Tattoo

[Lloyd]

I would highly caution against getting a full sleeve. Actually, I would caution getting any tattoos that would be highly visible in work attire and this extends to piercings as well.

Fact of the matter is this. People judge you on your looks. It's the way things work. You sound young, but honestly do you really know what your going to be doing 10-20 years down the road? You have no idea where God is going to put you.

I would warn you right now that if you get crazy with your tattoos, you'll pay the price down the line. You will be judged negatively for them, regardless of their content. It could cost you a potential job, or a promotion.

I'm not against tattoos. I even have a few of my own. They are addictive, I understand. But I warn you with a contrite heart. Don't get a sleeve and make sure you can cover them. You have the rest of your life to think about, and that means you may one day be responsible for raising a family. It's not all about your personal "expression".

Hope this doesn't sound too harsh... Just trying to be as honest as I can.

Grace and Peace.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the words and advice (whether aimed at me or not, they are appreciated).

I understand what you mean, and I certainly dont want to do something I'll regret later on in life. Sleeves are the 'in thing' at the moment I guess, so maybe I'm getting a touch caught up with it myself - you make good points.

And for the record, I work in IT, so it's long sleeve shirts all they way ;)

Take it easy...

 

[stovebolts]

Ha,
I work in IT as well, but I get to roll up my sleeves or wear short sleeved shirts because thankfully my tattoos can still be covered by a short sleeve dress shirt as well, but not with a tight t-shirt. I still remember arguing with the guy at the tattoo parlor because I wanted the tattoo lower, and he said no. He told me I didn't know where I'd be in 20 years (I was a truck driver). I'm glad he was watching out for me because you never know where God is going to put us (James 4:13-15). Also, IT is rapidly evolving. I came into the industry when mainframes with dumb terminals were going out and it was all about Client Server archetecture. Now we're going back to thin or zero clients (akin to dumb terminals) where virtual desktops (server) will rule. Who knows where the industry will be in another 10 years... Stay sharp and nimble or get left behind!!!

As unfair as some would make it sound, the fact of the matter is that there are people (Christian and non Christian alike) who will judge and condemn you based on tattoos or piercings. In the long run, why would anyone want to be a marter in this area under the guise of self expression. From one perspective, it's kind of selfish.

 

[farouk]

... if my tattoos bring one person to Christ, then I guess having them was all worth it

Lloyd & Stovebolts:

Hi, Lloyd, you've got great motivation there! I think that Christians who don't like tattoos (which in itself is fine) need to think also of the motivation that ppl have.

Stovebolts: I agree to some extent, yes, about the sleeve thing; but, then, maybe the tattoo scene is developing, too, just like the computer scene. Like, ten years ago, who would have thought that so many ladies as well as men would be getting sleeves inked? Nowadays, so many brides don't even want to cover their arm and shoulder tattoos. Furthermore, many brides who haven't yet gotten tattoos get temporary bridal tattoos on their arms, etc. to make it look as if they have them. I know these are smaller, of course. I know what you mean about regrets; like, the design I got on my arm faded soon anyway and doesn't correspond with my developing thoughts. It's a question of balancing the various aspects and factors, I guess.

 

[stovebolts]

farouk,

If somebody wants to get full sleeves etc, it's well within their right. I'm just saying that our culture still frowns on them as a rule and you will be judged negatively by some people. To what extent is anyone's guess. I'm just saying that if somebody decides to get full sleeves etc, they have to take the reality of how they will be judged seriously. For instance, lets say somebody goes in for a job interview or a promotion. The tattoos may be a deal breaker regardless of their qualifications and to be politically correct, the tattoos will never be spoken about as the cause of not getting the job / promotion. It's just a fact. that's all I'm saying. It's a real concern, and one that needs to be considered.

 

[farouk]

farouk,

If somebody wants to get full sleeves etc, it's well within their right. I'm just saying that our culture still frowns on them as a rule and you will be judged negatively by some people. To what extent is anyone's guess. I'm just saying that if somebody decides to get full sleeves etc, they have to take the reality of how they will be judged seriously. For instance, lets say somebody goes in for a job interview or a promotion. The tattoos may be a deal breaker regardless of their qualifications and to be politically correct, the tattoos will never be spoken about as the cause of not getting the job / promotion. It's just a fact. that's all I'm saying. It's a real concern, and one that needs to be considered.

Stovebolts:

Yes, well what you say is also common sense as well, to quite some extent. But I can't imagine an employer at an interview saying to a lady, Take your leather jacket off in case you have any tattoos on your arms. If she does have tattoos there, she would probably keep her jacket on anyway, and then afterwards discreetly try to find out if there is any employer policy or preference with such matters. But, say, with a young guy of a certain age group, for example, it might almost be surprising if he didn't have a tattoo some place, and it's not the employer's business to dig deeply enough to find out, although there might be some stipulation to keep them covered in certain situations around some clients, etc.

 

[stovebolts]

OH sure, there are lots of ways to hide your tattoos when you are going in for your interview. I agree 100% What I'm talking about is the guy or gal who comes in all inked up and it's showing. The prospective employer will never say that you didn't get the job because of the tattoos. They will simply say that you didn't get the job. Same thing with a promotion at work. You can hide them all you like, but there will always be "those" people who when they find out about them will stigmatize you.

I'm lucky because I only have two small tattoos that are visible, and because they are small and on the sides of my forearms they don't stand out and aren't really noticeable. But the rest can be covered easily with a short sleeve shirt.

I'm not talking about what's fair here and I'm not even talking about what's right and whats wrong. I'm just simply bringing about an awareness of how people respond. So, if you want your arms sleeved in tattoos or that big nose or lip ring, then don't be disappointed when you don't get that job or that promotion. It may not be fair, and it may not be right, but it's the way it is in many places.

 

[farouk]

StoveBolts:

Yes, well, to a good extent I can understand what you're saying. It's not a bad idea to be just that little bit discreet sometimes, around employers. But in terms also of the realities of how people who have to earn their living so often are, if a guy comes to work on a Harley or a Honda bike and changes his clothes in the men's room, it would not be remotely surprising or unusual if another male employee saw that the guys turned out to have a tat some place. If a coworker gets along well with other coworkers and, after knowing them for a while, invites them to her wedding: far from any of her tats being hidden, they may well show in wedding photos in glorious technicolor because she actually wants them to.

And so forth. I guess what I would say also is that it's hardly surprising if at 18 some young Christians want to make their parlor trip relate to a faith design. You do make some good points, though.

 

[modernnihilst]

The general rule I use when looking at a prospective employe(I own a smallish MMA gym) is what I call the "child rule" are there any tattoo's visable that I would not want my kid looking at, ie. nude women, racisist immages, and the dreaded and VERY dumb pot leaf tattoo's, if so then they need to be willing to keep them SECURLY covered, infact I have a Muay Thai instructor in a turtle neck at all times in the gym(pot leaf on the neck when he was younger), also I apply the same rule to anyone in the public part of the gym(I have a seperate area for pros). From an employer stand point I have to take into account that these guys are a representation of me and my gym while there. I myself as stated previously am prety heavily tatted up but all are coverable with a short sleeve shirts for the most part. A solid general rule for tats is below the neck and not below the elbow, most employers shouldn't be able to see them that way and it becomes a non issue.

Piercings in my opinion are just silly. Its just something else for your dad to grab ahold of when you tick him off.

 

[farouk]

The general rule I use when looking at a prospective employe(I own a smallish MMA gym) is what I call the "child rule" are there any tattoo's visable that I would not want my kid looking at, ie. nude women, racisist immages, and the dreaded and VERY dumb pot leaf tattoo's, if so then they need to be willing to keep them SECURLY covered, infact I have a Muay Thai instructor in a turtle neck at all times in the gym(pot leaf on the neck when he was younger), also I apply the same rule to anyone in the public part of the gym(I have a seperate area for pros). From an employer stand point I have to take into account that these guys are a representation of me and my gym while there. I myself as stated previously am prety heavily tatted up but all are coverable with a short sleeve shirts for the most part. A solid general rule for tats is below the neck and not below the elbow, most employers shouldn't be able to see them that way and it becomes a non issue.

Piercings in my opinion are just silly. Its just something else for your dad to grab ahold of when you tick him off.

m:

Well, yes, exactly, I can see what you mean completely. You known, when some men are converted to Christianity, and they have tattoos that they come to regret of the nature that you describe, sometimes they will be motivated to go back to the parlor and have the tattoo modified. For example, the sort of tattoo that you mention, involving the figure of a nude, might well have a bikini discreetly added.

I guess a rude word, later regretted, might involve a lot of searching in a dictionary in order to find some way of altering the word to say something else! (I'm not going to scrap around to discuss examples of rude words, though!)

Also, some ppl may come to regret their tattoo if they have someone's name; for example, a lady with her ex-bf's name 'Bill' on her arm, might have a complete change of heart and values and choose to alter 'Bill' to 'Bible', etc.

 

[modernnihilst]

Also, some ppl may come to regret their tattoo if they have someone's name; for example, a lady with her ex-bf's name 'Bill' on her arm, might have a complete change of heart and values and choose to alter 'Bill' to 'Bible', etc.

One of the first rules is NEVER get a significant other's name tattooed on your body. The old wives tale states it will cause the relationship to fail. One should only tattoo names if they can't leave you, parents, kids god(if one believes) stuff like that is good for names, wives and husbands I wouldnt do that.

However the main point of my post was to offer an employers point of view of this person is going to be representing me and my company. And the suggestion of above the elbow and below the neck is a good bit of advice(the military uses that for newer recruits), society as a whole has little issues with tattoo's in that region of the body. However even if its a religous tattoo, say on ones face, the stigma of freak with tattoos becomes attached even though the tatt is tastefull and holy in reasoning. Even though I have full half-sleeves on both arms(Japaneese on my right arm and Naval themed left arm) I still am weary of a heavily tatted up person managing my money or doctors with tatts(had one too not comforting in the least). Placement more so than what the design can cause more difficulty with employers.

 

[farouk]

One of the first rules is NEVER get a significant other's name tattooed on your body. The old wives tale states it will cause the relationship to fail. One should only tattoo names if they can't leave you, parents, kids god(if one believes) stuff like that is good for names, wives and husbands I wouldnt do that.

However the main point of my post was to offer an employers point of view of this person is going to be representing me and my company. And the suggestion of above the elbow and below the neck is a good bit of advice(the military uses that for newer recruits), society as a whole has little issues with tattoo's in that region of the body. However even if its a religous tattoo, say on ones face, the stigma of freak with tattoos becomes attached even though the tatt is tastefull and holy in reasoning. Even though I have full half-sleeves on both arms(Japaneese on my right arm and Naval themed left arm) I still am weary of a heavily tatted up person managing my money or doctors with tatts(had one too not comforting in the least). Placement more so than what the design can cause more difficulty with employers.

n:

Yes, well the military have probably got it right, there: above the elbow and below the neck can be a useful placement guide.

Fact is, that men and women going into the military may almost either expect to get a tattoo or, if they do, it won't be regarded as an unusual wish. Traditionally, for many men and women in the military, a tattoo is almost a rite of passage, really.

I remember hearing about a policewoman in another country whose tattoos were at first objected to but she took the matter to a politician, who basically argued, What else you expect?

 

[farouk]

I'm planning on getting my full arm done soon, all biblical related.

Sleeves are the 'in thing' at the moment I guess, so maybe I'm getting a touch caught up with it myself -

You could always get a half-sleeve, I guess.

 

[farouk]

(Time to close the thread??)

 

[Richard]

hi sorry to insert my question here .i wish think about designing a tattoo that my dying wife will go the heaven .we are protestant.hope to hear some opinion .tks

 

[farouk]

hi sorry to insert my question here .i wish think about designing a tattoo that my dying wife will go the heaven .we are protestant.hope to hear some opinion .tks

Richard:

Really sorry to read about your wife.

The main thing is for a person to have the love of the Lord Jesus engraved on the heart, isn't it? (what is outward is really of far lower priority).

I love John 3.16.

I pray that your wife and you both will be able to rejoice together in the 'love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be a propitiation (wrath-ending sacrifice) for our sins' (1 John 4.10).

 

[divinecloud7]

If anywhere in the bible states tattooing is wrong...than better safe than sorry. Not trying to bash, just trying to advise and correct with the truth.

"The truth sometimes is hard to take or endure, but gird it up like wisdom and never leave home without it!"



Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>

 

[farouk]

If anywhere in the bible states tattooing is wrong...than better safe than sorry. Not trying to bash, just trying to advise and correct with the truth.

"The truth sometimes is hard to take or endure, but gird it up like wisdom and never leave home without it!"



Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>

Always glad to look at the Bible.

(References helpful.)

Blessings.