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We all experience regret at some point in our life. Experts categorize it into two types: inaction — things we didn't do, like asking our crush on a date — or action — things we wish we wouldn't have done, such as drunk driving. This time, let's talk about the latter.

The Facebook group with the glorious name 'What in the $20 wish tattoo machine is this?' collects the absolute worst designs people carry on their skin, and they serve as the perfect proof that not every (drunk) idea is worth executing.

Since this online community is celebrating its birthday (it was created on November 9, 2020), we thought why not commemorate it, and introduce you, dear readers, to its content? Continue scrolling and check out some of the group's most popular posts.

More info: Facebook

We managed to get in touch with the group's administrator and moderator team, and a few of them were kind enough to tell us more about 'What in the $20 wish tattoo machine is this?'

"We do have certain criteria tattoos have to meet in order to go through the group," El Arp told Bored Panda. "There's a lot of boundaries the admins and mods have set in order to make sure our site isn't flooded with random stuff, like offensive tats, anything overly gory, etc."

#4

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Well-Dressed Wolf
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I, again, hope that this was based on a drawing of Timon and Pumbaa that this person’s child made or something…

Alban Bizet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's from a tattoo artist in Brazil, she is quite famous for her bad drawings https://awkward.com/this-brazilian-tattoo-artist-cant-draw-and-thats-why-people-love-her/15

Sekrets
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair I've had my kid draw and pick tattoos for me (she's 6, was 5 at the time) I really don't care if my tattoos "look bad" to other people. They're a reflection of my life and my life is about a 6 and nearly 2 year old. It makes them happy and as a parent your life should be about the kids you decided to have. One of my tattoos is for a trick or treating ghost for a friend my 6 year old lost. Sure it looks really out of place on a 28 year old who's tattood all over. But don't judge if you don't know the story.

novasoup (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i feel like the bad art is intentional, it looks cute and charming imo

Peruvian Chick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can it just be this person's poor drawing that she/he loves?? Not everything has to be aesthetic <3

Sandy D
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a kid drew the pic, it's great. Otherwise not so much

K. Anderson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sure there is more to this. Probably drawn by someone child & who knows if the child passed away or something

Lily
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually like this. Only because I’m pretty sure it was drawn by their child.

Charlotte
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I imagine this was a drawing a child did and they wanted to keep it forever, which is actually kind of cute

Christina Crowe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This must have been a tattoo of something this person child drew for them?

Oncinw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know tattoo artist who draws her sketches in the similar style. Though on this pic the lines are awfully bad, so I guess it's not a style 😂

Sir Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is his or her skin where the tattoo ink is raised? Fresh ink? But even then I don't remember seeing that on other people's fresh tattoos.

Rosalie Waller
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sooo…I am guessing there are no laws regulating/licensing tattoo “artists”? To each his own…

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El Arp said that, "a lot of our problems lie in the kind of content our members send in. We get about 30+ posts submitted a day, and only about 10-15 of them are usually accepted."

"A lot of people will submit the same thing, their captions won’t be to the standard of the rules (especially the cursing rule) or they just aren’t bad tattoos (normally those are just what people don’t have a preference for or they think are strange)," El Arp explained, highlighting that the admins and mods want the group to be about terribly executed ink.

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El Arp's colleague Erica describes the group's members as "a bit feral [but] in a good way." Erica said they're fun and sassy, and that their energy is really contagious.

"It's nice to have a group where everyone is on the same page as far as content and interactions go," Whitney, who also helps run 'What in the $20 wish tattoo machine is this?', added.

"The definition of a 'bad tattoo' is definitely different for the individual. What one might consider 'bad' is what another laughs at. On average, the posts that tend to get the most traction would be ones that look like they’ve been absolutely butchered compared to what they’re supposed to be," El Arp said.

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However, if they were to pick something, Erica believes the most popular are "scratcher tattoos, wonky or blown out lines, and my favorite: lettering fails."

"I love the things members think that those types of tattoos say. Always a good time."

#19

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waddles
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well i guess you’ll always know the time and twice a day you’ll actually be right (i can’t do fecking math)

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Erica says 'What in the $20 wish tattoo machine is this?' is perfect for everyone who loves tattoos and chaotic humor. "I'm honored to be on the team that does their best to keep things up and running, and our members who find the wackiest posts."

El Arp also wanted to mention that, "the admin and mod team are fantastic and I consider them some very good friends of mine. They truly make this group a wonderful experience for everyone involved, and I’m very lucky to be a part of that team. We have fun, joke around, and shame terrible ink, which is exactly what this is all about."

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Seymoura Butts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many of these tattoos are concerning. It looks like severe mental illness in several cases like this one.

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It's not uncommon to have regret immediately after getting a tattoo, especially since you're used to seeing your body a certain way and then, all of a sudden, it appears different.

To help you come to terms with any immediate anxiety or regret you may experience, experts at Healthline suggest you permit yourself to wait it out.

It may take a while for you to grow into or get used to the ink but remind yourself that if the anxiety or regret doesn't pass, you still have options to either cover it up or start a removal process.

While the exact time frame can vary, Dr. Richard Torbeck, a board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology, P.C., recommends taking at least six to eight weeks after getting the tattoo before going for removal.

He said this allows for delayed tattoo reactions that can occur with some pigments to be resolved.

Additionally, it gives you the opportunity to think through the process and decide if this is really what you want.

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#33

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ItsJess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm thinking this is exactly how this Potterhead wanted it to look, so I guess it's not "bad" necessarily.

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ItsJess
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like some sort of ink or makeup (I hope); the way it looks a bit smudged somehow

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Sean Simpson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy c**p what did the artist use to put that on her leg, a jigsaw? Maybe a hatchet, cause those likes are choppy as hell.

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#56

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poiplescales
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If @scorpio_appologist got anything other than a painfully messy scribble you got the bad end of the trade.

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*Displayname*=idk
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know how hard face tattoos make it to get a job. I mean you do it if it makes you happy. To each their own..

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SobyKay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Other than the awkward placement, not as crazy as some others on this list

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Egg Lady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This must be the other set of pictures that goes with the guy who has the batman tattoos, who said his tatoo is not even.

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nihilistic wombat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this one isn’t so bad because that’s the cover art for one of car seat headrest’s albums, twin fantasy. I guess I could see the appeal if you’re a big fan of the band. One of my friends has this as a sticker.

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Panda-riffic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm laughing so hard this made my butt pucker - and thankfully they have all the toilet paper I need!

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Phasmainmachina
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, after I managed to figure out what it is, it’s sorta ok, but really needed to be better designed.

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funkybluegirl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one had so much potential, i think it would be beautiful, if it had been done by a more experienced artist.

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RoanTheMad
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tbf, this one looks half done, like they haven't even wiped the transferred design away, and it needs colouring. I'm not saying it's great, but maybe some colouring will save it a little.

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Anna Ekberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get it, It does say Laila right? Not an unusual name in Sweden.

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#121

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William Tinsley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is well drawn but I wouldnt want to be around the type of person that would want this on them forever

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got a tattoo in honour of my late dog too. (It looks a bit messy because I took this picture right after it had been done). Oscar-Tatt...0a-png.jpg Oscar-Tattoo-6370c16679a0a-png.jpg

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