>

Are you just asking strangers shit? I’ll talk about my tats, to my friends. It’s like if you come ask my about my car/shirt/hair or anything else visible about me, if I don’t know you, leave me alone.
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. >

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. >

Probably because they get asked the same stupid questions everywhere they go and they don't owe a stranger shit just because their tattoos are visible.
Same concept as the celebrity doesn't owe you a hello/picture just because they're famous and in public.
"Why'd you get that??" Gets pretty fucking redundant when it's asked for the 246th time.
Do you ask the blind person how they lost their sight or ask the person using a wheelchair why they can't walk? No? Because it's none of your fucking business. >

The difference is that a blind or otherwise visibly disabled person didn't ask to become blind or disabled.  People with tattoos chose the art they put on their bodies so if they don't want people commenting on it then cover it up.  To use your own celebrity analogy, it would be the equivalent of a celebrity going to presser and then getting offended when people asked them questions. >

That’s a ridiculous comparison. The explicit aim of a presser is for people to ask questions. That doesn’t apply to tattoos. That someone chose to have them is irrelevant. >

Less ridiculous to comparing a person with a visible tattoo - a choice the tattoo'd person made on their own - to a disabled person hassled about their disability, which they certainly didn't choose.
I'm not one to comment about peoples' tattoos because I don't care and am uninterested in tattoos, but don't fucking sit and cry oppression and compare yourself to a harrassed disabled person.  That just supports OP's claim. >

Again, how is the fact that they chose it relevant? How about you just don’t hassle or harass people, period? >

I agree, don't hassle or harass people.  But also, don't compare yourself to a disabled person because of a choice you make.  It's tone deaf and disrespectful. >

I don’t know, sometimes it gets incredibly annoying when I’m asked the same “what does it mean?“ questions over and over.  I’m a woman, and some of my tattoos are incredibly personal with heavy meanings (some cultural, some personal) that I don’t want to have to explain to a stranger all the time.  I don’t get mad, but I do find it invasive when people push the matter.  Only one is very visible (my sleeve) but I find that people then start asking if I have other tattoos and then they want to see them and get pushy even when I say no, I’m not removing or moving articles of clothing so you can see them better.  They aren’t for other people, they’re for me.
If it’s just compliments though or “who is the artist/where did you get it?” then I don’t ever mind those sorts of questions at all.  Always willing to share that info. >

Why are you asking strangers shit like this in first place. No one owes you an explanation for anything that doesn't affect you. This honestly reads as you being mad that some girl didn't want to talk to you about her tattoos. >

I never specified gender >

you didn't have to specify because we all know >

Fine, 'some person'. Funny how in all that the thing you took issue with was the gender given. You didn't exactly deny the other parts. Also looking at your post history, its not exactly a leap to guess that you would harass some poor woman about her tattoos. >

It depends who you're asking. If it's a friend or a work colleague then sure you can probably ask bit if you are asking random people in the street then that's just weird and people are not going to be happy giving you what maybe some details about their life >

I love when people ask about my tattoos, I don’t love when people use it as an excuse to touch me (yes it has happened) >

When my niece got her tattoo, my stepmom (her grandma) was flipping out and even tried rubbing it off of her arm. I was annoyed beyond belief. She's old enough and she's not your child. >

Um ouch was this during healing!?! >

After >

I don't have to explain anything about my body to anyone. Full stop. >

And it's my opinion the "I don't have to explain anything to you" crowd should learn a little bit of humility. Not everyone is attempting to make your life miserable just by asking a simple question lol >

I don't think you understand what humility means. I'll explain if I want to but I don't owe anyone an explanation just because they were curious enough to ask. I'm a nice and forthcoming person so I will generally happily answer their questions but literally no one is entitled to an explanation just because they asked for one. >

Lol. No one owes you an explanation for their actions with their own body. Get over yourself >

Fine. No one owes me, I get that. But don't act like it's a crime for asking a question. >

but it’s not a crime either if they don’t want to engage in a conversation with you either. >

Sure, but there's a whole ocean between it not being a crime that someone asked (which is what I'm expecting to be the default behavior, because it's not a crime) and the tattooed evangelist treating it like it's a crime lmao >

maybe they just don’t want to engage in conversation with someone like you? you’ve got quite the view on single moms and women in general. maybe it’s not them at all, it’s you. >

Well, it's not a personal problem or anything I've experienced asking people about their tattoos. People with tattoos have already been voicing their frustrations about this on social media for a while now. >


oh and it's none of your fucking business?

Proving my point. People act like simply asking about a tattoo is akin to a personal attack. So weird >

we're telling you to leave strangers the fuck alone >

We live in a society. Carry that hyper-individualist shit somewhere and live off the grid if you can't be bothered. >

I think it's weird to ask or remark on anyone's appearance at all. Like, the occasional "your hair looks great!" or "I love those shoes" is fine, whatever, but commenting on someone's skin is..weird.
Also, compliments on tattoos are almost always done by creepy guys trying to initiate a conversation.
I (M35) am heavily tattooed (throat, face, sleeves) and almost NEVER get anyone asking me about it. A few femme folks I work with, though with small wrist and arm tattoos, are bombarded with people wanting them to pull up their sleeves so they can "better see the tattoo" or asked about meaning etc. It's fuckin gross honestly. >


Also, compliments on tattoos are almost always done by creepy guys trying to initiate a conversation.

Sure, but that's a different thing right? And what is the difference between shoes or hair and tattoos? All of those things are part of someone's self-expression, but as soon as someone asks about tattoos suddenly people want to act annoyed.
It's the same conversation around band shirts right? Like yeah, you have guys who would ask women about their band shirt just to make the woman "prove" they know the band. That's annoying. But a genuine remark or inquiry about someone's shirt really shouldn't be met with such hostility, I don't get how that's any different with tattoos. >

I mean, there's a big difference between tattoos and hair/apparel. I would equate tattoos to maybe commenting on someone's weight. It's just a gross thing to do and ultimately not your business.
As well, women may respond with hostility because they are disproportionately harassed based on their appearance. The odds are better that I would have a kinder response than my colleagues because I have only once been asked by a stranger about my tattoos over the last 2 years and they get asked in gross ways daily. >


I mean, there's a big difference between tattoos and hair/apparel. I would equate tattoos to maybe commenting on someone's weight. It's just a gross thing to do and ultimately not your business.

This is interesting. If people genuinely feel this way I will say I'm confused but it would explain alot.
No one is born with tattoos. They pick out what tattoo they want the same as they pick out a shirt or how they want to style their hair. So you're saying there's 0 similarities there? Lmao >

True, but no one is born the height or weight they end up as adults? I guess the main thing is the ability to modify easily those things. 
There are plenty of reasons why people get tattoos (mourning a loved one, a drunken night out with the pals, because they think it's funny, because they think it's sexy etc), but i have never once gotten one so that people would ask me about it. 
The same goes for my clothing. I like to look presentable and I understand that I stand out with my tattoos, but I'd rather go by unnoticed. Add on to this the amount of harassment femme folks get and I would go friggin nuts. >

I'll see your unpopular opinion and raise you: "I have never,  even once, seen a person that is more attractive because of tattoos or piercings. " 
Now, I know that they aren't necessarily to make them more attractive,  but I don't know many people that intentionally do multiple things to make them LESS attractive.  Anyway I should just make that an original post. Because,  I presume that this opinion is pretty unpopular >

Sounds like a you problem, tats are hot af >

Hence this sub. Unpopular opinion >

Cue all the "I'm an introvert" comments. Yet, has no problem getting a demon on their throat staring u right in the face. So many cowards get inked simply for this lifelong showcasing. >

My favorite idiots are the ones that get tattoos in foreign languages and then they tell you to google the translation rather than just telling you. If you don't want people to ask, don't get them where they're visible, you attention seeking clown. Lol >

It’s narcissism, they want the attention and also the power to dismiss it, especially if the attention is coming from someone they don’t like.
​
Some people make half their personality or more about tattoos and then are surprised that people are interested in them. 
Pathetic. >

There it is. >

If you want to compliment it? i'll say thank you. If you want to look at them a little better? Sure i'll likely oblige. You want to ask where i got it done? No Problem.
However, I don't enjoy faking interest when it inevitably moves to the topic of what they want to get or they want to show me their shitty tattoo and what dumb "meaning" it has or how they want to get it redone/touched up. Say your compliment, ask your simple questions and then let me buy my damn Soda and move on. >

Tattoos have become mainstream.  I remember when my grandma would pull to the shoulder to let a Harley Davidson pass.  Nowadays, grandmas have no problem approaching a dirty tattooed biker to complain about the noise and compare tattoos.  I chose a counter culture appearance 40 years ago to avoid conversations. >

First World problem >

Excuse me, the correct term is "Stuffy Poopy Faces".
Get your grammar right bro >

they are really want to talk about their tattoos actually but don't want to seem excited. >

It gets very old when like 5 people a day are asking about your tats. Excuse the lack of patience from some people, it does get kind of annoying. >

See on one hand I think that's the way people SHOULD act about it, but I also respect that some people don't want to. I imagine they probably see it from the perspective of annoyance in having to explain their tattoos >

In some cases, they might have a lot of regret about the tattoo. Bringing it up might make them really uncomfortable and anxious. >

I hate attention, but love my “art collection”. I realize that looking the way I do and especially having my face tattooed, that people are just gonna want to ask questions. We are curious creatures.
Some days I’m glad to talk about it and some days not so much. On the days I don’t, I have canned responses for strangers that are kind, but get me on my way. >

They probably just don’t want to talk to you >

Y'all are silly lmao. I didn't ask someone about their tats and ran with my tail between my legs to reddit when they didn't want to talk about it with me. I don't ask people about their tattoos but I still see them post that same pretentious attitude about how they don't want to talk about their tattoos