Those who have tattoos, why did you get them?

Those who have very large sections of their bodies covered with tattoos, why did you choose to do that?

Any regrets? Did you end up having any removed?

The full stories, don't hold back. I'd like to know your thinking. Just wanting to understand, no other reason.

Don't get a tattoo with your girlfriend's / boyfriend's name . . .

Because I could and I wanted them.
USMC was first. They tell a story of my life.
They let one know what kind of person I am and whether they will accept me personally.
They are a warning.
They are pretty.

No. No gang tattoos. My wife has angel wings on her back.

Me. I am more macho from My younger days.

Body art is as old as http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...038580/?no-ist

Plus. It is a very personal thing. That varies from human to human. I have a certain kin ship when I meet a stranger also with Tattoos, Kinda like we are all related, Those without or get a poser TAT that is hidden because they are afraid.

We give them time to see if they are going to be a person of adventure worth hanging out with.
Or just a stick in the mud that is not worth ones time cuz fear is boring.

Funny you started this thread. I am of a mind as I get older to get one that is/have tattooed in the center. "Do not resuscitate".

PS. My Mom and Dad had numbers on their arms tattooed, that were never removed to remind them.

I've been wanting to get one since I was 18 and haven't yet. The War Department is kind of against them. He wouldn't stop me, but, well, you know..... I have a ginormous scar up the back of one calf and I would love to get like a zipper or vine that incorporates it.

I have been meaning to get one for years also but can't think of anything that means enough to me. I would go for something hidden even if I did, I think, as I'm a fairly private kind of person so wearing my heart on my sleeve isn't really me.

I do not want to offend you just wanted to know, what is it good for? Why one wanted to have that? I have no any idea, I simply do not understand....

To be parallel, and go one step farther.

Parallel is my original question. Why? What's it represent? What was the choice when it was gotten? And honestly curious. The wings make a nice picture.

The one step farther + hard to see how not to offend:

I think the answer was already given by way of the statements about pretenders or those who don't have them. That they're afraid to have one or to show one.

Sort of forced segregation by those statements. "Projected segregation."

Interesting that there's an open-mindedness about getting inked, but closed mindedness towards those who either have ones which you don't approve of, or those who just don't have them.

You got that manly one while in the Marines? Any particular reason on the choice? Again, just asking.

I don't have any. Was in the service in my youth. Yes, they were illegal back then, but people got them. Those technical details would not have stopped me, I just didn't want one.

I'm wondering because a number of years ago restrictions were removed totally and there's been an explosion of people getting them in the US. There are tattoo-con events where they host weekends at event halls over tattoos and piercing.

Honestly I see people with entire sleeve tattoos, and they look ... bad to me. Yes, I've seen beautiful tattoos, like the wings shown in an earlier post. And I did see a sleeve tattoo that I thought looked good. So I'm not saying all tattoos are bad looking. But one does wonder the motivation for them.

I also see very young people just get them as soon as they can. And they get video game images, or just stuff they think is cool. And that's fine. However they're getting a permanent thing on a youthful whim, just because they can. Mixed feelings about that.

And last year there was some kid across the pond, I forget the country; he got a McDonald's cash receipt tattooed onto his arm for one of those "How far will you go?" type of things. And not even a contest I think, just like Facebook/Instagram notoriety. Yeah, I kinda question that kids' judgment. I mean, he's never going to tell a story like "Well, I married that cashier, that was our first meeting where I got that receipt ..." Nope.

I got my first tattoos at age 5 from a cracker jack box.

Good For? Why even ask that. I understand you do not understand. It was her decision. I like them.
They look pretty. Nuff said.

Heh +1 on the DNR on the chest: I've thought that'd be funny, but no doubt ignored, even if accompanied by a long legal warning.

The USMC one was to show my tartar cossack roots

Just Tit for Tat. Everyone on the planet is close minded in one way or another. Your thread kind of
delves into just that. Using the "just don't understand" excuse.

Crux of the bisquit so to speak. Not everyone has a "Hamptoms, Donald Trump" budget to spend hundreds of dollars on body art just so you can approve of it.

Jail house tattoos are a good example. You are talking about a world you have never walked in or resided so to understand the mindset.

Just a outsider looking in. So to speak. Which I understand completely.

To give a example. Long ago. My wife and I road the steam train in the bar car from Durango to Silverton Colorado. The yuppies in bar car with us stared at us and whispered and judged.
They don't understand either and we offend them by our very exisitence.

Kinda feels good later. So do not judge us and we won't judge you.

Edit: At least Something, main stream never does.

is not an answer. I understand she wanted it, but why?
looks like a much better answer, although I'm not really sure if that was the real reason.

Rokytnji, thanks for stepping up and sharing.