Tattoos

I've often thought Beckham was one of the first to have tattoos, but I'm sure his wife has never had any! In Eastern Europe, I believe that tattoos show which criminal gang you belong to. Hideous things though. My DIL had a small one, the initials of a FOOTBALL CLUB of all things,she then decided to have it removed. It cost a bit and was painful, but, shhh, I don't know about this because she always covered it when visiting. I don't think her mum and dad knew either! Silly beggar

Are tattoos an 'English' thing? Do other Europeans have tattoos? I think they are called the Anglo-Saxon rash. When I see them all over people I feel physically repulsed. When I was working one of the men had them all over his arms, I was actually relieved that I didn't have much to do with him. DD1 had one done on the small of her back, it rarely shows, only if her jeans and top part company when bending over. She has never mentioned it to me nor me to her.

I don't like them. My daughter is covered in them and my son has a one on his arm that he can cover up if needs be. I often wonder what jews make of them. I think the really colourful ones often clash with what people are wearing and can spoil an outfit.
My DH and I often wonder if we are the only people not to have one.
On saying that, it is up to the individual.

I loathe them. I don't understand why anyone would mutilate themselves in such a way. Also it is painful - life is painful enough without looking for more!

I'm not keen although each to their own. Didn't David Beckham start all this? Although why a handsome man like DB would want to cover himself in tats is beyond me. Perhaps Posh likes them.

Im not a fan of them either. Sister had a tigger tattooed on shoulder blade quite a few years ago. When she got married it looked bloody awful. But I guess it goes with a persons lifestyle choices and some of them really are a work of art. Just not for me.

I don't like them either though, as others have said, a small one somewhere discreet is OK. One of my daughters had one done on her back against my advice and did regret it later, but at least it is covered.

I detest tattoos. I think they're hideous. They look common, tacky and cheap. My younger daughter's partner has some and I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up with some, but I'm hoping she won't. Can't understand why people mutilate their skin like that. My daughter and her partner both have flesh tunnels in the ears which I think are absolutely horrendous. I think he's only got it in one ear, but my daughter has them in both ears and I've noticed recently that they look a bit bigger, so of course she can no longer wear pretty earrings or matching earrings and necklaces. AAAAAARGH!!!!!! I remember sometime ago she said people say about tattooed people what will they look like when they get old with all those tattoos and she says "awesome"! Awesomely disgusting and repulsive more like, with saggy wrinkly skin and the tattoos looking faded and blurry.

Mumofmadboys, this is a brilliant use of tattoo, a friend has had it done after her reconstruction

I have a horror of body defacing of any kind and am really upset if I see larger tattoos or piercing other than ear lobes. It is something I have tried to get over but I think it must be just visceral.

Tattoes are now used very cleverly after breast surgery ( for breast cancer) to replace the areola around newly constructed nipples.

At one time you never saw a woman with a tatoo and tatooed men tended to be either ex-servicemen, sailors or criminals.

In the 1970s I had a job which involved visiting a prison. Most of the inmates were tatooed. One who was not told me that he was a professional criminal, always had been, and he rather resented the fact that some of his fellow inmates did not regard him as a bona fide villain because he had no tatoos!

Gosh I did get a lot f feed back, very interesting comments.Thanks

I think they are horrible things and I haven't ever seen one which looks nice.
I don't understand why people have them done in places where they can't actually see them? What is the point?

I think some tattoos are beautiful and works of art but I wouldn't have one. My DH had a dagger and his name tattoed on his arm when he was 18 and in the army. It was a rite at the time. Over the years it had faded and a couple of years ago he had a black eagle tattoed over it. I must admit it is quite impressive. Plus he had a 3D looking scorpion on the side of his leg. Some of my children have tattoos and some don't and the same with my grandchildren. It's live and let live on my opinion.

What a clever idea Felice - to cover a bad scar.

I often surprise myself by admiring someone's tattoo. One of the stylists at the salon has an entire arm covered in the most beautiful artwork.

Yet I threatened my kids that they would be 'out of here' if they ever got one (or any piercings). They didn't!

I do not like them at all. Saying that,they are the trend nowadays but I reckon folk will regret having them as they get older.

Both my DD & her OH have them, I personally am not a fan but both of them have beautiful tattoos. I agree we are of an age where our views of tattoos are Sailors, Hard Men & Women who were regarded as "rough" also Gypsies.

I know my DD is intending having more but all her's have a meaning in her life. Don't know that I would ever have one.

My eldest Step-Son had one done when he was 18, his F & I just looked at it & said ok you're stuck with it for life but it's your body. His M went absolutely mad at him - not much point when it's done

Each to his own of course ...but personally I hate them ! I would never employ anyone with visible tattoos .....it's just my opinion ! They can also be embarrassing ...,my husband had one when he was young and in the Navy ...it's just the emblem of the RN on his upper arm .....I had to laugh when he told me why ...on a drunken night out in Singapore he and his navy colleagues got together with a contingent from the Army to go on a night out (well you know what sailors are (and Army !) ...trouble was, he and an Army chap went to the tattooist and BOTH had RN ensignia tattooed on their upper arms ......he never say the army chap again and often wonders what happened when he got back to his barracks .........so if anyone has an aged relative (probably in his 80s now ) who was in the Army but has a RN tattoo ....now you know why !

Loathe them - but it is each to their own. Probably my upbringing where tattooed bodies were the mark of deckhands and prostitutes - i.e. so called lower classes - not educated , nice people like my Hyacinth Bouquet mother!
However, my grandson (28 yrs old) is ashamed of his arm tattoos done as a teenager going "with the gang" as they are not in keeping with his present managerial employment role. Hs wife has small ankle tattoos but wears opaque tights or trousers at work as she feels embarrassed.
As many of you have said, why deface a beautiful body with tattoos and piercings although piercings are not as permanent. Already there are "older" women with multiple tattoos and they do not add attraction to the ageing body.
I admit I am biased as nowadays they are not regarded as a sign of hard or criminal people - but they still give me the "unacceptable" message and can be a barrier to certain areas of employment .

It's not a fashion I care for at all and I was disappointed when three out of our four children opted to have them (all fairly small and easy to conceal).

What I don't understand is people who choose to be covered in them. They look as though they need a good wash.

Also, as someone else pointed out, they are very expensive and yet the people who claim to be poor seem to be able to afford these horrible inkings. Just my opinion, of course, and no offense intended to those who like them.

My DD has her left arm tattooed, Orchids with lots of tendrils.
She came off a horse years ago, rolled into a thorn bush and has lots of fine scrathes all over her left arm.
She got so fed up of people assuming she self-abused that she decided to have them covered.
They were her choice and actually the opposite of self-abuse.

Another friend has her leg tattoed, she was in an accident as a child and the tattoos cover the scaring.
She also got fed up of always being asked how she got the scars.

2 of my SIL's grandchildren have them The girl (24) over most of her torso apparently .I have seen the boy's(18)It covers all one lower leg .I expected him to pull his jeans up to show me but he dropped his trousers which was a bit disconcerting Have to say it's beautifully done. But why would you ?Their father was in the navy and has lots.
My brother died earlier this year and SIL had an owl (personal significance)tatooed on her shoulder for her 70th paid for by her children. I thought 'good for her'(I wouldn't mind a tiny one somewhere discrete myself)but it's rather bigger than I expected....beautifully done though .I think it was £120 so the big ones must cost a fortune .Not sure my brother would have approved but I bet he's grinning somewhere .DH thinks it's dreadful ....

B T W not BMW! Blooming predictive text!