[dcmacdaddy]

So, I got my first tattoo yesterday. Here it is. One of my friends was saying this is hard core because it is in a visible location. I don't think so, but what do I know. To me, a hard-core tattoo is some kind of massive half-sleeve dragon or Japanese koi across someone's entire back or a tattoo on someone's neck. To me, a hard-core tattoo is a combination of subject matter, style/design, and location. This, this is just 8 hand-written words that are song lyrics on my inner forearm. The whole thing took less than 45 minutes and that included paying for it afterwards. That doesn't make me or the tattoo hard core, does it? I don't think so. Or, maybe I don't know what it means to have a hard core tattoo. Anyways, MacNN'ers, give me your thoughts on the matter. (The full story on the tat can be found here.)

http://frothspittleandbluster.files....lways-love.jpg

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I'm not gonna lie to you – the fact that you put Nada Surf in permanent ink on your body makes me squirm and cringe.

As for "hardcore"… meh, I wouldn't go that far. I would probably be more discreet myself, but it's certainly nothing to be worried about I wouldn't think – and it'll probably be a good conversation piece.

Too bad it'll be a conversation about Nada Surf.

greg

[Railroader]

"Hard core" to me means multiple tattoos in not only visible places, but in odd places like ears, face, neck. Forearm tattoos seem to be more common lately.

On a the MacNN scale of Hard core:

Fluffy bunnies<------------------------------your tat--------------->this guy

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

I'm not gonna lie to you – the fact that you put Nada Surf in permanent ink on your body makes me squirm and cringe.

As for "hardcore"… meh, I wouldn't go that far. I would probably be more discreet myself, but it's certainly nothing to be worried about I wouldn't think – and it'll probably be a good conversation piece.

Too bad it'll be a conversation about Nada Surf.

greg

Oh yeah, I'm not worried about it. I quite like it.

I was just trying to gauge my friend's reaction to my "hard-core" tattoo, which seems anything but hard-core to me.

[Gankdawg]

IMHO, not hardcore.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy 

Oh yeah, I'm not worried about it. I quite like it.

Don't worry I'm badass, I own every great Al Green record

[mduell]

Not hard core IMO, but it is low class.

[brassplayersrock²]

What I want to know is what font you used.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² 

What I want to know is what font you used.

It's a variation of the "Handwriting - Dakota" font that comes installed with Leopard. I liked the free-form nature of this font--It looks really informal on paper and my arm--and gave the tattooed phrase to the artist a day ahead of time and let him work up a couple designs. The one I chose was almost identical to the font named above. The initial-cap A could be just a bit thicker on the ascender--like only 1/16th of an inch thicker--but otherwise I am pleased with the font choice and how it came out on my arm. It doesn't shout "I am serious" to me. The reason why I got the tattoo is serious and meaningful to me but I didn't want the tattoo itself to come across that way.

[ort888]

Did you get that to remind you to stop punching nuns in the face?

[OwlBoy]

omg. learn to compress for the web

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy 

omg. learn to compress for the web

2nded...

3rded...

4thed...

and...

[Shaddim]

Hardcore? Dude, that's barely softcore.

[IceEnclosure]

snapped this the other night of a friend of mine:

[Tomchu]

Wow, either the lighting was weird in that photo, or your friend is growing Popeye arms.

[torsoboy]

and her skirt barely covers her cha-cha.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy 

Anyways, MacNN'ers, give me your thoughts on the matter.

Kerning will get you every time.

[PB2K]

but it could be hardcore if you were a 10 year old girl and did this yourself with needles and ink

[RAILhead]

(hoping to wake up and see this was just a joke if not for the stupid font alone)

[PB2K]

Eventually every tattoo will disappoint

http://www.tattoosandtoys.com/view.p...s&amp;start=40 hehehe

[Maflynn]

Hard core, wow, cats ceo's Tat is more hardcore then this.

I'm sure it means something special for you and that's great but I don't really consider it hard core.

[ctt1wbw]

I was just gonna say that a Firewire logo is hardcore, man! Rock on! Woo hoo firewire!!!

Or a Zune logo... nah, that's just ****ing gay, man.

[Dakar V]

Shoulda been a poll!

[scaught]

I weep for your choice.

[osiris]

Not hardcore. Hardcore involves boobies, skulls, and the word "fu*k".

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

Kerning will get you every time.

HA! HA! Nice.

[paul w]

People sure are getting a lot of frivolous tattoos these days. And no it's not hardcore. Hardcore would be something really big, visible and with dragons or naked ladies or something.

[zro]

I don't know. I think that would have to be a hard thing to get as a tattoo. That's pretty hardcore. I bet the artist asked you more than once if you were sure that's what you wanted.

As far as fashion goes... no. Not hardcore. Rabbit tracks are more hardcore than that.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by paul w 

People sure are getting a lot of frivolous tattoos these days. And no it's not hardcore. Hardcore would be something really big, visible and with dragons or naked ladies or something.

Yeah, that was my reply to my friend when she said she thought it was hard-core. I didn't think a bunch of words was hard-core. And she's got two small tattoos herself. (And no, neither one of them is a tramp-stamp.) You think she would know what counts as hard-core in the tattoo world.


Oh well. I like it and it means something to me. But trying to be/appear hard-core was not an intention when I got it. Thanks for your feedback NN'ers; You confirmed my sentiments.

[OwlBoy]

I wonder how Hardcore just writing "Hardcore" would be.

-Owl

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by zro 

I don't know. I think that would have to be a hard thing to get as a tattoo. That's pretty hardcore. I bet the artist asked you more than once if you were sure that's what you wanted.

Nope. He didn't try and talk me out of it. And if any of you knew me as well as some of my friends you would know that written words would be the most likely tattoo for me to get.

Originally Posted by zro 

As far as fashion goes... no. Not hardcore. Rabbit tracks are more hardcore than that.

[d4nth3m4n]

i can't really see it, post a bigger image?

[mattyb]

If you sat in a fairly clean room, with health certificates / insurance documentation etc on the walls, and didn't use a needle fastened to wood with a bit of string, and didn't have an old woman chanting in the background, with blood pouring out of your body; then no matter what you have written on you - it isn't hardcore.

[Demonhood]

that's not hardcore.

this guy is hardcore:

[mattyb]

Yes Demonhood, that guy (if those are permanent tattoos) is hardcore.

Not too sure if I'd ever employ him for anything though. Except a freak show.

[Dakar V]

Check out his ear.

[torsoboy]

And his horns. I wonder how he can afford all those tats... I wouldn't hire him.

Edit: Oh, I see the guitar now; he probably makes his money with that somehow. Or he could be in a circus.

[brassplayersrock²]

so you guys wouldn't hire on looks alone?

[Dakar V]

Depends on the job, but his looks are a walking resume for his judgement.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

Depends on the job, but his looks are a walking WARNING SIGN for his judgement.

Fixed.

[brassplayersrock²]

if he was skilled and trustworthy, I'd hire him. no biggie.

[Dakar V]

Originally Posted by mattyb 

Botched.

Fixed.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² 

if he was skilled and trustworthy, I'd hire him. no biggie.

Doing what?

[Demonhood]

his name is The Enigma, btw. the tattoos are permanent and cover his entire body. he has appeared in the X-Files and travels around the country performing shows (which is where I took that and many other pictures). he performs freakshow tricks (sword swallowing, fire-breathing, chainsawing an apple from his assistant's mouth, etc.) while singing a few songs in between.

pretty nice guy though. he got all embarrassed when some woman asked "hey, are you really tattooed everywhere? "

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

"Hard core" to me means multiple tattoos in not only visible places, but in odd places like ears, face, neck. Forearm tattoos seem to be more common lately.

On a the MacNN scale of Hard core:

Fluffy bunnies<------------------------------your tat--------------->this guy

Good god!

[Eug]

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure 

snapped this the other night of a friend of mine:

Does she eat a lot of canned spinach?

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by Demonhood 

pretty nice guy though. he got all embarrassed when some woman asked "hey, are you really tattooed everywhere? "

If he was hardcore he would've whipped out the missing piece and smacked her in the face with it.

That guy's a phony!

greg

[- - e r i k - -]

I appreciate the sentiment, and despite being Nada Surf, those are some of my favourite lyrics ever. Shame about the font though.

[PB2K]

Always love !
Hate will get you every time.

I don't get it.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Does she eat a lot of canned spinach?

C'mon you people....

The perspective of the camera visually enlarges the objects closer to the lens.