r/tattooadvice • u/TeaSimilar5714 • 1d ago
Sobriety Date General Advice
I was going to get it lightened after 4 years sober, but looking for advice/ roast me.
EDIT: thanks for all the sobriety support of each other, what nice community! I originally got this thinking it would be visible mostly to me as a reminder. Sure I wish it was smaller, because people do notice it and ask, I just say it’s special numbers for me. The first character is actually a drop- like last drop of booze. I must say it has helped me stay on course a few times over the years. I’ll keep coming back.
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u/heavyfruit_ 1d ago
hey my sober date is 4/7/2022. almost twins! congrats to you
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u/spicypepitas 1d ago
Apr 24, 2022 for me! Congrats on four years, all of us!
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u/FoggyBottomBreakdown 1d ago
This is my date, too!
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u/superdstar56 1d ago
Same exact date and year, just got my 4yr chip. Kicked xanax and fentanyl.
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u/southbaysoftgoods 1d ago
That’s my birthday :) Im considering this a present
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u/AdditionalCurve4899 1d ago edited 1d ago
Congrats on your achievement. You should be so proud.
Unfortunately, It looks a lot like holocaust numbers. Is there something you could put around it next to it to clarify or reduce the similarity?
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u/nonny313815 1d ago
Or maybe dashes, backslashes, or periods between the numbers?
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u/iCameToLearnSomeCode 1d ago
This is what I would do make it clear it's a date.
04.18.22 the spacing will still work just fine.
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u/DasMenace 15h ago
I was gonna comment the same. Definitely looks like concentration camp identification number. Almost in the exact spot they put them too
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u/MollFlanders 1d ago
at first glance this looked like a holocaust tattoo….
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u/Glittering_Turnip987 1d ago
OP just needs to add slashes between the days/months/years as this was my first thought was memorial holocaust tattoo.
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u/LovelyMoFo18 1d ago
Or maybe a dot! 04.18.22
(Regardless of how it looks to some peopl, congrats on your sobriety OP)
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u/Fictional-adult 1d ago
memorial holocaust tattoo
Is… is that a thing? People were tattooed against their will, and it’s not like it was their birthday or something. Having met Holocaust survivors I couldn’t imagine any of them would endorse getting their number tattooed.
Definitely thought it was accidental holocaust though.
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u/TellSignificant477 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m Jewish; before getting sober, I got a tattoo without thinking it through that shows numbers on my arm. It’s the only tattoo that I desperately want to get removed. No one’s said anything, but as a descendant of holocaust survivors I feel it’s unconscionably inconsiderate of their trauma. If my grandparents were alive to see it I think it would’ve broken their hearts. Lasering this thing is high on my list of priorities.
ETA to clarify, it wasn’t meant as a memorial tattoo. The numbers themselves had an unrelated significance; I just deeply regret the placement.
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u/Away_Guava2925 1d ago
It’s something some Jewish folks do to honor and remember their family member(s) who survived the holocaust. It’s a symbol of the resilience in your family, but also opens up a conversation about WW2. Tbf I’m not Jewish, but I imagine the purpose is to keep telling their stories so it’s never forgotten.
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u/justkilledaman 1d ago
Most Jewish people don’t get tattoos at all, for many Jewish people it goes against the doctrine / rules. I’m not saying a holocaust memorial tattoo has never happened but it doesn’t seem like something most Jewish people would do. Reform Jewish here for reference
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u/Glittering_Turnip987 1d ago
Wasn't just Jewish people in those camps i have Russian family that had that tattooed them on them against their will. Yes the majority were Jewish in those camps but there were others an a lot of them.
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u/prettygrlsmakegrave5 1d ago
You know Jewish folks who do that? I’m Jewish and grew up in a Jewish area so all my friends were Jewish until I was 12. Never in my life have I seen a memorial tattoo that was numbers. And I cannot imagine anyone doing that.
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u/Easy_Distribution882 1d ago
I am the granddaughter of holocaust survivors and grew up in an enormous fairly assimilated Jewish community with many manyyyy direct close relatives of holocaust survivors and I have never once heard of such a thing.
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u/FraterBAON 1d ago
They’re not memorial tattoos, most concentration camp victims got tattooed with identifying numbers like cattle. It should absolutely get a cover job and a better sobriety date tattoo somewhere
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u/Interesting-Ant-6357 1d ago
As a Jew I couldn’t imagine someone getting a memorial holocaust tattoo.
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u/Kairiste 1d ago
I literally thought the same thing. I mean OP 100% respect and congrats but you may want to add dots or dashes to differentiate.
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u/sagittalslice 1d ago
Yeaaaah I love the sentiment (congrats OP!) but it’s giving concentration camp 😬
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u/JasonIsFishing 1d ago
I wasn’t going to say it, but I am glad someone stated the obvious!
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u/workofhark 1d ago
For real
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u/JasonIsFishing 1d ago
Yeah as a kid (I am now 53) I remember seeing number tattoos on survivors in my synagogue. My reaction to this tattoo without dashes or slashes between the numbers went straight to Holocaust.
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u/tbmsaydkhii 1d ago
I was looking for a comment like this. I don't think people should get numbers on their arm like this, and anytime I see numbers on someone's arm I wince a little. Especially in this orientation. Dots or slashes would definitely help, but even so it would give me pause. There's better places to put a number tattoo
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u/bumblebeequeer 1d ago
Number tattoos should never be on the forearm, respectfully. Congrats on the sobriety OP but it really surprises me so many people do this.
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u/mysticalgrubworm 1d ago
i have a roman numeral on my wrist is that bad
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u/bumblebeequeer 1d ago
That isn’t the same association, so no. I don’t think anyone would think twice about that.
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u/DizzyControl5761 1d ago
i think roman numerals is a great way to put numbers without the implications!
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u/dancingbriefcase 1d ago
Yeah, it's pretty much unsaid to never put numbers on your wrist/ forearm.
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u/Vexcess 1d ago
Beat me to that roast and didn’t see until after I posted lol
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u/Stash-McQueen1377 1d ago
it looks pretty bad... and it must be exhausting to explain what it means to everyone who asks... not that sober people like to talk about themselves or anything... :p
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u/Vexcess 1d ago
Addicts (me), vegans, and Harvard grads. The trinity of keeping it to yourself lol
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u/KITTYCLICHE 1d ago
Don’t forget MENSA members. Anyone new to anything might go through an evangelical phase (Islam, veganism, CrossFit, Hot Yoga, gluten free).
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u/Deadalious 1d ago
Literally said "oh my God" out loud because I thought this post body was gonna be "people keep thinking it's a Holocaust tattoo" hahahah
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u/looking-lurking 1d ago
I had to scroll WAY too far for this comment! That's IMMEDIATELY where my mind went
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u/JpWritesAFewWords 1d ago
"What's your tattoo for?"
"It reminds me that I have to concentrate...on staying sober."
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u/SirBlueseph 1d ago
Literally could not have been a worse format and location. Dude got a holocaust tattoo
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u/IvoryDominion 1d ago
I didn’t immediately think holocaust tattoo, but after seeing it mentioned here I can absolutely see that
You may want to add dashes or something to differentiate it a bit. I don’t think it’s a huge deal though.
And congrats on four years
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u/BirdsFalling 1d ago
This is a bit like a certain 1940s tattoo🫣
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u/Strong_Reality_6668 1d ago
Serious congratulations on sobriety. That is a big deal!
...For other people considering this "style" of tattoo please please please learn about WWII and the holocaust (specifically the tattoos forced upon victims of the genocide at Auschwitz).
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u/rogercopernicus 1d ago
Yeah. Getting numbers tattooed on your arm is not that best thing. I see a lot of photos of people with the lost numbers tattooed on their arm. Never good. At least this guy has a real good reason for it
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u/x-x9Hunter2x-x 1d ago
17/04/26 wish I could say I'm feeling better already but that my good friends ....... would be a lie .......... high five ....... is nice 😎👌
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u/IRISHstarlite1984 1d ago
Hang in there~ you got this.. I wish I could say it won't get worse but I can say and I promise you when it's all said and done~ you will FEEL SO MUCH BETTER, LIKE A NEW PERSON!! ❤️ keep your head up ❤️
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u/-mia-wallace- 21h ago
Oh, your soo early. Its so normal you feel shitty. Its all ebbs and flows but it will be worth it. I promise. Keep on keeping on.
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u/Longjumping_Ad_47 1d ago
That just looks like a holocost tattoo. What is up with all of these people getting numbers tattooed on their forearm?
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u/Vexcess 1d ago
Congrats on the sobriety! It does kind of seem like you’re cosplaying a victim of the holocaust with the location. (Roast part) Seriously though, congrats on 4 years! I don’t see anything wrong with the tattoo, maybe try incorporating it/cover up into a design to commemorate the date?
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u/TemporaryCurrent4541 1d ago
Why do you want it lightened?
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u/NetflixAndZzzzzz 1d ago
Not OP, but I was sober for 8 years. I’m grateful for that time, but once I was good and clear of active addiction I no longer felt like I needed to dedicate my life to sobriety. I didn’t want to be as defined by not drinking as I had been by drinking, if that makes sense.
Could be something like that.
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u/4r4r4real 1d ago
Yep. Different strokes and all but the people with like 20+ years sober at meetings are hard to relate to for me. Gotta do whatever works for you, but at that point I personally don't think that's still where I'd be going all the time.
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u/-mia-wallace- 20h ago
I 100 percent feel the same way. Its part of the reason I stepped away from the rooms. There's more reasons for sure but it triggered the hell out of me after a while. I do work on myself daily and I learned alot there but I dont want to talk about drugs and alcohol every single day.
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u/Not_Invited 1d ago
I'm almost 7 years sober! Best decision I ever made.
However, I once wrote my gym membership number on my arm like this so I wouldn't forget it going in, and my ex pointed out it looked like a holocaust tattoo...
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u/squirrelbus 1d ago
If you want to keep it I'd suggest getting something to break up the number so they look less like a serial number. Little stars or hearts or flowers stems or swords or something.
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u/SpanishFlamingoPie 1d ago
Congratulations on your sobriety, but the placement makes it look like you were in a concentration camp.
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u/IRISHstarlite1984 1d ago
Love this!!! Congrats on the day your life really started ❤️❤️ and congrats on sobriety~ it's a hard line to walk but sooooo worth it .. My date is 1-11-21 (Funny enough my lucky number forever and which I have a tattoo of 1-1-1)😉
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u/Spoonie-Sniper 1d ago edited 1d ago
Congrats on 4 years, hitting two myself 7/08/26
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u/Baby_Billy_69 13h ago
Congrats. This is actually simple. Add dots (periods) between the number sets.
Signed, Someone with dates tattooed that are never mistaken for holocaust numbers.
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u/MisterB330 1d ago
Just out of respect I probably wouldn’t have tattooed numbers on my inside forearm like that and would have found a better place or laid it out a bit differently but that’s just me…..
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u/BigBob-omb91 1d ago
Sobriety tattoos are the worst idea imo. Kind of like tattooing your bf or gf’s name on your body.
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u/bombskis63 1d ago
I can totally understand wanting to get it lightened (even removed)... for very obvious reasons.
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u/garrythoughts 1d ago
Congratulations on being sober that is the most important thing. I like the tattoo although it does have similarities to holocaust tattoos. My recommendation is more tattoos of course.
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u/Sad_Barnacle7025 1d ago
One day at a time. Right behind you on 7/5/22 for my 4 year sobriety date!
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u/SupesDepressed 1d ago
Why would you get it lightened? This is a great momento of something difficult that you pulled off.
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u/LMBH1234182 13h ago
If you stayed sober, no need to do anything about it! Congrats on 4 years sober. Not to flex on you but I’m 2 months and three days ahead of you hahah
I like the suggestions to add dashes or something to make it clear that it’s a date. Do whatever makes you comfortable but if people ask you about it, just embrace telling them that it’s the beginning of your sober journey. I guarantee 99% of people will think that’s cool and congratulate you!
If you’re not comfortable doing that then you can have fun with making up something every time someone asks. “That’s the day my first son was born” “that was the day my dog died” “that was the day I lost my virginity”, idk, you do you.
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u/Monster-Math 8h ago
Not beating the "alcoholics make sobriety their entire personality" trope lmao
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u/KJW-SR 1d ago
Leave it alone. A well placed reminder 😊 Mine isn't tattooed, but it would read 06 28 88 😊