Does anyone here regret their tattoos?

Cellulitedelights thread reminded of me of something i want to ask.  Does anyone regret getting their tattoo?  Ive always wanted a tattoo, but i honestly dont have anything that meaningful that i could think of.  I also dont mind getting a non-meaningful tattoo (something like a flower, maybe, thats just pretty).  Im just wondering how many people actually end up regretting their tattoo if it didnt have some hardcore, deep, emotional meaning to it.  I know its all relative and everyone feels different about their own tattoos, but i just thought i'd ask around.

Regarding the "I can't imagine how those tattoos will look when you're 70!" comment. I got my 5 tattoos from ages 21-25. If I can get a good 30-40 years out of them before my skin sags, that's fine with me. I mean, I have a big tattoo on my thigh... do you think that's going to last into old age?! haha. Even now, I don't have killer thighs but I loved the design the minute I saw it and it's a part of me now.

As for regret, I don't regret any of the designs at all. I do regret the placement of the one between my shoulder blades but it's also the tattoo with the most meaning so I'm cool with it.

I don't really want to post the pictures AND type out all the meanings but if anyone's REALLY curious, they can pm me.

I dont have any tattoos, but when im 70 years old i'll probably be crippled and falling apart, so i dont think tattoos would be the main concern anyways.

Original Post by clairelaine:

There is nothing sadder than a tattoo that was done on young firm skin that has now, many decades later, aged and sagged into wrinkles.  With all the tattoos around, the nursing homes of the future are going to be filled with truely hideous sights.

Aww, I've seen old veteran dudes with faded tattoos from the Navy or whatever. Neat old WWII era stuff they got while stationed in the South Seas or Hawaii. I'm sure the tattoos looked nicer when they were new, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's hideous...

Has anyone had a problem getting a job or something like that, or are all your tattoos strategically hidden.

I don't regret my tattoo, I regret not speaking up when I was at the studio, to have some changes made to my design. The overall design is what I wanted, though the style is not quite right. I wanted my flowers to look more delicate, and more traditionally japanese. But they are dark purple and rather cartoony looking... now this was the first time I had any color done so for some reason I thought the ink would lighten up and get pinker (not really sure why?!). But, there is an artist in Seattle that does a lot of Japanese style and coverup work, so I'm thinking maybe I'll make an appointment with her and see what she can do to make it a little more loveable.

Responding to gijane's question about anyone over 40?  As I mentioned, I got my first tattoo on the occasion of my 40th and want more.  I'm 52 now.  My sister who is two years younger, has probably 20 tattoos, some of which were done by Lyle Tuttle back in the 70s.  I guess I'm putting words in her mouth, but we've talked about tattooing and I think she doesn't regret any of them, although some she doesn't like as much now (like the big Hells Angels wing/wheel thing on her stomach, long story). 

I have to say that I am totally indifferent to what they're going to look like when I'm 70.  Wrinkles - so what? 

Tattoos have been around a lot longer than just this latest fashion.  I've read that some cultures believe that you can't reach the afterlife (however they defined it) without a tattoo. 

I'll put a picture of one of mine in my gallery.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

All my tattoos were well planned but I got them because I like tattoos.

I would think that many people who stupidly went and picked out a piece of pointless flash from the wall of a tattoo shop eventually regret getting something so silly and meaningless permanently inked onto their body.  Just a guess though.

I think we need a tattoo thread where we can share pictures of our work.

EDIT: I added mine to my gallery.  Ah damn, now I'm planning the next one.  Gotta get my back finished someday.

 ^^^ guilty as charged!! when i turned 18, i got a tattoo. tribal on the lower back. because i was old enough. and i could. i don't like it anymore. i mean, there's nothing wrong with it. it just needs some personalization. but for the most part, i wish it wasn't there.

i got my 2nd one earlier this year. stars on my shoulder. i like it. it was a long complicated expensive situation so my daughter's name never got incoorporated into the design.  :(

I don't regret mine. But I put a lot of thought into what it would be and where it would go, and it's highly meaningful to me. It's in a area where I can either show it or not (about midway up on my thigh) and it's a math equation (Euler's identity, e^(i*pi)+1=0). For me, as a physics major who returned to university, when I working through my school work and getting frustrated, it helps to look at my tattoo and remember the blood that I've added to the sweat and tears to further my life goal, it instills a sense of pride that I've gotten as far as I have in my work, and it renews my commitment to it.

I don't think that I could get a tattoo that wasn't meaningful to me, and if I did I probably would have regretted it, but I won't suggest that it wouldn't work for others. Some people like to just wear art, and that might be all the meaning they need.

A lot of my friends have tattoos. One is covered in tattoos, but it completely suits her.
I personally wouldn't get one unless it had a whole lot of meaning. I'm so indecisive, I know for a fact I would regret it moments later.  If I did get one, the only place I would ever put it is on my foot.

I just feel like guys can pull off crazy amounts of obnoxiously large tattoos better than girls can. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of girls that look good with tattoos. For some reason when I imagine a girl with a tattoo, I think of a bald eagle head with an American flag waving in the background on her arm.

Im really indecisive too. All i know is that i want a tattoo at some point in my life.  And guys can definately pull off uglier tattoos.  But i think guys can get away with being uglier in general.  oh well.

In regards to tatoos in the workplace, they get a mixed reception.  Some places don't care, others won't even hire you.  Unless you already know what kind of occupation you are going in and that a tatoo won't limit your opportunities, I would make sure my tatoo is easily covered.

I got all of my tattoos knowing I'd someday be wearing scrubs and working as a phlebotomist, so I made sure they're all some place that can be easily hidden.  Admittedly, I was a lot fatter and a hell of a lot wider when I got the tattoo on my chest done, but since losing weight it's creeped in closer to the center of my chest, so it does peek out a little with my scrubs on.  I make my scrubs with a thicker v-neck, or make wrapped scrub tops that'll help cover it better.

It's a tattoo that I don't regret having, I just regret how the placement turned out.  When I first got it I loved it.  After losing weight and shrinking, I'd like it better elsewhere.

When I am old and wrinkly I am not going to care much if my once young tattoo has faded.

My once young face will sag, my once young tits will sag, why not add something else to the list?

i have 7 and although i don't regret any, except for one, i sometimes wonder how i will be perceived when i get older because they all are in places that will be exposed at some point, maybe even all at the same time depending on what i'm wearing

I have no REGRETS at all.  My tattoo was done Sept 22, 2006.  It was a 2 year decision on what to get and where.  I have mine on the outside of my lower right calf.  It consists of 3 butterflies which represents my 3 kids.  They each picked out a butterfly.  These butterflies represent the growth my children will make throughout there lives and ending up as their final result( I hope you all understand that).  I had my tat done just after I turned 36.  I also have pics in my gallery.

As for the saggy skin, thats why I chose the calf area!!

Nope I only have one tattoo..and it was done by an awesome artist who is my friend (he even did the tattoo art for the upcoming flick "Shutter Island.") It's a black celtic cross with roses and vines wrapped around it on my back left shoulder. I absolutely love it and not only got it by a friend, but during a memorable trip I went on. So I do not regret it one bit! :) 

I love all my tattoos and have thought about them all very carefully.  I have four, three you won't know I have them unless I show you.  The fourth, well it's on my wrist and is very special to me.  I wear long sleeves at the office, not that the boss minds, but I'm looking to join the Special Constabulary which means I might have to wear a plaster over it.  That's the only way I think it's going to affect me in employment.

I've seen the 80yr olds with tats and that honestly inspired me to get something personal.  My great uncles and uncle all had traditional military tattoos that really held importance of milestones in their lives. Oddly enough my 2nd tat was my eagle, globe and anchor so I followed the family tradition with showing pride in serving.

I've got 5 and most people don't know I have any.  Planning more in the future without a doubt.  I drew 4 of them (5th is a name so not much to draw!) and my only regret is letting a different artist then who I was supposed to see work on me.  He was the shop owner and his book looked good but it's not very good work when compared to the rest of my ink.

I got my first tattoo at 27 and had it reworked at 40.  i don't regret the tattoo only the placement.  I have to be careful when I go to pculbic work functions.  My former employee's HR manual specifically stated "No visible" tattoos. I wear business suits for the most parts so it didn't matter, untill I went to a charity function with my boss.  not so good.  Oh well, back to suits.

Regret? No. That includes the one where the tattoo artist screwed up.

While I would not call any tattoos of mine unconsidered, there are some that were more spur of the moment than others. There's stuff I would have done differently, but obviously it doesn't bother me enough to get it redone or fixed. I sort of see that as part of the package.