Hi Jjayee

You did raise an interesting point which overlaps on a article I am writing. (Don’t worry not for this site :D).
At the start of the thread you requested for an opinion on what we thought of your tattoo idea.

There is a key argument about whether a person is asking for a honest opinion or reaffirmation of their idea. The 2 are very distinct.

There is a huge debate about whether forums allow ppl to be more offensive (as it is not face to face contact), whilst others argue that the lack of face to face contact allows the poster to be truly honest.

Honest opinions are often unpleasant. Lets face it nobody likes to be told their idea sucks or shit could be better etc. (I get this all day at work we call it ‘tough motivation’). It is also harder because as a society (esp in the West) the change from the protective environment as a minor is just ripped away when we become an adult with rarely a transitional period.

Reaffirmation – well that is just what you get from peers and family as nobody wants to hurt feelings but whilst cosy is not always a good thing (it is the same as excessive negative criticism it sucks).

However I hope this thread has been useful because getting a tattoo is perhaps one of the most permanent decisions you will make and signifies a very adult decision. It should not be taken lightly.

What it does is measures out the broad spectrum of opinion you will face in society – some will love it, many will not, the majority will be indifferent.

That said are you able to tolerate the opinions of others – I say this because a forum is just a tiny fraction of life out there.

What you have on your skin says a lot to those around you and from personal exp many ppl have no shame in saying how much they hate your ink or it was a crap idea.

I just shrug it off but there is always the temptation to ppl to fuck off.

Just have a good old think about what you want and if you still want it 9and will want it in 40 years) then get it done.

Take Care
Matthew

My feelings on names for tattoos vary, depending on how it’s done and where it’s put. I have some name tattoos planned but they will probably not look very good. With those names, however, looks are the secondary issue. The meaning behind the names is paramount.

But to put your own last name on your body just seems silly. Might as well tattoo a Wall Mart name-tag on your chest. “Hello, My name is Bob. How can I be of assistance?”

There’s a huge difference there. A family crest is a FAMILY crest.. it is something that belongs to YOUR family and YOUR family alone. A last name, as the naming procedures work in most of the world, is shared by thousands or even millions of people who are in no way related.

My, aren’t you getting defensive now. You ask for opinions, you get opinions. If you can’t handle opinions, GTFO and don’t ask for them.

I guess that is generally true, but at the same time I’ve seen people in these groups hold back their honest opinions for (I guess) some honorable or protective reasons. I’ve found that even though one would generally expect the forums to be honest, should people actively seek honest answers, they can’t be 100% sure of getting them. Just a countering thought process.