My friend went in to get one, and the tattooist said the smallest they could do was about 2 inches high, and 1.5 inches wide. It was huge, especially on a small femalel!!!
I know most people have them smaller. The tattooist seemed to think they’d look terrible any smaller, and refused to do it, but I tell you a 2 inch high M-DOT is huge. Needless to say - bad vibes from the tattoo artist, so she decided to skip.
I know many of you guys hate these things, but it’s a personal thing. So please, let’s just see some pictures. C’mon…be proud of your art.
I think some dude responed to my post about hating M-dot tats, amoung other things, saying he had a full-chest one, which is rediculous.
I saw one this summer on this dudes bicep that was at least 6 in tall. It took up his whole bicep and said “IRONMAN” underneath. It gave me a good laugh
you know (and I don’t have one - yet :)), when I saw one for the very first time, I thought it was the dumbest thing I’d ever seen! …
of course that was before I became an IM myself ;), and am now seriously considering getting the tattoo myself…(but already have two others so it is getting a bit much…)
one inch or so should be plenty, it is not as if they have a lot of detail that can not be done unless bigger (usually the reason tattoo artists like to go big) - find another shop!
Why don’t people like the tattoos? For a lot of people, triathlons are like a big deal. One of those things they’ll look back on in their life as a huge accomplishment and goal achieved. Unless you’re just against tattoos in general, I can’t see why anyone would think it’s silly to have one of these?
From someone that was formerly anti-tat … it just seems like bragging about something that’s not important or that no one else even cares about. It’s a race. Isn’t the accomplishment enough?
Nowadays, I don’t care what people do. If you want the tat, get it. I know for myself, if I like something, I don’t care what other folks think (and don’t care enough to not even ask their opinions about it).
What gets me, or at least seems weird, is the situation of a grown adult asking for semi-permission/approval to get a tat.
If you want to get “Ironman” in Old English letters across your traps, do it. If you wanna get Ironman in cursive as a ‘Tramp Stamp’ (lowerback), do it. If you want a 1/2-in by 1/2-in M-Dot logo on your ankle, do it. If you don’t, don’t.
No matter what you decide there’s going to be people that are going to comment negatively about it. One person will think it’s the dumbest thing they’ve ever seen. Another will thing it’s the greatest. Neither should affect how YOU feel about it.
In my experience, people who take the time to bash “ink” whether it’s a m-dot or otherwise are the people who’d love to get one, but just aren’t sure enough to sit in the chair…
For the record, I have a number sittings, but currently no m-dot.
I have markings all over my body as a result of things that happened in my life. Big scar from a chain saw injury. Scars from surgeries and accidents. Bent posture from 25 years doing the same job and not being as posturally-aware as I should have been, etc. I’m sure I have a few more wrinkles caused from the pain of training and actually doing an Ironman. I don’t understand the tattoo thing, but, that surely isn’t a reason for anyone else to weigh in their decision on whether or not to get one. I do, however, chuckle every time I see one of the “Tramp-Stamps”…it seems like such a good label for labeled goods, even if it isn’t a fair assumption. You Tattooers keep on doing your thing…nothing wrong with it…just take into consideration what gravity will do to the ink-stain and make your choices so that you don’t get a sinking battleship over the years.
If I were you, I’d shop for the tattoo carefully. I spent 2 months designing it, as I didn’t want the same old one others had. Also, I “interviewed” a number of artists, as it is there forever, and a lot of crappy tattoo artists out there. I ended up with a stylized band, and have had so many compliments on it, and after 4 years, the colors are every bit as vibrant. It’s a personal thing, so spend your time, think it over, put a drawn version on the spot to see how it is for size, place, look, etc, and after it’s just right, do it.
