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Jeff Chandler

WordPress Ink Does Not Equal WordPress Cult

Looks like Drearmeda who is one of the guys behind Sucuri.net has placed some WordPress ink on his arm. He’s certainly not the first to get a WordPress logo as a tattoo and probably won’t be the last. While it’s cool to see this kind of enthusiasm for the software, some people might look at this as going over the top. I don’t think something like this symbolizes the community as turning into a cult around WordPress. It’s just a persons unique way of showing their enthusiasm for the software, which doesn’t bother me a bit. Does it bother or worry you to see a software logo tattooed on someone’s body?

WordPress Tattoo

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29 responses to “WordPress Ink Does Not Equal WordPress Cult”

  2. Hey Jeff, thanks for posting.

    I’m a tattoo loving guy, and as I build on the rest of the artwork that I will get inked, I felt this was 100% appropriate. This wasn’t done because of any weird cult following at all. Just like I have planned out a Navy ocean theme for my right arm, I felt it was a way to carry WordPress with me through one of my favorite art forms, tattoos. It has a strong meaning to me, and I am proud to wear it.

    I stepped into the WordPress IRC channel for the 1st time in late 2004, built my first theme (cheesy as can be) in 2005. I have built business around WordPress, and have had the honor to meet some of the most brilliant web personas around today. The sense of community makes this more than just a platform, yes, but far from a cult.

    WordPress can be long gone, and it will always be a part of my life, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Thanks again for the post :)

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  3. Awesome tattoo!

    I’m not sure how the “cult” terminology even comes into this conversation. I’ve often thought of getting the WordPress logo inked on myself. I’ve been using it for several years and have built a business upon it. WordPress has dramatically changed my life in many ways. It’s a personal thing rather than a cult thing.

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  15. The tattoo comes & goes generally, shifts from one crowd to another, and the subject-matter morphs steadily.

    Mostly, the subject-matter is a minor part of it. “Mother”, last-year’s (decade’s) girlfriend, Asian dragon-motifs … and of course whatever life-theme one is into – Harley’s, Confederate Flags, Hot Rods, etc.

    The tattoo suffers a bit right now, from competition with other body-art options. If a WordPress tattoo is good, how about a Logo-embossed body-stud? In your ear, nose … nipple? Or??

    What’s most important about a tattoo (etc) is mainly just “Did you?” or “Didn’t you?”.

    Not one guy in the Navy showers ever commented to me that, “You didn’t”.

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  19. Lol @Ben and @Philip Bonifonte

    @Dre, nice tat. Was this before or after #WCLV?

    @Otto, nooooooooooo! Don’t pimp his wares! Oh, and is that all a person needs to do to get on that page? ;)

    I appreciate most body art out there. But like Ben, I always think “What if…?” Which is the only thing that stops me from getting inked. That said, if anyone knows an artist that can ink the word “Enigma” in sanskrit. I might just do it. But I’d be happier with semi-permanent tats, so I can change it up. :)

    Oh, and the WordPress community, definitely not a cult. Starschmucks (Starbucks) on the other hand…

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  23. Nice to see you on WordPress Tavern and coming to WordPress.org/about/fanart, Dre. If someone is already into tattoos, what they choose to ink on their body is certainly up to them. And I think homage to the wonderful WordPress Community is endearing.

    I have had the pleasure of shooting a photo of John Hawkins tat. I think you can expect people to want to shoot your arm as you attend WordCamps and such Dre.

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  24. @Dre – Sweet tat dude! See you at the next cult meeting…

    Seriously though, I’m with Justin, not sure where “cult” came into the conversation, kinda funny really.

    1st RULE: You do not talk about WordPress Cult.
    2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about WordPress Cult.
    3rd RULE: When a site gets hacked or crashes, the fight is over.
    4th RULE: Only two coders to a fight.
    5th RULE: One fight at a time.
    6th RULE: No second monitors, no backup servers.
    7th RULE: Fights will go on as long as they have to.
    8th RULE: If this is your first night at WordPress Cult, you HAVE to fight.

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  27. I really want to start with this: I think that tattoo looks beautiful and I’m in no way against people putting whatever art they want on their body.

    I’ve used the increase of WordPress tattoos as an example of the “cult-like” mentality that’s been creeping into the community over the last 2 years. In my experience whenever there is a point of contention or a discussion taking place, people are less willing to hear different points of view and then make their own mind up than they were in the past.

    In my personal experience, people who have such a love for something that they have it’s logo tattoo’d on their body for life, are rarely objective. A lesson I learned a long time ago from going to meet-ups (such as DrupalCon and WordCamp) was to not talk to anyone wearing clothing with the subject matter on it. For me, tattoo’s fall into that camp.

    @Ted Clayton –

    I couldn’t agree more. Obviously I love WordPress, but you’d be amazed at how often smaller agencies and development houses come to pitches with WordPress as their CMS of choice, regardless of that the job is, or if WordPress is capable of the task. WordPress is awesome at what it does, but lets be blunt, it doesn’t do a lot.

    Heck, even the WordPress store that was built this year by WordPress Core Devs runs on JOOMLA!!

    And that’s ok! We need to start looking at WordPress objectively, promote it’s good points and acknowledge the bad points. For me, the “cult-like” attitude is when we start taking guidelines and making them into doctrine. When we change “you should” to “Thou Shalt”, then I think we’ve hit a problem.

    Have a wonderful New Year

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  28. @Kevinjohn Gallagher – Yes, there certainly could be an issue.

    “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

    WordPress is used by over 14.7% of Alexa Internet’s “top 1 million” websites and as of August 2011 powers 22% of all new websites.[4] WordPress is currently the most popular CMS in use on the Internet.[5][6]

    MATT MULLENWEG
    is one of PC World’s Top 50 People on the Web, Inc.com’s 30 under 30, Business Week’s 25 Most Influential People on the Web, and Vanity Fair’s Next Establishment. …

    Is Mark Zuckerberg a moral defective? Is Facebook Big Brother II?

    Is Sergey Brin an ethical reprobate? Is Google Beijing’s Goskomizdat?

    Probably not … but see Rule #1.

    Certainly, there’s been a detectable tendency for awhile now, that anything said about WordPress should be a Kumbaya, or it’s a dirge. That is a clue, and warning-sign.

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  29. @Kevinjohn Gallagher – Honest question, do you have a hobby? Are you passionate about it? Does that mean you belong to a cult? Because you’re framing people’s passions (either a hobby or work they love) in a terrible light, and I don’t think that’s fair.

    “the WordPress store that was built this year by WordPress Core Devs” – That is not an accurate statement, so I won’t address it beyond this.

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