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Is This Tattoo Considered Hard Core?
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dcmacdaddy
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:02 PM
 
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
( Last edited by Demonhood; Sep 26, 2008 at 06:07 PM. Reason: look at the size of that forearm!)
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ShortcutToMoncton
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:11 PM
 
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
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Railroader
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:14 PM
 
"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  (op)
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
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.
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
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Gankdawg
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:25 PM
 
IMHO, not hardcore.
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Sep 25, 2008, 11:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy View Post
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
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mduell
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Sep 26, 2008, 12:08 AM
 
Not hard core IMO, but it is low class.
     
brassplayersrock²
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Sep 26, 2008, 12:16 AM
 
What I want to know is what font you used.
     
dcmacdaddy  (op)
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Sep 26, 2008, 12:32 AM
 
Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² View Post
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.
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
     
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Sep 26, 2008, 12:40 AM
 
Did you get that to remind you to stop punching nuns in the face?

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OwlBoy
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Sep 26, 2008, 12:54 AM
 
omg. learn to compress for the web
     
Railroader
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Sep 26, 2008, 01:24 AM
 
Originally Posted by OwlBoy View Post
omg. learn to compress for the web
2nded...

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4thed...

and...
     
Shaddim
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Sep 26, 2008, 01:40 AM
 
Hardcore? Dude, that's barely softcore.
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IceEnclosure
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Sep 26, 2008, 01:46 AM
 
snapped this the other night of a friend of mine:

ice
     
Tomchu
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Sep 26, 2008, 02:52 AM
 
Wow, either the lighting was weird in that photo, or your friend is growing Popeye arms.
     
torsoboy
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Sep 26, 2008, 04:49 AM
 
and her skirt barely covers her cha-cha.
     
Face Ache
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:53 AM
 
Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy View Post
Anyways, MacNN'ers, give me your thoughts on the matter.

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PB2K
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Sep 26, 2008, 06:32 AM
 
but it could be hardcore if you were a 10 year old girl and did this yourself with needles and ink
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Sep 26, 2008, 06:51 AM
 
(hoping to wake up and see this was just a joke if not for the stupid font alone)
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That's why he's gonna kill us. So we got to beat it. Yeah. Before he let's loose the marmosets on us."
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PB2K
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Sep 26, 2008, 06:57 AM
 
Eventually every tattoo will disappoint

http://www.tattoosandtoys.com/view.p...trans&start=40 hehehe
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Maflynn
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Sep 26, 2008, 07:23 AM
 
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.
~Mike
     
ctt1wbw
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Sep 26, 2008, 07:49 AM
 
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
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Sep 26, 2008, 08:39 AM
 
Shoulda been a poll!
     
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Sep 26, 2008, 08:41 AM
 
I weep for your choice.
     
osiris
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Sep 26, 2008, 09:08 AM
 
Not hardcore. Hardcore involves boobies, skulls, and the word "fu*k".
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dcmacdaddy  (op)
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Sep 26, 2008, 09:27 AM
 
Originally Posted by Face Ache View Post
Kerning will get you every time.
HA! HA! Nice.
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
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paul w
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:00 AM
 
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
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:11 AM
 
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  (op)
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:21 AM
 
Originally Posted by paul w View Post
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.
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
     
OwlBoy
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:23 AM
 
I wonder how Hardcore just writing "Hardcore" would be.

-Owl
     
dcmacdaddy  (op)
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:29 AM
 
Originally Posted by zro View Post
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 View Post
As far as fashion goes... no. Not hardcore. Rabbit tracks are more hardcore than that.
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
     
d4nth3m4n
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Sep 26, 2008, 04:14 PM
 
i can't really see it, post a bigger image?
     
mattyb
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Sep 26, 2008, 04:25 PM
 
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
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Sep 26, 2008, 04:55 PM
 
that's not hardcore.

this guy is hardcore:

     
mattyb
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:08 PM
 
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
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:09 PM
 
Check out his ear.
     
torsoboy
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:17 PM
 
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
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:47 PM
 
so you guys wouldn't hire on looks alone?
     
Dakar V
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:51 PM
 
Depends on the job, but his looks are a walking resume for his judgement.
     
mattyb
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar V View Post
Depends on the job, but his looks are a walking WARNING SIGN for his judgement.
Fixed.
     
brassplayersrock²
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:59 PM
 
if he was skilled and trustworthy, I'd hire him. no biggie.
     
Dakar V
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Sep 26, 2008, 05:59 PM
 
Originally Posted by mattyb View Post
Botched.
Fixed.
     
mattyb
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Sep 26, 2008, 06:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² View Post
if he was skilled and trustworthy, I'd hire him. no biggie.
Doing what?
     
Demonhood
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Sep 26, 2008, 06:13 PM
 
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? "
     
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Sep 26, 2008, 09:10 PM
 
Originally Posted by Railroader View Post
"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
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Sep 26, 2008, 09:28 PM
 
Originally Posted by IceEnclosure View Post
snapped this the other night of a friend of mine:

Does she eat a lot of canned spinach?

     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Sep 26, 2008, 10:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by Demonhood View Post
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
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- - e r i k - -
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Sep 27, 2008, 01:47 AM
 
I appreciate the sentiment, and despite being Nada Surf, those are some of my favourite lyrics ever. Shame about the font though.

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PB2K
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Sep 28, 2008, 07:53 AM
 
Always love !
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I don't get it.
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Railroader
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Sep 28, 2008, 12:22 PM
 
Originally Posted by Eug View Post
Does she eat a lot of canned spinach?

C'mon you people....

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