The "Stigma" of Tattoos

[borg69unimatrix]

My mom's too old fashioned... she'd scream and run. Once we were shopping, and we saw a guy wearing eye liner and she thought THAT was weird.

That guy is intriguing looking... but I'd love to see his 'before' pictures to see what he looked like without the tattoo's.

To me, tattoo's are like construction... sometimes a coat of paint can help beautify an old run down building, where other times, it's just graffiti on a sacred church.

 

[pat grimshaw]

I think the older I get, the more open minded and understanding.

When I was kid, people would tell me stuff like that my life and my tastes in music, art would evolve over time. I'd get impatient and not want to go slowly through the steps. I'd want to fast forward quickly.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

Well, ya. But for some reason I find him really goodlooking and interesting. Yes, it would be nice to see what he looked like before.

Do you think it's too much on him?

And yes, some just don't look right. I agree.

I feel bad for him, kinda, because from what I can tell he looked like he was REALLY attractive before the tattoo's. I'm sad for whatever stigma he went through that he felt like he had to eradicate that part of his life. Maybe he was getting too much attention? Maybe it was all superficial and fake. Maybe he thought because of his looks no one would take the time to get to know the REAL him.

... and now most people are probably too scared to get to know him. I would imagine he makes small children scream and run. He really hasn't changed a thing in that people still will never know the real him (if those were his reasons... I'm just guessing).

 

[pat grimshaw]

…Maybe he likes being different?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnUDSBonub8&feature=related[/ame]

 

[pat grimshaw]

'the leopard man' scares me too.

He wanted to be totally 'out-there' like Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane but he now just seems insane.

 

[theFallenGod]

In case any one is curious... and it seems some are... the guy on the left is Rick Genest... before his Zombification.

 

[theFallenGod]

By the way, while I would not go as far as he did, I give Rick mad props for going the distance... He has become truly unique. It shows that he doesn't give a damn about what any negative nancy has to say about him which shows he has balls to truly be himself. Good for him. Even better for him that now he has a modeling career and has starred in a Gaga video.

 

[Callum]

I like tattoos...but I saw the same tattoo on two different people...if you're going to get a tattoo, get an original one! Don't flip through a stupid book!

I've been designing my own for quite some time on paper...just have to finish it!

 

[bankside]

Fun to share:
http://ugliesttattoos.failblog.org/

 

[Royal Heart]

I recently hung out with a dude from Toronto and he said that he noticed that, here, a lot of people have tattoos and/or piercings. Said that, in Toronto, he never saw as many tatted or pierced people in one place at any given time as he did here. I guess it's just a local thing - we like ink and body holes.

 

[Sha-Rok]

Good thing I don't live my life based on other peoples perceptions.

 

[SuperNatural]

I find tattoos extremely sexy and they are so individual. I have a tattoo of love written in japanese on my upper-left back it symbolizes my mom & brother who love me for who I am...

 

[G-Lexington]

>>>I love this man.

More for you. I can't stand the guy. Not because of his tattoos, but because I've met him a couple times, and he was an utter asshole both times.

A friend of mine has similar tattoo work on his arms - complicated, colorful. While we were hanging out once, somebody asked him "Are you related to Birdman?" My friend stared at him, then said "You know we're not BORN like this, right?"

Lex

 

[BostonPirate]

I have quite a few of them. I have them because they please ME not anyone else.

I have a life that does not require I make any boss or professional overlord happy and I can always wear long sleeves to cover them when I go to the Boston Symphony, or some other such social event here in the city.

I think neck, hand and face tattoos are silly because people, like some in this thread, are always going to sink to the lowest assumptions and make nasty accusations about people, and if you have a tattoo, you ought to have the option of being able to cover it up with clothing.

I loved the guy who said he thought that some tattoos made no sense because HE didnt understand the meaning. I assure you, the person that got that tattoo did it for a reason that was important to them.

That should be enough. When it comes to controlling your own body, people should be able to make whatever choices they want, without the nonsensical judgementalism I'm reading in this thread.

 

[bankside]

Ahh, see there's where I don't agree with you. I'm on record as thinking that tattoos are often pointless, but when I like them I like them, and it shouldn't matter where on the body or how prominent it is or whether you're at the symphony.

Come to the Edmonton Symphony and you can show your tattoos pretty much at will. But make it a good one!

 

[theFallenGod]

I recently hung out with a dude from Toronto and he said that he noticed that, here, a lot of people have tattoos and/or piercings. Said that, in Toronto, he never saw as many tatted or pierced people in one place at any given time as he did here. I guess it's just a local thing - we like ink and body holes.

Toronto, Ontario or Toronto, Ohio? Because I don't know a single person who doesn't have some ink on them. The entire west end is nothing but tatted up hipsters.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I'm trying to say this with as little snark as possible, but you're attempting to summarize his entire personality based on preconceived notions about his tattoos. If what he's done to himself causes separation from society--most notably a society that feels comfortable judging him for something this superficial--maybe that's a good thing.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He's seen around the world now. Wasn't the case before.

Good point. You could be right. And yes, I probably am brain washed by society's notion of striving to be beautiful. As far back as I can remember I've looked at the models in magazines, and wished I could look like THAT.

Looking at his face now, it would have never occurred to me that someone would intentionally WANT to look like that.

He's coming from a mindset I have completely NO understanding of.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Good point. You could be right. And yes, I probably am brain washed by society's notion of striving to be beautiful. As far back as I can remember I've looked at the models in magazines, and wished I could look like THAT.

Looking at his face now, it would have never occurred to me that someone would intentionally WANT to look like that.

He's coming from a mindset I have completely NO understanding of.

I don't know if you're still interested, but GAGA herself wrote about her experience with Rico in her first column for "V Magazine" and here's what she said:

On the set of the video, it was almost terrifyingly important to me that I tribute Rico (the Zombie Boy’s) tattoos, creating a visual metaphor where tattoos, along with the body modification I had been exploring, became a subcultural symbol for rebirth. Rico in this case was my Mondrian. After I put the makeup on, I found myself dancing and flailing at 9 a.m., after twenty-four hours of no sleep on set. Feeling young and free, it occurred that the makeup allowed me to erase the public’s perception of my beauty, and define it for myself. I asked Rico, “Why did you tattoo yourself this way?” (Something I imagine he’s asked quite frequently.) He said very genuinely, with no hesitation, “Bazooka gum.”2 See footnote.

And here's the footnote that explains Bazooka gum:

2. For those of you who’ve never had it, it’s a retro chewing gum that comes with whimsical stick-on temporary tattoos.

http://www.vmagazine.com/2011/05/from-the-desk-of-lady-gaga/?page=2

 

[MrMojoRisin]

And here's some interviews with him:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmeELC5EGv4[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHej5sLlEfo&feature=related[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNWHaegquTU[/ame]

 

[Rex]

I've noticed recently that there seems to be a big stigma associated with having tattoos here and on Waybig. People sometimes go so far as to say that people are ugly, stupid, or immature for having them.

That's exactly how people act here too. I'm not sure I've heard stupid or immature but I've heard "ruined their body with tattoos...what a shame" and shit along those lines. I don't have a tattoo but I didn't know there was such a hate for them. Is this something that's typical with gay guys or in general with certain people? Tattoos CAN be ugly but not all of them are bad.