Unfathomable... Tattooing a Swastika on your Face

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:57

Saw a woman today with a little swastika tatooed on her cheek.

Why would someone, even someone who personally registers with the whole neo-nazi dogma, do this in such a visible place? Does she think job interviews are blasé, and basic relationships with non-Aryan sentient beings are unimportant? Why not do it on a hidden bodypart?

It just confused me no end, like not only someone stupid enough to believe it is either some kind of 'risque' political statement or a suitable symbol of their adherence to a defunct far-right doctrine, but also detatched enough from reality to think it's worth it to basically alienate her from almost every possible interaction with society she could have.

:confused:

Sigh.

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:28

Neil79 said:
The swastika was abused by the hitler regiem, it has another meaning. It was also noticed in Bleach(anime) but nothing to do with nazi's

Oh I realise that Hitler wasn't the originator of the symbol, as far as I can recall it was a dark age/medieval symbol of some Teutonic/Germanic tribe.

SMN said:
Swastika is a well known hindu symbol:

I'm guessing the woman in OP isnt a hindu?

Edit: Quick google shows its relevant to many religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Telescopi said:
what was the orientation? Any dots round it?

Didn't look like a Hindu or similar at least, and it was a straight-out swastika without any special orientation or additions like the dots in your picture. It was probably about an inch or two wide and placed exactly on her left cheekbone.

As a general comment, I'm aware there may be other reasons for having it (which I think are unlikely given her appearance and lack of 'adornment' on the swastika), but surely as a member of Western society she must realise the connotations it has for the vast majority of the population?

Even everything aside about choosing that symbol for a tattoo, why on the one area of your body that people recognise you by, associate you with, and is unusual to hide? Justs hit me as mindlessly fanatical/stupid.

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:35

Clum said:
Just enjoy the fact that you fit into society better than she does, and will enjoy a much easier life because of it.

Yeah that's sort of what I mean, that because of whatever reason she did it, with the vast likelihood of it being a negative one, she now has to carry this around every hour of every day with a huge amount of professional and social avenues in life cut off, surely having the majority of relationships she develops or doesn't develop in her life probably being effected by it.

All that for whatever point she's making? :confused:

Hits me as either exceptionally brave or stupid.

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:41

Don't know, I noticed her turning a corner and watched her for about thirty seconds before she went off.

She had a scumbag Chav boyfriend though.

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:51

steve-h said:
Stop judging people you know nothing about.

Quote me where I made any judgement other than surely she must be intelligent enough to realise the impact this would have on almost every conceivable facet of her life?

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:07

AcidHell2 said:
who says it's a tatoo, did he get close enough to inspect it.

What else could it have been?

(Genuine question, not giving attitude here.)

guyfawkes5 · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:13

AcidHell2 said:
stencil, non permanent tatoo.

I suppose that would reduce most of my interest in the subject (just the sheer permanence of pariah status), but is it possible to tell other than through asking the person?