Tattoo Symbolism

[Locomotion]

Is there a tattoo that speaks to just being an uninhibited, promiscuous barebacker? Not poz, just love taking loads.

I have a tat of #BBBH in large letters located as a "tramp stamp". Most raw guys get the meaning of that

[Guest FinalDL2021]

On 5/8/2015 at 3:22 PM, Bttm2go said:

I think it depends where you are at. Here in Palm Springs most likely a poz gay man. However, there is an American heavy metal band named biohazard. I think think that's why some guys will have "poz" under or in the tattoo. At the bathhouse when I see a guy with a bio tat, I figure he's poz.

Back in 2018, when I was just starting to dip  my Toe in the water, with regards to Barebacking, a guy came into my room, at the baths, with a BioHazard tat, on the lower half of his stomach. I won't go into details, yet I am still neg, and looking back on it, I consider this my Baptism.

[iman2004]

I think the more difficult one to call is a scorpion tattoo. I know a few straight guys With those and a senior British broadcaster was sporting a scorpion tattoo a couple of years back.

[Faggotuser]

Usually yes. Especially if the guy wearing it is an obvious cumdump bottom or pig top man. l have also seen hardcore bug chasers wearing the biohazard tattoo. Partly because they are well on their way to being pozzed and partly to let cautious poz men know they are willing to take dirty loads.

[Alaric]

It is possible to buy waterproof poz symbol temporary tattoos. These last a couple of days unless deliberately cleaned off. 

[drscorpio]

There was a band a few years back. I think it might actually have been called "Biohazard" that used the biohazard symbol for their logo. You will sometimes see it on young straight boys into that band. I have never discussed biohazard tattoos with any straight person who knew it was an indication of HIV+ prior to our talking, and this includes people who are active allies and otherwise very progressive. 

I think scorpions are even iffier. Lots of people whose sun sign is Scorpio like people to know this about them (myself included). I know lots of HIV- Scorpios with scorpion tattoos. Add a drop of venom or blood to the stinger, and it is more likely to be a Poz tattoo. 

[evilalex]

Porn actor Paul Canon has a biohazard tat on his side. I think I remember reading years ago that he got it without being aware of its connection to HIV/AIDS. I could be completely wrong about that though. 

[Guest]

So, does the radiation symbol (not the biohazard claws) mean poz? Or could it mean other things?

[Blacoe]

On 5/11/2020 at 10:57 AM, drscorpio said:

There was a band a few years back. I think it might actually have been called "Biohazard" that used the biohazard symbol for their logo. You will sometimes see it on young straight boys into that band. I have never discussed biohazard tattoos with any straight person who knew it was an indication of HIV+ prior to our talking, and this includes people who are active allies and otherwise very progressive. 

I think scorpions are even iffier. Lots of people whose sun sign is Scorpio like people to know this about them (myself included). I know lots of HIV- Scorpios with scorpion tattoos. Add a drop of venom or blood to the stinger, and it is more likely to be a Poz tattoo. 

Had this exact experience recently at a cruise club. Tall skinny almost wasted looking guy with a massive dick jacking in a room by himself, got close and saw a scorpion tattoo on this right hip. Asked him about it and he told me it was because he was scorpio. Took his load and asked him again, and still insisted it was just a star sign think. Ah well!

[120DaysofSodom]

Its like a toss up when people see my biohazard and I have to explain what community the biohazard indicates im a part of. Some people know about it, some dont (and im only talking about the queens here). Straight people are seemingly ignorant about most of our communities, at least in my experience.

[ErosWired]

I’ve never understood why any HIV-positive person would want a biohazard tattoo. It seems particularly foolish for a community wanting to eliminate the stigma surrounding their disease in the broader society to embrace one of society’s more fear-inducing symbols as its identifier. “Oh, don’t be afraid of us, we’re just walking biohazards.” Brilliant.

Scorpions aren’t much better. Few animals inspire as much instinctual visceral loathing in people.

A simple plus symbol would have been a much smarter move for those determined to make a point of it.

[backtails]

You really never know with the scorpion, especially if it's not in a sexual area.

I kinda like the idea of a cumdump bottom who got a scorpion tat because he's a Scorpio. Like, if he's taking loads in a dark corner and he's pre-bred and he doesn't know the tat means anything else. This is because I like fucking dumb bottoms, especially if they're highly appreciative ones. Plus, you don't inject venom or sperm or anything when you get buttfucked.

I don't have tats because I could never decide on something I'd want to keep forever. Way back, though, I was thinking about the biohazard symbol just because it looks cool. I would have gotten it on my left shoulder, not near my cock. Location matters, I guess, but if it's in a sexual area, I'd be pretty confident it either means he's poz or likes taking loads enough that he got the tat ahead of time.

[BootmanLA]

4 hours ago, ErosWired said:

I’ve never understood why any HIV-positive person would want a biohazard tattoo. It seems particularly foolish for a community wanting to eliminate the stigma surrounding their disease in the broader society to embrace one of society’s more fear-inducing symbols as its identifier. “Oh, don’t be afraid of us, we’re just walking biohazards.” Brilliant.

Scorpions aren’t much better. Few animals inspire as much instinctual visceral loathing in people.

A simple plus symbol would have been a much smarter move for those determined to make a point of it.

That's one of those "on the one hand" things. On the one hand, I agree - you're likely to offend/scare fewer people with a simpler plus sign. On the other hand - it's reclaiming, like reclaiming the words "queer" and "faggot" to rob them of their potential for hurt. I'm not sure it really works, in this case, but it's a possibility.

[Vancrawman]

2 hours ago, BootmanLA said:

That's one of those "on the one hand" things. On the one hand, I agree - you're likely to offend/scare fewer people with a simpler plus sign. On the other hand - it's reclaiming, like reclaiming the words "queer" and "faggot" to rob them of their potential for hurt. I'm not sure it really works, in this case, but it's a possibility.

i feel the same way, like now while I'm neg, I don't have the standing to get a bio tat, but as soon as i get pozzed, i will do so. Making it unambiguous that people know what they're getting - well, most people will know.

[ErosWired]

7 hours ago, BootmanLA said:

That's one of those "on the one hand" things. On the one hand, I agree - you're likely to offend/scare fewer people with a simpler plus sign. On the other hand - it's reclaiming, like reclaiming the words "queer" and "faggot" to rob them of their potential for hurt. I'm not sure it really works, in this case, but it's a possibility.

I get that, but no one was using a biohazard symbol to bludgeon HIV-positive people the way faggot is used to bludgeon gays. In this case it’s more a matter of claiming it that reclaiming it, and claiming a symbol that already has international recognition for a very well understood meaning is a pretty steep climb. You can “reclaim” the biohazard symbol as an affirming symbol for the Poz community, but you still have to contend with the fact that you tattooed yourself with the same sigil that is recognized worldwide as a warning of anthrax and other such contagion, and found on every disposal box for medical waste. You’re not going to change that public perception - it’s well integrated, and it should be. It was developed specifically to inform the public to Be Very Afraid And Stay The Fuck Away From This Shit. Even if someone is made aware of the significance to the tattoo, I think there’s likely to still be a general visceral negative reaction borne of long familiarity with the original meaning.

Similarly scorpions - when vertebrates (our progenitors) first appeared on Earth, there was a horrid creature with bloodsucking fangs called Anomalocaris that preyed on them. We’ve had nightmares about them ever since - they were the progenitors of spiders and scorpions. There’s something inherent in vertebrates that automatically reacts negatively toward such creatures, and choosing to tattoo one onto your skin is pretty much guaranteed to prompt at least a slight instinctive subconscious response. Symbols are potent, and you have to choose them with care.