The trick at many places of employment, it's your job to represent the company or client, not yourself. Inability to recognize that basic fact reflects on your professional judgment if you're looking for work in such an environment. You can do fine with ink, piercings, and the like, but make sure you choose a profession where that won't get in the way.

The reality is that there are always standards for appearance at work and in regular life. This has nothing to do with tats per se -- suits and ties generate negative impressions in plenty of environments too. Once you reach a certain level of departure from the "norm," you will be perceived as provocative. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you do something that you expect others will find provocative, you shouldn't be surprised if your plan succeeds.

LOL > Phelps with a big michigan M. funny because I don't recall him getting a degree from there... not even sure he has enough credits to equal one years with of classes after he was there for 4 years... In short, if you are getting a tattoo - make sure you mean it and you won't regret it next year.

ps. no one gets a tattoo for that
ok, now you are talking.

You quoted the wrong person, but I know there are people with NCAA tats, they're just not famous (they are D1 guys, not D3 though, which I think makes a difference). The famous people are the ones with the rings. I also know it's a tradition for the Kenyon swim team to get the crest, those tend to be on a shoulder blade or on the hip.

To try to help the OP in his original question: I have a half sleeve (might be going full sleeve in the future) and was worried of the same thing. I am also super concerned about sun damage so what I did was bought the long sleeve summer jersey from hammer nutrition. I believe performance bike has one also called the alta. That way if i fall the jersey gets scraped and torn before my arm does.

to answer to OP-
sunblock or sunsleeves...and its very difficult for an abrasion to remove any part of a tattoo. Ive had serious road rash without issue.

I've gotten cuts on some of my arm tattoos before (not road rash though), and they've all healed without damaging/distorting/fading the tattoo at all.

Screw the haters. I think it's almost funny that people who go out in public in junk hugging spandex on a regular basis are quick to judge someone who wants some body art because it's not the most mainstream look. I have tattoos on my right shoulder/arm and am a paralegal/law student. Personally, I've never been in a courtroom where an attorney showed up in a sleeveless t-shirt so I really don't see ink being that big of a deal.

To each his own, yes. If I didn't weigh the consequences long before getting tattoos, I'd be remiss as I think anyone would be without doing so. If I have to wear long sleeve shirts at my place of work, so be it. The fact that you will most likely have to dress a certain way is something you have to accept if you want to modify your body in any way and I'm alright with that. Tattoos are something I've always wanted and I'm nowhere near being done with them. Long sleeves and pants it is.

Weren't you the guy complaining about people judging? Apparently your own rules don't apply to you.

Like it or not, people judge you on your appearance. If I spot a facial tattoo on a doctor or lawyer I'm looking elsewhere. Same goes for a sleeve. When I see someone sporting a sleeve I immediately think prison (work release possibly) or circus freak. This discussion is not doing much to enlighten me, but you never know. Anything is possible.

Cheers

youre an idiot.

That's a little silly, don't you think?

Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer probably has the DNC logo as a tramp stamp...

Is this guy serious???? So being that Im a Firefighter / Paramedic if your house is burning down or you are having a heart attack at home and call 911 and I show up with my tattoos, you'll tell me to leave????

Some repressed humans in this thread....

It's permanent. Forever. Just think about it.

Huh. I have a tattoo that goes down the back of my neck and no one ever even notices it. Thank goodness I guess.

I think not being able to reach upper management depends on your field. My boss and multi-millionaire company owner is covered head to toe (tats on his neck too), but we're in the fashion biz. Half the management i've met in the fashion business have tattoos.

FWIW, if I saw a beautiful woman with a full back tattoo, i'd probably think it was pretty hot...as long as it's done well anyway..

Wow some ignorance for sure in this thread. I have a full sleeve and have never had any negative experience except maybe from some conservative nut cases. Anyways here's my tattoo, to bad i look like i've been in prison or a circus freak. lol Lastly im in a "management" position at a very large Honda dealership.

On my old Tarmac. Would never know i had tattoo's

huh?... me, him....him, or me....who are you calling that, him...oh, me....no him...yeah, him...no, me....wait, WHAT?

to answer the OP, i have gotten some pretty bad road rash on my leg sleeve, not from riding the bike(sliding into 3rd) and it healed up good, just took a long time

i am not allowed to have any tattoos on my hands, fingers, neck above the collar, or head, and must not be offensive. some people look at me weird cause i have "exposed" tattoos, but those judgemental people can kiss my ass, my tattoos dont make me a bad person, they are all tasteful, and i have a very professional career.

The only judge to be concerned about is your future self & the life, life's you create.

I don't have anything particular bad to say about tattoo's in general, but 99% of them are ridiculously cliche. I just love seeing the business gal on the plane wrestle her bag around and inadvertently flash the tramp stamp. I always think, "That was a good idea, huh honey?"

In my mind, scars>>tattoos

^^^Haha.....yep.

Now that "everybody is doing it", it's just boring and yet another indication that people are herd animals.