Katie's image question got me thinking. I want to get a tattoo. I have two questions. My 1st question is this: When looking for a tattoo shop, what should I look for to ensure that I won't die from ink poisoning or whatever. In other words how does one make sure the place is safe. The 2nd question is what should I get? Being a runner I want to get a nike (the greek god, not the shoe company) winged foot on either my ankle or high on my hip to be seen when I'm competing cause running shorts are notoriously short. Opinions? Guidance?

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

Answers

My advice is to just walk into a place and pick something out that's fairly simple (ie - it would be hard to get sick of it) and tell the people that's what you want.

That's the way I did it, anyway. Getting my tattoo was an entirely whim decision. I walked in, picked something, hoped the place was safe, and now 5 years later, I still have it (duh), no regrets. Well, maybe my regret is I wish it had been lower on my stomach... if I ever have kids, it's going to stretch halfway across my belly, which sucks.

But that's off the point. Just find a place, walk in and get it done. Or if you really want something meaningful and personal, you should draw it yourself or have a friend draw it.

Be warned - they're addictive. Once you have one, you want more, and anytime a friend is going to get one you will want to go too.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

Why would you get some random symbol tattooed on yourself forever? If I got a tattoo it would mean something.

-dan

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

That brings up a question... if you were going to get a tattoo, what would you get ("I would never get a tattoo" is not an option on this one)?

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

Well, dan, that's why I said if he wants something meaningful, to go with drawing it himself. Seriously? I don't think of my body like the most important part of me. From a completely spritiual standpoint, my body is a vehicle, not some temple to be all pristine and free of blemishes. And the fact that I just ran in and picked something that didn't mean anything specific to me will always be a reminder of the time in my life when I could afford to make a rash decision and not worry about the consequences. So it's taken on meaning because of that, which is a lot better than trying to force meaning into something anyway.

And if anyone is wondering, it's a symbol of a heart. Others I considered were a strawberry and ladybug.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

That's deep.

-dan

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

All my tattoos are symbols of things very special to me. You should get one if you do that means something and isn't just a ramdom choice. That's my opinion. For example. One of my tattoos is of a Canadain flag side by side with a American flag. It's a reminder of the place that changed my life through my friends there and the country itself.

As to what to look for in a tattoo shop? First I would ask other people who you know that have tattoos where they got there's and if they had any problems from them or if the artist did a good job. Second I would check the buildings out themselves. Does the place look clean, ask the artist if they change needles every time and keep their materials really clean. A good idea is to check the shops bathroom to see how clean it is. If the bathroom is really nasty then that maybe a bad sign.

The biggist thing I would recommend is being sure you want one or how many you plan to get. It's going to be there for ever looking back at you unless you get it taken off; which can cost a lot and usually is very painful from what I've been told.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

haha

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

I've always wanted an infinity symbol on my ankle. That's what I want.

My friend suggested an infinity sign inside an 8 ball....like a play on the 8 ball, get it? But I wouldn't want an infinity ball on me...

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

I don't know what you should get cuz I don't know you... I think you should get something that means something to you. Not one just cuz you're a runner unless you really love running.

For as long as I can remember I've wanted a tattoo on my wrist. Like a braclet but cooler... I was going to get it done when I graduated sort of so I'd remember my friends and as a symbol that I like, made it.. but then, I dropped out... haha I'm waiting for a new occassion now.

And I like 'em on peoples hands. Small ones I mean. Like, between your thumb and index finger.. I've always thought that looked cool.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

==> http://www.bmezine.com <== This site is way good. All about tattoos [as well as lots of other stuff], and it tells you what to look for in a tattoo parlor. Like do they autoclave all their equipment, open stuff in front of you, have several changes of gloves handy, is the place neat and clean, and does it feel good to you? If you feel weird someplace, don't get a tattoo there. Stuff like that.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2000

my recommendation, check out A LOT of shops. make sure that they have plastic bags over their inks, use new needles, use every little safety precaution you could possibly think of. you want a place that is feels warm to you, not 'butch' like. because i got a tattoo and the place felt like an "Artsy" place, the tattoo owner had his "artwork" displayed with care, he had clean floors, seperated rooms, comfortable and well thought out areas. very professional. it's important to look at a sample of the work they do, so check out the books that they have in the shop carefully. people with tons of tattoos and piercings kind of make me think twice. i went to shotsie's tattoo. they're also into desigining a lot of different media of artwork. http://www.shotsiestattoo.com/ i know you're probably not around my neck of the woods, but hey, they're the best in my book.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2000

people who pick art off of tattoo shop walls. thumbs down. that's WT as shit.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

what if i did my own tatto.? and what if i got ink poisoning im scarred.. i did my own tatto last night my own ink from a pen. im really scarred and i dont know what to do. if i did have ink poisoning what would happen? im really scareed! please contact me if you know what to do! please i need your help and ic ant tell my mom.!

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Wow, you're a retard. You aren't going to die of "ink poisoning," if that's even a real thing, but if you do, well, you kinda deserve it for being so dumb.

Is anyone else really amused by the fact that so many random dumbasses get to these boards from search engines?

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Um. FYI, Nike is a Greek God*dess*... She represents victory. Hermes (the messanger, of Medusa myth fame, Mercury to Romans) was the guy with the wings on his ankles. Heh, you should probably at least do a little bit of research on this stuff before you get a tattoo and go around telling people you've got Nike's wings on your ankles.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Oh, and other stuff:
I have a few tattoos planned, the biggest one is an H.R. Giger-esque thing that'll look like my back has been opened up/torn open to reveal circuitry and wires and such. I'm also considering a few others. I think it's an excellent idea to spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff and discussing it with an artist you like, trust and whose art and style you really like.. not just so you don't regret it, but so that you get exactly what you want.

And it is possible to be poisoned from ink if you give yourself a tattoo (you'd know pretty quickly, though, and you'd have to use a good amount of ink for that to happen.) One should use India ink if you need to do the tattoo yourself, it's safe. Although I think it'd be smarter to wait until you're 18 (I have a strong suspection that this desire to tattoo oneself usually comes from being too young to have it done) and get it done by a professional. It *will* look shitty if you do it yourself.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

I know some idiot who tried to give himself a tattoo of a mushroom, and it came out looking a lot more like a penis.

-dan

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001