Tattooed People In Thailand

[spiderman2]

Men with lots of tattoos do look like thugs/criminals.

But i also think the same everytime i hear a scouse accent.

[popmybubble]

I would call this extreme

[meow_lek]

Do not believe the old tale that just because a Thai girl has a tatoo she is whore....this just is not true anymore but it would not hurt to be suspicious

There's a degree of difference in the perceptions and treatment of women who have tattoos as opposed to men. As noted from the above quote, a tatttoed woman is instantly judged. What a shame you need to share (perpetuate) those judgements.

I would consider my 1/4 sleeves, shoulders a medium ink coverage and feel I'm treated more respectfully when they aren't visible, however I think this parallels being fairly modest with clothes. Depending on the social situation the odd tattoo poking out hasn't made a difference. When visiting family in the country I would be more concerned with tattoos being covered than hanging around my local area.

I think I'll have better things to think about when I'm 60 than whether my tattoos are sagging or not. There's a whole generation of us x and y'ers everywhere who are spotted, covered, dotted and tagged with ink. That's alot of grannys and pops wearing stories to tell their grand kiddies.

[webtv]

Tattoos dont worry me..it seems to be the done thing and I take my hat off to those who are not concerned about looking like a fool at 60 years of age.

It may even have the benefit of encouraging one to keep in good physical condition for as long as possible.

My own children included.

More immedietly threatening in appearasnce is the shaved head with 6 long dreadlocks down the back, combine the two and if the bearer is over 100 kilos and you have a person to cross the street for......unless you have a gut full of lao khao.

a lot of guys at 60 have been known to start to have tattoos,maybe they will worry about looking a fool at 80

i guess you may be right about keeping in shape ,no one wants saggy tattoos

personally im not bothered if i look a fool(to you or other tattoo dislikers) now or at 60 , il be quite happy if i last till 60 ,seriously though everyone always asks what about when your older(when youre heavily tattood),to be honest what do i care,ive lived most of my life by then and wont be looking for a job, going discos or competing with 20 to 40 yr olds......il be more worried about arthritus,cancer,heart attack etc than to worry about general public opinions.

im heavily tattood and aint finished yet....to sarge i would say that i call someone heavily tattood when they have a lot...some people would say 4 or 5 tattoos is someone heavily tattood but i would say someone who has a lot of skin areas covered but in percentage

wise even 20 to 30 percent is quite a lot as there is a hel_l of a lot of skin on us.

by the way i dont like all tattoos on people even though i have a lot...it depends on design etc.some look good some look bad,same as everything in life.everyones welcome to their opinion and im not bothered if someone does or doesnt talk to me because i have tattoos

that's your experience and it's good you share it with us. One point worth expanding on, about people who heavily tattoo themselves, say at young age, and then regretting it later on in the years. Why is it? Could that be because they faced ostracism and prejudice for years? Dunno, just asking...

Life changes and as a person you evolve and so do your likes and dislikes.

I got tattooed at 14 years old, Im now 41, there is a lot of water under the bridge and if I had it all over again, I would not have got them done.. But I dont regret them, I just dont like them or what they respresent, as those times were very hard.

Back then many of my mates had their faces done and many got covered. I got both upper arms done and some chest.

20 years ago, people with tattoos represented "the criminal element or the bad boys" etc, now they are just art and many people of all ages have had them done.

Each to their own I say

[sgunn65]

I have a three quarter sleeve on one arm, my stomach tattooed and another on the other arm. I am currently designing one for my back.

I don't get discriminated at work as I am the owner, which helps. My clients don't discriminate against me as they come to me for my medical expertise not my body art.

When i am out lots of thais ask to look at my tattoo's as they are distinctive. When thai people find out what I do for a living they are quite surprised as Thai's in medicine/health are not meant to have tattoo's. I usually just roll down my shirt sleeves and show them that they can be covered!!!!

I look forward to meeting the guy who will avoid me because of my tattoo's. Will he avoid me if I have long sleeves on or will he wait until he catches a glimpse when I roll my sleeves up to make his excuses and leave. What if he talks with me, finds out we have a lot in common and get on really well and then finds out about my tattoo? That is unlikely as I am unlikely to have much in common with someone who is so shallow they they judge someone's personality on their body art.

[Neeranam]

QUOTE (bravingbangkok @ 2008-11-18 01:42:18)

Do not believe the old tale that just because a Thai girl has a tatoo she is whore....this just is not true anymore but it would not hurt to be suspicious

It may not be the case anymore in the West, but in Thailand.....

[aehn]

some foreigners in Thailand are into tattoos, one can see few shops in tourist areas that cater for this fetish. I don't have any tattoos, never had but I'm curious to know how you define someone as "heavily tattooed". At what point does one become heavily tattooed? Sleeves? Backpiece? What we talking in skin estate, 40%, 80% or more of your skin covered in tattoos? Also were these people heavily tattooed in their own country or become so after emigrating to Thailand?

What is your opinion? It'd be also interesting to know if they face discrimination from Thai society, be it at work, socialising, dealing with landlords when searching for rented accommodation, dealing with bank managers, in restaurants, shopping malls etc...

I think tattooed people, the regular types of tattoos, are facing discrimination more or less everywhere to a certain degree.

Even in the west, where all wannabies nowdays have tattoos, "hey, look, i am so special, just like everybody else", face discrimination. To be honest, i don´t care, if you choose to "decorate" your body, its up to you, but if you are an adult, you will also have to deal with the consequenses.

Btw, i think tattoos are plain ugly. 15 years ago, it was cool, because only a few people had it, today its just boring and ugly.

And girls who are tattooed are even more ugly. As i am not dating any guys, i am less concerned if a guy choose to be ugly.

[aussiechick]

Well aehn - I am so glad that we will never meet. It is nice to know you can decide that girls who are tattooed are "even more ugly" - than what? I would rather be tattooed that have your arrogant attitude. In fact I love my tattoo - and guess what, I proudly show it off. Just about to get another one done.

Nice to know you are not dating guys and presumably not girls either - maybe one day you will get a life!!

[bkkjames]

Men with lots of tattoos do look like thugs/criminals.

But i also think the same everytime i hear a scouse accent.

Very true!

[bkkjames]

Well aehn - I am so glad that we will never meet. It is nice to know you can decide that girls who are tattooed are "even more ugly" - than what? I would rather be tattooed that have your arrogant attitude. In fact I love my tattoo - and guess what, I proudly show it off. Just about to get another one done.

Nice to know you are not dating guys and presumably not girls either - maybe one day you will get a life!!

reminds me of what Bill Maher said....

New Rule: No more Japanese style tattooes on your lower back!

"Do think that tattoo makes you more spiritial. For all you know it's the recipe for Kung Pow Chicken, and besides, the last time you were spiritial was when you were sixteen and your pregnancy test came back negative, oh thank you lord!"

[Sarge]

good replies folks, keep 'em coming

yes, it seems fashionable in the west to have the odd tattoo, typically on the forearm, see some of the so called sport celebrity like Beckham. But wile this is meant to be a fashion accessory, looking cool, some people here in Thailand go to the extreme of tattooing most of their body, even the face. This is a new whole territory, they'll def stand out from the crowd like a sore thumb. In a conservative society like Thailand, where keeping up appearances is of the utmost importance, and foreigners (outside tourist ghettos) are not a common sight, you're likely to encounter shocked stares and prejudice. The heavily tattooed maybe a decent, well educated person. But people tend to judge others from their appearances, particularly here in Thailand.

[kmart]

Personally, I find them offensive--if I can see them. I avoid people with tattoos; I don't know why, but I do.

What a pretentious comment to make, you avoid someone simply for having a tattoo, what makes you a better person for not having any body art?

Tattoos are just another way of expressing yourself. I would admit tattoos on the face are a bit extreme but each to their own!

Its not pretentious at all. Just an honest opinion. Best compliment anyone can pay you.

"Pretentious" is wearing faux body decoration to imply that you are in somehow; "hard'; "spiritual"; or "ethnic" in some way.

Like the pretentious oaf pal of mine who got a large Thai script tattoo on his back that read "Lek's Supermarket" and showed it off like the Dalai Lama had done it for him or something. *chortle*

[Colonel_Mustard]

Personally I think tatoos (and other forms of 'body art') are rather unattractive and I certainly wouldn't have one myself. But to each his own.

[kingwillly]

dosent make you a bad person.im polite well mannered and have no criminal record

worth repeating.

unfortuantely, particularly in pattaya, the unfortunate behaviour of some effects everyone.

[aehn]

Well aehn - I am so glad that we will never meet. It is nice to know you can decide that girls who are tattooed are "even more ugly" - than what? I would rather be tattooed that have your arrogant attitude. In fact I love my tattoo - and guess what, I proudly show it off. Just about to get another one done.

Nice to know you are not dating guys and presumably not girls either - maybe one day you will get a life!!

reminds me of what Bill Maher said....

New Rule: No more Japanese style tattooes on your lower back!

The new rule should be, no more tattoos at all.

[aehn]

good replies folks, keep 'em coming

yes, it seems fashionable in the west to have the odd tattoo, typically on the forearm, see some of the so called sport celebrity like Beckham. But wile this is meant to be a fashion accessory, looking cool, some people here in Thailand go to the extreme of tattooing most of their body, even the face. This is a new whole territory, they'll def stand out from the crowd like a sore thumb.

Yeah, those people just screams for attention, "hey, look at me, i am so special! !!

In a conservative society like Thailand, where keeping up appearances is of the utmost importance, and foreigners (outside tourist ghettos) are not a common sight, you're likely to encounter shocked stares and prejudice.

If you are totally covered in tattoos, even your face, you are gonna get a reaction anywhere in the world. Even in NYC.

With maybe, the except for some tribe-like place or something.

[aehn]

Personally I think tatoos (and other forms of 'body art') are rather unattractive and I certainly wouldn't have one myself. But to each his own.

Yes, exactly.

[benw10]

Personally, I find them offensive--if I can see them. I avoid people with tattoos; I don't know why, but I do.

i wonder if you were traumatised by a pirate as a child?

[benw10]

good replies folks, keep 'em coming

yes, it seems fashionable in the west to have the odd tattoo, typically on the forearm, see some of the so called sport celebrity like Beckham. But wile this is meant to be a fashion accessory, looking cool, some people here in Thailand go to the extreme of tattooing most of their body, even the face. This is a new whole territory, they'll def stand out from the crowd like a sore thumb.

Yeah, those people just screams for attention, "hey, look at me, i am so special! !!

In a conservative society like Thailand, where keeping up appearances is of the utmost importance, and foreigners (outside tourist ghettos) are not a common sight, you're likely to encounter shocked stares and prejudice.

a huge number of thai men are hevily tattooed and damned hot they are too

If you are totally covered in tattoos, even your face, you are gonna get a reaction anywhere in the world. Even in NYC.

With maybe, the except for some tribe-like place or something.

[aehn]

Well aehn - I am so glad that we will never meet. It is nice to know you can decide that girls who are tattooed are "even more ugly" - than what?

Uglier than tattooed guys.

I would rather be tattooed that have your arrogant attitude.

Why not be tattoo-less and have a good attitude?

In fact I love my tattoo - and guess what, I proudly show it off. Just about to get another one done.

Nice to know you are not dating guys and presumably not girls either - maybe one day you will get a life!!

lol, i actually like alot of people who has tattoos, some of my friends have it, having said that, my personal opinion is that it looks dam_n ugly, but that does not mean i dont like the person who wears them.

[Sarge]

If you are totally covered in tattoos, even your face, you are gonna get a reaction anywhere in the world. Even in NYC.

With maybe, the except for some tribe-like place or something.

exactly, so if one is an heavily tattooed foreigner, as described above, you're prolly living at the margin of Thai society, with no stake in it.

Edited November 18, 2008 by Sarge

[kingwillly]

If you are totally covered in tattoos, even your face, you are gonna get a reaction anywhere in the world. Even in NYC.

With maybe, the except for some tribe-like place or something.

exactly, so if one is an heavily tattooed foreigner, as described above, you're prolly living at the margin of Thai society, with no stake in it.

not necessarily so.

[bravingbangkok]

Do not believe the old tale that just because a Thai girl has a tatoo she is whore....this just is not true anymore but it would not hurt to be suspicious

There's a degree of difference in the perceptions and treatment of women who have tattoos as opposed to men. As noted from the above quote, a tatttoed woman is instantly judged. What a shame you need to share (perpetuate) those judgements.

I would consider my 1/4 sleeves, shoulders a medium ink coverage and feel I'm treated more respectfully when they aren't visible, however I think this parallels being fairly modest with clothes. Depending on the social situation the odd tattoo poking out hasn't made a difference. When visiting family in the country I would be more concerned with tattoos being covered than hanging around my local area.

I think I'll have better things to think about when I'm 60 than whether my tattoos are sagging or not. There's a whole generation of us x and y'ers everywhere who are spotted, covered, dotted and tagged with ink. That's alot of grannys and pops wearing stories to tell their grand kiddies.

What are you talking about ????????? I said that you cannot judge a Thai women just because she has a tatoo , some people are way to quick to judge comments on here, read it again.

[aehn]

Do not believe the old tale that just because a Thai girl has a tatoo she is whore....this just is not true anymore but it would not hurt to be suspicious

There's a degree of difference in the perceptions and treatment of women who have tattoos as opposed to men.

Yes, its the same thing everywhere, even if marxist-post-modernist-insane-feminists tries to tell us there are no differences between males and females, they will eventually have to face the fact that males and females will never ever be perceived and treated exactly the same. Just as tattooed woman might be more offensive than tattooed males in certain situations, a male wearing a pink skirt, will face the same kind of trouble, females will more easily get away with it.

[Neeranam]

What are you talking about ????????? I said that you cannot judge a Thai women just because she has a tatoo , some people are way to quick to judge comments on here, read it again.

You can if she's with a farang.

There are other social groups who get tattoos but not the type most farang would get.

[bkkjames]

What are you talking about ????????? I said that you cannot judge a Thai women just because she has a tatoo , some people are way to quick to judge comments on here, read it again.

You can if she's with a farang.

There are other social groups who get tattoos but not the type most farang would get.

Mafia marks?

[Sarge]

what about political tattoos?

he'd def need dark car windows if travelling in Thailand, no doubt about it

[tattoodrob]

Personally, I find them offensive--if I can see them. I avoid people with tattoos; I don't know why, but I do.

I tattooed "W" on eatch Butt cheek!!

i tattooed M on each butt cheek,dad wasnt impressed.

What was you dad doing checking out your butt cheeks?

well he would notice them when he was bathing me..............something wrong with that

[tattoodrob]

what about political tattoos?

he'd def need dark car windows if travelling in Thailand, no doubt about it

why what would happen then????

he would get looked at more by people in passing vehicles....and? .....what other problem would he face?

[moo9]

Well I never liked Tattoos before but finally got a nice sleeve tattoo (Japanese).

Many Thais do have religious tattoos as well (usually done at some special temples)

I do not like to "show" my tattoo, it is my private and personal thing. So I never get a wide feedback from the Thai people. However some Thai friends know it and they like it.

So I am happy with it.