The Tattoo Fad And Where It Comes From

I am presently reading a book that was written about the islands in the south Pacific 100 years ago. It speaks about the islanders being half covered with tattoos. There are photos illustrating it. They were more covered than the denizens of WalMart today.
 
Does anyone know what they cost? I got one 60 years ago when I was a sailor, don't remember what it cost. It surprised me that there were tattoo parlors in San Diego, but none in Tijuana. San Diego looks very different today from what it was then.
 
Manatee said:
Does anyone know what they cost? I got one 60 years ago when I was a sailor, don't remember what it cost. It surprised me that there were tattoo parlors in San Diego, but none in Tijuana. San Diego looks very different today from what it was then.
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Manatee, just letting you know I found tattoo parlors in Tijuana on Google... not sure what they are like but they were listed. I'm thinking the average cost of a tat will depend on size and how much color is used and the tattoo artist. Maybe $50-300 an hr could be higher. I have some on the back of my neck and one around my ankle. It will be interesting to see the next generation or two in the nursing homes full of sagging color and piercings rocking out to heavy metal.
 
We didn't have Google in 1958, you just had to ride down the street and see what was there.
I bought some really fine shoes there. I still have a wood carving of Don Quixote that I bought there. I bought my wife/then girl friend a bank in the shape of a bull, but it has not survived the years.
Gas was cheaper there, so I would fill up at a Pemex station.
 
Wrinkled, crepey, sagging nature is an unavoidable characteristic of of elderly skin. Does anyone really think that aged tattoos do that much to enhance or detract from the ravages of age? It's not as if non-tatted folks look 30 years younger.

I don't understand why so many people have their knickers in a twist over tattoos, especially now that they're so commonplace. It reminds me of all the whining that went on when we Boomers were young and our parents' generation wanted the boys in crew cuts and straight-legged pants, the girls in teased hairdos and knee length poodle skirts.

Despite much wringing of hands by our elders we persisted in choosing the freak flags we wanted to fly. This generation has settled on tattoos and today's babies will choose their own generational identity when they come of age. No harm, no foul.
 
StarSong said:
Wrinkled, crepey, sagging nature is an unavoidable characteristic of of elderly skin. Does anyone really think that aged tattoos do that much to enhance or detract from the ravages of age? It's not as if non-tatted folks look 30 years younger.

I don't understand why so many people have their knickers in a twist over tattoos, especially now that they're so commonplace. It reminds me of all the whining that went on when we Boomers were young and our parents' generation wanted the boys in crew cuts and straight-legged pants, the girls in teased hairdos and knee length poodle skirts.

Despite much wringing of hands by our elders we persisted in choosing the freak flags we wanted to fly. This generation has settled on tattoos and today's babies will choose their own generational identity when they come of age. No harm, no foul.
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StarSong, you reminded me of the night the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan show and we were all watching in total fascination. Then I hear my mom and dad talking about how long their hair was (at the top of their ears by the way) and look at all those screaming girls crying! Little did my parents know what was coming! Some guys had the most beautiful long hair by the time I was in high school!
 
hiraeth2018 said:
StarSong, you reminded me of the night the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan show and we were all watching in total fascination. Then I hear my mom and dad talking about how long their hair was (at the top of their ears by the way) and look at all those screaming girls crying! Little did my parents know what was coming! Some guys had the most beautiful long hair by the time I was in high school!
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Even though I was a little kid at the time I also recall people clutching their pearls over Elvis with his raw sexuality and gyrating hips!
 
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Manatee said:
Does anyone know what they cost? I got one 60 years ago when I was a sailor, don't remember what it cost. It surprised me that there were tattoo parlors in San Diego, but none in Tijuana. San Diego looks very different today from what it was then.
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It depends very much on the shop and the artists. Renowned tattoo artists are very well paid, just like any other skilled artisan. A newbie tattoo artist starting out is NOT going to be able to command the hourly rate or by-the-piece rate that a well known and proven artist is. And whether or not the client is paid hourly or by the piece is entirely at the artist's discretion.
 
StarSong said:
Wrinkled, crepey, sagging nature is an unavoidable characteristic of of elderly skin. Does anyone really think that aged tattoos do that much to enhance or detract from the ravages of age? It's not as if non-tatted folks look 30 years younger.

I don't understand why so many people have their knickers in a twist over tattoos, especially now that they're so commonplace. It reminds me of all the whining that went on when we Boomers were young and our parents' generation wanted the boys in crew cuts and straight-legged pants, the girls in teased hairdos and knee length poodle skirts.

Despite much wringing of hands by our elders we persisted in choosing the freak flags we wanted to fly. This generation has settled on tattoos and today's babies will choose their own generational identity when they come of age. No harm, no foul.
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I really think what you need to understand is that not everyone likes tattoos, whether it's one or an arm/leg full of them. There are different things men and women do to themselves, like "Mohawk" haircuts for boys/men, women having pink color in their hair (or some other color), body piercings on their face or wherever, tattoos on their shaved head...……….and the list could go on, that some folks consider freaky or, at the very least, very abnormal.

Some folks know, and dislike these things, but keep that "dislike" to themselves. That's what these people who look this way indeed hopes that happens. Than, there are those that verbalize their dislike about these things. The people that have these things either ignore the verbal dislikes or "defend to the end" how they look. Than, there are those that don't live in an area where any of this stuff is seen...……...and, YES, there are areas of America where this stuff isn't seen or very, very little of it.
 
ClassicRockr said:
I really think what you need to understand is that not everyone likes tattoos, whether it's one or an arm/leg full of them..
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I think what you need to understand is that not everyone doesn't like them.

While your experience may vary, MY experience is that folks who get tattoos don't go around demanding that everyone like them. They're a personal expression ... just like my turquoise/pink/blue hair, depending on the day, and the tutus I wear for fun and entertainment, or any other form of personal expression, and so they're just THERE. That offends some people, who THEN decide they need to speak out against them. But understand, I'm not speaking out FOR them when I walk around with my tattoos showing. They're just there. Same way as a man's beard, or a woman's colored hair, or either sex's jewelry or clothing choices or the car they drive is just there. The only time I speak out FOR tattoos is when someone speaks out AGAINST them, as though I shouldn't be allowed to make the choice to have them, or that they look ugly or wrong or bad or whatever.

If I spoke out against the way someone cut or styled their hair, when it's THEIR choice to do with as they please, I think that might get their back up, or at the very least cause them to wonder at the audacity of criticizing what is their own personal choice.

I can't speak for every other person who gets inked, but personally, as "someone who looks this way" I don't even THINK about whether or not "some folks dislike these things, but keep that dislike to themselves." They just are. I'm not trying to get anyone to like them, but so many people are trying to drum up dislike for them. I don't get that.

But understand, just as I am completely free to choose to get inked, so is everyone else free to not like the fact that I do that to my body. I don't care. Your opinion of me is none of my business, UNLESS you shove that opinion in my face and tell me how wrong I am. Then you've made it my business, and at that point I'm GOING to defend myself and speak out. Otherwise I don't give a s@$t what you think of me and/or my ink. Or my turquoise hair. Or my tutus. Or my piercings. Or any other damn thing about me.
 
Ronni said:
I think what you need to understand is that not everyone doesn't like them.

While your experience may vary, MY experience is that folks who get tattoos don't go around demanding that everyone like them. They're a personal expression ... just like my turquoise/pink/blue hair, depending on the day, and the tutus I wear for fun and entertainment, or any other form of personal expression, and so they're just THERE. That offends some people, who THEN decide they need to speak out against them. But understand, I'm not speaking out FOR them when I walk around with my tattoos showing. They're just there. Same way as a man's beard, or a woman's colored hair, or either sex's jewelry or clothing choices or the car they drive is just there. The only time I speak out FOR tattoos is when someone speaks out AGAINST them, as though I shouldn't be allowed to make the choice to have them, or that they look ugly or wrong or bad or whatever.

If I spoke out against the way someone cut or styled their hair, when it's THEIR choice to do with as they please, I think that might get their back up, or at the very least cause them to wonder at the audacity of criticizing what is their own personal choice.

I can't speak for every other person who gets inked, but personally, as "someone who looks this way" I don't even THINK about whether or not "some folks dislike these things, but keep that dislike to themselves." They just are. I'm not trying to get anyone to like them, but so many people are trying to drum up dislike for them. I don't get that.

But understand, just as I am completely free to choose to get inked, so is everyone else free to not like the fact that I do that to my body. I don't care. Your opinion of me is none of my business, UNLESS you shove that opinion in my face and tell me how wrong I am. Then you've made it my business, and at that point I'm GOING to defend myself and speak out. Otherwise I don't give a s@$t what you think of me and/or my ink. Or my turquoise hair. Or my tutus. Or my piercings. Or any other damn thing about me.
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Actually, the folks who don't like tattoos, don't give a hoot about how much you like them! They just don't like them and some will definitely express that and have on this forum...…….and not just myself.

The folks that dislike them have to put up with the part of society that has them, but some will voice that dislike, while the folks that like/love them have to put up with the verbal of those that dislike them.

Nobody is in anyone's face here. Just stating what they like and dislike. If you are covered head-to-toe in tattoos, that's your thing, but you have to be ready for those comments that are against them. Just like the folks that don't like them have to be ready for the comments of those that love them.

Now...…"On with the Show". LOL
 
We all have "personal choices", but many of them can, and will be, met with some-to-a-lot of criticism. Wife and I absolutely love rodeo, and I use to be a part of it, but there are those that totally dislike it and the people that do it. We have to put up with the criticism and comments, just like people who love zillions of tattoos do. We defend our sport, just like they defend what they look like.
 
I find it hard to imagine that many people care enough to remark about someone dressed up as a cowboy - even when there's no horse, barn or ranch anywhere in sight. You seem to be defending your own judgmental attitude by claiming others are equally judgmental with you. Unlikely, and even if it were true, two wrongs don't make a right.

You might want to take a serious look at why you get so revved up about other people's appearance.
 
StarSong said:
I find it hard to imagine that many people care enough to remark about someone dressed up as a cowboy - even when there's no horse, barn or ranch anywhere in sight. You seem to be defending your own judgmental attitude by claiming others are equally judgmental with you. Unlikely, and even if it were true, two wrongs don't make a right.

You might want to take a serious look at why you get so revved up about other people's appearance.
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Just ask the same question of those on this thread that don't like them or anywhere that don't like them.

And, BTW, I use to be a part of the rodeo at the old Los Angeles Forum each year. It was called The Forum Championship Rodeo...….and paid good money.

And, BTW, I use to be a part of the rodeo at the old Los Angeles Forum each year. It was called The Forum Championship Rodeo...….and paid good money.

Heck, I use to be a member of AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association), when I owned my Quarter Horse and roped with it. But, you wouldn't know anything about that...…..that's ok, though. ​
 

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