Picture is worth a thousand words

[Teflon Billy]

Right. So all those people who like the idea of body-mods, but who work in professions that simply don't allow it are all "false people". Good one on the sweeping generalization, TB.

I stand by it.

 

[Teflon Billy]

[eidt: Correction - my apologies. You are allowed to say whatever you like about folks with temporary tatoos. Just like folks are allowed to look at TB's tats and call him "white trash" for them, and think he's an ignorant clod. But being allowed doesn't make it any the less wrong-headed, now does it?]

I pretty much am white trash :\

• I'm...well...white
• I'm poor
• I spent much of my youth in a trailer park
• I've been known to get drunk
• I got a girl pregnant when I was a teenager
• I love Strip Clubs
• I'm tattooed ()
• My favorite music includes Heavy Metal
• I like to hunt
• I am well-versed in the world of pro wrestling

Mind you...

• I've never had a mullet
• I have no fondness for the confederacy (though I love the American South)
• I graduated Highschool
• I don't drive a muscle car (dammit)
• My lawn has no refrigerators

Draw your own conclusions

 

[Teflon Billy]

Right, so all those folks who get a nice long summer vaction and would like to have some decoration for that time, they're all "false people".

Yes indeed. Tattoos, by there very permanent nature and their cachet as being "outside mainstream culture" (though less so every day admittedly ) are used as identifiers and message senders for their wearers. Common messages that Tattoos send are...

"I'm tough"
"I'm rebellious"
"I'm creative"
"I'm an ex-convict"

If you, Umbran, are about to post about a hypothetical person who is doing it for a reason outside of those listed above, please understand that the list is not--and isn't intended to be-- complete.

If you are about to toss out a hypothetical someone who is wearing it "simply because it looks nice", I'll agree that message exists...it is "I'm Vain". But you can express vanity in any number of ways, most of them are not thought to be cool. Tattoos at this point in history--by the nature of the difficulty and pain associated with their application--come with certain other messages attached (see above)

Now, people wearing fake tattoos are attempting to send a false message to viewers, and if they are wearing it "only for themelves, and they don't care what other people think"...then they are sending a false message to themselves. They are adopting an identifier that they have in no way earned and do not deserve.

I used the term "False Person" earlier in the thread because it made a nice quote, but I will spell it out in more common parlance:

False Person=Poser

If you need me to define "poser", I will. But I suspect you understand.

And all those folks who love body art, but realize that they can never be satisfied with any particular image forever, they're false too. Liking variety apparently makes you a false person.

"Loving body art but being unable to be satisfied with any particular image forever" is a message all it's own: "I'm indecisive". A false tattoo sends that particular message beautifully. Along with "I can't handle pain" , "I'm Cheap" and "I'm Afraid"

Oh, and a whole mess of folks on the Indian sub-continent are false people, because they use henna instead of a needle.

Heh, Straw Man arguments will get you no where young man

If you really needed me to state unequivocally that my comments were specific to western society before you could assume that, then I feel sorry for your grasp of the semi-obvious.

You honestly expect me to swallow this? As Kamakaze Midget says - each person's body is their own playground. You should be allowed to call someone else a "false person" just because what they choose to do on their body is temporary?

I will agree with you both.

Kamikaze Midget: Yes a person's body is their playground.

Umbran: Yes, I am allowed to call someone false (for whatever reason I believe to be true). They are adopting visual signifiers that they do not deserve. I attribute the same traits to these "False Persons" that I attribute to all posers. I think of them in the same manner that I think of "Suburban-White-kid-Gangstas".

Their adoption of inner-city black accents, mannerisms, clothing and attitudes paints them very, very clearly as Posers. They are as false as false can be. The messages they are attempting to send are...

"I'm tough"
"I have street cred"
"I am Dangerous"

...but it doesn't work, because there is no legitmacy to the pose. They have adopted visual signifiers that they have not earned.

Same thing with Fake Tattoo Posers.

[eidt: Correction - my apologies. You are allowed to say whatever you like about folks with temporary tatoos. Just like folks are allowed to look at TB's tats and call him "white trash" for them, and think he's an ignorant clod. But being allowed doesn't make it any the less wrong-headed, now does it?][/QUOTE]

People can call me whatever names they want, and I'll listen to whatever they have to say on the subject. If they can explain why I am "white-trash ignorant clod" I'm all ears.

Me? I can explain why fake tattoo folks are False

Your mileage, obviously, varies.

 

[Tetsubo]

Tetsubo and LGodamus, where did those pictures come from?

I don't remember, sorry. I think it might be an illustration from a RPG though.

 

[Khayman]

* My lawn has no refrigerators

I can help you out there, Billy. I have an Admiral refrigerator/freezer, model 010720, which was built while Jimmy Hoffa was still alive. It doesn't really keep food cold anymore, and despite its aesthetic beauty its really only fit for menacing neighbourhood children.

You have a lawn; I have a .270 --- a match made in heaven.

 

[jaults]

I don't remember, sorry. I think it might be an illustration from a RPG though.

The picture Tetsubo posted is rk post's work, originally titled Dove. It is unpublished.

http://www.rkpost.net/Black+White/black.htm

Jason

 

[Signum]

From making the decision to get one, to drawing the work myself, to having it actually done, It was about two years from start to finish when I decided to get a tattoo. It was my first piece, but I decided if I was going to do it I would do it right and get something fairly large and something that was personal, not flash off a wall. 3 years later, I still love it and will be getting more work done in the future. Temp tattoos...belong in a package of bubble gum.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Teflon - Sweet tat bra!

Billy's advice about taking your time making a decision is good. It IS a process. I ended up being impatient with my first tattoo, ( a John Busecma Silver Surfer ) and had a horrible experience with a drunk artist in Marina. Do your homework in researching an artist, and make sure you are comfortable with the artists proof he will use as a guide.

 

[pogre]

I guess I no longer see tatts as rebellious. During the last 6 years we have hired literally dozens of new female school teachers to work in our school. All of them, every single one, had at least one tattoo. Something every young female school teacher has hardly strikes me as rebellious or tough. Mind you, I am by no means being critical of tattoos, but I do think their role in society, if you will, has changed significantly in the past few years. Frankly, for those under 30 it is mainstream.

Unfortunately, you cannot even count on Harley riders to kick ass anymore

 

[Hand of Evil]

Some...From concept art from the new D&D RTS game.