Thoughts on Tattoos, hot or not?

[keithhardy]

Been tossing the idea around of getting an upper body tattoo on arm, shoulder, chest area now that I have almost reach the build I was trying to achieve. What's everyone's thoughts on them? If you are one that likes tattoos, what kind do you like or would you suggest? If you don't like them, why don't you? Do you think tattoos add to sex appeal?

[+ Truereview]

Hey handsome. I'm indifferent to tattoos, but I'm always curious about why the individual chooses the tattoo. For me, it is a conversation piece where I can find out more about someone. I'm not obnoxiously nosey, but I'm always looking for more than just a physical connection. If there is no rhyme or reason to the tattoo, it's cool, but I always find it a bit more fun when I can learn something about someone based on the design, color, etc. example, last night I asked this very sweet man why he had a tribal sign on his wrist. He kinda brushed it off, but as we got to know each other he revealed he had survived cancer 5 years ago and the tattoo was a symbol to remind him of what he had accomplished. We talked for a while about it. I felt a level of intimacy that perhaps would not have been there if the tattoo had not had any meaning. Bottom line: if you mark your delish bod, gimme a reason to ask why. Besito, - TR

 

PS - if you reached the build you want, could the tattoo serve as a symbol of the hard work & a celebration of such accomplishment?

[KJJ]

Love tattoos, I personally think it adds to the appeal. Don't get me wrong I find many guys great looking without them as well, they are just a preference I happen to like. I have several, some have meaning and all have some type of tribal design to them. Tattoos are a very personal decision that I think you need to determine what you like but I think you will appreciate it more if it has some type of meaning to you. Remember it is something you alone have to live with the rest of your life. I agree with TrueReview that they are a topic of conversation in getting to know each other and I think it is one more thing that helps to break the ice when someone first meets you.

[dcguy20]

Keith, you're going to find a variety of opinions on this subject. I, for one, find the larger tattoos to be a major turnoff.

[+ Topseed]

Skip the ink. Huge turnoff.

[Nvr2Thick]

There are exceptions, but I usually accept heavy tattoos more easily on darker or swarthier guys. If a man has paler skin and the tattoo brings a lot of contrast I often don't like it as much. On your skin I wouldn't go too dark and I wouldn't use too bold of a pattern.

 

I have an acquaintance who likes to wear a variety of different tank tops. His workout gear is also very colorful. Half of his wardrobe clashes with his tattoos, in a way that matters. Some of his friends pick on him about it, but he just doesn't get it. I find him to be more attractive when he's wearing a long-sleeve shirt. I also remember an escort who posted pictures shirtless, with bright patterned long swim trunks. The disharmony between his tropical-colored arm and torso tattoos and his shorts was blinding. Guys who wear tattoos well tend to adopt very basic wardrobes.

 

You also have to have the personality to carry the weight of a prominent tattoo. I've seen some very well-built guys with perfectly executed tattoos that just don't fit their face or demeanor. Locally I always see one guy with aggressive tribal designs on his shoulders mixed beautifully with Asian dragon themes as sleeves, that just don't match his Opie Taylor friendly innocence. It's like walking into the leather bar and immediately picking out the corporate director of accounting who slipped into his leathers and left his new Lexus cooling in the parking lot. Make sure you pick out a design you can really own, and not one that just looks very good.

[+ not2rowdy]

Over the years there have been numerous comments on the forum IRT tattoos.

 

My take on those comments:

 

Many opinions expressed regarding those who won’t hire because of them.

Not many comments regarding those who won’t hire because of a lack of them.

 

So, for escorts, just be aware that tattoos may alienate some potential clients.

 

I, personally, don’t care much one way or the other if they are modest in size and in “good taste”. However, “good taste” is difficult to define since it’s a personal opinion.

[big-n-tall]

It's your body (and a damned fine body it is). Do what you want with it.

 

I don't mind tattoos at all, except when people get them on their face or go to the extreme and cover every square inch of their body... think carnival sideshow attraction.

 

Most people I know with a number of tattoos, as has been stated, have them to remind them of something/someone important. If you're getting one just because you want it or have become addicted to it... I say don't. If indeed your new tat will be a symbol of something significant in your life... have at it.

 

But again your body, your rules. It wouldn't stop me from seeing you if you got a new tat.

[corndog]

In the best case, when someone has really great tattoos, I accept them with indifference. However, most tattoos are not that great. Perhaps a quality tattoo will maintain its clarity over time, but I feel like most tattoos become a blurry, faded mess after a few years. Many seemed to be selected impulsively, without a lot of meaning. Or, for example, something written in a foreign language that has no real connection to its wearer. It might make sense for someone who has studied zen and has a deep spiritual connection to its teachings to have a tattoo consisting of Chinese characters, but some guy who has never been outside of Arkansas and just took a tattoo artist's word for it that his Chinese characters mean "I fuck, therefore I am" is just trashy.

 

Even a well thought out and meaningful tattoo may reflect who someone is when they get it, but become a burden later in life. In his twenties, a guy might proudly wear a tattoo with an anti-establishment message, but all of our lives change, and sometimes they change is ways that we'd never predict. That guy who was all about being a rebel in his twenties might end up in the 1% later in life.

 

I also have an issue with multiple tattoos that have no stylistic or thematic connection with each other. If you're going to have multiple tattoos they should work together and not look like spilled ink.

[+ quoththeraven]

I am not a big fan of tattoos on others. (I won't be getting any myself based on the toxicity of the ingredients and the way ink migrates.) But I'm not dead set against them.

 

I like monochromatic tribal-style tattoos better than very colorful, busy ones, especially for men. I dislike sleeves and half-sleeves and prefer shoulder, chest/back, hip, wrist or leg as locations for tattoos. And as others have mentioned, any tattoo should fit your look and style.

[+ WmClarke]

The larger they are, the more I dislike them....but it's never a deal breaker for hiring.

[Atlantagaguy]

My tastes have changed over the years, my concern, are you going to like your design in 5, 10, 20 years from now. To me I’m not into tattooed men, but that’s not going to keep me from hiring someone with them. My recommendation is to take the money and add it to your investment portfolio.

[keithhardy]

Hey handsome. I'm indifferent to tattoos, but I'm always curious about why the individual chooses the tattoo. For me, it is a conversation piece where I can find out more about someone. I'm not obnoxiously nosey, but I'm always looking for more than just a physical connection. If there is no rhyme or reason to the tattoo, it's cool, but I always find it a bit more fun when I can learn something about someone based on the design, color, etc. example, last night I asked this very sweet man why he had a tribal sign on his wrist. He kinda brushed it off, but as we got to know each other he revealed he had survived cancer 5 years ago and the tattoo was a symbol to remind him of what he had accomplished. We talked for a while about it. I felt a level of intimacy that perhaps would not have been there if the tattoo had not had any meaning. Bottom line: if you mark your delish bod, gimme a reason to ask why. Besito, - TR

 

PS - if you reached the build you want, could the tattoo serve as a symbol of the hard work & a celebration of such accomplishment?

Thats a great story, and the one I have has started many conversations, although if I had to do it all over again I would have done different or not at all, thats part of my fear. I like the idea of something related to reaching my goals.

[keithhardy]

Keith, you're going to find a variety of opinions on this subject. I, for one, find the larger tattoos to be a major turnoff.

I agree 100%, its one of the reasons why I started this thread to get an idea of opinions on them.

[whipped guy]

My tastes have changed over the years, my concern, are you going to like your design in 5, 10, 20 years from now. To me I’m not into tattooed men, but that’s not going to keep me from hiring someone with them. My recommendation is to take the money and add it to your investment portfolio.

Speaking of investment portfolios, my advice would be to invest in tattoo removal!! With some of the bizarre and tasteless tattoos that many are getting today I can't possibly believe that they would still want them when they get older and wiser.

 

I'm not anti-tattoo. On many guys they look hot. However, one must think of the future. A bit of advance planning is important. Having a tattoo that has sagged well below your navel ain't gonna be a purdy site when your ready for the "home"!

[keithhardy]

Over the years there have been numerous comments on the forum IRT tattoos.

 

My take on those comments:

 

Many opinions expressed regarding those who won’t hire because of them.

Not many comments regarding those who won’t hire because of a lack of them.

 

So, for escorts, just be aware that tattoos may alienate some potential clients.

 

I, personally, don’t care much one way or the other if they are modest in size and in “good taste”. However, “good taste” is difficult to define since it’s a personal opinion.

Thanks for the reply, this is defiantly one of my concerns, thanks for sharing.

[keithhardy]

It's your body (and a damned fine body it is). Do what you want with it.

 

I don't mind tattoos at all, except when people get them on their face or go to the extreme and cover every square inch of their body... think carnival sideshow attraction.

 

Most people I know with a number of tattoos, as has been stated, have them to remind them of something/someone important. If you're getting one just because you want it or have become addicted to it... I say don't. If indeed your new tat will be a symbol of something significant in your life... have at it.

 

But again your body, your rules. It wouldn't stop me from seeing you if you got a new tat.

Thanks for the compliment, I totally agree with the tattoos on the face, I have always wonder why anyone would find that attractive, I also am not a fan of total coverage, or random tattoos all over the body in random spots. I def don't want to become addicted, which I know they can be

[keithhardy]

The larger they are, the more I dislike them....but it's never a deal breaker for hiring.

What do you consider large? My idea if I did it would be something that starts on the arm and goes to the pec.

[keithhardy]

My tastes have changed over the years, my concern, are you going to like your design in 5, 10, 20 years from now. To me I’m not into tattooed men, but that’s not going to keep me from hiring someone with them. My recommendation is to take the money and add it to your investment portfolio.

This is a great point, because the one I have now, that I got at 18 I really don't like all that much.

[whipped guy]

Keith I just realized that your Superman tattoo is below your navel... and it has not sagged there. I find it tasteful by the way!

Speaking of investment portfolios, my advice would be to invest in tattoo removal!! With some of the bizarre and tasteless tattoos that many are getting today I can't possibly believe that they would still want them when they get older and wiser.

 

I'm not anti-tattoo. On many guys they look hot. However, one must think of the future. A bit of advance planning is important. Having a tattoo that has sagged well below your navel ain't gonna be a purdy site when your ready for the "home"!

[Juan Vancouver]

Opinions about tattoos are like assholes. We all have them, some are really nice, some are pretty shitty.

 

Let me share my asshole with you, then.

 

I think tattoos are something so personal and so permanent that you should make this decision with even more care and thoughtfulness than you would choose a romantic partner. Relationships come and go, jobs come and go, everything in life is transitory, but that tribal sleeve will stay with you forever.

 

If I were you I would try to block everyone else's opinion about tattoos. Some find them repugnant, some find them endlessly enthralling, many don't care either way. This is something that will be on your body for as long as you are in this body, so I think you'd be better off not crowdsourcing this decision. Think what you want to commit with, find your colours, your shapes, your story, your size, your artist, then go for it. There will be TONS of people who will find you overwhelmingly hot and will want a piece of you and you will put off a few others, but you will have something on your body that you and only you chose.

 

I am always amazed when people go to a tattoo artist and allow the artist to choose for them. I am such a control freak that I have trouble letting anyone cut my hair, and I cut it every single week! That hair cut is only going to be on me for a week! If I were to get a tattoo, nobody would have a say on it.

 

I hope you will find the most amazing tattoo for you. I can't wait to see the pics!

[+ WmClarke]

The larger they are, the more I dislike them....but it's never a deal breaker for hiring.

What do you consider large? My idea if I did it would be something that starts on the arm and goes to the pec.

 

For me, that's as large as I would want/appreciate. Bigger than that and they are just distracting. With the lights out, however, it really doesn't matter.

[Brian Kevin]

I think tattoos are something so personal and so permanent that you should make this decision with even more care and thoughtfulness than you would choose a romantic partner. Relationships come and go, jobs come and go, everything in life is transitory, but that tribal sleeve will stay with you forever.

 

I am seconding Juan !

 

I have 2 tattoos both for family members. One whom has passed away (Grandma Rose, hints the beautiful Rose) and one I have unable to be with while a child, my sister-- so upon reuniting and growing our relationship even more, we both got tattoos ! Her a "B" and I got an "A", both for each others begging initials.

 

I don't do them overly large, or 'in your face' my tattoos are hidden, If I dress showing them, its casual, the beach, home, running errands.

 

Work-- I can hide them with a basic Tshirt.

 

Tattoos hott or not?

 

HOTT! within reason

 

[Bearofdistinction]

Small Discrete Tat fine --- Co ver a pec/shoulder/upper arm ----- HUGE TURNOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Makes it look like someone defaced a beautiful work of art with graffiti

[body2body]

I have known men who have had tattoos done that had specific and personal meaning to them. The meaning outweighed any aesthetic consideration. I have known men who have had tattoos that enhanced their appearance ( accented a well developed bicep for example). However, some guys have taken it too far. I used to see an escort who got so carried away that he began to remind me of Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man. I stopped seeing him because the beautiful body that genetics and countless hours of hard work in the gym had given him were hidden beneath a veil of third rate cliched illustration. Your pictures show a man with a beautiful body. Tread carefully and make sure that any embellishment enhances what you already have.