I've yet to get my first tattoo and it will be several centuries before I do.

I have much to say on this subject. Much. A very great deal in fact. Subject matter that most people with tattoos would object to but I doubt this is an appropriate venue for such a discussion. Therfore I will limit my comments to this; most, not all but most people with body art already feel the same way I do. They just don't realize it or have not thought of it in such terms but they do reveal their true feelings when the ink stops at the wrist or the neck. Deep down, they know perfectly well.

Sorry if that offends anyone. I will not comment further.

2¢

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Okay,that went over my head.......

Mine too. . I have one tattoo (or three if you count every letter) three chinese letters meaning Love, Respect, Knowledge, and yes that is what it means, believe me I checked. But I still use the joke "... either that or Kung Pow chicken 5 $" hehe classic .
I also want more tattoos, but I am not sure what I want so I am waiting until I am sure what I want. I'm thinking maybe my name in viking runes on my tricep or on the side of the ripcage.
I am kind sick of the BS some people tell when they are talking to people who have tattoos. BS like "you know it's going to be all grumpled when you get old" Yeah I know, it's called aging, your skin is also going to be grumpled when you get old (no disrespect to our older forumites ), and "I would never get a tattoo, my body is my temple", yeah my body is my temple and I choose to decorate mine (stolen from a Suicede Girls video (what can I say, I like chicks with ink and I am not going to apologyse for that ))

But not to hijack the thread, get something that has some meaning to you, even if it is contemparory, it can bring up some nostalgic feeling when you get old and your grandchildren are asking you about your ink then you can tell them "Yeah, I got this ink when I was [age] old and was heavy into [this and that] so I got this ink".
And choose your artist wisely, try to get some recomments about artist beforehand. A good tattoo artist can do miracles.

My 2 cents.

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Deyr fé
Deyja frændr
Deyr sjálfr ið sama
En orðstír
Deyr aldregi
Hveim er sér góðan getr

You are perfectly entitled to your opinion and I always strongly advise people who do not want or like tattoos, not to have any done.

Who Are You ???

Should be the question on deciding a theme for a tattoo.
Never mind the mags. and all the photo's, the whole point of tattoo's initially was to have a personal and unique statement.

I'm just wondering how long before you can step into Wal-Mart for a Tattoo.
I still have a design for myself but it was my own based on my life not who or what I fantasize it to be..

Basically, a tattoo must be honest, among certain groups, you had better be able to back up your tattoo's theme, thus all the more reason to be introspective..

Good Luck

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Agreed, I've always had a thing for the traditional japanese-style tats.

I'm one of the chickens, though.

Some good advice and some ignorant comments on this post - best thing I read was do not ask someone else for advice, or you arent really ready for ink - I waited for a long time to get my first tat - and now I have a half sleeve on my left arm, and 3 large tats on my right arm that will eventually be a sleeve as well - Bottom line, when I was 21, Metallica across my forearm may have been cool, now that im 35, not so cool!!

My half sleeve is a coi and flower combo with black art mixed in - like others mentioned, im also a big fan of the koi art - koi has a lot of meaning - Just find something that you are interested in and go from there - find an artist you trust, talk to them, possibly have them draw you up an original tat using your ideas, a true tattoo artist is just that, an artist - they are normally creative beyond your wildest imagination - trust them - make sure you see their work - you can walk in a shop and see flash everywhere, and it be impressive, but whats that flash gonna look like on your skin? Not trying to sound like a "know it all" but 2 of my close friends are amazing tat artists, and I do marketing for their shop - we go to conventions and stuff and have a blast!!!

Good luck with it dude!! Be warned!!! THEY ARE ADDICTING!!!!!!!!!!!

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"Wait a minute, somethings wrong here!"