Tattoos: Aspies Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?

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...which does not imply the "need" for it to be "attractive" to anyone else but me

From Dictionary.com:

attractive (adjective)-

1. providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring: an attractive personality.
2. arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.: an attractive idea; an attractive price.
3. having the quality of attracting.

I use words for what they actually mean. Nothing in the above definition requires an "awareness of other people's opinions."



They mean essentially the same thing, none of which require "awareness of others' opinions."



Tattoos are not "inherently social." My tattoos have a "point" TO ME that does not require the opinions of others.

Tattoos are not inherently social, but the notion that everything anyone does to alter their physical appearance is "social" in nature is an "inherently social" way of thinking.

You say that you use words for what they actually mean, yet you've repeatedly misquoted me. I said that tattoos were "inherently sociable", not "inherently social". I also said that "attractive" What I most definitely did not say is that it implies or requires an "awareness of other people's opinions." It does imply an awareness that others have opinions, not awareness of what those opinions are, because something is not attractive without something to attract.

As for the definitions you quoted, only the second one does not indicate that there is something to attract. The first and the third definitely do. The word "alluring" means "to allure", implying that there is something to allure, and the third definition couldn't be more blatant in requiring that there be something to attract.

They mean the same thing.



It does not require an awareness that other people have opinions. The only person something needs to be "attractive" to is oneself.



There is nothing in the quoted definition that requires an awareness that other people have opinions.

It's right there, in black and white. You can imagine all the "implications" you wish, but the actual definition, as it appears in the dictionary, does not require an awareness that other people have opinions.

Awareness that other people have opinions and awareness of what those opinions are is not the same thing.

Or did you mean that "social" and "sociable" mean the same thing? They don't.

Social is interacting socially. Sociable is the prospect of interacting socially.

That's not accurate.

Imagine a magnet as if it was the only thing in existence. Would you argue that it still attracted and repulsed?

"Attraction" implies both that something exists and that something else exists. Attraction does not happen if there is no other thing to attract, so something can't be attractive without there being something to attract.

I love tattoos but don't have any yet. Don't know why that is not up there.

Wait, so people are saying we, as a rule, don't experience pain? Does anyone else find the thought of that idea being promoted really creepy?

On topic, though: I sometimes appreciate the look of tattoos on other people but I would be afraid of getting stuck with something I no longer liked. If I really wanted one the pain wouldn't deter me, I can handle pain (but yes, I do feel it).

I'm not trying to argue with either of you, but reading this made me realize that what I said sounded close to that ("getting stuck with something"), and I thought I'd clarify:

-First of all, my body is as permanent to me as anything else. I'm stuck with it for as long as I exist. It might not be beautiful (never really was), but I certainly won't shed it and get a new one.

-Secondly, I think what bothers me (not saying anyone else who says this feels the same) most is that a tattoo is a statement, and one that is very difficult to revise. I have a lot of anxiety about writing, for instance, because I know how likely my words are to be taken to mean something I didn't intend or that I'll "get stuck" with a flawed expression of an idea, compared to how I would like to say it. I feel like the chance is very high that the statement I made would eventually seem false or simplistic or just wrong to me. I don't presume to know whether others would feel that way about their tattoos and I don't go around telling them they'll regret it just because I think I would regret one I got - it's just part of my personality. I don't like to make a "final statement" on anything; I have too much to learn.

"Attraction" does not require an awareness that other people have opinions.

The definition is what the definition is.



The physical properties of magnets have nothing to do with this discussion.



I can be "attracted" to something without being aware that other people have opinions. The only thing that needs to be "attracted" is ME to whatever it is I am ATTRACTED to. The opinions of other people are not required.

If I was the only person in existence, I could still find an oak tree "attractive."

Hmm the notion of not getting a tattoo...so that they don't look terrible when I am old and wrinkly does not make much sense to me. Besides who even knows for sure they will live that long?

I've heard that too. No offense to old people but when my skin is all old and wrinkly I'll be thinking it looks bad whether there is an old tattoo on it or not. I'd probably have clothes covering it anyways so the only one seeing it would be doctors or some nurse giving me a sponge bath in a nursing home.

I like some tattoos on some people. If they're original and unique and incorporated into beautiful sleeves or something then I like them. I don't like how people have one tattoo then another branded up their arms, or when people have tattoos they've obviously just picked out at the shop rather than designed themselves/had designed for them.

I had an idea for a tattoo when I was younger which I still really like, but I don't think it would look very good on me. I also had allergy tests recently (where they put whatever you're allergic to on your skin then prick the skin with a little needle) and that didn't hurt so much but was a really horrible feeling. I don't really want to have that done to me again and I assume getting a tattoo is that but hundreds of times worse.

I wouldn't have one, maybe because they are too common and I'm different for not having one. Yes, some pictures look nice (my friend has a nice dragon), but I'd get more pleasure out of seeing it framed and on a wall than I would from it being on my body. She can't even see hers, as it's on her back. I honestly don't see the purpose, unless it's meant to enhance some attribute (I've not seen any that do that). If it wasn't absolutely perfect, I would be annoyed too.

I feel sorry for anyone who is unable to express their individuality or person-hood via their actual personality as opposed to via a picture or words inked onto their skin.

Tattoos are faux individuality; they are playing at it basically.

Who says tattoos are only for "expressing individuality?"

And what about having tattoos makes me unable to express my "individuality?"



Yeah, when I'm a wrinkled old crone, I'm not going to be strutting around in a bikini.

So what other reasons are there for having tattoos except to make people pay you more attention ie mark yourself out from other people?

I've already given my reasons further back in this thread and I'm not going to keep repeating myself.