Tag Archives: Life As A Tattooist

Dilemma

Ponderings, ,

I have a weird–what I feel to be moral–dilemma that I need y’all’s thoughts on.

And I’m guessing that by the fact that I am asking this question I probably know what my answer should be.

But, here goes.

I’m certain I’ve had other clients in the past who I didn’t agree with ideologically. But they weren’t wearing their beliefs on their skin. That I saw. Or at least they weren’t displaying them.

A client came in yesterday who wants me to redo and add to his sleeves and chest. So we are talking easily 30 or 40 hours of work.

This client is… different.

He has a large red swastika on his chest, and several other white supremacist tattoos in various places on his arms that I recognize. Very visible, as he came in wearing a white tank top.

He hasn’t said anything about covering up those tattoos with new tattoos, so I’m assuming he’s an “active” racist. Which is where my dilemma is: Have I judged him based on those? And tell him I can’t tattoo him because of those and my beliefs? Or do I ask him if those still mean something to him, and if so I can’t tattoo him, and tell him why?

Until next time...
Erik

12 of 12, June 2014 edition

Meme, , , ,

My thirtieth “12 of 12”.

The 12 of 12 challenge was created by Chad Darnell and picked up from a number of random bloggers who then linked back to him and vice versa. Chad stopped doing the 12 of 12 links in December of 2011, but passed the torch to someone else who sadly hasn’t been keeping up with it. So as always, I’m giving my shout-out to Blobby of Blobby’s Blog as he is the one who inspired me to do it.

All pictures were taken with my iPhone 4S.

12:24 AM: Seriously. She perches on the back of the chair like she's a cat. But at least she's not trying to eat my feet when she's over there.
12:24 AM: Seriously. She perches on the back of the chair like she’s a cat. But at least she’s not trying to eat my feet when she’s over there.
1:48 AM: Why are you yelling at me?
1:48 AM: Why are you yelling at me?
9:43 AM: Coolest invitation ever. I hope I can go. And wear a fez.
9:43 AM: Coolest invitation ever. I hope I can go. And wear a fez.
10:06 AM: Another perch-er. She likes to hide back there, and scare the hell out of people when they use our bathroom. Yes, there's a TV in the bathroom.
10:06 AM: Another perch-er. She likes to hide back there, and scare the hell out of people when they use our bathroom. Yes, there’s a TV in the bathroom.
10:30 AM: The only grocery in our town. For now. And I'm not a fan. It's dirty, a lot of the food is close to the expiration date, and it's expensive. But on the upside, there was a hot man with a most excellent beard in there this morning. I should have taken a picture of him!
10:30 AM: The only grocery in our town. For now. And I’m not a fan. It’s dirty, a lot of the food is close to the expiration date, and it’s expensive. But on the upside, there was a hot man with a most excellent beard in there this morning. I should have taken a picture of him!
11:07 AM: Today's work selfie. I'm a little bit... ruffled.
11:07 AM: Today’s work selfie. I’m a little bit… ruffled.
1:47 PM: The replacement extension cord for my iPhone came in the mail today. So I ripped out the console between clients and changed it out. I have music in stereo from my phone again!
1:47 PM: The replacement extension cord for my iPhone came in the mail today. So I ripped out the console between clients and changed it out. I have music in stereo from my phone again!
6:11 PM: Almost done with this tattoo. Finally! One more session to go.
6:11 PM: Almost done with this tattoo. Finally! One more session to go.
7:24 PM: A fun little geometrical design for a client who is supposed to come in next week, but I had a small opening and called him in.
7:24 PM: A fun little geometrical design for a client who is supposed to come in next week, but I had a small opening and called him in.
9:12 PM: And the completed tattoo. We will be adding other designs to it in the future.
9:12 PM: And the completed tattoo. We will be adding other designs to it in the future.
10:31 PM: The only gym in my town. I pass it on the way to work and the way home. And I finally joined. It's open 24 hours at least.
10:31 PM: The only gym in my town. I pass it on the way to work and the way home. And I finally joined. It’s open 24 hours at least.
11:37 PM: I think there's more alcohol in our fridge than anything else. But I wouldn't be gambrinous without it.
11:37 PM: I think there’s more alcohol in our fridge than anything else. But I wouldn’t be gambrinous without it.

Until next time...
Erik