comment: >
  
  I don't have to explain anything about my body to anyone. Full stop.
context: I've never had anyone get mad when I complimented or inquired about their tattoos.I've only received happy responses. >
  
  you may not be a creepy dude then lol >
  
  Fr it sounds like homeboy "complimented" someone and they got offended >
  
  "nice tats" at a loud club >
  
  But she hears “tatas”. Then slaps you >
  
  I don't mind questions about them, what I mind is mfs touching me. >
  
  Well yeah. No one should be touching anyone without consent >
  
  I don’t mind at all when people ask about my tattoos. I’ve basically got art out on display and people get curious. The only time I’ve had an issue is when a stranger started touching my chest tattoo while asking questions about it, or when people ask what the tattoo means/why I got it and aren’t satisfied with “I just thought it looked nice.” as an answer. Everyone expects me to have some super deep meaning behind my tattoos but it’s really no deeper than I like elephants so I got an elephant tattoo. >
  
  I always phrase it as 'may I see your art?' to try to indicate I'm not being creepy or going to be judgy about the tattoo itself. And maybe ask a general, open ended question about the significance. I never ever touch people, ew, who does that? And always thank them and say how beautiful or awesome it is. >
  
  You’re the kind of person I don’t mind asking about my tattoos then! I don’t even mind people asking me about the significance. I just hate the, “If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine, just say that” or the “Oooh you’re gonna regret it eventually if they have no meaning” when I say it’s no deeper than I liked it so I got it haha. But I’ll take that over the awkward tattoo rub down any day >
  
  judging from your post history, i’m gonna guess you thought it would be cute to pester a girl about her tattoos and she didn’t reply to you in the way you thought she “should” and now you’re upset. >
  
  I would never ask a girl about a tattoo because they've already put out into the world that it's a grave offense. >
  
  What >
  
  girls already told him not to ask. or the internet did. idk >
  
  As long as you don't touch me and aren't an asshole that tells me I am going to regret it I don't care. 
  I get complimented, say thank you and answer questions (usually who I went to/how long it took etc)... I do find it rude when people ask me how much it cost but I just tell them because it took six months (sleeve) I don't remember the total cost. Not gonna be a jerk to them, they don't mean to be rude. >
  
  Yeah, I agree there. Unwanted touching in any context is lame as fuck. >
  
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  They probably just don’t want to talk to you >
  
  Y'all are silly lmao. I didn't ask someone about their tats and ran with my tail between my legs to reddit when they didn't want to talk about it with me. I don't ask people about their tattoos but I still see them post that same pretentious attitude about how they don't want to talk about their tattoos >
  
  Everyone has the right to privacy. If someone doesn't want to talk to you about something, then they don't have to >
  
  There’s a BIG difference between asking “Hey, did you happen to get your tattoos around here?” And “What’s that supposed be? Why’d you get that?” 
  I’m heavily tattooed and have no problem telling people what artists I got tattooed by. Hell, I’ll whip out Instagram. I don’t want to tell you why I chose what I did, or what they mean. If asked, I usually lie and say “No reason. They don’t mean anything.” Because, ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, they don’t matter.
  Edit: Adding to my original comment, the reason people are offended is because asking the meaning of a tattoo is a very personal question, and it’s rude to ask personal questions of strangers. It’s not pretentious, it’s how society works. My tattoos are for me. They help me feel connected to my self. They’re just none of your (or anyone’s) business. >
  
  When I worked customer service and saw a tattoo I liked I'd usually just say something like "I like your tattoos", and usually they'd say thanks and show me sum others to which I'd respond with "they look sick, I really like that one" is that rude? >
  
  Not at all.  You're polite and gave a nice compliment and didn't push for more than they were willing to give. >
  
  Never had this response. Maybe it's you. >
  
  Was thinking the same thing. >
  
  I demand YOU tell ME why YOU put that on YOUR body! 
  I hAvE a RiGhT tO kNoW! >
  
  Where did OP say this in their title? >
  
  Just strawmans because they can't actually challenge my point lmao >
  
  Lol exactly >
  
  Here's the thing; nothing is stopping you from asking a person about their tattoos just like nothing is stopping you from asking a person about their makeup, hair, t-shirt, shoes, bag, or eye color. However, not wanting to answer your questions or have that conversation doesn't make someone a pretentious asshole. Thinking it does makes you an entitled asshole though >
  
  I think OP is talking about people who gets an attitude with you just for asking. >
  
  Depending on the situation, having an attitude about it is perfectly justified >
  
  I suppose. 
  But in normal conversation, if tattoos are visible, they make people curious. People ask questions about things that grab their attention.
  If someone doesn’t want to explain it for whatever reason that’s fine by me. But if someone catches an attitude for a simple question that rightfully annoys the person asking. 
  Me I’d smile, respectfully oblige their wishes and let the miserable person keep being miserable with their attitude. But usually nastiness brews nastiness, and I can’t rightfully blame for anyone to get nasty back in retaliation. >
  
  Did you ever stop to think that maybe it's not the question, it's how and when it's asked? Most people aren't going to cop an attitude unless you've done something to warrant it. I don't have tattoos, but I do have a very unique eye color that "grabs people's attention." I don't mind people complementing them and going about their day. I generally don't mind people asking if it's my real eye color or what color it is if I'm not doing anything at the time. Do you know how obnoxious it is to be stopped in the middle of doing something because people literally think that asking me if I'm wearing colored contacts in the middle of the grocery store is cool? I'm just trying to get shredded cheese, leave me alone. Do you know how garbage it is to have people literally stop you from walking past because they want to look or ask questions? I'm not a confrontational person, so I usually don't cop an attitude but could you blame me if I did? >
  
  I absolutely couldn’t. 
  In the context of this situation I’m looking at a base case of some hypothetical situation: Normal conversation, appropriately timed, attitude is given just because this make believe person (who exists within many people in real life) doesn’t like talking about their visible tattoos. That’s annoying.
  It’s far more annoying to be stopped in the middle of the day taking care of business. That’s a different situation altogether. So different I don’t think it warrants assuming this make believe hypothetical person is in that situation. >
  
  Why are you asking strangers shit like this in first place. No one owes you an explanation for anything that doesn't affect you. This honestly reads as you being mad that some girl didn't want to talk to you about her tattoos. >
  
  I never specified gender >
  
  you didn't have to specify because we all know >
  
  Fine, 'some person'. Funny how in all that the thing you took issue with was the gender given. You didn't exactly deny the other parts. Also looking at your post history, its not exactly a leap to guess that you would harass some poor woman about her tattoos. >
  
  OP: Nice tattoos babe, you have any others in special places?
  Woman: Please go away and stop talking to me like that, thank you. 
  OP: I HATE HOW PEOPLE WONT TALK ABOUT TATTOOS TO ME, SUCH ELITISTS AND BITCHES. >
  
  Pretty much how that conversation went >
  
  
  Honestly, this resistance to explain or talk about tattoos just screams pretentious 
  
  Just because people happen to have tattoos doesn't automatically mean it's their job to entertain you and your stupid questions nor is it in an invitation to talk to them in general >
  
  That attitude is the crux of this post. Why are so many people vehemently against it. I feel like people with tattoos acting like questions are stupid and acting like it's such a major inconvenience says more about them than the people who are curious about their tattoos. >
  
  Did it ever occur to you that you’re like the 3,762,569th person to ask them and they’re just fucking bored of explaining it to people? >
  
  How much do you wanna bet that he’s probably inappropriate about it and it’s women he’s approaching? >
  
  Just look at his comment history lol. It's prolly exactly what he's doing. >
  
  It's so stupid that people think tattoos need meaning, both on the pro and anti side of the issue.
  "Your tattoos what's their meaning?"
  "Dude my life doesn't even have meaning what are you even on about?"
  Even if someone has to justify their tattoos to you, which they don't, why isn't "I thought it looked nice?" not good enough?  Not everything has to be a Japanese Tea Ceremony. >
  
  It's not even about preferring that a tattoo means anything. It's this total and complete aversion to having to talk about their tattoos as if the person asking the question is committing an offense. I've seen this attitude from several heavily tattooed people. >
  
  Probably because they get asked the same stupid questions everywhere they go and they don't owe a stranger shit just because their tattoos are visible.
  Same concept as the celebrity doesn't owe you a hello/picture just because they're famous and in public.
  "Why'd you get that??" Gets pretty fucking redundant when it's asked for the 246th time.
  Do you ask the blind person how they lost their sight or ask the person using a wheelchair why they can't walk? No? Because it's none of your fucking business. >
  
  Funny thing about the wheelchair example. I did ask one person how, way back when I was a teenager. I felt bad about it after the fact. A few days later that person found me on social media, added me, and said they loved that I didn't shy away or try to ignore the fact that they were in a wheelchair. Sounds very r/thathappened but you absolutely have people with disabilities who don't shy away from questions or act like people aren't supposed to ask. >
  
  When my niece got her tattoo, my stepmom (her grandma) was flipping out and even tried rubbing it off of her arm. I was annoyed beyond belief. She's old enough and she's not your child. >
  
  Um ouch was this during healing!?! >
  
  After >
  
  as someone with tattoos i will just say it gets annoying having to have to explain it to nearly every person you meet. >
  
  That's why you have to get so many that people don't ask anymore. 
  They just think 'That person sure likes tattoos'.  LOL >
  
  Homie I’m just in Walmart to get Cheetos I don’t need to explain to anyone why a frog smoking a join is meaningful I’m hungry >
  
  Alright, here's a thought I had:
  If you asked me about my tattoos and I responded by sitting you down for 45 minutes to go over the "meanings," placements, artists, colour choices, art modification, and life story... would that be better?? 
  I would rather eat glass than have a stranger go off about every tattoo they had and why. Truth be told, I don't care and would rather avoid hearing a strangers life story, but is that what yall are honestly looking for? >
  
  I have one tattoo.  There is a personal reason for the design.  I don't want to spill part of my life story to people I don't know well, barely know, or don't know at all.  So if I decline to explain why I got that particular tattoo, or why I got one at all, it's not out of pretentiousness or combativeness. >
  
  Then why get something on your skin that everyone can see you at putting it out there so not wanting people to ask is dumb >
  
  I did it for myself, not for anyone else.  I can see it as well as others. >
  
  Exactly you got something that others can see so others are going to ask about it you could have got a picture of the image that Means so much to you and carry it in your wallet. Or just have it in your mind but you chose to put it in your skin for the world to see so ya people are going to ask >
  
  For heavens sake.  If I choose to wear silver eyeshadow, am I obligated to answer everyone and anyone who asks me,  "Why are you wearing silver eyeshadow?"   The relationship between how people choose to adorn themselves in a way that the outside world sees  and the fact that they're really adorning themselves for themselves, not for others, is complicated.  But it never makes it incumbent upon anyone to answer questions about it.
  To clarify, my tattoo is on my ankle.  Sometimes it's visible, sometimes it's not, depending on what I'm wearing.  I haven't received many questions about it, but when I have, I've always just said,  "It's personal" politely.   I don't get mad. >
  
  Your not obligated to answer anything but whatever your putting out there for people to see don’t get mad if people ask put the silver glitter on your butt crack if you don’t want people to ask >
  
  I don't get mad.  I made the original comment I did to point out that it's possible to decline to answer questions about a tattoo without getting mad. >
  
  I know ppl are going to be curious but I’ve had ppl literally stop in their tracks and stare at my tattoos before. Like they do double takes. My tattoos are not weird or vulgar. Asking where I got them done, how much it hurt, whatever is fine. But staring at me like I’m in a zoo is uncalled for. >
  
  I love when people ask about my tattoos, I don’t love when people use it as an excuse to touch me (yes it has happened) >
  
  I’ll tell you about mine but usually it’s not the response you want. People who ask about tattoos watch to many tattoo tv shows where everyone has some long sob story about what the tattoo means to them. In reality 95 percent of my visible ones were just some flash I thought looked cool. >
  
  Depends on how you ask. If you're asking in a creepy and demeaning way, or asking to tell me I'll regret it or would look better without them, then f off. If you're honestly interested in the currently visible artwork on my arms, then I don't mind if you ask. >
  
  I hate it when people ask “what do your tattoos mean?” Or “why did you get that?” Some of them I literally just got, there’s not deep significant meaning and for those that do have meaning I am unlikely to be super keen to spend a bunch of time
  explaining and sharing details of my life, especially if the person asking is an acquaintance, friend of a friend, or worse, a complete stranger. I don’t think it’s pretentious but I’d rather be thought of as pretentious than have to explain my personal choices to people I don’t really care about. 
  If you want to open up a dialogue with someone and their tattoos are something you absolutely can’t look past maybe just compliment them. That usually gives enough of an opportunity for people to share more about them if they want to. 
  You should also consider that you are almost definitely not the first person to ask about their tattoos. You may not even be the first person to ask that day. Honestly, the amount of questioning I got after my first tattoo shocked me and for a while there I regretted it because I am quite an introverted person and I did not realise just how much more attention it would draw and how entitled people would feel to an explanation and also to give their opinion. >
  
  Maybe you're asking in a pretentious or combative way? >
  
  Absolutely an unpopular opinion. I didn't get my tattoo for you, I got it for me. If I want to talk about it, I will. >
  
  I don’t know, sometimes it gets incredibly annoying when I’m asked the same “what does it mean?“ questions over and over.  I’m a woman, and some of my tattoos are incredibly personal with heavy meanings (some cultural, some personal) that I don’t want to have to explain to a stranger all the time.  I don’t get mad, but I do find it invasive when people push the matter.  Only one is very visible (my sleeve) but I find that people then start asking if I have other tattoos and then they want to see them and get pushy even when I say no, I’m not removing or moving articles of clothing so you can see them better.  They aren’t for other people, they’re for me.
  If it’s just compliments though or “who is the artist/where did you get it?” then I don’t ever mind those sorts of questions at all.  Always willing to share that info.