'll look like. Maybe they don't want to tell you X and come home with Y.

ETA: I don't personally have any tattoos (don't trust that I'll still want it in five years), but I admire them on others, especially as they've become more artistic. Some really are like having a beautiful piece of art but on your body instead of a wall.

Merkin

I think they look ridiculous

Esoteric_

A quick glance in the T+P forum here on boards will show that people don't just get tattoos with no thought put into them.

People with sense put time, thought and effort into researching the artist who will best suit their needs, what studio to go to, the aftercare procedure, etc etc.

I have 5 tattoos, and they all look good IMO. Two of them are very visible, and none of them have ever hindered my job prospects, even with me working in a customer service based role, dealing with the public.

Tattoos aren't a trend. The reason people are getting them more and more is because there is no longer the 'scumbag' stigma attached to them, so more people feel free to get them done without being judged.

120_Minutes

Because they want to be individual and unique, like everyone else.

Esoteric_

120_Minutes wrote: »

Because they want to be individual and unique, like everyone else.

What a bollocks suggestion.

People get tattoos because they like them, not to be individual and unique. There are very, VERY few tattoos that will never be replicated, so it's silly to suggest that people get them to be unique.

inmyday

Merkin wrote: »

I think they look ridiculous

I think you look ridiculous

dsmythy

looking_around wrote: »

and tribal cant be liberal also? o0
__
It is liberal as people aren't associating tattoos with army or criminals anymore.

I'm talking more about the person getting the tattoo. Their reason and their thought processes on what their tattoos symbolise and say to themselves, both about themselves and their place in society as well as their thoughts on it. Some are more overt about its meaning, others it is deeper down a more subconscious feeling that they can't quite put their finger on.

That's not to say others do it for a more feckless flippant reason such as because they think it's hot. They're the type of people who will do anything to get some pointless feeling of being desired so if some frown upon it is irrelevant to them anyway. Same for those who get that more primal feeling of marking their bodies as a symbol for something else. It doesn't matter whether society likes it or not it will be done. In that sense there's nothing new about it

seanbmc

There's always going to be people who have problems with tattoos and other body modifications.

I remember when I had stretched ears to about 2G(6mm), I would get some odd looks. Had to take them out for a job that involved a lot of customer interaction, didn't bother arguing as I needed the job badly.

Hoping to get a tattoo but that requires a lot more thinking/research but I have a few ideas. I absolutely HATE some of the tattoos you see some people get just for the sake of it. A lot of girls get stars or swallows on their wrist or foot. So stupid.

looking_around

I don't mind the stars/tribals. Tattoos that people get simply because they look nice/they like them. I hate when people come up with some 'deep meaning' for said that tattoo. Just say you liked it for christs sake

Esoteric_

looking_around wrote: »

I don't mind the stars/tribals. Tattoos that people get simply because they look nice/they like them. I hate when people come up with some 'deep meaning' for said that tattoo. Just say you liked it for christs sake

Some people DO get tattoos with meaning behind them, though. Three of mine have meaning behind them, and I chose the tattoos specifically to match the idea I had in mind.

However, 2 of mine I got purely because I liked and wanted them, and have no issue telling anyone that.

RoboRat

Best I seen was in the Martial Arts forum where a Muay Thai fighter had a tree on his back, for each loss he put an outline of a leaf, for each win, he put a black leaf... there was a lot of black leaves so it was pretty cool!

Merkin

inmyday wrote: »

I think you look ridiculous

Na na na na na na :rolleyes:

GastroBoy

Do people still get the Chinese writing tattoos?, or was that a 90s/00s thing?

Awful things.

RoboRat

RoboRat wrote: »

Best I seen was in the Martial Arts forum where a Muay Thai fighter had a tree on his back, for each loss he put an outline of a leaf, for each win, he put a black leaf... there was a lot of black leaves so it was pretty cool!

Oooh, I think I saw him fight. That was awesome.

Esoteric_

Out of all of the people who are slating tattoos (I'm aiming this mainly at female posters), how many of you have piercings, like your ears?

I'd rather put ink in my skin and enjoy how it looks than punch holes in my body to dangle bits of metal, feather or plastic out of them.

jimgoose

I have an all-over transparent tattoo, in the style known as the De-Luxe Full-Body Yacht-Varnish.
Under an ultraviolet lamp it looks exactly like Predator camouflage. Want some candy?? :cool:

Corkfeen

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Most of my friends but just people around the place in general.

E.g. on Facebook
Friend - "Can't wait to get my new ink next week!",
Me - "What are you getting done?"
Friend - "Not sure yet!"

Why bother getting something that big that spontaneously?

Plenty of people put thought into their tattoos too. I plan to get my first tattoo in the next twelve months, i've put four years of planning into it.

looking_around

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Some people DO get tattoos with meaning behind them, though. Three of mine have meaning behind them, and I chose the tattoos specifically to match the idea I had in mind.

However, 2 of mine I got purely because I liked and wanted them, and have no issue telling anyone that.

I never said they didn't. I have a few tats myself


I said the stars and common tribals...those are very unlikely to have any real meaning.

Got A John Frusciante

Its cos they wana make ther mark on society by geting themselves a unique drawing. hope this helps.

jon

guydead67

Because tattoos are awesome

gobnaitolunacy

GastroBoy wrote: »

Do people still get the Chinese writing tattoos?, or was that a 90s/00s thing?

Awful things.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/20756/tattoo-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-means