Tattoos of your organization

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by born2bdphie

That's why you only get tattoos that
A- mean something
B- are in places where weight gain or muscle gain or sagging is unlikely.

I think there are a lot of dumb tattoos out there, but there are also a lot of beautiful ones, with deep personal meanings. I think no matter where you put it, a tattoo for your GLO is fine because brotherhood and sisterhood are supposed to be for life. I have a tiny tattoo of my letters on my heel and I LOVE it.

I don't mean to slam anyone with a tattoo, although it probably sounds like that. I'll readily admit that I'm of an older age and a culteral background that tends to view tattoos as, well, trashy. But I know plenty of good folks view them otherwise.

I quibble a bit though with the idea that that's why you only get tattoos that mean something. What means a lot to someone at 20 (or what you think is beautiful at 20) may be quite different from what's meaningful or beautiful to them at 70. (And really -- have you ever seen any 70-year-old whose tattoos looked good? I haven't.) That's the case even when it involves something like lifetime sisterhood or brotherhood --just ask the guy whose tattoo professes his love for the woman he ended up divorcing when she cheated on him.

If someone wants a tattoo of their letters, fine -- no skin off my nose. But I'm content with my badge.

[ZetaGirl22]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't mean to slam anyone with a tattoo, although it probably sounds like that. I'll readily admit that I'm of an older age and a culteral background that tends to view tattoos as, well, trashy. But I know plenty of good folks view them otherwise.

I quibble a bit though with the idea that that's why you only get tattoos that mean something. What means a lot to someone at 20 (or what you think is beautiful at 20) may be quite different from what's meaningful or beautiful to them at 70. (And really -- have you ever seen any 70-year-old whose tattoos looked good? I haven't.) That's the case even when it involves something like lifetime sisterhood or brotherhood --just ask the guy whose tattoo professes his love for the woman he ended up divorcing when she cheated on him.

If someone wants a tattoo of their letters, fine -- no skin off my nose. But I'm content with my badge.

No, I havent seen many 70 y/o's whos tattoos look good, but we have to think of something here. Techniques have had a LONG time to be perfected since then. Back in the day, tattooing was an underground, down and dirty kind of thing. Now its considered an art form. Artists will apprentice FOR YEARS before they are even ALLOWED to touch skin. Not so for folks getting inked in the 40's and 50's. Its come A LONG way. So much so that at their death, many people with treasured pieces have chosen to have the skin preserved (THAT is a little weird and I would NEVER EVER let DH write that into a will...........I dont want his skin matted and hanging on my wall.......EWWWWW LOL)

Meaning is IMPORTANT. Yeah if you get something lame at 20 sure you are going to regret it. DH has a beautiful phoenix on his back, that means a lot to him and is inspirational-for personal reasons. His half sleeve is scenes from Pink Floyd's "The Wall" which is also highly personally meaningful to him. I asked him that before he got them, "Are you sure you wont think this isnt lame when you are 70?" And he seriously thought about it. The answer is NO. And re the weight thing. DH has fluctuated in weight about 40 lbs and his tattoos still look exactly the same. Thats why you DONT get tattooed in areas that are prone to sagging with age and weight gain. His are on his back and right upper arm respectively.....Hint: Ladies, PLEASE do not get those popular hip tattooes. I have TOO many friends that did that at 20 and 21, had a few babies and now they look like crap.

Like I said, I dont have any because Im terrified of needles. I ALSO cant think of anything to get that I DONT think I will look back on when Im 70 and think, "Why?" The only tattoo I MAY get is something having to do with nursing, when I finish nursing school, or something signifying my children if/when we have them.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ZetaGirl22

Meaning is IMPORTANT.

Meaning is important, but again, I'm old enough to know that much of what I thought would always be meaningful to me when I was in my 20s just isn't that meaningful -- or not meaningful in the same way -- 20 years later. Like I said, ask anyone who's had a tattoo of a significant other's name when that other isn't so significant anymore.

You and your husband like your tattoos. That's really all that matters.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

If someone wants a tattoo of their letters, fine -- no skin off my nose. But I'm content with my badge.

THIS.

I love my sorority just as much as any alumna, I just don't want anything of that level of permanence on my body.

Also, a friend of mine has a tattoo that I thought was really cool--until she got pregnant with her son. You may think your tattoo is cute or cool, until you gain 35 lbs and stretch it out. Ew.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

THIS.

Also, a friend of mine has a tattoo that I thought was really cool--until she got pregnant with her son. You may think your tattoo is cute or cool, until you gain 35 lbs and stretch it out. Ew.

That's why I won't get my belly button area tattoo until AFTER I get the tummy tuck I haven't quite settled on a design but I know that it will commemorate the two lives that I brought into this world and the two that didn't make it.

[nittanygirl]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

That's why I won't get my belly button area tattoo until AFTER I get the tummy tuck I haven't quite settled on a design but I know that it will commemorate the two lives that I brought into this world and the two that didn't make it.

i think the thought in this is beautiful. This is when tattoos make sense to me, when they actually truly represent something very meaningful that you're not going to consider to be any less meaningful.

I don't know if tattoos are for me, and I'm not in a social sorority yet (yay fall recruitment) but I think the DG anchor, small (no bigger than an inch) and sort of angled on the outside of a foot could be really cute