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El-Casey · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:03 pm Post subject: Tattoos, Stigma, etc.

Let me start this thread by saying, "If you don't appreciate tattoos, I can respect that, but I don't need you to tell me about it in this thread." There, that wasn't so hard. Razz

I'm hardly covered with ink, but I have a single large tattoo (right shoulder to elbow, a Frank Frazetta 'Death Dealer' piece) that I'm very pleased with. After spending the last seven years perpetually broke, I intend to get my left arm done and likely a piece on my left calf before I leave.

Here's the major question - I know tattoos carry a certain stigma, unfortunately, much as they do in Japan, equating them to the Russian criminal class. I do plan to take full advantage of banyas, and I just don't want 1) overzealous "moral police" types lecturing me or, worse, 2) actual tattoed Russian "criminals" (hey, if they did their time, I don't judge) thinking I'm trying to a be a Prince of Thieves or something! Shocked

Granted, I don't have a crucifix tattoed around my neck, but I think you guys can get my meaning.

Is my being tattoed going to cause problems in the banya or if they're visible? I don't mind people staring, or even the odd snide comment, I just don't want it to become a serious issue. I doubt it will, but this is why I want to check up front.

Second, anyone know of any particularly good Moscow tattoo studios? I found "Perpetuum Tattoo - Kutuzovsky Ave., 27/1" on a tattoo site, but I know there's got to be more than one studio in the whole of Moscow. Having said that, I'm a huge stickler for hygienic procedures, autoclaving, disposable needles, etc. While I like tattoos, I'm not into disease. Wink

Thanks for any input, information, etc. if only to tell me that I shouldn't have gotten tattoed if I intended to move to Moscow! Twisted Evil

Intourist · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:00 pm Post subject:

Well, I'm not into tattoos so I can't tell you any good places where to get 'em, but I'd say they're not really associated with criminals, really. At least, not what you're talking about. A lot of people who've done jail time have these cheap faded black tattoos on their knuckles, but it's not really the kind of arty tattoo you're referring to.

Maybe, and I'm not entirely sure 'bout this, but maybe it's more associated with the biker crowd here. If anything, people will probably assume you're a foreigner or biker.

Little tattoos (like on the ankle or lowerback) are gaining some popularity among the younger generations, but not to the extent that I think it happens in the US.

In any case, I wouldn't really worry about it. I have a friend who's got both arms andback covered (not a biker, but just because he likes it and they're meaningful to him) and other than the occasional glance because it's rare to see here, he doesn't get any stereotype associations from strangers.

I wouldn't really worry about it.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

ElCasey, I gotta urgent, serious warning for you that you should heed: a butterfly tattoo on the shoulder in Russia means "whore". Laughing

Don't pick that one.

cyndy22 · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 2:53 am Post subject:

Well, while I have never been a fan of tatoos for men and especially for women, and am still not so attracted to this body art form, there was a guy last summer who worked in our parks. He had a great tatoo but more importantly he was very nice, smart and sexy. His tatoo juast like himself was a winner. My doc also has really cool tatoos and rides a Harley. No white medical suits for him, he wears jeans etc. I love this doc.

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

i have a tatto **old pic**

cyndy22 · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:51 am Post subject:

nice back! Smile

El-Casey · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:04 am Post subject:

UsualSuspect · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:09 am Post subject: Tatt's

El Casey,
As Intourist stated, you'll have no problems. There is a topic by Frick and in that Mediashark posted a link to a canadian police web-site which had a pretty good list of typical zek tattoo's.

As for a parlour you may have to wander around or use a translator engine to find the cyrillic for tattoist or tattoo parlour. Don't expect to able to readily find a telephone book although Moscow and St Pete do have a yellow pages on-line.

Usualsuspect

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 741 Location: Moscow

I will ignore your warning and say that I think tatoos are just plain ugly. On everyone. I know a woman of about 50 who has some large tatoos--and ugh. Be forewarned that tatoos do not age well.

But here in Russia I think that the dangers involved in getting tatoos are much higher. Have you been here? Sanitary standards are very poor. Sure there are government regulations and health standards--but it's like everything else in Russia. Any offense can be bought off and fly-by-night tatoo parlors are rampant. I've seen some that don't even look as though they have running water.

Hepatitis A, B, and C are widespread in this country. Hep A will just make you sick but B and C are permanent and will destroy your liver. I wouldn't get a tatoo in Russia for love nor money if I were you. The industry has little oversight and regulation, cleanliness of premesis and equipment is *questionable* and your tatoo 'artist' and his shop could easily disappear overnight.

Get your ugly tatoos in America.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

You know how Pamela Anderson got hepatitis C? She shared a tattoo needle--with her husband! Who still denies infecting her.

El-Casey · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:33 am Post subject:

I can't say that I see the logic in someone who decided to ignore the disclaimer regarding "I don't need your opinions about the idea of tattoos" telling me how disease-ridden and horrid Russian tattoo studios are. I'm sure plenty of them are, just as they are in America. But several rank highly internationally and have very accomplished artists (according to some websites I've cruised around on). Obviously, OS_expat, you still suffer from the misconception that everyone who gets a tattoo picks out some flash (those "cookie cutter" tattoos on the walls), has some foul-smelling ogre tattoo them and then regrets it.

Since your opinion of tattoos is less than subtle, I can say that I appreciate the warning, but I'll definitely be taking it with a grain of salt. Obviously, I'm a smart enough boy to decide not to get tattooed in a place that I don't feel meets my standards of hygience. :rolleyes:

And Polska, wouldn't Tommy Lee have to test positive for Hep C to infect Anderson? Obviously if he did test positive, it could indeed happen. I'm certainly on no one's "side" in that whole match made in heaven (though Motley Crue is one of the best rock bands ever Razz

). On the other hand, I would never share a tattoo needle with anyone - I don't care who it is.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 741 Location: Moscow

El-Casey · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 3:01 pm Post subject:

See, if you would've just given me a warning a warning about the cleanliness (or lack thereof), I would've been perfectly fine with that. But apparently you couldn't do that, you had to tell me how much you dislike tattoos, when I expressly asked that people not do that, for the express purpose of keeping the thread from taking the direction it is currently taking!

Obviously anyone who has, and likes, their tattoo(s) is not going to get 100% onboard with someone who tells them to "get their ugly tattoos in America." A little forethought and decorum was all I was asking for. Please don't drag this off-topic.

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

Expat you crack me up. I love your quote:

Suit yourself college boy hotshot.

Come on El Casey, Expat didn't say anything terrible. And he actually is right about the widespread hepatitis. BTW how do you like tatoos on women.? I notice how popular they are these days. I met a young Russian woman not long ago who had one. She was a pretty girl about 25 yrs. old or so. Her husband was a musician.

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

If you've been living in the USA for the last 20-30 years, you should've been already vacinated against Hepatitis. You can't even enroll in University or gain employment at some places (in CA) anyway without proof of vacination.
Its not like its hard to get one; some clinics here practically give them away for free.

Can't understand why you wouldn't get your shots before you leave the country away --especially to an less developed one.

What kinds of tatoos are popular in Russia these days? Especially amoung criminals?

Nonwithstanding Rewan of course. But his tat is non-surprising. Laughing

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