Intergalactic Summit

Regarding Gallente teenagers (a large chunk of which are ethnically Minmatar) being disrespectul for Minmatar culture, I'd just like add the addendum that the rest of New Eden is being disrespectul to Gallente culture, creativity and hard work by watching our holovids, listening to our music, wearing our clothes, and reading our literature.

That is all.

Tattoos for the Minmatar are a method of communication first, and art only second. A bit like uniforms and medals for other cultures, where it is quite important for them to look good, but their primary purpose is to convey a message of rank and achievements.

As such, new tattoos are created constantly. The basic ones explain which clan and tribe you are from, giving you an immediate place and background in any conversation. Further tattoos are added for your rank, grade or achievements during your life.

The mentioned "Gallentean teenagers" usually have not bothered to actually inform themselves about the tattoo practice and consider it simply art (a misunderstanding that would result in erroneously comparing tattoos to, say, Gallentean holovids, music, clothers, or literature). It's more akin to wearing the local police uniform, which is actually considered a crime in most nations because your impersonating an authority that you are not. But for the most part, it's this profound disrespect to the background of tattooing that causes the upset.

If you are interested in further information about tattoos, you can find some explanation here:
http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Tattoos_%28Chronicle%29

A few exist, but the problem is that they're only usually relevant to a specific clan, tribe or region, and as tattoo art is a constantly evolving form of communication, such references are always a few steps behind what's actually happening.



I kind of like it that Gallente kids are getting tons of body art done these days. Usually they're the ones culturally stampeding all over us by foisting on us their architecture, fashions and soft drink, so it's good that the shoe's on the other foot and they get to look like us for a change. Some people feel it's disrespectful or whatever but when I see them I just tend to have a chuckle. There are worse ways for a bored kid to squander Daddy's disposable income, I guess.



As for you having a Matari tattoo, with a specific meaning, that's going to be perceived really weirdly no matter what the reasoning is and I would strongly advise against it. I'm not even sure why you would want one. I don't find it offensive or anything - but others might, not everyone's as tolerant as I am about that sort of thing. Walking around planetside where I grew up with a tribal tattoo is a great way to wind up in a box if you don't know what it means, and that's even for Minmatar so an Amarr is going to struggle a lot more. Stationside that's less of an issue of course, but if nothing else, getting tattoos with specific meaning for the context of a tribe or clan, when you're not actually in any (relevant) tribe or clan, tend to mark you out as a bit of a try-hard douchebag. Not saying that that's what you are, just saying that that's how you'll be perceived. We seriously laugh hard at those people behind their backs. To avoid social death in multicultural circles, you'd be better off getting a tattoo that isn't Matari related and just has a personal meaning for you, or because you like it, or whatever.

Gallente have literature? Books, even? (And no, Seri, empty, vapid consumer-swill like this doesn't count!).

(Your popular music is shite, too, by the way--sorry, but there's just no gentle way to put it)

Let's imagine that Uraniae Fehrnah has just got her new, but simple minmatar tatoo. For example, two lines on her cheek that form a cross. She came to parlour to show her amarrian, caldari, minmatar and gallente friends her new tatoo, but shortly left because of business call. Amarrian, minmatar and gallente made wry faces.
Caldari: - What's wrong, guys?
Amarrian: - Pfft. What a barbarianism!
Minmatar: - Pfft. Does she even know its meaning? She didn't earn right to wear it yet!
Gallente: - Pfft. Such nice art on her cheek and she ran away without telling where I can get it too...

At least this way, Brother, it makes them easily identifiable!

Amusing I see you got a new job as the fashion police Rodj. I see you have taken not having a sense of fun, adventure nor open mindedness to new levels. What's next? Going to tell people putting autocannons on their Prophecy is disgraceful?

Though to be fair I find it equally amusing that some Minmatar feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in some ink, I never much thought of them as a vain people, but now I see their vanity simply knows another form, they are not showing their money about like the Caldari, nor touting their peerage like the Amarr, but it is still vanity nevertheless.

What about the Midularites? Should they use railguns?

I personally see no harm in Gallente teenagers or anyone else getting a Minmatar tattoo. Matari will always be able to distinguish who is actually Matari, just from the mannerisms. The carriage, gait, the way of using the hands (and not using the hands) when speaking. Even in a backlit room showing only silhouettes, one could distinguish a Matari, as well as whether he/she is a Brutor, Sebiestor, Krusual or Thukker.