I was almost peer pressured into getting a pair of green feet tattooed on my ass 30 years ago and I am probably one of the very few in my field who has none. My fear of needles kept me from going through with the tradition. I have not regretted that decision.

I'd probably get my emergency contact info tattooed on my wrist.

Then I could ride worry-free without a Road ID.

depends on the age, i'm mid 20's love tatoos but dont have any, however plan too. I think its an age thing more than anything. Plus in my case i'm more concerned with the quality of work which i feel is more common these days so not as many rushing for small crappy work done in some dudes living room.

I believe tattoos are a sign of personal weakness and a desecration of yourself.
I think those that indulge in body-art are seeking external affirmation in their personal beliefs and emotions from others.

However, I don't take offense when I see others with such embellishments; I try to understand why they succumbed to the temptation.

Just keep in mind that all too often what we believe isn't even close to the truth. Esp when judging humans who are all individuals that defy stereotypical classifications and generalizations. YMMV

Yup, the Polynesian culture is just 1 big group seeking affirmation from others.
Nailed it.** <-_--sarcastisks

Good god almighty. You must be the life of every party. How do you feel about say... earrings, or lipstick? Tools of Satan?

You may not "take offense", but you certainly use it as an opportunity to be insulting and condescending.

As a side note, you might consider investing in some better eye protection for when you go riding, lest you get a two by four jammed in your eye.

I have 7 tattoos, 4 of which I got within a year and 5 within 3 years. They are strangely addictive and I thought I was done after my 5th one, which is a portrait of my childhood dog that I had done the year he passed away. The last two I just had done a few months ago, I was inspired to do so when the online game I had been playing for almost 18 years shut down. I actually intended more than just the two, I was going to do one more big one and a few smaller ones, and if I ever get the nerve again I still might. When I was 20ish and had my first two big ones done I slept through them, almost no pain. These however were a different story. They were on the lower inside portion of each calf and they hurt like hell. The outlines sucked, but when I went back for color the pain was very close to unbearable and I had to endure it for 90mins each time.

6 of the 7 really mean something to me and I am glad I have them (Husker logo, friendship tattoo got matching with a good friend, Aslan the Lion from C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, my dog and the two from my online game). The other one was my first, a hammerhead shark, that I just picked off the wall, I wish I had put more thought into it.

There was a tattoo thread on a forum I sometimes read where a poster said that he was into temporary tattoos. I was amazed when a bunch of people who have tattoos came down on him and accused him of cowardice and being phony. The irony of them not accepting his choices was really an eye opener to me.

Your post reminded me of the above because the proud tattooed people specifically said that the blood and the pain of being inked were part of the ritual proving their genuineness and commitment.

I don't have any tats but my brother has a ironman 140.6 on his neck. I can understand the commitment part.

Penn Jillette told the story of getting a tattoo without ink. It just made a scar that eventually healed. He wanted to see what tattooing was like but didn't want any permanent body art.

Lou Reed wrote a song about it called "Tattoo of Blood".

There is nothing cooler than that.

So wrong on so many levels.

Marc

The word that comes to mind is masochism, or perhaps self-flagellation. It is interesting that so many people say that their tattoo commemorates a lost relative, partner or child - perhaps they are seeking some sort of atonement to absolve any feelings of guilt? That would make a very interesting subject for an academic dissertation.

The fact that such a ritual leaves a permanent testament in the form of a picture or script for everyone to see brings up all sorts of psychological possibilities.

I lost a ton of weight and my half sleeve commemorates that. It's part of accepting my body as it is now. Some of my tattoos are things I liked when I was younger, I don't regret them but might chose something different now. And my spouse and I even have coordinating tattoos, we've been together a long time so I'm not worried about it.

My next one is going to be of my bike.

Don't forget the physical component. Pain and injury causes the brain to release natural opiates, which in turn dulls the pain and gives you a buzz to boot. Narcotics are very, very similar to those natural opiates, which is what makes them so addictive, they leapfrog onto that natural brain response. Getting that natural opiate release is also addictive, which can trigger seeking more pain in order to get that buzz again. "Runner's high" is the same exact thing, you run until your body is hurting so then your brain releases opiates to get rid of the pain, which gives you a buzz. Same thing with hot peppers, they trick the brain into thinking injury was done to your mouth and the brain in turn does an opiate release. I suspect that many of the people who get multiple tattoos are unconsciously enjoying the opiate release that happens during the pain of tattooing.

Thats a possibility.

...or people commemorate their loved ones because they loved/admired/looked up to the person and feel a tattoo is a good way to remember the person.

So yeah- perhaps they are looking for atonement and feel guilt...or perhaps they just want to remember and honor the deceased.

I have admired many tattoos over the years. And always wanted one. I managed to make it through my 20 year Naval career unmarked. I saw too many get things they hated or were mistakes. I have scars aplenty, dog bites, road rash, knee replacement and back surgery from a bicycle crash, destroying my T9 and being fused T7-12. My wife's health was in jeapordy 2 years ago. I was sinking emotionally. I fell back on an old seafarer's superstition. I have a pig on my left ankle and a rooster on the right. For mariners of old, a shipwreck could be better survived clinging to livestock crate, pigs and chickens usually. Needless to say, as I needed the metaphor as much as I needed external support, this helped me through a rough time. Now, I am working with a friend to plan a couple other larger tattoos. Every bit as meaningful as my simple pig and rooster... I was 52. My wife took them with some difficulty. But understood. She now has 2, paws on her hip for pets not with us. The second was Psalm 23 for walking the valley of Death. Prior to a surgery that literally saved her life. She is also looking towards more. Hell, for the first time ever in my 54 years, in May I asked my daughter in law to bleach my dark brown hair to blonde. My wife is not with or against it. And I love it. I need the roots done again already... I love the reactions from friends I do not see regularly. But I think I look a bit younger...

As our USMC PT instructor assured us, pain is beautiful, bud.

However I'm pretty sure I don't need any tats or piercing to remind me.

Over the last 37 years of racing and just plain riding, I've broken both shoulder blades twice, a collar bone and numerous ribs, 12 at once last year alone. So, after reading through this thread, I thought maybe I could just get a date of fracture tattooed over every broken bone. The problem would be the ribs. I'd run out of space.

Judgy in bold

Well, Im 56 with NO tattoos, I dont like them on guys, but, ready for this.....I absolutely LOVE them on women!!! Such a turn on!! Especially if they are colorful. Like other posters said, to each their own.

I'm 49, I have 5, started when I was 42. I also, and you'll see this if you look at my profile pic, dye my beard teal.

Here's the thing for those of you who are disgusted/judgy/etc of body art on others: We didn't do it for you. It's not about you. How about you do what you want with your body, and I'll do what I want with mine.

"Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind".

I'm 56 and got my first tattoos when I was young. Never regretted them. They came in a box of ******* Jack. "Smoked" candy cigarettes too. Do they still make those?