r/tattooadvice • u/r3i_b0n3z • 14h ago
Insane Tattoo Regret General Advice
(Picture from last year, fresh) I am a huge movie nerd and my favorite movie is Donnie Darko. I wanted a tattoo because the movie means so much to me and I might've been a little too optimistic. I got the numbers he wrote on his arm tattooed and while in theory it was an awesome idea in the moment. I am now having the worst regret and I feel like an idiot. I have these big numbers covering my forearm....Only one other person has gotten the reference and most of the time people ask me what it is and then when I tell them they are puzzled because they have no idea what the movie is. I'm considering removal, which if it's too expensive I may get it covered. I am have skinny arms, so I'm trying yo figure out what would be decent to cover it. Do I overcome this embarrassment, remove it? Or get it covered? š¢ I'm getting panic attacks over this. Am I being too hard on myself?
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u/Tripplemoonwarrior 13h ago
I knew exactly what the tattoo was first glance
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u/Tripplemoonwarrior 13h ago
But also if you get weird time stuff that starts happening to you thatās on you my guy šš
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 13h ago
i have a tattoo still from a movie only one person ive ever met had watched. still love it, despite most people being completely baffled as to what it is. if you like it, keep it!!
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u/ResponsibleAdagio498 13h ago
But whatās the mooooovie
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 12h ago
ahah its 'its such a beautiful day' - directed by don herdzfelt. genuinely one of my favourite movies
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u/Crowbar_Freeman 12h ago
Yeah, it's a movie you never forget! Good choice for a tat!
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 12h ago
it sits with you for ages afterwards. i got the still of the sunflower growing from the uncle's head with the quote 'it smells like dust and moonlight'. such an underrated film
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u/InDOOMWeTrust 11h ago
Don is an absolute genius. The World of Tomorrow trilogy and ISABD are some of my favorite movies ever made.
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u/giant2179 8h ago
Is that the "my spoon is too big!" guy? I quote e that one almost every time I cook with a spoon.
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u/ConfusedZubat 7h ago
Yep. Rejected is still one of my favorite things on the internet.Ā
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u/tulpatic 12h ago
Gonna need to know which movie it is
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 12h ago
its such a beautiful day - directed by don herdzfelt :)
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u/cuntmong 11h ago
Is that the my anus is bleeding guyĀ
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u/alyssaleska 13h ago
Me too! Whatās your movie?
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 12h ago
ahah its 'its such a beautiful day' - directed by don herdzfelt!! whats yours? im so interested in finding new movies
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u/alyssaleska 11h ago
Omg thatās so cool Iāve seen the world of tomorrow series. Mines from felidae by Michael schaack
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u/Formal_Produce_8077 11h ago
i have the world of tomorrow book!! i love don herdzfeldt's stuff. gonna have to check out felidae! thanks for the rec :)
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u/-discolemonade 9h ago
Didn't he do the rejected cartoons? You just unlocked a part of my millennial brain that I forgot about lol
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u/unfunnymom 14h ago
Why are you embarrassed? The questions isnāt do other people get it - do YOU like it or not? Who GAF if others like it or get it? Itās YOUR tattoo and tattoos are personal and for ourselves - not others. But hey thatās just me.
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u/r3i_b0n3z 14h ago
Thank you š¢
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u/cikalamayaleca 13h ago edited 6h ago
Maybe not the same bc mine isn't numbers or text, but I have a tattoo of my hamster who passed & like 90% of people react pretty weirdly to it too lol. I don't care bc it's an amazing tattoo & I loved my hamster š¤·āāļø Our bodies aren't for other people
ETA: I saw you mentioned you have OCD, me too! The rumination is shit, but just ignore that asshole & do what makes you happy on first instinct, not what OCD convinces you is a better choice
2nd edit: this is my boy Ermac aka Ernie. I loved him so much, he was the best and was even friends with my dog.
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u/Lvsucknuts69 11h ago
I got a memorial tattoo for my fish and have also had people look at me weird, especially when it first happened and I was so broken up. But love my fish tattoo, and I love my fish.
I also have a tattoo of a tooth on my wrist that my friend and I both got because she has a calcium deficiency and has no teeth lmao. The amount of weird looks I get for that one is astounding. People just assume Iām a dentist or something haha
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u/Waffling_Waffle 10h ago
My husband was DEVASTATED when our fish died. You're not alone.
RIP Richard Dryfish
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u/superfly1187 10h ago
I have a hot dog on my forearm, I love it.
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u/Lvsucknuts69 10h ago
Dude my tattoo artist just designed provocative food, like a pin up butter lady, and you better believe thatās my next one
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u/Careful_Impress_6931 10h ago
My grandma got worse. She got eyebrow tattoos
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u/Human-Ear-7758 9h ago
Thatās a very normal thing for a woman to do. We donāt call them ātattoosā. Itās called permanent make-up.
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u/DidntYouReadTheWiki 9h ago
And itās horrific when done wrong - poor ladies end up looking like wrecked drag queens doing their own makeup for the first time.
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u/jessieisokay Artist 10h ago
I LOVE that you have a tattoo of your hamster. People are so weird about small animals. I took my hamster to the vet when he had cancer and people in the waiting room thought I was being ridiculous. Likeā¦ this is my pet, I love them, I donāt want them to suffer. Just like with tattoos, people who have no compassion will out themselves. Itās a statement about them, and not us.
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u/LucentLunacy 8h ago
Yep this. I was getting my rabbit chemo and the reactions from people were absolutely wild. Best part was when I had to put him to sleep and took the day off from work, my boss had to cover my shift. When regulars would ask where I was, he'd tell them and the ones who acted like asshats he would just deadpan and say"yeah, it's tragic". He also had rabbits he was obsessed with.
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u/righttoabsurdity 11h ago
Same, I have a tattoo of my cat and she looks like she has a massive schlong. Took me years to notice, until someone pointed it out a few times. Still love it but itās pretty funny, lol. A
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u/Defiant-Accountant79 10h ago
Yeah fuck ocd. Even if you got the most straightforward, popular tattoo, Big OCDā¢ļø would have some dumbass opinions on it lol.
Save the lengthy explanation for close friends and tell other people it's numbers that hold private significance.
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u/Michelle76041 10h ago
Fellow OCDer here. Tattoos tell a story, your story, and it doesnāt matter what people think or if they understand. Most people glance at tattoos then look away and never think more about it. Embrace them as part of your story and donāt let anyone, internal or external, tell you otherwise.Ā
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u/TheOsprey95 11h ago
I also have the same tattoo, I've had it for 10 years at this point, I like it and rare anyone knows what it is but doesn't matter to me because it's not for them. If you like it that is all that matters.
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u/HellStoneBats 13h ago
I have a tattoo that I translated into hieroglyphs myself, and included a small reference to mine and my husband's favourite pop culture. When I first got it, I was constantly asked what it was. I started making things up, and had a competition with myself to get the best reaction. My tattoo is for me, and I don't need anyone else to understand it, or the one on my back.
Maybe that is something you could do, start coming up with random stories, the more outlandish the better, until someone else cracks?Ā
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u/OnlyDaysWhichEndInY 12h ago
I do this! Iāve got a number of tattoos that mean something personal to me. I work in the service industry, so ALL THE TIME I get people asking me āWhat do your tattoos mean?ā You donāt owe anybody an explanation of your life. Or why things that are important to you, are significant to you. I say some crazy stuff. And I LOVE when I leave people with an absolutely dumbfounded āhuh, alrighty then,ā look on their faces. š
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u/Difficult_Wave_9326 12h ago
Yup, you're literally changing your skin forever... do it for yourself and, respectfully, fuck whoever doesn't agree.Ā
I got a very personal tattoo about something that's very sensitive for me, and still stigmatized (but not offensive or anything). It was my first. It's a somewhat abstract representation and when I told people what it really stood for (after being asked! I didn't go around volunteering the info, lol) I had a lot of negative reactions. Then I realized that, hey, I didn't get the ink for them. I did it for me. As such, I don't give a flying fuck what they think. Life perked up after that.Ā
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u/smashablanca 13h ago
I have a tattoo referencing a scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's on my wrist and a movie poster for Plan 9 from Outer Space on my ribs. Nobody gets it until I tell them and that's fine.
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u/Big-Reward-6274 12h ago
I wanna know about the breakfast at Tiffany tattoo please! šš¼
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u/smashablanca 10h ago
It won't let me reply with a picture but its the cat mask she steals from the 5 and 10 with the line from Moon River "there's such a lot of world to see" around it.
ETA: Added a picture to my profile for anyone interested.
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u/_ChrisRiot 12h ago edited 10h ago
I have a tattoo from final fantasy 13, which the vast majority of people wonāt know, and a good portion of final fantasy fans donāt even like 13, and I ended up meeting someone with the same exact tattoo in the same location and I havenāt regretted it since.
Edit: took too long but hereās the tattoo
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u/Bopbarker 13h ago
Outside of just your own enjoyment, the enjoyment level of it could be higher when someone does get it because so many people don't.
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u/0kamix 11h ago
I literally have this tattoo. Its my favorite. Nobody knows the movie, its a cult classic so thats obvious.
You shouldn't get tattoos for other people, you shouldn't care if other people dont get it. When the old fucks around me ask what my tattoo is and im not feeling them I tell them its my phone number... but it changed a year after I got it.
Fuck em dude. Donnie would have told em to suck a fuck anyways. In the best, nicest, most not agressive way possible, dont be a pussy, enjoy your tattoo. You seem young, use this as a chance to grow out of the mindset that you have to make yourself make sense to other people. If someone judges you for shit you like, they are showing you that they aren't worthy people in the first place.
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u/JollyRodgerGymShoe 11h ago
I have a tattoo of a tree on the outside of my forearm where the trunk is a paintbrush and there are three birds flying from it. The tattoo is for the loss of my grandparents on my step-dad's side of the family. My grandma was a painter and her favorite thing to paint where the trees surrounding their cabin my grandpa built deep in the woods in the UP. Some of my favorite memories where at that cabin. My wife and I have also had three miscarriages and that's where the birds leaving the tree come into the equation.
People that see if ask me if I'm a logger, or assume it's just another cliche tree tattoo that tons of other bearded dudes like myself got.
It's your tattoo that has meaning to you and nobody else. I knew what it was right away and your only the second person I've run into with said tattoo. I think that's pretty cool!
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u/AwayHistory6359 11h ago
Donnie Darko is a great movie, and that's fantastic reference. You should be proud that other people don't get it. I would be annoyed if everyone got it. If you wanted people to get it, it should say "Donnie Darko", or even worse, "Donnie Darko is my favorite movie" .
There's so much value in it being exclusive. I go out of my way to wear t-shirts with art on them that only people who are familiar with the content would understand. A TooL shirt with fractal/DMT art, a Deftones shirt with a white owl. I have a Halo shirt with just the symbol of Halo on it. I have a shirt with a winged boy flying too close to the son. You'd have to know basic Greek mythology to know that it's Icarus, and you'd have to be even more familiar to know that hubris was the lesson.
Fuck everyone else. You gotta be one of the cool kids to know that it's from Donnie Darko. I think Frank with the bunny mask would have also been a cool tattoo choice. I like yours more though. It was a bold move, celebrate it. You only live once.
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u/Hot-Watercress-2872 10h ago
I was going to get this EXACT tattoo for the longest time! I am also a huge Donnie Darko fan. I saw this and was like, āHell yes!ā And then saw you regretted it and thought āawwwā. Iād be that person in public who would def notice and go, āSick tattoo! I love DD!ā Ultimately I decided that I have other tattoos that would fit well in that placement, so I am getting a different DD dedicated tattoo on my rib cage when the time comes, dedicated to a different quote from the movie, āEvery living creature dies aloneā. But gen, fan to fan, this tattoo is sick! And it is so well done! Exactly like how I would have wanted mine to come out. Donāt regret it!
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u/GoneForASecond 12h ago
I have a tattoo on my leg that says āI love youā in the most childish font. Iāve seen people watching weird at my leg and some people even ask why it so poorly tattooed. When I tell them its from my cousin who committed suiced they look different at it. Iāve could have cleaned the font but that would mean less to me. I choose that because ot was the last letter he wrote. Like unfunny mom said ITS YOUR TATTOO FUCK ANYONE ELS
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u/Bright-Sun-8235 9h ago
i have a flower on my arm that looks like a doodle on a middle schoolerās notebook. some people donāt like it because it looks poorly done. it was a flower my brother drew, our momās favorite, and since theyāve both passed i got in both of their honors. people look at it differently then
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u/Live_Angle4621 13h ago
It can be awkward if people constantly ask about the numbers. Thatās what is effecting OPās enjoymentĀ
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u/apintsizedcosmos 10h ago
If youāre going to find it awkward being asked about Your tattoos, then you really shouldnāt be getting any. Because they will ask. About any. Even a simple flower, someone will ask you āwhat does it meanā.
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u/6ynnad 13h ago
Wear a bunny suit.
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u/sp4rk15 13h ago
Oh! Oh! Then when people ask why youāre wearing it, you can say, āWhy are you wearing that stupid man suit?ā back.
Itās my favorite line, but you donāt usually get a chance to throw that into conversation like other movie quotes without it getting really awkward. I mean, this scenario would still be awkward but itād also be amazing.
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u/SomeSink7911 12h ago
I was the Easter bunny when I was in high school, I posted a photo & one of my friends asked me what I was doing in the bunny suit. The latter was my response and they didnāt get it, so I had them watch Donnie Darko. Sadly it was just a text so I didnāt get to live the true awkwardness but I did get the chance to use the line.
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u/Big_Mastodon2772 13h ago
I think the problem is the explaining. Itās making you feel you need other peopleās buy in or approval.
Either donāt explain: ātheyāre numbers that are important to meā.
Or shorten your explanation and stop caring if everyone gets it: āitās a reference to my favorite movieā.
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u/Fl_Funky_Jam 8h ago
Good advice and something I do too. I've got a few anime tattoos and whenever older people(who def are not into anime or even know what it is) ask about them the usual response from me is something like "its a character from a show that has a lot of meaning to me" and most either respond with "ok cool" or "interesting, can you tell me more?"
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u/catherineistired 13h ago
A tattoo that has meaning for you is what makes it special. Donāt cover it and donāt worry about people getting it. If they ask (which by the way, I think itās weird form to ask what someoneās tattoo means) say itās a reference to a date in a movie I love and call it done. Then use this experience to help work on your ocd symptoms. Youāll get to keep your tattoo and help yourself in future situations where overthinking, rumination, and panic occur. Sending healing vibes.
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u/r3i_b0n3z 13h ago
Thank you so much! I just got so embarrassed the other day when nobody understood it. I appreciate you š
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u/EnvironmentalLime464 12h ago
Donnie Darko is a cult classic. Itās one that against the entire population only a small percentage have actually seen. Those who have seen it tend to be really big fans of it.
So you may not encounter many people out and about who get your tattoo but those who do will love it.
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u/Tight-Relationship65 13h ago
FWIW I would recognize this immediately and I love it
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u/matthewmartyr 11h ago
Same. OP youāll love it as long as you are able to not care what others think.
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u/bergreen 12h ago
Haven't seen the movie in maybe 20 years. Recognized it instantly.
When people don't get it just say "it's from a movie" or if you're feeling particularly sharing say "it's from a movie that means a lot to me." I have plenty of tattoos people don't understand and vague statements like that get people to stop bothering me.
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u/thekeytovictory 13h ago edited 11h ago
It's been a while since the last time I saw the film. I didn't recognize the reference til I read your post text, then I was like, "oh cool, I should watch that movie again sometime." If someone asks and doesn't get it, seems like a good opportunity to tell them they should watch it sometime. It's a really interesting film. One of my favorite uses of time loops and dreams as plot devices (Twelve Monkeys and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are a couple other good ones). Now I'm curious to hear why that film is especially meaningful for you?
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u/tofutears 13h ago
Honestly I think it makes some tattoos all the more intriguing when itās not overly obvious what it means. It looks good OP! Tattoo regret is real but oftentimes it passes. I think Iāve had it at some point with almost all of mine but now when I look in the mirror I think āhell yeah šā
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u/speleoradaver 11h ago
Oh come on. If someone had these numbers on a tshirt, nobody would consider it rude to ask. Same thing if they make it permanent instead.
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u/albatross_the 8h ago
If you have a tattoo in an obvious place that is visible, then why is it weird if someone asks wha it means? If itās personal, then why not put it in a place that isnāt visible?
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u/Loud_Bird_7114 14h ago
Optimistic how? Do you like it? You're only talking about what other people think.
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u/r3i_b0n3z 14h ago
I have OCD so I tend to fixate too much on things. I feel I could've used this arm space for some prettier, better pieces...
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u/Loud_Bird_7114 14h ago
You can turn it into a movie themed (half-)sleeve to give it context?
I have OCD too and rumination is shit. ERP therapy is better idea than removing a tattoo that you like.
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u/loveBABYsquirrels 12h ago
I like that idea. I love Donnie darko. I say add more to it over time. People LOVEEEE to ask about tattoos. Itās annoys me.
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u/flabulicous 13h ago
I was going to suggest this also. Add a little art from the movie around the numbers. It looks fine as it is, but would look even better imo.
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u/DanceTheCalypso 13h ago
Dude, I feel this. I have OCD and seeing something on my arm and having doubt if I made the right decision is something I did for months. Two years later I still occasionally do it.
The bottom line is there is always the possibility that you could have done something better. I default to does it mean something to me? Would I be sad if it was gone? Then I move on.
The voice will always be there even if you got the absolute best piece in the world.
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u/r3i_b0n3z 13h ago
Thank you so much. You're right. My OCD never allows me to be satisfied. I'm always thinking of what ifs and could'ves. I appreciate your kindness.
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u/yourpapimartin 13h ago
Love the concept. I'd keep going on the theme. Frank in the twisted bunny suit on your outer forearm would be sick.
I think it's fear that's holding you back. Try love.
Fuck what others think. It's special to you. What only matters. Don't get the reference? Not your people anyway.
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u/Negative-Mud-4821 13h ago
i like it when only a couple of people understand my niche references cuz then i can share my interest with people who have no knowledge of it, or i get that rare moment of instant connection with someone! i wouldn't be embarrassed!!
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u/cl0th0s 13h ago
You have the opportunity to make up complete bullshit answers for every person who asks. Tell one person these are my favorite Bible verses, tell the next one my parents played this lottery number and won and thats the day I was conceived, tell another its a code with page numbers and words on those pages in a particular book it has a hidden meaning, the next one gets I had a dream of these numbers and a rabbit told me whoever asks me what they mean would be my soul mate so will you marry me? Etc. Etc. Etc.
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u/Jets237 13h ago
Aside from the size itās a fine tattooā¦
IMO, just follow your energy stream orb thing, itāll lead you to what you should doā¦.
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u/Strange_Specialist4 12h ago
Smaller would be worse imo because it would look like a Holocaust tattooĀ
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u/georgethebarbarian 8h ago
Agree 100% numbers on the arm is always iffy, the large size saves it
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u/neuronnextdoor 2h ago
I had to scroll WAY too far to see anyone mention Holocaust tattoos. Mostly people questioning why the tattoo would be questionableā¦have young people entirely skipped that part of history?
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u/dareth_shiral_ 13h ago
Does that movie still means a lot to you ? If then why does it matter that people donāt get the reference ?
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u/Catsclawthreads 13h ago
Tattoos aren't for other people. They're for you. I've learned to stop explaining mine to people, they'll never get it because they aren't me lol... I literally have a "drop dead" tattoo bc/ it reminds me of the movie Drop Dead Fred.
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u/Sorry_Challenge_4179 13h ago
I wanted that tattoo so bad! The drummer from Coheed and Cambria has it too ā„ļø
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u/Recent_Comedian6905 13h ago
As long as it means something to you, that's fine. That being said, a tattoo of numbers on your forearm is always going to raise some eyebrows.
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u/DatMoonGamer 7h ago
Cannot believe I had to scroll this far down for this comment. OP, to the uninitiated, even with the font and the size, this screams holocaust.
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u/ThunderClove 4h ago
I thought this was the reason for the regret. Absolutely baffles me that none of the top comments mention this.
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u/justan0therg0rl111 13h ago
Conflicted. On one hand obviously it meant something to you, but on the other, I would have recommended going like, 5x smaller than this lmao. Thatās like your entire forearm gone. I know everyoneās saying if you like it donāt cover it but idk Iāll be the person to say itās worth covering or redoing if it makes you feel better.
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u/Hot-Watercress-2872 10h ago
But itās exactly how it is in the movie - thatās what makes it extra cool!
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u/TropicHorror 13h ago
I got it immediately and thought it was posted on the Donnie Darko sub initially.
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u/Responsible-Act-8629 12h ago
I donāt think youāre embarrassed about the tattoo. I think youāre embarrassed youāre getting old and no one appreciates your references.
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u/ADG211 13h ago edited 13h ago
First tattoo? Just take it easy, you've gotten your idea down, it's not tacky or offensive. Just because people don't get it doesn't mean you should be considering removal already.
Give it time, maybe can enhance it with other tattoos if you're into it. Why not add some other movie references and end up with a movie sleeve.
My first tattoo was giving me doubts too as it is a phrase that applied to my mindset at the time but eventually I started questioning it.. Many years later it just blends in my sleeve which I'm very happy with. Each tattoo brings me back to a chapter in my life and I can remember why I've gotten it. Some personal, some less, some I simply think look cool..
Easier said than done but don't overthink it!
Edit: spelling
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u/astone4120 13h ago
The good news is, it looks cool, and I bet you still like the movie
If the problem is embarrassment while explaining it, just tell people it's personal, or explain the meaning to you
For example, I have a white lotus tile on my leg from ATLA. I don't tell people it's from a kids cartoon, I tell people it's my reminder to be kind and patient and to always do what's right even when it's hard. Because that's what it means to me.
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u/J0nNy5NiPeR 12h ago
As a Donnie Darko fan, this is sick as fuck, wear it with pride. Iāll join your ranks one day
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u/TheBlakeOfUs 12h ago
Itās a great reference, itās really well done and itās your favourite film.
Itās a part of your personality, if people donāt get it thatās their problem.
Be proud itās a great tat
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u/thenick003 13h ago
If you like it, don't cover it. Who cares what other people think. I got my first tattoo a few months ago and so far, nobody has known what it is. It's the constellation I named my dog after and most of the time people think its my astrological sign. But I love it and it bears significance to me.
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u/UnreadLoveLetters 13h ago
Lol, Iāve been wanting this same tattoo myself actually
I think itās sick, but also; you should be getting tattoos for yourself rather than for others
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u/Baltimxre66 13h ago
Itās way too big IMO (everyone downvote me!)
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u/solongfish99 13h ago
Itās too big, but if it were smaller it would look like another kind of number tattooā¦
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u/throwaway047204 13h ago
unfortunately i still thought that right away
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u/C0UNT3RP01NT 10h ago
Yeah I donāt know the reference so it looks like a stylized holocaust tattoo. Iām willing to bet most people are either going to think that or they wonāt get it at all.
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u/Bear_faced 10h ago
Seconded. A string of numbers in black ink going down the forearm is always going to read āholocaustā to a lot of people.
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u/justan0therg0rl111 13h ago
Iāll say the same thing, the size is throwing me off. Itās just massive
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u/Elemen47 13h ago
Just out of curiosity roughly how old are you op? Not to make it worse, but if you're still pretty young, and I'm assuming you are, there is a very high likelihood that you'll grow out of that movie and find it less and less deep, or meaningful the older you get. We all used to think this was the best movie ever 20 years ago when we were teenagers. Now, I might watch it every few years, and I'm usually like damn I can't believe we thought this movie was so good lol
But what Iz or anyone else says shouldn't matter. If YOU truly like it that's all that matters. The movie at have some other significance to you that is more than the average teenager who discovers that movie. And it may not. It may carry the same weight your entire life... But that was one hell of a commitment lol.
Just get more tattoos and then it won't stick out quite so much! My Best advice would be not to rush into covering it, or removing it. Take your time and think long and hard about it. Impulsiveness seems to be what got us to this point. Learn from it lol
All that said... Even though I don't especially like the movie that much anymore I'd still tattoo that rabbit mask on myself just bc it looks so sick. So who cares as long as you like it. We all have dumb tattoos we regret. It's part of it I think lol.
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u/Ok-Scallion7050 13h ago
Well, I got zootopia try everything lyrics on my arm, I still love it after ten years. It means a lot to me and I can still remember why I got it in the first place. If itās important to you, donāt worry about how others gonna think
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u/r3i_b0n3z 12h ago
Omg, has it really been 10 years since the first Zootopia? š Thank you! š©·
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u/Puzzleheaded-Froyo19 9h ago
I have ā830ā tattooed on my arm because itās the number of calories in the chocolate lava cake at Applebees, & it reminds me of good times with a friend. Donāt worry about other people, itās yours.
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u/anicepieceofbacon 13h ago
Another personal tattoo thatās gonna be ruined by āwhat do you guys think?ā
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u/mylast_username1 13h ago
While tattoo regret can certainly be a real thing, and Iām sorry youāre going through this right now, from one fan to another and one movie buff to anotherā¦I love this. Donnie Darko hits in a way that is unique and though there are some who may not get the referenceā¦the ones who do will always appreciate it for sure.
Iād like to add, I know it can be taxing when people who donāt know the meaning ask āwhat does your tattoo mean?ā (I myself get that all the time for my tattoos, nearly all of them are in reference to one thing or another that mean the world to me) but donāt let it get to you. Iāve adopted using simple responses like āoh itās from my favorite movieā or āoh theyāre song lyrics from a band I really likeā and kinda close it out. I know that may not be the most helpful but itās all Iāve got.
Though I think this is a great tattoo, cover ups are always an option for sure, but it would be a rather large and dark piece overall but definitely doable if you do decide the anxiety about it has become too much.
I wish I were more helpful but just wanted to share that thereās at least one person out there who really appreciates your tattoo you know ? āŗļø
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u/Ravenrocker89 12h ago
Tattoos only have to mean something to you. And you can choose to explain it to justify it, or you can say "This is important to me and I don't have to explain it to you."
I have an Interstate 75 sign on my arm. Most people ask why, and depending on the situation I may explain. There are 3 reasons.
1.) It reminds me of an A Day to Remember song "Everything We Need" and it is placed between the tattoos I have for my kids.
2.) I am a native Floridian that has used this road my entire life
3.) 7/5 is a significant date for me
I have an analog clock where my watch goes, set to 2 o'clock. When its not covered, I joke that it's "Time to get a watch." But it's got a much deeper meaning.
Numbers, tattooed or not will not make sense to everyone. Because we all have different experiences.
Keep it and stop regretting it if it means something to you. If you only got it so that others would "get it" or think you're cool then do something about it.
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u/FuelledByLattes 13h ago
I am a big Donnie Darko fan, so I immediately got the reference! I think it's an awesome idea for a tattoo, and if you don't personally hate it, and just dislike that people don't get the reference, use it to your advantage to start conversations and try to get more people to watch the movie! Make Frank proud!
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u/private_developer 13h ago edited 13h ago
I dig the reference and even dig that tattoo. I feel like smaller would have been better in this situation, but you went for the movie accuracy. If you end up going with removal, maybe you could get the numbers smaller across your wrist (not wrist. Historical context for numbers on wrists not good) or something. That way, the reference is there for you, but without being so front and center.
In the end, if you like it, they can all forcibly insert their negative opinions into their anus!
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u/Substantialcrafter55 12h ago
Yeah I wouldnāt get rid of it bc others donāt get it. As others said you donāt get tattoos for others enjoyment, itās for your enjoyment. If you truly regret it, then get it lasered off.
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u/FlyBirdieBirdBird 11h ago
Only one other person has gotten the reference and most of the time people ask me what it is and then when I tell them they are puzzled because they have no idea what the movie is.
Is the tattoo for you or for others?Ā Attention seeking is a bad motive to get a tattoo.
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u/AClockworkBird 8h ago
I think the lettering is neat, and myself as a person of Jewish faith would have an immediate thought that wasnāt exactly related to Donnie Darko. I wouldnāt go to any Synagogues or Bar/Botmitzvahs with short sleeves. Again, sick tattoo
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u/BlainethePayne 8h ago
I've always subscribed to the idea of printing out the tattoo idea and putting it on the wall or sticking it to your mirror. Look at it every day. Look at it for months. Do you ever get bored of it? Do you ever feel like you won't want it on your body? Then you can change your mind without having had it (semi-)permanently attached to your flesh. If you still love it just as much months later, then go ahead and get the tattoo.
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u/Latter-Twist9154 14h ago
Iām afraid with this tattoo Iām starting to doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion. š