Tattoos... advice from those so adorned

[Wade J VanGinkel]

The pain factor seems to be different for different people.
My calf was relatively painless.
My lower ribs on the other hand were extreme. It actually radiated down my thigh.

 

[Colt Henderson]

The closer to the bone the tattoo is the more it will hurt. My first and currently only tattoo goes from my armpit to my belt, and near my nipple to the edge of my back. It was done in a bar at Sturgis during the bike rally, a few years ago. It took about 4 hours and hurt like hell, but I don't regret it, and it was an impulse thing. I had been wanting a tattoo just was not sure where or what untill I saw it.

 

[sniper7]

Personally not a tattoo guy. Love them on chicks but not for me.
Only thing I have ever considered is the big 5 but honestly would rather spend that money toward another hunt or a cool gun.
To each their own though.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Ive actually been surprised at some of the places that were sensitive vs places that really weren't all that bad at all...

I thought the outside of my calf would be completely painless.. its a thick, fleshy area, not close to bone, and not really full of nerves or sensitive.. but it was super uncomfortable.. much more so that my chest, close to the sternum.. which I was told was going to be a "painful" part of one of my tattoos (not really painful at all... eased right through that entire 8" square piece of art in a single (very long) sitting)..

I think the area around nipple has been the most painful, the rest of my chest wasn’t bad at all. The second most painful was probably the armpit area but it was also towards the end of an almost all day session and sitting/holding my arm in a rather uncomfortable position

 

[franzfmdavis]

The timing is possibly divorce related; my interest is not. It's been simmering for a while.

I have been there…I got one after my divorce just over 19 years ago.

It is based on a Sufi poem called The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys. In it, there is a line that reads: “…is it that a single arrow hath driven thee from the battle?”

That line had a profound impact on my dour outlook, and I have always appreciated the permanent reminder. I have never regretted it, but have never been move for more.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Mine is almost 10 years old. I always wanted a tattoo, but never got one as I didn’t have anything meaningful to make forever part of my body.

On January 1, 2015 my 5 year old son passed away due to medical complications he suffered since birth. A couple months later my wife and I got tattoos to honor him.

The bear has a couple meanings. First, he was tough. God he was tough. And he was tender with his baby sister. Not a whole lot of things tougher than a grizzly bear. Second, our family of four has the first name initials of B, E, R, R. Bear.

We got ours on a trip. My wife researched and researched tattoo parlors. And we had our appointment scheduled and our tattoo wants to the artist well ahead of time.

Mine can be covered as it’s on my forearm. But I don’t really give a damn. I’m proud of my son. I’m proud to talk about him.

My wife also got a bear and his name on hit wrist. She works for a hospital and for a while they “made” her cover it (didn’t really enforce it). And eventually they relaxed their tattoo policy
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That is a beautiful way to honor your heartbreak and the young soul who will eventually welcome you home into the kingdom of heaven. Im so sorry for your loss.

 

[rookhawk]

I am 58. I am considering getting my first tattoo(s). Frankly, I think it's a done deal but for the decision making.

Probably this won't happen until early summer. I have a surgery to go through first, and any tattooing would have to happen in Anchorage, so I actually have to travel to get it done.

My bestest hunting buddy has a bunch, and has been trying to talk me into it for years. My recently divorced ex was not a fan so I held off. Now? I think I am ready to take the plunge.

I do plan for whatever I get to be in locations I can cover - these are being done for me, not for a general viewing public. I have nothing against ones that can be seen; that's just not me.

I have ideas: my college mascot with a "Class of" attached to it... a number of hunting related ones, many tied to Africa and my hunting life in Alaska. And maybe a Bible verse and a possible quote. I want whatever I put on me to have meaning to me. For example, my college? I have been a proud Tiger for 35+ years and I will go to my grave a proud Tiger.

Those of you who have tattoos... can you relate to me your experiences? Things you like? Things you'd do different? Advice to a late-in-life first timer?

Thanks in advance.

Without tattoos, we can go to tattoo conventions, join Maori chants, or join the Hell's Angels. You can pretty much go anywhere and do anything without a tattoo, even things where most people have tattoos.

With a tattoo you cannot enter as a guest nor join the preeminent country clubs in the nation. Depending on the nature of the tattoo you may not qualify for a particular job or a security clearance.

Think carefully. It's a permanent branding that closes doors only. Its a one-way valve on life that snips out a once in a lifetime invitation that may lead to a once in a lifetime business opportunity.

I've been fortunate to be a guest at some fairly interesting places crowded with a fair amount of the people we saw in the stands at this week's inauguration. I would have been disallowed to those occasions and locations had I had a tattoo.

For my kids, I let them know they will receive zero college financial assistance from me if they get one, nor will they get a leg up with a car or any other financial aid in this lifetime. It's not that I don't love them dearly, its that I've done horrible jobs with horrible hours in horrible countries my whole life to OPEN doors for myself and my progeny. If they voluntarily close doors, I don't need to do any more door opening for them moving forward.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I respect your opinion Rookhawk.

That said, I work for the federal goverment. Many of my co-workers have visible tattoos. I'm not a country club type and never will be. My job is my dream job, and at 58? It's how I'll finish my working life. Tattoos will not be a deterrent. I have several friends who work as classroom teachers for the school district here. Yep - many have visible tattoos. Maybe Alaska is just a different kettle of fish? I don't see getting tattoos impeding my life in any way at all, and some of what you mention is never going to be anything I pursue anyway, with or without tattoos. And as I have stated, anything I get will be able to be covered, but not because I care what people think.

Kids... my son has several, gotten after he was on his own. My youngest daughter got one, and it actually led to a big bruhaha when she did. Her mom does not like them, and had asked her to wait until she was on her own. She did not. That took some time to patch things up between the two of us. Not because I am against them, clearly, but because she went against her mom's wishes, and that I simply will not tolerate. To her credit, she is on her own, married to a guy who seems to be OK, and has a good job as she saves up money to have her own business. My oldest daughter has plans for a few tattoos, but wants to wait a few years.

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to respond, sincerely. It sounds like we live in different worlds. I know life can change in the blink of an eye, but I'm a blue collar guy, living on the edge of nowhere, working at my dream job, and in a place where tattoos don't get frowned on at all.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Without tattoos, we can go to tattoo conventions, join Maori chants, or join the Hell's Angels. You can pretty much go anywhere and do anything without a tattoo, even things where most people have tattoos.

With a tattoo you cannot enter as a guest nor join the preeminent country clubs in the nation. Depending on the nature of the tattoo you may not qualify for a particular job or a security clearance.

Think carefully. It's a permanent branding that closes doors only. Its a one-way valve on life that snips out a once in a lifetime invitation that may lead to a once in a lifetime business opportunity.

I've been fortunate to be a guest at some fairly interesting places crowded with a fair amount of the people we saw in the stands at this week's inauguration. I would have been disallowed to those occasions and locations had I had a tattoo.

For my kids, I let them know they will receive zero college financial assistance from me if they get one, nor will they get a leg up with a car or any other financial aid in this lifetime. It's not that I don't love them dearly, its that I've done horrible jobs with horrible hours in horrible countries my whole life to OPEN doors for myself and my progeny. If they voluntarily close doors, I don't need to do any more door opening for them moving forward.

Sir let me start by saying I have the upmost respect for you as a gentleman and a member of this forum. That said if you can honestly say you you would let one of your own struggle or fail because they choose to get a tattoo I may of missed judged you. Are you in the practice of routinely strip searching and inspecting your children?
I don’t believe that you would have been denied entry to your county’s inauguration for having a tattoo, in fact I’ll bet if the crowd gathered were strip searched you’d find tattoos there. Find it improbable to believe that anyone would have been ineligible for an invitation based on a tattoo to an event snoop dog (a known crip gang member) was allowed to attend.

Teddy Roosevelt had a tattoo and held the highest office in your country’s government along with Andrew Jackson and James Polk.

 

[BJH65]

Without tattoos, we can go to tattoo conventions, join Maori chants, or join the Hell's Angels. You can pretty much go anywhere and do anything without a tattoo, even things where most people have tattoos.

With a tattoo you cannot enter as a guest nor join the preeminent country clubs in the nation. Depending on the nature of the tattoo you may not qualify for a particular job or a security clearance.

Think carefully. It's a permanent branding that closes doors only. Its a one-way valve on life that snips out a once in a lifetime invitation that may lead to a once in a lifetime business opportunity.

I've been fortunate to be a guest at some fairly interesting places crowded with a fair amount of the people we saw in the stands at this week's inauguration. I would have been disallowed to those occasions and locations had I had a tattoo.

For my kids, I let them know they will receive zero college financial assistance from me if they get one, nor will they get a leg up with a car or any other financial aid in this lifetime. It's not that I don't love them dearly, its that I've done horrible jobs with horrible hours in horrible countries my whole life to OPEN doors for myself and my progeny. If they voluntarily close doors, I don't need to do any more door opening for them moving forward.

Perhaps sage advice to an 18 year old just starting out in life but maybe not applicable to a 58 year old man who’s made his way in life already. I’d wager that Tundra Tiger will be just fine as long as he doesn’t have “FTW” tattooed on his forehead.

A discreet non offensive tattoo could ruin one’s chances for an opportunity of a lifetime? I would think perhaps back in the 50’s but not so sure in this day and age but perhaps. Not sure they would even notice unless taking a sauna with the gentlemen of the boardroom and someone was being judgmental.

I suppose had my parents had the ability to assist me financially after I left home at 18 as a prerequisite to not getting a tattoo, I may not have gotten a couple tattoos as a young marine. Instead I did what many of my generation did, paid for my own college and made my own way in life.

While I look back 41 years ago when I got those tattoos as perhaps a foolish and impulsive thing to do as a young man of 18, I can honestly say to my knowledge it did not impact me in a negative way career wise and in life but then I was a career civil servant and not aspiring to be a Fortune 500 executive. I would wager even some of them have a tattoo. I did hold a top secret security clearance as well. If I could go back in time would I have gotten tattoos? No, they hold no special meaning to me and honestly not something I even think about until this post.

 

[rookhawk]

I respect your opinion Rookhawk.

That said, I work for the federal goverment. Many of my co-workers have visible tattoos. I'm not a country club type and never will be. My job is my dream job, and at 58? It's how I'll finish my working life. Tattoos will not be a deterrent. I have several friends who work as classroom teachers for the school district here. Yep - many have visible tattoos. Maybe Alaska is just a different kettle of fish? I don't see getting tattoos impeding my life in any way at all, and some of what you mention is never going to be anything I pursue anyway, with or without tattoos. And as I have stated, anything I get will be able to be covered, but not because I care what people think.

Kids... my son has several, gotten after he was on his own. My youngest daughter got one, and it actually led to a big bruhaha when she did. Her mom does not like them, and had asked her to wait until she was on her own. She did not. That took some time to patch things up between the two of us. Not because I am against them, clearly, but because she went against her mom's wishes, and that I simply will not tolerate. To her credit, she is on her own, married to a guy who seems to be OK, and has a good job as she saves up money to have her own business. My oldest daughter has plans for a few tattoos, but wants to wait a few years.

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to respond, sincerely. It sounds like we live in different worlds. I know life can change in the blink of an eye, but I'm a blue collar guy, living on the edge of nowhere, working at my dream job, and in a place where tattoos don't get frowned on at all.

I like everyone and certainly have no personal issue with tattoos or piercings. It's not my judgment at all, I'm just pointing out that there are people and places that do judge them and sometimes harshly.

One thing I did find quite odd when I've visited a few private clubs is that the political room was varied. One end of the room you had an ultra-lefty homosexual with his 25 year old boy-toy that happened to be the biggest bundler for the DNC. On the other end of the room you had the republicans with the names you'd recognize, a few hall of fame major sports stars, and some robber barons.

They tolerate each other at their clubs with all types of sexual proclivities and white collar indictments pending, but they don't tolerate tattoos and piercings. An odd hypocrisy.