Hellcatmaggie

Please accept my apologies.

well then, I will let bygones be bygones...

but please take in consideration that there are beings with visible tattoos who are truly considerate of others.

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hellcat...Yeah, I AM old and set in my ways. And the objection I had to the story WAS that it was on the front page. I think it should have been in the Crossroads section because it was not news. That doesn't change my opinion of people with tatoos, though. It IS possible to have more than one opinion. I expressed one opinion about the story and another opinion about people who have tatoos. That is what this forum is all about...OPINIONS. Opinions are like certain bodily orifices -- everybody has'em.

I do know people with tatoos and they are great people. They do not, however, have the garish tatoos to which I was referring in the post. These people's tatoos are discreet and, for the most part out of sight except for a couple of small ones on female ankles. I don't know anyone with, I think the term is sleeves(?), nor do I wish to.

" When I see a woman with large, garish tatoos, I stereotype her as earning her living under a lamp post on South Main. When I see a man with tatoos covering his arms and neck, I stereotype him as a thug, probably with a prison record and will go out of my way to avoid him..."

It wasn't about it being on the front page, you just like to judge people from the outside and anyone that is "different" from your liking, you have a problem with. times are changing...

So please, get to know someone BEFORE you pass judgment...but whatever, you are probably old and set in your ways...

hellcat...The fact that the Advocate ran the story wasn't what was kinda irritating. It was the PLACEMENT on the front page like it was somehow important. Like so many front page stories in the Advocate, this one belonged in the Crossroads section, NOT on Page 1. But, that was a judgement call on the part of the powers that be at the Advocate. I guess I'll just never agree with the editors about the front page. I grew up believing that page was for significant news items, not puff pieces designed to amuse the readers. I will always believe that way and continue to cringe when I see the fluff on the front page.

ok...to the people that are complaining about the article being in the paper...YOU DID NOT HAVE TO READ IT. No one forced you to open it, you did it on your own. Tattoos have been around for ages! What is the big deal? I have five and plan on more pieces to get done pretty soon. Just because someone has them does not make them a bad person. It is a form of artwork. So, do us a favor and if something about tattoos or something else you do not like is in the paper, DO NOT read it and then complain about it! Go read a section you like, I think people have no lives and just like to complain about things that doesn't affect their lives. How is someone with tattoos affecting YOUR life? RIGHT. Its not! SO don't worry about what others are doing. Yay for Gayle! :)

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29ways,

What I have said in these posts are facts. You can deny them all you want.

BTW, don't quit your 9-to-5, Einstein.

29ways...Yeah, it would be awsome to be perfect. However, I'm far from it. I AM honest enough with myself and others to recognize that I have prejudices--just one of the things that keep me from being perfect. I am comfortable with'em, though.

I love my tattoos and like amanda said if its meaningful to you then that's what matters really ! I got a lot of diss from my family but now they wouldn't want it any different ! Has a lot to do with old days ! Times r changing ! I have both of my arms in a half sleve and I work in public I've always had customers come up 2 me and ask me bout my art I they love it I have. 1 customer who comes and keeps up to date w my new ones its awesome ! If u don't like tattoos that's ur own opinion. But be repsectful n keep it to urself ! I'm not a criminal never had a traffic ticket or anything I'm a dedacated mother of 2 toddlers and I work my butt off and not supported by the goverment so your thoughts on people w tatts r so wrong !

Hey wayward, it's been a while! I appreciate your honesty about your prejudices. What many fail to see, and you have seen it well, people make it easy for others to "judge" them when they bring attention to themselves by their choice of clothing, tattoos, etc. If I went around wearing a short leather mini-skirt, low cut blouse, high heels and a ton of make-up, I'm just bringing on the judgement from others....even if that's really not what I'm like. (And I'm not! : ) SO, many times our prejudices come from others's putting themsleves in that position.

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Semper Fi Mr. Filley, Semper Fi.....and thank you for your service in the Marines..I love your tat....I have 4 of them myself and I'm not through yet....I feel sorry for those that think negatively when they see someone with tattoos...my dad is almost 78 years old...he is a Marine...served in the Korean War...has a several tats..and is the most kind hearted, intelligent, man you would ever meet....he and I have talked about going in together to get one more tattoo...and you know what....just because of this article we probably will......

waywardwind...

Yep. When it's cold, you have your hate to keep you warm. It must be awesome to be perfect.

@BOstinks

A generalization is not a component of humor, it is shortcut to making a point, that is not based in fact, but assumption. I love how people are quick to retract their comments, attributing them to "just kidding" or "humor"-- When in fact you obviously have an issue with people who have tattoos. You did take the time to login and type your comment...and continue to spend your time monitoring people's responses to your comments.

Actually I have a great sense of humor. You didn't think what i said was funny? I was laughing the entire time i was writing it, and i am sure other people will find it humorous too, just not you because you were at the receiving end of my humor pistol...bang bang... (that was a joke too....i don't really have a humor pistol....or do I??????)

I have 6 tatoos on my body. I didn't start getting them until I was 55 years old. I'll be glad to show them to anyone who wants to see them. The artist,a local guy called Puppet did fantastic work on me. One thing that Aprill failed to cover is the cost of tats. A custom one costs more because of the time involved in creating the art before the tat is done.
Patrick T. Barnes

29ways...Your post is, of course, correct and you make good points. That being said, however, people also have the right to their prejudices. I have them myself. When I see a woman with large, garish tatoos, I stereotype her as earning her living under a lamp post on South Main. When I see a man with tatoos covering his arms and neck, I stereotype him as a thug, probably with a prison record and will go out of my way to avoid him. Now, the woman may be a good wife and wonderful mother to her children and sing in the church choir and the guy may be a good husband and father and a volunteer firefighter and little league coach, but I don't care to find out about their private lives and how good they are. I see them as having made those decisions I figure they're dopers or worse. Prejudiced? Yep. I recognize that, but they ain't gonna change.

well Riverboat i can respect what you just said there, i know many smart and clever people ....with really dumb tattoos. haha.

Leave it to Air Aprill to come up with stories that can create interest. She is good. I suspect she is nearing a position as a syndicated writer for the AP or some major media outlet.

29Ways,

Hooray for you, your 141 IQ and your 9 to 5 job! Somewhere in your accumulation of all these great things you forgot to acquire a sense of humor!

I was making a tongue-in-cheek generalization. You have a 141 IQ, so you ought to know what a generalization is, right?

But here is a serious comment about the issue of tattoos: Ask any PI in a major city where he goes to find out the scoop about crime and he'll tell you the local tat house.

Just a fact.

29, I removed it myself because I had left a word out, and I'm a stickler for proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Okay, okay. There are a lot of REALLY smart people with tattoos. I already know that. People near and dear to me, and way smarter, to be sure.

My point is - or should have been - fads come and go. But tattoos are skin deep, they aren't going away, short of painful and costly medical procedures, and they're not going to get prettier. Clinics have been sprouting up across the country to help people remove them, and I believe you'll see more of them in the future.

I see Riverblister's first post was deleted....can some one please tell me what it said? i would love some more insight to his genius.

HAHA...i haven't commented in a long time. I usually keep my comments to myself, but congrats Riverbottom.....you are officially dumb! My IQ is 141 and i have many tattoos. I have a great job, participate in the advancement of education and the arts. I hold a 9 to 5 job, have a music degree, support 4 children and my children are on the A honor roll. Of course i suppose if they ever get a tattoo they will instantly become stupid and start shooting up and raping women and end up in prison, right, BOstinks?

Tattoos are not a sign of ignorance or stupidity, they are simply a choice. People ARE allowed to do that, just as you are allowed to make comments rooted in ignorance and make broad stroke, assumptions and stereotypes to reassure yourself that you are better than everyone else, or that your ideals are more than just misfired information across the synapses between long dead pain receptor sites.

And while I am on the topic of ignorance, BOstinks; i am not sure what your comment means. What are you saying? Are you saying because someone gets ink put under their skin, that they are like a convict? Again, comments like that are rooted in fear and stupidity. I have worked with prison inmates as a teacher's aide and was pleased to find that many of these men and women, despite their tattoos, were actually very smart--they just made choices that had negative repercussions and it affected their lives in a traumatic fashion, but again that is freewill. We make choices and we live with them.

Every day people struggle against an oppressor. You can choose to facilitate happiness or choose to live in fear, be judgmental and remain a prisoner of your own ignorance.

Is it just a coincidence that nearly 100 percent of the male population in our correctional institutions have tattoos?

I have enough scares from various acts (usually stupidity) to want further disfigure myself. To actually PAY someone to scar your body is the ultimate in ignorance.

I don't have a tat and don't care to get one. But to those of you that do have one, good for you. I do admire some of the talent it takes to give someone a good tatoo. They are artists. If you want art on your body then a tatoo is the way to go. To be marked for life is something I will not do. Tat's have nothing to do with ones IQ or ability to perform the job. Keep it professional at work and cover your tats from the public. For some reason tat's scare some people. I guess that is because of the prison tatoos. Tats could be used for some good. Tatoo "SEX OFFENDER" on the forhead of those guilty of the charge. Or tatoo "Murderer" on the forhead of the condemed. But over all tatoos are the art for the common man.

Wow, Riverboat, I know you personally. I would have even considered us friends. Until I saw this comment, that is. I had no idea you were this judgmental over something so insignificant and superficial. Finding out you judged my intelligence level based on something like this really disappoints me. This is definitely something i'll be pondering the next few days. I know you're set in your ways, but for you to put this statement out there makes me see how little respect you must have for me, and other people who consider you a friend. That statement is pretty insulting, and to say that to someone's face? Wow.

I deleted my old post so i can add more to my original post.
Haha, well Riverboat i should be asleep but i got a good laugh at your post. I'm thinking, this person can't be serious hopefully I'm right on that hunch. But as I now look at your profile, I laugh more. Old age it seems doesn't always make you wiser my friend.

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I think that is the most idiotic post I have ever read. I have more than 1 tattoo and I am currently in management for one of the nation's largest food distribution centers. I am more than certain I can take an I.Q. test and score high, maybe even higher than you. So yeah, go ahead and keep your lame comments or opinions to yourself next time.

I don't care what's mainstream. If I meet someone sporting a tat, he's going to have to work his way up from a 50 I.Q.

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