Kids/ Tattoos - What Age is Acceptable

Shawnee123 · 09-20-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Everyone has some form of hairstyle - even people who just let it grow and hoick it behind their ears are saying something about themselves.

I love my tattoo - it's part of me. I didn't get it to be dangerous or "out there" (just as well seeing as so many people have them now!) It says as much about me as my watch, my shoes, my hairstyle except that it's less visible and far more personal. I'm glad it's permanent - I got it in full knowledge that this was the case.

You made a good point, Sundae Girl. Thank you for your response. It seems the only way to get a response at the Cellar is to rile someone or totally kiss their ass...you show your class by responding but not biting.

When I think of it in form of hairstyle I see what you mean, except that most people have, or have had, hair!

At any rate, how we choose to express ourselves often means more than the expression itself.

Pangloss62 · 09-20-2006, 03:03 PM

I have a birth mark on my neck and on my left arm. To this day, grown men and women I don't even know get this really concerned look on their face, come right up to me and ask "What's wrong with your neck?" or "What happened to you?" It's happened so much in the past that I just take it in stride, but it strikes me as kinda rude. I mean, if I see some guy with one leg in a wheelchair I don't say "What happened to you?" Though that might lead to a good story.

I think my birthmark is a part of me more than any tattoo could ever be.

Happy Monkey · 09-20-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangloss62

I mean, if I see some guy with one leg in a wheelchair I don't say "What happened to you?" Though that might lead to a good story.

Yeah, usually you put your whole body in a wheelchair, not just one leg!

BlacKat1980 · 09-21-2006, 03:41 AM

Quote:

....if I see some guy with one leg in a wheelchair I don't say "What happened to you?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Yeah, usually you put your whole body in a wheelchair, not just one leg!

OMG, can't stop laughing - all I can picture is some poor guy hobbling down the street with one leg shoved into a wheelchair, trying not to fall over, while hopping along on the other leg!! LOL

Sundae · 09-21-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangloss62

I have a birth mark on my neck and on my left arm. To this day, grown men and women I don't even know get this really concerned look on their face, come right up to me and ask "What's wrong with your neck?" or "What happened to you?" It's happened so much in the past that I just take it in stride, but it strikes me as kinda rude.

Funny you should say that - I have a condition known as ptosis which means my left eyelid droops slightly. It wasn't handled particularly well by my Mother when I was younger, to the extent I saw it as a deformity and my throat closed up every time eyes, eyelids etc were mentioned. The first boy I dated told me I had beautiful eyes and I ran off in tears and was completely unable to explain myself.

It took til I was in my 30's to accept it and accept I'm normal. I can now answer intrusive questions, "Oh! What's wrong with your eye?!" quite calmly. "It's called ptosis, I was born with it" and sometimes, if I'm feeling vicious, "I prefer not to talk about it, thanks"

Anyway - the turning point for me was when I was considering surgery, believing it would change my life because I would finally be normal. The boyfriend of a beautiful friend of mine sat up all night with me talking, gently explaining to me that my slightly flawed face made me more interesting to interesting people. He also said that it had formed my character and I should therefore wear it as a badge of honour (and lots more compliments like that). It broke the dam - we went for a long walk as the sun came up and I cried my eyes out sitting on the park swings.

I wouldn't change it now.

And Shawnee123 - you're welcome

Pangloss62 · 09-21-2006, 11:15 AM

To be honest, I have to say that a woman that has a slight imperfection of one of her eyes is really, really sexy. Have you ever seen Karen Black? Her eyes are just a slight bit "off." Damn that's alluring. You made the right decision, Sundae.

BigV · 10-08-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Funny you should say that - I have a condition known as ptosis which means my left eyelid droops slightly. --snip--

Like Forrest Whitaker?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I wouldn't change it now.

And Shawnee123 - you're welcome

Good for you!

Sundae · 10-10-2006, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

Like Forrest Whitaker?

Yes. At least in appearance, I don't know if it is exactly the same condition. Also like Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Hoof Hearted · 10-10-2006, 09:11 PM

I have a pinky finger with no nail. Missing when I was born, Dr says the finger was probably caught in a placental mass and didn't develop properly. However, being interested in horses, breeding and genetics...it was enough to keep me from having children.
I didn't understand that it wasn't a genetic thing when I was younger, and I had already made the have-no-children decision and I couldn't get past my younger mind-set when I matured.

I want to get a tattoo for my b-day this year. I have the design picked out, it is small, but I am at odds as to where to place it. I'd like to put it at the back of my neck under my hairline...
...but I am such a wuss...
My mother is very negative about tattoos...and I don't know if I'm getting the tattoo to piss her off (place it in a very visual area) or getting it for me (place it in a personal area) or even if I'd be placing it in a personal area to prevent her from seeing it.
Why, oh why, at this age...is my mother still controlling my life?
Maybe THAT is why I'm getting this tattoo. I decided. Not her.

Sundae · 10-16-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoof Hearted

I want to get a tattoo for my b-day this year. I have the design picked out, it is small, but I am at odds as to where to place it. I'd like to put it at the back of my neck under my hairline..

Sorry to hear about your fingernail - I really hope it didn't cause you too many self-esteem issues growing up.

And pleased to hear you have decided to come out from under your Mum's judgement. From your photos and posts you're beautiful and individual - you know what you choose will be right for you. Go for it.

***

An update on my original post. Over the last few months I have become much closer to the 15 year old co-worker I described. I still feel she (and her mother) were unwise re the tattoo issue, but I have come to see her as a person and not an age now.

Her father left them last year for another relationship, and times were hard at home due to a clever accountant "proving" this successful businessman could only pay £100 a month for child support for 4 children. She argued quite significantly with her father at Christmas last year and we had quite a few conversation where I gently tried to persuade her that even if she does hate her father now, he's still her father and always will be, and things will hopefully change as she matures.

He died unexpectedly 2 weeks ago following a routine operation.

She was back at work last Saturday, hurt, brave, aware, guilty and generally all-round making me want to cry for her. Which I would never do in front of someone coming to terms with the pain in her own life.

Sod getting tattoos underage. I'm glad I admired it when she showed me, so that she feels she has an adult outside her family she can talk to now.

Life, eh?

09-20-2006, 03:03 PM	#2
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Born with a tattoo I have a birth mark on my neck and on my left arm. To this day, grown men and women I don't even know get this really concerned look on their face, come right up to me and ask "What's wrong with your neck?" or "What happened to you?" It's happened so much in the past that I just take it in stride, but it strikes me as kinda rude. I mean, if I see some guy with one leg in a wheelchair I don't say "What happened to you?" Though that might lead to a good story. I think my birthmark is a part of me more than any tattoo could ever be. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

09-21-2006, 11:15 AM	#6
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	The Eyes Have It To be honest, I have to say that a woman that has a slight imperfection of one of her eyes is really, really sexy. Have you ever seen Karen Black? Her eyes are just a slight bit "off." Damn that's alluring. You made the right decision, Sundae. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

10-10-2006, 09:11 PM	#9
Hoof Hearted ...you smell something? Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 420	I have a pinky finger with no nail. Missing when I was born, Dr says the finger was probably caught in a placental mass and didn't develop properly. However, being interested in horses, breeding and genetics...it was enough to keep me from having children. I didn't understand that it wasn't a genetic thing when I was younger, and I had already made the have-no-children decision and I couldn't get past my younger mind-set when I matured. I want to get a tattoo for my b-day this year. I have the design picked out, it is small, but I am at odds as to where to place it. I'd like to put it at the back of my neck under my hairline... ...but I am such a wuss... My mother is very negative about tattoos...and I don't know if I'm getting the tattoo to piss her off (place it in a very visual area) or getting it for me (place it in a personal area) or even if I'd be placing it in a personal area to prevent her from seeing it. Why, oh why, at this age...is my mother still controlling my life? Maybe THAT is why I'm getting this tattoo. I decided. Not her. __________________ I have the ability of single-minded determination and focu...Hey, look! A horse!

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