A tribal tattoo linked an individual ‘spiritually’ to a tribe (thus the name) and also displayed that individual lineage.

It was also an important societal tool. A stranger would know automatically ‘the life-story’ of any male they encountered and at the same-time a tribes/individuals history would be preserved as well.

A Maori tribal tattoo is something individualistic & sacred and every Maori tattoo (even the Mc Tribal) does have a meaning and history – even if most modern-day owners couldn’t even place New Zealand on a map let alone know what the hell their own tattoo has to say.

I will continue to lambaste anyone who wants to make a mockery of another individuals culture and doesn’t have the grey-cell matter to get the background on something as permanent & public as a tattoo.

If you knew what you were talking about you would know the true ‘owner’ of a Maori tattoo design is the tribe and the family it was plagiarised from.

Bye for now.

Paul.

1. paul ur ORIGINAL argument was that no one should get a random tribal design because it disrespects tribes people using these tattoos as refence to their tribes and hometown, whatever.

and 2. your example of how this must make these people feel, is to compare an excusable design for a sign that is remembered for the trademark for the group that were responsible for mass killing. righhhhhhtttttttttt.

ok heres how it is, no. 1 your being very selfish as to wot we as individuals can have on our bodies by your standards.(im assumingyour against the swatstika being on a bodies too) ok the other thing im woundering is, just because that guy in your original post had a tribal tattoo did feel you needed to approach him.

2 swatstika REALLY? ok lets get on to some k-nowledge, u do love knowledge. ok did you know that hitlar stole the swatstika symbol from the buddhist religion. a word that means lucky object. now if put these two “knowledge” togetha we can come to the conclussion that EVERYTHING in the end will be stereotypically remembered for its more impacting history.

this whole tribal crap HAVING to only be allowed on peoples body that have either used it in the same way as the Maori ( i dont know about who does wot) or the Maori themselves.

your argument is like telling people to stop getting a circle on body because india claimed to of used it first.
stop being a dick

Uh, what? Would you please clean that horrible structure up? Also, it’s not a very good idea to assume what I am and what I am not.

Man, you don’t know what I know so don’t act like you do. I know what a swastika is. I know what it’s linked to. I’m not as stupid as you seem to think.

Regardless, “For example if you want to put Chinese symbols on your skin – at least know what they mean – ” Thanks. I said that earlier, remember? I told you that I completely agreed with that.

You seem to have this problem concering tribal tattoo’s that’s making you -very- insufferable to talk to.

You keep talking about a tattoo’s “true” meaning, but you don’t seem to comprehend that the tattoo is what it means to the owner, not to someone like you.

If there’s anything you SHOULD read out of what I said that you need to consider, it’s that: The tattoo is what it means to the owner, not to someone like you.

Your tattoos will actually have a true meaning(s) and with over 60 per cent of your body-covered may I humbly suggest you try and find them-out rather than inventing contrived mental-doodling that sound a lot like a session with a psychiatrist?

Jerry, you are in a minority is you don’t thing the swastika is permanently linked to Nazi Germany. I have never argued it’s not an individual’s right to adorn a tattoo of their choice, but it doesn’t exempt those individuals from criticisms of their choice and mistakes. For example if you want to put Chinese symbols on your skin – at least know what they mean – surely a bare minimum of research is warranted for something so permanent?

See ya guys.

Paul .

“I have never argued against anyone getting a tattoo of any-kind – that’s personal choice – it’s a free world,…” If tribal has no cultural significance to the one who don’s it, than it really shouldn’t matter to you. Because that’s all it is when it’s on a person like that. A tattoo. Therefore you would be arguing with them. It’s their own personal choice to get a tribal tattoo regardless of whether it has cultural meaning or not.

I know this is just gonna sound aweful…and prolly not gonna be your favorite post….but…

Who the flippin F**k made you the tribal elder? Who cares what some pretentions F**ktard thinks of the tattoo on my arm? If I like the design, and I paid my own money to have it stuck…. Then do us all a favor, keep your panty asses opinions to yourself.

Opinions are like A**holes…everybody has one, you just think you are obligated to share you half cocked one with the world, and that we must either conform or be cast into the flame.

Tell ya what…if you don’t like my tribal tattoo…turn your head! Mine does have meaning to me…and so does every other tatt I have…no, I don’t belong to any tribe. Yes, I have several Tribal Tattoos…one of them covering 60% of my body.

Why Tribal…simply put, because it’s design and pattern represent the feelings one may have inside…smooth and conforming, then suddenly wild and dangerous, next raging and angry….the story is told in simple lines.

That’s what it means to me…what it means to you means dirt. I designed them…I paid to have them stuck…your opinion was not, nor will be solicited.

What occurs to me…just a reader on this message board…is simply that you feel one way…which means nothing to anyone else.

The tattoo is what it means to the owner…get over yourself Pauly!

Further, if you don a tribal tattoo, expect to be challenged by individuals, like me, from the tribe where they came from wanting to preserve their cultural-significance and not have them cheapened by some-sort of Mc Tat.

No doubt you look at someone displaying a swastika tattoo in the same-light I look at tribal tattoos, so whilst I have no right to ‘stop’ someone I do have the right to comment and challenge their choice.

Cheers.

Paul.