What do you reckon about tattoos?

They all look better on young skin.

I wish I could say I have seen a single one with artistic merit but I have not.

I detest them. Have never changed my opinion on them. Back in the 1980's No. 2 daughter - just turned 18 years old, asked if I could help her with a project and get some pictures of Unicorns. Stupid Mum made special trip to Library and photocopied some for her. A week or so later she asked if I would help her with applying cream somewhere she could not reach. Concerned, I asked why the Doctor had given her this - and she said it did not come from the Doctor, and then showed my the back of her shoulder where there was this new tatt of a Unicorn.

I was not a happy Mummy - she remembers me saying to her (although I am sure I did not), that only sailors and prostitutes have tattoos, and I know she did no have a boat)!!

When she got married, several years later, she wore and off-the-shoulder wedding dress to show this tatt off. Few years back she had it re-coloured. I know her hubbie has a couple, the main one (which is obviously different) is information about his serious medical condition.

I really do not like to arms covered in so-called body pictures. Not sure if I am in minority of one these days - but pleased that none of my other children or g.children have had these.

Love both the Glasgow and Edinburgh ones

I can't say I like them even though my father had a small tattoo on his arm (ex-serviceman). I have younger family members who have them - I think they spoil their appearance but it is their decision.

It is up to individuals whether to have them or not but I think it is a shame it isn't possible to have a temporary "tattoo" in the place and design someone wants so they can live with it for a month or so and then decide whether they want it permanently.

I agree some tattoos are very artistic, but there are many which are badly done and look awful.

I'm amazed how quickly this fashion has caught on.
6 years ago I moved near the sea & started noticing so many tattoo parlour & tattooed people then I visited my old friends & found the same up there too!
A couple of my friends have had tiny ones done but - like many things, they're not for me.
However I do have 2 piercings: 1 in each ear. ? Hard core me.
I'll stick with my bangles & beads.
Yes the art-work is quite something but the though of having it for life?
I wonder what the next generation will be up to.

This topic has been done before but so have many others. If you are a long term member you have seen them all before. I used to find this when reading magazines, the same topic will eventually come round again.
As I said before they are not for me, I feel they are ‘defacing’ your skin, so to speak. But they are very popular and it’s up to the individual.

I have two and love them. I think full sleeves can look really beautiful.

Attitudes have changed.

From a personal point of view, I don't particularly mind discreet or small ones but I don't like ones that are so visible that they can never ever be covered and could prevent you from getting a job - e.g. facial tattoos.

I also wonder what happens as you age and your skin wrinkles.

Some small ones can look quite attractive. I live and let live on the subject of tattoos. It's an individual choice.

The trouble is they’re so permanent. Myself I like a change. That’s why clothes and hair are such fun.

But once you’ve got a tattoo, it’s just there. No fun at all.

That’s scary harrigran, especially with the terrible consequences we see of sepsis and other blood poisoning.

I wouldn’t have one but I am fine with people having them if they like them. It’s only body art.
I think attitudes are changing and if we fast forward 20 years probably the majority of people will have them, not the minority.

harrigran

I think I have posted this before, tattoo ink is the only ink that is not regulated by CEPE which means anyone can make it and import it. Basically you could be injecting almost anything into your skin. That is a fact, DD was a director of the association in Brussels.

I didn’t know that. Horrible horrible horrible. I shall tell my great granddaughter.

Still dont like them and haven't got one.

I think I have posted this before, tattoo ink is the only ink that is not regulated by CEPE which means anyone can make it and import it. Basically you could be injecting almost anything into your skin. That is a fact, DD was a director of the association in Brussels.

I think attitudes have changed a lot re Tatts though. They are more ‘respectable’ now but I still don’t like them. My SILs are both University profs and there is no way known anyone like that would have had one when I was young. It would have been considered a bad influence on their students. No one bats an eyelid now,though. My daughter has a tiny little triangle under one arm. No point whatsoever in my book.

Two of my five sons have tattoos. I hate them with a passion and feel really sad about it.

Each to their own, but I really don’t like them.

While renting a car in Cyprus a few years ago, on a very hot day, the young chap who dealt with us told us that he very much regretted tattoos on his forearms, since his employers insisted that he wore long sleeved shirts to cover them up, and he really wished he could wear short sleeved shirts to work!

I love them and think the best ones are very artistic!

I have one, and will have more once it is possible.

Nothing on this earth would induce me to have a tattoo. Can’t see the point of them. Yes, they are personal choice, but they’re not for me. Too painful, too permanent, too unnecessary.

Discreet ones are OK, but the sleeves and neck ones make me cringe. I know you should not judge a book by its cover, but I don't think they help at say an interview etc.

I was brought up to believe that only sailors and prisoners had them, and therefore to beware of any men with tatoos! I think they are incredibly awful, and so relieved that none kf my family have chosen to have any, but each to their own!

There have been loads of threads on the subject about as divisive as Brexit. Personal choice I know, one of my sons has I think 4 on his arms, we hate them. When I was growing up they were socially unacceptable, yes times have changed, but wild horses wouldn't induce me to have one. I know it's deemed lofty to say this but my personal point of view is that they always look tacky and I agree with you nanna8. I think they spoil lovely limbs on young people particularly come summer and you want to get arms and legs out. If you've reached a certain age without them, can't understand why you would then get one. David Dimbleby and Felicity Kendall spring to mind, skin ages and tattoos disappear into folds and wrinkles, as for getting one on your back as DD has done, what's the point I can't imagine he's going to walk around with his shirt off other than maybe on the beach.

I know some people tattoo memories on themselves, my husband lost a son and our son then had a tattoo commemorating his brother. My husband hated that, he told our son, "do you honestly think I need a bit of writing on my body to remind myself that x existed he will always be in my heart" However he accepts that our son is part of a generation who have to make an outward show of their feelings and don't understand stoicism.

I haven't seen threads on tattoos here before on Gransnet. I don't like them they are like graffiti they look scruffy. But some of the nicest people I know have them so each to their own. I see them as a tribal or gang identity so I don't really think them as relevant.

A bit of a Marmite post. You do or you don't, really. I was brought up to view tattoos being fine on sailors and nobody else. Not my thing but equally fine for those who like them.