What is the Typical Tattoo Political Party Affiliation?

I think I may already know the answer to this.............But it never occured to me to even ponder the question until today. I wandered over into a staunch RED section of my beloved BLUE state yeserday to spend some time with family. I was standing talking with my uncle and grandmother today while we were waiting for a table during the lunch hour at a local Ap--eBe-s restaurant. Some other older folks were sitting in the waiting area with their young granddaughters, who were staring at the fresh ointment glazed art on my ankles. Some whispering was being exchanged between the kids and the grandmother. Then, in disgust, the old bitch exclaims, at a rather sufficient volume, "I don't know why anyone would do that to their bodies!" The design is a 'Pazuzu' resembling dragon face engulfed in a boot of flames, which rises to my calves. After a second or two to process what had just been said, I fired back, "Because your President hasn't outlawed it yet!". Now, it was only my assumption based on the fact that I was in an area of California with "Bush Country" signs posted on every cow patty that she was a Republican, and I had no sound evidence, until she retorted with "There's still time.". I could have dismissed the attitude as being the result of any number of things, but they all seemed to point in the same direction. Yes, they are going to save us all from ourselves, but pit us one against the other. I was curious what the demographics reflect pertaining to the typical tattoo collectors political affilliation. For the record, I have no political affilliation. I was just wondering if perhaps tattoos were one of the common threads that keep us together, or drive a wedge between us? TCE

Bleh, I really cant stand that kind of thing. I don't affiliate myself with -any political party-. I think both sides have some whackos, and I don't agree with -anyone- wholeheartedly enough to place a label on myself. That might change eventually, never know :)

I don't really expect folks to declare their party affilliation on this forum, I was looking more for 'speculation' on the matter. This incident pissed me off to some degree, and if there hadn't been children present, things may have gotten more heated, or the problem may have never arisen in the first place. I think the kids were enjoying sneaking quick glances at the work in between the whispering, and this woman was annoyed that they were showing any interest in something she perceived to be depraved. She was probably just trying to nip the whole thing in the bud, but she got a little loud, and I just blurted out the first thing that hit my brain. Was that wrong!?! Thanks TCE

Two words: mother fucker I find that in most situations when I can't have an organized discussion motherfucker works just as well. I too yearn for a blue state, sure, Illinois is blue but that's really only because of Chicago. I don't trust the government personally, although there's no way I'm going to move to Montana and start stocking up on m16's and spam. I'm kind of an idealist, politics depress me because it's just this huge rolling machine that in reality no one can control, occasionally the name changes, but in the end it's still the same rich old white dudes. Next time punch that old lady in the ovaries, or better yet use some of the "flair" from the walls in said ovary punching. That'll teach her!

I don't think it was really... wrong.. Me, I'm non confrontational. I would have been more shocked that the woman said something in the first place. Then I would have thought about it later, and I'd have been thinking of a million different things I coulda/woulda/shoulda said to her. Seriously... how are you -supposed- to respond to something like that? You werent doing anything to her, you werent inviting her to comment on your self-expression, or your way of life. Some people have to be obnoxious like that, they feel that its their right to do so. They feel that they are above anyone who is different from themselves. So no.. you werent wrong. She was a bitch. You -could have- responded a hundred other ways, and you diddnt. So if anything, kudos to you. =)

Thanks. I felt I stood up for the artform and took a shot at encroachment on civil liberties all in one slug. I don't want to fuel any kind of emnity between sides, and the reality is that this society is still as free as any. I thank God every day that I've had the good fortune to be born and raised in this country. BUT........ that doesn't mean I owe the current administration a debt of gratitude. The country was great before they got here. All I can say is, get your tattoos while you can. Just as South Carolina is entering the 20th (yes 20th) century, there's some old fucking skank in California who'll be lobbying to outlaw a practice that's trancended thousands of years, and probably as many cultures. Punching her in the ovaries probably won't do much good this late in the game, and I've still got some blank skin to post my objections! Maybe a column of smoke coming out of my belly button, and a little devil shoveling coal into my ass................ TCE

Hmmm..... Wow. I'm trying to decide if I want to touch this one at all.... Okay. What the fuck. Anyone who gets pissed at me, sorry in advance... well, maybe not. I dunno. Well, I've decided after kicking this around for 25 minutes just to say this. Whatever your political beliefs are, my grandfather flew a glider full of infantry soldiers in at D-Day to give you the right to say whatever you want, or need to say. Wether it's speaking up about the current condition of this great nation, or defending yourself from unwanted attacks from people in a restaraunt, he fought like a motherfucker aside the rest of the greatest generation in our history to give us the right to say what we think. Apathy, and this bullshit "I got mine, you get yours" attitude that is so prevalent in our society, and keeps us from actually speaking out on ANYTHING will be the death of us. We all need to check all the belief systems that we've been exposed to our whole lives at the door wether it's republican, democrat, buddhist, christian, black, white, jock, freak, whatever and start doing what is RIGHT, and not caving in to what is wrong no matter how ingrained in us it may be. That kind of insulting crap needs to be answered with concise and dignified rhetoric that will leave nothing to interpretation. Next time tell her, "With all due respect Ma'am, I'd very much appreciate it if you would shove it up your ass".

Well, now with that said, I'll say what I deleted from my last post. It is MY FEELING, not fact, that the administration I BELIEVE she supports, has pissed on the blood of the soldiers who have fought and died, or who've returned home maimed, fighting in wars NECESSARY to secure OUR nation, and give me the right to kick her ass up around her ears. We (The U.S.) have poked a stick into a hornets nest of individuals we cannot possibly win a war against, because they do not value life. Not mine, not yours, not their own. Furthermore, on any given day, the chances of an American being killed by another American are infinitely greater than an American being killed by foreign terrorists. Now, I'm not suggesting that we as a nation sit idly by while motherfuckers attack us. Japan tried that shit too, and look at the bonus prizes we gave them after we had beat the shit out of their military for four years, effectively already leaving them defenseless. But you know what, FUCK THEM!! And fuck anyone who tries that shit again. But instead of just getting to the punch, we have to waste the lives of thousands of our own soldiers in a futile attempt to effect change for fuckers who have no problem fighting against US, if you even believe that's what any of this shit is about. FUCK! This shit is starting to piss me off again, and I'm getting off topic. I guess the comment that came out of this womans mouth tipped me off to her politics, and the politics that I BELIEVED this woman subscribes to pissed me off as much as what she said. It was a chain reaction, and fortunately it didn't have to escalate any further than it did. We were seated on the other side of the restaurant, and I made it a point to walk past their table, tattoos a blazin', on my way to the restroom. YEAH, FUCK HER!

Oh, sorry... my party affiliation is somewhere right in the middle asking myself the question every year "You gotta be fucking kidding me... this is the greatest country on the face of the planet and these two guys are the best we have to offer? In advance to those of you who feel the need to hit me with the "Yeah? Well what are you doing about it, huh? huh? retort, the answer is that among other things, I teach classes in critical thinking. Trying to help where I can.

Now TCE, there's never not a time for an ovary punch, I say this having gotten kicked there repeatedly with cleats and balls over the years of my spectacular soccer career. People will always be intolerant of each other, in fact I don't favor tolerance. Tolerance just means you can handle another person being alive, I'd much prefer it if we all actually liked each other, but since we can't reach the tolerance level I doubt people having respect and love for each other is going to happen any time soon. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as big a motherfucker as the next guy, but I wish I didn't have to be that way. I just think the poltical-industrial structure has screwed up my mind more than I'd care to think about. If anyone needs an ovary punch it's them.

CACTUS, Which two guys?

Ahlyn, Reminds me of the "Tolerance Death Camp" episode of South Park. Now, there are two brilliant minds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TCE

Any two motherfuckers that have run against each other for president in recent history. I'm agreeing with you T... Fuck that woman. When she can tell us how many american soldiers died in Iraq today for her right to say that bullshit to another fellow human being unprovoked, then we've got a conversation. Until then, it's just crap. If you had said nothing, you would have just been adding to the problem... because as much as I believe in tolerance, believe just as much in walking the walk. By the way, I do not believe the current administration of this country is behaving in an honorable way. I do however support our United States troops wholeheartedly. I say, give em what they need to get the job done, no matter what it costs, and get their asses home safe.

Ahlyn, Chicago, huh? I grew up around there eons ago. I've been here so long, though, I can't even believe I ever lived there. I drove through the state from the Tennessee side last year, and you're right, if it weren't for Chicago.............. The ovary punch thing made me laugh my ass off!! Hope you're still fertile, I doubt SKANK is. Thanks, I needed that. TCE

Al, Why not just bring 'em home, I doubt the job will ever be done, and it saddens me to think that some of the kids who are being sacrificed in this mission haven't even lived long enough to reap the rewards of living in this country. I know they signed up for it, but it's a waste of resources that could be used to secure our borders.If fuckers support the war, then they should sign up, regardless of age, and get their asses over there and fight! I'm sorry for using this forum to express opinions about this, but the topic snowballed from an incident related to tattoos. How about Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the next election..........Oh wait, they make a lot of money now. BAD IDEA! TCE

Sorry to anyone who sees this and hates me for it, but I agree with you 100%. One life is too many without a plan. My dad thinks I'm turning into Barry Goldwater. I'm going to have to find out what that means. ..

Sorry to anyone who sees this and hates me for it, but I agree with you 100%. One life is too many without a plan. My dad thinks I'm turning into Barry Goldwater. I'm going to have to find out what that means. ..

I should end this topic before someone gets the impression that I THINK I know what I'm talking about. I told TAz on another post earlier today that the older I get, the more I realize I don't know shit about anything, and this is probably no different. The government has always done whatever's necessary to keeps things at home "Business as usual", and I'm just expressing how the tidbits of information I inadvertantly gather on the matter strike me. It would be a lot easier if I could just be the good Patriot, and say "Hooray for out team!!!!", and just feel great about everything. I suppose when you can't root for your own team, you SUSPECT something's gone terribly awry. HOORAY for EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL, BADASS, LICENCED, TATTOO ARTIST'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TCE

Tim When I run into crap like the old lady who made the comment to you, I try to take the high road....I probably would have made it a point to go over and talk to her....and she would have sat there and listened...After the first few moments of fear (I look like your average psycho druggie biker rapist bouncer type)with her finally figuring out that I was not going to slit her throat and rape her granddaughters, I would have at least shown the ladys grandaughters that..1...I am not a psycho druggiebiker rapist bouncer type, I just look that way,... 2...that I am an intelligent human being with feelings and that their grandmother was rude and crass and I would never say anything rude to her and 3...tattoos can be soo beautiful ( I've seen yours Tim...It is very tasteful and most people would agree). There is a good chance that I would have made several new friends that day....but thats just me! I don't think the political thing has a goddamn thing to do with tattoos, there are rude democrats, republicans and independents...its all in how you handle it...I use to be a very confrontational person....I have learned that doesn't work...TAz

TAz, As I stated in my original post, I hadn't even thought to ponder such a thing until that moment, and you couldn't be more correct, there are SCHMUCKS from all walks of life. Of course, you having the image of a badass biker, she may not have said shit. But then again, this area is a biker haven (Sonora, Jamestown, need any Harley shirts?), so who knows why she even made the comment. Maybe she was shocked that the art was on my feet and ankles, I don't know. Now, I ain't small either. I drove truck for 17 years, and have pushed iron since I was 20, I'm 42 and 230lbs now. But I am somewhat clean cut, and I was with my 85 year old grandmother (who thankfully had begun to follow the restaurant host to a table just before the exchange began), so I suppose this woman felt she was in safe company. I don't know if I did the appropriate thing, or should have ignored it. It's still pissing me off, and there are a lot of other things I would have liked to say. Thank God for children, they are the great mediators. Thanks again for your infinite wisdom TCE

P.S. Thanks for the props on the art. It's become a labour of love, and I've had my doubts at times. Although the work has still been confined to an area that is concealeable, the days after the first outline were an emotional roller coaster. I was somewhat overwhelmed by the density of the design, and the enourmous amount of black. That's the reason I chose not to shade with any more black ink. I began feel a little better one the other foot had been commissioned as well, and I breathed a sign of relief once I got some color into the work. TCE

After reading through everything I will admit that I follow politics as well as a bat in day light but..... It's a damn shame we can't be ourselves and that be good enough for our fellow man/woman..... I think everything else has been said.

Yipper, we beat this donkey to death! TCE