If you have a tattoo would it bother you?

[tigercat]

I don't have a tattoo and won't be getting one. On another one of my boards someone posted that tattoos are really bad and he wouldn't hire anyone who had one. Now I see people all the time who have tattoos and have talked to a couple about their tattoos. I have heard some very interesting stories and thoughts put into their tattoos. But now I wonder if me asking them about their tattoos were not the thing to do. I am just really interested in them. I am not upset by them just interested. Should I not be asking?
tigercat

 

[wilkeliza]

Asking is no problem. I can't stand when people around me talk about my tattoo and stare at it but won't ask about it. I love to share a out mine.

I don't agree with the rule of not hiring people with tattoos. You can't see mine in business attire so it shouldn't keep me from the job.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have 4 large tattoos, which I mostly keep covered. When I have them uncovered, the stares do bother me. I much prefer people say, oh cool tats, whats the stories behind them.

Tattoo people usually dont mind the questions, but we also know when we should cover up. Many people still have a negative view of them, so they think its something shameful and wrong to ask about. A polite question is ALWAYS better than an embarrassed stare.

 

[usd2bmd]

First I think there is no way this person can know for certain if the people he hires have them. He can see visible ones. I have two; on eon my ankle that you can't see if I am wearing pants and one in between my shoulder blades. You can't see them unless I dress to show them. But not hiring someone solely based on that is (IMO) really stupid. This gentleman would be passing over some highly qualified candidates.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

IMO it totally depends on how you ask that makes a difference. If you're genuinely interested then I don't think it's a problem. If somebody doesn't want to discuss it then they won't.

The only time my tattoos can be seen is if I'm wearing a bathing suit, underwear or naked lol. So the only times strangers mention it is if I'm in a bathing suit. I've had a lot of people comment or ask questions and most of the time I don't mind. I love my tattoo.

I do mind when it's a crap "excuse" to touch or leer.

 

[marlynnp]

I don't have a tattoo and won't be getting one. On another one of my boards someone posted that tattoos are really bad and he wouldn't hire anyone who had one. Now I see people all the time who have tattoos and have talked to a couple about their tattoos. I have heard some very interesting stories and thoughts put into their tattoos. But now I wonder if me asking them about their tattoos were not the thing to do. I am just really interested in them. I am not upset by them just interested. Should I not be asking?
tigercat

You are perfectly fine talking to someone about their tattoo(s). I have a big piece of art on my arm, I expect that someone will notice, lol. Would rather have someone ask than just stare.

The guy on your other board sounds like an idiot and not someone I'd want to work for regardless. I work in a professional office the only tattoo that anyone there knows I have is one on my wrist that if it were a problem is easily covered with my watch band.

 

[BadPinkTink]

some industries and companies have a no VISABLE tattoo policy and to me thats understandable. Some industries have a very traditional conservative employee dress code and when you choose to get a tattoo in a visable place you make that life choice.

How would this guy know that I have tattoos on my back, which are covered in conservative business work clothes in an interview?

 

[kimblebee]

I have one and if you asked me about it I would answer your questions. I was 19 when I got mine and it was my act of rebellion. I got a smiley sun about the size of a ping pong ball and its on my left outer thigh so it's easily covered up. I'm such a rebel LOL

 

[Squirlz]

We get lots of compliments on ours, my Wife especially. We don't mind talking about them. Ours are all large and very visible. Sometimes strangers will touch though, and that's kind of weird.

 

[xlsm]

Most people would be ok with you asking!!

As for the guy who has a problem with them, he's ridiculous. Covered in the workplace is a reasonable request, but as for not hiring because of them in general?? How would he even know?
My brother and his wife lost their first baby to a genetic condition called Trisomy 13. He lived for 1 hour and 47 minutes after being born. My brother has his hand and footprints tattooed on his arm.

I got a small one of a butterfly on my left shoulder blade the day I graduated high school...my best friend and I went together, and tried to get them where we could hide them from our parents, LOL!! It's quarter sized, and I forget it's there most of the time, because I've had it so long! You can only see it if I wear tank tops or a bathing suit, or anything strapless...for example, a bridesmaid dress. When one of my friends got married, there were a couple of little old ladies who gasped at it and began furiously whispering when I was walking down the aisle as her bridesmaid. I was too far away to hear her reaction to the bride's own ink a few seconds later - haha!!

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for all the replies. I am just interested in the stories and what the tattoos mean. I am not mean about it and am interested. As for the man on the other board I think he is nuts. Just because you have a tattoo doesn't mean anything bad for goodness sake. Enjoy life and it is your body not any one elses.
One man I talked to was a big "bad" biker dude who had tattoos. I asked him about his. It turned out it was a picture of his Mum. So much for a "bad" dude. He was really nice.
tigercat

 

[BadPinkTink]

@tigercat this photo says it all really, doctor dressed professionally, but has tattoos

 

[CPanther95]

I bet he's a prison doctor.

 

[belle1986]

Asking is no problem. I can't stand when people around me talk about my tattoo and stare at it but won't ask about it. I love to share a out mine.

I don't agree with the rule of not hiring people with tattoos. You can't see mine in business attire so it shouldn't keep me from the job.

I agree. I have 5 tattoos that cannot be seen when I'm wearing my normal work attire (scrubs and labcoat). I'm not even sure if my boss has noticed my newest one which is a decent sized Cinderella castle on my arm. Also I love when people ask about them as they all have special meaning to me.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Do people really ask strangers about their tattoos? They're so ubiquitous these days I hardly even notice.

As for not hiring people with tattoos, how does that boss even know unless they're visible while wearing standard work attire? If he asks if you have any, you probably don't want to work for him anyway. If the tattoos are visible, sure, he can reject people if it's against the company's dress code. He might very well be passing up qualified candidates, but there are probably dozens more equally qualified who will tow the company line.

 

[Colleen27]

I actually like when people ask about mine, because I did put some thought into it and collaborated on the design so it is a story I don't mind telling.

As far as not hiring people with tattoos, I've heard some crazy stories on that count that make me very glad I'm not in a conservative field. One friend, who worked for a mortgage banker, said a coworker was fired over pictures of his new tattoo. The ink wasn't visible at work - it was on his back, only visible if he was shirtless - but he shared pictures of it on Facebook that got back to a tattoo-hating superior. It absolutely floored me to think that an employer would terminate an employee over something like that, but several people piped up with similar stories. Apparently for some people, getting a tattoo is reflective of some personal/moral defect so just keeping the art covered in the workplace isn't good enough.

 

[jbcheerchick93]

I have a small tattoo on my left forearm, right under the inside of the elbow. I like talking about it and I've only had it for a few months, but it's awesome! You can't really see it unless I'm wearing my favorite sheer-sleeved top to work (which I actually just wore on Tues to an interview) and there were no issues with it

I agree with @Julie's Haircut , they're essentially ubiquitous now and I hardly notice when someone does have one unless it's to compliment them!

 

[wenrob]

@tigercat this photo says it all really, doctor dressed professionally, but has tattoos

This reminds me of my kids elementary Art teacher. (except their teacher is younger and super buff). When they started kindergarten they described him as "old and bald." So I'm expecting this paunchy, bald, old guy and when I meet him I realize to five year olds mid thirties is "old." LOL He had sleeves on both arms, an earring and shaved his head. Clearly the school doesn't have an issue with it and neither do the parents or students, he is the most beloved teacher in the school. On back to school night and Open House there is a line all the way down the hall, it takes nearly 30mins to get back to his room. With more formal nights like Art Night (where he asks the kids to dress nice since they're hosting) he dresses in a long sleeve dress shirt and tie. Looks like a different man, you'd never know he has sleeves. Anyway, my kids would be missing out on an amazing teacher if the school district had an issue with it.

As to asking, I always do because I don't want them to think I'm rudely staring. I love great artwork and I can't help but look! I have never had a negative reaction.

 

[Hutchy]

I love looking at tattoos. I have a small one I got when I was 18 and forget it is there most of the time. My husband has 2 on his arm and plans to continue adding until he has a sleeve. I will stare at tattoos to admire the detail and if the person is close to me I'll talk to them about it but if we are waiting in line and they are a few people away I'll just look without saying anything. I don't think it's rude and if I did have visible tattoos it wouldn't bother me if people looked at mine in public without talking to me about it.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have 2 tattoos and have been asked about one of them quite often when it is visible. When I got them, I made sure they could easily be covered up (one each on my shoulder blades). My current job does not allow for visible tattoos, but you better believe that a large percentage of the employees have them. A bunch of great people who work with kids and put their hearts and souls into their work. So I think the guy on the forum is short sighted and stupid to simply pass on someone because they have a tattoo.