JBluewind

Yup.
...and yup.
I don't know if I'd call my first tattoo "silly" -- it's just a black & gray ibis about the size of a pad of Post-Its -- but I would like to think that I'm getting better at recognizing really good tattoos when I see them, about paying attention to the artists behind the tattoos instead of just the tattoos, and appreciating different artists's styles, etc. It's gotten more fun now, and I see why an entire culture exists around tattooing. When I was getting my first one, I didn't know any of that stuff, and I didn't think it was "about" that anyway. (It was about me -- duh. ;))

That's a good point, I'm sure that's where the "1 year" idea comes from. People feel that if they follow the right rules, or make their tattoo sentimental enough, they can be certain to avoid regretting their decision. I bet a lot of people who end up getting (what we would consider) silly tattoos as their first probably go on to get awesome work later once they get that mental hurdle out of the way.
I think that's part of what makes tattoos so great though... the commitment, the permanence, the trust in your artist. Because of these things, every tattoo is inherently meaningful just for the process itself. Overthinking it or trying too hard to take the risk aspect away from that tattoo would, ironically, somewhat diminish the sentiment of it for me. I'm rambling now, though... :)

I want to wear those to my office next Halloween, then take them off at lunch and see if anyone notices.

I look back with vivid embarrassment at my first thoughts surrounding my first tattoo... and after reading a post like this, I'm really glad I never really talked about it with anyone, haha. I had mostly come to my senses re: design before the needle hit my skin, thank goodness, but it took so long to get to that point because I was obsessive over everything (design/details/meaning/etc.).
I think it's a really common perspective for people getting their first tattoo. Maybe I tend to have more sympathy for these people than others since I basically used to be like that myself. Of course, I still think they need to educate themselves, but I get where they're coming from. Too much attention to an abstract meaning almost always means the tattoo suffers. But when you think about changing your body permanently for the first time, it's probably pretty natural to want as much control as possible.

A guy at work last night wanted my advice on a design his friend had drawn for him (sigh), because apparently I have the most "bad ass" tattoo of everyone at work. That's not exactly difficult when everyone else has tiny little wrist/ankle scribbles and swirls. The design is apparently "the only thing" he would ever want to have tattooed on him, and he's been holding onto it for months because he's too scared to actually go through with it. It was basically a question mark with an eye. Of course, it had some deep, literal meaning that he had to explain to me (the question mark is because he's always questioning things, the eye is because he's always seeking the truth). The whole thing was just so poorly designed and pretentious that it took all I had to not roll my eyes at him. I basically told him he'd be better off coming up with a vague concept and letting an artist draw something, instead of having someone imitate this design, because it was awful (I didn't say that). Then I got the whole "Well, this is really personal to me and I want to have some say in its design" response. At the mention of another artist changing it, he said he would just go to a friend of the guy who drew it, who, of course, is an "amazing" tattoo artist and would copy it exactly the way he wanted it. Funny how everyone knows someone that's amazing at tattoos. At that point, I just kind of nodded and went back to work, it was a hopeless cause.

Great episode of Big Bang theory.. Howard tries a tattoo

Incense and green soap take me way back. Now they don't use the same type of green soap and the smell isn't nearly as strong.
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My a-hole brother and his dipshit wife are in town and popped in on short notice earlier today. I have a very fresh tattoo on my forearm and the outline has some red around it in a few places. It happened seconds after the lines were done and the artist said it is bruising. It has gotten much better since Wednesday.
So the dipshit sister in law is (was.. currently disabled) a nurse and starts telling me my tattoo is infected. I say no, she says yes. We go back and forth and I question her knowledge of nursing and tell her I do not normally discuss tattoos with those who are without them.
This shuts her up somewhat and I ask her how long it takes for an infection to be visible. She goes into some clinical rant and I get her to agree it would take at least 12 hours to a full day. Then I tell her how they showed up. She had very little to say and her and my brother made an exit shortly after that.
Rob

getting my third tattoo...in the shop there was a candle burning and it had a distinct smell
afterward everytime i would smell a candle like that it would transport me right back to getting tattooed
and then i would want another tattoo
also green soap

In our state, we have a yearly inspector visit to make sure we're keeping up to code. The last time she came through, she had a trainee with her to start splitting up the state between a few people. The new one thought the same thing. It was also her first time in a tattoo shop.
At least they're getting people who are well acquainted with the process to take care of that stuff.

One summer's Friday down the pub after work with friends the conversation turned to tattoos as a 'celebrity' had recently posted photos of her tattoos (roses over both butt cheeks) and it had been all over the papers.
One girl at the table went off on a massive rant, something along the lines of "How could someone disfigure themselves like that? It's disgusting."
I'm sat there with shorts on sporting my brand new calf tattoos so decide to call her up on it. "So you're saying that I've disfigured myself by getting tattoos?" I ask, as nicely as possible.
So began the furious back-peddling. "No, your tattoos are different!" and "That's not what I was trying to say at all!" Which I didn't believe for a second.
I also had a weird one from my Mum when talking about one of my sessions. Referring to the tattoo parlour, she asks:
"But doesn't it get a bit smelly in there?"
After inquiring what the hell she was on about, it turned out she thought that part of the tattoo process involved burning the skin!

On my recent trip home I had the usual light-hearted debates w/my mom over tattoos.
We were talking about me wanting to change schools and she said I couldn't get a job at another school w/these tattoos. I said that I keep them covered w/long sleeve shirts. She said, "You can't wear long sleeve shirts all the time in LA!" I explained that yes, I already do...we have air conditioning. Blah blah blah.
So then later, she tells me that Adam Levine was voted the sexiest man alive. I asked her if she agreed with that assessment and she said, "Yes." I said, "But he has tattoos!" And she goes, "He's an entertainer, not a kindergarten teacher." Oh lordy. I knew she already had a double standard about it being more ok for men to have tattoos than women. Now I see, it's also ok if you are an entertainer. I told her he is a grown-ass man and I am a grown-ass woman and that my job requires me to be an entertainer most of the time, too.
Then MIL told my hubby that if we keep getting tattoos we won't be able to move back to Boston.
Oh parents. They are so silly. We are in our forties and these are the conversations we are having!

I live in a very conversative country where 90% of population is catholic.I get stared alot and hear people whisper behind my back while I commute to work how I ruined myself but rarely to my face.I do get irked often and turn around and tell them off.There is good days and there are bad ones and I never regretted getting tattooed.
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On a positive note, I was getting my flu shot the other day and this woman in line behind me was like, "Oh my GOD, you have to see her tattoo!" She calls her husband or friend or whoever over and said, "Well I want one like that!" Then the guy giving the shot also complimented it. It was my tiger on my left arm.

I get a lot of "did that hurt" sometimes i tell the truth and sometimes im a smart ass, and say "no not at all" rolls eyes, idiot. LOL Yes it hurt, i had tons of tiny needles going in and out of my skin for hours on end, of course it hurt! I got a new one last night "did you cry" umm no. "how big is it" my whole back.. "really?!" yes really "can i touch it".. uhh noo .. then they proceed to touch me anyway... "can i see it" no, i dont typically take off my clothes for strangers in public places.. most people dont offend me except i had one lady just come up behind me and start moving straps on my shirt with out asking to look at my work -- ugh tattooed people problems. Maybe im a prude, but just because i have tattoos doesnt mean im going to strip down naked for you, whom ive never seen in my life. - i guess this turned into more of a rant, haha

I work with mentally ill adults. One of the...not so friendly ones made some comments a couple days ago. He asked "What are you going to do when you get tired of them?" and informed me "God made you that way for a reason, why would you want to change that?" If God didn't want us to alter ourselves, he wouldn't have made skin as malleable as it is... :p
The other night one of my co workers asked me some questions I seriously could not believe anyone thought could be true: do certain colors cost more, can they tattoo trademarked images, and do they charge by the line. Wow.

My favorite so far has been, "Were you drunk?" Because I would totally ask for a custom tattoo while blasted...

This happened in Subway about a month ago. Some inebriated guy came up to me as I was ordering:
"Woah, look at your tattoos...your sleeves...you look dynamite! Can I lick your arms? I want them on my tongue!"
I said maybe another time and he gave me a high five and left! Hahahah

Here is a comment that left me speechless. Not because it was a dumb comment but because it made a lot of sense and it made me think.
"Why are you getting a back piece? Wouldn't it make more sense to get a front piece so you can see it easier?"
I eventually said I plan on getting a front piece too, but its funny that most people get back pieces before front pieces. Is this because there is a Japanese tradition for the proper sequence to get a body suit? Or is it because getting your torso tattooed is the least fun so everyone waits until the end to get it done?

I wore those sleeves one year for Halloween when I had to come up with a super last minute costume for work. Bought those at a dollar store, threw on a metal band shirt, put some safety pins through my pants, and I was some kind of metal/emo/goth whatever (too lazy to make any kind of distinction through more detailed accessories). Some people at work thought the sleeves were real. Yeah, I got 2 full sleeves done and healed within a day. :confused:

Holy shit I just came up with a great Halloween costume. If you do have full sleeves, you could just put sheer stockings over them and pretend to have the fake sleeve things on.

just tell them you like to colour them in w/whiteboard markers to match your outfit :)

omg. I have actually considered getting a shirt like that...
......for my FIVE YEAR OLD! The one I'm thinking of also said, "Kindergarten Rocks" on the front. But I didn't get it. Seemed a little too cheesy even for a kid.
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Oh here's one I get sometimes... My arms are all B&G and I have had several people say, "You're getting it colored in, right?"

guy wearing tattoo sleeves, saw my arm and was telling his buddies, that his didn't hurt to get..
pull on ones like this...

i mean, srsly, who wears these things???

My dad told me this morning while I was dropping off his cheese-free McMuffins that I reminded him of Amy Winehouse. Because of the tattoos and emotional turmoil.
He actually says he understands now why I don't conform. I thought it was kind of an interesting conversation with an old conservative.

I was sitting in my lawyer's office earlier in the week (deposition for my car accident case) and we were talking about people we both knew from my town (mostly drug dealers and shady lawyers...) and we got around to kids today, how hard it is for them to find jobs even with 4-year degrees.
Then he mentions how they are into drugs and getting inked. I was going to pull up my shirt cuff, but let it go. Other lawyers there have seen my ink, but this was my first meeting with the big kahuna. After a tough few hours, it was the highlight of my day.
Rob