Comments on: Friday semi-fluff: Thoughts on tattoos

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:21:07 +0000

I love tattoos I have one on my stomach which is a celtic symbol for spirit, in black ink its nice. I got it many years ago after a breakup. I am considering getting another discreet tattoo around my ankle kind of like Drew Barrymore’s poison ivy style. I love this internet site its great with all the comments, I am a naturally petite size 10 but I embrace the fact I have curves, boobs, a butt and good self esteem I am by no means a skinny rake, I eat well, I drink weekends, I party I dance I love my friends I do kickboxing four times a week I embrace all colours shapes and sizes on men and women, its the inside that matters to me everyone I believe in some sense has beauty the media and all that crap has just distorted society’s views. Embrace and love yourself the rest follows

By: Skreee

Skreee — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:23:11 +0000

What an inspiring thread. So many personal stories, just wonderful!
I still haven’t got any tatoos, althought I have wanted some for some time now. One is rather nerdy: “Never give up, never surrender” from Galaxy Quest (preferrably in some language unreadable to most) to remind me to hang in there when I am in a bout of depression.
And on the other I haven’t really decided yet. I have lots of parallel scars from self harm on my upper arm. I want to reclaim that area, I want to find peace with that past, but I don’t want to cover it up, because it is part of how I became who I am. I am still searching (in my head) for a design that would incorporate those lines.
On the other hand, maybe I’ll just go for an Alice with a bloody knife, because I love Alice in Wonderland for its surrealism, and because I like the idea of being stronger and more resilient than is first apparent.

By: DiosaNegra1967

DiosaNegra1967 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:31:46 +0000

sky: i totally understand about the stretch marks….i have them on my arms and decided, that since i can’t make ‘em go away….why not decorate them instead?

By: DiosaNegra1967

DiosaNegra1967 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:27:43 +0000

Do you have tattoos? yeah….6: a pin-up girl, a portrait of medusa; japanese kanji; a rose; greek comedy/tragedy masks and a tribal band…..

Why or why not? mainly, they marked important events in my life….

If you do, are you more about art or marking? at first….marking; now….art AND coming to terms with and appreciating my body for what she is….

How did you choose where to place them, and how did it affect or stem from your body image? well….my first one, i got just below my right collarbone…..that had no special meaning….but, the two 1/4 sleeves (on my right and left arms) meant that i’d be showing off my arms…..something i never did….even in the summer! this lead me to rethink how i looked at my arms, and body in general….

Do your tattoos tell a story about you — maybe even one you didn’t notice for a long time, like mine? LOL…..i don’t think so, but…..perhaps, my medusa might say something kinda frightening to most people….IDK…

If you don’t have tattoos, do you want one? LOL….the problem is….i want MORE!

Where would you put it? legs….back….face

What would you want? well, i’m working on getting two swallows underneath my collarbones…..in the future: a dragon on my right thigh, and hopefully an ankh with my name as part of a back piece…..i’d really like to work the danzig logo in there somewhere…..as i’m a fan of his….go fig….

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:46:39 +0000

I saw something really beautiful the other day. I was reading a zine by a friend of a friend about her process of coming to love her fat body – and on the last page is a picture of her tattoo. Both she and her best friend and fat ally had gone together and tattooed on their bellies, in awesome typewriter font, the word “Fat.” It’s both a hell of a statement and a beautifully done tattoo. I almost cried.

I also just sent an e-mail to Shelley volunteering to be a part of the Skin project. I know it’s a long-shot since there are thousands of people volunteering and only a few words left, but I figured it was worth a shot. Thanks for bringing this to my attention – and thanks for the story about your word. :)

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:14:18 +0000

Hmmm, the first time ever I’ve decided to comment.
I have three tattoos and I want many more.
My first was a symbol that to me means traveling in different directions at all times, and stems from a symbol I found interesting on an old Modest Mouse album.
The second is the angry bear from the Amnesiac era of Radiohead… guess those two come from music kind of, but they obviously have different interpretations.
My third, and favorite (so far) is a very “traditional” looking Polynesian tattoo. I wanted to have the traditional application of this tattoo, but you have to know people in that trade and I didn’t. I did however find a really awesome girl in Hawaii that drew it on the back of my arm (a notably flabby area and I don’t care). It represents shark’s teeth and weaved palm leaves, but more importantly it represents that time in my life. I got this last tattoo in Hawaii on my honeymoon, one of the happiest times of my life so far. Obviously, I love it.
I have many plans for future tattoos. Even though my mother doesn’t approve (I’m 28), I still plan on completing at least a half sleeve. I can’t wait.
Kudos to this post, the first I’ve ever commented on!

By: shaminey

shaminey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:24:58 +0000

fj, is it done? did you get it yet? I’d love to see if you want to share!

By: nuckingfutz

nuckingfutz — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:46:40 +0000

Emerald, as a fellow Nirvana fan and someone who was also helped by some of Kurt Cobain’s music, I will definitely NOT call you a sad geek. I don’t think I’d go so far as getting him tattooed on me, but I can totally understand the reason behind it.

Melissa, that leaf tattoo is GORGEOUS. And my daughter has that exact my little pony!! hee! (My husband has a friggin’ roadrunner on his arm, I’m sure as hell not about to start making snide remarks on my little ponies!)

You know, if I could ever suck up the courage to do it, what I’d really want as a tattoo would be something in honor of my husband. I’m the type who WOULD get his name tattooed on me, but as we all know, that is just a BAD idea all around. So I’d want something somewhat abstract, that I liked, that would commemorate him; but if we were to split up, I wouldn’t mind STILL having. Make any sense? (And yes, I know how revoltingly sappy I am, but I can’t help it, okay?! :-P )

This is, of course, only if and when I ever manage to overcome my ultra-low tolerance for pain.

By: killedbyllamas

killedbyllamas — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:06:44 +0000

Squeee! My Little Pony ftw.

By: Time-Machine

Time-Machine — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:42:28 +0000

MY LITTLE PONY TATTOO IS MADE OF AWESOME. *throws confetti*