gougetheeyes

True statements, especially this one. Like dudes who get chest to chest like they're gonna fight, talking about how they're gonna fuck each other up. But if they were actually hard, they'da just laid the other guy out. If you're tough, there's no need to talk about how tough you are.

"Having said that..."

Occasional bouts with unemployment (and an upcoming wedding!) has seriously hindered the amount of tattoos I've been able to get this year. Just makes me appreciate 'em more and hopefully plan my space better.

My favorite part is the "Reckless".......just above the American Apparel undies. I also take bigger issue with the haircuts I think.

ATTN: Ursula

Watched about an hour of this last month. Say what you will, but peoples' convictions are pretty compelling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vyVe-6YdUk"

HATE fire?! I'm getting fire just to spite you..

Go for it indeed! Rose, flowers, snake, big eagle, dagger, flames, birds, some sweet tribals..

Funny, I'd always planned on doing some sort of crosses on my knees, but with the tattoos on my shins, there's not really enough room!

My apartment shakes throughout the day so at first I just thought it was extra shaky. Was weird though to get up to hold a few bottles from falling and see the place swaying. Before I found out it was a small one I was "going to talk to my landlords about the general safety of the apartment!" Pretty weird though. Also, the east coast is in for it if we ever do get a real one. Nothings built here to withstand 'em!

Ha, "rollo.jpg"

Also, I think most tattooed folks lead pretty regular lifestyles. I think the concept of "alternative lifestyle" is kind of a misnomer. Let us know how the enforcement goes, maybe some LSTers can give you some helpful tips on how to handle it.

..I'm also still kind of interested what Tits McGee wore..

I just meant the "issue you were taking," not pointing my finger and saying "you have issues." Not a personal attack at all, or at least, not meant that way. I get that you're in a tough spot and it sounds like you're just frustrated –– with the employees you have to handle, maybe your job in general or just upset that you have to be the bad guy. I did read the whole post, and it sucks you're the one who has to dream up a way to enforce a dress code. The employees you have to reprimand just sound like young kids who'd rather make a stink about personal expression instead of doing a good job. So, I sympathize. But I still think you'll feel a lot better if you get a big, easily concealed tattoo! Write it off as a business expense! Then you can say, "Listen, Tits McGee, I have a big tattoo and I cover it up, because I'm an adult." And then Tits McGee will say "Wow, you're right, respect." And then you can lead by example.

Sounds like the biggest issue you're having is that other people at your office can get away with having tattoos and you can't. Or you feel you can't because you sacrificed a nose ring and hair color to get where you are today. Which is great that you've made it to a respectable position, but why go after others? Without getting into it too much, I agree that there is a time and place for everything. And that a large, corporate company isn't the place to go "showing off" tattoos, and most likely, these are younger folks who feel the need to assert their own unique individuality and feelings, etc. But looking at it from the perspective of someone who has to wear long sleeves/pants to cover all of my own, when I wear a short sleeve shirt, I am not "showing off." I am trying to not sweat my balls off, Gold Bond or no, on a 100 degree day. If a woman with tattoos wears a dress that happens to show them off, I probably wouldn't think, "What a slut, flaunting her tits and tattoos..." (Well, depends on the lady..) Anyway, most people in this world are stuck in offices for one reason or another, and I do think it's appropriate to dress accordingly. But it sounds like you're the one with the issue here. If the female with the chest tattoo was a problem, they wouldn't have hired her. Maybe you don't have anything against tattoos, but it sounds like you've definitely got something against people with tattoos. If you want tattoos, too, go get 'em. I bet you could keep them covered nearly all of the time if you wanted.

Best advice. That, and go get tattooed like it's an addiction, because if it's not, and if tattooing is about making a logical career change instead of succumbing to this overwhelming force you can't really understand but you feel a need for... then it might not be the right choice. I replied again against my better judgment and you seem like a nice enough person, but please understand that in tattooing and, likewise for the tattooed folks that tend to be serious, they're not thinking about what their mother will say (after the third, fourth, etc. that worry falls by the wayside, if it ever existed) -- they're already thinking about the next one, how pumped they are to get tattooed by whoever's doing it, whether it's a close friend or a tattooer they've waited years to be tattooed by. On both ends of it, that person is basically feeding the need. That phrase that you don't choose tattooing, tattooing chooses you, seems to prove itself more and more, especially on here. Go figure. Also, internet arguing will most likely pale in comparison to working at an actual shop with actual people who want actual tribal arm bands and tazmanian devils. Good luck.

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-101/915-tattooers-little-no-tattoos.html

Saw that, fun sheet!

Oh, to be 17/18 again.. Spend some time looking at reference material and then find a good shop where you can talk to someone. I remember my own grand ideas of what I wanted to jam into all these tattoos I would one day get.. sounds like you're over-thinking it. Nothing to feel bad about, but I bet the more you look at tattoos in general, the more you'll see that the simpler the design, the better it holds up. If you're planning more, why not just start with the simple, etching-style goose? Where are you located, maybe some folks on here can give you recommendations for a good shop. Or recommendations for good reference even. If you have a little cash to spend and the patience to wait on the tattoo, I'd order some magazines (Total Tattoo, Tattoo Life/Energy...jeez, are there any decent American ones anymore other than TAM?) and maybe a book or two (Tattooing from Japan to the west by Horitaka is a good overview, pretty inexpensive), to see what's out there and what's feasible. Hope that helps dude!

Hey fools, little contribution here from the good Mr. Mike Rubendall, interview from about a year ago, same time as the ol' Grez interview. Great dude, great Q+A, read it or die. All the best...

Fair enough. Shoulda just dropped it. If you like the tattoos/video great, if not, also great.

I just don't get why you think it's not genuine. By that logic, you could find fault with anyone's image. If I was in a video wearing a Fred Perry shirt and happened to have on my Docs, would the reaction be, "Who does this asshole think he is, trying to act like some skinhead, what a prick, our society is in trouble?"

But why is it contrived? Does everyone need an ipad and Nikes? I prefer Levi's and Dickies to cargo shorts from Old Navy. I like white t-shirts and black t-shirts and I get nice haircuts -- does that make me contrived?

Ha, don't worry dude, I didn't take offense.