tatoos

ponderousanon

Just having a conversation with a friend, and was wondering what other peoples opinions are...

What would be your first impression of a young man who had a lot of tattoos?

Jenneke87

Creative person, most likely a free spirit kind of person. If combined with long hair I'd try to pluck the courage to ask him out.

Penny Tration

I like men with tattoos. Almost everyone I've dated has them. That said, I'm a bit of a snob, I hate tribal and anything not well done.

I have 5 small tattoos and back when I only had three, a guy who liked me said he hated my tattoos and would 'overlook' them if I promised not to get anymore :pac:

Jenneke87

green_screen wrote: »

I like men with tattoos. Almost everyone I've dated has them. That said, I'm a bit of a snob, I hate tribal and anything not well done.

I have 5 small tattoos and back when I only had three, a guy who liked me said he hated my tattoos and would 'overlook' them if I promised not to get anymore :pac:

Ahh how very kind of him.....:rolleyes:

Penny Tration

Jenneke87 wrote: »

Ahh how very kind of him.....:rolleyes:

Needless to say, I turned down his offer of a date :pac:

Addle

On the right person, they look well, at a certain time in their life.
Tattoos never age well.

Penny Tration

Addle wrote: »

On the right person, they look well, at a certain time in their life.
Tattoos never age well.

Over the course of decades, no, they don't. But that's what touch ups are for

Sunlight and skin ageing will fade them a lot, over time. Looking after them helps, though. My oldest is 6 years old, not a hint of fading yet

meeeeh

My first thought would be does he not realise how terrible tattoos look on wrinkled stretched skin? It also depends where the tattoos are because they will impact on someone's ability to get a decent job. That being said my partner has five, one of them being a sleeve.

Addle

green_screen wrote: »

Over the course of decades, no, they don't. But that's what touch ups are for

Sunlight and skin ageing will fade them a lot, over time. Looking after them helps, though. My oldest is 6 years old, not a hint of fading yet

I'm thinking more of wrinkles, age spots, varicose veins and sagging rather than fading.

Penny Tration

Addle wrote: »

I'm thinking more of wrinkles, age spots, varicose veins and sagging rather than fading.

That too :pac:

With regards to that, my general rule is that I don't get tattoos where I'm likely to wrinkle or sag much. Certain areas of the body can age very well, up to a certain age anyway.

After that, they'll be shapeless blobs that remind me of my youth

Rosy Posy

I find there's a massive cultural difference in how tattoos are perceived. I have a fair few but all are concealable. Here in NZ where tattoos are a cultural signifier face, neck, forearm and hand tattoos are much more common, and there is less of a social stigma around tattoos in general.
With respect to the tattooed lad, a lot depends on the style and positioning- what kind of statement is he trying to make with them? Also could be a sign of impulsiveness, either presently or in the past.

eviltwin

wouldn't bother me at all

Depends on the guy I suppose and what they are and if they're well done
I'm not really into them myself

Alf. A. Male

Can I chime in with my impression of people who have tattoos? Ok, thanks, I will then

My impression of anyone who has tattoos is that they are someone who has tattoos. There are so many things that go into making a person and so many factors that go into making a relationship - of any kind - that this barely makes the list of considerations. I'm tattooed and my experience of women's reaction is that they are polarised, but it lasts 5 minutes then they're forgotten about. I stupidly had a girl's name on my chest for a few years, I was very young You'd think that would be contentious or bring comment, but in fact it was never an issue, same as the rest of them.

Lucyfur

Alf. A. Male wrote: »

Can I chime in with my impression of people who have tattoos? Ok, thanks, I will then

My impression of anyone who has tattoos is that they are someone who has tattoos. There are so many things that go into making a person and so many factors that go into making a relationship - of any kind - that this barely makes the list of considerations. I'm tattooed and my experience of women's reaction is that they are polarised, but it lasts 5 minutes then they're forgotten about. I stupidly had a girl's name on my chest for a few years, I was very young You'd think that would be contentious or bring comment, but in fact it was never an issue, same as the rest of them.

+1BILLION.

There are nice people you will click with, who may, or may not, have tattoos.

skallywag

ponderousanon wrote: »

What would be your first impression of a young man who had a lot of tattoos?

It's a map to help him break out of a Jail? :P

Seriously though, it's a good question, and it's certainly the case that some of an older generation will immediately put someone into a box if they have a lot of ink. Opinion too will generally differ too depending on where they are, personally I'm not a fan of tattoos on hands, neck or face.

baby and crumble

I don't understand the argument that they'll look ugly when you're 80. If I manage to get to be a little old lady I'll be only delighted to have a colourful piece of art on my skin that reminds me of being 30! And it's not like you're an oil painting at that age anyway, let's just be clear.

My Dad hates tattoos. He doesn't like that I have 2 (I'm the only person in my family to have one, although both my partner and my sister in law have some also) and mine are usually on display- I have a large watercolour/ sound wave piece on my arm and a smaller script pice on my inner wrist. Now, I cover them for interviews and work if needs be, but most people under 50 love my ones. I get SO many compliments from strangers ranging from little kids being fascinated by the painting on my arm or old grannies who just think it looks pretty. Both my tattoos have deep significance for me, but I don't discuss that unless I'm asked.

There are certain types of tattoos that I don't like the look of, just like there are certain types of art I don't like the look of. I love my tattoos, and am really looking forward to my next one, whatever it ends up being!

username123

baby and crumble wrote: »

I don't understand the argument that they'll look ugly when you're 80. If I manage to get to be a little old lady I'll be only delighted to have a colourful piece of art on my skin that reminds me of being 30! And it's not like you're an oil painting at that age anyway, let's just be clear.

I dont get it either, my skin is not going to look like it did at 20 when Im 80!!

Plus, I love seeing old school tattoos on old guys!

baby and crumble

username123 wrote: »

I dont get it either, my skin is not going to look like it did at 20 when Im 80!!

Plus, I love seeing old school tattoos on old guys!

This picture is one of the few that REALLY makes me wish I was an old guy.

Addle

Is he considered old?!

baby and crumble

Addle wrote: »

Is he considered old?!

Well, oldER.

meeeeh

That guy is about 45 or airbrushed beyond recognitio but probably both. In any case this applies :

Princess Peach

My first impressions would be based on how they act and not how they look.

If your using predefined notions or some chart to judge a person based on appearance, you could be missing out on some great people being in your life

meeeeh

Princess Peach wrote: »

My first impressions would be based on how they act and not how they look.

If your using predefined notions or some chart to judge a person based on appearance, you could be missing out on some great people being in your life

See my first reply to the thread. But the image above really doesn't do anything for me. Not just tattoos it is also incredibly corny.

lil'bug

I love tattoo's both my self and my partner have them
I recently got a large piece on my calf and was wearing a skirt at work today and 2 different older customers male and female (60-70) commented on how lovely it is
I'd never judge someone on weather they have tattoos or not they don't change who you are as a person

yesto24

lil'bug wrote: »

I love tattoo's both my self and my partner have them
I recently got a large piece on my calf and was wearing a skirt at work today and 2 different older customers male and female (60-70) commented on how lovely it is
I'd never judge someone on weather they have tattoos or not they don't change who you are as a person

I do a bit. You see people when they get a tattoo are making some kind of statement. Same as a haircut, clothes whatever. The difference is we need to wear clothes cut our hair we don't really have a choice in that. But a person decided to get a tattoo and made the effort to pick one and then paid for it. As for what I judge about the person well that's different and I will base it on the style, quality, location and what it is.
The point I am making if you have a tattoo you picked it so of course it says something about you.
If you get a tattoo that says nothing about you well I judge you too as a fool who blindly follows fashion.
The diagram posted earlier is a good rule of thumb and is amusing. Of course its not 100% accurate but well in my experience is a good guide.

anewme

I'm in the minority here, but I really dont like tattoos whatsoever. I find them very unattractive.

So many that you see on people are just random chinese writing stuff probably with mad meanings. Agree with the point made that the personal ones are better rather than just followers of fashion.

It does not bother me that other people get them, it's their choice and best of luck to them, each to their own, but for me, just NO!

eviltwin

anewme wrote: »

I'm in the minority here, but I really dont like tattoos whatsoever. I find them very unattractive.

So many that you see on people are just random chinese writing stuff probably with mad meanings. Agree with the point made that the personal ones are better rather than just followers of fashion.

It does not bother me that other people get them, it's their choice and best of luck to them, each to their own, but for me, just NO!

I'd be the same, I would never get a tattoo, just don't like them or think they would suit me but I think on others they can look amazing. It's like anything really, some people wear them better than others, some look better than others. I like hearing the stories behind them though especially when they represent something personal.

Faith

Up to a few small tattoos in discreet locations, I don't mind and I think it can be attractive. I really dislike large tattoos in highly visible places. Even if they're gorgeous looking, it's a turn off for me.

iwantmydinner

An awesome tattoo can seriously increase my attraction to someone and also increase my admiration for them - shows creativity and stuff.

If I click with someone or think they're generally sound, the unveiling of a crap tattoo isn't going to affect that impression.

MauraTheThird

I have a tattoo that I got last year, and I personally **LOVE** tattoos. I think they are kinda outrageous and can say a lot about a person because it's something that they have chosen to alter their body with.

I get compliments about my tattoo all the time because a lot of people want to do x, y and z and never do it. I think people like that I actually had the balls to go through with something I said I'd do.

nokia69

MauraTheThird wrote: »

I have a tattoo that I got last year, and I personally **LOVE** tattoos. I think they are kinda outrageous and can say a lot about a person because it's something that they have chosen to alter their body with.

I get compliments about my tattoo all the time because a lot of people want to do x, y and z and never do it. I think people like that I actually had the balls to go through with something I said I'd do.

for every person who compliments you there are plenty more who think your tatts are ugly but are too polite to say so

I don't see tattoos as a sign of courage, I see them as a sign of stupidity

iwantmydinner

nokia69 wrote: »

for every person who compliments you there are plenty more who think your tatts are ugly but are too polite to say so

I don't see tattoos as a sign of courage, I see them as a sign of stupidity

Nice to see you didn't get personal about it.

anewme

nokia69 wrote: »

for every person who compliments you there are plenty more who think your tatts are ugly but are too polite to say so

I don't see tattoos as a sign of courage, I see them as a sign of stupidity

I think tattoos are black and white to people, you either love them or hate them! There seems to be no sitting on the fence.

As I said before, I don't like them, I'd never get one and I'm not even sure I'd go out with a guy if he had a lot of tattoos, not because I would judge anyone (no one should judge anyone else) but he reality is, if someone has an awful lot of tattoos, I find them a turn off, we would be very different people with different outlooks on life and not have much in common.

Wait till you see now, I will end up with someone covered from tattoos from head to toe! LOL

Flaker

anewme wrote: »

I think tattoos are black and white to people, you either love them or hate them! There seems to be no sitting on the fence.

As I said before, I don't like them, I'd never get one and I'm not even sure I'd go out with a guy if he had a lot of tattoos, not because I would judge anyone (no one should judge anyone else) but he reality is, if someone has an awful lot of tattoos, I find them a turn off, we would be very different people with different outlooks on life and not have much in common.

Wait till you see now, I will end up with someone covered from tattoos from head to toe! LOL

Janey, you wouldn't want to see my ex then!! He was literally covered in them; all over his hands, up his neck, on his feet and his body was literally covered. Some were incredible pieces of art, some were dodgy, but he made them all look bad-ass and I LOVED them.

He recently got one on his face (he's addicted to getting them, he'll admit himself and I suppose he was running out of space :P) and I have to admit, it's the first one I didn't like. For me, it's the place I think you need to draw the line. But it's not my face and he likes it so fair enough I say.

I have a half sleeve myself. I got it simply because I love tattoos and always wanted one. There's no story or significance to the design - I just thought it looked beautiful. But the amount of people who won't believe me when I tell them it doesn't "mean" anything is ridiculous! One guy even tried to start an argument about it. "What do mean it doesn't represent anything? It has too!". No it bloody doesn't!!

meeeeh

Flaker wrote: »

I have a half sleeve myself. I got it simply because I love tattoos and always wanted one. There's nno story or significance to the design - I just thought it looked beautiful. But the amount of people who won't believe me when I tell them it doesn't "mean" anything is ridiculous! One guy even tried to start an argument about it. "What do mean it doesn't represent anything? It has too!". No it bloody doesn't!!

I love that. Almost everyone who gets the tattoo gets them because they like them. I have yet to meet someone who tells me that they hate tattoos but they had to commemorate something deep and meaningful and decided the tattoo is the way to do it. There is nothing wrong with getting something because you like it. I prefer to admire the artwork (the good ones) than listen to some bull**** explanation about the portrayal of circle of life or some similar nonsense.

That being said I find the face tattoos absolutely scary.

MauraTheThird

nokia69 wrote: »

for every person who compliments you there are plenty more who think your tatts are ugly but are too polite to say so

I don't see tattoos as a sign of courage, I see them as a sign of stupidity

Wow, that's seriously harsh and whilst everyone has their own opinion, targetting me isn't fair.

People do plenty things that are stupid. I'd personally rather be friends with someone with a few tattoos than someone who smokes/drinks to excess. Tattoos at least, can only bring harm to the body they are on.

baby and crumble

I didn't get mine to show courage. I got mine because I like the look of them. I assure you, I am not stupid. Making snap judgements like that and not allowing your mind to be changed when faced with evidence that's contrary is crazy.

I know there are people out there who will look at my tattoos and think "ewww" or "what an idiot". Thankfully I couldn't give a rats ass about whst those people think. I can cover mine when it would be inappropriate to display them, and I can show them off when I want.

fiona-f

I really dislike tattoos - I don't find human skin an attractive canvas for any form of artwork and the style of many tattoos would look unappealing to me visually even if displayed somewhere other than someone's body.

The OP asked about first impressions and honestly my first impression of someone with lots of visible tattoos would be negative - their sense of judgement is clearly very different to mine and we are generally attracted to people who share our own outlook, values, etc. Now that's not to say I don't get on very well with colleagues, friend's boyfriends etc who are heavily tattooed but that honestly is what my first impression is.

I find some of the responses on this thread very defensive - the whole point of first impressions is that they are not set in stone forever but it is piously unrealistic to pretend they don't exist and that everybody always takes time to get to know every individual they encounter before they form an opinion - the real world does not work like that. Visible tattoos communicate something about the wearer to people they interact with, and that something can be positive, negative or neutral, it's false to pretend otherwise.

Penny Tration

fiona-f wrote: »

I really dislike tattoos - I don't find human skin an attractive canvas for any form of artwork and the style of many tattoos would look unappealing to me visually even if displayed somewhere other than someone's body.

The OP asked about first impressions and honestly my first impression of someone with lots of visible tattoos would be negative - their sense of judgement is clearly very different to mine and we are generally attracted to people who share our own outlook, values, etc. Now that's not to say I don't get on very well with colleagues, friend's boyfriends etc who are heavily tattooed but that honestly is what my first impression is.

I find some of the responses on this thread very defensive - the whole point of first impressions is that they are not set in stone forever but it is piously unrealistic to pretend they don't exist and that everybody always takes time to get to know every individual they encounter before they form an opinion - the real world does not work like that. Visible tattoos communicate something about the wearer to people they interact with, and that something can be positive, negative or neutral, it's false to pretend otherwise.

I think the reason people are getting defensive is because they're being called stupid for having tattoos.

You've worded your post really well, and I completely respect your opinion. But I wouldn't respect an opinion like 'People with tattoos are stupid.' It's simply not true, it's a sweeping generalisation that most will disagree with.

Negative opinions on tattoos are fine. My parents despise mine :pac: Calling me stupid for having them, however, is not fine.

nokia69

MauraTheThird wrote: »

Wow, that's seriously harsh and whilst everyone has their own opinion, targetting me isn't fair.

People do plenty things that are stupid. I'd personally rather be friends with someone with a few tattoos than someone who smokes/drinks to excess. Tattoos at least, can only bring harm to the body they are on.

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/demello-dalrymple-2647

a friend who shares my view of tattoos sent me this article a while back

I have a tattoo that I got last year, and I personally **LOVE** tattoos. I think they are kinda outrageous and can say a lot about a person because it's something that they have chosen to alter their body with.

I get compliments about my tattoo all the time because a lot of people want to do x, y and z and never do it. I think people like that I actually had the balls to go through with something I said I'd do.

exposing shallowness indeed

beks101

Honestly, it depends on the guy. A hot guy will be 100% hotter to me with a few artistic, well-placed tattoos. A guy I'm not attracted to in the first place with some tattoos...they'll do nothing for me.

When I lived in Toronto it was standard to have a few. I'd go on dates and the question would be "where are your tattoos?" instead of "do you have a tattoo?" An ex of mine was really fit and a bit of a ride...he had a full sleeve and a few on his back. He wore a suit for work most of the time, was clean-cut, well-spoken, very polite... he'd take off his shirt and I'd nearly dribble at the sight of him. That "bad boy" edge to a very good guy definitely turned me on a bit

I have a baby one on my wrist. It's got no deep meaning and is just a bit of fun, a reminder of my time in Canada really. It gets no big reaction dating or otherwise, but finding myself back on a side of the world where they're definitely less common, it can be a bit of a novelty.

meeeeh

:mad:

nokia69 wrote: »

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/demello-dalrymple-2647

a friend who shares my view of tattoos sent me this article a while back

Good god, I haven't read something so long and full of empty waffle for a long time. While the reviewed book might have some substance the "reading between lines" of the reviewer is full of judgemental nonsense and a bonus mention of marksism.

baby and crumble

nokia69 wrote: »

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/demello-dalrymple-2647

Oh, the irony of that author using the phrase "The interlocutors speak, and appear to think, in pure psychobabble,". I honestly haven't read an article so in love with itself in a long time. And I'm shallow and vacuous for having a tattoo? Seems to me that author just wants to impress the 'lower classes' and the 'bourgeois' with his large vocabulary and outdated obsession with the class system.

iwantmydinner

nokia69 wrote: »

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/demello-dalrymple-2647

a friend who shares my view of tattoos sent me this article a while back




exposing shallowness indeed

It's actually sad that there's a community of people who dedicate time to being so judgemental about such an unimportant thing.

username123

I guess I feel the same about people with tattoos as I feel generally about people.

There's some nice people with tattoos, there's some assholes. Just like those with none. I form judgements on them the same way I do on people with no tattoos, through observation and interaction. I can't imagine tats will form much of a part of my opinion of someone seeing as that's like basing my opinion on someone's hairstyle.

Jenneke87

nokia69 wrote: »

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/demello-dalrymple-2647

a friend who shares my view of tattoos sent me this article a while back




exposing shallowness indeed

You have issues.......

Flaker

[/QUOTE]That being said I find the face tattoos absolutely scary.[/QUOTE]

Isn't it funny? I would probably have thought the same a while ago - that face tattoos were pretty scary too (if I didn't know the person who had them). But my ex is softest, quietest dude you could meet. I also know another guy with quite a few tatts on his face and again, a quieter, more pleasant guy you couldn't hope to meet.

So, even me, who loves tattoos, who dated a guy with lots and even have some myself, could still have a negative reaction to a tattoo as a first impression. But, thank goodness people are becoming more open minded.

And on another note - to those who always saw "Won't they look desperate when you're old and wrnkly?" Well the whole lot of me will be old and wrinkly by then, so I don't suppose it'll matter much, will it?:D

czechlin

While I myself am a blank canvas and not sure if I'll ever actually get inked I adore the artwork of tattoos. The ones that are original, well designed and nicely done. For some reason I like bigger pieces a bit more, like half sleeves or full sleeves. Especially on a man with nice arms Never went out with one, who had any though. They must not like me
I'm not too keen on tribals or when people have a little random tattoos scattered all over their body. That said those I've seen were usually horrific looking. (On one girl especially. It looked like a 3 year old got a hold of a marker and herself. She had about 7 tattoos on her back that were completely unrelated to each other and the positioning was rather unfortunate.)

I don't get people, who refer to tattooed people as stupid or the "imagine what it's going to look like when s/he is 70!" comments. I'll probably look like a dried prune by the age of 70 so a tattoo would be my last worry.

meeeeh

czechlin wrote: »

I don't get people, who refer to tattooed people as stupid or the "imagine what it's going to look like when s/he is 70!" comments. I'll probably look like a dried prune by the age of 70 so a tattoo would be my last worry.

Ok 70 is putting it kindly. A belly tattoo on fat belly or a lower back tattoo on someone that is overweight looks a bit revolting. You are just drawing attention to the wrong area. Tattoos are like clothes, you want to enhance your best features not draw the attention to your worst.

Hellrazer

czechlin wrote: »

I don't get people, who refer to tattooed people as stupid or the "imagine what it's going to look like when s/he is 70!" comments. I'll probably look like a dried prune by the age of 70 so a tattoo would be my last worry.

Theres actually a quote by a very famous artist that I usually quote when Im asked what Ill think of them when Im 80.

His exact words are "Ill be more worried about being able to wipe my own a**e than what my tattoos will look like."

I love tattoos but then again Im biased :D