Ralf

What is this suppose to mean? “She was on a pretty good one when she came in, and I think by the time I finished, she was coming down, because her attitude changed pretty drastically once the tattoo was finished.” Does that mean she was high?
I hope she reads that interview.

10-15km!!!! That’s awesome. Shit, that’s usually what I bike in a day. Really well done :).

I think Damien is great too. Did you know he was recently married? I tried to stay in touch with him but Damien isn’t the easiest to get a hold of.

Glad you’re keeping well and I hope Arie and Caitlin are well too :)

Usually artists require clients sign a release form, and normally are not allowed to tattoo anyone who is obviously intoxicated, but please don’t support the stance that tattoo artists should be able to judge a persons mental state and decline on that condition because it often takes months or years for trained therapists to get into someone’s head, and to put the burden on the industry of seemingly “bona fide sane people only” is beyond the training artists have, or should have. Shannon I think you accept that many people would think your choice of tattoo subject matter on your chest is proof of some kind of mental defect, would you have accepted being prevented from getting said work if you had any past history of mental illness? What if someone signed a legal agreement and then ignored it when it didn’t suit their mood, should that invalidate their ability to give legal consent?

Now for a sacrilege statement: “If people could somehow be prevented from getting a tattoo until they turn 25 there would be a lot less regret because between the ages of 18 and 25 your whole world (friends, associates, likes and dislikes) often change in unanticipated ways. The sad reality is such a law would be a boom for fledgling artists with a “Complete” (no, no) tattoo kit and a dream… the last thing established artists who don’t prefer to do cover-ups would wish on the industry. There is a lot of evidence to support that people used to grow up a lot faster many years ago; in the Midwest a hundred years ago the average 18 year old was married with children and had no chance of getting government handouts; by comparison 18 year olds today are far less mature, and not as deeply integrated into adult society. I have the radical belief that Government policy is a form of unintentional selective breeding that alters future generations, and it’s giving us a heaping load of impulsive infadults (it’s a made up word, but it fits).

As I remember many tattoo studios used to have a policy of no facial tattoos, and I support voluntarily adhering to a code of ethics over legislation. My own philosophy, which isn’t supported by many modern studios, is “Unless a client has made a significant commitment to living a modified lifestyle through collecting more than a few pieces of significant body art, they should be turned away from getting a facial tattoo as shop policy.” Even though they could just go to a different tattoo studio that might do it right away the short walk might be enough time for them to get over the obsession.

I’ve been reading your blog for over a decade now in its various forms. I used to follow /?glider daily, and I just read this and realised how much I missed reading your perspective.

Thomas

Oh and you’ll be proud of my health level all things considered — I’m regularly going on 10 – 15km hikes. Really happy to see your name pop up by the way.

Was curious about the Rolling Stone tattoo artist. Was his name Damien? I’m curious because Damien is my artist and I remember him telling me a very similar story. Hope you are well :) DB