The Tattoo Fad And Where It Comes From

Just a scattered thought here, while this thread bleeds the last of its ink;

You have to appreciate how badass the Chinese are, making their language totally out of tattoo symbols.
 

rgp said:
I think...it is OK for law enforcement to be suspicious of whom ever they feel suspicious about. And react accordingly. That is exactly what we pay them to do.

If one does not want to be seen as a criminal thug ? Then do not present ones self as a criminal thug.
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Absolutely right!
 

ClassicRockr said:
Absolutely right!
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So by extension you're clearly OK with being personally stopped by police officers who happen past you simply because they previously arrested men dressed like cowboys, right? After all, we've all seen plenty of movies portray cowboys as anything but law abiding citizens, and undoubtedly police officers have encountered their fair share of criminals sporting Stetsons and Tony Lamas.

For that matter, why not have them stop and hassle all humans? That seems to be the species with the greatest tendency toward criminal behavior...
 
I agree with the disdain for tattoos but this is also an example of how the older
generation disapproves of and condemns personal expression of the younger generation
that they cannot understand. Except that some older folks also have tattoos. Some of them
are unreadable. I have seen poems, messages (like "erotic fun") vampires, comic
strip characters, etc. Hey, why not ads?
 
StarSong said:
So by extension you're clearly OK with being personally stopped by police officers who happen past you simply because they previously arrested men dressed like cowboys, right? After all, we've all seen plenty of movies portray cowboys as anything but law abiding citizens, and undoubtedly police officers have encountered their fair share of criminals sporting Stetsons and Tony Lamas.

For that matter, why not have them stop and hassle all humans? That seems to be the species with the greatest tendency toward criminal behavior...
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This is something to discuss with "911" or even "rgp"
 
I know little about RGP, but from other posts made by 911, I highly doubt he would endorse the idea of police hassling people simply because they had a lot of tattoos.
 
StarSong said:
I know little about RGP, but from other posts made by 911, I highly doubt he would endorse the idea of police hassling people simply because they had a lot of tattoos.
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They are not hassling anyone. They are however suspicious of some because they display a habit, a feature ? consistent with criminal appearance & criminal activity. Which is again exactly what we pay them to do. Would you rather them walk around/patrol, with blinders on?
 
rgp said:
They are not hassling anyone. They are however suspicious of some because they display a habit, a feature ? consistent with criminal appearance & criminal activity. Which is again exactly what we pay them to do. Would you rather them walk around/patrol, with blinders on?
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RGP, the quote I was responding to is below. This was no mention of criminal or suspicious behavior, it was about someone walking down a road who was being judged by nothing more than the presence (or absence) of visible tattoos. In my book, singling people out for no more substantial reason than (non gang insignia) tattoos would indeed be hassling them. Tattoos are so common these days that it would be difficult for a police officer to argue probably cause to a judge. Many police officers under 40 have a tattoos of their own.

ClassicRockr said:
And, would an officer have a tendency to pull over his patrol car and talk to a person walking along a road, who was full of tattoos, instead of doing the same to a person that didn't look the same way? Can't numerous tattoos give off a bad "vibe" to an officer?
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Well, I totally understand what rgp is saying. Actually, "singling" people out is part of an officers job. In my book, and appears to be in rgp book as well, this "singling" out is not hassling, it's their job.

And, depending on where a person lives, like Los Angeles, officers can sport tattoos, but not necessarily all over their arms, on their neck, etc. There's a huge difference between a few tattoos and looking like a person had just been released from San Quentin Prison.

You may have numerous tattoos on yourself, which is entirely up to you, but there are those that simply don't like the look at all.

This is the first city I've ever lived in where people absolutely love getting lots and lots of tattoos.
 
The last I heard, this is still a free country. And it seems to me that freedom ought to include decorating (or, if you prefer, defacing) your own body however you want, without interference from a Nazi-like police squad.

I don't personally like tattoos. So what? Why should someone who does like them get harassment from the police? Sorry, it sounds an awful lot like a fascist regime to me.

Part of the problem is that it's a very slippery slope. What if a lot of criminals wear a certain type of t-shirt? Or a black hoodie? Oh, wait, that's happened already.
 
Sunny said:
The last I heard, this is still a free country. And it seems to me that freedom ought to include decorating (or, if you prefer, defacing) your own body however you want, without interference from a Nazi-like police squad.

I don't personally like tattoos. So what? Why should someone who does like them get harassment from the police? Sorry, it sounds an awful lot like a fascist regime to me.

Part of the problem is that it's a very slippery slope. What if a lot of criminals wear a certain type of t-shirt? Or a black hoodie? Oh, wait, that's happened already.
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Again, I don't look at law enforcement asking someone questions, who has multiple tattoos all over, as harassment. I call it, doing their job. Then again, wife and I are very, very pro law enforcement.
Yes, we can do whatever we want to any part of our bodies, but how people will look at us and treat us, could definitely be a problem. And, those that do get all of these tattoos all over their body, aren't accepted everywhere in the U.S. or every job.
 
Well, we could keep going around in circles of the "ya" and "na" of tattoos and/or multiple tattoos, but...……..Bottom Line Is:

There are those that this "tattoo" thing doesn't bother at all and those that it does. Some young people will continue to get them, even fill their arms and legs with them, while other young people despise getting any. It's not a thing that is in every part of the U.S., but is definitely a big city thing. I seriously doubt if I will see any, but perhaps, a young farmer or rancher sporting tattoos all over their arms, legs, neck, etc.. Just doesn't go along with the lifestyle. I just couldn't imagine seeing cattle buyers at an auction with tattoos on their necks and big tattoo of an Angus Steer on their arm. But, maybe. Things are possible.
 
StarSong said:
RGP, the quote I was responding to is below. This was no mention of criminal or suspicious behavior, it was about someone walking down a road who was being judged by nothing more than the presence (or absence) of visible tattoos. In my book, singling people out for no more substantial reason than (non gang insignia) tattoos would indeed be hassling them. Tattoos are so common these days that it would be difficult for a police officer to argue probably cause to a judge. Many police officers under 40 have a tattoos of their own.
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You didn't mention criminal activity or persons, and I understand that completely but...........

When the police encounter a person heavily tattooed they can't readily see gang tats . But so many of the thugs they do encounter do indeed have gang tats, they [police] might well stop the individual just to be sure.

The analogy I have used in the past is..........If the criminal stats, and the experience of any officer has shown to be that most bank robbers are 70 yrs/old , white haired, with a beer belly......I would likely be stopped every time I even walked by bank...........And IMO, that is just good police work.
 
Look, it’s like this, but first, let me make something perfect c-l-e-a-r. The Pennsylvania State Police does not make it a habit to hassle people.

That being stated, anyone is permitted to wear as many tats and body piercings that their little heart desires. However, there are some tats that standout like a sore thumb that represent their affiliation with a known gang. In that case, we may (or may not) ask them a few questions in an attempt to identify their intentions.

Tats and body piercings are just considered “cool” to some people. And if that’s their thing in life, it’s fine by me. As they say, “We have bigger fish to fry.” OTOH, tats do make great identifiable or distinguishable markings when looking for a specific suspect, especially if the person is wanted on a BOLO.
 
911 said:
Look, it’s like this, but first, let me make something perfect c-l-e-a-r. The Pennsylvania State Police does not make it a habit to hassle people.

That being stated, anyone is permitted to wear as many tats and body piercings that their little heart desires. However, there are some tats that standout like a sore thumb that represent their affiliation with a known gang. In that case, we may (or may not) ask them a few questions in an attempt to identify their intentions.

Tats and body piercings are just considered “cool” to some people. And if that’s their thing in life, it’s fine by me. As they say, “We have bigger fish to fry.” OTOH, tats do make great identifiable or distinguishable markings when looking for a specific suspect, especially if the person is wanted on a BOLO.
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Absolutely true.

Now, my question for you...……..does anyone ever get a tattoo that could be considered "gang type or look", but aren't part of any gang? After seeing scenes of the tv shows Gangland, Hard Time, Lockdown, Pitbulls & Parolees and seeing what appears to be some of the same tattoos, I would think "yes", but don't know.
 
Thank you for your input, 911.

CR, I have three children, not one of whom has a tattoo, but all have spouses with one or two tattoos. My kids and their friends are very non-judgmental about tattoos - much as they would be about men who are balding and decide to keep the remnants alive or shave their domes clean. To them, it's worthy of a moment of "I see what you've done there. Are you happy with it?" Then the conversation moves along. People under 40 tend to have very little energy on the presence or absence of tattoos.

I went to a Neighborhood Watch meeting in October where the featured speaker was a gang specialist. He showed photos of gang tattoos (and graffiti), explained their meaning, and why many gangsters choose to display them so prominently. The police have their hands full with real gangsters and aren't wasting time with people sporting full sleeves depicting their favorite bands, family members and general artwork.

p.s. I had to look up BOLO. It stands for "Be On the LookOut." Who knew???
 
ClassicRockr said:
Do you know how to saddle and bridle a horse...…….I do! Do you know how to swing a lariat and catch a steer...…...I do! Believe, I was in a profession rodeo association and didn't dress up and play cowboy.

But, then again, I seriously doubt if anyone on this forum has even been around cowboys.
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Well now, seems you know some about horses

Sooooooo, what’s yer take on branding?
(jus’ toyin’ with ya, CR….sorta)

We've got a few real cowboys out this way
They don't seem so fixated on tattoos...sorta take it or leave it, folks

Heh, their hands and arms and back of their necks have the appearance of hide, their grip is somewhat vise-like, their faces are road maps, and their hats and boots are well worn

real cowboys
 
StarSong said:
Thank you for your input, 911.

CR, I have three children, not one of whom has a tattoo, but all have spouses with one or two tattoos. My kids and their friends are very non-judgmental about tattoos - much as they would be about men who are balding and decide to keep the remnants alive or shave their domes clean. To them, it's worthy of a moment of "I see what you've done there. Are you happy with it?" Then the conversation moves along. People under 40 tend to have very little energy on the presence or absence of tattoos.

I went to a Neighborhood Watch meeting in October where the featured speaker was a gang specialist. He showed photos of gang tattoos (and graffiti), explained their meaning, and why many gangsters choose to display them so prominently. The police have their hands full with real gangsters and aren't wasting time with people sporting full sleeves depicting their favorite bands, family members and general artwork.

p.s. I had to look up BOLO. It stands for "Be On the LookOut." Who knew???
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Can't believe I'm saying this, StarSong, but you are right. However, we are a "judgmental" type couple and have been for a very long time. We see nothing wrong with judging how people look or act.

We judge because we don't want to be around smokers, people that swear (definitely the "f" word), people that do excessive drinking, etc., etc.. But, that is us and those that don't judge is fine with us. However, there are those that will say "I don't judge others", but in reality, they definitely do.
 
Gary O' said:
Well now, seems you know some about horses

Sooooooo, what’s yer take on branding?
(jus’ toyin’ with ya, CR….sorta)

We've got a few real cowboys out this way
They don't seem so fixated on tattoos...sorta take it or leave it, folks

Heh, their hands and arms and back of their necks have the appearance of hide, their grip is somewhat vise-like, their faces are road maps, and their hats and boots are well worn

real cowboys
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We'd take it much more "in stride" if it wasn't so dang visible here. I really mean that. Where we are moving to, not nearly as visible as here. But, did go out to dinner at a Golden Corral on the east end of Loveland and a lot of the Hispanics, both customers and servers, were sporting numerous tattoos on both their arms and necks. We still ate there, because we knew when we moved there, we wouldn't be frequenting that part of town, just like parts of Jacksonville we don't frequent or go at all.
But, here the "tattoo capital of the U.S."...……...everywhere!
​

Now, do you know the difference between a rodeo cowboy and a ranch cowboy/hand or ranch foreman? Unless covering different circuits across the U.S., and trying to make it to the Circuit and/or National Finals in Vegas, the rest of us are "weekend" type cowboys. Carry a full-time job during the week and rodeo on the weekends. I actually knew a lawyer who what a rodeo roper, but worked full-time as a lawyer. Never could tell it by seeing him sitting in his office, but this dude could really, really rope good.
OTOH, a ranch cowboy or foreman would push cattle from one pasture to another, brand cattle, doctor cattle, break horses and mend broken fence lines. But, they do have their own rodeo organization call Ranch Rodeo. Just in case you didn't know.
 
ClassicRockr said:
We'd take it much more "in stride" if it wasn't so dang visible here. I really mean that. Where we are moving to, not nearly as visible as here. But, did go out to dinner at a Golden Corral on the east end of Loveland and a lot of the Hispanics, both customers and servers, were sporting numerous tattoos on both their arms and necks. We still ate there, because we knew when we moved there, we wouldn't be frequenting that part of town, just like parts of Jacksonville we don't frequent or go at all.
But, here the "tattoo capital of the U.S."...……...everywhere! ​
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Well, I do get what yer sayin'

Heh, comes down to it, I pretty much hate everone and their 'taste' in attire or adornment.....at times


ClassicRockr said:
Now, do you know the difference between a rodeo cowboy and a ranch cowboy/hand or ranch foreman?
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I do

I jus' like to flick sunshine from time to time
​
 
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