Should I get a tattoo?

[crim son]

I have a friend who thinks that I should liberate myself and get a tattoo. I've always liked them, but I'm 43 and wondering if that's just too old. It wouldn't be anything major... just a discreet little something. I'd also like to get my nose pierced but won't, because it would scare the heck out of people who know me. Whaddya think? A little tattoo? or not?

[RetroLounge]

1. There is no age limit on Tattoos.

I have 2 and i am 45, and I will be getting another one day soon.

Go for it...

RL

[crim son]

13. Yeah, I guess it shouldn't be a question of age.

In my past life nobody would have been surprised if I'd come home with a tattoo now and then. These days, it would surprise a lot of my acquaintances. Don't care though.

[joneschick]

2. I don't know about the tattoo

but if you want a little something, go ahead. I had my nosed pierced at 46--it was a souvenier from visiting India. It's since grown shut and I kinda miss it, but just having it re-pierced wouldn't be the same :shrug:

[Haole Girl]

3. What sort of tattoo?

I really want a particular one, but I'm just too scared. :scared:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. They're not bad to get. Where do you want it?

Feel free to ask me questions. I have seven (two more planned) and I'm good friends with my tattoo artist, so I know a lot just from hanging out at the studio so much.

[crim son]

12. I'll remember that, and I will ask you more questions if I get

to the point of having it done. I'm no bodybuilder and wouldn't want anything that makes me look like a wannabe... anything. I'm going to look at some pictures. I met this guy in a local club who had a really fantastic Japanese motif coveing his entire left arm. It wasn't the work of an amateur... he said it was a local fellow though. I've got to seek him out because I've never seen one so well done.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Why would 43 be too old?

If you want one, go for it.

[Ptah]

5. I don't think a tattoo would liberate you, crim son.

:hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. It could.

One of my friend's got one to celebrate being free from her husband. Sure the actual leaving him was liberating, but she loves the tattoo as a symbol of her being free.

[crim son]

15. And you know what? My soon-to-be-ex HATES

tattoos and piercings. He calls it "body mutiliation." It's one reason I haven't done it.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

22. Yeah, I got an email from my friend saying...

"I just left behind a husband, a house and the dog."

My reply was, "Sorry about the dog. Why don't you get a tattoo?" and a month or so later, I took her to get her 1st. A really intricate circular celtic knot inside her upper left arm. It's a really pretty and delicate tattoo. Now she's with a writer/musician guy which fits in better with her feminist writer self. Her ex-husband had wanted Donna Reed for a wife and she is no Donna Reed.

[KFC]

70. "Sorry about the dog"

:thumbsup:

Too much

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

71. The guy was a tool, but the dog was cool.

Anyway, now she has a far cooler house with her new far cooler guy. It all worked out well and one day they plan on turning their property into a writer's retreat. Definitely a better match.

[KFC]

82. I obviously don't know the details, but it sounds good

I just got a real laugh with your dog comment.

[crim son]

11. Well, I know that Ptah :)

My friend is a little crazy. But the truth is that I've always wanted both the tattoo and the nose piercing. They are about the only wild thing I DIDN'T do when I was younger. I "settled down" v. suddenly with a quick marriage and have been the perfect Mr. Physics Professor for seventeen years. You're thinking maybe I just want to recapture something that's gone? That's what I'm wondering, that's why I'm asking. :hug: back to you. Thanks.

[Ptah]

14. No, I hadn't thought it was an attempt to regain something you

feel you missed. I didn't know that you had forgone
a tattoo.
I was trying to say, that any liberation you experience
will not be a result of a tattoo.
(it's inside you)
Yes, it could be a sign of your liberation.
I'm not trying to discourage you from having a tattoo.

Am I making sense?

:hug:

[crim son]

16. Complete good sense, Ptah.

I know what you're saying :)

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Do it! Do it!!

If you want it, go for it!! :bounce:

Seriously :)

[crim son]

20. I believe I will.

I'll wait a little while, to think it through a bit more. But I do believe I will. Yay!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Go for it. I once watched a 70 year old woman get her first tattoo.

You're never too old. Just do it, but make sure it's something you really want and care about before you get it.

[Deja Q]

9. I'm 34 and still highlight my own hair or have it highlighted.

"Do what ya like when ye can", that's what I say. For there comes a time when none of us can do anything anymore. :( Especially in this day and age of polar opposites (we're told to save in an economy that encourages and requires spending, aka "consumption"!)

[crim son]

17. Oh, you're still an adorable young man.

Lucky for you, or I'd force you to come up here and marry me for convenience' sake. :evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

72. Now that's one gunbarrel wedding I'd be eagar to attend!

:D

:hug:

[deucemagnet]

18. If you have to ask, I think the answer is probably "no"...

...but if you've already made up your mind, I think you'll do it anyway. :)

[Floogeldy]

19. I wouldn't.

As a practical matter, they are useless.

:smoke:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Yeah, but so are many things...

like your posts.

[ghostsofgiants]

26. Oh snap!

:D

[Floogeldy]

29. Ha ha!

Every post I make is a tatoo on your ever lovin' soul. B-)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

80. good one!

GREAT ONE!

[Floogeldy]

99. It was good.

But I've read better. ;)

[crim son]

25. You are of course kidding. n/t

[Floogeldy]

28. Hell no.

What practical use have tatoos? ;)

[jmowreader]

76. You can IMMEDIATELY tell if someone has taste in art

And in NC, you can almost as immediately pick out the stupid redneck freepers.

[JuniperLea]

21. I never got one

I've been tempted a few times, but I'm a Gemini... I change my mind a lot.

If you're sure you won't change your mind, go for it! What's age?

Just don't get a tramp stamp.


:)

[laundry_queen]

23. If it's something YOU want to do.

Why not? Who cares what others think? I got my tattoo at age 26, and plan to get more. I'm in my 30's now, and want to get my nose pierced. I'd actually prefer my eyebrow pierced but dh has strenuous objections. lol. I don't think you are ever 'too old' to do what YOU want to do, body wise. My mom is in her 50's and wears cool clothes and has a funky hairdo and really, it doesn't look like she's 'trying to hard' or anything, she looks fabulous. It's all in the attitude.
Good luck.

[crim son]

27. That's what I think,

and that's how I live. Thanks for your response!

[tuvor]

30. Not if you have to ask.

[crim son]

31. Think of it as a conversation-starter.

It is interesting that there are many yea-sayers than nay-sayers. A liberal bunch here at DU, lol.

[tuvor]

32. Okay...

Not until you know what you want, and where you want it, for the rest of your life.

I wouldn't mind having one, but I couldn't give you an answer for either question.

[tuvor]

38. D'oops

:)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

34. Oh trust me there have been some vicious anti-tattoo and piercing posts

here. Some people suddenly start behaving in a Freeper-type manner at the sight of a tongue piercing. They don't get as nasty as the pit bull haters, but it has turned into a flame war before.

[crim son]

35. Some otherwise "normal" people believe that even

ear-piercings are hideous. I don't get it.

[Nicole]

39. I hate that most of all!

Those damn pierced pitbulls sporting tattoos. :P

[tuvor]

40. crim son, did you say "conversation starter" or "conversation ender"?

I tried my best :)

[mad-mommy]

33. never too old, do what makes you happy

[Placebo]

36. NO.

Everyone has them and you'll never be 100% happy with something you decide to get a tattoo of years later.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

44. Do you have a tattoo?

No? Wow, I guess not everybody has a tattoo. Also, who are you to say she won't be 100% happy with the tattoo in the future? Just because you don't like tattoos doesn't give you psychic abilities.

[Placebo]

46. Yes it does.

:)

[datasuspect]

78. i'm not trying to stir shit

but you seem defensive/lash out at people who either don't like or can come up with valid reasons to not get a tattoo?

are you taking anti-tattoo positions personally? because i don't think anyone means to criticise you personally.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

79. Well, there's been enough tattoo threads filled with

misogynistic drivel declaring tattooed women tramps, sluts, etc on DU.

[datasuspect]

81. oh, i didn't catch the context

i say fuck 'em.

especially if they hold antiquated ideas like what you describe.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

37. I don't believe I'll ever be tattooed, but if you want to, go for it!

Just remember: no turning back once it's there, and all that jazz. ;)

[Nicole]

41. Sure, if that's what you want.

Age shouldn't have anything to do with it. :)

I would never do it myself because I hate needles. :scared:

[Oeditpus Rex]

42. Why are you asking us?

If you're influenced by what others think, you probably shouldn't do it.

[crim son]

54. Everybody is to some degree or another

influenced by those around him/her. In this case I am interested to hear thoughts I perhaps haven't yet entertained, in order to make a good decsion. Make sense?

[Richard Steele]

43. You shold get one if YOU want one, not because your friend says so.

And AGE has nothing to do with it. My sweetie's dad
was 50 when he got his. It was something he'd been
thinking about for a long time, something that has
a lot of PERSONAL meaning to him.

It sure as heck wasn't the kind of thing that's
trendy with his "crowd".

If you get one, get it for YOU, not for anyone else.

[crim son]

55. Of course.

I expressed the interest in tatoos to my friend, telling her I'd always liked them but didn't get one because my SO was so conservative, led her to say that it would be a sign of my liberation to get one, now that the SO and I are separating. I really don't see how MY tattoo could be for anybody else anyway.

[Richard Steele]

62. Ahhh, now that makes a lot of sense to me.

Sorry I bugged you with that misplaced mini-lecture,
but I'm glad to see it was misplaced, y'know?

Back when I hung out at the tattoo shop, I saw just
SOOO many people get ink because it was "the thing to do"
or "all their friends had one", etc. :puke:

[crim son]

63. It's perfectly okay.

Lectures are good for me. I never get enough of them! :P

[Robeson]

45. Do it. Why not. You're not going to take your body with you...

...If you want to, go for it. I've got one - I'm 42 - and am getting ready to get another. Once you start, it kind of gets addictive...;-)

[gr8dane_daddy]

47. I'm getting one on my bum...

"Hecho en Mexico"...wonder if I'll be deported :shrug:

[crim son]

56. Lol.

I like.

[pokerfan]

48. The only one I would ever get

On the back of my right upper calf. Nothing visible wearing normal work clothes.

[crim son]

57. I'd have to keep it out of sight too.

Although the idea that I'd work somewhere where it'd be an issue is disturbing...

[Broken_Hero]

49. Sure why not...:) nt

[RFKHumphreyObama]

50. Well getting a tatttoo is something that you don't have to be young for

Having said that, I wouldn't advise you to do it because you want to "liberate yourself". Ptah put it much more wisely than I ever could when he said that liberation is something that ultimately comes from within. And I'd urge you to think it over carefully, maybe talk about it with a few other friends/family members before you do it (and the fact that you posted on this board indicates to me that you are trying to seek advice and think it over) because as you would know, it is very hard to remove a tattoo once you get one done and you may have to live with it for the rest of your life. So think it over, consult other people and if you do decide to go ahead, I'd advise you to make sure that you get something that you know you won't regret and you can live with for the rest of your life

Good luck:)

[crim son]

58. Thanks socialdemocrat1981.

I think the way I expressed the liberating aspect of a tattoo has folks misunderstanding what I meant. But of course you're right about the thing being permanent. And here I am right now, consulting with other people!

[arwalden]

51. How Does A Tattoo Liberate You?

Perhaps you need put more time (months, years) between yourself and the apparently immanent ending of your marriage/relationship.

Go buy some clothes and get a new hairstyle instead. Spend a day at Elizabeth Arden's.

[crim son]

59. I'm not an Elizabeth Arden kinda gal.

But I hear you and I'm not going out to get anything done this evening. Still in the exploratory phase!

[a kennedy]

52. Damn right get one........I've got 4 of them,

and as to the nose piercing thing......I've wanted one forever, and I'm 55!! But my husband and friends have said.....oh you can't get a piercing, like that is going to stop me. :evilgrin:

[crim son]

60. Something I read here made me think twice about the

piercing... mainly the difficulty dealing with the stud. One of my sisters also points out how the holes in your ears tend to stretch and gape as you age, and that it would look really gruesome to have a giant black hole in your nose when you're ninety and unable to manage the replacing and removing of your jewelry. That's what really stopped me dead in my tracks, even though it might be a false fear :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

64. Wow...whoever said that had no fucking clue what they were talking about.

Okay, first of all, the reason the holes in your earlobes gape as you get older results from a combination of things: the skin loosing it's elasticity with age, whether or not you wear heavy earrings and the gauge of the piercing. A standard gunned piercing is 20g. That's a super thin wire and you're putting a lot of weight onto a very tiny spot of skin. Even by jumping to a 16g, which looks like a standard piercing gauge helps prevent some of that gaping.

All of that is a moot point however with a nose (or any cartilage piercing). Your nose is made of cartilage and that cartilage is not going to stretch out. People don't get saggy noses with age, do they? No, they don't. So there is no way you will end up with a giant black hole in your nose. I have a diamond nose stud. When I take it out, you can't even see the hole unless you are really, really looking for it. And the average person is never going to be staring at the side of your nose from 6 inches away. I've had the piercing for about three years or so.

As for the stud, there shouldn't be any difficulty in dealing with the stud. Some people stupidly try to put a studded earring in there. I don't know how or why they think that's a good idea, but it's not. Then, there are idiots who use nose bone studs. These have a ball on the end that holds them in. Unfortunately, these also damage your nose (and piss off the piercing) when they're taken in or out. The only stud you should be using in your nose is a nose screw. They're very easy to take in and out (leave it in until totally healed). The only issue is once in awhile, it will spin down and then it looks like you have a tiny silver booger until you flip it back up. You don't feel it in your nose at all though and I have chronic sinus conditions and that has never been an issue with my nose piercing.

One last thing before I hop off my piercing myth soapbox...do not get any piercing (even an earlobe) done with a piercing gun. It causes blunt trauma by injecting a blunt (even though it seems "sharp") poor quality earring into your ear. All piercings should be done by a real piercer with a needle. A professional piercer is just as fast as that gun and doesn't cause tissue damage (often leading to excessive scar tissue). Never use the "piercing solution" shit that Claire's sells. All piercings should be cleaned with either dilluted unscented antibacterial soap or with a solution of sea salt mixed into warm water to about the salinity of a tear. Preferably use the sea salt. It's less irritating, it actually draws everything inside out, and it has natural antibacterial properties.

This is a nosebone stud. Never, ever stick one of these in your nose.


This is a nosescrew stud. Stick this in your nose.

[MissMillie]

53. If you have to ask, then I say no

I think to permanently ink your body you really HAVE TO WANT it... and you should know exactly WHAT you want and WHERE you want it--without question.

[crim son]

61. My thought on that point is one needs to explore the idea

very thoroughly before arriving at a decision. That's what I'm doing right now.

[MissMillie]

66. that's fair

If you want one for you and are a little concerned how others will receive it, get one but put it where most people will never see it.

I have one on my upper thigh. Sure, when I wear a swimsuit folks see it, but other than that it's for my eyes only (I'm a single gal).

[crim son]

68. I will be single too.

I sure as shit don't plan on remarrying. But the upper thigh raises a question: cellulite? In due time we all get it (females anyway). What's that going to do to my tattoo?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

69. It's not going to stay looking nice.

The best places to get a tattoo are places that are relatively unaffected by weight gains or losses, both of which affect the shape of the tattoo.

[RebelOne]

65. Just one word -- NO!

[crim son]

74. That's a strong reaction.

Why, pray tell?

[NewWaveChick1981]

67. If YOU want a tattoo, get a tattoo.

:hug: Don't let someone else talk you into it just because... And if you decide to get one because YOU want it, 43 is NOT too old for it! :D

If I'd wanted a tattoo, I'd have one by now. But that's my choice. Make sure before you do it that you are the one who really wants it. The only tattoos I've ever had have been the stick-on kind you find in Crackerjacks. :P But that's just me.

[crim son]

73. Maybe I should do a trial run with a temporary tattoo.

Hang on - I'm gonna run out and buy me some Crackerjacks!

[Throd]

75. If you have to ask, the answer is no.

[LSK]

77. how is that "liberating" yourself?

:shrug:

Tattoos are not for me, but do whatever you want.

[crim son]

84. I know it's boring to read the thread, but I'm also tired of

retyping the clarification. No offense!

[trof]

83. No. Get a dog.

They're a lot of fun and bring much satisfaction and they don't last a lifetime.

[crim son]

85. I don't like dogs.

They smell and mess up the yard. Go ahead, flame me.

[grannylib]

86. If YOU like them, and get something that will be meaningful to you, I

say go for it. I was late thirties when I got my first one, and I love it. I have two, and am planning more...
Just make sure you get something that you will find beautiful and meaningful...don't go with 'trendy' or anything is my advice.

[crim son]

90. Nah, I'm a little trendy with my clothes,

but me is just me. Any tattoo I get will be the same... me.

On edit: It's surprising that this little thread drags one....

[Jade Fox]

87. No!

[WCGreen]

88. A belly button piercing.....

[crim son]

89. I thought about that. I'm thin, but I'm not overly fit

and I AM a mother of three. It is only a matter of a few years before the belly might not be an area I want to highlight in any way.

[sendero]

91. How can you ask such a question?

Expecially of a bunch of cyber-geeks who don't know you from Adam? :)

If there is something you want to put on your body - something with real meaning, something you designed yourself, something that is not, I repeat NOT a cartoon character - then go for it.

Otherwise, hold off. :)

[crim son]

92. I actually laughed out loud at that one.

A cartoon character? Like SpongeBob? Oh lord. But I didn't think of designing it myself. I can draw, pretty well, I just never do. It's a thought. A good thought.

[sendero]

93. Use photoshop..

.. or something like that. Anything you can print or photocopy, your tattoo artist can make "flash" out of and basically make a transfer and put it on your body and use it as a guide for the ink pen.

As for the cartoon character - lots of folks put Yosemite Sam or Tweety on themselves, to my eternal puzzlement. I'm not sure what they are trying to say. "I'm an idiot" comes to mind.

[crim son]

94. No kidding.

There are a startling number of simplistic morons out there, no? I don't think I'm one of them.

[sendero]

96. You've really never seen..

... an ankle with a Tweety on it?

I think my main point is - don't do a tattoo on a whim. Give it some time. Think and plan. At some point, you'll know you have it figured out and you can get a tattoo that you can wear proudly to your grave!

[crim son]

97. Thanks sendero. That's why I'm doing preliminary

research here. Or maybe secondary research. I'm not yet decided.

[Cobalt Violet]

95. If your sure you can avoid disease in the process, then yes.

But only if your 100% sure.

[crim son]

98. See, now there's something I hadn't thought of!

I knew it was a good idea to ask around! Thanks Cobalt Violet. I will keep that in mind!

[Cobalt Violet]

100. Tattoos are removable. Hep C isn't.

Just the facts. You would be putting yourself in a risk group. Make sure you really trust your tattoo artist. Bloody needles and shared equipment have some very real risks to them. Make sure they are using proper sterilzation techniques.

[crim son]

101. I shall. You can be certain of that. n/t