Golden Pig, Coffin Man and Noodles: When Asian tattoos don't turn out quite as planned

[Blue_Tires]

Asian character tattoos have long been in style, with millions of brooding youths, aging hippies and pseudo-intellectuals seeking to express their world view via a couple of exotic-looking symbols etched into their skin.

But many of the body art enthusiasts with a taste for the ‘Orient’ do not bother to research what is it exactly they are having permanently inked on their ankle or lower back, to disastrous - and hilarious - results.

The Hanzi Smatter blog, run by Tian Tang, has been trying to set the record straight by chronicling the ‘misuse of Chinese characters in Western culture’ and translating would-be ‘Asian’ tattoos for the benefit his readers.

In the best-case scenario, the symbols turn out to be meaningless gibberish designed to look like an actual word, or a poor translation of a Western name into Chinese.

But at times, Tian encounters real head-scratchers. In one case, a fierce ‘Outlaw’ tattoo ended up translating to the less-than-threatening ‘Hiding Criminal,’ or alternatively, a ‘Snitch.’

In a more macabre twist, a tattoo that was supposed to say ‘Fear No Man’ improbably turned out to be ‘Coffin Man.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190806/Golden-Pig-Coffin-Man-Noodles-When-Asian-tattoos-dont-turn-quite-planned.html?ICO=most_read_module

http://www.hanzismatter.blogspot.com/

Did you ever hear that possibly true urban legend of some big, tough biker who unknowingly got ink that read "I take it in the ass?"

[TheMadMonk]

1. Why is male on male anal sex ALWAYS "THE ultimate negative exemplar"?

My version of that urban legend has it that among the samples/choices of almost every tattooist is one that reads "I am too stupid to know what this means."

Another, more believable version, has it that a Chinese speaking customer, laughs at the tatooist's "little joke" and clueless tattooist asking: "What's so funny about 'live long and prosper'?"

Can't spell for shit, or similar screwup? Failblog has any number of examples.

HOWEVER, examples of actual felonious assault with a tattoo gun are rare and generally limited to situations where there is real animosity between tattooist and victim. Cuckoldry of some sort is the most likely reason IIRC.

Doing it just for shitz and gigglez is not at all likely.

[Blue_Tires]

2. good points

Your variation is more believable, but as far as the legend goes, I've only heard one primary version...