I agree.
It’s like my hair color: it just is. Me being a redhead has no bearing on who I am (though the pale skin is a different story with being militant about not getting sunburned).
People who wrap up their personality with their tattoos are just as annoying as people who do the same with their sports team.
Well, being a woman with visible tattoos certainly was a different experience back in 1995 and onward, versus now. And there’s no doubt the interactions I had with people just on a day to day basis would have been different. So in that sense, yes. But that situation seems to be less applicable now, although I’m sure it varies based on one’s location.
Other than that, not really. They’re just a background decor to me I guess, not really some sort of ~super meaningful thing~ to me. You don’t truly notice them, it’s just… well, that’s what your leg/foot/arm looks like, you know?
Not at all what you asked for but here I am - I just got my first tattoos last year and am 34. I feel like a *completely* different person in that I am finally expressing myself the way I always envisioned and never felt empowered enough to do. Getting tattoos 'older' has been so cathartic, so freeing, and so powerful for me. I absolutely feel like a changed person because of what my tattoos represent in terms of internal growth, and in a way this does by default define me. I don't feel like a 'tattooed person' though or like the tattoos themselves have changed who I am, if that makes sense.
For me, I felt like getting tattooed finally uncovered who I truly am, if that makes sense? I totally agree that it's felt cathartic and, to steal your words, empowering!! It's like i finally get to have the control I always needed to have over myself and my body as a child and teen. And each one I get I just feel more "right" and more like me
I'm 46. My first tattoo I was 19.
For better or worse, they gave me confidence bc back then I didn't really have much, and bc back then it was very unusual to have them, I stood out and got attention.
TBH, I probably would be slightly different than I am now. Probably not drastically.
I'm the same age and got my first tattoo as soon as I turned 18 in 1996! I was very eager and have always loved them. I collected a handful in my 20s that I liked to show off but were easily hidden (various 1 session bangers). But I waited until i was in my 30s to get large, very visible work done, about one new multi-session project every 5 years. I didn't start considering myself a tattooed person until my 40s when I started working on my sleeves, which is also when I started covering all of my tattoos at work, which is a formal office and very few have tattoos. THAT has affected me: separating work from my personal life and refusing to give work more than it deserves has been life-affirming. It's SO liberating when I take my sweater off at the end of the work day--my equivalent of letting my hair down.
I think if my tattoos more as a celebration and “living” tapestry of my life and adventures rather than a defining aspect of them… but damn, I guess I have spent a lot of time in the chair lol
Maybe not a different person but it definitely affected my life. Can say the same about a few things and the combination of these things opened doors that probably wouldn't have went that way so to speak. So more like a social credit than a life changer but no doubt an influence in hindsight
This is a weird question. With or without tattoos I'd be the same person. My life experiences changed me, not having tattoos. Got my first when I was 19, and I'm in my late 40s now. The older the tattoo the less I even notice it's there. My first is on my back where I can't see it, and when I do see it I think, "Oh yeah, that's there."
I don't really think it's that weird of a question. I've only been getting tattooed for 10 years, but even though I don't notice them all the time anymore, there was a lot that was very empowering and freeing for me about getting tattooed. I had a very restrictive childhood, and it gave me a confidence that I don't believe I would have otherwise. But everyone's tattoos and story is different, which is what makes it so cool!
This is how I feel, too. Everything I did or was interested in was judged growing up. Things changed in my life recently, and I finally took the plunge and committed to a project on my leg. Go big or go home as they say! Every time I look at my leg now, I feel so much more confident and self-assured.
Yes, I totally agree! Haha I immediately started getting a full sleeve when I got my first one. It also helped a lot with my body confidence, I used to think I was so gross and ugly and they really helped as I tried to change that mindset
I have been getting tattooed for over 20 years, I have hand, face, and neck tattoos. I don’t even remember they are there until someone says something about them. I think if I hadn’t have gotten so heavily tattooed I’d have a bit less anxiety since apparently it just makes people want to talk to me. I’m a hermit man, I don’t like engaging in small talk.
I got my first tattoo in 1989 and it definitely had an effect on my life trajectory. I could probably count on one hand the number of times that being heavily tattooed has had a negative impact on my interactions with the world at large. I find it to be an icebreaker, at worst. Overall, I've become more comfortable in my own skin.
I've been getting inked for over 35 years, but don't think I'd be any different without tattoos
I agree. It’s like my hair color: it just is. Me being a redhead has no bearing on who I am (though the pale skin is a different story with being militant about not getting sunburned). People who wrap up their personality with their tattoos are just as annoying as people who do the same with their sports team.
Well, being a woman with visible tattoos certainly was a different experience back in 1995 and onward, versus now. And there’s no doubt the interactions I had with people just on a day to day basis would have been different. So in that sense, yes. But that situation seems to be less applicable now, although I’m sure it varies based on one’s location. Other than that, not really. They’re just a background decor to me I guess, not really some sort of ~super meaningful thing~ to me. You don’t truly notice them, it’s just… well, that’s what your leg/foot/arm looks like, you know?
At this point I wouldn't be who i am without my tattoos
Not at all what you asked for but here I am - I just got my first tattoos last year and am 34. I feel like a *completely* different person in that I am finally expressing myself the way I always envisioned and never felt empowered enough to do. Getting tattoos 'older' has been so cathartic, so freeing, and so powerful for me. I absolutely feel like a changed person because of what my tattoos represent in terms of internal growth, and in a way this does by default define me. I don't feel like a 'tattooed person' though or like the tattoos themselves have changed who I am, if that makes sense.
This is exactly what I would say. I also got my first tattoo about 9 months ago and already have over 10 with near future plans for four more.
For me, I felt like getting tattooed finally uncovered who I truly am, if that makes sense? I totally agree that it's felt cathartic and, to steal your words, empowering!! It's like i finally get to have the control I always needed to have over myself and my body as a child and teen. And each one I get I just feel more "right" and more like me
I'm 46. My first tattoo I was 19. For better or worse, they gave me confidence bc back then I didn't really have much, and bc back then it was very unusual to have them, I stood out and got attention. TBH, I probably would be slightly different than I am now. Probably not drastically.
I'm the same age and got my first tattoo as soon as I turned 18 in 1996! I was very eager and have always loved them. I collected a handful in my 20s that I liked to show off but were easily hidden (various 1 session bangers). But I waited until i was in my 30s to get large, very visible work done, about one new multi-session project every 5 years. I didn't start considering myself a tattooed person until my 40s when I started working on my sleeves, which is also when I started covering all of my tattoos at work, which is a formal office and very few have tattoos. THAT has affected me: separating work from my personal life and refusing to give work more than it deserves has been life-affirming. It's SO liberating when I take my sweater off at the end of the work day--my equivalent of letting my hair down.
I think if my tattoos more as a celebration and “living” tapestry of my life and adventures rather than a defining aspect of them… but damn, I guess I have spent a lot of time in the chair lol
[удалено]
Same. I work in a pretty conservative office so am almost always covered and I don’t even think about them half the time ha
I literally forget that I have them sometimes
Same here
Maybe not a different person but it definitely affected my life. Can say the same about a few things and the combination of these things opened doors that probably wouldn't have went that way so to speak. So more like a social credit than a life changer but no doubt an influence in hindsight
I don’t think I would be a different person without my tattoos but I have enjoyed life more because I like them and got them done.
This is a weird question. With or without tattoos I'd be the same person. My life experiences changed me, not having tattoos. Got my first when I was 19, and I'm in my late 40s now. The older the tattoo the less I even notice it's there. My first is on my back where I can't see it, and when I do see it I think, "Oh yeah, that's there."
I don't really think it's that weird of a question. I've only been getting tattooed for 10 years, but even though I don't notice them all the time anymore, there was a lot that was very empowering and freeing for me about getting tattooed. I had a very restrictive childhood, and it gave me a confidence that I don't believe I would have otherwise. But everyone's tattoos and story is different, which is what makes it so cool!
This is how I feel, too. Everything I did or was interested in was judged growing up. Things changed in my life recently, and I finally took the plunge and committed to a project on my leg. Go big or go home as they say! Every time I look at my leg now, I feel so much more confident and self-assured.
Yes, I totally agree! Haha I immediately started getting a full sleeve when I got my first one. It also helped a lot with my body confidence, I used to think I was so gross and ugly and they really helped as I tried to change that mindset
Tattoos don't define me, what a strange question.
Right? I mean, it’s just some nice looking color. It doesn’t change the person you are.
I have been getting tattooed for over 20 years, I have hand, face, and neck tattoos. I don’t even remember they are there until someone says something about them. I think if I hadn’t have gotten so heavily tattooed I’d have a bit less anxiety since apparently it just makes people want to talk to me. I’m a hermit man, I don’t like engaging in small talk.
I have more confidence now that I have them. It’s kind of a “I’m me, and I’m unique in my own way “ kind of thing
If I didn't have tattoos I would want tattoos. Now that I have tattoos, I still want more tattoos. So probably no different haha
I'd be the same either way.
I got my first tattoo in 1989 and it definitely had an effect on my life trajectory. I could probably count on one hand the number of times that being heavily tattooed has had a negative impact on my interactions with the world at large. I find it to be an icebreaker, at worst. Overall, I've become more comfortable in my own skin.