“When the day arrives that I qualify for and complete my first Kona Ironman race, I think I will get myself an M-Dot tattoo. The question is would I be foolish to do so?”
Seems to me you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.
Somewhat on topic: My wife wanted a tattoo for about 10 years. About a month ago, she got it. The next day, she woke up and said that she made a mistake and wishes she hadn’t done it. A month later, she feels even more strongly. Now she is talking about having it removed. Jeeeez.
Let me get this straight- “Having a wife that is a turned off by the environment,” and you’re thinking about the tatoo?
Courtesy of Francois:
If you wanted to - you could get the new 70.3 tattooed on you for recognition of your half races??
And who really cares - if it means something to you - go for it - if not - don’t.
And for the record - because the thread will surely turn that way shortly…clinchers
If I cured cancer then a tattoo is definitely forthcoming. I’d go with a tattoo of the cornerstone molecule or DNA fragment used for the cure. How sick tight would that be???
“Dude, what is that a tattoo of?”
“Florohexathane Dioxylate Triphosphide. It’s a little something I invented… THAT CURED CANCER!”
I think you should only get a tat if you’ve served time in prison and while there had been forced to join a gang and be their beatch.
Away we go.
Cool or Fool, it’s up to you dude. I’ve got mine. It’s no worse than those idiots who have Harley Davidson tats or NFL team logos, and they didn’t do shit to earn them.
My M-Dot tattoo is big, red on my shoulder so that everyone can see it, not hidden on my ankle or ass. If you have dedicated your life, for me going on 16yrs of racing IM, then this has nothing to do with WTC or IMNA, it is statement of who you are and what you do.
9 hours or 17 hours what difference does it make.
I would buy the $30 hat, the $50 hooded sweatshirt and frame my finisher’s t-shirt & hang it on the wall in my den, but I wouldn’t ink it on my ass.
I do halfs (not that i won’t/can’t do an IM) but I wouldn’t tattoo half an mdot or someother tri related thing on my body.
you could tatoo ‘70.3’ somewhere. that would be so cool.
8h. Do I pass?
Cool, Fool, or a Tool of the WTC?
Whatever… If your identity and self-esteem are so wrapped up in an activity that you are willing and eager to brand yourself to signify your accomplishment, then your money may be better spent in therapy.
Fool!
What’s more foolish? Getting an IM tattoo, or judging someone for getting one?
Think about it…
sometimes, those of us who have done it forget what an accomplishment it is. And what a small % of the population have actually done it. Only those who have made a committment and put the time in and finished are such a small %.
I’m always struck by how many people claim that they could do an Ironman blah blah blah…Do it…don’t talk about it.
Ok my point…I think while the M Dot is a corporate symbol now, its original or true meaning is one of accomplishment.
If you did the work and finished, you have earned the right to get the tattoo just like you have earned the right to wear the finishers t-shirt.
Finishing in itself is the currency required to get the tattoo.
A couple of years ago, I saw someone at a triathlon who had an MDot on his ankle. Under it were small lines or scratches inked on which represented how many he had completed. Everytime he completed another full, he got another notch. I think he had 9 or so. Pretty cool.
When I finish my first IM I am going to get a tatoo of the box for Iron on the periodic table of elements. So i’ll basically have this in a little box on my shoulder blade.
26
Fe
55.85
I figure its a different, and more subtle way, to say what I’ve done. Plus only super smart geniuses like me will get it.
I agree completely. I find is MUCH less foolish to get a tatoo then it is for someone to be affected by someone getting a tatoo.
"What’s more foolish? Getting an IM tattoo, or judging someone for getting one?
Think about it… "
I thought about it. Getting an IM tattoo is more foolish, in my book. Are you saying you don’t “judge” ANYONE for ANY type of tattoo? Or, you just don’t judge people with Mdots? How about a guy who tattoos a lions face over his own face because he “likes lions”? Would you judge him? I’ll bet you would. If someone ran the Portland Marathon and had “Portland Marathon Finisher 2004” tattooed across his back, would you “judge” him? Running a marathon is a big accomplishment. Why shouldn’t he display it to the world forever? My point is that most of us judge others all the time; it’s just that some of us won’t admit it.
My wife found the atmosphere surrounding the race environment and the Ironman experience as completely bizarre and cult-like.
OK, but did she like it?
Thanks, Obi-Wan Kenobi
.
you could get the Fe (iron) tattoo and replace the atomic weight and number with 2.4,112,26.2 in the corners or 140.6 underneath. then even the science geeks would have to ask you what it was. I always thought that would be so geeky that it would be cool.
Tattoos are about belonging to a group and reminding yourself of something significant but you’ll always find enough people who think they are stupid. If you need everyone’s approval you will likely regret it if you go through with it.
People get way more stupid tattoos than M-dot anyway. my favorites are the psedo-prison tatoos like ones that tell your inmates you’re a lifer or how many people you’ve killed. they don’t quite have the same meaning on a chubby microsoft employee.