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Prison Tattoos And Their Meanings

March 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Number 13 and start tattoo designs on a guys neck

Prison tattoos have a long history and their various meanings are hard for the average person to recognize.

Although the vast majority of  the tattoo community have never seen the inside of a prison, there is a history around prison tattoos which link several designs to the prison system. Within the prison different groups may be represented by different prison tattoos – and the really confusing part is that similar prison tattoos can mean radically different things to different people.

As an example, a spider web tattoo,  on one’s arm, can mean a number of things. Frequently these prison tattoos represent that the bearer is stuck in time, standing still as life goes on outside. Another meaning of this prison tattoo, is that the bearer has a drug addiction. Additionally, it is a popular tattoo among members of the extreme racist Aryan Brotherhood. A fellow white supremacist gang, the Aryan Circle, often have prison tattoos bearing the number 13 (“A” being the first letter of the alphabet and “C” being the third).  The number 13 is also worn by some Hispanic gangs, thus creating some confusion.

Another example of prison tattoos, which represent the violence often encountered on the inside, is the teardrop tattoo. Most often this tattoo means that the person bearing it has killed someone. More than one teardrop tattoo beneath their eye means they have killed more than once.  An empty tear can mean an unsuccessful murder attempt, or that a friend has been murdered. A tear that is full at the bottom and empty at the top means that the death of a friend or loved one has been avenged. In Australian prisons, teardrop tattoos are often forced on convicted child molesters.

It is important to remember that no matter how cool your tattoo may look to you, there may be someone to whom it has a totally meaning. This doesn’t mean that everyone with a spider web tattoo is a racist, and not everyone with a  number 13 tattoo is a gang member. For reference the number 13 is also considered to be a symbol of bad luck.

So know that you know more about prison tattoos hopefully it will help you put a little more thought into choosing your tattoo designs.

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Teardrop Tattoos And Their Various Meanings

March 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tear Drop Tattoo Designs

Teardrop tattoos can represent a number of things both good and bad. So it is a good idea to know what the various teardrop tattoos symbolize before you decide to get one.

One of the most controversial tattoo designs would have to be teardrop tattoos. Teardrop tattoos are worn by a number of people, but are most commonly associated with those who are, or have been, in a gang or in prison system. Even within the prison system, teardrop tattoos have a number of meanings so c0nsider carefully before you get a teardrop tattoo because there can be confusion over what it means.

Usually, outside of the prison system or gang environment, teardrop tattoos are considered to represent the loss of a loved one or someone close to you. However, in gangs and prisons the meaning, and one that extends to the outside due to the presence of former prisoners and gang members in the community, will often be that the bearer has killed another person. More than one teardrop tattoos beneath your eye means more than one kill. Also whether or not the teardrop is filled  also affects its meaning. An empty tear can mean an unsuccessful attempted murder, or that a loved one has been murdered. A tear that is full at the bottom and empty at the top means that the death of a loved one has been avenged. In Australia, teardrop tattoos are often forcibly given by other inmates to convicted child molesters.

If you are looking for a tattoo design to symbolize the loss of someone special to you there are other, less controversial tattoos you can consider.  Many people have had portrait tattoos applied and these are a good way to express your grief. Another consideration would be to get a tattoo design that represents something your loved one liked and would have special meaning to you.

Due to the reasons as listed above, it is probably not a good idea to get any teardrop tattoos underneath your eye but you could still get  the tattoo on another part of your body.

 

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