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Tattoo Cold Feet
Reckless
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Heyo,
I'd like to get myself a tattoo - a peace sign on my upper right shoulder. However, I've got a nasty case of the cold feet about it. I've wanted to do this for a while, so it's not something spontaneous, but this is the third opportunity I've had to get my work done at a good shop while I'm home from school, and I've yet to walk in and get it going.
My major worry is that I'd like to join the Peace Corps after school, and from there go into either International Journalism or International Development with an organization such as the World Food Programme, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty, etc. Now, this thing is going to be generally covered up by a t-shirt, let alone officewear.
I'm still nervous having the thing will keep me from going far in a professional sense. Additionally, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking maybe I'm only getting a tattoo for silly reasons like "my friends all have one" and "chicks dig tattoos."
So, I'd really like to get one, but I've got these worries to put aside. This is sort of a vent session, but any help in calming my nerves would be much appreciated.
I'd like to get myself a tattoo - a peace sign on my upper right shoulder. However, I've got a nasty case of the cold feet about it. I've wanted to do this for a while, so it's not something spontaneous, but this is the third opportunity I've had to get my work done at a good shop while I'm home from school, and I've yet to walk in and get it going.
My major worry is that I'd like to join the Peace Corps after school, and from there go into either International Journalism or International Development with an organization such as the World Food Programme, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty, etc. Now, this thing is going to be generally covered up by a t-shirt, let alone officewear.
I'm still nervous having the thing will keep me from going far in a professional sense. Additionally, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking maybe I'm only getting a tattoo for silly reasons like "my friends all have one" and "chicks dig tattoos."
So, I'd really like to get one, but I've got these worries to put aside. This is sort of a vent session, but any help in calming my nerves would be much appreciated.
Reckless on
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Posts
What with tattoos being pretty permanent things and all.
Granted, it might be different if I had a whole sleeve or something, but I've never had a problem with Nightcrawler. He's awesome.
Sentry is 100% right about this. I've done a lot of crazy shit to my body, tattoos and stretched piercings included, and I'm in a graduate program that puts me in front of impressionable college students so I can teach them things.
Having a tattoo that no one can even see will not damage your career. It sounds like you are harboring some false impressions about the current climate regarding public perceptions of body modification and the demographics that engage in this type of activity. There's a pretty good essay entitled "Not Just for Bikers Anymore" that you may want to look up. It's in a lot of Sociology readers, and I'm sure you can find a copy online.
This is also a good point.
Keep in mind that "doubts," in this case, are things in the vein of not wanting the actual design. Don't mistake nervousness about getting the tattoo for doubts. Also, if this is any consolation, thinking about a tattoo for a long time is always the way to go. I give all of my ideas three years before I act on them. If I still want a tattoo three years later I will get it. I'm glad you've put a lot of thought in to it, because my first tattoo was gotten on a whim, which was then covered up on a whim, which I'm finally going to cover up again with a design I can live with.
I'll be here all week folks.
I've a quarter sleeve, from about the interior edge of my shoulder blade down to just below my deltoid. It's just the right length that even a short sleeve shirt still covers it. With business/dress attire, so long as I'm wearing an undershirt, it doesn't even show through.
As all others said though, it's not permanent but it's quite expensive to remove if you decide later you dont' like it. If you're worried about how it'll do, take a lookin into Henna tattos and have a mate draw it on for ya. Just a thought.
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. "
-Aldous Huxley
That said, ARE you getting one because your friends have one? So chicks will dig you? Do you really think that's what's going on here? Or is it just that you're not sure if one day you may decide to convert to orthodox Judaism, or maybe go into the warmongering business, or something else that will make a peace sign permanently inked on your body a nuisance?
Either way, before you get it done you should probably work hard in your head to isolate the real reason you don't want to do this. No one else can do that for you. The possibility exists that maybe you just don't want one that badly, and there's nothing wrong with that.
(Didn't read a single post, just jumped on the title of the thread :P )
I was very hesitant to get my tattoo... even though I really wanted one. I went to two artists in two states with the intent of getting one. A friend finally gragged me and I got it. I absolutely love it, and wouldn't undo it for anything, but I understand the desire to get a tattoo coupled with the fear of getting a tattoo. I know everyone is saying don't get it unless you really want it, but really wanting it sometimes isn't enough to drive you to get it. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it anyway, or you just tell your friend to drag you in there and make you get it.
My friend sat with me for 2.5 hours while I got mine done... because she rocked.
I shaved my head at PAX '08 (still have short hair, it's taking a while to grow out slowly), have stretched my ear piercings out some, have my nose pierced, so surely if the only reason you're abstaining from getting it done is because of repercussions on your career? Do it. From how you described it, it sounds subtle, and like it would be easy to hide.
Don't do it because everybody else has one, or cause you think chicks will dig it (although I do like people with body mods, what can I say). I've got two more piercings to go, and then I'm going to start getting ink done.
And as someone who also has a shoulder tat, let me tell you, being discrete with it is not an issue at all. Sometimes I forget I have it, then remember and go "Man, I'm awesome." (Especially since it's the Star Wars logo.)
That said, the other advice here is sound. What I did to make sure I wasn't doing it for anyone else or as the result of any pressure was to just think - when I'm old as hell, with friends that have no tattoos, will I still be okay with it? (the answer, for me, was a resounding yes, because Star Wars has been a big part of my life for over half of it)
See, I don't care about that. I actually believe in what the symbol represents, I'm not doing it because "oh hey i'm such a hippie scenester hehe."
Just get the tattoo. You can spend hours coming up with reasons why not, but you won't really understand the why's until you get it.