Anyone else anti-tatoo?

[roomthreeseventeen]

This thread is tempting me to go get another tattoo.

 

[threecrazykids]

Ok, I'll give you that. WHY are tattooed workers a health risk? Got some research?

It wasn't me who said it...but I think she was referring to the hepatitis someone spoke of earlier.

 

[MrsPete]

So what? Is your un-tattooed skin going to look awesome when you're 85?

In my opinion, it's going to look better than another 85-year old's stretched, faded, migrated-south tattoo.

Actually, if I look as good at 85 as my grandmother did, I'll be quite satisfied. She's really just started looking OLD since she passed 92-93.

 

[mamacatnv]

I was reading other threads about getting a tatoo and it made me think. I think for the first time I'm admitting that I am judgemental when it comes to people covered in tatoos. I'm not talking about having 1 or 2 that are discreet.
I know so many people who have tatoos (my hubby being one of them...he has ONE), but when I see people who are covered in tatoos I instantly think "ick". WHY?

I have NEVER looked at any tatoo and thought "oh how cool!" I instantly think "stupid move". God knows I would never say that because they are very sentimental tatoos sometimes, but even when my husband got his I told him I didn't care for it. He loves his tatoo and although a part of me likes the "bad boy" image I still don't love it by any stretch of the word.

I just associate tatoos with a negative connotation.

I think it's because my dad always drilled into my head..."would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley? NO!" He told me over and over "first impressions will make or break life's opportunities...don't do something to compromise that."

Anyone else instantly turned off by tatoos? Do you feel slightly superior to someone who has them?

I KNOW I am not better/superior but I just look down on people (and dare I say it...especially women who are covered), and frankly I'm embarrassed.

Lets get back to the original question - I think the OP was very honest about her opinions and attitude.
She stated she was not talking about the occassional tat.
She stated that she was embarrassed by the way she feels towards tat covered people.
Several of you went off on wild tangents that really do not pertain to the original question.

I for one know exactly how the OP feels, however I am not embarrassed by my opinions like she is.

Yes, I do judge based on the visibility of tats, it is what it is. I really honestly do not think there is anyone here who can say they do not, nor ever have nor ever will judge someone for something.

To some it might not be right, it might not be politically correct but I do honestly believe we all judge in our own ways. When someone chooses to cover their body with ink they are willingly altering their appearance and IMO need to understand that not every person on the planet is going to say it's okay, its your body do what you want with it.

My son can't have facial hair where he works, he could chose to grow a goatee and find a job elsewhere, it is what it is and the corporation has the right (within the limits of Federal Law) to decide what image they want to portray.

Last I checked, tattoos were not covered under discrimination protection.

 

[FayeW]

Yeah, I'm anti-tattoo. Body piercings, other than earrings, make me physically ill when I look at them. I think that they (tats and piercings) are tacky and trashy, but then again, I am a judgemental old broad. I could pretend that I'm not judging people when I see their tattoos and piercings, but I am. So are a lot of others.

I keep my opinion largely to myself which just means I won't say anything to your face, but I'll probably talk about you to my husband or friends. At least I'm honest.

 

[MzDiz]

I never thought I'd get a tattoo. I got my first one on my 37th birthday. I've had several since then. All of them are visible when I'm wearing a t-shirt and shorts and I've never been happier about my appearance.

Mine are all of religious/spiritual significance and in the Buddhist religion tattoos are pretty commonplace.

My mother says "how are you going to look when you're 80?" and I tell her "probably exactly like you will, ridiculously wrinkled and old, except colorful"

 

[disykat]

I think they're ugly and, yes, they repulse me. I'm sure there are things about me others find ugly. Why would anyone care if I think their tatoo is ugly?

Heck I have a very close friend with tatoos and she knows I think they're ugly. It's nothing against her personally - I just don't like tatoos!

 

[threecrazykids]

This thread is tempting me to go get another tattoo.

Soooo....what you're saying is that it really doesn't take much in the way of "sentimental value" for you to get one. You'd just do it "just because" of someone NOT liking them?

Hmmm...interesting analogy.

So if I said "I don't like your hair, your feet, or your hairy back." You'd change your hair, grow out your toenails and never shave your back again? So...your tattoos are to spite people? Interesting.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Soooo....what you're saying is that it really doesn't take much in the way of "sentimental value" for you to get one. You'd just do it "just because" of someone NOT liking them?

Hmmm...interesting analogy.

So if I said "I don't like your hair, your feet, or your hairy back." You'd change your hair, grow out your toenails and never shave your back again? So...your tattoos are to spite people? Interesting.

I was making a joke.

 

[MzDiz]

Soooo....what you're saying is that it really doesn't take much in the way of "sentimental value" for you to get one. You'd just do it "just because" of someone NOT liking them?

Hmmm...interesting analogy.

So if I said "I don't like your hair, your feet, or your hairy back." You'd change your hair, grow out your toenails and never shave your back again? So...your tattoos are to spite people? Interesting.

I hope the previous poster doesn't mind me interjecting my opinion here. I'm pretty sure that's not what they meant. Tattoos, for people that like them, are addictive. Talking about them makes you want another. I'm sure that was the general feeling there, not to spite the anti-tattoo crowd.

 

[threecrazykids]

I was making a joke.

I know you were. Just makes me wonder sometimes when I see some of the tattoos out there if that's not exactly what happens!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I know so many people who have tatoos (my hubby being one of them...he has ONE), but when I see people who are covered in tatoos I instantly think "ick".

I don't have any major issue with tattoos in general, but I don't find a person covered in tattoos attractive. So I guess I think "ick", too.

But strategically placed, limited tattoos don't really bother me. I've often considered getting one myself.

 

[MrsPete]

This thread is tempting me to go get another tattoo.

Well, at least you have a good, solid reason.

I do wonder why some of my students choose to get various tattoos. Many of them seem to get them when they turn 18 -- just because they can. And they seem to do it with little thought. For example, one of my students came in not long ago and showed me that he'd just had a cartoon penguin tattooed on his stomach. (I really don't like for students to show these to me, especially when they're underneath clothing, but that's another topic.) Needing something to say . . . unable to compliment it . . . I asked him WHY a penguin, thinking it'd have some significance, some cute story. He looked surprised and just shrugged and said, "Why not?" I have trouble believing he won't regret having a random penguin, something he chose with little real consideration.

 

[MineMail]

Ok, I'll give you that. WHY are tattooed workers a health risk? Got some research?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020

This is basic Disease Control: If someone gets an infection from improperly-sterilized equipment, they become a carrier of the disease. They can then spread it when they prepare food, especially if they have a small cut or don't wash their hands after using the bathroom.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020

This is basic Disease Control: If someone gets an infection from improperly-sterilized equipment, they become a carrier of the disease. They can then spread it when they prepare food, especially if they have a small cut or don't wash their hands after using the bathroom.

It is against the law to use improperly sterilized equipment. So your risk of infection is pretty much no better than accepting food from someone who may or may not have washed his hands.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It is against the law to use improperly sterilized equipment.

I think it's against the law to prepare food without gloves, too.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think it's against the law to prepare food without gloves, too.

...which is exactly my point.

 

[Geoff_M]

From a logical point of view, her skin isn't likely to stretch much more; thus, her design isn't going to change. On the other hand, a 20-year old has years of skin-changing years ahead of him.

This reminds me of the SNL "Tattoo Removal Commercial".

 

[MrsPete]

It is against the law to use improperly sterilized equipment. So your risk of infection is pretty much no better than accepting food from someone who may or may not have washed his hands.

But surely you know that many people have homemade tattoos? I see plenty of students who do it: Some because they're not old enough to go to a real place, others because they don't have the money to hire a professional. I think we'd all agree that's a bad choice -- it's unregulated and it opens the individual to a greater possibility of infections or other problems -- but the question isn't about you or me.

The question is about the guy who's making your sandwich. If he's had a homemade tattoo, he is more dangerous than the guy who didn't wash his hands. And you and I have no way to know anything about the guy back in the back of the restaurant -- the guy who's actually handling our food.

 

[MineMail]

Did the guy at the grocery store, the guy who started all of this, get his hepititus from a tattoo? I don't know . . . but IF he did, his personal choice certainly hurt a lot of people. And it does sound like a person with a recent tattoo might be a public health risk if he's working with food.

I was lucky - my personal doctor ordered the vaccine for me after I faxed his office a copy of the notification letter. One of my scares was from the excellent cafeteria in our building. Just a fluke.

While yes, it's just one guy exposing a bunch of people from a recent tattoo - he picked it up from a tattoo parlor. What about the other people who were also tattooed at that place? Some people might not read the paper or receive a notice, so they go about their business as usual. If it's an office worker, the risk of their transmitting it to others is much lower than a food service or health care provider.

I never thought of getting tattoos as an addiction - is that true? I expected it to be some noble gesture of tribute. That's the reason several cousins have given when asked.