Pugilist

I can't even handle how much I love your back, @cltattoing ! It all fits you so perfectly.

I assume your stomach hurts with hunger? :) @polliwog - I think they add artists 'til pretty close to the convention, since if some people who already said they are already coming cancel, they always have a wait list. But by now I'd assume that the bulk of the announcements are made.

@cltattooing - yes to the waist! I had like, a deep primal instinct to bat my tattooer's hand away. Like that's not supposed to be there.

I LOVE that tattoo @PizzaSteve !

@cltattooing - thanks for much for your insight on this. I have been trying to understand the restrictions against getting tattooed while breastfeeding, and I wasn't finding much clear info. So I appreciate your thoughts! This story is still insane, though - I am very uneasy with judges legislating how a woman can feed her child, especially with such black and white bans.

Life will damage your tattoo!

This is my favourite thread. I hereby nominate @cltattooing to make us all "Free Taco Wednesday" t-shirts.

@TrixieFaux - I have already gushed about it, but I love it so much!!! I hope it was a great experience. The tattoo is just perfect.

Ok DUDE. Here is the thing. When you post in a public place, just like when you have a public conversation in real life, people are allowed to criticize you. They are allowed to disagree with you, find you annoying, whatever. That is how freedom of speech works. This board does not allow for abusive language, but that doesn't mean everyone has to like everything you say. THAT IS NOT "GOING AFTER YOU". It is people reacting to the words you write. You are also allowed to not like them and to criticize the words they say, so it's hardly unfair. I just find it baffling how on a tattoo board where dudes like to talk about how tough or whatever they are, they so easily complain if people call them out for anything, like the fact that yes, on a message board that literally has posters from around the world, maybe people find it kind of strange to post your local weather forecast and wonder what that contributes to the board. No one is obligated to like your posts or think you are a good poster. That is just not how the world works. Toughen up, people.

You are allowed to not like someone. They are allowed to not like you. Democracy is amazing.

Dude, look up what political correctness means. It is not the same thing as being polite. You can talk however you want to talk, but then you can't bitch when people find you annoying. Them's the breaks of social interaction.

I think we all had very predictable opinions about this idiocy here: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/crazy-tattoo-stories/34-tattooers-only-most-hated-tattoo-requests-page15.html

You guys - you have the right to post pretty much whatever (as long as you don't break forum rules), but other posters also have the right to be annoyed by it. Freedom! America! I think the issue with these things isn't so much about posting "random crap", because yes, this is the section of the forum dedicated to that, but that people get annoyed by the quantity of such posts. Like we all talk about whatever rubbish when we have conversations with each other in real life, but don't you get annoyed when one person dominates a conversation over and over again? I know I do. And I know that in my own life, I try not to be that person (and I can be very long-winded and opinionated, so it is a conscious effort!) Like no one is trying to run anyone off the board, but I just think the general unspoken rules of conversational politeness that we probably all try to adhere to in daily life also apply online.

Oh man, I am so sorry for your loss.

@cltattooing - G showed me your back - AMAZING.

I totally agree with this and posted elsewhere that it is ironic that she accused him of sexism, because to me this smacks of classism, i.e. "how dare YOU, a lowly tattooer, give ME advice". I think normals might be getting tattooed these days, but they still see tattooers as some sort of savages who are beneath them, and certainly wouldn't have years of training and expertise that might just be worth listening to. But mostly I feel annoyed that I got sucked into commenting on this at all, because it is indeed total clickbait, and so we are playing right into these idiots' hands. GAH.

While I think the conversation about the line between plagiarism and inspiration is an interesting one, in this particular instance I feel uncomfortable gossiping about people I don't even know in such a public forum. (But I will echo the comment that I find Instagram beefs really childish!)

Agreed! I am trying to stock up on the elbow sleeve thing while it is still trendy! It is so helpful. Congratulations @Breakme ! I have a bunch of really lightweight, mid-sleeve type cargidans that I can throw over anything for the office in warm weather. If you poke around this kind of thing is pretty easy to find, and really comfortable in the summer. It is a bummer that getting work on my arms disqualified a bunch of my dresses/tops as work appropriate in and of themselves, but now I am just becoming a cardigan/blazer hound.

Actually, I don't think anyone has. You are shitting on a pretty important part of the tattoo world (and a tradition that yes, people on this board love, for good reason!) with little to no interest in understanding it, which does not bode well for your supposed future career as a tattooer. You have been doing this for weeks, including insulting people's actual tattoos on here. Your attitude is both misinformed and rude. It is not stimulating any kind of worthwhile critique. Please just try to add to the discussion like a civilized human being. I am bummed that what was a positive and interesting thread turned into this shit show. I will say that when I first started getting tattooed, I didn't "get" traditional either. I didn't understand how beautiful its simplicity can be. Seeing the work of some amazing tattooers in person really opened my eyes (I had a real "a-ha!" moment the first time I saw Chad Koeplinger tattooing at the Montreal convention, when I still only had one tattoo). Now it's most of what I have. It is interesting how it takes a little bit of time and learning about tattoos to "get it", but I think the world of traditional is rich and diverse and like @cltattooing said, we are really lucky that there are some amazing folks out there right now doing cool things with this style.

Loose clothes and take some arnica (pills, not cream) before/during/after to help reduce swelling. AND HAVE FUN!

@beez - Everyone else has said what needs to be said, but I just wanted to chime in with some love and support - that is a stupid, shallow, hurtful thing to say to someone you care about. It is always a very painful experience to find out that someone we held in high esteem is not the person we thought they were, but man, that was some garbage. And I am sorry someone you love was so cruel to you. Xo.

Some people's tattoo worlds seem really small... (In my own world, there are lots of cool different ways to get tattooed.)

Are you or the lady making appointments for it??

@beez - not only is that gorgeous, but I really love the term "butt snake"

Welcome to LST. As much as I am sure you want to be a tattooer, it sounds like you need to get the fuck out of this sketchy apprenticeship.