If You Have Visible Tattoos, You're Familiar With These Situations

    "Do you have other tattoos that are, you know, like hidden?"

    Allie Hayes
    by Allie Hayes

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Hi, I'm Allie and I'm "heavily" tattooed (by, like, my grandparents' standards).

    Allie Hayes / Via Instagram

    Over the past few years, I've noticed that I experience a lot of the same ~moments~ as other tattooed people I've talked to, so I took the liberty of rounding up the things that happen to us most frequently:

    Let's discuss.

    1. When people repeatedly ask you what your tattoos "mean."

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Asking once is fine, maybe they just didn't know, but repeatedly bringing it up is weird.

    2. Then THEY get confused if you say it means nothing and you just "liked it."

    ABC News

    "But...how...what....???"

    3. When people ask you outright how much tattoos, in general, cost.

    Nickelodeon

    "I want a sleeve, how much will it be?" Different artists in different locations charge different prices for their work, so there is NO one right answer.

    4. But then, if you choose to share the price of ours, they always feel some type of way.

    New Line Cinema

    I find that many people are amazed that tattoos cost money(???) and will vocally let you know that it's ridiculous that is.

    5. When people physically touch you without asking.

    Columbia Pictures

    The more visible the tattoo, the more people seem to see it as an invitation to touch it. Spoiler: It feels like skin.

    6. When people want to show you THEIR tattoos.

    Disney

    Depending on the situation, comparing tattoos can be fun, but if we're in a public place and I've never met you before, please don't lift up your shirt, sir.

    7. When people ask you how tattoos will affect wedding plans you may or may not have.

    Universal Pictures

    When I got my first tattoo ever, this question followed me EVERYWHERE. Every person I knew asked it. Important note: I was fully single at the time.

    8. When people ask you how tattoos will affect the children you may or may not have.

    FOX

    I think children have a little more on their minds than adults with colorful body art.

    9. When people ask you if you have other tattoos that they ~can't see.~

    John Pratt / Getty Images

    People are wild, ya'll.

    10. When people ask you if getting one will hurt.

    NBC

    They hurt, but not bad enough that it should stop you from getting one!

    11. When people make unwanted/genuinely rude remarks.

    NBC

    For example, "Those make you look dirty" is a real comment I actually received from a complete stranger at the store once.

    12. When people ask how long it took to finish.

    Jessica Hromas / Getty Images

    Similar to the cost question, all tattoos are different. Size, concept, and coloring all affect the overall time-frame!

    13. When people ask about your job situation.

    Focus Features

    If you have a good job, they're surprised. If you don't have a job or are between jobs, you'll hear about how you're never going to find a "real" one.

    14. When people ask what your parents think.

    NBC

    I'm lucky in that my parents don't care but, either way, that's not really anyone else's business???

    15. When people assume you're a some kind of hooligan.

    FOX

    Tattoos say nothing about you, except that you're a person with tattoos. Any preconceived notions someone makes beyond that is on them.

    16. When people are worried about how you'll look when you're older.

    Mathilde De L'ecotais / AFP / Getty Images

    Your goal should be to look like you had an excellent, full life defined by your accomplishments and loving relationships with others, not your body.

    17. When people with no relationship to you comment on how THEY couldn't date someone with tattoos.

    NBC

    I didn't know we were dating, but I guess we have to break up now? I'm taking the dog (which we don't have because we weren't dating).

    18. When people WITH TATTOOS judge YOUR tattoos.

    The CW

    I thought we were all on the same team here?!

    19. And, my personal favorite, when someone LITERALLY comments on how tattoos are permanent, like you didn't know.

    EmilBarry / Via Twitter

    Permanent doesn't always equal bad???

    What's your experience with visible tattoos? Have these moments happened to you? Sound off in the comments below!