Anyone else anti-tatoo?

[MiniGirl]

I wouldn't really say that I am "anti" tattoo. I mean the occassional tat doesn't bother me in the least, but yes, a body covered in them is distracting. I don't find them disgusting or anything like that. I just honestly don't see the appeal. I know many people who have gotten tats for different reasons and the truth is..... I have yet to see one I like. That's okay though. I'm sure there are things I've gotten that people don't see the attraction either.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

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.

This. That's how I feel. I love ink with thought behind it. My husband has his fraternity letters and a cartoon bird on his leg (the bird was his first when he turned 18 because it was a long-standing family joke). That means something. My friend has her children's initials on her ankles and a set of tiger paws marching across her foot (for her husband, an Auburn Grad). That means something. I have another friend that got a lizard tattoed on her hip because it was cute in the book at the parlor. No story there.

 

[C.Ann]

I am not a fan of them at all.. However, a number of years ago my adult DD came back from a trip to the ocean with a small tattoo just above her ankle.. I would have liked to strangle her, but she's an adult and can do what she wants..

When she first got it, she really loved it.. Now? Not so much.. She is currently 37 years old and wishes she had never, ever gone ahead with it.. More than once she has said to me, "Mom - I wish you were on that trip with me so you could have talked me out of doing such a stupid thing.. I don't know why I ever thought having something so permanent done to my body was a good idea.. I guess I just wasn't thinking ahead.."

Some people may never experience any regrets - and others will.. Either way, it's a life lesson..

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

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.

I don't disagree with this. But generalizing it by saying you wouldn't accept food from anyone with a tattoo is uncool.

 

[Geoff_M]

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

In some cases the opposite is true, particularly when the workers have to work around open flames or heat sources like stoves. In these cases the burn risk to the worker from a burning/melting vinyl glove is deemed to be greater than the food safety risk of not wearing gloves.

Some states don't require any food workers to wear gloves and only require hand washing, and others only require them for things like making "ready to eat" foods like sandwiches.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't disagree with this. But generalizing it by saying you wouldn't accept food from anyone with a tattoo is uncool.

That's not what I said. It's essentially impossible for the general public to know who's handling the food, especially if it's coming through a drive-through. Generally we only interact with either our wait staff or the person at the cash register. The guy who makes our sandwich could've just finished taking out the trash or cleaning the bathroom -- and we don't know whether he washed his hands.

I would definitely prefer that all my food be handled ONLY by people who are healthy, have no risk factors (including recent tattoos, which may or may not have been done with sanitary conditions), wear gloves, and work in clean conditions. But I can't know those things for certain.

Anyone who's ever worked in food service'll tell you that things don't always go "by the book", and it's a testiment to our strong immunity systems that we aren't all sick.

 

[crz4mm2]

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.

mte

 

[JessicaR]

I dont come to any conclusions or judge a person when I see they have tattoos. I don't have any. I do enjoy viewing them on others and appreciate the work for the art they usually are.

My dog that is a giant breed is 8 now and we have had him since he was a puppy. His age has me thinking I would love a self portrait of him on me somewhere. He is my heart. We'll see.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I love my tattoo! I know not everyone will like it - that's OK, they don't have to! It's on my body and it's nothing to do with them!

I think everyone has a right to their opinion, but I think people should be honest. There is a difference between having an opinion and judging someone, and what some people are doing on this thread is judgmental. The posts I've appreciated most are the ones where people have actually said "I admit I judge people with tattoos!" At least they're being honest.

Oh, and I know I'll still love it at 80. It might not look so hot, but neither will the rest of me! It will still mean something to me. A lot of people have tattoos to remember something or someone, not just because they look good and that meaning will still be there.

 

[phorsenuf]

Wow! This thread certainly took off!

I'm still wondering what makes people today get tattoos, other than the traditional tattoo-wearers.
Is it common in other countries or cultures and has crossed over? It seems to have become rather common in the last fifteen years or so, in my experience.

What caused women to start piercing their ears?

Yep, go right ahead! And forty years from now we can compare notes to see if we feel the same about our mutual choices down the road!

"Twilight" tattoos, anyone?

Then the person that does that are not the type that should be getting tattoos. (Unless maybe they were the author or starred in the movies)

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.

So you actually vomit when you see people walking down the street in tattoos. You must be awfully dehydrated.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

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.

Just because it may be against the law, that doesn't stop people from using unsterilized equipment. There are some tattoo shops that are eventually closed down after several citations and possibly many people getting sick. It happens.

Plus, there are those that do things on their own. Heck, my niece pierced her own ears at the age of 12 using a sewing needle. Many people in prison do their own tats or have their cellmates do it for them.

Some people do stupid things, which can affect the health of others.

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

It's also against the law for restaurant workers to use the restroom and leave without washing their hands. Yet, my dad saw an employee at a restaurant do that just this sunday.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I don't assume that they even had them done at a licensed tattoo parlor. Some of the tattoos I've seen recently look homemade. When a food service worker takes off their gloves and has tattooed letters on their knuckles, it's stomach-turning.

While you may do your homework and frequent tattoo parlors that are top-notch, I've read about some that were closed for health code violations. That doesn't help the people who were already exposed and may not see the article in the paper and get checked.

There are no health code requirements that test food service workers for Hep until an outbreak is traced back to a particular restaurant or store. I was exposed to two different outbreaks within three months of each other.

Fortunately, I didn't contract it, but I like to keep my distance. I donate blood regularly, but there are many people who can't donate because of Hepatitis.

haa haahaa, guess what I do for work?? yep, health code violations! wow, I guess I have one up on you guys!!! lol The girl with the tattoo' s does that for work! and as for the comment about "homemade" tattoo's, those are usually called "jailhouse" tattoo's, done in guess? yep, jail!

 

[punkin]

haa haahaa, guess what I do for work?? yep, health code violations! wow, I guess I have one up on you guys!!! lol The girl with the tattoo' s does that for work! and as for the comment about "homemade" tattoo's, those are usually called "jailhouse" tattoo's, done in guess? yep, jail!

You violate the health code as your job? Tell me I misread that.

 

[JessicaR]

I'm a little surprised talk of tattoos can get so heated. Live and let live.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm a little surprised talk of tattoos can get so heated. Live and let live.

Or as it says on my son's tattoo (that prompted this thread); Live Free or Die.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

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.

and chances are MUCH greater that they are an IV drug user!! lol

 

[Scurvy]

You violate the health code as your job? Tell me I misread that.

That could be an absolutely fascinating job, but I'd have to think her career would be short lived. Surely someone would catch her eventually! But I guess the tattoos make more sense now. (I'm kidding! I swear! )

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

You violate the health code as your job? Tell me I misread that.

are you serious? wow...poor you! here, let me spell it out for you. BOARD OF HEALTH!
and I am not going to comment on anything that you all THINK you know about it! I am just going to read, and judge! lol

 

[Anjelica]

I think the whole having hepatitis because they have a tattoo leap is still a bit much.

Do people who use unsterilized drug needles have a tattoo all the time? Probably not. Do people who are promiscious without contraception have a tattoo in every single situation. Again probably not. Just because a food worker does NOT have a tattoo does not mean they don't have Hepatitis. Honestly, if you are that worried that someone will give you Hepatitis through food I wouldn't eat out anymore - rather do as much of the preperation in your own kitchen/household. I would also get the vaccines.

People get hepatitis various different ways. Just recently I was reading about people catching it from a Dentists office. http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=246599&format=html Do you know folks who go to the dentists office and still feel the same way regarding hepatitis?

People have caught hepatitis from hospitals as well. You would think that of all places that would have superb sterilizing equipment a hospital would be the best. Not so much.

I have no problem with folks thinking Tattoo's are gross, ugly, etc. But assuming food workers who have tattoos are "walking hepatitis carriers" again I think is pushing it a bit much.

 

[legalsea]

When I see a person with a tattoo my first thought is “Ah, a person who wishes to express their individuality by doing exactly what other people are doing”.

One of my nephews got a tattoo upon turning 18. When he showed it to me I said “That is the SS symbol!” (Nazi). He denied it, and claimed it was some type of tribal symbol or such (what tribe he is thinking about I have no idea; my family hailed from Kansas, his father’s family from Iowa).

Almost 20 years later (with wife and 2 year old son) he rues the tattoo. He hides it all the time, since he finally realized that it does, very much, resemble the old SS badge.

I used to think that getting a tattoo was simply a fad. However, since, some two decades later, they appear to be more popular than ever, I guess that ‘fad’ no longer is applicable.

I do still think, however, that for many people it is not so much a desire to ‘express themselves’ but more “I wish to fit in and be cool”.

I recently reviewed a disability case involving a young man who, while in prison, gave himself a tattoo with borrowed needles. Unfortunately, he then discovered that he was exposed to the HIV virus and developed Hepatitis C. It does concern me with all of the tattoo parlors opening that some of these people, out for a quick buck, will take unfortunate ‘shortcuts’.

Now, let us sing along with Groucho Marx:

“Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia,
Lydia the Tattooed Lady.
She has eyes that folks adore so,
And a torso even more so.

Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopidia,
Oh Lydia the Queen of Tattoo.
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo.
Beside it the wreck of the Hesperus, too.
And proudly above waves the Red, White, and Blue,
You can learn a lot from Lydia.

When her robe is unfurled, she will show you the world,
If you step up and tell her where.
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paris,
Or Washington crossing the Delaware.

Oh Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia,
Oh Lydia the Tattooed Lady
When her muscles start relaxin',
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson


Lydia of Lydia, that encyclopedia,
Oh Lydia the queen of them all!
For two bits she will do a mazurka in jazz,
With a view of Niagara that nobody has.
And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz.
You can learn a lot from Lydia.

(skipping some stanzas)

Oh Lydia, oh Lydia that encyclopidia,
Oh Lydia the champ of them all.
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet.
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat.
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet,
For he went and married Lydia!