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anonymous
Q: is it a culture thing for americans having tatto on their body?
dont know why,but it seems to me nine out of ten american men,either on their arm,back or neck... have tatto on their body,at least one. is that a culture value ?
for those who got tattos, is it all worth it,the painful process,i mean. i do admit its a little attractive
Have you been out of China? Tattoos are found everywhere on every nationality. I have 4 tattoos, does that make me American? Tattoos are a personal statement. Chinese here have tattoos too. Haven't you seen any? Maybe you should get one, no?
susan3332:
personal statement ? i guess every tattos have meanings,i thought those who tattoed mainly want to get attention from others and most common in US,maybe i was wrong,i havent,unfotunately been out of china, and i rarely see chinese man have tatto,on my body? of course no,lol i prefer my soft smooth skin
louischuahm:
People get tattoos to make a statement about themselves. It's the same as a woman who puts on make up or dress up. Isn't that making a statement as well? Different people have different ways of expressing themselves. Once upon a time, people with tattoos were regarded as gangsters or belonging to secret societies etc. Nowadays even women have tattoos.
susan3332:
right,probably its also the same as wonan wearing high heel shoes,because there are something on our body we wish to change,that way we also feel more confident about ourself,the only difference is that we can take off high heel shoes but they can never take off tattos
Have you been out of China? Tattoos are found everywhere on every nationality. I have 4 tattoos, does that make me American? Tattoos are a personal statement. Chinese here have tattoos too. Haven't you seen any? Maybe you should get one, no?
susan3332:
personal statement ? i guess every tattos have meanings,i thought those who tattoed mainly want to get attention from others and most common in US,maybe i was wrong,i havent,unfotunately been out of china, and i rarely see chinese man have tatto,on my body? of course no,lol i prefer my soft smooth skin
louischuahm:
People get tattoos to make a statement about themselves. It's the same as a woman who puts on make up or dress up. Isn't that making a statement as well? Different people have different ways of expressing themselves. Once upon a time, people with tattoos were regarded as gangsters or belonging to secret societies etc. Nowadays even women have tattoos.
susan3332:
right,probably its also the same as wonan wearing high heel shoes,because there are something on our body we wish to change,that way we also feel more confident about ourself,the only difference is that we can take off high heel shoes but they can never take off tattos
One of my earliest memories of China was an image of a dragon tattooed Chinese woman. It is a cultural thing, but not only American culture.
susan3332:
cannt imagine to have dragon tattomust be as cool as human body art.
xinyuren:
I would never get a tattoo myself, but I admit her's was cool.
It is not a cultural thing. The culture in developed countries is simply to do your own thing. Some like tattoos, some don't.
susan3332:
strangely enough,american expats i happen to met all have tattos on their body
It's very normal. The images can be cultural or personal. Motivated by peer pressure, or as a private expression. The location on the body and the image used may be an indication what kind of person it is, but not necessarily. I never liked tattoos myself. When I was younger, I had all kinds of value judgements about tattooed people, much like you have, I think. I believe things like tattoos helped me to finally do away with simplistic world views, since it became increasingly difficult to rationalize why decent people had them too. At a certain point, you find yourself thinking horrible things about nice people you met, just to rationalize your personal opinions about tattoos. Then I looked in the mirror and decided: "No, I don't know it all. This is not the kind of person I am."
susan3332:
i used to think unconsciously those who have tattos are usually bad,my impression of them are not good,yes,i judged them and do find myself thinking horrible things about them,then some americans with decent job like teacher also have them and showed to us,thats when i realized my view towards them is way to simplistic.
It is a culture thing if 30% of adult Americans have tattoos? I found that on the internet but I seriously think the number is less. Most have tattoos you can't see, like on their shoulder or ankle. When did you start drinking in biker bars?
susan3332:
biker bar? i rarely drink and went to bar only once in my life,and thats a typical Chinese bar.see,hahahaha
Where on the body are these tattoos located?
susan3332:
on their arms,chest from my personal experience,maybe hide some somewhere else like other posters mentioned. lol
Probably a better question to ask is the percentage of adventurer types who travel to far away places that have tattoos. I bet that would be pretty high. Safe, conservative people don't mark their bodies. They're also less likely to venture to China, so you won't see them.
I like Manson's swastika between the eyes.... now that's Commitment !
You might know that about everywhere in the world, some people have tattoos. Like Maori people of New Zealand, they have a tradition to tattoo themselves. In the Fidji Islands, too. In Japan, the yakuza do it too. It's a very old tradition, and a very international one too. Many people have tattoo in places you will never see 
louischuahm:
Yes, Maoris tattoo themselves because it's part of their culture. Yakuza do it because it's a cult. So depending on the type of societies, tattoos say a lot about a group of people. However, for the individual, it's personal. Tribes tattoo their own patterns which say something about their cultures and there is history behind it. For the individual, it's about personal taste.
susan3332:
most heros in US drama got tattos,many sports star also have tattos,so some young individuals imitate them because they think its cool
I am an American and have no tattoos...most friends have none.
I also don't have any earrings.
As a wise friend once said, "Self-mutilation is a form of insanity, and I came with all the holes I need."
susan3332:
well,its was a good choice.but some people are willing to run the risk of injury and feel good after doing something about their body,people tattooed themself on body,i pierced myself on ear,believe me,the pain are beyond description.
sam239:
Well I guess it could be art, and I am sure some people get a sexual kick out of piercing or tattoos, up2you. But I see no reason to mutilate my body for these purposes.
I don't have tattoos, I'm Canadian. I think half the women I met in China had tattos. I knew one girl that had them, she went to Gz for awhile, when she came back, she had the entire right side of her face tattooed.
susan3332:
m entire right face,she really do have personality! i thought tattos are not common among Chinese, :-/
TedDBayer:
tattoo very common on Chinese people, many women have them on arms or back. I met a realy sexy woman that had them on one side from her neck down her arm.
Tattoos can make or break somebody's body appeal. A good looking woman can suddenly turn sexy with one. A good looking guy can also be transformed into a bonehead with the "wrong" tat xD I myself have none, and don't really want to get any. But I'm definitely not put off by a girl having one. Just better not be one of those "cringe worthy tattoos" we see published in a Yahoo news article from time to time. Homer Simpson vagina anyone???? Anyone????
apparently, there are some professions, such as civil service, army, teachers, that have physical exams where having a tattoo can prevent you from working here in China as a Chinese person.
personally i think
some tattoos look good on people, some don't.
but it is about personal choice and personal reaction.
susan3332:
exactly ! they have every reason and can do anything to themself,as long as they won't regret the rest of their lives.
Iam a Kiwi and I love tattoos,love the pain love it,I have 11 tattoos and I want more.
Op is Chinese huh? You want a country that has tattoo as a cultural thing? Why go that far, you got Thailand and Japan, for example where tattoo is part of their culture. Tattoo is a English word?...
For Americans, age is also a part of it. 35 and younger are far more likely to have at least 1 tattoo than the older generations. It's a way of expressing individuality.
