>

It's not even about preferring that a tattoo means anything. It's this total and complete aversion to having to talk about their tattoos as if the person asking the question is committing an offense. I've seen this attitude from several heavily tattooed people.
As long as you don't touch me and aren't an asshole that tells me I am going to regret it I don't care. 
I get complimented, say thank you and answer questions (usually who I went to/how long it took etc)... I do find it rude when people ask me how much it cost but I just tell them because it took six months (sleeve) I don't remember the total cost. Not gonna be a jerk to them, they don't mean to be rude. >


I do find it rude when people ask me how much it cost

Why? >

I just think asking strangers what they paid for something is rude unless they offer it up themselves. Friends/family I don't mind knowing. >

Oh, you mean strangers haha
Mom told me to never speak to them xD >

I've never had anyone get mad when I complimented or inquired about their tattoos.I've only received happy responses. >

you may not be a creepy dude then lol >

judging from your post history, i’m gonna guess you thought it would be cute to pester a girl about her tattoos and she didn’t reply to you in the way you thought she “should” and now you’re upset. >

OP’s entire post history is about how women won’t fuck him lol >

how can one post so many times about the same thing after getting no responses or their post is removed omg >

I don't mind questions about them, what I mind is mfs touching me. >

Well yeah. No one should be touching anyone without consent >

I demand YOU tell ME why YOU put that on YOUR body! 
I hAvE a RiGhT tO kNoW! >

There’s a BIG difference between asking “Hey, did you happen to get your tattoos around here?” And “What’s that supposed be? Why’d you get that?” 
I’m heavily tattooed and have no problem telling people what artists I got tattooed by. Hell, I’ll whip out Instagram. I don’t want to tell you why I chose what I did, or what they mean. If asked, I usually lie and say “No reason. They don’t mean anything.” Because, ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, they don’t matter. >

Never had this response. Maybe it's you. >

I have one tattoo.  There is a personal reason for the design.  I don't want to spill part of my life story to people I don't know well, barely know, or don't know at all.  So if I decline to explain why I got that particular tattoo, or why I got one at all, it's not out of pretentiousness or combativeness. >

It depends on how you respond, and where it’s placed. It’s your decision if you want to share the story, but if it’s in your face or somewhere very visible a question is expected. >

Why is, or should that be, expected? That it’s visible doesn’t mean it’s your business to ask about it. >

Because it naturally draws attention. When something grabs your attention you ask questions.
Expect it and don’t be an ass just for someone being curious. If you don’t want to answer just say that.
For every person that doesn’t want to talk about their tattoos there are 5 more that don’t mind. If I’m curious I’m going to ask, and I can’t tell if you’re one of the ones that are going to get an attitude about it >

No, you don’t. Unless you have the self-control of a brain-damaged infant. Functional adults have the ability to restrain themselves from asking nosy and intrusive questions. >

Except it’s not nosy or intrusive. 
If you don’t want to entertain the question respectfully decline, it’s not that hard. And the other person should respectfully abide your wishes.
Id argue people like you are the ones with infantile brains. It’s human nature to be sociable and ask questions. With more vocal introverts its increasingly worrying how many people truly believe simple conversation is SUCH a inconvenience and insult to bring on someone /sarcasm >

Minding your own business isn’t hard either, yet apparently you can’t manage that. That certainly isn’t deserving of any respectful response. >

Bro if you’re having a conversation with someone (not randomly approaching) it’s not disrespectful to ask about someone’s visible tattoos.
You must be insufferable to have around >

Alright, here's a thought I had:
If you asked me about my tattoos and I responded by sitting you down for 45 minutes to go over the "meanings," placements, artists, colour choices, art modification, and life story... would that be better?? 
I would rather eat glass than have a stranger go off about every tattoo they had and why. Truth be told, I don't care and would rather avoid hearing a strangers life story, but is that what yall are honestly looking for? >

I know ppl are going to be curious but I’ve had ppl literally stop in their tracks and stare at my tattoos before. Like they do double takes. My tattoos are not weird or vulgar. Asking where I got them done, how much it hurt, whatever is fine. But staring at me like I’m in a zoo is uncalled for. >


Honestly, this resistance to explain or talk about tattoos just screams pretentious 

Just because people happen to have tattoos doesn't automatically mean it's their job to entertain you and your stupid questions nor is it in an invitation to talk to them in general >

That attitude is the crux of this post. Why are so many people vehemently against it. I feel like people with tattoos acting like questions are stupid and acting like it's such a major inconvenience says more about them than the people who are curious about their tattoos. >

Did it ever occur to you that you’re like the 3,762,569th person to ask them and they’re just fucking bored of explaining it to people? >

Does that give them the right to be rude? >

Well no I don’t think tattoos give people any rights, people have the right to be rude whether they have tattoos or not. >

Well, I guess I'll bow out of this one lmao >

Fair enough lol. Cheers. >

Here's the thing; nothing is stopping you from asking a person about their tattoos just like nothing is stopping you from asking a person about their makeup, hair, t-shirt, shoes, bag, or eye color. However, not wanting to answer your questions or have that conversation doesn't make someone a pretentious asshole. Thinking it does makes you an entitled asshole though >

I think OP is talking about people who gets an attitude with you just for asking. >

Depending on the situation, having an attitude about it is perfectly justified >

I suppose. 
But in normal conversation, if tattoos are visible, they make people curious. People ask questions about things that grab their attention.
If someone doesn’t want to explain it for whatever reason that’s fine by me. But if someone catches an attitude for a simple question that rightfully annoys the person asking. 
Me I’d smile, respectfully oblige their wishes and let the miserable person keep being miserable with their attitude. But usually nastiness brews nastiness, and I can’t rightfully blame for anyone to get nasty back in retaliation. >

Did you ever stop to think that maybe it's not the question, it's how and when it's asked? Most people aren't going to cop an attitude unless you've done something to warrant it. I don't have tattoos, but I do have a very unique eye color that "grabs people's attention." I don't mind people complementing them and going about their day. I generally don't mind people asking if it's my real eye color or what color it is if I'm not doing anything at the time. Do you know how obnoxious it is to be stopped in the middle of doing something because people literally think that asking me if I'm wearing colored contacts in the middle of the grocery store is cool? I'm just trying to get shredded cheese, leave me alone. Do you know how garbage it is to have people literally stop you from walking past because they want to look or ask questions? I'm not a confrontational person, so I usually don't cop an attitude but could you blame me if I did? >

I absolutely couldn’t. 
In the context of this situation I’m looking at a base case of some hypothetical situation: Normal conversation, appropriately timed, attitude is given just because this make believe person (who exists within many people in real life) doesn’t like talking about their visible tattoos. That’s annoying.
It’s far more annoying to be stopped in the middle of the day taking care of business. That’s a different situation altogether. So different I don’t think it warrants assuming this make believe hypothetical person is in that situation. >

I don’t mind at all when people ask about my tattoos. I’ve basically got art out on display and people get curious. The only time I’ve had an issue is when a stranger started touching my chest tattoo while asking questions about it, or when people ask what the tattoo means/why I got it and aren’t satisfied with “I just thought it looked nice.” as an answer. Everyone expects me to have some super deep meaning behind my tattoos but it’s really no deeper than I like elephants so I got an elephant tattoo. >

Elephants are rad, not gonna lie
A common theme does seem to be people start touching the tattoo, which is definitely weird, not sure why they feel invited to do so >

Elephants are definitely rad! Reason enough to get a tattoo of them imo. 
And yeah, I don’t know why people feel the need to touch tattoos. It doesn’t bug me as much if it’s the ones on my arm or hand, but it gets awkward real quick when they start feeling up on my chest tattoo. I could never imagine walking up to a perfect stranger and just putting my hands all over their chest and expecting it to be anything but awkward and weird. >

It's so stupid that people think tattoos need meaning, both on the pro and anti side of the issue.
"Your tattoos what's their meaning?"
"Dude my life doesn't even have meaning what are you even on about?"
Even if someone has to justify their tattoos to you, which they don't, why isn't "I thought it looked nice?" not good enough?  Not everything has to be a Japanese Tea Ceremony.