smiling.politely

Tons of people do want to know. And you know what? IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS EITHER. I have close friends that I've known literally my entire life that I don't tell things like this. I also don't tell them why my machines run differently than one another, or what makes one type of pigment different from another, or anything else that's a part of my trade that is none of their business.
Drop the question, learn to know that some things aren't your business, and move on to the next topic. I'm sure it'll be enlightening and full of great contributions.
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And to quit being obtuse and give you an answer, the average tattooer charges between $50 and $500 an hour. After paying a shop cut of between 1% and 99%, they usually take home between $15.78 and $3,000,000,000,000 a year, before taxes.

If a tattooer charges $X per hour, he usually takes home $Y after paying a Z% shop cut. It's simple algebra, I'm sure you can extrapolate from there.

As I was leaving Walmart tonight there was a older gentleman named Art running carts/security. He was happy to tell us all about getting these done on the west coast in the '40s. The rope was to protect him from drowning, and he's happy with how solid the panther still is.

I understand that. But, isn't the point of a Rorschach image that it isn't actually anything, and is defined by the mental bias and psychological profile of the viewer? And doesn't making a Rorschach into a definable image sort of defeat the purpose of a Rorschach test card?

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
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Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
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Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
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Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

I understand that. But, isn't the point of a Rorschach image that it isn't actually anything, and is defined by the mental bias and psychological profile of the viewer? And doesn't making a Rorschach into a definable image sort of defeat the purpose of a Rorschach test card?

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
- - - Updated - - -
Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
- - - Updated - - -
Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
- - - Updated - - -
Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.
If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.
As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.
p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?
- - - Updated - - -
Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...
My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

Of course you may need to pay a deposit for someone to work on an image for you... would you work for hours for free (researching/thinking, drawing, re-drawing, starting over when you realize the drawing could be better, etc.), only for the potential business relationship to fall through, or for them to never come back, or for them to take the image you e-mail them or they photograph on their phone to "show their friend/husband/whomever," then go get it done from someone else?
As far as what will work well as a tattoo, pick your favorite element of said piece of culture, whether it's Batman, the Matrix, etc. Do you like the idea of the duality of choice between uninformed ignorance and enlightened truth? Get the red pill and the blue pill in some context, shape, or form. Maybe not as part of an image of Morpheus, since the pills are the real meaningful part of that scene, not Laurence Fishburne. Highlight what is important symbolically, and you'll have a stronger tattoo.
Then, figure out what style you like... traditional, realism, new school, some combination thereof, etc. etc. etc. Like traditional style? Find the nearest Inksmith & Rogers to where you are in Florida, and go there. Like a more refined and rendered style, but with still enough of a solid foundation of good tattooing to last well in your skin until you're 80? Go to Redletter and get tattooed by literally anyone there. I'm not as educated in new-school or full on realism, but I'm sure you could find plenty of folks that do those styles.
Don't go cheap or quick, go for quality. That being said, sometimes great tattooers may be able to get you in within a few days, sometimes you may have to wait. Patience can be key.
There is a lot of work to be done to learn about getting tattooed (not as much as actually tattoing), but the burden of deciding what you want and how to go about getting it is on you, not strangers on the internet. Don't listen to non-tattooers giving uninformed advice. Take advice from tattooers giving informed advice, absorb it, but don't take it as the only way. Maybe Phil Holt or Jesse Gordon would have a different approach to the same idea than I do, or one another, or their co-workers. Like I said earlier in another thread, and a lot of other folks have said here and other places over the last few years, real life beats the internet everyday.
Remember: all I'm offering is truth, nothing more.
-Morpheus

Heavy, dark, black and grey bat would be a good one. May seem a bit obvious, but it would be a great way to go.

Linework is generally very easy to heal. At most, if you have itching, a tiny amount of lotion might be helpful. Ointment/lotion is really more for when you have large areas of tattooed skin, and even then, not much is needed. Your body will heal it on it's own if it's clean, anything you put on it is just to keep it comfortable for you, or to keep it from getting overly dry.

Just like Iron Chef isn't made for chefs, Cops isn't made for police officers, and Cake Boss isn't made for bakers, all of the mainstream tattoo reality shows aren't made for tattooers or tattooed people. They are made for mainstream reality show fans. I'm also making a distinction between people with tattoos and "tattooed people," as pretentious or exclusionary as that may seem.

It would depend on how that tattooer works. Personally, if I have an appointment booked, I try my best to get it ready, with or without a deposit (although after lots of no shows, I recently began requiring it for folks I don't know). That being said, contact them sometime this week, ask if there's any progress, and whether or not there is, go ahead and book an appointment. Most tattooers seem to work better with some kind of deadline, even if it means they prep it the day before or day of, rather than getting lost in the stack of other drawings and/or outside projects they may have.

It would depend on how that tattooer works. Personally, if I have an appointment booked, I try my best to get it ready, with or without a deposit (although after lots of no shows, I recently began requiring it for folks I don't know). That being said, contact them sometime this week, ask if there's any progress, and whether or not there is, go ahead and book an appointment. Most tattooers seem to work better with some kind of deadline, even if it means they prep it the day before or day of, rather than getting lost in the stack of other drawings and/or outside projects they may have.

Of course you may need to pay a deposit for someone to work on an image for you... would you work for hours for free (researching/thinking, drawing, re-drawing, starting over when you realize the drawing could be better, etc.), only for the potential business relationship to fall through, or for them to never come back, or for them to take the image you e-mail them or they photograph on their phone to "show their friend/husband/whomever," then go get it done from someone else?
As far as what will work well as a tattoo, pick your favorite element of said piece of culture, whether it's Batman, the Matrix, etc. Do you like the idea of the duality of choice between uninformed ignorance and enlightened truth? Get the red pill and the blue pill in some context, shape, or form. Maybe not as part of an image of Morpheus, since the pills are the real meaningful part of that scene, not Laurence Fishburne. Highlight what is important symbolically, and you'll have a stronger tattoo.
Then, figure out what style you like... traditional, realism, new school, some combination thereof, etc. etc. etc. Like traditional style? Find the nearest Inksmith & Rogers to where you are in Florida, and go there. Like a more refined and rendered style, but with still enough of a solid foundation of good tattooing to last well in your skin until you're 80? Go to Redletter and get tattooed by literally anyone there. I'm not as educated in new-school or full on realism, but I'm sure you could find plenty of folks that do those styles.
Don't go cheap or quick, go for quality. That being said, sometimes great tattooers may be able to get you in within a few days, sometimes you may have to wait. Patience can be key.
There is a lot of work to be done to learn about getting tattooed (not as much as actually tattoing), but the burden of deciding what you want and how to go about getting it is on you, not strangers on the internet. Don't listen to non-tattooers giving uninformed advice. Take advice from tattooers giving informed advice, absorb it, but don't take it as the only way. Maybe Phil Holt or Jesse Gordon would have a different approach to the same idea than I do, or one another, or their co-workers. Like I said earlier in another thread, and a lot of other folks have said here and other places over the last few years, real life beats the internet everyday.
Remember: all I'm offering is truth, nothing more.
-Morpheus

Linework is generally very easy to heal. At most, if you have itching, a tiny amount of lotion might be helpful. Ointment/lotion is really more for when you have large areas of tattooed skin, and even then, not much is needed. Your body will heal it on it's own if it's clean, anything you put on it is just to keep it comfortable for you, or to keep it from getting overly dry.

Just like Iron Chef isn't made for chefs, Cops isn't made for police officers, and Cake Boss isn't made for bakers, all of the mainstream tattoo reality shows aren't made for tattooers or tattooed people. They are made for mainstream reality show fans. I'm also making a distinction between people with tattoos and "tattooed people," as pretentious or exclusionary as that may seem.

To clarify...
Example of a person with tattoos- a few Pinterest designs, maybe a few other things they might get after they learn a little bit more about tattooing, but think of tattoos as not much more than personal decoration at best, or a fashion accessory at worst. More of a fast-food mindset.
Example of a tattooed person- someone who, whether a tattooer or not, wants to know about tattooing a little bit, wants to know what makes a good tattoo (Beyond someone telling them "This person is good." They want to understand it themselves). May have goals of a full bodysuit, may only want half sleeves, but they care.
I said neither was better than the other, but when you talk about marketing things towards people into tattoos, you're not saying the same thing marketing towards the average tattoo client. Most of the millions of viewers they get are of the former category, not the latter. Which is fine. Most of the people I have the pleasure of tattooing are people with tattoos, not tattooed people. I treat them exactly the same, if not a bit nicer, hoping they come away with a bit of education, and perhaps appreciation of tattoos beyond an iPhone screen.
EDIT: Small addition... you wouldn't say the guy in front of you in line at Olive Garden is the same type of customer as a gourmand, or that frat douche hammering Natty Ices is the same as a trained sommelier.

To clarify...
Example of a person with tattoos- a few Pinterest designs, maybe a few other things they might get after they learn a little bit more about tattooing, but think of tattoos as not much more than personal decoration at best, or a fashion accessory at worst. More of a fast-food mindset.
Example of a tattooed person- someone who, whether a tattooer or not, wants to know about tattooing a little bit, wants to know what makes a good tattoo (Beyond someone telling them "This person is good." They want to understand it themselves). May have goals of a full bodysuit, may only want half sleeves, but they care.
I said neither was better than the other, but when you talk about marketing things towards people into tattoos, you're not saying the same thing marketing towards the average tattoo client. Most of the millions of viewers they get are of the former category, not the latter. Which is fine. Most of the people I have the pleasure of tattooing are people with tattoos, not tattooed people. I treat them exactly the same, if not a bit nicer, hoping they come away with a bit of education, and perhaps appreciation of tattoos beyond an iPhone screen.
EDIT: Small addition... you wouldn't say the guy in front of you in line at Olive Garden is the same type of customer as a gourmand, or that frat douche hammering Natty Ices is the same as a trained sommelier.

To clarify...
Example of a person with tattoos- a few Pinterest designs, maybe a few other things they might get after they learn a little bit more about tattooing, but think of tattoos as not much more than personal decoration at best, or a fashion accessory at worst. More of a fast-food mindset.
Example of a tattooed person- someone who, whether a tattooer or not, wants to know about tattooing a little bit, wants to know what makes a good tattoo (Beyond someone telling them "This person is good." They want to understand it themselves). May have goals of a full bodysuit, may only want half sleeves, but they care.
I said neither was better than the other, but when you talk about marketing things towards people into tattoos, you're not saying the same thing marketing towards the average tattoo client. Most of the millions of viewers they get are of the former category, not the latter. Which is fine. Most of the people I have the pleasure of tattooing are people with tattoos, not tattooed people. I treat them exactly the same, if not a bit nicer, hoping they come away with a bit of education, and perhaps appreciation of tattoos beyond an iPhone screen.
EDIT: Small addition... you wouldn't say the guy in front of you in line at Olive Garden is the same type of customer as a gourmand, or that frat douche hammering Natty Ices is the same as a trained sommelier.

Just like Iron Chef isn't made for chefs, Cops isn't made for police officers, and Cake Boss isn't made for bakers, all of the mainstream tattoo reality shows aren't made for tattooers or tattooed people. They are made for mainstream reality show fans. I'm also making a distinction between people with tattoos and "tattooed people," as pretentious or exclusionary as that may seem.