Spiderwebs on elbows?

I'm still designing tattoos for people on occasion. One guy wants a spiderweb on his elbow. This is pretty common and I didn't think it meant anything. I was researching the design, studying old-school spiderwebs and I found out that it's generally a prison tattoo and sometimes even a flag for hate crimes one has committed. Now it's up to him if he wants to get this done, but I intend fully to tell him the design's connotations when we speak. What about the pros in here? What are your thoughts on spiderwebs on the elbows and do you think the implications are outdated and of little circumstance these days?

Generally, spiderweb elbows look pretty cool to me; i didn't realise it had those meanings. Special big-up for telling the client what he's getting into. Not everyone takes the trouble a) to find out, or b) to share the knowledge.

Wearing pants showing your underwear in prison was a statement that you are someone's bitch and you take it from behind. Most hip-hop rappers/ gangster wannabees do the same thing. Bottom line: different things can have different meaning in different situations. It's up to your client to set the meaning of it and for you to tell him what spider webs are related to. I personally like some of them. I can care less about what it meant in prison since I am a free civilian.

What really concerns me is that to some people it means "I brutally harmed/murdered a non-white person and went to prison/while I was in prison." That might cause a spot of trouble for a kid in his 20's if he's spotted by neo-nazis or any non-caucasians that know what it means.

Apart from the cultural connotations... I just think "Couldn't take the pain of actually tattooing ON your elbow, eh?" But I'm kind of mean.. lol.

Having done time in 3 states the "prison" meaning is normally that you have served a senrence for murder however in this day and age tattoos mean whatever the client wants them to mean....I wouls tell your prospective client that the tattoo could have negative connotations and allow him/her to make the decision...that is unless doing that piece makes YOU uncomfortable then I would simply refuse...speaking for myself I won't do any gang related pieces or hate and racially motivated pieces...YOU are the artist and a damn good one...do what YOU think is right kiddo....by the way have you been invited to TAzfest Helloween Ball yet?... just scroll down for info and consider yourself invited!...2 days of crazy tattooed people and Great bands, food and booze....I hope you can make it!!!...TAz, Painted Angel Studios

OOPs...Lillian I thiught I was talking to someone else...nevermind!!

?! Well we'll see what he thinks of it, then we'll see if his tattoo artist will even do it.

I swear i remember reading somewhere that spiderwebs on the elbows in jail that is meant a feeling of being trapped or whatever. im with the other guys its means what it means to him. itd be whole different story if he wanted like a swatzika on the forehead or a teardrop underneath his eyes. spiderwebs seem pretty harmless

As with a lot of tattoos, the spiderweb thing seems to have lost its original meaning. Having said this, original meanings may endure within various subcultures. If the guy isn't in the habit of hanging out with crims or persons likely to be aware of the "doing time" connatations of this tattoo, then I don't see the problem. He probably should be made aware of its origin though.

I did a search on this site about spider web means what it means to some people. Now i don't want it, thanks to this site for sharing infos. Now, Does anyone wants to share some pics of what they have tattoo on their elbows? i just need some idea. So, no more spiderweb, and i'm thinking maybe i'll put a devil red eye on their or whatever.. we'll see..