Is the UK turning into a tattoo nation ?

[bluenosey]

I don't know if it's me, but the last few years seem to have seen an explosion in the number of people sporting the most garish of tattoos.

Years ago, it was trendy to have, maybe, a small tattoo on the top of your arm but now what have we got ? Millions of people of all ages with their arms coloured in or every member of their family etched onto their back. IMO all looking a bit of a mess.

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back. Yesterday at the petrol station some kid had a tattoo of what looked like a cyberman (with red eyes) on the lower part of his face/ the side of his neck. It was awful This is the type of thing that a few years ago was limited to one of those shock e-mails where we would all gawp and go "look at the state of that". Now it's everywhere. I'm wondering how some of these people would get a job. You shouldn't go by appearance but...

I'm desperate for someone cool in the younger generation to announce that tattoos aren't trendy. It's bound to happen. And those with the tattoos will have to wait and see what gravity and old age do to there bodily works of art.

PS Message to Mr Beckham and Miss Whitehouse. No more. Pleeeease.

[TheTon]

I don't know if it's me, but the last few years seem to have seen an explosion in the number of people sporting the most garish of tattoos.

Years ago, it was trendy to have, maybe, a small tattoo on the top of your arm but now what have we got ? Millions of people of all ages with their arms coloured in or every member of their family etched onto their back. IMO all looking a bit of a mess.

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back. Yesterday at the petrol station some kid had a tattoo of what looked like a cyberman (with red eyes) on the lower part of his face/ the side of his neck. It was awful This is the type of thing that a few years ago was limited to one of those shock e-mails where we would all gawp and go "look at the state of that". Now it's everywhere. I'm wondering how some of these people would get a job. You shouldn't go by appearance but...

I'm desperate for someone cool in the younger generation to announce that tattoos aren't trendy. It's bound to happen. And those with the tattoos will have to wait and see what gravity and old age do to there bodily works of art.

PS Message to Mr Beckham and Miss Whitehouse. No more. Pleeeease.

Argh nosey, how old you again??

I can't really comment as both my arms are tattoo'd, and my entire back, shoulders are forearms will be done by the end of next year. For me though, it was a real personal thing. I had bad psoriasis resulting in hospital treatment. Once i once clear, i got my first tat to symbolise success over the problem. The story continues along that path for a few years with the same thing happening each time.

Tattoos are addictive, there are no two ways about it. I even like tattoos on women (to a degree).

I am a truck driver though, so it doesnt affect my job. I did employ staff that were tattoo'd when i was Hotel Manager, but made them cover most up to keep my area manager happy. I like them, and would not have made him cover them up unless they were really bad!!

[Latic]

If your an HGV driver then tattoo's are compulsory are they not?!

Don't like tatt's myself but each to their own. If I were to have one I'd have one when I die "Best before xxth September 20XX" or sommet.

[Mike_]

I had a friend over recently who emigrated to South Africa , I asked her what's changed the most from the last time she was over . She said the number of people with tattoos.

[pa102aw]

Freud said that "People who aquire Tattoos consider themselves so invisible that it's the only way they can attract attention to themselves" It's a bit like piercing and dying your hair pink.

[barry]

I'm desperate for someone cool in the younger generation to announce that tattoos aren't trendy..

tattoos aren't trendy


there you go!


I don't like them, especially when you see some young lad with a bird's name covering half his leg, or the classic "only god can judge me" plastered down one arm.

No mate, I'm judging you now, you're a tit.
and Simon Cowell could probably judge you, cos you seem the type that has the main life goal of getting on the telly one way or another.

[bluenosey]

I don't know if it's me, but the last few years seem to have seen an explosion in the number of people sporting the most garish of tattoos.

Years ago, it was trendy to have, maybe, a small tattoo on the top of your arm but now what have we got ? Millions of people of all ages with their arms coloured in or every member of their family etched onto their back. IMO all looking a bit of a mess.

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back. Yesterday at the petrol station some kid had a tattoo of what looked like a cyberman (with red eyes) on the lower part of his face/ the side of his neck. It was awful This is the type of thing that a few years ago was limited to one of those shock e-mails where we would all gawp and go "look at the state of that". Now it's everywhere. I'm wondering how some of these people would get a job. You shouldn't go by appearance but...

I'm desperate for someone cool in the younger generation to announce that tattoos aren't trendy. It's bound to happen. And those with the tattoos will have to wait and see what gravity and old age do to there bodily works of art.

PS Message to Mr Beckham and Miss Whitehouse. No more. Pleeeease.

Argh nosey, how old you again??

I can't really comment as both my arms are tattoo'd, and my entire back, shoulders are forearms will be done by the end of next year. For me though, it was a real personal thing. I had bad psoriasis resulting in hospital treatment. Once i once clear, i got my first tat to symbolise success over the problem. The story continues along that path for a few years with the same thing happening each time.

Tattoos are addictive, there are no two ways about it. I even like tattoos on women (to a degree).

I am a truck driver though, so it doesnt affect my job. I did employ staff that were tattoo'd when i was Hotel Manager, but made them cover most up to keep my area manager happy. I like them, and would not have made him cover them up unless they were really bad!!

Somewhere between 20 and 40

I accept your reasons but don't you it's a bit extreme having all of your back done though ? Ouch, that's gotta hurt mate.

I know I sound like an old fart but you can look back at your fashion disasters, dodgy hairstyles and dodgy piercings when you are old and think "what the hell was I on ?" - Not that I've got any, mind But you just get stuck with tattoos forever and a day. I just couldn't have any because a) I'm a wuss when it comes to a needles and b) I change my mind a bit too much

[steve foster]

My tatt's are quite personal,i have the names of my children on my right arm(all 8 of them),my wife's name and pic on my left arm and my grandsons name (who tragically died)tattooed over my heart.Most people have a meaning for each tattoo,i personally don't give a toss what other people think of my tatt's(no offence meant to anyone on here),as i said it's a personal thing for me.

[DrBunker]

I doubt they're UK ones but...

[blahblah]

I was stuck in Peterborough for ages, non-connecting train change. The tattoos had stretch marks

[mike_d99]

I agree. Don't dislike tattoos when they're small or nicely done, but when you can't see any skin it looks absolutely minging. IMO.

There used to be a time when having a tattoo was meant to be a sign of individuality. Now, every f***ers got one. These days it's about as original as having a face.

In about five years time there'll be big bucks in tattoo removal

[TheTon]

My tatt's are quite personal,i have the names of my children on my right arm(all 8 of them),my wife's name and pic on my left arm and my grandsons name (who tragically died)tattooed over my heart.Most people have a meaning for each tattoo,i personally don't give a toss what other people think of my tatt's(no offence meant to anyone on here),as i said it's a personal thing for me.

I agree about the personal thing and about not caring what anyone else thinks. My tats are not visible with 'normal' clothes on, so reject the idea it's a 'look at me plea', but fully understand where that theory comes from. People like the forementioned Beckham and Winehouse are better examples of this in my opinion.

Many people are like Steve and myself (more Steve i would imagine).

[barry]

i have the names of my children on my right arm(all 8 of them)

you've got 8 right arms



wow... 8 kids, I'm surprised you found the time to go to the tatooist

[blahblah]

i have the names of my children on my right arm(all 8 of them)

you've got 8 right arms



wow... 8 kids, I'm surprised you found the time to go to the tatooist

Maybe while he was out..........

Good luck in Porridge, by the way

[barry]

Good luck in Porridge, by the way

cheers, I wasn't going to mention it so shhhh!

[The Elkmaster]

I have tatoo's, and I'm a nice bloke

[El Neilio 10]

Must say I find them to be eye-sores personally. I think the people with them so conspicuous want to look like gangsters / pornstars etc. etc. Quite sad really. I must say an LFC badge on my chest and an England flag on my ass have crossed my mind on occasion, though.

When I was out living in Japan, an ex-Yakuza member who frequented the same bar as my ex-girlfriend's boss give me some cool, large prints of real gangsters covered head to toe in really cool body art. NOT the razor wire look! The scenery in the background was awesome too (I think they were taken at an outdoor spa near Mount Fuji). They were cool pics!

Each to their own I guess but thankfully very few of my extended family have gone down tattoo road.

Looking back, you're hardly ever going to regret NOT having been tattooed, now, are you?

Hmmm.

And Beckham just has to take it to the extreme. Is he still a brand or is he now a living cliche?

[threeyardmiss]

I'm 22 and I think they're shocking. I always ask people if they'll like their tattoo when they're 60, and most say no!

[fil16]

Britney spears lyrics

[Billy Whiz]

It's self-graffiti, isn't it? I don't mind people having tattoos though - it's up to them - but I think it's become a cliche and is no longer a mark of individuality. And as is the way of all fashions, it will suddenly go out of fashion just as soon as it came in, and thousands of people will be left with vandalised bodies that they can't restore to their virgin state.

I'm coming round to them on women though, especially something small and tasteful on the lower back that you only get a peek at when they bend down. But tattos that you can see all the time become boring, like someone always wearing the same shirt day after day.

[Dot]

I don't know if it's me, but the last few years seem to have seen an explosion in the number of people sporting the most garish of tattoos.

Years ago, it was trendy to have, maybe, a small tattoo on the top of your arm but now what have we got ? Millions of people of all ages with their arms coloured in or every member of their family etched onto their back. IMO all looking a bit of a mess.

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back. Yesterday at the petrol station some kid had a tattoo of what looked like a cyberman (with red eyes) on the lower part of his face/ the side of his neck. It was awful This is the type of thing that a few years ago was limited to one of those shock e-mails where we would all gawp and go "look at the state of that". Now it's everywhere. I'm wondering how some of these people would get a job. You shouldn't go by appearance but...

I'm desperate for someone cool in the younger generation to announce that tattoos aren't trendy. It's bound to happen. And those with the tattoos will have to wait and see what gravity and old age do to there bodily works of art.

PS Message to Mr Beckham and Miss Whitehouse. No more. Pleeeease.

Im with you, This country is turning into a nation of chavs.

It seems a pre-requisite nowdays to not leave your teens without a load of chavvy tatts plastered all over your face arms back chest legs arse and cock/funny.

Tatts are repulsive especially on women, i met a few fat old slags in the terminal at Stanstead going on holiday recently they were about 20 stone with 40 tatts and aged around 50.
A tatt is for life unless you wanna take out a second mortgage to get it removed.
My daughter wanted a pathetic tatt done a couple of years ago i told her to do one until your 18 you aint aving nuffing done.
she wanted a load of musical notes from the back of her neck down to her arse- sillycow-
when she turned 18 she spited me and had a musical note about 3 inches scrawled onto the back of her ankle- i said you stupid tart you look like a eff chaff i hope your proud of yourself.
At least my son has had more sense and has never even entertained the idea. I even think Tatts prevent you getting on in life as i doubt that many would be employers employ a chaff with tatts showing everywhere.

[URkiddingMe]

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back.

you must be old if you got turned off by a tattoo on a "nice young lady".

seriously, an interesting thread. i don't have tattoos and neither do my mates. however, we were on holiday in Malia this summer and it seemed like everyone had tattoos. we went and got ourselves some fake tattoos so as to fit in. it's only later that we discovered that most of the real-looking tattoos on the gals and guys were actually well-done fakes. there is something bad and decadent about a tattoo though, especially if it's located properly - like a back tattoo on a gal wearing a swimsuit.

[Dot]

Just this weekend, I was chatting to a nice young lady in a pub only for her to turn to go the bar and her backless dress revealed some sort of horrible plant/rose type thingy crawling all over her back.

you must be old if you got turned off by a tattoo on a "nice young lady".

seriously, an interesting thread. i don't have tattoos and neither do my mates. however, we were on holiday in Malia this summer aand it seemed like everyone had tattoos. we went and got ourselves some fake tattoos so as to fit in.

it's only later that we discovered that most of the real-looking tattoos on the gals and guys were actually well-done fakes. there is something bad and decadent about a tattoo though, especially if it's located properly - like a back tattoo on a gal wearing a swimsuit.

I still reconised you, its them cheap glasses that you sport.

[nemo]

EDIT: Just in case anyone thought this is me - it isn't. For the record I dont' have a tatoo

[fil16]

looks like Milan Mandarich

[Billy Whiz]

The Newcastle fan above is a total loser IMO. Here's a man who's old enough to have a wife and kids and possibly even grandchildren, who derives his sense of identity not from who he is but from a football team that he supports and a dead man associated with that club. Meanwhile I wonder how his wife feels, being sh---ed by Bobby Robson every night?

I've always thought anyone over 40 wearing a football shirt (unless they're actually playing football) is sad, but this guy takes the biscuit.

[DrBunker]

Sorry Billy but I've got to pull you up on a couple of things:

Meanwhile I wonder how his wife feels, being sh---ed by Bobby Robson every night?

Every night!

I've always thought anyone over 40 wearing a football shirt (unless they're actually playing football) is sad, but this guy takes the biscuit.

For all you know he he does play for Newcastle; it certainly looks possible.

But seriously, I agree

[Tricky Tree]

I've always thought anyone over 40 wearing a football shirt (unless they're actually playing football) is sad.

But seriously, I agree

I've always thought this also.

[Billy Whiz]

Meanwhile I wonder how his wife feels, being sh---ed by Bobby Robson every night?

Every night!

All right then, every time Newcastle win (which kind of makes the question redundant )

[URkiddingMe]

Meanwhile I wonder how his wife feels, being sh---ed by Bobby Robson every night?

Every night!

All right then, every time Newcastle win (which kind of makes the question redundant )

Bobby's getting a lot of sh--s this season then?