JBluewind

You might cringe at what I'm about to say, but I found that after getting tattooed, I've become less inhibited. If people ask, I have no problems dropping trow to show them the work I have. Of course it wouldn't be in the middle of the aisle at the local Walmart or Best Buy. But if its at the tattoo shop, at my home or someone else's home, full monty is no problem, hahaha

True that part, but I especially hate it when people actually try to pull up my shirt to see my back or pull it up to show someone else my tattoos. Sometimes, I'm not even part of the group conversation when someone's tried to lift up my shirt. Then they get pissed off at me when I whirl around glaring. WTF!

I dont mind showing people one of my tattoos if its not too much trouble, i see it as an opportunity to recommend a good shop or artist.

I don't think the main intention there was to show you his tattoos...

Years ago during college I was working at Home Goods stocking items and this (seemingly un-tattooed) customer spots my foot tattoo and starts a discussion on tattoos/BLATANTLY hitting on me. Out of nowhere (without me asking) he shows me this god awful hip tattoo which in order to show me he has to fold and pull down his jeans a bit. I saw like the side of his dick and was not enthused !!!! Ugh I don't understand the need to strip to show off your tattoos. If you want to be all badass then get them where they show...
I never indulge people who want to see them if it means I have to bare part of my body that is normally covered up.

I'm a kindergarten teacher (and so far this year I am just wearing long sleeves every day). Another teacher I worked with was covered in tattoos and often several of them would be showing. She told her kindergartners that they were stickers.

I am up to about 13 tattoos now and I still get the brilliant comment from un-tattooed people of "I didn't expect you to have tattoos" or "You don't look like a tattooed person." Which makes me beg the question is there a specific combination of piercings, ripped jeans, and t-shirt from an obscure 80's rock band that I need so that people aren't surprised I have tattoos. It just baffles me as a comment.
Also I work with kids and quite often have entertaining conversations that simply start with them stating "You have a tattoo." This opens up a world of fun and mildly sarcastic responses from shock that I have two half sleeves and pretending I didn't know they were there to convincing them that I wake up early every morning and draw them on with Sharpies. I probably shouldn't, it's a bit cheeky of me, but it is great fun.
Another thing that confuses me though is when people seem to think that they can demand to see my tattoos in full. This has on occassion resulted in some un-tattooed people requesting, quite politely, that I take various items of clothing off. Most recently this happened at a wedding when the mother of the groom demanded I take off my shirt so she could see my half sleeves. Very awkward in the middle of the reception and it was probably a good thing I hadn't had more to drink at that point or who knows what would have happened.
There are always the normal questions though of "Did it hurt?", "How much did it cost?", "Don't you think you will regret it?" etc. They are always fun to answer sarcastically as well otherwise it just gets repetative.

I can't say a word at work either. I'm towards the tail end of my career anyway and I've been very much under the tattoo radar. I avoid company off-work social functions in the warmer months like the plague.
The best closet-tattoo-freak ever was this strict and stern teacher we had in grade school. He came in wearing a 3-piece suit and ran his class room like a concentration camp. On lunch duty, there was no talking by anyone. I later learn many years later that this guy was very heavily inked from his years in the Navy and drank like the proverbial fish every night.
Rob

Take it from an old salt: This is an insult on your body. RUN! This is like a boyfriend that tells you you're too fat, thin, breasts are too small, that YOU are not good enough, and that YOU need to conform to his standards.
Let's rephrase this: "You're getting kind of fat. Would you stop eating so much if I put on a few?" See the change in language? Reconsider if this guy is a real champ.

Bless my mum though the things she says are golden, every te I return home with a new tattoo even a tiny one like the Fly I got last week... "Oh no another one, when're you guna stop?" Perhaps I'll stop when I stop working in a tattoo shop <3 Mumas rule

My boyfriend hates my interest in tattoos and once volunteered to get some tattoos on himself so I wouldn't have to get any more on me. He seems to think I just like looking at them on someone, anyone, not even necessarily myself. I told him I would be thrilled if he got some, but it won't make any difference as far as what I get. :D

The only time it really bothers me when people talk shit about tattoos/people's tattoos is the situations when I can't say anything back. This really only happens around coworkers. My favorite being "that poor shmuck will never have a job as good as ours with all that shit drawn on him". I thought to myself, if only they knew...
The "never get a job" comments seemed to be the ones that bother me the most, whether directed at me or not. My career is practically my life and to say such things is such a stupid comment that is very ill-informed. This being backed up by the fact that one of the most successful people I know regularly gets tattooed at the same shop as me. I think this misconception will continue as use "closet tattooed folk" never really show any tattoos around coworkers/bosses so the myth will continue.

My mother, who believes I only have one tattoo from undergrad, was openly rude to a young girl at a book store, asked her how she intended to get a real job, this store would be gone in five years, etc. I said nothing at the moment, but when we got in the car, I went in, apologized, told her my career and showed her my tattoos under the guise of getting something from the bookstore bakery. I hadn't eaten in 24+ hours which is common with my shift/food choices.
When I went to the next store,l with her, some girl had a sparrow on her arm. And Mom just has to look at her and say, "Jesus Christ! Isn't that cute?" At this point, I lose my temper and say, "You were Queen Mormon until one of your kids comes out as gay. You said yourself.times are changing. Maybe you need to change on this, too."
Then I had to hear how I act like a ten year old. Yeah. I'm the one pointing and going, "Ewww, gross!" and I'm immature. Okay.

From the older people in town who know what I looked like when I was a kid:You were such a pretty girl, why did you have to ruin yourself like that?
Personally, I think I'm pretty freakin hot now, where as I had very low self esteem prior...
My mom: You need to think about how your appearance is affecting your child.
Ummm, I'm on the school PTO, involved with her girl scout troop, and she has tons of friends...so tell me again how I'm ruining her life??
My dad (trying to make me promise not to ever get tattoos): That dragon you thought was cool when you were a teenager won't be so cool to you when you're grown...
I'll give you that one Pops! My 15 year old dragon tattoo really isn't as cool to me now, lol

Had some really odd ball comments when I went to the Electric Zoo festival. Favorite one was...... "Bro, seriously sick friggin tatt dude. Like I just want to drop acid and stare at it all day. By the way ya got any?"

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

Haha. "What are you gonna think about that kid when you're 80?"

I read an article in I cant remember what magazine many years ago that pointed out that almost every question we get asked about our tattoos can also be directed towards a new teen mother
example:
"did that hurt?"
"what do your parents think about that?"
" you know you're stuck with that for ever, right?"
"i cant believe you'd do that to your body?"
"why would you do something so irresponsible?"
etc., etc.

Whenever someone comments about my tattoos with: "I wouldn't have done that", my answer is always "Well it's a good thing you didnt!".

I work as a care giver at a group home for people with downs syndrome and similar handicaps. One of the inhabitants has a father who must be close to 80 years of age. EVERY time he comes to visit and I am there to greet him he will comment on my tattoos. Every. Time. He is probably senile and not aware of this.
Last time was different though.. he usually opens up with saying "those are hard to get rid of..", like it is a question. I usually just say Yes, and smile at him. Then he asks me if it hurts, I tell him Not anymore, and smile some more. But this time he also said that he had tried (to get tattooed), on his hand, but that it had faded over time. And then he told me that (my tattoos) where prydsamma, which is a swedish word that translates to "something thats proper and enhances the beauty of a thing/someone".
I was flattered for the first time. I didn't know that he liked my tattoos, just that he would always comment on them.

I only get asked about my tattoos from drunk chicks that I don't know. Don't ask me why that is, but having been a "tattooed person" for a year now (not that it's a long time or anything), that's my experience.
Now I am one of those persons that gets tattooed cause tattoos are cool, and I like the art and the looks of them. I don't have a fancy story about any of my tattoos, and some people seriously get angry because of it. They have obviously been watching too much TV if you ask me :rolleyes:
One time, a drunk chick simply walked up to me, and asked about my tattoos. I told her that I just liked the look, and she started saying things like "Wow thats really dumb" and "Why would you want something permanently on your body, if it doesn't mean anything to you", and I just stood there looking baffled, instead of saying something back to her. I obviously should have told her how rude she was, but I never managed too do so.
Now when chicks come asking me things, I make up some seriously lame story, and watch their reaction. So far not a single one has called me on it. E.g. I have a swallow, and it was my first tattoo, so one of my favorites are "Yeah, the swallow represents me moving to another city, away from home and starting my adult life, spreading my wings and becoming a man". They eat it up, and think I'm sooooo deep and amazing. Then I laugh my ass off, and walk away. It's kind of a fun hobby! :D

"Why have you got roses tattooed on you, isn't that a bit gay?"
One of my most recent favourites.

Wow. Just.... wow. So i'll be tortured by a cat, a fox, disembodied wings, two birds and a baby devil in diapers. Interesting.
So alot of peeps are going to get tortured by Jesus!

Several years ago I had a sweet little first-grade student of mine tell me, "tattoos are evil". That's what her very religious mom had told her. I didn't want to go against her mom by saying too much...but I did say something like, "Well, they are just pictures. Can pictures be evil?" She looked thoughtful and we left it at that.

Time for a bunch of pinups buddy!