Confession: I have been planning a tattoo around the Dave Matthews Band Fire Dancer for, oh, roughly five years now.

Why is it taking so long? Well, because 1) it’s not exactly a unique tattoo among DMB fans so I want to figure out a way to make mine personal for me, and 2) I’m an indecisive perfectionist.

Why am I doing this? I think we all know the answer to that one.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m obsessed with DMB. It’s a healthy obsession, mind you – I’m more annoying that I am dangerous (in other words, I wouldn’t stalk the band, but I have been known to harass non-fans with things like the “DMB Song of the Day” I recently started on Facebook for one of my friends).

That’s why the fan tattoos featured in a semi-recent article over at The Frisky don’t surprise me at all. Sure, some of the tattoos themselves surprise me (well, more like the subjects of the tattoos – one is Britney Spears circa her very public mental breakdown and I don’t even want to talk about the Patrick Swayze one), but, to each his own.

I’d never get a celebrity’s portrait tattooed on me, but, clearly I’m not the only fan obsessed enough with her favorite band or celebrity to permanently mark her body with something representative of that admiration. That’s not what attracted me to the article or pictures, though; what caught my attention was The Frisky’s tweet about it on the mag’s Twitter.

“[...] a little more than just obsessed!”

This made me laugh a little, and start to wonder…

Is there such as thing as “more than obsessed”? Or, are there levels of obsession? Can one person be mildly obsessed with a celebrity (or anyone or thing) while another is rabidly obsessed?

Or, is “obsessed” merely just “obsessed” and what looks like different levels of obsession (or states of being beyond obsession) are really just each person’s ways of expressing that obsession?

Interesting things to ponder.

Back in May, Psych Central posted “Seeing by Starlight: Celebrity Obsession” by Psychology Today. Check it out. There’s no talk of getting tattoos of celebrities, but it’s an interesting look at the reasons some people become obsessed with celebrities.

In the meantime, what do you think about fans who tattoo their favorite celebrities on their bodies? Are they “obsessed”? “More than just obsessed”? Or, do they merely just admire those celebrities – for whatever reason – and want to show that admiration?

And, just for fun: Is there a celebrity YOU would ever consider tattooing on your body?

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    Last reviewed: 29 Jul 2009