According to a poll in July of 2018, 84 percent of you do not have tattoos, although 4 percent of you said you don’t have any yet, but you want one. Additionally, 7 percent of you have one but don’t want any more, and another 4 percent of you have one and want more.
Now, it’s been a couple of years since we asked you that, so we’re approaching the question in a different way this time around. If you do have a tattoo, do you wish you hadn’t gotten it (or one of your tattoos if you have multiple?)?
We just hope you aren’t the one who has any of these tattoos…
Thanks for taking our poll below (remember, it may take a moment to load). Please leave a comment if you feel like sharing a bad tattoo story.
I do not have any tattoos.
I have one but it’s very high on my shoulder and I never see it. It’s my first wife’s name and she did the thing herself.
Those tattoos!!! OMG, still laughing at what people will do to themselves!!!
I have 3 little dots tattooed on my chest. They were for cancer radiation treatment, to line me up. I regret having ever having to get them. I am cancer free now.
Like one other poster I also have three little tattoo dots on my abdomen so I could have 44 radiation treatments for prostate cancer back in 2015. Thank God it worked and I am cancer free today. I did suffer two years of side affects but it was WELL worth the agony to not have to get up in the morning thinking about what the cancer in my body was doing to the rest of my well being.
From one survivor to another-great job.
I too had Prostate cancer back in 2015, my urologist explained the treatment plans and said if he missed one cancer cell and it came back on me all he could do is tell me to get my personal life in order as the radiation burns up so much inside that nothing can be done. So since I come from a long life gene pool I went with the surgery. Now I never have to worry about Prostate cancer again, I’m cancer free and enjoying life, just no sex. He told me he thought I would be thinking about retiring, I was 71, I said I was just not sex, he laughed. Now at 77 it doesn’t seem that important anymore. Lol
I have a tattoo on each hip for the same radiation treatments. I don’t like the fact that I had a condition that required them, on the other hand I’m glad they helped rid me of the cancer. I’m proud of my tattoos, even though they are almost to small to see.
I wish one were done better but no regrets
These poll results could be used by an enterprising tattoo wantabe owner to encourage parents whose mantra is “ you’ll regret it”.
When I was in boot camp 58 years ago I thought I’d get a tattoo upon graduating, then the Drill Instructor informed us that if we were unable to perform our duties due to an infected tattoo it would be a court martial offense since we would be damaging government property. Since I’m a red head with very fair skin I decided against a tattoo and later never regretted it. I see young people today with tattoos, many lewd, and wonder what they’ll tell their grandchildren about that tattoo 30 years from now. Or by that time they may have something to easily remove it so they won’t be embarrassed.
I too was in boot camp in 1962 and got a small U.S. flag and anchor tattooed high on my left arm after receiving the same warning and have never seriously regretted it. I do however hate seeing women destroy their beautiful skin with what l consider permanent graffiti. I also think that men that go out of their way to emulate convicts are fools. I’m especially bothered by law enforcement officials shaving their heads and covering themselves with what look like prison tattoos.
Those I know with regrettable tattoos are usually people who got it when very young. A girlfriends name who is now long gone, something vulgar, a gang tattoo things that seemed cool at the time but embarrassing when an adult. It cost big money to remove a tattoo, if thought isn’t put into what you get it could cause trouble in an age where you can get fired or ruin a career because of socially unacceptable opinions or even an unpopular political stance.
I made it through the navy and 30+ years of trucking without getting any tats. I think I’ll make it the rest of the way . . .
Thank goodness the tattooer talked me out of getting a tattoo with my then girl friends name, when I was 18 years old. As he said, “girl friends are temporary, but tattoos are forever.”
I have my wife’s nickname in two of my tattoos. I got the first name when we’d been married about 30 years. When I received the second one with her nickname, the artist ask if I knew about the curse of the tattoo, I said no. He said as soon as you get someone’s name tattooed on you, they leave you. After the second tattoo with her nickname I went back to the artist and had her picture tattooed on my leg. I told the artist, “It didn’t work! I got the name and she won’t leave. Maybe if I get her picture, she’ll just die!” That didn’t work either. We’ve now been married 49 years on Saturday, May 29th.
Congratulations, alcomechanic, on 49 years. And Happy Anniversary! But just so you don’t get in trouble with your DW, please note your anniversary is either on Friday, May 29, or Saturday, May 30. Just tryin’ to help here. 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
No tattoos
I haven’t, but my dad did.
He had 3 different tattoos, all different women’s names….and NONE of them my mom’s name! SHE stopped him from that one…. she was the one he married, and she didn’t want to be in that “crowd” of formers.
Just why? For the 4% who want, and 4% who want another, donate the money to a food shelf, or finding a cure for cancer. Rather than ‘drawing’ more attention to yourself, quietly eliminate problems others face.
I voted no, because I don’t have any to get rid of (or keep).
Never got a tattoo
With so many Americans overweight all I can say is that there is nothing attractive about tattooed fat. And if you are a person with some real foresight I would invest in a company that specializes in tattoo removal……….you’ll make a fortune.
After seven years in the Navy the only one I have is on the back of my neck that God gave me.
My daughter is gorgeous with a slender body, incredibly beautiful brown hair and great skin like her father. No moles, no freckles or other ugly skin growths…just smooth and perfect….. BUT OMG her tattoos are horrendous. Why did she do that? They are on her arms, her legs, her neck and I could cry. No she is not on drugs and is a fantastic cook. Why?? Whaat the hell is she thinking?
When I was young, the only people with tattoos were ex-military men and really trashy women. Sorry, I can’t overcome that mindset. Proud boomer.
I agree but I think your forgetting about convicts and bikers.
There needs to be a choice of “I don’t have any tattoos.”
Got through my Navy stint with nary a tattoo while most of my friends caved to peer pressure, lol.
The only one I regretted was the first one I got, and I did it myself at 19. Finally at 51 I got it covered up. Now I have quite a few and don’t regret any of them.
I remember hearing a statistic that ~ 45% of people with tattoos have or will have Hepatitis-C because of said tattoo. This number came out after Pamela Anderson and her spouse got tattoos and, were later diagnosed with Hep-C. 45%, almost HALF of those getting “inked” can expect a case of Hepatitis! And still, SO many people voluntarily expose themselves needlessly. These are probably the people who, during the current Covid19 Pandemic, refuse to wear a mask when out in public.
No, I wear a mask. I was about 15 when I got mine. Could be where my Hep C came from. Do I regret? No.
Was in the Marines and never got a tattoo and never plan on getting one.
I have no problem with people with tats. It’s just I don’t get face tats.
I have two tattoos, one I really like and one I plan on having removed.
I’m not implying anyone here on this site as everyone that has one has their own specific reason why they got one. But tattoos are a great way to verify a person involved in a crime. Each one is different. It’s like DNA. Caught on camera? Your busted and convicted. People see them and they are easy to recall…
i don’t have any tattoos.
I never wanted to put a tattoo on my body I remember going to the circus or is younger and that’s why I saw a lot of toothless circus workers with tattoos. I knew right then and there that wasn’t for me. But then I went into combat, was wounded and the scars I have, I think clearly are sufficient and don’t need any other marks on my body:))
Did my Stint in the Navy without any and have refrained from tattoos since. I did sit and have a beer while a friend got his while in service.
I got one 55 years ago it hurt like crazy. I had it redone 6 years ago to sharpen & brighten it up. With the new equipment it hardly hurt at all. I see why so many are getting them now
I had 2 bad tattoos I got while in the Navy and under the influence of beer. They cost $20 bucks. I had them taken off in 2010 with a carbon lazer for $5000. Talk about a bad investment ! But, money well spent.
As I once read: Getting a tattoo on my body would be like putting a bumper sticker on a Ferrari.
No tattoos and don’t want any. Have toyed with the idea of getting an ear ring, though.
I have a tattoo that I designed and am proud of it.
I don’t have any tattoos. I spent my time in Viet Nam while in the Air Force, watched my buddies all get one. I never wanted one. I see some that are really nice, some attractive, I also see some where it’s been overdone and it looks bad to me. But getting a tattoo is a personal decision, like choosing what class of RV and floorplan fits you best. If you want it, get it, if you don’t , don’t get it. Either way you don’t owe anyone else an explanation…
I wonder how differently this poll would go if you asked what you think of your (potential/current) mate’s tattoos… when I was single, heavy tattoos were a BIG turn off, right up there with smoking. I don’t kiss ashtrays and I like natural better than skin graffiti.
I have never gotten a tattoo, and never wanted one!!!!
Three of us joined the military right out of high school in 1966. We all had the same tattoo. Now I am the only one left of us Vietnam Vet’s so no I don’t regret our tat.
I do have 3 tiny tattoos that have become impossible to see. They were put on my chest years ago for radiation purposes. If I was to get a real tattoo, I would lose my right to make fun of one segment of our family that has ‘more tattoos than teeth’. Fortunately we dont see them very much except for family reunions, funerals, etc. where they are first in line for free food.
I have never seen an object or scene that I thought was worthy of being displayed on my body anywhere , anyhow. It marks you for life!!
A co worker got his during the second world war and another when he was called for the Korean war. Both really nice. When he p assed away you could no longer tell what they were. Looked like a blob of ink. A big one. The forearm was a scantily dressed gal. I see these people and think of my friend and think, I wonder what it will look like in a few years. My skin is no longer tight, a desert scene would now look like a wavy ocean.
My biggest pet peeve is if you got it,show it. Don’t hide half of it under a shirt/blouse.
I’ve never understood the current ‘need’ to get all tatted up. It used to be (way back) that military guys, truckers, and bikers got tattoos. Now, 13 year olds get them for their thirteenth birthday, and grannies get them to ‘catch up’. I don’t get it.