Getting a tattoo, for most people at least, is sort of a big decision. It’s one of those life long decisions that isn’t easily taken back (and somewhat messily if so). It also has evolved as a way of making a statement about a person. A person stamp indicating the bearer’s soul, or something like that.
Still, despite the hip factor of tattoos, there are some which can be instant turn-offs to the opposite sex. Below are five of the worst offenders. Getting the below tattoos might speak to your inner soul, but it might speak louder to potential dates, screaming, “Run away!”
Video game characters
Sure, it might be nostalgic to have Super Mario plastered across your back, but what does it really say about you? You like video games? The Xbox 360 beside your television and the Nintendo DS in your back pocket say the same thing. Do you think you are Super Mario? One would hope not, especially if you’re reading too much into the whole “mushroom” thing.
The bigger problem is the video game characters signal “nerd” to most people who see them. That’s fine if you’re fine with limiting your dating possibilities to the “nerd” subgroup, but for those who are not it’s best to avoid. Fair or not, that is still how most people would view a huge Mario and Yoshi riding across your thigh.
The devil
Look, maybe you are a tough as nails biker out looking for a fight. Maybe, but then you likely aren’t reading this article in the first place. Since you are, it likely means one of your favorite past times isn’t stirring up trouble at Rolling Stones concerts. For anyone but those folks, and maybe firemen and soldiers the devil simply is laughable.
What’s the message you are trying to send by placing Satan’s face on your shoulder? That you’re as tough or as mean? No, you’re not–that’s already been established. Maybe you worship the devil? Maybe, but Jesus, Moses, and Mohammad are no better choices. It says less about your soul and more your desperation to prove you’re something by drawing pictures of it on yourself.
The name of an ex
This one should be obvious. Yes, there is the romanticism of permanently branding yourself with the name of your significant other. Wait, strike that last part. There is nothing romantic about that. Instead it seems to signal a sort of sad co-dependency you share. That’s made even worse when you’re no longer with that person.
The worst thing you can ever do in a relationship is completely subjugate yourself. A tattoo of the other person’s name is the adult equivalent of your mother writing your name in your underwear before camp. It signals that left to your own devices you would lose track of whom you belonged to. You’d be better served by instead getting their favorite flower, animal, or line of poetry tattooed in honor of them.
Anything to do with a band
It can be guaranteed said band thinks far less of you than you do of them. See the above rule. Buy a t-shirt or a second copy of their new CD instead.
Someone’s face
The obvious problem with getting an actual face tattooed on you can easily relate back to one of the issues listed above. Less obvious, at least to some, is that a face is generally meant to look one certain way–the way the person looks. With Mario or the devil there is some artistic interpreting to be done.
So, in about ten years when you’ve put on a few pounds, that face is going to look bloated. Not just bloated, but horribly distorted depending on the amount of weight gained. Compare that to Mario who looks kind of funny the fatter he gets. Jack Johnson, on the other hand, begins looking kind of scary. This may not be so much a concern for the immediate future, but if you think you might be on the market again, it’s probably to keep one face per body.