| So you want a tattoo. You have your eye on | | | | tattoo customers. Both of these are vital |
| one of those impressive tribal armband tattoos. | | | | prerequisites to getting a tattoo. No, Pete chose |
| They are nice. But whatever tattoo you chose, | | | | an "artist" who had set up shop in a booth at a |
| you want it to compliment you. Not insult or | | | | local carnival and Pete caught him on the carnival's |
| demean you. Tattoos are as old as mankind. | | | | last night in town. You can tell where this is going. |
| Ancient Egyptian tattoos found on 5,000 year old | | | | Pete proudly informed us the new tattoos on his |
| mummies predate the pyramids. But ancient | | | | biceps said "Lucky." in Chinese. He knew that's |
| tattoos weren't just for adornment or self | | | | what the Chinese characters said because that's |
| expression like today. They often served more | | | | what he asked the artist to draw, and so he was |
| practical purposes. They often had a spiritual | | | | wearing them now in 'forever ink.' It fell to one of |
| significance, ancient warriors used them to declare | | | | our number, a PhD in Mandarin Chinese studies to |
| their military affiliation and rank. On civilians tattoos | | | | break the news. The tattoos actually said |
| denoted social rank and importance, or lack of | | | | "Monkey." |
| same. For example, the Greeks placed tattoos on | | | | The carnival was long gone. But it left a really nice |
| their slaves that broadcast the fact that the | | | | guy feeling like a clown. |
| bearer should not be accorded the rights of a | | | | Even if the "artist" who took advantage of our |
| freeman and was in fact another person's | | | | friend was still available, and repentant, there is |
| property. While Greek spies used tattoos in | | | | little he could have done to fix the problem. Some |
| espionage to smuggle coded messages in plain | | | | people will have a tattoo artist tattoo over an |
| sight. | | | | objectionable tattoo. Possibly blotting it out, (often |
| This tradition of practical tattoo use survives to | | | | producing a real mess), Or obliterating it by |
| this day in gangster culture. Gangsters desire to | | | | making it part of another bigger unobjectionable |
| permanently mark themselves to show absolute | | | | tattoo. |
| devotion to their gangster family, and hopefully to | | | | Depending upon the artist's skill level this could |
| strike fear in their enemies. Even though the | | | | simply produce a well-intentioned mess. But Pete |
| gang-bangers know police find tattoos better than | | | | could go to a doctor who specializes in removing |
| fingerprints, and unsurpassed for identifying them | | | | tattoos with chemicals or lasers, which is usually |
| in a noninvasive manner at a distance. And despite | | | | painful and always expensive, quite often requiring |
| the fact that wearing one gang's tattoo in another | | | | several treatments. That is much more expensive |
| gang's territory could get the wearer killed. Again, | | | | than the tattoo, and still not always effective. |
| traditionally tattoos can show devotion. | | | | That's about all you can do about a bad tattoo, |
| But how would you like to pick out a striking | | | | but then the commitment and permanence |
| tattoo design, commit it to ink as your "forever | | | | involved in tattoos is part of the allure for most, |
| statement", and only then find out it that it holds | | | | making those prerequisites I gave you earlier, of |
| you up to ridicule, or is gang related and exposes | | | | over riding importance. |
| you to sudden death? | | | | Tattoos were once frowned upon by polite |
| For example, one of the most popular guys at | | | | society, and seen as a designation of the lower |
| my gym is a black guy I'll call "Pete." His nickname | | | | classes. They could keep you from being hired for |
| is "Lucky." Lots of us have tattoos and so when | | | | many desirable jobs, which is still the case often |
| Pete announced he was taking the plunge we | | | | today. Be aware your employer may require you |
| congratulated him. Tribal armbands are very | | | | as a matter of policy, to remove or cover a new |
| popular in our crowd and he showed a marked | | | | tattoo. But attitudes are changing. Many trendy |
| interest so we assumed that would be his choice. | | | | Hollywood and sports stars proudly sport their |
| But the personal choice involved in the tattoo | | | | "tats." |
| selection is part of the allure so we made | | | | So if you want a tribal tattoo do your prerequisite |
| suggestions but didn't interfere or press him on his | | | | homework. Then decide on a tribal style; Celtic, |
| choice. | | | | Aztec-Mexican, Polynesian or what have you. |
| We should have. | | | | Take your time and try to see samples of |
| No, I take that back. With personal choice comes | | | | everything available before you make a decision. |
| personal responsibility, and Pete choose to do no | | | | You can see tattoo designs online, in books, and e |
| research. Nor did he elect to ask satisfied tattoo | | | | zines. Remember to avoid another common pitfall, |
| recipients for recommendations of a skilled, | | | | that is that most newbies choose one of the first |
| responsible professional tattoo artist though he | | | | designs they see. |
| was surrounded by satisfied, and experienced | | | | |