I got my belly button pierced for my 40th birthday.  Since then I've gotten three tatoos, all thought out well in advance.  All can be covered.  All have a lot of meaning to me.  Even my "tramp stamp" <tee hee>  I'm now 48 and don't regret any of them.  Except when I'm around my mom :-)

I believe it's all a matter of personal taste.  I saw a girl one day in a minimart who had her kids names on the back of her neck in pretty large letters.  I remember thinking the names were cool, but what a strange place to put them. 

I'm going to get one on the small of my back:  "Maximum Capacity:  2"

alicen...mine is rarely seen, as it is most often hidden under my scrubs. It is on the outside of my left calf, and consists of my son's name, the day he was born, the date he was taken from me, and a small heart with a tear falling from it. The only time anyone sees it is if I wear a shorter dress or shorts, which is VERY rare! It makes me feel as if my little boy is with me always, and gives me comfort.

ghost:  It's late for chiming in on this one, but I'm going to do it anyway. 

Frankly, over-tattooing gives me the creeps.  I saw a middle-aged woman recently with ink all over her arms.  She looked like an old biker babe who'd definitely seen better days.  Or maybe not. 

Tattoos are definitely matters of great personal opinion, and it seems to me that a person should get as many he or she wants.  Just don't be surprised if some of them make other people want to gag. 

My granddaughter has a "pet" yellow and white snake and wanted to have a yellow/white snake tattoo on her upper arm.  I did plead with her not to do this because of the possibility some day of a gauzy, sleeveless, white wedding gown.  She thought more about it and has no snakes anywhere I'm aware of. 

HowEVER, she does have a Harley logo on the small of her back which is noticeable when she bends over to tie a shoe, etc.  When I've seen it I do get a slight case of creepy-crawlies, but I avert my eyes.  She's beautiful, and I lover her, but I'm so happy she didn't get that snake put on her upper arm.  And I suppose that wedding dresses don't have to plunge down to the small of the back.  Thank heaven!

She has a Harley, too.  I've never asked her if she takes the snake for a ride.

mrsE...I have heard of that place. It is good too. We went to this one because of the friend connection, but stayed because of the artwork.

Just had to jump in here...  I have approximately 18 hours of work total on my back, starting from just below the collar to my tailbone.  It started out as a "tramp stamp" and went from there.  All of my art has a meaning to me.  It tells a story.  I have had work done at pivotal points in my life, my first was on my 30th birthday.  My latest is a really cool, old school Sailor Jerry design of an anchor with a two part banner that says "U.S.N." and "Daddy".  I got the idea from my deceased father's anchor he got during WWII while in the Navy.  By the way, I am 43, I have 3 wonderful children and I am a "professional" in my field.  I have it covered up during the day.  People can be a little judgmental...  I prefer to be judged for who I am and how I treat you, as opposed to how I choose to express myself..  My artist is Frost at Pain is Beauty on 18th Street.  My 18 year old daughter has 3 done by him too.

As long as the person who is looking at them likes them, that is all that matters.

If I was young I would want one, now I am old might sag now...My daughter has tats and it looks fine on her, guess its what you like...

Hey! That rhymes.

we're okay, Francais.

--virgil

I apologize for the personal attack.  It was out of line and uncalled for.

 (Happy Birthday, Jason).

--virgil

oh...okay.

There is no nastiness here, ghostriter.  Virgil and I argue about sheer nothingness all the time. It's like a blogger's version of Seinfeld.

I guess they are okay on the small of an elegant back.  I don't see the morality in it at all.  It's more about aesthetics for me.  I overheard an army spouse the other day talking about "tramp stamps".  Maybe she's the one with a morality problem but I doubt her issue is that deep with it as it is to you.

I don't see a problem ( or a particular moral issue)  with butterfly tattoos in the small of elegant backs.

--virgil

LOL, sage...wish I could have known them.

OK, virg and jf...be nice. This is supposed to be a HUPPY  HAPPY post!

okay.

A  moral problem with tattoos in the small of elegant backs?

--virigl

First it was morals.  Now it's a problem.  Now do you see why I keep it "Barney" with you?  No one has a problem with tattoos (except maybe you if they aren't on the elegant smalls of backs).  I don't have one for the stated reasons.  I have no problem with them.  I don't find them to be rebelious or necessarilly original, however, there is no problem.

barney level and marijuana legalization ... from your problem with people having tattoos.

nice ...

--virgil

LOL~ ghost I hear you! My eldest was the spitting image of me~ so you know he was good looking! Kelsey was a blend of the Mr. & I ~ but his heart/spirit was the most beautiful part of him.

Spam Code: HUPPY one letter short of happy

Thanks, sage! I tell everyone he's too good-looking for MY own good!

You should have seen my Jordan. He was so adorable. Of course, where my boys are concerned, I am not prejudiced in the slightest (looks in mirror to make certain nose is not growing....)

I got more than that but it's better to keep things barney level for you.  I recognize you have a limited perspective when it doesn't pertain to legalized narcotics/drugs.

sometimes.

And I would say, also,  too bad for you if that is  all you got by which to measure what  really  is important.

--virgil

Right.  Like some butterflies on the smalls of some elegant backs. That's really important.

No.

Just all the more reason to think about what's really important.

--virgil

All the more reason not to wear noticeable markings...

Here's some morality for you ...

http://www.afterdowningstre...

perhaps a bit OT ( yes, off tats).

--virgil

* don't go to link if you're offended by war graphics.

jf~ that is what I always said, that the body might not be in such swell shape~ back then DNA was not so good.He was young,headed off to a dangerous place~ I think it was more an act of hope than desperation....

Not too be too gruesome but the tattooing would be merely wishful thinking in this war as usually there are very few discernable parts when there is a "relocation".  We have really good DNA teams to identify though, just in case.  We also tie dog tags to the boots.

jf~ that's interesting. I had a friend,now deceased,who was a Viet Namm vet. He hated "tats" but had his intials on all of his limbs~ in case he was "relocated" from any of them.

Alex is one handsome young man ghost! You know how I feel about tats,money is all that is keeping me from having one.

oh ....

--virgil

um ...

--virgil

Why do you think they give us velcro nametapes, Virgil? Morals?

There are, reportedly, lots of misapplied Chinese characters out there. 

There's an old urban legend about a woman who knitted some Chinese characters she copied off a restaurant menu into a sweater design.  Supposedly when translated they meant "cheap, but good."

Imagine *THAT* as a tattoo...

right ...

--virgil

Moral?  Who said anything about morals?  When you're out on patrols in say, Iraq, bad guys watch you and kidnap soldiers (hopefully someone in the leadership)  and cut thiers heads off and put it on the news for the world to see.  For that reason, I wear no name tape, no tattoos, No religious preference on my dog tag, or any type of marking that would allow the bad guys to clue in on me.  It's not about morals at all unless you are inferring survival in some wierd way.

 Back then, I was a rebel.

Back then?

Disillusioned when Cindy Lauper when out of style eh? I hear it's making a comeback in some LA circles

Got my first one at 21 (back in the 80's),

I was 21 four years ago, most tats are pretty lame (insert chinese symbol which for all whitey knows could be "I love c****)

A lot of guys I know get them because they think it makes them the biker/tough guy image (if one needs a tat for to feel masculine then they've got other issues going on). I don't know why girls get them, but rebellious it aint. A woman's body is the mona lisa and I for one would never deface the Mona Lisa.

"I never wanted a tat because don't want noticeable markings in my profession."

That's why tats especially are a moral thing for ya, huh?

--virgil

Unless you're defining "youth" as people under 50, you're probably not spekaing to the majoirty of folks on here who are thinking about getting tatted. Got my first one at 21 (back in the 80's), and have been wanting another ever since. Back then, I was a rebel.

I never wanted a tat because don't want noticeable markings in my profession.  I like to be icognito.

So far younger daughter (having dinner with her tonight!) has resisted getting a tat.  (I may be behind the knowledge curve on that).

Still 14 piercings as of last update, though...

I love to see my fellow youth buck conformity by getting tatted like all the other youth. Rock on in your unique and rebellious skins!

or as House says, "you want to be a rebel, go hang out in the library with all the asian kids who don't care what you think about them....of course they are there because of intense pressure from their parents, but the point remains"

(paraphrased) 

or, mabey who puts it on!

--virgil

...or who sees it.

" I've heard that those are called "Tramp Stamps"

I suppose it depends on who's wearing it ...

--virgil

 I've seen some nice butterflies on the small of some very elegant backs.

I've heard that those are called "Tramp Stamps"

Your welcome virgil. ..........;<))

Lana , LoL ... makes me laugh !

Thanks!!

--virgil