Tattoo free...and intend on staying that way

Actually, I don't remember reading anything about this topic that Mike commented on. It was actually in response to a recent myspace survey that one of my "friends" posted with like 30 questions about tattoos and I just started thinking........

We played a show this past week in LA called Rockabilly vs. The 80's put on by one of LA's biggest promotors, Rich Rumble. I sat there after sound check and just people watched. There were probably about 500 or more people there and they all came strolling in a few at a time and honestly, everyone looked the same. It seemed that everywhere I looked there were tattoos. They aren't tattoos anymore...they are accessories just like belts, ties, purses, and jewelry.

Back in the day, it was rare to see tattoos and when you did, you just almost automatically thought "oh fuck, look out for that guy". Now it seems like its just a permanent accessory for a punk rocker or rockabilly. Things like Doc Martins, creepers, cuffed Levi's, Betty Boop bopper dresses, pompadours or Betty Page haircuts, and spiked leather Jackets can just be turned off and on. this obscene amount of tattoos out there is just insane and what are you going to do in 5 or 10 years when you are looking in a mirror and can't erase your past when the world has passed you by?

What happens when this gets so out of hand that nobody goes to get tattoos anymore? Today, tattoo shops are a dime a dozen; tomorrow, they will mostly be out of business. Mark my word. I walk around town every day and I see so many tattoos that they dont even seem like tattoos. they just seem like clothes that you can't take off.

I know this guy who is only 23 years old and has almost his entire body tattoo'd. I wonder if people like him these days do it because its the trend and its cool? Yes it's possible that he loves his "body art", but does he love them for positive personal reasons, or because its the fashion for the times?

I am 37 years old, and I admit, 18 years ago when I joined the Marine Corps, I almost got the right of passage USMC tattoo. More recently, as I started to get involved in playing music, I considered a tattoo or two. After I thought about it, i decided not too because I really didn't want one and it would have just been because I thought it was the thing to do. Im glad I didnt, but I wonder how many millions of tattoos out there now are for the wrong reasons?

Like I said, Im Ink free, and im proud of it.

I hear ya, Wolfpits. Laughed my ass off, and hoped it didn't piss anyone off.

I suspect there are others who disagree with some things in this thread, and they are biting their tongues, so I think I will just do the same. I will end my responses on this note: if you like tattoos fine, if you don't that's fine too...no need to put anyone down for their choices. I have seen both tattooed and non-tattooed people act holier than thou on the subject and it is laaaaaaame.

I think tattoos are pretty lame for the most part. Here's an interview Mike did with out local newspaper a few days ago and he shares some of his thoughts on the matter:
http://www.bakersfield.com/calendar/...ry/181217.html

well there you go straight from Mike's mouth....he says they're stupid so better not get any! [img]tongue.gif[/img] haha

Tattoos are hit and miss with me. I have some I regret, but then again, I love my cosmetic tattoos and another newbie I have.

Still, tattoos can be majorly sketchy...and look really stupid in hindsight. For instance, my ex-boyfriend got "making believe" tattooed on his arm (in honor of SD). I look back at it now and think that those are the stupidest words that could ever be etched on your skin...although making believe was all he could do. Ha!

Im not pretending that I'm holier than thou with starting this thread. I am glad that I never went there with my first tattoo either. I'm sure with most of you that have several, it was like taking that first drink if your an alcoholic. I just don't want to be worried with covering myself up 10 years from now when the world has passed me by.

and by the way....how many possible 4 letter words can you come up with to put accross your knuckles? What do you think of when your getting ready to tattoo your knuckles? "Let me see if I can come up with something original to write accross my knuckles; that way if I see somebody coming that I don't like I can put up my dukes and he will never forget the day that 'love/pain' or 'rock/roll' hit him"

And we have a new entry for funniest post ever on this site. Kudos, Wolfpits. I'll be stealing and using that line for the next six months. That's fucking hilarious.

I have been getting tattooed for about 7 years now, and im about to turn 24 very shortly. I still dont regret any of my tattoos. Every tattoo tells a different story and marks a different time period in my life. If you dont like tattoos, thats fine and its your choice. just dont call them fucking lame or stupid or disrespect heavily tattooed people like some people on this thread have been doing. Some tattoos are kind of dumb and trendy. But if you talk to any real tattoo lover or tattoo collector they know way more about the art and the artist and the great history of tattooing.Theres alot more to the art then just getting a tattoo because its trendy. So my point is...to each his fucking own, and for me I chose to be heavily tattooed and I continue to get tattooed.

What an odd topic. You don't have any tats and don't intend to ever. Ok. No one is forcing you to.