Tattoos

[Hero]

Is there anyone else here with a tattoo or Tattoos?

I got my ink done for the first time this year. Technically I have 7 tattoos since I have HERO 777 tattooed in 8-bit game letters down my left forearm.

Tattoos are definitely not for everybody. A year ago I would have shunned the idea of having a tat as I’m quite celtic-skinned and the idea of being needled gave me the shivers. Earlier this year as tattoo culture seemed to have picked up and is on tv a lot with more parlours cropping up (at least my end of the woods) I got curious. I experimented with henna pens to start with to see what I’d like to have if I had a tattoo.

It was quite an experience. A good friend of mine accompanied me on the trip and saw me through the process. The tattooing took a good 45 minutes and it was not as painful as I thought it would be. The needle tingled and only stung a little. The following 2-3 weeks I had to keep my arm moist and used a lot of Bepanthen (nappy rash cream) to soothe the ‘open wound’.

The tattoo parlour liked my tat design and placed it on their gallery. They thought my pixel art idea was original amongst the sea of crosses, skulls and roses.

The Hero 777 thing has meaning to me. I was born on 777 (by the UK calendar anyway) via 10.07.77 and the numbers are a positive connotation as well as an alternative the negative 666. Hero was also my stage name in wrestling and what ‘the lockerroom’ christened me because of my interest in comic books and constant brandishing of the Autobot insignia. I’ve since used the ‘Hero’ thing on many other platforms.

My take on tattoos. I think if you want to get something, get something that means a lot because that ‘tramp stamp’ will be there for the rest of your days (unless you can afford laser surgery). What I have found out for myself is that less is more. I’ve seen so many people with their arms or wherever all in a mural of tattoos it looks messy imo. There is an ‘addictive’ attraction to getting more tattoos that I can’t explain, but for now I am definitely sticking to just ‘the’ tattoo.

[Shockprowl]

Well good for you, Hero, for the way you've gone about it. There's nothing wrong with body art within reason. I, personally, don't like them, and it takes one heck of a fine tattoo for me to like it on another person. Yours, having meaning to you, is the right way to go IMHO. But generally, they're not for me. Body art in general turns me off big time. But tastefully done, 'body art', if I may call it that, can indeed be pleasant. Just not on me!

[Shockprowl]

As for the addictive element to getting more and more tattoos, I've observed that as well in people, and cannot explain it.

[Dark Stranger]

It's definitely an addictive thing, I have 3 myself. Designed my first one on my own, a sprawling spiky tribally kinda thing on my arm, the Manowar sign of the hammer on my left arm (my avatar design in black) and a wee stickman lawnmower man on my groin. Me and an ex-girlfriend got that done for a laugh one day, tattooist didn't know what to think!

Really want more, but it's a cost thing versus ideas, can't decide on what to get.

And yeah, they hurt about as much as a rough scraping, and Bepanthen is the best thing ever.

You planning any more in the future Ken?

[Hero]

Money permitting I'll get another. I want to do more pixel art again. Maybe sometime before my daughter is born.

I can picture a black version of the Manowar sign making a pretty decent tat. Good choice there Dark Stranger.

===KEN

[Deleted]

I'm not a fan of tattoos at all. I have seen many people with massively silly tattoos on the entire length of their backs and on their arms and have spoken to people who regret having a certain tattoo on their arm some ten or so years ago. If I was to ever have one I think I would have the Legend of Zelda Triforce symbol at the top of my arm. It would be small, inoffensive to many and not look silly in old age (unlike the monster/devil tattoos that I have seen people sporting before).

[Hero]

Here's mine:

[Deleted]

i have four tatt's (with more planned)
*

[Hero]

Have you gotten more tats since, Dark Stranger and Bad Wolf?

I've decided to stick to the 7-in-1 tat I already have and keep it novel.

I must admit I've had some regret and not because some have tried to make me feel uncomfortable about having it done. I guess that's a price to pay for getting a tat. Something personal and medical has put this on.

[Philip Ayres]

If I were investing in anything now it would be tatoo removal technology. Big business a little way down the line when people get fed up of what they've had done.

[kayevcee]

I'm content with my own NHS-mandated body modification. Scars never go out of style.

-Nick

[Philip Ayres]

Mine's faded somewhat though.....

[The Doctor]

I find tattoos horrible and they scared me immensely from an early age. I would never even remotely consider one.

-Ralph

[Hero]

Mar 15, 2012 15:25:59 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Mine's faded somewhat though.....

You have a tat?

[Philip Ayres]

May 30, 2012 20:24:58 GMT Hero said:

Mar 15, 2012 15:25:59 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Mine's faded somewhat though.....

You have a tat?

No, that was in response to

Mar 15, 2012 15:09:37 GMT kayevcee said:

I'm content with my own NHS-mandated body modification. Scars never go out of style.

I have an appendix scar from having mine out, pre key hole, in 1992. Still get some odd pain along it from time to time.

[Hero]

Exactley. I do regret the tattoo now. I just have to make the best of it. I can to a degree cover it up when I need to.

I do find there is a lot less discrimination towards tats as so many more people seem to be getting them now and policing them in work places, dress codes etc is just seemingly too much to both with.

[dyrl]

I got an anarchy symbol tatooed on my right hand way back when I was fourteen and my mom made me get it removed. The removable left a scar that was/is a million times worse than the original tatoo. I'm now working to lessen the impact of the scar through fractional laser technology.

Fractional lasers apparently work very well with fresh scars - worse with old ones...but we'll see how it goes.

Generally tatoos are great until you change your mind - then they suck IMO.

Pete

[Hero]

The surgery where I had my cancerous growth removal also takes away tattoos.

I may have to look into that in the future, but I have to wait out a while and let my already scarred arm heal up a bit more.

[Hero]

Update on the tattoo since the last post. I had another removal the following September, and the op was a big one. (I even saw the bone in my arm).



The skin had been pinched together and sewn up. In the early stages, it looked like a shark bite. The recent photo shows how I've healed up since then, and how the arm and tattoo look a bit crooked. Either way, I am showing how getting that tattoo was furthermore a bad idea. Obviously I didn't foresee the operations.

[blueshift]

Yowtch! You can't really tell it isn't straight from the picture though, unless you were explicitly looking for it.

[Hero]

I know what you mean. May be the angle. The dip in the top of arm is slowly healing up. Was a lot worse in the earlier going, and images I have (somewhere) look like something from a horror flick. I don't think its a good idea to post those.