Recent Negative Media coverage of Tattoos

Stick Monkey

Interesting the derision and finger pointing Cheryl Cole for her ass tattoo and Sinead O'Connor for her face tattoo received from the media. What do you think? Slow news days ?

Arawn

Couldn't give a ****. None of their business

Atavan-Halen

Sinead O'Connor's tattoo looks ridiculous IMO but they're entitled to do what they want with their bodies and I couldn't really care less.

Marty McFly

Stick Monkey wrote: »

Interesting the derision and finger pointing Cheryl Cole for her ass tattoo and Sinead O'Connor for her face tattoo received from the media. What do you think? Slow news days ?

In fairness I don't think the media made either out as a witch hunt against tattoo or people with tattoo's majority just showed Cheryl Cole's tattoo most of the negative comments came from the general public when reading or hearing comments about it.

As for Sinead O'Connor well she is as mad as bag of spanners and once again it was just her being in the media for doing something off the wall it's the only way she manages to stay relevant these days.

Neither were cases of the media highlighting negativity towards tattoo's really imo.

Princess Peach

You'd get some sort of media reaction if Cheryl Cole got a drastic haircut or wore something new, or ate a huge burger in public.

And Sinead O'Connor does this kind of crap to attract the media. Hardly a coincidence she has a tour coming up.

Media will latch onto anything these people do, it's not really negative coverage of tattoos.

K.r.a.t.o.S

Sinead O'connor; supposedly anti-church but has jesus tattooed on herself......the b,q on her face is clearly the least of her problems

Star Lord

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Sinead O'connor; supposedly anti-church but has jesus tattooed on herself......the b,q on her face is clearly the least of her problems

Church =/= Jesus...
There's a difference.

K.r.a.t.o.S

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Church =/= Jesus...
There's a difference.

Well the church is the organisation which committed the atrocities she has spoken out against.....and it does so in the name of jesus. Also her tattoo is a catholic version of the image of jesus not just a non-denominational image. Just seems conflicted to me is all Im saying.

SolvableKnave

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Well the church is the organisation which committed the atrocities she has spoken out against.....and it does so in the name of jesus. Also her tattoo is a catholic version of the image of jesus not just a non-denominational image. Just seems conflicted to me is all Im saying.

Don't forget, she was also a fully "Unofficially" ordained priest herself. Just because she has a Catholic imagining of Christ tattoo'd on herself, she's not being hypocritical or conflicting. She's a Catholic. She just doesn't like the "Church" as an organisation. She disagrees with the Church, not the Religion.

salacious crumb

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Don't forget, she was also a fully "Unofficially" ordained priest herself. Just because she has a Catholic imagining of Christ tattoo'd on herself, she's not being hypocritical or conflicting. She's a Catholic. She just doesn't like the "Church" as an organisation. She disagrees with the Church, not the Religion.

Did she not declare herself a Rastafarian at one point too? :rolleyes:

SolvableKnave

Most probably yes.

K.r.a.t.o.S

Right...to try to stay on the topic of tattoo expression...this seems to me to be the equivalent of something like "I'm a citizen of 'suchandsuch' country...I hate everything my country does in the world and what it stands for...but I'm going to get a tattoo of my country's flag."

K.r.a.t.o.S

salacious crumb wrote: »

Did she not declare herself a Rastafarian at one point too? :rolleyes:

Like I said...conflicted!

SolvableKnave

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Right...to try to stay on the topic of tattoo expression...this seems to me to be the equivalent of something like "I'm a citizen of 'suchandsuch' country...I hate everything my country does in the world and what it stands for...but I'm going to get a tattoo of my country's flag."

Or, another way to look at it is:

Me personally, I am not a religious person by any stretch. I don't believe in God. I find it sickening that with everything that has gone on in the Church that these criminals have just been moved around with no consequences. None have been excommunicated from the church for these vile acts which go against the teachings, belief's and ethos of what the church stands for. Very few have actually been prosecuted, or those that have have had sentences suspended because of their age.

Despite all this, I still try to live a Christian life, as in being kind to strangers, helping others in need, donating to Charity, raising funds for Charity. These are teachings of Christianity. Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife.

The Bible also says that any modification to the body is a sin (Tattoo's, piercings).

So, to you it may seem conficting (Certainly is when she was ordained a priest and then declares Rastafarian, though she wouldn't be the first person to convert), but to me not so much.

K.r.a.t.o.S

Well I'd describe that as living an 'honourable' life, not a 'christian' one. (and good on ya btw!)
If you read the bible thoroughly you'll see that being 'christian' isn't such an honourable thing..eg the punishment if you cheat on your wife or if your wife cheats on you- you both are to be killed! The punishment that every christian is meant to deal out for anybody disobeying the ten commandments, is death. The bible specifically condones/encourages a whole list of barbaric ideas/practices....slavery,genocide etc etc. So please...don't live a christian life!

Star Lord

Christian = believes in God / Jesus etc.
That is separable from the Church as an organisation. Roman Catholic, Protestant, Methodists, Baptists... etc... etc... etc... there are thousands of various Christian denominations. Only one of those is the Roman Catholic church that you're associating with Christianity. It's possible to be Christian (IE believe in Christ) without being a member of the Roman Catholic Church, or indeed any of the organised religions. None of which means that you condone the actions committed by the church or any other branch of Christianity throughout the world or throughout the ages.

Just because Sinead O'Connor has a tattoo of Jesus doesn't mean she's being contradictory by denouncing 'The Church'.
She may be conflicted, and she may have shown some troubled traits in the past, but personally speaking I don't see any conflict in her views on this matter.

Anyway, let's please get back on the topic of negative perception of tattoos in the media, rather than being negatively judgemental about her tattoos and disparaging of SO'C or any individual for that matter.

K.r.a.t.o.S

Well the media seems to be pretty much in line with society's views on tattoos; the odd small tattoo is sort of accepted now...doesnt cause much of a reaction from people. But anything more than that, and people start stereotyping and judging. I've lived and traveled a fair bit around the world and I can definitely say that the most extreme reactions I've seen to my tattoos have been here in Ireland....so it's no surprise that the media here would pick at SO'C for her tattoos. But in saying that, the extreme reactions Ive seen in other places in the world have generally been from religious people/sections of society....so I'd say it's the fact that Ireland is such a religious country that causes more discrimination against tattoos.

Star Lord

Not sure I'd agree with that as such, I think it's more that there's less exposure to it here, so people are less accustomed to seeing quality tattoos or large tattoos. There's also that common Irish trait of tarring everyone with the same brush. "Oh, you've a tattoo? You must be a scumbag."

P_1

To be honest there seems to be an almost sexist divide to reactions about tattoos in Ireland. Basically on men, everything bar the hands/face/head seems to be accepted and admired, on women anything larger than a small butterfly/rose/whatever seems to still cause some kind of shock.

I remember talking to my mother about my tattoos and the subject of my female cousin's tattoos came up. My mother nearly had a heart attack saying 'what about her wedding photos'.

Just the one example I know, but I have heard plenty of other anecdotes along those lines

K.r.a.t.o.S

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Not sure I'd agree with that as such, I think it's more that there's less exposure to it here, so people are less accustomed to seeing quality tattoos or large tattoos. There's also that common Irish trait of tarring everyone with the same brush. "Oh, you've a tattoo? You must be a scumbag."

Certainly the Irish have not been exposed to much...which does largely contribute to the ignorant reactions that people have here. But I,ve had clergy try to stop me from visiting a church in Budapest...was told by a catholic in london that I'm going to hell because I have all the markings of a lost soul....and the christians in America are always trying to "save" me from my obvious path of doom!

Star Lord

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Certainly the Irish have not been exposed to much...which does largely contribute to the ignorant reactions that people have here. But I,ve had clergy try to stop me from visiting a church in Budapest...was told by a catholic in london that I'm going to hell because I have all the markings of a lost soul....and the christians in America are always trying to "save" me from my obvious path of doom!

The extremists everywhere will find one way or another to condemn you!

P_1 is right though, there really is a huge divide in the sexist views of tattoos. Taking two 'celebs' as examples:
David Beckham: I've never heard a bad word said about his tattoos at all, and he's built up quite a bit of coverage over the years.
Cheryl Cole: Granted I think her side-of-the-hand tattoo was a stupid idea, it was perceived as being "small and feminine", so people flocked to copy her. She gets a larger tattoo done (the roses on her bum) which is in itself a great looking tattoo, but gets condemned and lambasted by the media and public as it's "a bit much" and "what'll it look like when she's 50/60/70/80"

P_1

True, there was a bit of a backlash about Beckham's neck tattoo back in the day but it was more of a 'he's playing in a the Euro's in a week, surely getting a massive tattoo done on your neck isn't the most ideal preparation' backlash rather than a 'what will he look like when he's 60/70/80' backlash.

Thing is though you're always going to get people who are anti tattoo but it seems they're more prone to be anti women getting tattooed for whatever reason.

K.r.a.t.o.S

True...and the better looking the woman, the more they are expected to not tattoo themselves...they're meant to be "flawless" beauties. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4aIZGHnF2I

P_1

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

True...and the better looking the woman, the more they are expected to not tattoo themselves...they're meant to be "flawless" beauties. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4aIZGHnF2I

Your mistake there was listening to Donald Trump and presuming that it wouldn't be some sort of a petulant rant :P

salacious crumb

I don't think there's that much of a social stigma about tattoos in Ireland anymore, well certainly not in Dublin anyway.

We've come a long way from India ink dots and crosses that you would most associate with "scumbags" 20/30 years ago. There's practically a tattoo studio on every street in the city centre, people from all walks of life are tattooed, some with small designs, some with extensive work. Apart from facial tattoos, I don't think there's much reaction at all these days to heavily tattooed individuals.

P_1

salacious crumb wrote: »

I don't think there's that much of a social stigma about tattoos in Ireland anymore, well certainly not in Dublin anyway.

We've come a long way from India ink dots and crosses that you would most associate with "scumbags" 20/30 years ago. There's practically a tattoo studio on every street in the city centre, people from all walks of life are tattooed, some with small designs, some with extensive work. Apart from facial tattoos, I don't think there's much reaction at all these days to heavily tattooed individuals.

Yeah that's true. I remember talking to Michal in Skin City yesterday and him mentioning that there was at least ten studios within a 15 minute walk from the place. Facial tattoos are still a little bit 'woah' but with a bit of luck that stigma will go away or at least diminish a bit in a few years.

K.r.a.t.o.S

salacious crumb wrote: »

I don't think there's that much of a social stigma about tattoos in Ireland anymore, well certainly not in Dublin anyway.

We've come a long way from India ink dots and crosses that you would most associate with "scumbags" 20/30 years ago. There's practically a tattoo studio on every street in the city centre, people from all walks of life are tattooed, some with small designs, some with extensive work. Apart from facial tattoos, I don't think there's much reaction at all these days to heavily tattooed individuals.

Try leaving Dublin..... Anywhere outside the big cities of Ireland people will stop their cars to stare!

P_1

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Try leaving Dublin..... Anywhere outside the big cities of Ireland people will stop their cars to stare!

That would be part of the urban/rural social issues divide though. See long hair on men for a similar example.

Marty McFly

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Try leaving Dublin..... Anywhere outside the big cities of Ireland people will stop their cars to stare!

This is true very rarely would I get a reaction to my tattoo's in Dublin but in saying that anytime I have gotten a reaction outside of Dublin it has always been a positive one.

I've yet to receive any negative comments.

DowDow

<snip>

Let's keep the comments on the acceptable side please. - Damo

Charter

No trolling, flaming, fighting, sleazy/inappropriate comments.

Orim

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Certainly the Irish have not been exposed to much...which does largely contribute to the ignorant reactions that people have here. But I,ve had clergy try to stop me from visiting a church in Budapest...was told by a catholic in london that I'm going to hell because I have all the markings of a lost soul....and the christians in America are always trying to "save" me from my obvious path of doom!

Just on this but tattoos are a sin in the bible so it makes some sense. But if you have any issues, ask them if they follow commandants. When they yes, ask them what happened to "Thou shalt not vex a stranger"

salacious crumb

P_1 wrote: »

Yeah that's true. I remember talking to Michal in Skin City yesterday and him mentioning that there was at least ten studios within a 15 minute walk from the place. Facial tattoos are still a little bit 'woah' but with a bit of luck that stigma will go away or at least diminish a bit in a few years.

In fairness though, you'd want to have some set of balls on ya to get a facial tattoo :pac:

K.r.a.t.o.S

Marty McFly wrote: »

I've yet to receive any negative comments.

Most people that have the narrowminded mentality about tattoos would generally be too scared to make any comment at all! It's like the mentality people about african americans in the states....you could be naked and someone will still think you've got a gun hidden up your ass! But they sure as hell won't comment....they'll just scurry away and talk s**t behind your back.

K.r.a.t.o.S

Orim wrote: »

Just on this but tattoos are a sin in the bible so it makes some sense. But if you have any issues, ask them if they follow commandants. When they yes, ask them what happened to "Thou shalt not vex a stranger"

Unfortunately one of the other wrongs that the bible promotes is hypocrisy:

"But anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Jesus) Mat 5:22
"You fools!" (Jesus) Luke 11:40
"You blind fools!" (Jesus) Mat 23:17
"How foolish you are" (Jesus) Luke 24:25
"But God said to him, 'You fool!' " (Jesus) Luke 12:20
"You foolish Galatians!" (St. Paul) Galatians 3:1
"You foolish man" James 2:20

Sorry, gone off topic again!!

P_1

Marty McFly wrote: »

This is true very rarely would I get a reaction to my tattoo's in Dublin but in saying that anytime I have gotten a reaction outside of Dublin it has always been a positive one.

I've yet to receive any negative comments.

To be honest it's rare that you'll get people who have a negative attitude to say it to your face but I'd be fairly sure that there'd be plenty of sniping going on behind the Squinting Windows.

salacious crumb wrote: »

In fairness though, you'd want to have some set of balls on ya to get a facial tattoo :pac:

Yeah that's true, something that isn't really for me but fair balls to the folk that have them.

Marty McFly

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Most people that have the narrowminded mentality about tattoos would generally be too scared to make any comment at all! It's like the mentality people about african americans in the states....you could be naked and someone will still think you've got a gun hidden up your ass! But they sure as hell won't comment....they'll just scurry away and talk s**t behind your back.

P_1 wrote: »

To be honest it's rare that you'll get people who have a negative attitude to say it to your face but I'd be fairly sure that there'd be plenty of sniping going on behind the Squinting Windows.

Yeh but see that is true of life people are always going to have negative views about your appearance be it tattoo's or the clothes you wear and personally as long they keep them opinions to themselves and don't come up spouting crap about how I have ruined my body etc I couldn't care less what there opinion or the little snide comments they make to there friends .

P_1

Marty McFly wrote: »

Yeh but see that is true of life people are always going to have negative views about your appearance be it tattoo's or the clothes you wear and personally as long they keep them opinions to themselves and don't come up spouting crap about how I have ruined my body etc I couldn't care less what there opinion or the little snide comments they make to there friends .

True, and in an ironic twist of fate here we are sniping about their sniping. It's a viscious cycle of sniping :P

K.r.a.t.o.S

Marty McFly wrote: »

Yeh but see that is true of life people are always going to have negative views about your appearance be it tattoo's or the clothes you wear and personally as long they keep them opinions to themselves and don't come up spouting crap about how I have ruined my body etc I couldn't care less what there opinion or the little snide comments they make to there friends .

The problem is when someone 'takes issue' with you but doesn't express that to you....then you don't know who your enemies are.

salacious crumb

I'd hardly consider someone who doesn't like my tattoos an enemy...

P_1

salacious crumb wrote: »

I'd hardly consider someone who doesn't like my tattoos an enemy...

Maybe enemy is too strong a word alright but unfortunately you can get some people who could be in a position of influence over yourself taking a dislike to you over the tattoos which could negatively impact on you. All part of the swings and roundabouts of having tattoos to be honest.

salacious crumb

P_1 wrote: »

Maybe enemy is too strong a word alright but unfortunately you can get some people who could be in a position of influence over yourself taking a dislike to you over the tattoos which could negatively impact on you. All part of the swings and roundabouts of having tattoos to be honest.

I hears ya. Fortunately I'm old enough, and established enough in my working life to not have to worry about that :pac:

Adiboo

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Try leaving Dublin..... Anywhere outside the big cities of Ireland people will stop their cars to stare!

Not true in my experience. I'm living in Kerry, and fairly heavily covered, with hand and finger tattoos too and I VERY rarely get a negative reaction, and the one or two times somebody has said anything, it's nothing too major at all.

K.r.a.t.o.S

P_1 wrote: »

Maybe enemy is too strong a word alright but unfortunately you can get some people who could be in a position of influence over yourself taking a dislike to you over the tattoos which could negatively impact on you. All part of the swings and roundabouts of having tattoos to be honest.

well....enemy being the general word for anyone who works against your best interest.....so yes anyone who has influence to impact your life in a negative way and chooses to do so....it's nice to know who they are so you know who's working against you. I predict body modification to be the next frontier in the civil rights movement, after gblt rights.

salacious crumb

I seriously doubt anyone gives enough of a f*ck about it to make it a civil rights issue :pac:

K.r.a.t.o.S

salacious crumb wrote: »

I seriously doubt anyone gives enough of a f*ck about it to make it a civil rights issue :pac:

Not tattoos specifically...but general appearance. The business world is still stuck in the 50's. In a just world there shouldnt be discrimination based on any type of appearance, whether your'e born with it(race), or if you choose it.

P_1

K.r.a.t.o.S wrote: »

Not tattoos specifically...but general appearance. The business world is still stuck in the 50's. In a just world there shouldnt be discrimination based on any type of appearance, whether your'e born with it(race), or if you choose it.

Have to say I agree with you there, I'm not sure it would be up there with LGBT rights though but I'd love to be in a world where appearance doesn't matter.

FoxyVixen

Hmm, if appearance doesn't matter wouldn't that end up turning the evolution clock back abit?

I like the idea of professional suits as it puts the company I'm dealing with in a non-judgemental view on my part and I can put my full attention to what they're selling or service provided. I don't think individualism has a place in many workplaces.

I'm not sure how hypocritical it makes me seeing as I've a large enough tattoo myself and planning many more, but suits have a purpose in the world from what I can see.

In saying that, people shouldn't judge each other walking by on the street based on appearance, but unfortunately that's an innate response which isn't going to change within our species for a very long time....if at all.

K.r.a.t.o.S

FoxyVixen wrote: »

In saying that, people shouldn't judge each other walking by on the street based on appearance, but unfortunately that's an innate response which isn't going to change within our species for a very long time....if at all.

In my experience, very young kids seem to be fascinated by all sorts of 'differences'. It's seems that only when they get older and can learn discriminatory attitudes from those around them, that they then start to look oddly at peoples differences. Racism in the west is a fraction of what it used to be because we stopped teaching it to our kids....so likewise if we stop teaching our kids to look oddly at people with different lifestyles then that attitude will diminish greatly.

FoxyVixen

Could you describe "very young" to me please and am I right in assuming it's puberty you refer to as "getting older". There will ALWAYS be "cool" (expected "normal" connotations in teenagers/young adults to abide by). Genuinely can't see this ever being sifted out even by evolution. Every species has a standard when you look closely.

I'm not trying to be rude, just interested in debate

From my own personal experiences, even as a young adult, I never questioned the individualism of a person. If anything it made me more aware that I could be whomever I wanted to be - even if that meant a normal girl next door type with a fiery substance underneath. I guarantee no one from this forum could pick me from a crowd.

Racism is not just for the west and as an Irish person I DESPISE this attitude. As a nationality, we were below dogs (yes, the bark, bark type), whom even the black nationalities were above. We embraced any negative word associated with us (Paddy = Patty in the grand USA) and pretty much laughed the negative connotations off. A lot of nationalities in this world can't do the same (which is far given some histories) so racism will ALWAYS be prevalent - at least in our lifetimes and the few centuries following.

P_1

It is a shame but we do always judge people based on their appearance, be that their hairstyle, body mods or even the clothes they wear. I would like for us to not to do this but sadly we do (even those of us who say we don't).

For example, take a chap who regularly wears a football jersey along with a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a pair of American runners. Now without even listening to him speak, what would your immediate judgement of him be?

bodice ripper

This just in - big tattoos not for everyone.






Good. I don't want the Great Unwashed cluttering up my subculture.