My Thoughts on Tattoos

Summary

The speaker shares a humorous and personal journey about tattoos, starting with social advice on complimenting tattoos to spark conversation. They reveal their own experiences with getting tattoos, including a small 'tattoo' tattoo and a larger one inspired by 'The Dark Crystal.' They reflect on changing societal perceptions of tattoos, family reactions, and their growing appreciation for body art. The speaker humorously contemplates getting more tattoos, offers advice on waiting before getting inked, and ends by promoting a Funko Pop collectible of themselves, hinting at possible future tattoos.

Takeaways

• 😀 Complimenting tattoos can be a great conversation starter. If someone wants to talk about it, they'll light up and share the story behind it.
• 😄 The speaker loves tattoos and shares a humorous story about his own tattoo experiences, despite potential concerns about seeming disingenuous after giving advice.
• 😆 Tattoos used to be a symbol of rebellion, but they're becoming more accepted, with many people proudly showing off their ink.
• 😂 The speaker wanted to feel like a 'badass tattooed guy' but had reservations about getting something permanent, like Magic the Gathering symbols.
• 😅 After pranking his family with a fake tattoo, the speaker realized how convincing even bad tattoos can be, as his parents and agent took it seriously.
• 😃 The speaker got a tattoo of the word 'tattoo' as his first ink, mostly as a rebellious joke, but also to fit his quirky vibe.
• 😇 Tattoos can feel like a big deal at first, but after some time, they become part of your identity, and the initial anxiety fades.
• 😉 After getting one tattoo, the speaker caught 'the tattoo bug' and quickly moved on to getting more meaningful and larger pieces.
• 😜 The second tattoo is of a character from The Dark Crystal, reflecting the speaker's deep connection to the movie, but also showcasing a personal interpretation.
• 😊 The speaker advises people to wait before getting tattoos, suggesting that giving yourself time to decide ensures you'll be happy with your choice later in life.

Q & A

What is the main life hack mentioned in the video for initiating conversations with new people?

The speaker suggests complimenting someone's tattoo as a way to start a conversation. If the person wants to talk about their tattoo, they will likely engage and share the story behind it.

What was the speaker's initial fear regarding getting a tattoo?

The speaker was initially afraid of getting a tattoo because it would be permanent, and they worried they might regret it in the future or stop liking it.

What was the speaker's first tattoo, and why did they choose it?

The speaker's first tattoo was the word 'tattoo' tattooed on their arm. They chose it as a joke so they could humorously respond when people asked if they had a tattoo.

How did the speaker's parents react to the idea of getting a tattoo?

The speaker's parents were not supportive of tattoos, viewing the body as a 'temple' and comparing tattoos to graffiti. However, the speaker notes that their mom eventually accepted it and even joked about it.

What does the speaker say about the cultural shift in the perception of tattoos?

The speaker acknowledges that tattoos used to be seen as rebellious and unprofessional, but now they are becoming more accepted, if not expected, in society.

What was the speaker’s reasoning behind getting a tattoo from 'The Dark Crystal'?

The speaker got a tattoo of the Chamberlain from 'The Dark Crystal' because the movie holds a special place in their heart, and they wanted to have a meaningful piece permanently inked on their body.

Why does the speaker advise waiting before getting a tattoo?

The speaker advises waiting to get a tattoo because, at a young age, tastes and preferences can change. They believe it’s important to take time to ensure that the tattoo is something you really want before committing to it permanently.

How did the speaker's mom react to the 'Chamberlain' tattoo?

The speaker’s mom did not react dramatically to the Chamberlain tattoo. She accepted it calmly, even questioning whether the speaker liked 'The Dark Crystal' that much, showing a less concerned reaction than expected.

What mistake did the speaker make regarding the 'Chamberlain' tattoo's design?

The speaker mistakenly sent a reference image of their Chamberlain statue with the wrong scepter (the Emperor’s scepter), because the original triangle scepter had broken off. However, they didn’t mind the change and liked the silhouette more.

How does the speaker describe the experience of becoming more comfortable with their first tattoo over time?

The speaker initially felt anxious about their first tattoo, experiencing a 'jump scare' when they saw it in the mirror. But over time, they became more comfortable with it, and it became just another part of their identity.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Using Tattoos as a Social Icebreaker

The narrator shares a personal social interaction tip: complimenting someone's visible tattoo as a way to get them talking. If they’re not interested, they'll brush it off, but if they are, they’ll likely launch into a conversation about it. The narrator reflects on how, despite now giving this advice, they still genuinely love tattoos. Tattoos, whether their meaning, how they were obtained, or the subject matter, often serve as personal stories that people love to share. The narrator also humorously reveals that they themselves now have a tattoo and ponders their mother’s potential reaction.

05:01

😬 The Anxiety of Getting a Tattoo

The narrator discusses the anxiety they experienced after getting their first tattoo, a small tattoo of the word 'tattoo.' Initially, seeing the tattoo every day caused surprise and concern, but over time, it became a part of their identity. They go on to share their perspective on tattoos, encouraging others to focus on the joy tattoos bring in the present rather than worrying about how they’ll look at an older age. They also reflect on how some people hide tattoos from their parents, while they chose honesty when revealing theirs, leading to an unexpectedly lighthearted response from their mom.

10:02

🖌 Catching the Tattoo Bug

The narrator talks about the allure of getting more tattoos after their first. They describe their excitement about a new tattoo depicting a character from 'The Dark Crystal.' While explaining the decision, they also dive into their love for puppetry, discussing a second tattoo they plan to get, related to another puppet-based series, 'Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.' The narrator humorously addresses a potential fan critique about the tattoo's accuracy, revealing that the character is holding a different scepter due to a broken figure used as reference. Despite this, they embrace the unique alteration.

🤷‍♂️ The Family's Surprising Reaction to Tattoos

The narrator details their family’s underwhelming reaction to their new tattoo. Hoping for a dramatic response, they were surprised when their mom and dad didn’t react strongly at all. Even their grandma, whom they had feared would disapprove, ended up liking it. This leads to a reflection on the shift in their family’s attitude towards tattoos over time. The narrator advises younger viewers to wait before getting a tattoo, expressing relief that they themselves waited until they were older, and hinting at future tattoo plans involving a portrait of their grandmother.

Keywords

💡Tattoos

Tattoos are a major theme in the video, representing personal expression, identity, and sometimes rebellion. The speaker discusses their own experiences and reservations about getting tattoos, the permanence of them, and how each tattoo tells a story about the individual. In the video, tattoos are explored both as a societal norm and a personal choice, as well as a humorous reflection of self-expression, such as the 'tattoo tattoo' joke.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion is referenced as one of the traditional reasons for getting tattoos, particularly in the past when they were seen as symbols of counter-culture. The speaker mentions wanting to rebel against his parents' disapproval of tattoos by getting one with no meaning, which becomes ironic since it ultimately symbolizes his act of rebellion. This concept reflects the way tattoos used to be a sign of defiance, which has evolved in today's culture.

💡Personal Expression

Personal expression is a central theme in the video, as tattoos are framed as a form of self-expression that allows individuals to showcase their passions, beliefs, and personality. The speaker reflects on how tattoos communicate identity to the world and how each one can tell a story, such as his own decision to get tattoos related to 'The Dark Crystal' and 'Don't Hug Me I'm Scared'—both personal interests that are significant to him.

💡Permanence

Permanence is a recurring concern for the speaker when discussing tattoos. The idea that a tattoo is permanent and will stay on your body forever is what initially holds him back from getting one. He expresses anxiety over how he might feel about certain tattoos in the future, wondering if he would regret them later in life. This concept of permanence underscores the seriousness of the decision to get tattooed.

💡Social Norms

Social norms surrounding tattoos have shifted over time, from being stigmatized as unprofessional or rebellious to becoming more accepted or even expected in certain social circles. The speaker humorously reflects on this by noting how certain people look 'meant to be' covered in tattoos, such as a 'jacked bald guy.' This idea captures how societal perceptions of tattoos have evolved, making them more mainstream.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety plays a role in the speaker's internal debate about getting a tattoo. He mentions feeling a 'jump scare' every time he saw his first tattoo in the mirror shortly after getting it, worrying if he would regret it. This anxiety gradually subsides as he becomes more comfortable with the tattoo, but it represents the initial fear many people face when making permanent changes to their bodies.

💡Magic the Gathering

Magic the Gathering is a personal interest mentioned by the speaker as a potential tattoo design. He considers getting symbols from the game but ultimately decides against it, fearing he may outgrow his passion for it. This example illustrates the challenge of choosing a tattoo that will remain meaningful throughout one’s life, emphasizing the importance of permanence and identity.

💡Family Reactions

Family reactions are a comedic element in the video, as the speaker describes how his parents and grandmother react to his tattoos. His mother is initially disapproving but later makes a humorous suggestion, while his grandmother, whom he expects to be upset, actually approves. This shows the generational divide in attitudes toward tattoos, as well as the speaker's light-hearted approach to confronting family opinions.

💡Catching the Bug

The phrase 'catching the bug' is used to describe the phenomenon of wanting more tattoos after getting the first one. The speaker notes that after his initial experience with a small tattoo, he was eager to get another, larger one. This term reflects the addictive nature of tattoo culture for some people, where each new tattoo inspires the desire for more self-expression through body art.

💡Autistic Conversational Cheat Code

The 'autistic conversational cheat code' is a humorous concept the speaker introduces when discussing how his tattoos naturally lead to conversations about his favorite interests, such as 'The Dark Crystal.' The speaker uses this term to describe how tattoos serve as a way to guide social interactions around topics he enjoys, hinting at the ease with which tattoos can help bridge social gaps.

Highlights

Complimenting someone’s tattoo can either spark a conversation or politely end it, depending on how they feel about sharing the story behind their tattoo.

The speaker reflects on the rising acceptance of tattoos, which were once seen as rebellious and job-threatening but are now more normalized in society.

The idea of being a 'badass' tattooed person appealed to the speaker, but the permanence of tattoos was a major concern, leading them to avoid certain designs like Magic: The Gathering symbols.

The speaker once pranked their family by photoshopping a bad tattoo onto their arm, and the internet and family believed it was real, causing chaos.

The speaker's parents were not supportive of tattoos, comparing them to graffiti on a temple, which the speaker humorously counters by pointing out that Jesus had piercings.

The speaker got their first tattoo—a small tattoo of the word 'tattoo'—so they could humorously answer questions about whether they have tattoos.

After getting their first tattoo, the speaker began to feel less anxious about it and more comfortable, as it became part of their identity.

The speaker embraced the concept of getting a tattoo without deep meaning, as a form of rebellion and self-expression.

The speaker developed a love for talking about tattoos after getting their own, giving advice to others and encouraging them to enjoy tattoos in the present.

They got a second tattoo from the movie *The Dark Crystal* and found it became a great conversation starter with fellow fans.

The speaker has a humorous relationship with their family over tattoos, as their mother initially disapproved but later reacted mildly, even suggesting ways to incorporate the tattoo into a *Star Wars* reference.

They humorously note the progression of their tattoo obsession, coining the phrase 'catching the bug' after becoming eager to get more tattoos.

The speaker humorously reflects on their unfinished tattoo and the head-canon they created about a character from *The Dark Crystal* holding a different scepter due to a broken statue.

They advise younger people to wait before getting tattoos, as their tastes may change over time, and express gratitude for waiting to get their own.

The speaker hints at getting a full back piece of their grandmother’s face as a joke, knowing their family would love it.

Transcripts

here's a little social interaction life

hack I've discovered if you're meeting

someone new and you want to get to know

them better and you see any semblance of

a tattoo peeking out of their sleeve

compliment it if that person doesn't

want to talk about their tattoos they'll

say oh thank

you anyway this is my stop but if they

do want to talk about their tattoos

their face will light up and then

they'll do the rest of the talking I

realize that by giving you this advice

now anytime I compliment someone else's

tattoos it will seem disingenuous but

it's not most of the time I love all of

your tattoos that's right I'm talking to

you I love your tattoos dude whether

it's how you got the tattoo the meaning

behind the tattoo or being a tattoo of

something you like every tattoo is a

story and most people love telling

stories about themselves I wouldn't know

anything about that personally I never

understood why some people liked talking

about their tattoos until I got one of

my own what you think I'm going to make

a whole video about tattoos when I

didn't even have any that's right I'm A

Marked Man Mom what are you going to do

about it stop unconditionally loving me

yeah right wait what are you doing with

that cheese grater okay but in all

seriousness can you make sure grandma

doesn't see this video mom I I don't

want to upset her on the way out back in

the day tattoos used to be a symbol of

rebellion and meant you couldn't get a

job no regts baby but I feel like

tattoos are getting more and more

accepted if not expected I'll see a

jacked bald guy covered in tattoos and

think okay yeah he was meant to look

like that for me the idea of being a

badass tattooed guy with a sketch pad

and a beanie and ripped jeans and a

beaded bracelet always seemed cool to me

but like most people when it came to

tattoos I had reservations o this is

going to be on my body forever

what if I hate it I had an idea once of

getting these five Magic the Gathering

symbols tattooed on my forearm I even

dotted them out and Sharpie once just to

give them a test drive but I ultimately

decided not to get them because I was

worried in 5 years I would go oh these I

was really into Magic the Gathering in

my 20s not anymore though so now every

morning I wake up with impending

feelings of Shame and remorse that I

even decided to get this thing and I

didn't want that to happen even though

I've been playing Magic for over 15

years and it means a lot to me and I'm

going to be buried with my sliver deck

and all right maybe I should just get it

even though people know that tattoos are

permanent there are still way more bad

tattoos than there should be one time I

saw this picture of someone's tattoo on

a bad tattoo subreddit and I thought

it'd be funny to prank my family group

chat by photoshopping that tattoo onto

my arm and then I thought it'd be funny

to post that picture onto Instagram I

didn't think anyone would fall for this

poor excuse of a Photoshop job but then

the internet and and my family proved me

wrong immediately I started getting

phone calls from my parents and even my

book agent rang me up and was like did

you actually get that tattoo no it's not

a real tattoo I mean it is a real tattoo

but it's on someone else's body that's

their cross to bear I can only imagine

what that person's family and book agent

went through my parents were not

supportive of me getting tattoos but who

are am I right some people like my

parents say that your body is like a

temple and getting tattoos is like

putting graffiti on it which sure okay

that's why I paid a professional

graffiti artist to paint my temple

exactly how I wanted also you can't tell

me not to deform my body when that's

exactly what you did before I was even

24 hours old also Jesus had piercings

and he loved showing them off to his

buddies so I think he'd be chill with a

little tattoo after much thought and

deliberation I finally settled on what

my first tattoo would be this was going

to be permanently Inked onto my body for

the rest of my life I got a tattoo

tattoo in corer new luckily the artist

was able to finish this in one session

it took quite a while almost five whole

minutes now let me explain why I got it

it was so that if anyone ever asked me

do you have any tattoos I could go why

yes I do and then roll up my sleeve and

then I'd go

ha ha ha when I showed off my tattoo

tattoo on Jaden's streamon there was one

comment that said James having tattoo

actually tattooed onto him is exactly

the kind of tattoo I expected James to

have and that made me feel really good

because that meant the tattoo fit my

vibe and the second reason I got the

tattoo was because I wanted to Rebel

since tattoos were frowned upon growing

up I wanted to have one just to have one

so I got a tattoo with no meaning

whatsoever which in a way is the meaning

even though the tattoo tattoo was small

and usually covered up by my sleeve I

still felt anxious about getting it and

I continued to feel that way for about a

week after I got it it was a jump scare

every time I saw it in the mirror and I

would look at it closely and go yep

that's really in there I sure hope I

don't regret this but then after some

time the tattoo tattoo just became a

part of me like I didn't look in the

mirror and go yep there's James and

tattoo I would go yep there's

James full stop and from that day on I

loved giving people advice on tattoos as

a Marked Man myself I think you should

absolutely get that Shadow the Hedgehog

full back piece YOLO remember what

you're worried that it's going to look

bad when you're

70 yeah it's going going to look bad

when you're 70 you're 70 don't think

about how bad it's going to look think

about how much you're going to enjoy it

from now to when you're 69 I've known

people my age who still hide their

tattoos from their parents but like the

honest prodical son that I am I wasn't

going to be doing that but the next time

I visited my parents I walked into their

house and the very first thing my mom

said to me was do you have any tattoos

she beat me to the punch uh what

why why why would you ask that because

last night I had a dream that you came

home and were covered in tattoos so

which one of you incepted my

mom God I said are all tattoos bad yes

all of them are bad even this one and I

rolled up my sleeve and revealed my

massive tat and her reaction was

a well it's not the worst word have

permanently Inked on your body later on

she said if you go to a Star Wars party

you could change it to Tatooine so I

think she took it pretty goodly now some

of you might be thinking that my epic

sleeve of a tattoo isn't that big a deal

it's tiny and can only be seen if I'm

swimming or boxing or wearing a tank top

but you see after getting tattoo

tattooed I experienced what people in

the tattooing business call

catching the bug after seeing how much I

liked my first tattoo and knowing that I

could handle having a tattoo I was ready

to get something badass I set up a big

boy tattoo appointment with an artist I

liked and when I was in The Tattoo Shop

the artist asked is this your first

tattoo is this my first tattoo uh no

sweetheart I I think I know a thing or

two about tattoos so without further Ado

I would like to Deb this out of the blue

[Music]

tattoo you know from The Dark Crystal

the Jim Hensen 80s puppet Movie that

that I did a video on it years ago now I

have the best character permanently

Inked on my skin forever and ever that

movie will always hold a special place

in my heart and now it'll hold a special

place under my skin and now whenever I

show someone the Chamberlain we end up

talking about The Dark Crystal which is

great because that's what I wanted to

talk about anyways I think I just

discovered an autistic conversational

cheat code when I was getting it done

the artist asked me if there were any

other tattoos that I wanted to get and I

said why yes I do I wanted to get the

computer from don't hug me I'm scared

because I also love that series and

because I'm a computery guy and I didn't

realize until as I was explaining it to

the artist that both of these characters

are puppets so I don't know what that

says about my psyche I never thought

that I liked puppets that much but if

anyone wants to psychoanalyze me in the

comments that'd be great and speaking of

YouTube comments I know a lot of people

are going to bring this up so I'm just

going to address it right

now you probably notice that Chamberlain

isn't holding his iconic triangle

scepter yeah I already know that that's

because he's holding the emperor scepter

it's like my own little head Cannon you

got to be the emperor because he's cool

and awesome and come on Dark Crystal

fans you think I don't know my lore I

didn't get the wrong scepter or anything

you you think I'd get something wrong

about the Dark Crystal okay you want to

know what happened I own a Chamberlain

statue because of course I do and I took

pictures of it to send as a reference

image to the artist and I totally forgot

that I accidentally broke off his

triangle scepter and now because of that

he's holding an entirely different

scepter on the tattoo but you know what

I don't care this one's better it's a

more clear silhouette now this time when

I went to show my parents the tattoo I

don't know exactly what I was hoping for

but I wanted to see some dramatic Pearl

clutching you know just some real

disappointment Chamberlain had to be

split up into two sessions and I only

got one done when I went to Arizona for

a wedding I saw my mom and she didn't

immediately ask me if I had any more

tattoos God didn't tattle on me this

time I told her mom I got to tell you

something privately what is what is it I

need you to keep a secret from Grandma

okay I'm serious grandma can't find out

about this okay look it's Chamberlin and

I showed her the unfinished tattoo and

she went oh do you even like the Dark

Crystal that much I mean yeah the plot's

kind of mid but it's a cool world why

were you more upset about my fake baby

Yoda tattoo than my real Dark Crystal

tattoo she didn't care and neither did

my dad and you know what I actually

showed my grandma too and she liked it I

can't make these people mad no matter

what I do one of my cousins is a tattoo

artist and I was talking to him about

tattoos and my mom said oh you should

get your cousin to finish it and even he

said do not do that speaking of tattoo

advice if you're thinking about getting

a tattoo I think you should wait

obviously it's your body your choice but

with the minimum age of tattoos being 18

and in some states 16 with parents'

permission I just can't imagine being

happy with any tattoos 16-year-old James

could think of all I'm saying is that

I'm glad I waited and gave myself time

to really know if this is what I wanted

and it was I know you're young and you

want to look as hardcore as possible but

you can still get a tattoo when you're

like 23 and it'll look good trust me no

matter what tattoo you get it's a way to

express outwardly to the world what you

like what you want to remember and who

you are now if you'll excuse me I'm

about to get a full back piece of my

grandma's face there's literally no way

my family wouldn't love that thank you

all for watching this YouTube video and

now that you're all done I'm excited to

announce that I have a Funko Pop of me

if that's something you're interested in

then you can head on over to my website

and you can get assigned Funko while

supplies last as always thank you to my

amazing team and the next time I'll see

you I might have more tattoos who knows